
Higher internal spending on the F-35 fighter program pressured earnings and sales at Lockheed Martin [LMT] in the third quarter as the company awaits a wrap on negotiations for the next production lots of the aircraft. Lockheed Martin expects to finalize the Lot 18 and 19 production contracts in the fourth quarter, which will allow it to recover sales, profit, and cash. In late 2023, the Defense Department awarded the company a $1.7 billion advanced acquisition contracts for the production…