President Trump’s policies that have rattled stocks around the world are benefiting Australian shipbuilder Austal, which makes the littoral combat ships based in San Diego.
Shares of the company, which supplies vessels to the Australian and U.S. navies among other clients, surged 35% in the three months ending March, clocking their best quarterly gains in nearly two years since June 2023.
In contrast, the broader benchmark lost about 4% on concerns of stretched valuations among financial stocks and the fallout from U.S. tariffs.
The surge in Austal’s shares comes amid Trump’s call asking Australia and other U.S. security allies to increase defense spending. Australia said last week it would spend an additional $1 billion Australian dollars in the next budget.
“With higher defense spending and an increased sense of need for autonomy in all domains, we could see more order activity for Austal from Australia,” said Dhierin-Perkash Bechai, aerospace analyst at Seeking Alpha and The Aerospace Forum.
“That is also driven by a sense that China may become more aggressive in the region amidst a fallout between the U.S. and its closest allies.”
Austal grew its order book to a record $14.2 billion in Australian dollars by the end of 2024 — 11% growth in six months.
The company’s two shipyards in the United States insulate it from Trump’s import tariffs, which have roiled global markets lately, further boosting Austal’s allure for investors.
These shipyards make smaller combat vessels, surveillance ships and modules for nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed submarines.
Austal has built all of the futuristic trimaran-hull littoral combat ships seen at Naval Base San Diego, and has established a support facility on the bay.
“Investors are looking for companies that are able to win business in the U.S., but without tariffs and/or sacrificing growth ambitions elsewhere,” said Nicholas Sundich, an equity analyst at Pitt Street Research.
Recently, South Korean conglomerate Hanwha bought a 9.9% stake in Austal, nearly a year after the shipbuilder rebuffed its takeover bid. The acquisition underscores foreign interest in the company.
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