Core Insights - L3Harris Technologies has secured a new U.S. Navy contract to support Marine Corps strike modernization efforts, focusing on the Red WolfTM vehicles for long-range precision missions [1][2] - The contract follows extensive operational testing and transitions from demonstrations to production and fielding [2] - The military is increasingly prioritizing affordable systems that can deploy at scale, especially in light of vulnerabilities exposed by recent conflicts involving mass-produced drones [3] Program Scope and Timing - The Navy's selection of L3Harris was announced after 52 successful vehicle flights in various environments, including low-altitude firings from a Marine AH-1Z helicopter [2] Battlefield Advantages - The Red Wolf system enhances engagement distance for weapons launched from vertical takeoff platforms, demonstrating ranges of about 200 nautical miles during testing [4] - The vehicle supports beyond line-of-sight communications and autonomous over-the-horizon engagements, allowing more aircraft to participate in strike operations [5] Financial Guidance - For fiscal 2026, L3Harris expects adjusted earnings per share between $11.30 and $11.50, below the Street's estimate of $12.46, while raising its revenue outlook to $23.0 billion to $23.5 billion, slightly above the consensus estimate [6] - By segment, projected revenues include approximately $11.5 billion from Space & Mission Systems, around $8.0 billion from Communication & Spectrum Dominance, and approximately $4.4 billion from Missiles Solutions, with total operating margins expected in the low 16% range [7] - The company anticipates free cash flow of approximately $3.0 billion [8]

Group 1 - L3Harris Technologies has secured a deal with the U.S. Navy to develop Red Wolf vehicles for the Marine Corps' precision-strike program [1]

Core Insights - Global defense spending is increasing due to geopolitical tensions, benefiting companies like AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV) and L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (LHX) [1] - Investments in unmanned systems, satellite communications, space hardware, cyber defense, and advanced weapons are creating favorable conditions for both companies [1] Summary of AeroVironment (AVAV) - AVAV specializes in unmanned aerial systems and space-qualified hardware for various orbits and cislunar missions [2] - The company has expanded its defense footprint with a $75 million task order from the U.S. Air Force for biotechnology and materials science development [4] - AVAV has made progress in advanced airspace operations by installing a new Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) airspace management facility [5] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AVAV's fiscal 2026 EPS is $3.46, indicating a 5.5% growth, with revenue estimates at $2.00 billion, reflecting a 143.4% increase [10] Summary of L3Harris Technologies (LHX) - LHX is a diversified defense contractor with strong capabilities in communications, space systems, electronic warfare, and tactical networks [2] - The company reported Q4 2025 revenues of $5.65 billion, a 2.4% increase from the previous year, and EPS improved to $2.86, representing a 10.0% year-over-year growth [6] - LHX delivered the first MC-55A aircraft to the U.S. Air Force and secured a contract for a next-generation imaging payload for South Korea's GEO-KOMPSAT-5 satellite [7][8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LHX's 2026 EPS is $12.39, indicating a 16.3% year-over-year growth, with revenue estimates at $23.40 billion, showing a 6.5% increase [11] Comparative Analysis - LHX has outperformed AVAV in stock price performance, with a 23.1% gain compared to AVAV's 20.8% decline over the past three months [12] - LHX's valuation is more attractive, trading at a forward Price/Sales (P/S F12M) multiple of 2.83X compared to AVAV's 6.47X [15] - LHX is positioned as the stronger stock due to its diversified operations, steady growth, and attractive valuation, making it a better option for investors seeking growth and reliability in the defense sector [17]

