About BAE Systems plc (BA)
BAE Systems plc is a Aerospace & Defense company operating in the Industrials sector. The company is headquartered in Camberley, United Kingdom. BA has been publicly traded since 1988, giving it 38+ years of trading history.
BAE Systems plc (BA) has been publicly traded since 1988, making it a 38-year-old public company. It operates in the Aerospace & Defense industry within the Industrials sector. The company is headquartered in Camberley, United Kingdom and employs approximately 111,400 people. With a market capitalization of £67 billion, BA is a large established company.
BA trades on the London Stock Exchange and is classified as a large-cap-cap stock with a market capitalization of approximately £67 billion. The company employs approximately 111,400 people worldwide.
Key Statistics
- Current Price
- £2,307.00
- Market Cap
- £67.26B
- 52-Week High
- £2,318.00
- 52-Week Low
- £1,394.00
- Sector
- Industrials
- Industry
- Aerospace & Defense
BA Investment Performance
BA has gained 34.6% year-to-date in 2026. Over the past 5 years, a £1,000 investment in BA would have grown to £4,612, representing a 361.1% total return. Since its IPO in 1988, a £1,000 investment would now be worth £23,117.
£1,000 Invested in BAE Systems plc (BA)
How much would £1,000 invested in BA be worth today?
What would £1,000 invested in BA 1 year ago be worth today?
A £1,000 investment in BAE Systems plc (BA) in 2025 would be worth £1,410 as of March 2026, representing a +41.0% total return.
What would £1,000 invested in BA 3 years ago be worth today?
A £1,000 investment in BAE Systems plc (BA) in 2023 would be worth £2,549 as of March 2026, representing a +154.9% total return.
What would £1,000 invested in BA 5 years ago be worth today?
A £1,000 investment in BAE Systems plc (BA) in 2021 would be worth £4,612 as of March 2026, representing a +361.1% total return.
What would £1,000 invested in BA 10 years ago be worth today?
A £1,000 investment in BAE Systems plc (BA) in 2016 would be worth £4,575 as of March 2026, representing a +357.5% total return.
What would £1,000 invested in BA at IPO be worth today?
A £1,000 investment in BAE Systems plc (BA) at IPO would be worth £23,117 as of March 2026, representing a +2211.7% total return.
Monthly Returns Heatmap
Over the past 37+ years (452 months), BAE Systems plc (BA) has averaged a monthly return of +4.02% with a median return of +0.88%. The stock had 248 positive months (55%) and 202 negative months (45%). The best month in BA's history was April 1997 with a +1437.3% return, while the worst was March 1997 at -93.3%. Historically, April tends to be the strongest month (averaging +41.4%), and September the weakest (-1.7%).
BA's longest winning streak was 9 consecutive months of gains, while its longest losing streak was 10 consecutive months of losses. The best full year was 1997 with a cumulative return of +1374.0%, and the worst was 2002 at -74.3%.
Annual Returns
Over 38 years of trading history, BAE Systems plc (BA) has delivered an average annual return of +14.68% with a median return of +10.05%. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is +8.52%. The stock posted gains in 24 years (63%) and losses in 14 years (37%).
BA's best year was 1993 with a +150.36% gain, while the worst was 2002 at -59.92%. The longest streak of consecutive positive years was 6, and the longest losing streak was 4 years. BA achieved double-digit gains (10%+) in 19 years. It suffered double-digit losses in 10 years.
