Northrop Grumman(NOC) - 2025 Q3 - Quarterly Results

Executive Summary & Highlights Northrop Grumman reported strong Q3 2025 results with increased sales, earnings, and EPS, leading to an upward revision of its full-year guidance Third Quarter 2025 Performance Overview Northrop Grumman reported strong third-quarter 2025 financial results, with sales increasing 4% to $10.4 billion and net earnings rising 7% to $1.1 billion. Diluted EPS grew 10% to $7.67. The company achieved mid-single-digit growth, expanded segment margins, and increased cash flows year-over-year, leading to an upward revision of its 2025 EPS guidance Third Quarter 2025 Key Financial Highlights | Metric | Q3 2025 | Q3 2024 | Change | | :-------------------------------- | :------ | :------ | :----- | | Sales | $10.4B | $10.0B | +4% | | Net Earnings | $1.1B | $1.0B | +7% | | Diluted EPS | $7.67 | $7.00 | +10% | | Net Awards | $12.2B | N/A | N/A | | Book to Bill Ratio | 1.17 | N/A | N/A | | Operating Margin Rate | 11.9% | N/A | N/A | | Segment Operating Margin Rate | 12.3% | N/A | N/A | * Northrop Grumman increased its 2025 MTM-adjusted EPS guidance range by $0.65 to $25.65 - $26.05, reflecting strong performance and a positive outlook[3][4] * The CEO highlighted continued progress in responding to customer needs, rapid innovation, and expected strong global demand for the company's portfolio, with growth anticipated in all four business segments next year[3] Consolidated Financial Performance The company achieved increased sales and operating income in Q3 2025, driven by segment performance and impacted by tax law changes, resulting in higher net earnings Sales Total sales for the third quarter of 2025 increased by 4% to $10.423 billion, primarily driven by higher sales in Mission Systems, Defense Systems, and Aeronautics Systems. Organic sales also saw a 5% increase for the quarter Consolidated Sales Performance | Metric | Q3 2025 ($M) | Q3 2024 ($M) | Q3 Change (%) | YTD 2025 ($M) | YTD 2024 ($M) | YTD Change (%) | | :---------------- | :----------- | :----------- | :------------ | :------------ | :------------ | :------------ | | Total Sales | 10,423 | 9,996 | 4% | 30,242 | 30,347 | —% | | Organic Sales | 10,423 | 9,926 | 5% | 30,130 | 30,121 | —% | * The increase in Q3 2025 sales was primarily due to higher sales at Mission Systems, Defense Systems, and Aeronautics Systems, partially offset by lower sales at Space Systems due to the wind-down of certain programs[6] Operating Income and Margin Rate Consolidated operating income for Q3 2025 rose by 11% to $1.242 billion, with the operating margin rate improving to 11.9% from 11.2% in the prior year. This improvement was largely due to a higher segment operating margin rate Consolidated Operating Income and Margin Rate | Metric | Q3 2025 ($M) | Q3 2024 ($M) | Q3 Change (%) | YTD 2025 ($M) | YTD 2024 ($M) | YTD Change (%) | | :------------------------ | :----------- | :----------- | :------------ | :------------ | :------------ | :------------ | | Total Operating Income | 1,242 | 1,120 | 11% | 3,240 | 3,281 | (1%) | | Operating Margin Rate | 11.9% | 11.2% | +70 bps | 10.7% | 10.8% | (10) bps | | Segment Operating Income | 1,277 | 1,146 | 11% | 3,064 | 3,351 | (9%) | | Segment Operating Margin Rate | 12.3% | 11.5% | +80 bps | 10.1% | 11.0% | (90) bps | * The increase in segment operating income was primarily driven by higher operating income at Mission Systems and Defense Systems, partially offset by lower operating income at Space Systems[8] Federal and Foreign Income Taxes The enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) in July 2025 significantly impacted income tax provisions, leading to a 38% increase in Q3 2025 income tax expense and a higher effective tax rate of 16.9% * The OBBBA repealed mandatory capitalization of R&D expenditures (reinstating full expensing in 2025) and extended bonus depreciation, with the company recognizing these effects in Q3 2025[9] Income Tax Expense and Effective Tax Rate | Metric | Q3 2025 ($M) | Q3 2024 ($M) | Q3 Change (%) | YTD 2025 ($M) | YTD 2024 ($M) | YTD Change (%) | | :-------------------------- | :----------- | :----------- | :------------ | :------------ | :------------ | :------------ | | Federal and Foreign Income Tax Expense | 223 | 162 | 38% | 573 | 555 | 3% | | Effective Income Tax Rate | 16.9% | 13.6% | +330 bps | 17.2% | 16.0% | +120 bps | Net Earnings Net earnings for the third quarter of 2025 