Better Defense Stock to Own in 2026: PLTR vs. LMT

Better Defense Stock to Own in 2026: PLTR vs. LMT frames the defense market split between software-driven targeting and steel-and-system production. Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) is positioned as the “decision layer,” using its Maven Smart System built on its Artificial Intelligence Platform to sift sensor feeds and flag targets. In 2026, the Pentagon made Maven an official program of record, and the Army combined about 75 separate contracts into a single enterprise agreement with a $10 billion ceiling over 10 years. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is centered on the Golden Dome missile shield, winning a $35.5 billion THAAD interceptors award. It also agreed to triple PAC-3 output and quadruple THAAD production, ending 2025 with nearly $194 billion backlog, while upgrading the F-35 and pursuing space-based interceptors.