Stock Spotlight: BAE Systems 'strategically positioned' to profit from rising defence demand

ESG concerns weigh on the stock

BAE Systems is well-placed to benefit from increased defence spending in coming years, despite ESG concerns weighing on the company.

As the UK presses on with the trilateral AUKUS security pact, the country's largest defence contractor was awarded a £3.95bn contract to develop a new generation of attack submarines last week. Charles Woodburn, chief executive of BAE, said the funding "reinforces the government's support to our UK submarine enterprise and allows us to mature the design, and invest in critical skills and infrastructure". The AUKUS alliance, the military collaboration between Australia, the UK and the US announced in 2021 for the Indo-Pacific region, should benefit BAE over the long-term, said Emma Mog...