General Dynamics Reports Second-Quarter 2026 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of $14.1 billion, up 8.1% year over year, with operating earnings of $1.46 billion and diluted EPS of $4.24, up 11.9% and 13.4%, respectively. Operating margin rose 40 basis points to 10.4%.

Net cash from operating activities was $1.9 billion, equal to 162% of net earnings, supporting $429 million in dividends, $234 million in capex, and a $498 million debt reduction. Orders totaled $20 billion with a 1.4x company-wide book-to-bill, lifting backlog to $136.5 billion and total estimated contract value to $186.9 billion. Aerospace and Marine Systems posted double-digit revenue growth and margin expansion, while net debt declined to $3.2 billion.

Positive

• Q2 2026 revenue $14.1B, up 8.1% year over year
• Diluted EPS $4.24 in Q2 2026, up 13.4% versus 2025
• Operating margin expansion to 10.4%, up 40 basis points year over year
• Operating cash flow $1.9B in Q2, 162% of net earnings
• Free cash flow $3.6B for six months 2026 versus $1.1B in 2025
• Backlog $136.5B with total estimated contract value $186.9B
• Company-wide book-to-bill 1.4x in Q2; Aerospace 1.5x
• Net debt reduction to $3.2B from $5.7B at year-end 2025

Negative

• Combat Systems Q2 operating earnings down 1.9% year over year
• Combat Systems and Technologies margins declined modestly versus prior-year quarter

Market Context

The tag-matched earnings record showed an average move of 2.24% across five events, with three align...

Analysis

The tag-matched earnings record showed an average move of 2.24% across five events, with three aligned and two divergent. Recent insider data recorded Net Selling; low short positioning was an additional risk context to monitor.

Key Figures

Revenue: $14.1 billion Diluted EPS: $4.24 Operating earnings: $1.5 billion +5 more

8 metrics

Revenue $14.1 billion Second-quarter 2026

Diluted EPS $4.24 Second-quarter 2026, up 13.4% versus prior year

Operating earnings $1.5 billion Second-quarter 2026

Operating margin 10.4% Second-quarter 2026, 40-basis-point expansion year over year

Cash from operating activities $1.9 billion Second-quarter 2026, 162% of net earnings

Orders $20 billion Second-quarter 2026 across defense and Aerospace segments

Backlog $136.5 billion End of second-quarter 2026

Debt reduction $498 million Second-quarter 2026

Previous Earnings Reports

5 past events · Latest: Apr 29 (Positive)

Same Type Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
Apr 29	Q1 earnings report	Positive	+8.0%	Revenue and EPS growth, strong cash flow, orders, and backlog accompanied quarterly results.
Jan 28	Q4 earnings report	Positive	-2.7%	Quarterly and full-year earnings growth coincided with a negative 24-hour price reaction.
Oct 24	Q3 earnings report	Positive	+2.7%	Revenue and EPS growth, margin expansion, and aerospace strength preceded a positive reaction.
Jul 23	Q2 earnings report	Positive	+6.5%	Revenue, EPS, margin, cash flow, orders, and backlog all showed strong quarterly performance.
Apr 23	Q1 earnings report	Positive	-3.3%	Revenue, earnings, aerospace growth, margin expansion, and backlog accompanied a negative reaction.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

GD's tag-matched earnings announcements were positive in three of five events, but two positive earnings releases produced negative 24-hour reactions.

Key Terms

book-to-bill, idiq, free cash flow, net debt

4 terms

book-to-bill financial

"Book-to-bill ratio, defined as orders divided by revenue, was 1.4-to-1"

The book-to-bill ratio compares new orders a company has received (bookings) to the products or services it has invoiced or shipped (billings) over the same period. It matters to investors because a ratio above 1 means demand is outpacing fulfillment and the company may grow revenue or build backlog, while a ratio below 1 suggests slowing demand and possible future revenue weakness — think of it as new customer orders versus what the company actually sold.

idiq technical

"unfunded indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts"

An IDIQ (Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity) is a type of government procurement contract that sets terms and maximum limits for buying goods or services over a period without specifying exact delivery dates or quantities up front. For investors, an IDIQ signals a potential steady revenue stream and easier repeat business because it gives a company preferred access to future orders under agreed terms—think of it as a standing shopping account that can generate unpredictable but recurring sales.

free cash flow financial

"We define free cash flow as net cash from operating activities less capital expenditures."

Free cash flow is the amount of money a company has left over after paying all its expenses and investing in its business, like buying equipment or updating facilities. It shows how much cash is available to reward shareholders, pay down debt, or save for future growth. This helps investors understand if a company is financially healthy and able to grow.

