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General Dynamics Reports Strong Earnings,
Sales
Growth in Second Quarter 2007
Full-year EPS guidance increased
FALLS CHURCH, Va. – General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) today reported second-quarter 2007 earnings from continuing operations of $518 million, or $1.27 per share on a fully diluted basis, compared to 2006 second-quarter earnings from continuing operations of $420 million, or $1.03 per share fully diluted. Revenues increased to $6.6 billion in the quarter, rising 11.1 percent over second-quarter 2006 revenues of $5.9 billion.
Cash
Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $405
million in the second quarter, and free cash flow from operations (defined as
net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations less
capital expenditures) was $292 million. For the first half of the year, net cash
provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $927 million and
free cash flow from operations was $761 million.
Backlog
Funded backlog at the end of the second quarter 2007 was $35.4 billion, and
total backlog was $44.6 billion, compared to $34.5 billion and $43.6 billion,
respectively, at the end of the first quarter of 2007.
Margins
Company-wide operating margins for the second quarter of 2007 increased 60 basis
points over the second quarter of 2006, to 11.5 percent.
Net Earnings
The company reported net earnings of $513 million for second-quarter 2007, or
$1.26 per share on a fully diluted basis, including the results of discontinued
operations. In comparison, net earnings for the second quarter of 2006 were $636
million, or $1.56 per share fully diluted; however, those results included a
one-time gain of approximately $220 million (or $0.54 per share) on the sale of
the company’s aggregates business.
Taxes
The company’s second-quarter financial performance also includes an $18 million
benefit from the favorable resolution of prior-year tax audits; this factor
increased earnings from continuing operations and net earnings by approximately
5 cents per share in the quarter.
Operational Highlights
General Dynamics’ second-quarter 2007 operating results were driven largely by
sales growth in the Aerospace, Combat Systems, and Information Systems and
Technology business groups, and double-digit operating-earnings growth in all
four company segments. Aerospace and Combat Systems generated strong orders as
well, and the Aerospace backlog in particular grew significantly in the quarter.
“General Dynamics once again has delivered strong results,” said Nicholas D.
Chabraja, General Dynamics chairman and chief executive officer. “Sales and
operating earnings increased in all four business segments compared to the
year-ago period, year-to-date cash generation continues to meet our expectations
and total backlog grew by almost $1 billion quarter-over-quarter.
“Marine Systems generated a particularly strong performance this quarter, with
margins growing 150 basis points, to 8.8 percent, over the year-ago period,”
Chabraja said. “This result reflects the continued focus on improving execution
across the sector and an increase in the booking rate on the T-AKE program,
reflecting an agreement in principle with the U.S. Navy on restructuring the
contract for ships 1 through 9 and the terms of ships 10 through 14.
“On the basis of these results and a refined sense of what the remainder of 2007
has in store, we now expect full-year 2007 earnings from continuing operations
to be in the range of $4.85 to $4.90 per share, fully diluted,” Chabraja said.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately
82,900 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation;
land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and
marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about
the company is available on the Internet at
www.generaldynamics.com.
Certain statements made in this press release, including any statements as to
future results of operations and financial projections, may constitute
“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based
on management’s current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions.
These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain
risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual
future results and trends may differ materially from what is forecast in
forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors. Additional information
regarding these factors is contained in the company’s filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, our Annual
Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made. The company does not undertake any obligation to update or publicly release any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or changes in expectations after the date of this press release.
WEBCAST INFORMATION: General Dynamics will webcast its second-quarter securities analyst conference call, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Wednesday, July 25, 2007. Those accessing the webcast will be able to listen to management’s discussion of the second-quarter results, as well as the question-and-answer session with securities analysts.
The webcast will be a listen-only audio broadcast, available at www.generaldynamics.com. A Real Audio™ player or Windows Media™ player is required to access the webcast; information about downloading those players is available on the company’s website. An on-demand replay of the webcast will be available by 2 p.m. on July 25 and will continue to be available for 12 months.
To hear a recording of the conference call by telephone, please call 888-286-8010; passcode 95275309 (callers from outside the U.S. should dial 617-801-6888, passcode 95275309). The telephone replay will be available from 2 p.m. on July 25 until midnight on August 1, 2007.

Exhibit A
(more)

Exhibit B
(more)

Exhibit C
(more)

Exhibit D
(more)

Exhibit E
(more)

Exhibit F
(more)

Exhibit G
(more)

Exhibit H
SECOND QUARTER 2007
SIGNIFICANT ORDERS (UNAUDITED)
DOLLARS IN MILLIONS
General Dynamics received the following significant contract orders during the second quarter of 2007:
Combat Systems
Marine Systems
Information Systems and Technology
Exhibit I

Exhibit J
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