I’m not a fan of war. Not in theory, and certainly not in practice.

But we have to navigate the world as it exists, not how we wish it would be.

That’s especially true when it comes to the market.

The reality is that war reshapes economies, redirects capital, and accelerates investment cycles. It can destroy industries while fueling others.

That’s just a fact of history.

So today, I want to focus on something a little more actionable.

I’ll show you three market themes that are practically inevitable at this stage of the Iran conflict.

And I’ll share three stocks that will benefit from the change in money flow — regardless of what happens next.

#1: Oil Services

At the center of this conflict sits one of the most critical chokepoints in the global economy: the Strait of Hormuz.

A massive percentage of the world’s oil flows through this narrow passage. That flow has now been disrupted — and not just temporarily.

Infrastructure has been damaged. Production facilities, transport networks, and refining capacity across parts of the region have taken hits.

All of that needs to be repaired. But the bigger story is what happens after the repairs.

This conflict has exposed a structural weakness in the global energy system.

Countries and corporations alike are now being forced to confront the hard truth that they’re too reliant on a historically unstable region.

And that realization doesn’t go away when the fighting stops. It leads to diversification.

New drilling. New transport routes. New refining capacity. New supply chains that bypass geopolitical risk.

That’s where oil services companies come in.

Formerly known as Schlumberger, Slb NV (SLB) sits at the center of this global rebuild.

As the world’s largest oilfield services provider, SLB isn’t tied to one geography — it’s tied to activity.

Whether it’s restoring damaged wells in the Middle East or helping develop new production somewhere else, SLB is the company operators call when capital starts flowing.

And capital is coming.

Currently, SLB is consolidating on the back of a steep rally, offering a nice entry point.

#2: Defense

If there’s one certainty in modern conflict, it’s that wars burn through inventory faster than anyone expects.

Missiles, drones, ammunition, air defense systems, precision-guided weapons.

They’re being used at scale, and in many cases, at a pace that has shocked even military planners.

Which leads to the first wave of demand: replenishment.

Stockpiles across multiple nations have been significantly depleted, and replacing them is urgent.

But that’s just phase one. Phase two is where things get even more interesting.

This conflict hasn’t just consumed weapons — it’s revealed which ones work, which ones don’t, and where the gaps are.

Countries that once felt secure are now reassessing their vulnerabilities in real time.

Air defense systems are being upgraded. Missile capabilities are being expanded. Drone warfare is being reimagined.

And all of that requires massive investment. In particular, nations in Europe and the Middle East will spend a lot on defense.

This is where companies like Rtx Corp. (RTX), formerly Raytheon Technologies, come into focus.

RTX is deeply embedded in missile systems, air defense technologies, and aerospace infrastructure.

From Patriot missile systems to advanced radar and detection capabilities, the company sits at the intersection of the exact systems being tested and reordered right now.

And this cycle tends to last years, not months.

What we’re seeing is the early stages of a global defense reset, not just a temporary spike.

Currently, RTX has a beautiful chart displaying a pullback to the 100-day while consolidating, offering a nice entry point.

#3: Rare Earths

This is the theme that most investors overlook.

It’s not as visible as oil or as headline-driven as defense, but it may be the most important of the three.

Because none of the systems we just talked about exist without it.

Rare earth elements are essential inputs in modern military technology.

They’re used in everything from guidance systems and radar to electric motors, advanced computing chips, and high-performance magnets.

No rare earths, no missiles…

No rare earths, no fighter jets…

No rare earths, no advanced weapons systems…

And there’s a huge problem here.

China currently dominates the production and refining of many of these materials. In some cases, the control isn’t just significant, it’s overwhelming.

That creates a strategic vulnerability. One that has been talked about for years, but is now being taken far more seriously.

Because in a world where supply chains are being weaponized, relying on a geopolitical rival for critical inputs is no longer acceptable.

Which means one thing: domestic and allied production must increase.

That’s where USA Rare Earth (USAR) comes in.

USAR is working to build a fully integrated rare earth supply chain in the U.S., including magnet manufacturing capabilities that are essential for both defense and commercial applications.

If governments are serious about reshoring these capabilities, and all signs suggest they are, companies like USAR become increasingly important.

And increasingly valuable.

USAR represents a high-upside, earlier-stage play on the rare earths theme. The stock is currently consolidating with a potential breakout to previous highs.

You don’t need to predict how the war in Iran ends to understand what it changes.

Energy systems will be rebuilt and diversified.

Defense systems will be replenished and upgraded.

And supply chains, especially for critical materials, will be restructured.

These are structural shifts that create opportunity as capital moves in response to the conflict.

As investors, we can’t control the headlines. But we can control how we respond to them.

And in moments like this, the edge comes from focusing on what the world will have to spend money on next.