View in glossary

net debt financial

"We define net debt as short- and long-term debt (total debt) less cash"

Net debt is the total amount a company owes after subtracting the cash and assets it has that can be used to pay off that debt. It shows how much debt is truly a burden, helping investors understand if a company is financially healthy or heavily borrowed. Think of it like calculating how much money you owe after using your savings to pay part of it.

View in glossary

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Add on Google Not now

• Revenue $14.1 billion, up 8.1% versus prior year
• Diluted EPS $4.24, up 13.4% versus prior year
• $1.9 billion cash from operating activities, 162% of net earnings
• 1.4-to-1 book-to-bill, with strong order activity in all segments

RESTON, Va., July 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) today reported second-quarter 2026 operating earnings of $1.5 billion, and $4.24 per diluted share (EPS), on revenue of $14.1 billion. Compared with the year-ago quarter, revenue increased 8.1%, operating earnings increased 11.9%, and diluted EPS increased 13.4%. Operating margin of 10.4% was a 40-basis-point expansion from the year-ago quarter.

"Our businesses delivered solid results in the quarter, with revenue growth across all four segments – including double-digit increases in revenue and noteworthy margin expansion in Aerospace and Marine Systems – reflecting our ongoing efforts to increase the pace of execution and deliver on our backlog," said Phebe Novakovic, chairman and chief executive officer. "We are well positioned to support our customers' needs and are continuing to make significant investments to increase output to meet strong and growing demand."

Cash and Capital Deployment

Net cash provided by operating activities in the quarter totaled $1.9 billion, or 162% of net earnings. During the quarter, the company paid $429 million in dividends, invested $234 million in capital expenditures, and reduced total debt by $498 million. The company ended the quarter with $7.5 billion in total debt and $4.3 billion in cash and equivalents on hand.

Orders and Backlog

Orders received in the quarter totaled $14.7 billion in the defense segments and $5.3 billion in the Aerospace segment, for a total of $20 billion. Book-to-bill ratio, defined as orders divided by revenue, was 1.4-to-1 for the quarter for the defense segments, 1.5-to-1 for the Aerospace segment, and 1.4-to-1 on a company-wide basis. 

Backlog at the end of the quarter was $136.5 billion. Estimated potential contract value, representing management's estimate of additional value in unfunded indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts and unexercised options, was $50.4 billion. Total estimated contract value, the sum of backlog plus estimated potential contract value, was $186.9 billion.

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 120,000 people worldwide and generated $52.6 billion in revenue in 2025. More information is available at www.gd.com.  

WEBCAST INFORMATION: General Dynamics' financial results conference call will be held on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. EDT.  A link to the live webcast will be available at www.gd.com and will be available for replay following the call. Corresponding presentation slides will be available for download prior to the call.

This press release may contain 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 may contain 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.

EXHIBIT A CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS
	Three Months Ended				Variance
	July 5, 2026		June 29, 2025		$			%
Revenue	$                     14,094		$                     13,041		$     1,053			8.1 %
Operating costs and expenses	(12,634)		(11,736)		(898)
Operating earnings	1,460		1,305		155			11.9 %
Other, net	(4)		15		(19)
Interest, net	(49)		(88)		39
Earnings before income tax	1,407		1,232		175			14.2 %
Provision for income tax, net	(247)		(218)		(29)
Net earnings	$                       1,160		$                       1,014		$        146			14.4 %
Earnings per share—basic	$                         4.29		$                         3.78		$       0.51			13.5 %
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	270.2		268.1
Earnings per share—diluted	$                         4.24		$                         3.74		$       0.50			13.4 %
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	273.5		270.9

 

EXHIBIT B CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS
	Six Months Ended				Variance
	July 5, 2026		June 29, 2025		$			%
Revenue	$                     27,575		$                     25,264		$     2,311			9.1 %
Operating costs and expenses	(24,695)		(22,691)		(2,004)
Operating earnings	2,880		2,573		307			11.9 %
Other, net	14		36		(22)
Interest, net	(118)		(177)		59
Earnings before income tax	2,776		2,432		344			14.1 %
Provision for income tax, net	(491)		(424)		(67)
Net earnings	$                       2,285		$                       2,008		$        277			13.8 %
Earnings per share—basic	$                         8.46		$                         7.48		$       0.98			13.1 %
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	270.2		268.6
Earnings per share—diluted	$                         8.35		$                         7.40		$       0.95			12.8 %
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	273.8		271.3

 