increased by 7% to $1.1 billion, primarily driven by higher operating income and increased returns on marketable securities, partially offset by higher income tax expense and a reduction in non-operating FAS pension benefit Consolidated Net Earnings and Diluted EPS | Metric | Q3 2025 ($M) | Q3 2024 ($M) | Q3 Change (%) | YTD 2025 ($M) | YTD 2024 ($M) | YTD Change (%) | | :-------------------- | :----------- | :----------- | :------------ | :------------ | :------------ | :------------ | | Net Earnings | 1,100 | 1,026 | 7% | 2,755 | 2,910 | (5%) | | Diluted EPS | 7.67 | 7.00 | 10% | 19.12 | 19.69 | (3%) | * The increase in net earnings was primarily due to a $122 million increase in operating income and a $62 million increase in returns on marketable securities, partially offset by a $61 million increase in income tax expense and a $32 million reduction in non-operating FAS pension benefit[11] Cash Flow, Awards and Backlog Strong Q3 2025 cash flow generation and significant net awards contributed to a healthy book-to-bill ratio and stable total backlog Cash Flows Northrop Grumman demonstrated strong cash generation in Q3 2025, with net cash provided by operating activities increasing by 43% and free cash flow surging by 72%, driven by higher earnings and improved working capital Cash Flow Performance | Metric | Q3 2025 ($M) | Q3 2024 ($M) | Q3 Change (%) | YTD 2025 ($M) | YTD 2024 ($M) | YTD Change (%) | | :-------------------------------- | :----------- | :----------- | :------------ | :------------ | :------------ | :------------ | | Net cash provided by operating activities | 1,557 | 1,091 | 43% | 860 | 1,810 | (52%) | | Capital expenditures | (301) | (361) | (17%) | (788) | (951) | (17%) | | Free cash flow | 1,256 | 730 | 72% | 72 | 859 | (92%) | * The increase in net cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to higher earnings and improved trade working capital, mainly from the timing of billings and collections[13] Awards and Backlog The company secured $12.2 billion in net awards during Q3 2025, resulting in a book-to-bill ratio of 1.17 and maintaining a total backlog of $91.4 billion * Significant new awards in Q3 2025 included $4.5 billion for restricted programs (Space, Mission, Aeronautics Systems), $1.8 billion for Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Weapon System (GWS), $0.5 billion for F-35, and $0.4 billion for Virginia Class submarines[13] Awards and Backlog Summary | Metric | Q3 2025 | | :---------------- | :------ | | Net Awards | $12.2B | | Book to Bill Ratio | 1.17 | | Total Backlog | $91.4B | Segment Operating Results Organizational realignments impacted segment reporting, with varied sales and operating income performance across Aeronautics, Defense, Mission, and Space Systems Segment Realignment Northrop Grumman implemented two significant organizational realignments: the Strategic Deterrent Systems (SDS) division moved from Space Systems to Defense Systems effective July 1, 2024, and the Strike and Surveillance Aircraft Solutions (SSAS) business unit moved from Defense Systems to Aeronautics Systems effective January 1, 2025 * Strategic Deterrent Systems (SDS) division, including the Sentinel program, was realigned from Space Systems to Defense Systems, effective July 1, 2024[14] * The Strike and Surveillance Aircraft Solutions (SSAS) business unit was realigned from Defense Systems to Aeronautics Systems, effective January 1, 2025[14] Aeronautics Systems Aeronautics Systems reported a 6% increase in Q3 2025 sales, driven by the TACAMO and F-35 programs, but operating income slightly decreased by 1% due to lower net contract margin adjustments Aeronautics Systems Performance | Metric | Q3 2025 ($M) | Q3 2024 ($M) | Q3 Change (%) | YTD 2025 ($M) | YTD 2024 ($M) | YTD Change (%) | | :---------------- | :----------- | :----------- | :------------ | :------------ | :------------ | :------------ | | Sales | 3,142 | 2,961 | 6% | 9,070 | 9,065 | —% | | Operating Income | 305 | 309 | (1%) | 443 | 927 | (52%) | | Operating Margin Rate | 9.7% | 10.4% | -70 bps | 4.9% | 10.2% | -530 bps | * Sales growth was primarily due to a $110 million increase on the E-130J TACAMO program and a $105 million increase on the F-35 program, partially offset by a decrease on F/A-18 as production nears completion[16] * Operating income decreased due to a lower operating margin rate, primarily from lower net contract margin adjustments[17] Defense Systems