Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, defense contractor Raytheon (NYSE: RTN) has earned a respected four-star ranking.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at Raytheon's business and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

Raytheon facts

Headquarters (founded) Waltham, Mass. (1922)
Market Cap $18.6 billion
Industry Aerospace and defense
Trailing-12-Month Revenue $24.5 billion
Management Chairman/CEO William Swanson
CFO David Wajsgras
Return on Equity (average, past 3 years) 19.3%
Cash/Debt $2.9 billion / $4.6 billion
Dividend Yield 3.6%
Competitors Boeing
Lockheed Martin
Northrop Grumman

Sources: S&P Capital IQ and Motley Fool CAPS.

On CAPS, 95% of the 1,350 members who have rated Raytheon believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward.

Just last month, one of those Fools, DrGoldin, succinctly summed up the bull case for our community:

The threat of sequestration is the bugaboo about this stock, but I'm optimistic that we'll avoid the dreaded fiscal cliff -- and if any defense company can thrive even in the face of sequestration, it's overbooked Raytheon. Healthy company, nice dividend, low payout ratio. What's not to like?  

If you want market-beating returns, you need to put together the best portfolio you can. Owning exceptional stocks is a surefire way to secure your financial future. Of course, despite a strong four-star rating, Raytheon may not be your top choice.

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Want to see how well (or not so well) the stocks in this series are performing? Follow the TrackPoisedTo CAPS account.