HII launched the future USS George M. Neal (DDG 131), marking a milestone in the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer program.
Quiver AI Summary
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division launched the future USS George M. Neal (DDG 131), the fourth Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, on April 1, 2026. This milestone follows extensive construction efforts, inspections, and component installations to prepare the ship for launch. The destroyer is named after Korean War veteran George M. Neal, who was awarded the Navy Cross. As a Flight III destroyer, DDG 131 features advanced systems including the AN/SPY-6 radar and Aegis Baseline 10 combat system, designed to meet modern combat challenges. The ship will now proceed to the next phase of construction involving outfitting and sea trials. HII emphasizes its commitment to enhancing U.S. national security through advanced shipbuilding and defense technologies.
Potential Positives
- Successful launch of future USS George M. Neal (DDG 131) marks a significant construction milestone for the fourth Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.
- Demonstrates commitment to delivering advanced naval capabilities with next-generation features like the Flight III AN/SPY-6 (V)1 radar system.
- Highlights the dedication and hard work of Ingalls shipbuilders, promoting employee morale and company pride.
- Positions HII as a key player in national defense and the shipbuilding industry, with a strong emphasis on supporting the U.S. Navy's operational needs.
Potential Negatives
- The press release does not mention any specific delivery timeline for the USS George M. Neal (DDG 131) following its launch, which may raise concerns about potential delays in the overall construction schedule.
- There is no information provided about the budget or financial implications related to the construction of DDG 131, which could leave stakeholders questioning the project's financial health.
- No details on future contracts or demand for additional ships are mentioned, which might leave investors unsure about HII's growth prospects in the shipbuilding sector.
FAQ
What is the USS George M. Neal (DDG 131)?
The USS George M. Neal (DDG 131) is the fourth Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer built by HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding.
When was the USS George M. Neal launched?
The USS George M. Neal was successfully launched on April 1, 2026, marking a significant construction milestone.
What features does DDG 131 have?
DDG 131 features the Flight III AN/SPY-6 (V)1 radar system and Aegis Baseline 10 combat system, designed for modern threats.
Who was George M. Neal?
George M. Neal was a Korean War veteran awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery while rescuing a fellow service member.
What are the next steps for USS George M. Neal?
After the launch, the USS George M. Neal will proceed to outfitting, systems activation, and testing in preparation for sea trials.
Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated summary of a press release distributed by GlobeNewswire. The model used to summarize this release may make mistakes. See the full release here.
$HII Insider Trading Activity
$HII insiders have traded $HII stock on the open market 8 times in the past 6 months. Of those trades, 0 have been purchases and 8 have been sales.
Here’s a breakdown of recent trading of $HII stock by insiders over the last 6 months:
- CHRISTOPHER D KASTNER (Director, President & CEO) sold 15,000 shares for an estimated $4,815,900
- CHAD N. BOUDREAUX (Ex VP & Chief Legal Officer) has made 0 purchases and 2 sales selling 5,186 shares for an estimated $2,105,995.
- THOMAS E. STIEHLE (Ex. VP and CFO) sold 4,500 shares for an estimated $1,937,430
- ERIC D. CHEWNING (EVP, Maritime Sys & Corp STR) sold 1,700 shares for an estimated $736,848
- VICTORIA D HARKER sold 1,000 shares for an estimated $316,605
- EDMOND E. JR. HUGHES (Ex VP & Chief HR Officer) sold 850 shares for an estimated $268,124
- NICOLAS G SCHUCK (Corp VP, Controller & CAO) sold 465 shares for an estimated $146,389
To track insider transactions, check out Quiver Quantitative's insider trading dashboard.
$HII Revenue
$HII had revenues of $3.5B in Q4 2025. This is an increase of 15.71% from the same period in the prior year.
You can track HII financials on Quiver Quantitative's HII stock page.
$HII Hedge Fund Activity
We have seen 414 institutional investors add shares of $HII stock to their portfolio, and 325 decrease their positions in their most recent quarter.
Here are some of the largest recent moves:
- NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT CO added 1,981,424 shares (+38526.6%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $673,822,859
- UBS AM, A DISTINCT BUSINESS UNIT OF UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC removed 665,285 shares (-74.3%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $226,243,469
- AQR CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC added 498,690 shares (+85.0%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $169,589,508
- VAN ECK ASSOCIATES CORP added 400,428 shares (+32.1%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $136,173,549
- ROKOS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLP removed 363,824 shares (-100.0%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $123,725,627
- MARSHALL WACE, LLP added 300,740 shares (+588.1%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $102,272,651
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$HII Analyst Ratings
Wall Street analysts have issued reports on $HII in the last several months. We have seen 3 firms issue buy ratings on the stock, and 0 firms issue sell ratings.
Here are some recent analyst ratings:
- Goldman Sachs issued a "Buy" rating on 01/20/2026
- Citigroup issued a "Buy" rating on 01/13/2026
- TD Cowen issued a "Buy" rating on 10/31/2025
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$HII Price Targets
Multiple analysts have issued price targets for $HII recently. We have seen 6 analysts offer price targets for $HII in the last 6 months, with a median target of $412.5.
Here are some recent targets:
- David Strauss from Wells Fargo set a target price of $400.0 on 04/01/2026
- Gautam Khanna from TD Cowen set a target price of $460.0 on 03/06/2026
- Ronald Epstein from B of A Securities set a target price of $400.0 on 02/12/2026
- John Godyn from Citigroup set a target price of $465.0 on 02/10/2026
- Noah Poponak from Goldman Sachs set a target price of $425.0 on 01/20/2026
- Seth Seifman from JP Morgan set a target price of $342.0 on 11/03/2025
Full Release
PASCAGOULA, Miss., April 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII’s (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division successfully launched future USS George M. Neal (DDG 131) today, marking a major construction milestone for the fourth Flight III Arleigh Burke -class destroyer to be built at the shipyard.
In the weeks leading up to launch, shipbuilders completed key construction work, secured major components and performed inspections to ensure the ship was ready to enter the water. The ship was then translated from land into the dry dock, where teams conducted final checks before flooding the dock and allowing the destroyer to float for the first time.
“Launching DDG 131 is a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication of our Ingalls shipbuilders,” said Chris Brown, Ingalls Shipbuilding DDG 51 program manager. “Seeing the ship reach the water for the first time is a proud moment for everyone involved and a real testament to the people who make this work possible for our U.S. Navy.”
Photos accompanying this release are available at: http://hii.com/news/hiis-ingalls-shipbuilding-launches-guided-missile-destroyer-george-m-neal-ddg-131/ .
DDG 131 is named for George M. Neal, a Korean War veteran and an aviation machinist’s mate third class who was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic actions while attempting to rescue a fellow service member under enemy fire.
As a Flight III Arleigh Burke -class destroyer, DDG 131 represents the next generation of surface combatants for the U.S. Navy, featuring the Flight III AN/SPY-6 (V)1 radar system and the Aegis Baseline 10 combat system, designed to counter threats well into the 21st century.
Following today’s launch, George M. Neal will move into the next phase of construction, which includes outfitting, systems activation and testing in preparation for sea trials.
For more information about the Arleigh Burke -class guided missile destroyer program at HII, visit: https://hii.com/what-we-do/capabilities/guided-missile-destroyers/ .
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
- HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/
- HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHII
- HII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHII
- HII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHII
-
HII on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii
Contact:
Kimberly Aguillard
[email protected]
(228) 355-5663
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dc98ba88-b5fc-4a18-8894-ccdb7e60ca5e
