Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc vs Illumina, Inc. — how do they compare? Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc trades at $264.8 (market cap $10.44B), while Illumina, Inc. trades at $278.17 (market cap $39.95B). The key difference: Illumina, Inc. is far larger — about 3.8× Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc's market cap, and Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc pays a 2.08% dividend while Illumina, Inc. pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc for 28 Days and Illumina, Inc. for 83 Days on average.
| HII | ILMN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $10.44B | $39.95B |
Volume | 440,462 | 3,169,503 |
Sector | Industrials | Health |
52-Week High | $453.73 | $293.69 |
52-Week Low | $257.05 | $91.00 |
Typical Hold Time | 28 Days | 83 Days |
Enterprise Value | $13.37B | $41.31B |
Dividend Yield | 2.08% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
HII trades at $265.02, up 1.67% with a bearish technical signal despite recent earnings beats. The company maintains strong fundamentals with a $57.3B backlog, 5.01% net margin, and attractive valuation at P/E 15.78. Recent contract wins including the $5.1B Truman RCOH and 10 ROMULUS USVs provide revenue visibility. Technical indicators show resistance at $268 with support at $261, while moving averages signal bearish pressure.
HII presents a compelling value opportunity with analyst consensus target of $363.67 (37% upside) and 40.74% buy ratings. Strong defense budget tailwinds and contract momentum offset near-term technical weakness. Risks include execution challenges on large contracts and defense spending volatility. The stock offers defensive exposure with dividend yield and consistent earnings growth.
ILMN trades at $264.40, down 1.25% on the day, but remains near its recent 52-week high of $278.99 (Defense World, 2026-10-01). The stock has surged 94.9% year-to-date (Zacks Investment Research, 2026-09-24), supported by strong earnings beats in recent quarters and a bullish technical trend. Fundamentals show a significant turnaround, with 2025 net income reaching $850 million after prior losses, though valuation ratios like a P/E of 49.36 are elevated. The pending inclusion in the S&P 500 (PRNewsWire, 2026-09-04) adds a positive catalyst.
The outlook is positive, driven by sequencing growth, AI integration in genomics, and improved profitability. However, risks include high valuation sensitivity, cost volatility, and competitive pressures in the life sciences sector. Analyst consensus is bullish with a 54% buy rating, but the average price target of $241 suggests limited near-term upside from current levels.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Huntington Ingalls is the largest military shipbuilder in the U.S. and a provider of professional services to government and industry partners, specializing in nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers.
Read more on HII →Illumina provides tools and services to analyze genetic material with life science and clinical lab applications. The company generates over 90% of its revenue from sequencing instruments, consumables, and services. Illumina's high-throughput technology enables whole genome sequencing in humans and other large organisms. Its lower throughput tools enable applications that require smaller data outputs, such as viral and cancer tumor screening. Illumina also sells microarrays (less than 10% of sales) that enable lower-cost, focused genetic screening with primarily consumer and agricultural applications.
Read more on ILMN →