For the last few days, I was fighting with my feed on TikTok. No matter how many times I clicked “not interested” it remained the same, pushing the same shit over and over. It was full of day trading and “best stocks to invest in right now!” content.

Most of the “best” stocks contained:

  • $RTX (Raytheon)
  • $PLTR (Palantir)
  • $KTOS (Kratos Defense)
  • $GD (General Dynamics)
  • $LMT (Lockheed Martin)

… and so on.

You get the point - “defence” systems, autonomous warfare, missiles, and aircrafts.

Does your stock portfolio consist of any of those aforementioned? If it does, you’re probably satisfied with your investments and the profits they’ve brought you. Well, congratulations, enjoy the money.

But is investing in war ethical?

Some would argue that investing in war stocks supports national security, or that it stabilises the portfolio in turbulent times. Missile defence or air-defence systems are designed to prevent attacks or reduce casualties. Under that view, investment supports the ability of countries to defend themselves rather than encouraging war.

However, the justification for these companies’ products depends on the assumption that conflict is inevitable, while they manufacture the very weapons that create the possibility of war.

Investing in companies that produce weapons used in wars, causing destruction and civilian harm, should never be considered neutral or even patriotic. Profiting from these stocks means financially benefiting from violence and conflict.

Some might say, “I only have a $1,000 investment - I don’t influence anything anyways” True, your individual impact is small, but collectively, shareholders sustain these companies and enable the continued production of weapons.

Would you be proud telling people “Yes, I earn money because people in another country are being torn apart by missiles manufactured by the company I invested in.”?

Could you sleep at night knowing that your investment helped to develop a drone that blew someone’s father’s head off?1

Even if defence companies claim to provide security or deterrence, the scale of profit incentivises the production of even more lethal systems.

If you care about where your money goes, consider redirecting investments toward companies that advance renewable energy, preserve wildlife, and support social development, or use your shareholder voice to push for ethical practices

Profit should never come at the cost of someone else’s life.

Fuck war.

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  1. While buying a stock doesn’t directly fund a drone, it supports the company’s overall growth and profitability, which enables the continued production of weapons. Major shareholders can influence company decisions through voting, proposals, or pressure on management, but for large defence contractors, this influence rarely changes core weapons production, which is primarily driven by long-term government contracts. ↩