General Dynamics Reports First-Quarter 2017 Results
FALLS CHURCH, Va. –
General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) today reported first-quarter 2017 earnings from continuing operations of $763 million, a 16.7 percent increase over first-quarter 2016, on revenue of $7.4 billion. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $2.48 compared to $2.08 in the year-ago quarter, a 19.2 percent increase.“General Dynamics delivered very strong first-quarter operating performance, demonstrated by 13.9 percent operating margins and 10.3 percent return on sales,” said Phebe N. Novakovic, chairman and chief executive officer. “We are on track for a productive 2017 as we continue our focus on operational improvement and successful execution on our robust backlog.”
Margin
Company-wide operating margin for the first quarter of 2017 was 13.9 percent, a 150 basis-point increase when compared to 12.4 percent in first-quarter 2016.
Cash
Net cash provided by operating activities in the quarter totaled $533 million, up 11 percent from the year-ago quarter. Free cash flow from operations, defined as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures, was $471 million.
Capital Deployment
The company repurchased 1.9 million of its outstanding shares in the first quarter. In addition, in March, the board of directors increased the company’s quarterly dividend by 10.5 percent to $0.84 per share, representing the company’s 20th consecutive annual dividend increase.
Backlog
General Dynamics’ total backlog at the end of first-quarter 2017 was $60.4 billion. There was order activity across the Gulfstream product portfolio and strong demand for defense products. The estimated potential contract value, representing management’s estimate of value in unfunded indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts and unexercised options, was $24.6 billion. Total potential contract value, the sum of all backlog components, was $85 billion at the end of the quarter.
About General Dynamics
Headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, General Dynamics is a global aerospace and defense company that offers a broad portfolio of products and services in business aviation; combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions; C4ISR and IT solutions; and shipbuilding. The company's 2016 revenue was $30.6 billion. More information 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 first-quarter 2017 financial results conference call at 9 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 26, 2017. 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. on April 26 and will continue for 12 months. To hear a recording of the conference call by telephone, please call 877-344-7529 (international: 412-317-0088); passcode 10105194. The phone replay will be available from April 26 through May 3, 2017.
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