General Dynamics Reports First-Quarter 2026 Financial Results
Rhea-AI Summary
General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) reported Q1 2026 revenue of $13.5 billion, up 10.3% year-over-year, and diluted EPS of $4.10, up 12%. Operating earnings were $1.4 billion with a 10.5% operating margin. Cash from operations was $2.2 billion (192% of net earnings).
Orders totaled $26.6 billion; consolidated book-to-bill was 2-to-1. Total estimated contract value and backlog were $188.4 billion (backlog $130.8B; estimated potential $57.6B). The company paid $405 million in dividends, invested $203 million in capital expenditures, and ended the quarter with $3.7 billion cash.
Positive
- Revenue +10.3% YoY to $13.5 billion
- Diluted EPS $4.10, up 12% year-over-year
- Operating cash $2.2 billion (192% of net earnings)
- Orders $26.6B and consolidated book-to-bill 2.0x
- Total estimated contract value $188.4B (backlog $130.8B)
Negative
- Aerospace book-to-bill 1.2x, weaker than defense segments
- Estimated potential contract value $57.6B represents unfunded/option value
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
GD was up 0.37% pre-news while key Aerospace & Defense peers like NOC, LMT, TDG, HWM and BA all showed negative moves (from -0.29% to -1.19%), pointing to stock-specific strength rather than a sector-wide bid.
Previous Earnings Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-28 | Earnings release | Positive | -2.7% | Q4 2025 and full-year results with double-digit growth in revenue and EPS. |
| 2025-10-24 | Earnings release | Positive | +2.7% | Q3 2025 revenue and EPS growth, margin expansion and strong cash flow. |
| 2025-07-23 | Earnings release | Positive | +6.5% | Q2 2025 revenue and EPS growth with margin expansion and robust orders. |
| 2025-04-23 | Earnings release | Positive | -3.3% | Q1 2025 strong revenue, EPS and margin gains, led by Aerospace segment. |
| 2025-01-29 | Earnings release | Positive | -4.2% | Q4 and full-year 2024 growth with higher backlog and contract value. |
Across recent earnings, GD often posted strong fundamentals but share reactions were mixed, with more downside than upside moves on report days.
Over the past five earnings events, General Dynamics has delivered consistent growth in revenue, EPS and cash generation. Prior results showed quarterly revenue between $12.2B and $14.4B, with diluted EPS rising from $3.66 to $4.17 and operating margins around 10%. Orders and total estimated contract value expanded from $141.3B to $179B, underscoring a growing backlog. Despite generally strong fundamentals, price reactions around these earnings ranged from -4.24% to +6.5%, indicating that solid results have not always translated into immediate upside.
Historical Comparison
In the last five earnings releases, GD’s average next-day move was about -0.21%, so the modest pre-news gain of 0.37% looked slightly more constructive than usual.
Earnings releases over 2024–2025 showed rising revenue, EPS, and expanding total estimated contract value, with backlog growing from $88.7B–$118B and contract value from $141.3B to $179B, indicating steadily strengthening fundamentals into the latest quarter.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement highlights strong Q1 2026 performance, with revenue of $13.5B up 10.3%, diluted EPS of $4.10 up 12%, and cash from operations of $2.2B, or 192% of net earnings. Orders of $26.6B and a 2-to-1 book-to-bill lifted total estimated contract value to $188.4B, including $130.8B of backlog. Compared with prior earnings, the company continues to build a larger contract base and maintain solid margins, while investors may watch order trends, cash generation, and backlog quality in future quarters.
Key Terms
diluted eps financial
operating earnings financial
operating margin financial
cash from operating activities financial
book-to-bill ratio financial
backlog financial
indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (idiq) regulatory
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
- Revenue of
$13.5 billion 10.3% from year-ago quarter, with growth in all four segments - Diluted EPS
$4.10 12% from year-ago quarter $2.2 billion 192% of net earnings- Strong order activity, with 2-to-1 book-to-bill
"Our businesses had a very good start to the year, delivering strong operating results and excellent cash conversion," said Phebe Novakovic, chairman and chief executive officer. "We are positioned well to drive additional performance throughout the year."