EXHIBIT C REVENUE AND OPERATING EARNINGS BY SEGMENT - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS
	Three Months Ended				Variance
	July 5, 2026		June 29, 2025		$			%
Revenue:
Aerospace	$                  3,525		$                   3,062		$            463			15.1 %
Marine Systems	4,660		4,220		440			10.4 %
Combat Systems	2,290		2,283		7			0.3 %
Technologies	3,619		3,476		143			4.1 %
Total	$                14,094		$                 13,041		$         1,053			8.1 %
Operating earnings:
Aerospace	$                     510		$                      403		$            107			26.6 %
Marine Systems	342		291		51			17.5 %
Combat Systems	318		324		(6)			(1.9) %
Technologies	339		332		7			2.1 %
Corporate	(49)		(45)		(4)			(8.9) %
Total	$                  1,460		$                   1,305		$            155			11.9 %
Operating margin:
Aerospace	14.5 %		13.2 %
Marine Systems	7.3 %		6.9 %
Combat Systems	13.9 %		14.2 %
Technologies	9.4 %		9.6 %
Total	10.4 %		10.0 %

 

EXHIBIT D REVENUE AND OPERATING EARNINGS BY SEGMENT - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS
	Six Months Ended				Variance
	July 5, 2026		June 29, 2025		$			%
Revenue:
Aerospace	$                  6,804		$                   6,088		$            716			11.8 %
Marine Systems	9,003		7,809		1,194			15.3 %
Combat Systems	4,573		4,459		114			2.6 %
Technologies	7,195		6,908		287			4.2 %
Total	$                27,575		$                 25,264		$         2,311			9.1 %
Operating earnings:
Aerospace	$                  1,003		$                      835		$            168			20.1 %
Marine Systems	658		541		117			21.6 %
Combat Systems	628		615		13			2.1 %
Technologies	678		660		18			2.7 %
Corporate	(87)		(78)		(9)			(11.5) %
Total	$                  2,880		$                   2,573		$            307			11.9 %
Operating margin:
Aerospace	14.7 %		13.7 %
Marine Systems	7.3 %		6.9 %
Combat Systems	13.7 %		13.8 %
Technologies	9.4 %		9.6 %
Total	10.4 %		10.2 %

 

EXHIBIT E CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DOLLARS IN MILLIONS
	(Unaudited)
	July 5, 2026		December 31, 2025
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and equivalents	$                        4,333		$                        2,333
Accounts receivable	2,398		2,406
Unbilled receivables	9,255		8,380
Inventories	9,097		9,232
Other current assets	1,955		1,897
Total current assets	27,038		24,248
Noncurrent assets:
Property, plant and equipment, net	7,575		7,525
Intangible assets, net	1,281		1,375
Goodwill	20,927		21,009
Other assets	3,342		3,092
Total noncurrent assets	33,125		33,001
Total assets	$                      60,163		$                      57,249
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt	$                        1,256		$                        1,006
Accounts payable	2,874		2,678
Customer advances and deposits	11,034		9,824
Other current liabilities	3,601		3,288
Total current liabilities	18,765		16,796
Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term debt	6,260		7,007
Other liabilities	8,312		7,824
Total noncurrent liabilities	14,572		14,831
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	482		482
Surplus	4,535		4,403
Retained earnings	45,502		44,080
Treasury stock	(23,110)		(22,860)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(583)		(483)
Total shareholders' equity	26,826		25,622
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$                      60,163		$                      57,249

 

EXHIBIT F CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS
	Six Months Ended
	July 5, 2026		June 29, 2025
Cash flows from operating activities—continuing operations:
Net earnings	$                      2,285		$                      2,008
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	348		325
Amortization of intangible and finance lease right-of-use assets	115		121
Equity-based compensation expense	107		89
Deferred income tax provision (benefit)	365		(98)
(Increase) decrease in assets, net of effects of business acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	8		(612)
Unbilled receivables	(846)		(200)
Inventories	135		(207)
Increase (decrease) in liabilities, net of effects of business acquisitions:
Accounts payable	196		(261)
Customer advances and deposits	1,168		106
Other, net	154		179
Net cash provided by operating activities	4,035		1,450
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(437)		(340)
Other, net	13		124
Net cash used by investing activities	(424)		(216)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid	(834)		(785)
Repayment of fixed-rate notes	(500)		(1,500)
Purchases of common stock	(319)		(600)
Proceeds from commercial paper, net	—		696
Proceeds from fixed-rate notes	—		747
Other, net	48		39
Net cash used by financing activities	(1,605)		(1,403)
Net cash used by discontinued operations	(6)		(5)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	2,000		(174)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period	2,333		1,697
Cash and equivalents at end of period	$                      4,333		$                      1,523

 

