RTX Draws 93% Calls as GE Aerospace Turns to Puts and General Dynamics Leans to Calls: Defense Data for Machine Shops (GTA Terminal, Nov. 10-11, 2026)

Defense and aerospace stocks drew attention on Wednesday as headlines on Russia-Ukraine talks and Middle East tensions moved through the market. According to GTA Terminal data from Global Traders Academy, the options money split across the three big names: RTX drew 93% calls, General Dynamics leaned to calls, and GE Aerospace, which had been call-heavy a day earlier, showed an all-put scan with an overbought chart. For machine shops, precision fabricators and the subcontractors who build parts for these primes, here is what the data says about the work pipeline.

RTX: calls dominate on a quiet dark-pool week

RTX traded down 0.7% at $198.80 on the morning of November 11, 2026. GTA's November 11 options report on RTX counted $4.3M in premium: $3.9M in calls and $307K in puts, so 93% of the money was in calls, with a put/call volume ratio of 0.57. The stock is in an uptrend, above its 50-day and 200-day averages and 12% below its 52-week high, with an RSI of 54.

The off-exchange footprint, though, has been shrinking. RTX dark-pool volume fell from 3,001,278 shares (42.1% of volume) on November 4 to 1,453,520 shares (30.7%) on November 10, below the five-session average share of 36%. Call money with fading dark-pool volume reads as interest from options traders more than a large institutional buildup.

GE Aerospace: from 92% calls to an all-put scan

On November 10 at midday, GE Aerospace traded down 1.1% at $331.81 with $8.7M in options premium, 92% of it in calls. By the next scan the lean had reversed. GTA's GE Aerospace off-exchange check for the November 10 session showed 1,449,076 shares traded in dark pools, 0.7x the 20-session average and 42.9% of volume, up from 39.1% on November 9. In that latest scan, 0% of the options premium went into calls and 100% into puts.

The chart explains some of the caution: GE is in an uptrend and 12% below its 52-week high, but its RSI of 71 is in overbought territory. After a strong run, put buying often reflects traders protecting gains rather than betting on a collapse.

General Dynamics: calls lead, dark-pool share rises

General Dynamics was steadier. GTA's General Dynamics dark-pool report counted 408,743 shares off the exchanges on November 10, 0.8x normal but 41.6% of volume, up from 35.9% on November 9. The latest scan put 81% of options premium in calls. The stock is in an uptrend, 8% below its 52-week high, with an RSI of 66.

The headline backdrop was mixed too. On Wednesday's Russia-Ukraine talks story, which ended without a breakthrough, GTA's market table showed the defense fund ITA at $72.98, up 0.9%, Lockheed Martin at $607.25, up 0.7%, and Northrop Grumman at $546.10, down 0.5%. Lockheed's live data is on its Lockheed Martin price and data page.

What it means for machine shops and aerospace subcontractors

• The big-picture lean is still positive. Two of the three primes drew call-heavy money and all three are in uptrends. Investors are not pricing a pullback in defense and aerospace work.

• But conviction is uneven. RTX's dark-pool volume has fallen by half over a week, and GE flipped to puts after an overbought run. Shops should treat this as steady demand, not a boom.

• Capacity investments can be staged. If you are adding a 5-axis machining center, a CMM or a new press brake to chase aerospace work, phasing the purchase lets you match equipment to signed purchase orders rather than market mood.

• Certification costs come first. Aerospace work rewards shops that can prove quality. Inspection and measurement equipment often pays back faster than another spindle.

GTA tracks off-exchange volume for every U.S. stock through this dark pool tracker. For related coverage, see our report on aircraft-parts pricing and TransDigm and our look at aircraft lessors and the lease-versus-buy question.

A word of caution

Options and dark-pool readings are a signal, not a guarantee. A single scan can reverse in a session, as GE's did, and headline-driven moves can fade fast. This article is general business information, not investment advice.

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