Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. - HII STOCK NEWS

HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division hosted Gen. Eric Smith, the 39th commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, for his first visit since the Navy's announcement of the amphibious multi-ship procurement contract. The contract includes construction of three San Antonio-class amphibious ships (LPD 33-35) and the America-class ship Helmand Province (LHA 10). The shipyard currently has multiple vessels under construction, including Bougainville (LHA 8) and Harrisburg (LPD 30). To date, Ingalls has delivered 13 San Antonio-class ships and 15 large-deck amphibious ships to the U.S. Navy.

HII's Newport News Shipbuilding division has successfully moved the mid-body hull section of the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVN 80), enabling concurrent assembly of two aircraft carriers in the same dry dock. The operation involved flooding the dock with over 100 million gallons of water for Enterprise's first float. The shipyard plans to begin assembling Doris Miller (CVN 81) in early next year, marking a historic first for simultaneous construction of two Gerald R. Ford-class carriers. Enterprise is notably the first aircraft carrier designed and built entirely using digital tools, with visual work instructions on laptops and tablets replacing traditional paper drawings.

HII, America's largest military shipbuilder, is celebrating National Apprenticeship Week (Nov. 17-23) across its three divisions. The company offers comprehensive apprenticeship programs, including the Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School (founded 1919), Mission Technologies' three specialized programs, and Ingalls Shipbuilding's Apprentice School (since 1952).

These tuition-free programs combine hands-on training with classroom instruction, offering competitive wages and benefits. The Newport News school provides 19 trades and 7 optional programs, while Mission Technologies focuses on nuclear, environmental services, and fleet sustainment. HII invests over $110 million annually in workforce development, education, and training initiatives.

HII's Newport News Shipbuilding division has completed the post-shakedown availability (PSA) work on the USS Montana (SSN 794), a Virginia-class fast attack submarine, and redelivered it to the U.S. Navy. The PSA included combat systems and electronics upgrades, along with general maintenance. USS Montana, the 21st Virginia-class submarine and 10th delivered by Newport News Shipbuilding, was originally commissioned on June 25, 2022, at Naval Station Norfolk.

HII's Mission Technologies division has secured a $197 million contract to support the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command's Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC). The five-year task order focuses on researching and developing enhancements for ground combat systems and service lifecycle efforts, particularly in vehicle power and mobility. The scope includes manned and unmanned ground combat vehicles, hybrid, joint light tactical and robotic vehicles. The work will primarily be conducted in Warren, Michigan, under the Department of Defense Information Analysis Center's multiple-award contract vehicle.

HII announced key leadership changes effective January 1, 2025. Kari Wilkinson will become the 21st president of Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), succeeding retiring Jennifer Boykin. Wilkinson, currently president of Ingalls Shipbuilding, will oversee 26,000 shipbuilders at NNS who build nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines. Brian Blanchette will succeed Wilkinson as president of Ingalls Shipbuilding. Under Wilkinson's leadership, Ingalls secured a $9.6 billion contract for amphibious ships. Boykin will retire after 37 years, leaving a legacy of digital transformation and significant contract achievements, including the first two-ship aircraft carrier procurement in over 30 years.

HII welcomed United Kingdom defense leaders at its Newport News Shipbuilding division, including Madelaine McTernan, chief of defence nuclear at the Ministry of Defence, and U.S. Adm. William Houston. The visit highlighted the renewal of the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement, strengthening bilateral defense cooperation between the US and UK. Newport News Shipbuilding, as the sole U.S. designer and builder of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and one of only two shipyards capable of nuclear‐powered submarines, demonstrated its capabilities and expertise in naval nuclear propulsion.

HII's Mission Technologies division has secured a $3 billion LOGIX contract to provide strategic support to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and its mission partners. The contract focuses on delivering logistics services, ISR operations, and next-generation technology aligned with the DOD's Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) strategy. This builds upon HII's decade-long experience with similar work for the U.S. Navy and Army's Fixed Wing. The contract aims to enhance joint force capabilities and accelerate solution implementation for national security initiatives globally.

HII reported third quarter 2024 results with revenues of $2.7 billion, down 2.4% year-over-year. Net earnings were $101 million with diluted EPS of $2.56, compared to $148 million and $3.70 in Q3 2023. Operating margin decreased to 3.0% from 6.1% last year. The company updated its FY24 outlook, expecting shipbuilding revenue of approximately $8.8B with operating margin between 5.0-6.0%, and free cash flow between $0-$100M. Performance was impacted by labor inefficiencies, supply chain issues, and uncertainty around Navy contract agreements.