HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding Marks 140 Years of Service to the Nation
Rhea-AI Summary
HII (NYSE: HII) celebrates 140 years of Newport News Shipbuilding on Jan. 28, 2026, tracing origins to Jan. 28, 1886 when Collis P. Huntington founded the yard.
The shipyard has delivered more than 800 ships, builds and maintains nuclear aircraft carriers and submarines, spans 550 acres along two miles of the James River, employs 26,000, and maintains sites in Norfolk, VA and Goose Creek, SC.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – HII
In the Jan 28 session, HII gained 0.61%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 22 | Operations expansion | Positive | -1.3% | Charleston Operations one-year mark and production outperformance at new facility. |
| Jan 21 | Program milestone | Positive | +1.7% | Completion of builder’s sea trials for USS Zumwalt after modernization. |
| Jan 20 | Contract selection | Positive | -2.4% | Mission Technologies named on ATSP5 advanced microelectronics IDIQ contract. |
| Jan 13 | Major IDIQ award | Positive | +3.4% | Award of SHIELD IDIQ with a $151 billion ceiling from Missile Defense Agency. |
| Jan 13 | Tech demonstration | Positive | +3.4% | Successful automated launch and recovery demo for REMUS AUV using Sea Launcher. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent defense and contract wins generally saw positive reactions, but there were notable selloffs on some strong news, indicating mixed follow-through on positive announcements.
Over the past weeks, HII reported several operational and contract milestones. On Jan 13, a large SHIELD IDIQ award and a REMUS Sea Launcher demo both coincided with a +3.37% move. On Jan 20, selection for a 10-year, $25.4 billion microelectronics IDIQ was followed by a -2.42% reaction. Shipbuilding progress, including USS Zumwalt sea trials on Jan 21 and Charleston Operations expansion on Jan 22, saw mixed price responses. Today’s 140-year milestone fits into this narrative as brand/legacy reinforcement rather than a direct financial catalyst.
Key Terms
nuclear-powered aircraft carriers technical
tugboat technical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Jan. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII’s (NYSE: HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division is marking 140 years of service to the nation today.
On Jan. 28, 1886, Collis P. Huntington, a businessman whose investments enabled completion of the U.S. transcontinental railroad, turned his focus to shipbuilding, establishing what was first chartered as Chesapeake Dry Dock and Construction Co. and was then renamed Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company.
Several years later, the shipyard delivered its first vessel, the tugboat Dorothy, named for the daughter of William C. Whitney, the 31st Secretary of the Navy. Today, Dorothy sits outside the gates of NNS as a reminder of the shipyard’s humble beginnings.
“For 140 years NNS shipbuilders have answered the call to serve our nation,” NNS President Kari Wilkinson said. “Generations of families have carried forward the noble profession of shipbuilding, proudly maintaining the Newport News Shipbuilding legacy. To this day, we are grateful for all of the shipbuilders who served before us and built what we work so hard today to sustain.”
Since its founding, NNS has delivered more than 800 ships to commercial and military customers. Today, the shipyard designs, builds, maintains, refuels and inactivates nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines for the U.S. Navy.
Photos accompanying this release are available at: http://hii.com/news/hiis-newport-news-shipbuilding-marks-140-years-of-service-to-the-nation/,
Spanning 550 acres along two miles of the James River, NNS employs 26,000 shipbuilders and is the largest industrial employer in the commonwealth of Virginia. The shipyard also operates additional locations in Norfolk, Virginia, and Goose Creek, South Carolina, to support production.
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:
Todd Corillo
Todd.T.Corillo@hii-co.com
(757) 688-3220
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/681f097f-38e3-4470-9862-009764d4608d
