1133 ET - L3Harris Technologies having Sam Mehta replace Chris Kubasik as CEO could be a catalyst for the company closing its performance gap against rival defense contractors, Vertical Research Partners analysts Robert Stallard and Karl Oehlschlaeger say in a research note. Kubasik's ouster is tied to a violation of the company's code of conduct, and investors probably don't think it will affect the underlying business, the analysts say. But it isn't going unnoticed that L3Harris lagged its U.S. defense peers under Kubasik's leadership, they say. The analysts have a high regard for Sam Mehta, the president of L3Harris' space and mission systems. They say he has been an effective manager and a good communicator.