General Dynamics Reports First-Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) reported strong Q1 2025 financial results with revenue reaching $12.2 billion, up 13.9% year-over-year. Operating earnings increased 22.4% to $1.3 billion, while diluted EPS grew 27.1% to $3.66.

The company achieved a 70-basis-point operating margin expansion to 10.4%. The Aerospace segment showed exceptional performance with revenue up 45.2%, operating earnings increasing 69.4%, and margins expanding 210 basis points to 14.3%.

Orders totaled $10.2 billion with an $88.7 billion backlog. The board declared a quarterly dividend of $1.50 per share, marking the 28th consecutive annual increase. Total estimated contract value reached $141.3 billion, including $52.7 billion in potential contract value.

Positive

• Revenue increased 13.9% YoY to $12.2 billion
• Operating earnings grew 22.4% to $1.3 billion
• Diluted EPS rose 27.1% to $3.66
• Operating margin expanded 70 basis points to 10.4%
• Aerospace segment revenue up 45.2% with 69.4% earnings growth
• Quarterly dividend increased 5.6% YoY
• Strong backlog of $88.7 billion

Negative

• Negative operating cash flow of $148 million due to working capital growth
• Orders ($10.2 billion) lower than quarterly revenue ($12.2 billion)

Insights

Financial Analyst

General Dynamics delivered exceptional Q1 results with double-digit growth across all metrics, highlighted by aerospace segment's 69.4% earnings increase and improved margins company-wide.

General Dynamics' Q1 2025 financial results demonstrate robust performance across all key metrics. Revenue grew 13.9% year-over-year to $12.2 billion, while diluted EPS increased at an even stronger rate of 27.1% to $3.66. This earnings growth outpacing revenue indicates significant operational improvements.

The company achieved a 70-basis-point expansion in operating margin to 10.4%, reflecting enhanced efficiency across operations. All four business segments contributed to growth, but the Aerospace segment delivered standout performance with revenue soaring 45.2% and operating earnings jumping 69.4% year-over-year. This segment's margins expanded 210 basis points to 14.3%, which management attributes to "manufacturing efficiencies associated with reaching higher levels of production on new aircraft models."

Cash flow showed a $148 million net operating cash outflow, explicitly attributed to working capital growth to support business expansion. The company maintained its shareholder-friendly capital allocation with $383 million in dividends (recently increased by 5.6%, marking 28 consecutive annual increases), $142 million in capital expenditures, and $600 million in share repurchases.

The order intake for Q1 was $10.2 billion, maintaining a substantial backlog of $88.7 billion and a total estimated contract value of $141.3 billion when including potential IDIQ contracts and unexercised options. This provides significant visibility for future revenues. The company ended the quarter with $9.6 billion in total debt balanced against $1.2 billion in cash and equivalents.

Defense Industry Expert

General Dynamics shows strong defense portfolio growth with steady improvements in operating performance, while maintaining substantial $141.3 billion total contract value for future revenue stability.

General Dynamics' Q1 results reveal steady growth across its defense portfolio, as explicitly noted by CEO Phebe Novakovic. While the Aerospace segment (primarily Gulfstream business jets) showed the most dramatic improvement, the overall defense business continues to demonstrate solid performance fundamentals.

The company maintains a robust defense backlog of $88.7 billion, with additional estimated potential contract value of $52.7 billion from IDIQ contracts and unexercised options. This combined $141.3 billion total estimated contract value provides substantial revenue visibility and stability for coming years.

The balanced capital deployment strategy, including investments in capital expenditures ($142 million), indicates ongoing commitment to maintaining technological competitiveness in defense platforms. The 13.9% overall revenue growth demonstrates that General Dynamics is successfully capitalizing on current defense spending environments.

The report doesn't break down performance by individual defense segments (Marine Systems, Combat Systems, and Technologies), but notes that all segments saw increases in both revenue and operating earnings compared to the year-ago quarter. This balanced growth across the defense portfolio indicates effective execution across multiple program areas.

The negative operating cash flow due to working capital growth is a common pattern in defense contracting when supporting program ramp-ups, and doesn't indicate operational issues given the strong earnings and revenue performance across segments.

• Revenue of $12.2 billion, up 13.9% from year-ago quarter
• Diluted EPS of $3.66, up 27.1% from year-ago quarter
• 70 basis-point margin expansion from year-ago quarter
• Aerospace earnings up 69.4% with 210-basis-point margin expansion over year-ago quarter

RESTON, Va., April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) today reported first-quarter 2025 operating earnings of $1.3 billion, or $3.66 per diluted share (EPS), on revenue of $12.2 billion. Compared with the year-ago quarter, operating earnings increased 22.4%, diluted EPS increased 27.1%, and revenue increased 13.9%. Operating margin of 10.4% was a 70-basis-point expansion from the year-ago quarter.

Each of the four segments saw increases in revenue and operating earnings over the year-ago quarter, with notable increases in Aerospace, where revenue was up 45.2%, operating earnings up 69.4%, and margins expanded 210 basis points to 14.3%.