Cash and Capital Deployment
Net cash provided by operating activities in the quarter totaled
Orders and Backlog
Orders totaled
Total estimated contract value, the sum of all backlog components, was
About General Dynamics
Headquartered in
WEBCAST INFORMATION: General Dynamics will webcast its first-quarter 2026 financial results conference call at 9 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. The webcast will be a listen-only audio event available at www.gd.com. An on-demand replay of the webcast will be available by telephone two hours after the end of the call through May 6, 2026, at 800-770-2030 (international: +1 609-800-9909), conference ID 4299949. Charts furnished to investors and securities analysts in connection with General Dynamics' announcement of its financial results are available at www.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
EXHIBIT A CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS | |||||||||
Three Months Ended | Variance | ||||||||
April 5, 2026 | March 30, 2025 | $ | % | ||||||
Revenue | $ 13,481 | $ 12,223 | $ 1,258 | 10.3 % | |||||
Operating costs and expenses | (12,061) | (10,955) | (1,106) | ||||||
Operating earnings | 1,420 | 1,268 | 152 | 12.0 % | |||||
Other, net | 18 | 21 | (3) | ||||||
Interest, net | (69) | (89) | 20 | ||||||
Earnings before income tax | 1,369 | 1,200 | 169 | 14.1 % | |||||
Provision for income tax, net | (244) | (206) | (38) | ||||||
Net earnings | $ 1,125 | $ 994 | $ 131 | 13.2 % | |||||
Earnings per share—basic | $ 4.16 | $ 3.69 | $ 0.47 | 12.7 % | |||||
Basic weighted average shares outstanding | 270.2 | 269.0 | |||||||
Earnings per share—diluted | $ 4.10 | $ 3.66 | $ 0.44 | 12.0 % | |||||
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding | 274.1 | 271.7 | |||||||
EXHIBIT B REVENUE AND OPERATING EARNINGS BY SEGMENT - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | |||||||||
Three Months Ended | Variance | ||||||||
April 5, 2026 | March 30, 2025 | $ | % | ||||||
Revenue: | |||||||||
Aerospace | $ 3,279 | $ 3,026 | $ 253 | 8.4 % | |||||
Marine Systems | 4,343 | 3,589 | 754 | 21.0 % | |||||
Combat Systems | 2,283 | 2,176 | 107 | 4.9 % | |||||
Technologies | 3,576 | 3,432 | 144 | 4.2 % | |||||
Total | $ 13,481 | $ 12,223 | $ 1,258 | 10.3 % | |||||
Operating earnings: | |||||||||
Aerospace | $ 493 | $ 432 | $ 61 | 14.1 % | |||||
Marine Systems | 316 | 250 | 66 | 26.4 % | |||||
Combat Systems | 310 | 291 | 19 | 6.5 % | |||||
Technologies | 339 | 328 | 11 | 3.4 % | |||||
Corporate | (38) | (33) | (5) | (15.2) % | |||||
Total | $ 1,420 | $ 1,268 | $ 152 | 12.0 % | |||||
Operating margin: | |||||||||
Aerospace | 15.0 % | 14.3 % | |||||||
Marine Systems | 7.3 % | 7.0 % | |||||||
Combat Systems | 13.6 % | 13.4 % | |||||||
Technologies | 9.5 % | 9.6 % | |||||||
Total | 10.5 % | 10.4 % | |||||||
EXHIBIT C CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | |||
(Unaudited) | |||
April 5, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||
ASSETS | |||
Current assets: | |||
Cash and equivalents | $ 3,654 | $ 2,333 | |
Accounts receivable | 2,254 | 2,406 | |
Unbilled receivables | 9,051 | 8,380 | |
Inventories | 9,177 | 9,232 | |
Other current assets | 1,919 | 1,897 | |
Total current assets | 26,055 | 24,248 | |
Noncurrent assets: | |||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 7,503 | 7,525 | |
Intangible assets, net | 1,328 | 1,375 | |
Goodwill | 20,956 | 21,009 | |
Other assets | 3,187 | 3,092 | |
Total noncurrent assets | 32,974 | 33,001 | |
Total assets | $ 59,029 | $ 57,249 | |
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | |||
Current liabilities: | |||
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt | $ 1,755 | $ 1,006 | |
Accounts payable | 2,843 | 2,678 | |
Customer advances and deposits | 10,847 | 9,824 | |
Other current liabilities | 3,380 | 3,288 | |
Total current liabilities | 18,825 | 16,796 | |
Noncurrent liabilities: | |||
Long-term debt | 6,259 | 7,007 | |
Other liabilities | 7,866 | 7,824 | |
Total noncurrent liabilities | 14,125 | 14,831 | |
Shareholders' equity: | |||
Common stock | 482 | 482 | |
Surplus | 4,433 | 4,403 | |
Retained earnings | 44,774 | 44,080 | |
Treasury stock | (23,053) | (22,860) | |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (557) | (483) | |
Total shareholders' equity | 26,079 | 25,622 | |
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $ 59,029 | $ 57,249 | |
EXHIBIT D CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | |||
Three Months Ended | |||
April 5, 2026 | March 30, 2025 | ||
Cash flows from operating activities—continuing operations: | |||
Net earnings | $ 1,125 | $ 994 | |
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash from operating activities: | |||
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment | 173 | 162 | |
Amortization of intangible and finance lease right-of-use assets | 59 | 61 | |
Equity-based compensation expense | 40 | 34 | |
Deferred income tax provision (benefit) | 286 | (59) | |
(Increase) decrease in assets, net of effects of business acquisitions: | |||
Accounts receivable | 152 | (317) | |