Core Viewpoint - L3Harris Technologies reported mixed fourth-quarter earnings, leading to a decline in stock prices due to confusing guidance provided by the company [1]. Group 1: Earnings Performance - L3Harris stock has increased approximately 69% over the past 12 months, indicating strong performance prior to the earnings report [1]. Group 2: Guidance and Market Reaction - The guidance issued by L3Harris was described as confusing, contributing to investor concerns and subsequent stock price decline [1].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for 2025 was $21.9 billion, representing a 5% organic growth, with adjusted segment operating margin at 15.8%, up 40 basis points [16] - Non-GAAP EPS increased to $10.73, an 11% rise over 2024, while adjusted free cash flow grew to $2.8 billion, over 20% increase [16] - For Q4, revenue was $5.6 billion, up 6% organically, with a segment operating margin of 15.7%, also up 40 basis points [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Communications Systems (CS) delivered $5.7 billion in revenue for 2025, with a margin of 25.2%, reflecting 4% growth and 50 basis points margin expansion [17] - Integrated Mission Systems (IMS) reported $6.6 billion in revenue, achieving 8% organic growth with a margin of 12.2% [17] - Space and Airborne Systems (SAS) generated $6.9 billion in revenue, with a margin of 12.3% [18] - Aerojet Rocketdyne achieved 12% organic revenue growth, exceeding $2.8 billion with a margin of 12.5% [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company ended 2025 with a record backlog and order book exceeding $38 billion, with a Book-to-Bill ratio of 1.3 [11] - Key wins included a $2.2 billion award from South Korea for next-generation airborne early warning jets and an $850 million SDA contract for 18 satellites [12][14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on evolving its business by aligning its portfolio with fast-growing defense priorities and pursuing strategic partnerships [4][5] - Plans include an IPO for the missile solutions business in the second half of 2026, with the Department of War as an anchor investor [5][20] - The company aims to enhance production capacity for critical missile programs and has begun construction to expand capacity on solid rocket motors [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted a complex and rapidly evolving defense environment, emphasizing the importance of speed and execution [8] - The company anticipates continued strong demand for its products, with expectations of double-digit growth for the missile solutions business [30] - The 2026 guidance includes revenue expectations of $23 billion to $23.5 billion, representing 7% organic growth [20] Other Important Information - The company has reorganized its business segments from four to three to better align technology and business models [4] - The company has exceeded its LHX NeXt $1 billion savings commitment one year ahead of schedule [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Long-term agreements for Missile Solutions - Management confirmed ongoing discussions with the Department of War regarding long-term agreements and expressed optimism about the growth potential of the missile solutions business [26][27] Question: CapEx expectations - Management indicated a planned increase in CapEx to about 2.5% of sales for 2026, with a focus on modernizing production lines [32][33] Question: Government stake in Missile Solutions - Management clarified that the government is expected to hold a single-digit equity ownership stake in the Missile Solutions business [40] Question: Revenue outlook for RemainCo - Management projected solid mid-single-digit growth for RemainCo, with expectations of leveraging a potentially larger defense budget in 2027 [46][49] Question: Production plans and competitive landscape in space - Management discussed the importance of speed and scale in satellite production and highlighted the company's investments in new facilities to meet demand [80][82] Question: Sustainability of CSD margins - Management expressed confidence in maintaining healthy margins for the Communications and Spectrum Dominance segment, with potential for future margin expansion [72][76]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for 2025 was $21.9 billion, representing a 5% organic growth, with adjusted segment operating margin at 15.8%, up 40 basis points [16] - Non-GAAP EPS increased to $10.73, an 11% rise over 2024, while adjusted free cash flow grew to $2.8 billion, over 20% increase [16] - For Q4, revenue was $5.6 billion, up 6% organically, with a segment operating margin of 15.7%, also up 40 basis points [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Communications Systems (CS) generated $5.7 billion in revenue for 2025, with a margin of 25.2%, reflecting 4% growth and 50 basis points margin expansion [17] - Integrated Mission Systems (IMS) reported $6.6 billion in revenue, achieving 8% organic growth with a margin of 12.2% [17] - Space and Airborne Systems (SAS) delivered $6.9 billion in revenue, with a margin of 12.3% [18] - Aerojet Rocketdyne (AR) achieved 12% organic revenue growth, exceeding $2.8 billion with a margin of 12.5% [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company ended 2025 with a record backlog exceeding $38 billion and a Book-to-Bill ratio of 1.3 [11] - Key awards included a $2.2 billion contract from South Korea for airborne early warning jets and an $850 million contract for 18 satellites for missile defense [12][14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on evolving its business model, aligning its portfolio with defense priorities, and pursuing strategic partnerships to drive growth [4][5] - Plans include an IPO for the Missile Solutions business in the second half of 2026, with the Department of War as an anchor investor [5][20] - The company aims to enhance production capacity for missile systems and solid rocket motors to meet increasing demand [8][10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted a complex and rapidly evolving defense environment, emphasizing the need for speed and execution [8] - The company anticipates continued double-digit growth for the Missile Solutions business, driven by strong demand signals [30] - Guidance for 2026 includes revenue expectations of $23 billion to $23.5 billion, with a 7% organic growth rate at the midpoint [20] Other Important Information - The company has reorganized its business segments from four to three to better align technology and business models [5] - The LHX NeXt program has exceeded its $1 billion savings commitment one year ahead of schedule [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Long-term agreements for Missile Solutions - Management confirmed ongoing discussions with the Department of War regarding long-term agreements and expressed optimism about the potential for significant growth in the Missile Solutions business [26][27][30] Question: CapEx expectations - Management indicated a planned increase in CapEx to about 2.5% of sales for 2026, with a focus on modernizing production capabilities [32][33] Question: Government stake in Missile Solutions - Management clarified that the government is expected to hold a single-digit ownership stake in the Missile Solutions business [40] Question: Revenue outlook for RemainCo - Management projected solid mid-single-digit growth for RemainCo, with expectations for increased defense budgets to drive further growth [46][49] Question: Tactical radios funding - Management acknowledged reductions in funding for tactical radios but expressed optimism about future growth opportunities in this area [60][76]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for 2025 was $21.9 billion, representing a 5% organic growth, with adjusted segment operating margin at 15.8%, up 40 basis points from 2024 [14][15] - Non-GAAP EPS increased to $10.73, an 11% rise year-over-year, while adjusted free cash flow grew to $2.8 billion, over 20% increase [14][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Communications Systems (CS) generated $5.7 billion in revenue for 2025, with a margin of 25.2%, reflecting 4% growth and 50 basis points margin expansion [16] - Integrated Mission Systems (IMS) reported $6.6 billion in revenue, achieving 8% organic growth with a margin of 12.2% [16] - Space and Airborne Systems (SAS) had revenue of $6.9 billion and a margin of 12.3% for 2025, with Q4 revenue slightly up due to increased FAA volume [17] - Aerojet Rocketdyne delivered 12% organic revenue growth, exceeding $2.8 billion, with a margin of 12.5% [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company ended 2025 with a record backlog exceeding $38 billion and a Book-to-Bill ratio of 1.3 [10] - Key awards included a $2.2 billion contract from South Korea for airborne early warning jets and an $850 million SDA contract for missile defense satellites [11][12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on aligning its portfolio with defense priorities, including a recent divestiture of a majority stake in its civil space propulsion business to enhance focus on military needs [3][4] - Plans for an IPO of the missile solutions business in 2026 are underway, with the Department of War as an anchor investor [4][19] - The company aims to increase production capacity for missile systems and solid rocket motors to meet growing demand [5][6] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted a complex and rapidly evolving defense environment, emphasizing the need for speed and execution [7][9] - The company anticipates a 7% organic growth for 2026, supported by a robust order outlook and record backlog [12][20] - Management expressed confidence in meeting future demand and maintaining operational agility [24][25] Other Important Information - The company has reorganized its business segments from four to three to better align technology and business models [4] - The 2026 guidance includes expected revenue of $23 billion to $23.5 billion, with a segment operating margin anticipated to be in the low 16% range [20][21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Long-term agreements for Missile Solutions - Management confirmed ongoing discussions with the Department of War regarding long-term agreements and expressed optimism about the growth potential of the Missile Solutions business [26][27][30] Question: CapEx expectations - Management indicated a planned increase in CapEx to $600 million for 2026, emphasizing the need for investment to modernize production capabilities [32][34] Question: Government stake in Missile Solutions - Management clarified that the government is expected to hold a single-digit equity stake in the Missile Solutions business post-IPO [39] Question: Revenue outlook for RemainCo - Management projected solid mid-single-digit growth for RemainCo, with expectations of leveraging a potentially increased defense budget in 2027 [44][46] Question: Production plans and competitive landscape in space - Management discussed the ramp-up of production capabilities in new facilities and the competitive landscape for satellite contracts, emphasizing the importance of speed and scale [78][80]

