Based on the aggregated intelligence of 170,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, military vehicle maker Force Protection (Nasdaq: FRPT) has earned a respected four-star ranking.

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

Force Protection facts

Headquarters (founded) Ladson, S.C. (1996)
Market Cap $355.5 million
Industry Construction and farm machinery and heavy trucks
Trailing-12-Month Revenue $737.3 million
Management

CEO Michael Moody (since 2008)

CFO Charles Mathis (since 2008)
Return on Capital (average, past 3 years) 11.5%
Cash/Debt $105.4 million / $0
Competitors

Textron (NYSE: TXT)

General Dynamics (NYSE: GD)

Raytheon (NYSE: RTN)

Sources: Capital IQ (a division of Standard & Poor's) and Motley Fool CAPS.

On CAPS, 94% of the 908 members who have rated Force Protection believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward. These bulls include pchop123 and Pogue1245.

Just last week, pchop123 advised Fools to pounce on Force Protection's weakness of late: "Good fundamentals, buy after this small dip this terrific value."

While Force Protection's most recent results leave much to be desired, many in our community think its financial position is solid enough to take a chance on. Thanks to a debtless balance sheet, Force Protection sports a lower financial leverage ratio (1.5) than close rivals Textron (4.1) and Oshkosh (NYSE: OSK) (2.7), as well as large, more diversified defense foes like General Dynamics (2.1), Raytheon (2.5), and SAIC (NYSE: SAI).

CAPS member Pogue1245 elaborates on the bull case:

Breaking in to the slow, rule bound and politicized government procurement process is no mean endeavor. This company has the goods, the ability to deliver and the resolve to keep at it, and I believe that they have a genuine desire to provide the best product for the troops. They are becoming a force to reckon with.

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