EXHIBIT G ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS
Non-GAAP Financial Measures:
	Second Quarter				Six Months
	2026		2025		2026		2025
Free cash flow:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$                       1,880		$                  1,598		$                    4,035		$                    1,450
Capital expenditures	(234)		(198)		(437)		(340)
Free cash flow (a)	$                       1,646		$                  1,400		$                    3,598		$                    1,110
	July 5, 2026		December 31, 2025
Net debt:
Total debt	$                       7,516		$                  8,013
Less cash and equivalents	4,333		2,333
Net debt (b)	$                       3,183		$                  5,680
Supplemental Aerospace Data:
	Second Quarter				Six Months
	2026		2025		2026		2025
Gulfstream Aircraft Deliveries (units):
Large-cabin aircraft	35		32		66		62
Mid-cabin aircraft	6		6		13		12
Total	41		38		79		74
Aerospace Book-to-Bill:
Orders (c)	$                       5,278		$                  4,003		$                    9,121		$                    6,364
Revenue	3,525		3,062		6,804		6,088
Book-to-Bill Ratio	1.5x		1.3x		1.3x		1.0x

(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)	Excludes customer defaults, liquidated damages, cancellations, foreign exchange fluctuations and other backlog adjustments.

 

EXHIBIT H BACKLOG - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS
		Funded		Unfunded		Total Backlog		Estimated Potential Contract Value*		Total Estimated Contract Value
Second Quarter 2026:
Aerospace		$            22,992		$                 985		$            23,977		$                     1,170		$               25,147
Marine Systems		42,356		22,826		65,182		7,442		72,624
Combat Systems		27,507		1,843		29,350		10,847		40,197
Technologies		11,256		6,733		17,989		30,945		48,934
Total		$          104,111		$            32,387		$          136,498		$                   50,404		$             186,902
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
Second Quarter 2025:
Aerospace		$            18,676		$              1,227		$            19,903		$                     1,165		$               21,068
Marine Systems		39,298		13,674		52,972		14,708		67,680
Combat Systems		15,961		616		16,577		9,592		26,169
Technologies		9,945		4,285		14,230		32,011		46,241
Total		$            83,880		$            19,802		$          103,682		$                   57,476		$             161,158

*

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 H-1

BACKLOG - (UNAUDITED)

DOLLARS IN MILLIONS

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SOURCE General Dynamics

FAQ

How did General Dynamics (GD) perform financially in Q2 2026?

General Dynamics reported Q2 2026 revenue of $14.1 billion and diluted EPS of $4.24. According to General Dynamics, revenue grew 8.1% year over year, operating earnings rose 11.9% to $1.46 billion, and operating margin improved to 10.4%.

What were General Dynamics (GD) Q2 2026 earnings per share?

General Dynamics reported Q2 2026 diluted EPS of $4.24 and basic EPS of $4.29. According to General Dynamics, this represents diluted EPS growth of 13.4% year over year, supported by higher operating earnings and modestly higher diluted weighted average shares outstanding.

What was General Dynamics (GD) revenue by segment in Q2 2026?

In Q2 2026, General Dynamics reported $3.53B Aerospace, $4.66B Marine Systems, $2.29B Combat Systems, and $3.62B Technologies revenue. According to General Dynamics, Aerospace grew 15.1% and Marine Systems 10.4%, while Combat Systems and Technologies saw low-single-digit growth.

How strong was General Dynamics (GD) backlog and book-to-bill in Q2 2026?

General Dynamics ended Q2 2026 with $136.5 billion in backlog and total estimated contract value of $186.9 billion. According to General Dynamics, company-wide book-to-bill was 1.4x, with 1.4x in defense segments and 1.5x in Aerospace, reflecting robust order intake.

What cash flow did General Dynamics (GD) generate in Q2 and first half 2026?

General Dynamics generated Q2 2026 operating cash flow of $1.9 billion and free cash flow of $1.65 billion. According to General Dynamics, first-half 2026 operating cash flow reached $4.04 billion and free cash flow $3.60 billion, significantly above the prior-year period.

How did General Dynamics (GD) manage debt and liquidity in Q2 2026?

General Dynamics ended Q2 2026 with $7.5 billion total debt and $4.3 billion cash, resulting in net debt of $3.2 billion. According to General Dynamics, the company reduced total debt by $498 million in the quarter and lowered net debt from $5.68 billion at year-end 2025.

How did General Dynamics (GD) Aerospace segment perform in Q2 2026?

The Aerospace segment posted Q2 2026 revenue of $3.53 billion and operating earnings of $510 million. According to General Dynamics, Aerospace revenue grew 15.1% year over year, operating earnings rose 26.6%, and operating margin expanded to 14.5%, aided by 41 Gulfstream aircraft deliveries.