Skip to main content
RTXRTX CorporationHold6.0·$212.93+1.80%
RTX · Why this verdict

Why RTX (RTX) is rated HOLD

Updated

Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Show full disclosure ▾

About TrendMatrix. TrendMatrix is a publisher of general securities research and market commentary. We publish on a regular schedule. All content is the same for every subscriber in a tier — we do not provide personalized investment advice and we do not take into account any individual subscriber's financial situation, investment objectives, risk tolerance, tax situation, or holdings.

Not investment advice. TrendMatrix is not a registered investment adviser. Our content is for informational and educational purposes only. Consult your own licensed investment adviser, broker, or tax professional before making any investment decision.

Conflicts and positions. The TrendMatrix editorial team frequently holds personal long-term positions in securities discussed. We disclose positions held at the time of publication on each piece. We maintain a trading-window policy: we do not initiate or close positions in the same direction as a TrendMatrix publication within 24 hours before or 72 hours after publication.

No paid promotion. TrendMatrix does not accept payment from any issuer, broker, or third party in exchange for coverage of any security. Our sole compensation is subscription revenue.

No fiduciary duty. No fiduciary, advisory, or agency relationship is created between you and TrendMatrix by reading our content or subscribing to our service.

Performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Performance figures reflect the published model only and do not reflect any individual subscriber's actual results.

Methodology · Editorial policy & full disclaimer

VerdictHOLD
Overall score6.0/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroNEUTRAL
TrendMatrix Research · core thesis

Engine thesis — one sentence

RTX Corporation has delivered four consecutive quarterly earnings beats averaging 13.1% above estimates with strong price momentum in a breakout pattern, but below-average business quality scores and single-source foreign supplier concentration risk constrain the risk/reward for new buyers at current prices.

Falsifiable statement — pillar-level invalidators below. Engine-derived; not personalized advice.

Thesis pillars

RTX beat earnings estimates in all 4 of the last 4 quarters with an average positive surprise of 13.1%, including a 21% beat in the October 2025 quarter, demonstrating consistent ability to manage costs and exceed analyst expectations in the defense and aerospace cycle.

Improving
Earnings
Expectation
Earnings per share continues to exceed analyst estimates in at least 3 of the next 4 quarters, sustaining the beat track record with average surprises above 5%.

CounterAerospace and defense earnings beats often reflect favorable contract timing and favorable mix in a given period; as the comparison base rises from these outperformance periods, sustaining positive surprises becomes statistically harder.

Analysts maintain a constructive rating with a sentiment score of 6.7 and a price target of $194 representing 5.7% upside from current prices, reflecting broad coverage support for the defense spending cycle tailwind.

Stable
Sentiment
Expectation
Analyst consensus price target rises above $200 within 12 months, reflecting estimate increases tied to continued earnings outperformance.

CounterDefense sector analyst estimates are sensitive to government budget decisions, and any reduction in defense appropriations or program delays could cause simultaneous target price reductions across the analyst community.

The stock shows a breakout pattern with a golden cross in moving averages, rising on-balance volume indicating institutional accumulation, and a momentum score of 7.7, suggesting the current uptrend has broad market participation.

Improving
Momentum breakdown
Expectation
Momentum score remains above 6.0 and on-balance volume trend stays positive over the next 12 months, confirming sustained price strength.

CounterThe stock has limited upside of only 5.7% to the analyst target from current prices, meaning momentum continuation requires analysts to raise targets, which depends on continued earnings outperformance beyond the current cycle.

Reliance on single-source foreign suppliers is identified as a high concentration risk, creating supply chain vulnerability in a geopolitically sensitive industry where disruption of component supply could delay program deliveries and impair revenue recognition.

Deteriorating
Bear case
Expectation
No material supply disruption event materializes over the next 12 months, allowing revenue recognition from key defense programs to proceed on schedule.

CounterSingle-source foreign supplier dependency in defense manufacturing is a systemic risk that cannot be fully mitigated in the near term; tariff changes, export restrictions, or geopolitical events could create unplanned program delays.

