Drone Pure-Play and Drone-Focused Stocks

Drone-related companies range from pure-play specialists in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), tactical/military drones, autonomous systems, and supporting tech (e.g., communications, components) to larger defense/aerospace firms with significant drone exposure. 

Pure-play or high-exposure drone companies tend to be smaller and more volatile, often tied to defense contracts, while big defense primes offer broader stability but less direct "drone pure-play" upside.

Key Pure-Play or Drone-Focused Stocks 

• AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) — Leading manufacturer of small unmanned aircraft systems (e.g., Switchblade loitering munitions, Puma reconnaissance drones). Strong U.S. military ties and one of the most frequently cited pure-play options. Market cap often in the $8–9B range.
• Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NASDAQ: KTOS) — Focuses on unmanned systems, including high-speed/target drones and attritable combat platforms (e.g., XQ-58 Valkyrie). Market cap often ~$10B+.
• Red Cat Holdings (NASDAQ: RCAT) — Specializes in small military drones (e.g., Black Widow for short-range reconnaissance). Has won U.S. Army contracts and benefits from "Buy American" pushes. Smaller cap (~$1B range).
• Ondas Holdings (NASDAQ: ONDS) — Provides autonomous drone networking, communications, and counter-drone systems. Involved in defense and industrial applications.
• Draganfly (NASDAQ: DPRO) — Develops drones for public safety, industrial, and other uses. Smaller/micro-cap player.
• Unusual Machines (NYSE: UMAC) — Supplies drone components (e.g., video goggles) and operates in the drone ecosystem; has seen volatility with sector news.
• EHang (NASDAQ: EH) — Chinese company focused on autonomous aerial vehicles (eVTOL/passenger drones) for urban air mobility and logistics. Traded on U.S. exchanges but carries China-related risks.
• AIRO Group Holdings (NASDAQ: AIRO)

Large Defense/Aerospace Companies with Drone ExposureThese have substantial drone programs but are diversified (fighters, missiles, satellites, etc.), so drone revenue is a smaller portion:

• Boeing (NYSE: BA)
• Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC)
• Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)
• Textron (NYSE: TXT)
• L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX

ETFs:  

• REX Drone ETF (DRNZ): A U.S.-listed fund that focuses directly on companies manufacturing and developing drones, counter-drone systems, and aerial automation. It heavily weights pure-play companies alongside broader aerospace, defense, and AI-driven applications.

• Defiance Drone & Modern Warfare ETF (Ticker: JEDI): A thematic U.S. ETF that provides exposure to drones, autonomous defense systems, and modern warfare technology. Its index methodology targets high-growth capabilities and emerging technology pivoting to defense.

Closed ETFs:

• AdvisorShares Drone Technology ETF (UAV) —  was officially closed and liquidated in June 2023. AdvisorShares liquidated the actively managed fund because it failed to attract sufficient investor assets.

Eli Lilly (LLY) : retatrutide

Eli Lilly's next-generation obesity drug, retatrutide (a triple agonist targeting GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon receptors), has shown record-breaking weight loss results in Phase 3 trials.

Key Results from Recent Trials

• TRIUMPH-4 (obesity + knee osteoarthritis, Dec 2025): In a 68-week study, the highest dose (12 mg) led to an average 28.7% body weight loss (about 71.2 lbs / 32 kg from a baseline of ~248 lbs) among those who stayed on treatment. Including dropouts, it was around 23.7%. It also significantly reduced knee pain (up to 75.8% improvement on WOMAC scores).
• TRIUMPH-1 (general obesity/overweight with comorbidities, May 2026): Highest dose achieved ~28.3% weight loss over 80 weeks. Over 45% of participants lost 30%+ of body weight, and many reached a BMI under 30. This puts it in bariatric surgery territory for many patients.
• Diabetes trial (TRANSCEND-T2D-1, Mar 2026): Strong A1C reductions (1.7–2.0%) plus up to ~16.8% weight loss (36.6 lbs) at 40 weeks, with weight loss still ongoing.