"We continue to see steady growth and improvement in operating performance across the defense portfolio," said Phebe Novakovic, chairman and chief executive officer "The Aerospace segment saw a significant increase in profitability, reflecting the manufacturing efficiencies associated with reaching higher levels of production on our new aircraft models."

Cash and Capital Deployment

Net cash used by operating activities in the quarter was $148 million due to growth of working capital. During the quarter, the company paid $383 million in dividends, invested $142 million in capital expenditures, and used $600 million to repurchase shares. The company ended the quarter with $9.6 billion in total debt and $1.2 billion in cash and equivalents on hand.

On March 5, the General Dynamics board declared a regular quarterly dividend of $1.50 per share, a 5.6% increase over last year's dividend and the 28th consecutive annual increase.

Orders and Backlog

On a company-wide basis, orders in the quarter totaled $10.2 billion, and backlog at the end of the quarter was $88.7 billion. Estimated potential contract value, representing management's estimate of additional value in unfunded indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts and unexercised options, was $52.7 billion. Total estimated contract value, the sum of all backlog components, was $141.3 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 110,000 people worldwide and generated $47.7 billion in revenue in 2024. More information is available at www.gd.com.  

WEBCAST INFORMATION: General Dynamics will webcast its first-quarter 2025 financial results conference call at 9 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. 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 April 30, 2025, 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 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
		March 30, 2025		March 31, 2024		$			%
Revenue		$                       12,223		$                       10,731		$     1,492			13.9 %
Operating costs and expenses		(10,955)		(9,695)		(1,260)
Operating earnings		1,268		1,036		232			22.4 %
Other, net		21		14		7
Interest, net		(89)		(82)		(7)
Earnings before income tax		1,200		968		232			24.0 %
Provision for income tax, net		(206)		(169)		(37)
Net earnings		$                             994		$                             799		$        195			24.4 %
Earnings per share—basic		$                            3.69		$                            2.92		$       0.77			26.4 %
Basic weighted average shares outstanding		269.0		273.5
Earnings per share—diluted		$                            3.66		$                            2.88		$       0.78			27.1 %
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		271.7		277.0

 

EXHIBIT B REVENUE AND OPERATING EARNINGS BY SEGMENT - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS
										Three Months Ended				Variance
										March 30, 2025		March 31, 2024		$			%
Revenue:
Aerospace										$                    3,026		$                     2,084		$             942			45.2 %
Marine Systems										3,589		3,331		258			7.7 %
Combat Systems										2,176		2,102		74			3.5 %
Technologies										3,432		3,214		218			6.8 %
Total										$                  12,223		$                   10,731		$          1,492			13.9 %
Operating earnings:
Aerospace										$                        432		$                        255		$             177			69.4 %
Marine Systems										250		232		18			7.8 %
Combat Systems										291		282		9			3.2 %
Technologies										328		295		33			11.2 %
Corporate										(33)		(28)		(5)			(17.9) %
Total										$                    1,268		$                     1,036		$             232			22.4 %
Operating margin:
Aerospace										14.3 %		12.2 %
Marine Systems										7.0 %		7.0 %
Combat Systems										13.4 %		13.4 %
Technologies										9.6 %		9.2 %
Total										10.4 %		9.7 %

 

EXHIBIT C CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DOLLARS IN MILLIONS
																	(Unaudited)
																	March 30, 2025		December 31, 2024
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and equivalents																	$                           1,242		$                           1,697
Accounts receivable																	3,294		2,977
Unbilled receivables																	9,139		8,248
Inventories																	9,816		9,724
Other current assets																	1,626		1,740
Total current assets																	25,117		24,386
Noncurrent assets:
Property, plant and equipment, net																	6,461		6,467
Intangible assets, net																	1,462		1,520
Goodwill																	20,623		20,556
Other assets																	2,917		2,951
Total noncurrent assets																	31,463		31,494
Total assets																	$                         56,580		$                         55,880
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt																	$                           2,349		$                           1,502
Accounts payable																	3,357		3,344
Customer advances and deposits																	9,770		9,491
Other current liabilities																	3,284		3,487
Total current liabilities																	18,760		17,824
Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term debt																	7,260		7,260
Other liabilities																	8,335		8,733
Total noncurrent liabilities																	15,595		15,993
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock																	482		482
Surplus																	4,064		4,062
Retained earnings																	42,082		41,487
Treasury stock																	(23,034)		(22,450)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss																	(1,369)		(1,518)
Total shareholders' equity																	22,225		22,063
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity																	$                         56,580		$                         55,880

 

