Diluted EPS from continuing operations rises 3.9 percent over second-quarter 2013
Company-wide operating margins increase to 12.7 percent
Total backlog rises to $71.1 billion, 27 percent over first-quarter 2014
There is a charge in the quarter of $105 million in discontinued operations for the sale of a business within Combat Systems, which results in net earnings for the second quarter of $541 million, or $1.58 fully diluted earnings per share.
Margins
Company-wide operating margins for the second quarter of 2014 were 12.7 percent, a 40 basis-point improvement when compared to 12.3 percent in second-quarter 2013.
Cash
Net cash provided by operating activities in the quarter totaled $866 million. Free cash flow from operations, defined as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures, was $791 million in second-quarter 2014, or 122 percent of earnings from continuing operations.
Capital Deployment
The company repurchased 10.7 million outstanding shares in the second quarter, for $1.2 billion. Year-to-date, the company has repurchased 25 million outstanding shares, for $2.7 billion.
Backlog
Total backlog at the end of second-quarter 2014 was $71.1 billion. Estimated potential contract value, representing management’s estimate of value in unfunded indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts and unexercised options, was $28.4 billion. At the end of the quarter, total potential contract value, the sum of all backlog components, was $99.5 billion.
Orders in the Aerospace group were strong in the quarter, including healthy activity across the group’s portfolio. Additional significant awards received include a $17.8 billion multi-year contract from the U.S. Navy for the construction of 10 additional Virginia-class submarines, $645 million for support on the Canadian Maritime Helicopter Project, $425 million from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for contact-center services, $290 million from the U.S. Army for the production of 93 Stryker double-V-hulled vehicles and contractor logistics support, and $125 million for the construction of an additional product carrier from an affiliate of American Petroleum Tankers.
“General Dynamics’ strong second quarter performance reflects our continued focus on program execution and operational improvements,” said Phebe N. Novakovic, chairman and chief executive officer. “We have a solid building block for the future with an increased defense backlog and robust order activity across the portfolio of Gulfstream business jets.”
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 89,600 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions; shipbuilding; and communication and information technology systems and solutions. More information about the company is available 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 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, its Annual Report on Form 10-K and its 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 9 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 23, 2014. The webcast will be a listen-only audio event, available at www.generaldynamics.com. An on-demand replay of the webcast will be available by 12 p.m. EDT on July 23 and will continue for 12 months. To hear a recording of the conference call by telephone, please call 888-286-8010 (international: 617-801-6888); passcode 66081812. The phone replay will be available from 12 p.m. July 23 through July 30, 2014.