- Revenue $10.6 billion, up 6% year over year
- Net earnings $836 million, diluted EPS $3.04
- $1.3 billion net cash provided by operating activities
- Record-high $95.6 billion backlog, 1.4-to-1 book-to-bill
RESTON, Va. – General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) today reported third-quarter 2023 net earnings of $836 million on revenue of $10.6 billion. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) were $3.04.
“We continue to see strong demand and steady revenue growth across the business, resulting in significant growth in backlog,” said Phebe N. Novakovic, chairman and chief executive officer. “Both operating earnings and net earnings increased over last quarter, and cash from operations was a highlight.”
Cash
Net cash provided by operating activities in the quarter totaled $1.3 billion, or 158% of net earnings. After $227 million in capital expenditures, the company generated free cash flow from operations of $1.1 billion, or 131% of net earnings. During the quarter, the company repaid $500 million in fixed-rate notes, paid $363 million in dividends, and used $56 million to repurchase shares.
Backlog
Orders remained strong across the company with a consolidated book-to-bill ratio, defined as orders divided by revenue, of 1.4-to-1 for the quarter, with particular strength in the Marine Systems and Aerospace segments. Company-wide backlog of $95.6 billion was the highest in the company’s history. Estimated potential contract value, which represents management’s estimate of additional value in unfunded indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts and unexercised options, was $37.3 billion. Total estimated contract value, the sum of all backlog components, was $132.9 billion at the end of the quarter.
Aerospace received $2.9 billion in new orders during the quarter, growing backlog to $20.1 billion.
Significant awards in the quarter for the three defense segments included a U.S. Navy contract for an undisclosed amount for construction of three Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers; $1.5 billion in contracts for Virginia-class submarine lead yard services, development studies and design efforts, as well as spare parts for maintenance availabilities; $140 million, with a maximum potential value of $1.3 billion, for Columbia-class submarine advanced nuclear plant studies (ANPS); $1.1 billion, with maximum potential value up to $1.9 billion, for munitions, ordnance, and the establishment of additional production capacity; a Department of Homeland Security contract with maximum potential value of $710 million to continue infrastructure modernization of its St. Elizabeth’s campus in Washington, D.C.; and $365 million, with maximum potential value of $775 million, for several key contracts for classified customers.
About General Dynamics
Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, General Dynamics is a global aerospace and defense company that offers a broad portfolio of products and services in business aviation; ship construction and repair; land combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions; and technology products and services. General Dynamics employs more than 100,000 people worldwide and generated $39.4 billion in revenue in 2022. More information is available at GD.com.
WEBCAST INFORMATION: General Dynamics will webcast its third-quarter 2023 financial results conference call today at 9 a.m. EDT. The webcast will be a listen-only audio event available at GD.com. An on-demand replay of the webcast will be available by telephone two hours after the end of the call through November 1, 2023, at 800-770-2030 (international: +1 647-362-9199), conference ID 4299949. Charts furnished to investors and securities analysts in connection with the announcement of financial results are available at GD.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements (FLS), including statements about the company’s future operational and financial performance, which are based on management’s expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “believes,” “forecasts,” “scheduled,” “outlook,” “estimates,” “should” and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify FLS. In making FLS, we rely on assumptions and analyses based on our experience and perception of historical trends; current conditions and expected future developments; and other factors, estimates and judgments we consider reasonable and appropriate based on information available to us at the time. FLS are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. FLS are not guarantees of future performance and involve factors, risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual future results and trends may differ materially from what is forecast in the FLS. All FLS speak only as of the date they were made. We do not undertake any obligation to update or publicly release revisions to FLS to reflect events, circumstances or changes in expectations after the date of this press release. Additional information regarding these factors is contained in the company’s filings with the SEC, and these factors may be revised or supplemented in future SEC filings. In addition, this press release contains some financial measures not prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). While we believe these non-GAAP metrics provide useful information for investors, there are limitations associated with their use, and our calculations of these metrics may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Non-GAAP metrics should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, GAAP measures. Reconciliations to comparable GAAP measures and other information relating to our non-GAAP measures are included in other filings with the SEC, which are available at investorrelations.gd.com.