EXHIBIT D CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS
		Three Months Ended
		March 30, 2025		March 31, 2024
Cash flows from operating activities—continuing operations:
Net earnings		$                            994		$                           799
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment		162		152
Amortization of intangible and finance lease right-of-use assets		61		59
Equity-based compensation expense		34		34
Deferred income tax benefit		(59)		(39)
(Increase) decrease in assets, net of effects of business acquisitions:
Accounts receivable		(317)		(115)
Unbilled receivables		(879)		(519)
Inventories		(92)		(1,011)
Increase (decrease) in liabilities, net of effects of business acquisitions:
Accounts payable		13		100
Customer advances and deposits		13		384
Other, net		(78)		(122)
Net cash used by operating activities		(148)		(278)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures		(142)		(159)
Other, net		12		(23)
Net cash used by investing activities		(130)		(182)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from commercial paper, net		1,590		—
Repayment of fixed-rate notes		(750)		—
Dividends paid		(383)		(361)
Purchases of common stock		(600)		(105)
Other, net		(32)		50
Net cash used by financing activities		(175)		(416)
Net cash used by discontinued operations		(2)		(1)
Net decrease in cash and equivalents		(455)		(877)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period		1,697		1,913
Cash and equivalents at end of period		$                        1,242		$                        1,036

 

EXHIBIT E ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS
Other Financial Information:
												March 30, 2025		December 31, 2024
Debt-to-equity (a)												43.2 %		39.7 %
Book value per share (b)												$                  82.81		$                   81.61
Shares outstanding												268,396,163		270,340,502
												First Quarter
												2025		2024
Income tax payments, net												$                       34		$                        33
Company-sponsored research and development (c)												$                     101		$                      137
Return on sales (d)												8.1 %		7.4 %
Non-GAAP Financial Measures:
												First Quarter
												2025		2024
Free cash flow:
Net cash used by operating activities												$                   (148)		$                    (278)
Capital expenditures												(142)		(159)
Free cash flow (e)												$                   (290)		$                    (437)
												March 30, 2025		December 31, 2024
Net debt:
Total debt												$                  9,609		$                   8,762
Less cash and equivalents												1,242		1,697
Net debt (f)												$                  8,367		$                   7,065

(a)	Debt-to-equity ratio is calculated as total debt divided by total equity as of the end of the period.
(b)	Book value per share is calculated as total equity divided by total outstanding shares as of the end of the period.
(c)	Includes independent research and development and Aerospace product-development costs.
(d)	Return on sales is calculated as net earnings divided by revenue.
(e)	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, repurchasing our common stock and paying dividends. We use free cash flow to assess the quality of our earnings and as a key performance measure in evaluating management.
(f)	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.

 

EXHIBIT F BACKLOG - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS
														Funded		Unfunded		Total Backlog		Estimated Potential Contract Value*		Total Estimated Contract Value
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
Fourth Quarter 2024:
Aerospace														$             18,895		$                  798		$             19,693		$                       1,132		$                 20,825
Marine Systems														30,530		9,288		39,818		9,560		49,378
Combat Systems														16,142		838		16,980		8,647		25,627
Technologies														9,577		4,529		14,106		34,029		48,135
Total														$             75,144		$             15,453		$             90,597		$                    53,368		$               143,965
First Quarter 2024:
Aerospace														$             19,564		$                  981		$             20,545		$                          305		$                 20,850
Marine Systems														29,711		14,415		44,126		3,749		47,875
Combat Systems														14,923		686		15,609		7,002		22,611
Technologies														8,976		4,478		13,454		29,206		42,660
Total														$             73,174		$             20,560		$             93,734		$                    40,262		$               133,996

*

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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EXHIBIT F-2

BACKLOG BY SEGMENT - (UNAUDITED)

DOLLARS IN MILLIONS

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EXHIBIT G AEROSPACE SUPPLEMENTAL DATA - (UNAUDITED) DOLLARS IN MILLIONS
																																								First Quarter
																																								2025		2024
Gulfstream Aircraft Deliveries (units):
Large-cabin aircraft																																								30		21
Mid-cabin aircraft																																								6		3
Total																																								36		24
Aerospace Book-to-Bill:
Orders*																																								$               2,361		$               2,426
Revenue																																								3,026		2,084
Book-to-Bill Ratio																																								0.8x		1.2x

*  Does not include customer defaults, liquidated damages, cancellations, foreign exchange fluctuations and other backlog adjustments.

 

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SOURCE General Dynamics

FAQ

What were General Dynamics' (GD) Q1 2025 earnings per share?

General Dynamics reported Q1 2025 diluted earnings per share of $3.66, representing a 27.1% increase from the previous year.

How much revenue did General Dynamics (GD) generate in Q1 2025?

General Dynamics generated revenue of $12.2 billion in Q1 2025, up 13.9% compared to the same quarter last year.

What was General Dynamics' (GD) Aerospace segment performance in Q1 2025?

The Aerospace segment showed strong growth with revenue up 45.2%, operating earnings up 69.4%, and margins expanding 210 basis points to 14.3%.

How much did General Dynamics (GD) spend on share repurchases in Q1 2025?

General Dynamics spent $600 million on share repurchases during Q1 2025.

What is General Dynamics' (GD) current dividend payment?

General Dynamics declared a quarterly dividend of $1.50 per share, representing a 5.6% increase over the previous year.

What is General Dynamics' (GD) total backlog and contract value?

General Dynamics reported a backlog of $88.7 billion and total estimated contract value of $141.3 billion, including $52.7 billion in potential contract value.