FOURTH QUARTER 2025 EARNINGS PRESENTATION January 29, 2026 DELIVERING SHAREHOLDER VALUE | | | 2025 | 2026 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | Actuals | Guidance | | Strategy aligned to fastest | | | | | growing defense priorities | Revenue | $21.9B | $23B - $23.5B | | | Growth1,2 | 5% | 7%3 | | 2026 Guidance exceeded initial | Adjusted Segment | | | | 2026 Financial Framework | Operating | 15.8% | low 16% | | | Margin2,4 | | | | Disciplined capital deployment | | | | | | Adjusted Free | $2.8B | $3.0B | | | Ca ...

Core Viewpoint - L3Harris Technologies missed Wall Street revenue estimates for the fourth quarter due to delays in contract awards caused by a prolonged U.S. government shutdown [1] Group 1: Company Performance - L3Harris Technologies reported lower-than-expected revenue for the fourth quarter [1] - The delays in contract awards were attributed to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown [1]

Core Insights - L3Harris Technologies reported fourth-quarter revenue of $5.64 billion, a 2% increase year-over-year, but below the consensus estimate of $5.77 billion. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $2.86, exceeding the consensus of $2.76 [1][2] Financial Performance - Cash from operations for the fourth quarter was $1.96 billion, up from $1.13 billion year-over-year. Adjusted free cash flow was $1.86 billion, compared to $1.03 billion in the same quarter of the previous year [2] - The GAAP operating margin decreased to 7.0% from 10.3% in the prior year, while the adjusted segment operating margin slightly increased to 15.7% from 15.3% [2] Cash Position - The company ended the quarter with approximately $1.06 billion in cash and cash equivalents [3] Strategic Outlook - The CEO highlighted 2025 as a pivotal year for L3Harris, emphasizing alignment with national defense priorities, which led to record orders and strong growth [4] - For 2026, the company expects adjusted EPS between $11.30 and $11.50, below the Street's estimate of $12.46, despite raising its revenue outlook [5] Revenue Guidance - L3Harris raised its fiscal 2026 sales guidance to a range of $23.0 billion to $23.5 billion, slightly above the consensus estimate of $23.327 billion [6] - Projected revenue by segment includes approximately $11.5 billion from Space & Mission Systems, around $8.0 billion from Communication & Spectrum Dominance, and approximately $4.4 billion from Missiles Solutions [6] Margin Expectations - Segment operating margins are anticipated to be in the mid-10% range for Space & Mission Systems, about 25% for Communication & Spectrum Dominance, and in the mid-12% range for Missiles Solutions, leading to a total operating margin in the low 16% range [7] - The company expects free cash flow of approximately $3.0 billion [7] Market Reaction - L3Harris Technologies shares fell by 5.08% to $342.00 during premarket trading following the earnings report [7]