Unbilled receivables | (656) | (879) | |
Inventories | 55 | (92) | |
Increase (decrease) in liabilities, net of effects of business acquisitions: | |||
Accounts payable | 165 | 13 | |
Customer advances and deposits | 764 | 13 | |
Other, net | (8) | (78) | |
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities | 2,155 | (148) | |
Cash flows from investing activities: | |||
Capital expenditures | (203) | (142) | |
Other, net | 1 | 12 | |
Net cash used by investing activities | (202) | (130) | |
Cash flows from financing activities: | |||
Dividends paid | (405) | (383) | |
Purchases of common stock | (217) | (600) | |
Proceeds from commercial paper, net | — | 1,590 | |
Repayment of fixed-rate notes | — | (750) | |
Other, net | (7) | (32) | |
Net cash used by financing activities | (629) | (175) | |
Net cash used by discontinued operations | (3) | (2) | |
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents | 1,321 | (455) | |
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period | 2,333 | 1,697 | |
Cash and equivalents at end of period | $ 3,654 | $ 1,242 | |
EXHIBIT E ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS | ||||||
Non-GAAP Financial Measures: | ||||||
First Quarter | ||||||
2026 | 2025 | |||||
Free cash flow: | ||||||
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities | $ 2,155 | $ (148) | ||||
Capital expenditures | (203) | (142) | ||||
Free cash flow (a) | $ 1,952 | $ (290) | ||||
April 5, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | |||||
Net debt: | ||||||
Total debt | $ 8,014 | $ 8,013 | ||||
Less cash and equivalents | 3,654 | 2,333 | ||||
Net debt (b) | $ 4,360 | $ 5,680 | ||||
Supplemental Aerospace Data: | ||||||
First Quarter | ||||||
2026 | 2025 | |||||
Gulfstream Aircraft Deliveries (units): | ||||||
Large-cabin aircraft | 31 | 30 | ||||
Mid-cabin aircraft | 7 | 6 | ||||
Total | 38 | 36 | ||||
Aerospace Book-to-Bill: | ||||||
Orders (c) | $ 3,843 | $ 2,361 | ||||
Revenue | 3,279 | 3,026 | ||||
Book-to-Bill Ratio | 1.2x | 0.8x | ||||
(a) | We define free cash flow as net cash from operating activities less capital expenditures. We believe free cash flow is a useful measure for investors because it portrays our ability to generate cash from our businesses for purposes such as repaying debt, funding business acquisitions, paying dividends and repurchasing our common stock to cover dilution. We use free cash flow to assess the quality of our earnings and as a key performance measure in evaluating management. |
(b) | We define net debt as short- and long-term debt (total debt) less cash and equivalents. We believe net debt is a useful measure for investors because it reflects the borrowings that support our operations and capital deployment strategy. We use net debt as an important indicator of liquidity and financial position. |
(c) | Does not include customer defaults, liquidated damages, cancellations, foreign exchange fluctuations and other backlog adjustments. |
EXHIBIT F BACKLOG - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS | ||||||||||
Funded | Unfunded | Total Backlog | Estimated Potential Contract Value* | Total Estimated Contract Value | ||||||
First Quarter 2026: | ||||||||||
Aerospace | $ 21,172 | $ 1,095 | $ 22,267 | $ 1,040 | $ 23,307 | |||||
Marine Systems | 40,598 | 23,373 | 63,971 | 12,519 | 76,490 | |||||
Combat Systems | 25,532 | 1,383 | 26,915 | 11,770 | 38,685 | |||||
Technologies | 10,818 | 6,869 | 17,687 | 32,272 | 49,959 | |||||
Total | $ 98,120 | $ 32,720 | $ 130,840 | $ 57,601 | $ 188,441 | |||||
Fourth Quarter 2025: | ||||||||||
Aerospace | $ 20,804 | $ 1,024 | $ 21,828 | $ 1,120 | $ 22,948 | |||||
Marine Systems | 36,808 | 15,532 | 52,340 | 11,823 | 64,163 | |||||
Combat Systems | 26,064 | 1,154 | 27,218 | 14,670 | 41,888 | |||||
Technologies | 9,865 | 6,795 | 16,660 | 33,280 | 49,940 | |||||
Total | $ 93,541 | $ 24,505 | $ 118,046 | $ 60,893 | $ 178,939 | |||||
First Quarter 2025: | ||||||||||
Aerospace | $ 18,171 | $ 828 | $ 18,999 | $ 1,090 | $ 20,089 | |||||
Marine Systems | 30,882 | 7,491 | 38,373 | 10,261 | 48,634 | |||||
Combat Systems | 16,129 | 799 | 16,928 | 8,649 | 25,577 | |||||
Technologies | 9,751 | 4,606 | 14,357 | 32,670 | 47,027 | |||||
Total | $ 74,933 | $ 13,724 | $ 88,657 | $ 52,670 | $ 141,327 | |||||
* | The estimated potential contract value includes work awarded on unfunded indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts and unexercised options associated with existing firm contracts, including options and other agreements with existing customers to purchase new aircraft and aircraft services. We recognize options in backlog when the customer exercises the option and establishes a firm order. For IDIQ contracts, we evaluate the amount of funding we expect to receive and include this amount in our estimated potential contract value. The actual amount of funding received in the future may be higher or lower than our estimate of potential contract value. |
EXHIBIT F-1 |
BACKLOG - (UNAUDITED) |
DOLLARS IN MILLIONS |
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SOURCE General Dynamics