Happy Tuesday! With the U.S-Iran war intensifying, defense stocks are soaring to new heights. Uncover the 10 companies getting the most attention from Wall Street, and lawmakers.

Also, Benzinga's Stock Whisper Index is out with five new picks that investors are secretly monitoring but aren’t talking about yet. See this week’s top picks, as well as several calls that surged last week.

Plus, if you’re looking to tap into high-quality international dividend stocks while benefiting from global currency moves, check out today’s sponsor.

In Today's Edition

• MARKET RECAP

• MARKET HEATMAP

• FIVE ZINGERS

• MARKET HISTORY

10 Companies In Focus As Defense Stocks Hit Records — Here's The Congress Members Who Own Them

Defense stocks and ETFs are firing on all cylinders, racing to record highs as the war between the U.S.–Iran intensifies, leaving Wall Street recalibrating how long the war may last, and what it means for the market going forward.

While market leaders such as Lockheed Martin, RTX and Palantir are grabbing headlines, there’s 10 other stocks that investors are quietly scooping up, including a number of members of Congress.

Click here to see the 10 defense stocks gaining momentum — and which lawmakers own them.

Enhance Your International Income With The Xtrackers MSCI EAFE High Dividend Yield Equity ETF (HDEF)

The U.S. dollar is losing momentum — and when the dollar softens, currencies like the euro and yen often strengthen. For income‑focused investors looking to benefit from companies that pay dividends in appreciating currencies, the Xtrackers MSCI EAFE High Dividend Yield Equity ETF (HDEF) could offer a straightforward solution.

HDEF is a low‑cost ETF with an expense ratio of just 0.09%, providing targeted exposure to high‑quality, dividend‑paying companies outside the U.S. What makes it interesting is that the fund is unhedged, meaning investors have two potential sources of return:

1. The performance of the underlying dividend‑paying stocks

2. Currency appreciation when international currencies strengthen against the dollar

That means HDEF gives investors the opportunity to earn income and capture additional upside from global currency moves.

To learn more about the ETF, click here.

This is a paid ad. Please see 17b disclosure here for more information.

Yesterday: U.S. indexes mostly finished higher Monday, staging a sharp reversal as investors bought the dip following a steep selloff at the open. The Dow almost made it back into positive territory after opening the session down more than 600 points, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq finished in positive territory. Defense and energy stocks led gains, with Northrop Grumman and Palantir among the top performers, with Nvidia supporting the broader market. In addition, oil prices surged before fading most of the day to finish up 6%. This comes despite Iran claiming the Strait of Hormuz — a critical global oil transit route — is “closed” and warned they would attack any vessel attempting to pass through it. When asked about the war, President Trump noted that fighting could last several weeks, heightening geopolitical uncertainty.

On Our Radar: Analysts will be paying attention to speeches from several fed members (Williams, Kashkari, and Schmid) for signals on the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook and the trajectory of interest rates. On the earnings front, all eyes will be on CrowdStrike (CRWD), Ross (ROST), and GitLab (GTLB) which all report after the market close today.

Shares of Palantir (PLTR), Cohrent (COHR) and Circle (CRCL) were some of the biggest winners, while cruise operators — such as Norwegian (NCLH), Carnival (CCL), and Royal Caribbean (RCL) — were among the day’s top laggards. Here’s a look at some of the biggest winners and losers on Monday.

See how the market is moving with our interactive heatmap.

Double Barrel: Shares of Battalion Oil skyrocketed more than 100% as Middle East tensions push oil prices higher. Read on to see how much higher shares could go.

Flight Risk: Delta, United, and American are feeling the heat as Middle East strikes disrupt flights worldwide. Discover which airlines are most exposed and which ones are positioned for a big rebound after the war is over.

Barrel Boost: Chevron might be sitting in the driver’s seat for Venezuela’s oil comeback. See why its unique positioning could turn a volatile market into a major profit engine.

Upside Alert: Shares of Duolingo have taken a nosedive over the past year, but “smart money” is suddenly talking a different language. Click to decode the market’s next move.

Stock Of The Day: Shares of Blackstone have tumbled over the past month, but a familiar support level could signal a major rebound. Could this be the long-awaited bottom?

Short-Term Strategies To Day Trade Q1 And Swing Trade Q2

Markets aren’t trending cleanly. Big moves are happening fast, but follow-through hasn’t lasted. This Wednesday, March 4, Chris Capre goes live to show how he’s day trading Q1 volatility while building swing trades for Q2. Learn how he reads key price levels, volatility signals, and sector shifts to structure short-term options trades with a plan.

On This Day In 1876…

Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone in 1876, laying the foundation for one of the most transformative industries in America. In 1885, he incorporated AT&T which built a long-distance network that connected local telephone systems across the United States. Over the following decades, AT&T has grown into one of the largest and most influential companies in the world, shaping communications, technology innovation, and capital markets. As of today, the company has a market cap of $200 billion.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“The essence of investment management is the management of risks, not the management of returns.“

— Benjamin Graham

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