Written by Timothy J. McIntosh

...Sectors that have benefited from the election results of last November 8th have been healthcare, oil, real estate, financial services, and of course, aerospace and defense. In the last twelve months, the PowerShares Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSE: PPA) is up nearly 25%, which significantly exceeds the 18% S&P performance over the same time period. The stocks below are some of the biggest names in the aerospace defense industry.

Trump's proposed plan is to expand defense spending by increasing the size of the military and by purchasing new ships for the Navy and new jets for the Air Force. Immediately after the election results, the majority of the stocks in this industry soared, but some have since declined due to various comments and tweets made by the president-elect. While the consensus for this industry going forward has been mostly positive, many analysts fear that the number of foreign buyers could decline when Trump is president. This could have a significant impact on the bottom line of these companies.

1. Boeing Co (NYSE: BA) is an aerospace company that specializes in designing and selling airplanes to airlines and to the military.

• The company is currently the second largest defense contractor in the United States.
• The stock is up about 19% in the last three months, as it saw a significant increase since the election and has outperformed both the S&P 500 and the aerospace defense industry.
• ...Boeing has the highest dividend yield in the industry, at approximately 3.59%.
• The stock has been paying a dividend since 1937 and has a payout ratio of 79.9%.
• Boeing recently boosted its quarterly dividend by 30% to $1.42 from $1.09...

2. Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) is a global defense company that focuses on security, defense, and technology.

• The company is the largest defense contractor in the United States.
• The stock is up about 8% in the last three months...
• Lockheed Martin also offers a great dividend yield for investors, at around 2.88%.
• The stock has been paying a dividend since 1995 and has a current payout ratio of 59.8%.
• This past September, Lockheed Martin increased its dividend by 10% to $0.182 quarterly.

3. Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE: HON) is a manufacturer that focuses on aerospace and consumer products.

• The company is up nearly 10% in the last three months, which outperforms the market...
• Under the new administrations plans, Honeywell may benefit from railroad and power plant construction. The company may see a boost in its security business and energy management, too.
• Honeywell offers a dividend yield of about 2.88% and has a payout ratio of 40.3%.
• The company has been paying dividends for over 100 years, since 1887 (consecutively paying for 20 years).
• It has been increasing its dividend consecutively since 2010.
• The company recently increased its dividend payout 12% to $0.665 in October of last year.

4. Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) is a defense contractor that focuses on the manufacturing of weapons and military equipment. Furthermore, the company is the worlds largest producer of missiles.

• The stock is up about 6% in the last three months...
• Raytheon currently offers a dividend yield of approximately 2% and has a payout ratio of 42.4%.
• The company has been paying a dividend since 1954 and has been committed to raising its dividend every year since 2005.
• Most recently, the stock's dividend increased by 9% to $0.7325 last March.

5. General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE: GD) is a aerospace company that produces military products including jets, submarines, and other military vehicles and weapons.

• The company is up nearly 18% in the last three months, which is in-line with its peers and above the overall market...
• General Dynamics has a dividend yield of approximately 1.7% and has a payout ratio of 31.1%.
• The stock has been paying a dividend since 1998 and has been increasing its dividend every year since its inception.
• In March, the stock increased its dividend 10% to $0.76.

6. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is a global security company that provides systems to governments, organizations, and consumers. Its products and services mix consists of many components including defense, space, and cyber.

• The stock is up about 6% in the last three months. It is expected to follow its peers and benefit from the new President's new defense budget. However, analysts have been especially bullish on Northrop, as it offers several of the products that will be used in the new budget, including the F-35 fighter jet and the B-21 stealth bomber.
• Northrop Grumman offers a dividend yield of about 1.57% and has a payout ratio of 30.7%.  
• The stock has been paying a dividend since 1943 and has been increasing its dividend every year since 2008.
• It's most recent dividend increase was last May, when it raised its dividend 13% to $0.90.

7. Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. (NYSE: HII) is the world's largest shipbuilding company for the military. In recent years, the company has provided more ships to the U.S. Navy than any other company.

• The company is up nearly 23% in the last three months, compared to the S&P's 6% gain in the same period. Under Trump's plan, it is likely that Huntington Ingalls will share the task of submarines with General Dynamics. If the Navy grows at the same rate, the company will likely be the producer of ships, too.
• Huntington Ingalls currently has a dividend yield of about 1.26% and has a dividend payout ratio of 23%.
• The stock has been increasing its dividend every year since 2013. It raised its dividend most recently in November, when it raised its dividend 20% from $0.50 to $0.60.