Elbit Systems Ltd (NASDAQ:ESLT) shares soared 6.83% in pre-market trading on Wednesday, following a series of positive announcements that showcased the company's robust financial performance and growth prospects.

The Israeli defense technology company reported impressive second-quarter results that surpassed analyst expectations. Elbit's quarterly earnings per share reached $3.23, significantly beating the consensus estimate of $2.57 and marking a 55.29% increase from the same period last year. The company's quarterly sales also exceeded forecasts, coming in at $1.973 billion, up 21.33% year-over-year and ahead of the $1.889 billion analyst estimate.

Adding to the positive momentum, Elbit Systems announced a substantial new contract worth $1.64 billion to provide defense services to an unnamed European country over a five-year period. This deal, which includes long-range precision strike artillery-rocket systems and unmanned reconnaissance capabilities, further bolsters the company's already impressive order backlog, which stood at $23.8 billion as of June 30.

Moreover, Elbit's board of directors approved a dividend increase to $0.75 per share, up from the previous $0.60, reflecting confidence in the company's financial strength and future prospects. The company also noted that ongoing conflicts in the Middle East have led to increased demand for its products from the Israeli Ministry of Defense, potentially generating additional material orders in the future.