Defense Systems achieved a 14% increase in Q3 2025 sales and a substantial 46% increase in operating income, driven by higher volume on armament programs, new IBCS awards, and Sentinel, alongside improved operating margin rates Defense Systems Performance | Metric | Q3 2025 ($M) | Q3 2024 ($M) | Q3 Change (%) | YTD 2025 ($M) | YTD 2024 ($M) | YTD Change (%) | | :---------------- | :----------- | :----------- | :------------ | :------------ | :------------ | :------------ | | Sales | 2,059 | 1,800 | 14% | 5,855 | 5,396 | 9% | | Organic Sales | 2,059 | 1,730 | 19% | 5,743 | 5,170 | 11% | | Operating Income | 234 | 160 | 46% | 666 | 507 | 31% | | Operating Margin Rate | 11.4% | 8.9% | +250 bps | 11.4% | 9.4% | +200 bps | * Sales increased due to higher volume on armament programs (including military ammunition), increased volume from new awards across the IBCS program portfolio, and higher sales on Sentinel, partially offset by the training services divestiture[20] * Operating income increased due to a higher operating margin rate and higher sales, with the margin rate benefiting from higher net EAC adjustments and a shift towards more fixed-price contracts[21] Mission Systems Mission Systems delivered strong Q3 2025 results with a 10% increase in sales and a 32% increase in operating income, driven by restricted advanced microelectronics, marine systems, and international ground-based radar programs, coupled with a significant improvement in operating margin rate Mission Systems Performance | Metric | Q3 2025 ($M) | Q3 2024 ($M) | Q3 Change (%) | YTD 2025 ($M) | YTD 2024 ($M) | YTD Change (%) | | :---------------- | :----------- | :----------- | :------------ | :------------ | :------------ | :------------ | | Sales | 3,093 | 2,823 | 10% | 9,057 | 8,255 | 10% | | Operating Income | 515 | 390 | 32% | 1,317 | 1,129 | 17% | | Operating Margin Rate | 16.7% | 13.8% | +290 bps | 14.5% | 13.7% | +80 bps | * Sales increased primarily due to higher sales on restricted advanced microelectronics programs, higher volume on marine systems programs, and ramp-up on international ground-based radar programs[23] * Operating income increased due to a higher operating margin rate and higher sales, with the margin rate benefiting from higher net EAC adjustments, including a $68 million favorable adjustment in the restricted advanced microelectronics portfolio[24] Space Systems Space Systems experienced a 6% decrease in Q3 2025 sales and a 14% decrease in operating income, primarily due to the wind-down of restricted space and Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) programs, and lower SDA satellite program volume, partially offset by Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) missions Space Systems Performance | Metric | Q3 2025 ($M) | Q3 2024 ($M) | Q3 Change (%) | YTD 2025 ($M) | YTD 2024 ($M) | YTD Change (%) | | :---------------- | :----------- | :----------- | :------------ | :------------ | :------------ | :------------ | | Sales | 2,698 | 2,870 | (6%) | 7,912 | 9,021 | (12%) | | Operating Income | 298 | 345 | (14%) | 861 | 979 | (12%) | | Operating Margin Rate | 11.0% | 12.0% | -100 bps | 10.9% | 10.9% | — bps | * Sales decreased primarily due to the wind-down of work on restricted space and NGI programs ($124 million reduction) and lower volume on Space Development Agency (SDA) satellite programs, partially offset by a $100 million increase for Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) missions[27] * Operating income decreased due to a lower operating margin rate and lower sales, with the margin rate impacted by lower net EAC adjustments, including a prior year $39 million favorable EAC adjustment on the Habitation and Logistics Outpost program[28] Financial Guidance Northrop Grumman updated its 2025 financial guidance, raising EPS expectations while adjusting sales and maintaining other key financial targets 2025 Consolidated Guidance Northrop Grumman updated its 2025 financial guidance, raising the MTM-adjusted EPS range while slightly adjusting sales and maintaining segment operating income and free cash flow ranges Updated 2025 Consolidated Guidance | Metric | As of 10/21/2025 ($M) | Prior Guidance ($M) | | :------------------------ | :-------------------- | :------------------ | | Sales | $41,700 - $41,900 | $42,050 - $42,250 | | Segment Operating Income | $4,275 - $4,375 | N/A | | MTM-adjusted EPS | $25.65 - $26.05 | $25.00 - $25.40 | | Free Cash