US Military Contract Boosts Defense IT Stocks, Market Cap Surges by 800 Billion Won in a Day

KBR Inc., a U.S. government and defense technology firm, jumped more than 10% on the New York Stock Exchange to close at $41.30. In a single day, its market capitalization swelled by roughly $600 million—about KRW 800 billion—to approximately $5.2 billion (around KRW 7 trillion). Trading volume topped 1.18 million shares, exceeding the norm as short-term buying interest entered following a period of underperformance.

KBR’s Mission Technology Solutions segment recently secured two task-order modifications from the U.S. Army to extend logistics support across Europe and North America, locking in a $449 million contract. Just last week, the company won a federal transportation agency project aimed at modernizing U.S. transport and aviation safety, and in the prior month it landed an AI-based logistics and transportation-analytics contract with the Department of Transportation’s Volpe Center—marking successive wins in government digital infrastructure.

Originally spun off from Halliburton as an engineering, defense and government services provider, KBR has grown on IT and logistics contracts with the U.S. Space Force, Army and various transportation authorities. In fiscal 2025, the company reported $6.7 billion in revenue and adjusted EPS of $3.93. Alongside its 2026 guidance, KBR outlined plans to spin off its Mission Technology segment in mid-to-late 2026, further fueling expectations of a corporate restructuring.