Government policy is tightening the screws on defense contractors that lean heavily on shareholder payouts—dividends and buybacks are now under scrutiny. This regulatory pressure creates an interesting divergence: companies like Boeing, which haven't been burning cash on these mechanisms, find themselves in a better position. The market's already pricing this in, as evidenced by the recent strength in their stock. It's a reminder that in shifting policy environments, what looked like prudent capital discipline yesterday becomes tomorrow's competitive advantage.