Flow | $3,050 - $3,350 | N/A | * The company's financial guidance reflects current anticipations regarding global macroeconomic, security, and political/budget environments, including inflationary pressures and supply chain challenges[30] 2025 Segment Guidance The company provided updated 2025 segment-level guidance, with adjustments to sales expectations for Aeronautics Systems and Defense Systems, while maintaining operating margin rate expectations across segments Updated 2025 Segment Guidance | Segment | Sales ($B) (As of 10/21/2025) | Prior Sales ($B) | OM Rate % (As of 10/21/2025) | | :---------------- | :------------------------------ | :--------------- | :--------------------------- | | Aeronautics Systems | High $12 | Low $13 | Low to Mid 6% | | Defense Systems | Low $8 | High $10 | Mid 10% | | Mission Systems | Mid $12 | Low to Mid $12 | Mid 14% | | Space Systems | Mid to High $10 | N/A | High 10% | | Intersegment Eliminations | ~($2.25) | ~($2.1) | High 13% | About Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman is a global aerospace and defense technology leader providing pioneering solutions to connect, protect, and advance human exploration Company Overview Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company, focused on providing pioneering solutions to connect and protect the world and advance human exploration * Northrop Grumman is a global aerospace and defense technology company that delivers pioneering solutions to customers, enabling them to connect and protect the world and push the boundaries of human exploration[34] * The company's employees are driven by a shared purpose to solve customers' toughest problems, demonstrating innovation and performance[34] Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors This section details the inherent uncertainties of forward-looking statements and outlines key industry, operational, and economic risks facing the company Forward-Looking Statements Disclosure This section outlines the nature of forward-looking statements within the earnings release, emphasizing that they are based on current assumptions and expectations but are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially * Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as 'will,' 'expect,' 'anticipate,' 'intend,' 'may,' 'could,' 'should,' 'plan,' 'strategy,' 'project,' 'forecast,' 'achieve,' 'believe,' 'estimate,' 'guidance,' 'outlook,' 'trends,' 'goals,' 'confident,' 'on track' and similar expressions[36] * These statements are not guarantees of future performance and inherently involve a wide range of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, and the company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise them[37][39] Key Risk Factors The company identifies a broad range of risks that could impact its future performance, categorized into industry and economic, legal and regulatory, business and operational, and general factors, including dependence on government contracts, macroeconomic pressures, and supply chain challenges * Industry and Economic Risks include dependence on the U.S. government, delays or reductions in appropriations/funding, and the use of estimates in accounting for contracts, affected by inflationary pressures, labor shortages, and supply chain challenges[37] * Business and Operational Risks encompass increased competition, continued macroeconomic pressures on costs and schedules, investigations, changes in procurement laws, improper conduct, environmental matters, cyber threats, and the performance of subcontractors and suppliers[38] * General and Other Risk Factors include adequacy of insurance, future investment performance of plan assets, and changes in business conditions impacting goodwill or other long-lived assets[41] Non-GAAP Financial Measures Disclosure This section defines key non-GAAP financial measures, such as MTM-adjusted EPS and free cash flow, used to evaluate the company's performance Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures This section provides definitions for key non-GAAP financial measures used in the earnings release, including MTM-adjusted EPS, Segment operating income and margin rate, Free cash flow, and Organic sales, explaining their relevance as supplemental evaluation tools * MTM-adjusted EPS excludes the per share impact of mark-to-market benefit (expense) and related tax impacts, providing insight into underlying financial performance