Per-dimension breakdown

Value

4.0/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
P/E3.4
P/S8.2
EV/EBITDA0.0
Fwd P/E4.5
PEG3.8
Analyst target4.0
  • Forward P/E: 27.4x
  • PEG: 2.87

Quality

4.8/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
ROE4.1
ROA2.8
Gross margin0.1
Op margin5.1
Net margin4.1
Current ratio4.0
FCF quality9.3
Moat6.1
Piotroski F7.8
  • Excellent cash conversion: 128% FCF/NI
  • Strong Piotroski F-Score: 7/9

Growth

6.9/10data confidence 67%
ComponentSub-score
Rev growth6.1
EPS growth7.7

Momentum

7.8/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
RSI5.0
MACD10.0
OBV10.0
MA position9.0
Volume4.9
  • Volume accumulation (rising OBV)
  • Above 200-day MA

Sentiment

6.3/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
LLM sentiment5.2
Analyst rating7.5
Price target6.0

Insider

7.3/10data confidence 75%
ComponentSub-score
materiality5.0
holder change10.0
notable moves7.0
  • No net insider activity — $0 (0.000% of mkt cap)
  • Institutions accumulating

Peer rank

5.5/10data confidence 80%
ComponentSub-score
value rank6.4
quality rank6.8
growth rank3.9

Technical

3.5/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
bollinger0.0
support resistance0.7
52w position9.8

Risk (lower is worse)

7.2/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
short interest9.4
days to cover7.3
volatility6.1
put call3.5
implied vol6.7
beta10.0
debt equity7.6
  • Concentration risks: 1 HIGH, 2 MED (10-K Item 1A — sized via position_sizing, validated via buy_confidence)

Catalyst

7.3/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
erm5.0
earnings history10.0
earnings timing5.0
surprise avg9.6
dividend safety6.2
news activity8.0
  • Perfect beat streak: 4Q

How the verdict was assembled

Engine trigger

Mixed signals. Hold existing position.

Engine technical detail
verdict_path: L4:PATH_F_HOLD_DEFAULT
Passed (7)
  • MOMENTUM:7.8>=5.5
  • INSIDER:OK
  • 8K:CLEAN
  • NEWS_EVENTS:NONE_RECENT
  • EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:87d clear
  • SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
  • MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (1)
  • ASYMMETRY:-0.3=NEGATIVE
Warning (0)

none

Reward-to-Risk
-0.33
Upside
-4.1%
Downside
12.2%
Sizing output
AVOID

SetupBreakout Golden cross, above all MAs, RSI 66, MACD bullish

EdgeNo clear edge No clear edge identified

SuitabilityModerate Balanced profile

Investment implication

The default F-path HOLD fired without any positive-conviction gate triggering — no momentum acceleration, no quality+value crossover, no setup recognition. Highest-clear gate: MOMENTUM:7.8>=5.5. Top dim: Momentum at 7.8; weakest: Technical at 3.5. The engine's read is one of pattern absence — no directional conviction in either direction at current asymmetry.

The strongest dimensions are Momentum at 7.8, Insider at 7.3, and Catalyst at 7.3; the weakest are Technical at 3.5, Value at 4.0, and Quality at 4.8. The V9 engine flagged 1 failed gate, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of -0.33 and an engine sizing output of AVOID.

What would invalidate the thesis

Falsifying conditions — when triggered, the corresponding pillar's thesis is invalidated.

  • P1Four Quarter Earnings Beat Streak

    Trip ifEPS surprise falls below 0% in at least 2 of the next 4 quarters, indicating the 4-quarter beat streak has ended.

  • P2Strong Momentum Breakout Pattern

    Trip ifMomentum score drops below 5.0, more than 2.7 points below the current 7.7, indicating the breakout pattern has reversed.

  • P3Analyst Constructive Sentiment

    Trip ifAnalyst consensus price target falls below $175, more than 4% below the current $183.64 stock price, indicating downward estimate revisions.

  • P4Single Source Foreign Supplier Risk

    Trip ifA supply chain disruption delays at least 1 major defense program by more than 6 months, causing revenue recognition to fall below $20 billion in any quarter.

Engine reasoning is mechanically derived from pipeline gate outputs. See decision view.

Home Stocks RTX Why this verdict