| Year | Return | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +34.60% | £1,714.00 | £2,307.00 |
| 2025 | +49.27% | £1,148.28 | £1,714.00 |
| 2024 | +3.45% | £1,110.03 | £1,148.28 |
| 2023 | +29.77% | £855.41 | £1,110.03 |
| 2022 | +55.74% | £549.24 | £855.41 |
| 2021 | +12.53% | £488.09 | £549.24 |
| 2020 | -13.42% | £563.71 | £488.09 |
| 2019 | +23.05% | £458.12 | £563.71 |
| 2018 | -19.83% | £571.44 | £458.12 |
| 2017 | -3.09% | £589.68 | £571.44 |
| 2016 | +18.44% | £497.87 | £589.68 |
| 2015 | +5.89% | £470.17 | £497.87 |
| 2014 | +8.56% | £433.10 | £470.17 |
| 2013 | +29.18% | £335.27 | £433.10 |
| 2012 | +18.24% | £283.55 | £335.27 |
| 2011 | -13.56% | £328.01 | £283.55 |
| 2010 | -8.16% | £357.17 | £328.01 |
| 2009 | -4.54% | £374.14 | £357.17 |
| 2008 | -24.32% | £494.39 | £374.14 |
| 2007 | +17.00% | £422.56 | £494.39 |
| 2006 | +11.55% | £378.79 | £422.56 |
| 2005 | +65.67% | £228.64 | £378.79 |
| 2004 | +37.05% | £166.82 | £228.64 |
| 2003 | +35.77% | £122.87 | £166.82 |
| 2002 | -59.92% | £306.58 | £122.87 |
| 2001 | -18.96% | £378.30 | £306.58 |
| 2000 | -6.80% | £405.92 | £378.30 |
| 1999 | +7.31% | £378.25 | £405.92 |
| 1998 | -11.89% | £429.30 | £378.25 |
| 1997 | +35.56% | £316.68 | £429.30 |
| 1996 | +60.87% | £196.85 | £316.68 |
| 1995 | +86.18% | £105.73 | £196.85 |
| 1994 | +4.27% | £101.41 | £105.73 |
| 1993 | +150.36% | £40.50 | £101.41 |
| 1992 | -48.44% | £78.55 | £40.50 |
| 1991 | -37.84% | £126.38 | £78.55 |
| 1990 | -13.55% | £146.19 | £126.38 |
| 1989 | +41.69% | £103.18 | £146.19 |
BA Investment Analysis: Valuation, Risk & Dividends
Key factors to consider when evaluating BAE Systems plc as an investment
Valuation
BA currently trades at a trailing P/E ratio of 33.9, which is considered high relative to the broader market. The forward P/E of 24.6 suggests analysts expect earnings to be lower in the coming year. The price-to-book ratio stands at 586.3. The price-to-sales ratio is 2.4.
Dividends
BAE Systems plc pays a dividend to shareholders with a current yield of 1.57%. This translates to £0.36 per share annually. The payout ratio of 50% indicates sustainable dividend coverage.
Risk & Volatility
BA has a beta of 0.01, indicating it is less volatile than the overall market. The stock's 52-week range is £1394.00 to £2318.00, and it currently trades near its 52-week high.
Analyst Ratings
Based on 18 analyst opinions, BA has a consensus "buy" rating. The average price target of £2288.33 suggests 0.8% downside from current levels.
Frequently Asked Questions: BA
What sector is BA in? ▼
BA operates in the Industrials sector, specifically in the Aerospace & Defense industry.
How has BA performed historically? ▼
Over 38 years of trading history, BA has posted gains in 24 years (63% of the time). The best year was 1993 with a +150.4% return. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
How can I invest in BA? ▼
You can invest in BA through any brokerage account that offers access to the London Stock Exchange. Popular options include commission-free brokers like Fidelity, Charles Schwab, or Robinhood (US), or international brokers like Interactive Brokers. You can buy individual shares or invest through ETFs that hold BA.
Does BA pay dividends? ▼
BAE Systems plc pays a dividend to shareholders with a current yield of 1.57%. This translates to £0.36 per share annually. The payout ratio of 50% indicates sustainable dividend coverage.
What does BAE Systems plc do? ▼
BAE Systems plc is a Aerospace & Defense company operating in the Industrials sector. The company is headquartered in Camberley, United Kingdom.
What sector is BA in? ▼
BA operates in the Industrials sector, specifically in the Aerospace & Defense industry.
When did BA go public? ▼
BAE Systems plc went public in 1988, making it a 38-year-old public company as of 2026.
How much would £1,000 invested in BA 5 years ago be worth today? ▼
A £1,000 investment in BA five years ago would be worth approximately £4,612 today, representing a 361.1% return.
Does BA pay dividends? ▼
Yes, BAE Systems plc pays a dividend with a current yield of 1.57%, which is £0.36 per share annually.
What is BA's market cap? ▼
BAE Systems plc has a market capitalization of £67 billion, classifying it as a large-cap company.
What is BA's P/E ratio? ▼
BA has a trailing P/E ratio of 33.9 and a forward P/E of 24.6, which measures how much investors are paying per dollar of earnings.
Is BA a buy, hold, or sell? ▼
Based on 18 opinions, BA has a consensus "buy" rating. The average price target is £2288.33.
Last updated: 3/14/2026