before non-operational pension impacts[66] * Segment operating income and margin rate reflect combined operating income of the four segments, excluding FAS pension service expense and unallocated corporate items, useful for evaluating sector performance and operational trends[67] * Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by or used in operating activities less capital expenditures, used for planning acquisitions, dividends, and stock repurchases[68] * Organic sales exclude sales from the company's former training services business, aiding in evaluating underlying sales growth and understanding ongoing business trends[69] Financial Schedules This section provides detailed unaudited consolidated financial statements, including earnings, financial position, cash flows, backlog, and supplemental per share information Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income This schedule presents the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of earnings and comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024, detailing sales, operating costs, income, and net earnings * The statement provides a breakdown of product and service sales, operating costs and expenses, operating income, and other income/expense items leading to net earnings and comprehensive income[43] Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position This schedule provides the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial position as of September 30, 2025, and December 31, 2024, outlining the company's assets, liabilities, and shareholders' equity * Key asset categories include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, unbilled receivables, property, plant and equipment, goodwill, and pension assets. Liabilities include trade accounts payable, advance payments, long-term debt, and pension liabilities[46] Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows This schedule presents the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024, detailing cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities * Operating activities include adjustments for depreciation, deferred income taxes, B-21 loss provision, and changes in working capital. Investing activities show capital expenditures and divestiture proceeds. Financing activities include debt issuance/payments, stock repurchases, and dividends[49] Total Backlog This schedule provides the total backlog information by segment as of September 30, 2025, and December 31, 2024, distinguishing between funded and unfunded backlog Total Backlog by Segment | Segment | Sep 30, 2025 Total Backlog ($M) | Dec 31, 2024 Total Backlog ($M) | % Change in 2025 | | :---------------- | :-------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | :--------------- | | Aeronautics Systems | 22,450 | 25,202 | (11%) | | Defense Systems | 27,098 | 26,614 | 2% | | Mission Systems | 18,197 | 16,443 | 11% | | Space Systems | 23,703 | 23,209 | 2% | | Total Backlog | 91,448 | 91,468 | —% | * Funded backlog represents firm orders with authorized and appropriated funding, while total backlog excludes unexercised contract options and indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts until exercised[52][53] Supplemental Per Share Information This schedule details the per share impact of total net FAS/CAS pension adjustments and intangible asset amortization and PP&E step-up depreciation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024 Per Share Impact of Adjustments (Q3 2025) | Metric | After-tax impact ($M) | Per share impact ($) | | :---------------------------------------------------- | :-------------------- | :------------------- | | Total net FAS/CAS pension adjustment | 152 | 1.06 | | Intangible asset amortization and PP&E step-up depreciation | (16) | (0.11) | Recast Segment Sales and Operating Income This schedule provides recast segment sales and operating income data for prior periods, reflecting the organizational realignments effective July 1, 2024 (SDS from Space to Defense) and January 1, 2025 (SSAS from Defense to Aeronautics), to ensure comparability * The 'Realigned, effective July 1, 2024' data reflects the transfer of the Strategic Deterrent Systems (SDS) division from Space Systems to Defense Systems[63] * The 'Further realigned, effective January 1, 2025' data reflects the transfer of the Strike and Surveillance Aircraft Solutions (SSAS) business unit from Defense Systems to Aeronautics Systems[64]