These results outperform current blockbusters like Zepbound (tirzepatide, dual GIP/GLP-1, typically ~15–22% weight loss) and Wegovy (semaglutide, ~15–20%). Retatrutide's addition of glucagon receptor agonism appears to boost fat burning and energy expenditure.Side Effects and TolerabilityGastrointestinal issues (nausea, etc.) are common, similar to other incretins, with rates up to ~42%. Discontinuation rates were notably higher than in earlier trials—some participants stopped due to perceived excessive weight loss or skin-related side effects. This is a key watchpoint for real-world use.Context and OutlookRetatrutide is part of Lilly's deep obesity pipeline (alongside the oral GLP-1 orforglipron and others like eloralintide). Regulatory filings are expected later in 2026, with potential approval/launch in 2027.These "eye-popping" results highlight rapid progress in multi-agonist drugs, but questions remain around long-term safety, muscle preservation, maintenance after stopping, and broad accessibility/cost. 

Ebola-related shares

Ebola is extremely infectious but not extremely contagious. It is infectious, because an infinitesimally small amount can cause illness. Laboratory experiments on nonhuman primates suggest that even a single virus may be enough to trigger a fatal infection.

Ebola can be considered moderately contagious, because the virus is not transmitted through the air. The most contagious diseases, such as measles or influenza, virus particles are airborne.

Companies that are part of the growing effort to find an effective treatment for the deadly Ebola virus:

Pharmaceuticals

• Ibio (IBIO) - may become part of the government's effort to ramp up production of ZMapp. The experimental drug was developed by privately-held Mapp Biophamaceuticals and used to save the lives of two American health workers who were infected but recovered. 
• Mapp Biopharmaceutical (private): Mapp’s therapy for Ebola, known as ZMapp, is getting a lot of attention for its ability to treat the disease, even if the company is getting no mileage in the stock market. ZMapp has been was used to treat two U.S. health workers who were infected but recovered. Three Liberians were treated with ZMapp, one of whom died. An elderly Spanish priest died after using the drug, but a British nurse working in Sierra Leone recovered after receiving ZMapp.

Others

• Lakeland Industries (LAKE) - hazmat-suit maker
• Alpha Pro Tech (APT) -  face mask maker

Note

• Tekmira Pharmaceuticals (TKMR) was working on the TKM-Ebola drug.  Development of TKM-Ebola was terminated in mid June 2015 during a Phase II trial, for lack of efficacy.  The next month, Tekmira changed its name to Arbutus Biopharma.

 

 

Current ebolavirus outbreak (May 2026)A Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak (a different strain from Zaire) in DRC and Uganda prompted a rapid WHO PHEIC declaration. Existing Zaire-specific vaccines (Merck, J&J) and treatments (Regeneron, etc.) do not directly protect against or treat Bundibugyo. No approved countermeasures exist for this strain yet, though experimental options (e.g., potential monoclonal antibodies, remdesivir from Gilead/GILD, or candidates from Moderna/MRNA) are under evaluation.This limits immediate revenue upside for existing products but could drive broader R&D funding, stockpiling, and preparedness contracts for big pharma and biotechs involved in filovirus research.
Previous Ebola outbreaks

Merck & Co. (MRK) is the primary publicly traded company with a direct, approved Ebola vaccine (Ervebo/rVSV-ZEBOV), targeted against Zaire ebolavirus.Ervebo is WHO-prequalified, FDA-approved (including for children), and part of a global stockpile managed by the International Coordinating Group (ICG) for outbreak response. Merck has ongoing partnerships, such as a recent $30 million CEPI collaboration (announced Jan 2026) to improve manufacturing, lower costs, and enhance accessibility for low- and middle-income countries.Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has a two-dose regimen (Zabdeno/Mvabea, Ad26.ZEBOV + MVA-BN-Filo) also approved/prequalified for Zaire ebolavirus, developed with Bavarian Nordic. It is less ideal for rapid outbreak response due to the dosing schedule but supports broader preparedness.Regeneron (REGN) has Inmazeb (REGN-EB3), an FDA-approved monoclonal antibody cocktail treatment for Zaire ebolavirus, with stockpiling deals and donations for at-risk countries. Ridgeback Biotherapeutics has Ebanga (mAb114), another approved treatment (not publicly traded).