📝 Executive Summary
Rheinmetall AG, Europe's top-performing defense stock, confronts a sharp reality check as lofty valuations collide with slowing order intake and margin pressure. The article argues that the 2026 rally, driven by hopes of sustained European military spending, is faltering as investors reassess long-term growth assumptions. With the stock trading at premium multiples, any hiccup in defense budgets or contract delays could trigger further downside.