Lockheed fares well

Lockheed Martin Corp, the world's largest military contractor, probably will post higher fourth-quarter earnings, capping a surge in defense profits under the Bush administration that may continue with Barack Obama as commander-in-chief.

Lockheed, the Bethesda, Maryland-based maker of F-22 Raptor stealth fighters and Hellfire missiles, may report tomorrow that earnings per share rose 1 percent to $1.91, the average estimate of 17 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.

Agencies