The U.S. government and private financiers are pouring money into critical minerals, believing China won’t ever be a reliable supplier again https://t.co/dKWDQFyAWM ...

I think the pandemic sort of brought logistics to the limelight from this like tucked in the corner industry to really really be in the forefront of all of us of consumers and society. And when supply chain stop, economy stopped. Going back to the co days in 2020, we started buying online like we had never seen before.And so what happened then with all of that cargo rushing in, it was like taking 10 lanes of LA freeway traffic and squeezing them into five. >> But what if we could use technology not just to ...

Supply Chain Challenges & Opportunities - The pandemic highlighted the need to fix supply chains and rethink them using technology to transform markets, workforce, and the economy [1][2] - Supply chain disruptions can halt the economy, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic when online buying surged, overwhelming logistics [3] - Logistics represents the largest cost for the manufacturing and retail economy, and reducing this cost can unlock new economic activity [4][5] - Reducing friction in manufacturing, distribution, and goods movement unlocks new economic opportunities, manufacturing strength, predictability, and resilience [6] AI & Technology in Supply Chain - AI offers three levels of optimization: addressing fragmentation and manual tasks, holistic supply chain optimization, and driving better decision-making [7][8][9] - AI can minimize empty miles in logistics networks by smartly designing the network [9] - The future involves unleashing AI in the physical world with physical AI and self-driving technology, representing a profound change in supply chain [10] - Digitalization of port information, like at the Port of Los Angeles, allows for better planning and anticipation of cargo arrivals [11][12][13] - AI-driven predictive maintenance can optimize fleet maintenance schedules based on real-time operating data [18][19] Impact on Jobs - Automation and AI raise questions about job displacement, but self-driving technology is expected to augment jobs gradually, fulfilling demand rather than replacing drivers immediately [21][22] - AI is expected to transition knowledge worker roles faster, upleveling them to orchestrators of AI agents [23] - AI will automate mundane tasks, enhancing human capabilities rather than fully replacing human jobs [25][26] Autonomous Infrastructure - The next decade is about building the autonomous infrastructure of the industry, with self-driving technology driving efficiency and safety [27][28] - Self-driving technology can increase asset utilization from 6 hours to 20-24 hours per day and improve road safety [28]

Industry Collaboration & Coordination - Europe needs increased coordination and burden-sharing in defense investments to create scale [1] - Industry supports common acquisitions and aligned requirements among European countries [2] - The aerospace and security and defense organization in Europe (ASD) advocates for a consolidated industry view to secure sovereign capacity in critical supply chains [2][3] Supply Chain Security - Securing sovereign capacity in important supply chain issues, such as rare earth elements (REE) and components, is crucial [2] - A consolidated view and investment in securing supply chains are essential for Europe [3] Strategic Objectives - Strengthening European deterrence and capacity is a key objective through increased collaboration [3]

After years of decline, businesses are a far cry from the glory days of being ‘Furniture Capital of the World’ amid price hikes and supply chain snafus.https://t.co/nRz4i0dBpS ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Earnings per diluted share were reported at $3.88, with revenue of $12.9 billion, operating earnings of $1.3 billion, and net income of $1.59 billion, reflecting a revenue increase of $1.24 billion or 10.6% year-over-year [4] - Operating earnings increased by $150 million or 12.7%, while net earnings rose by $129 million or 13.9%, and earnings per share increased by $0.53 or 15.8% compared to the same quarter last year [4] - Year-to-date revenue reached $38.2 billion, up 11%, with operating earnings up 15.7% and net earnings up 16.4% [4] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Aerospace segment revenue was $3.2 billion, up $752 million or 30.3%, with operating earnings of $430 million, a 41% increase [6][7] - Combat systems revenue was $2.3 billion, a modest increase of 1.8%, with earnings of $335 million, up 3.1% [8][9] - Marine systems revenue reached $4.1 billion, up 13.8%, with operating earnings of $291 million, a 12.8% increase [10][11] - Technologies segment revenue was $3.3 billion, down 1.6%, but year-to-date revenue was up 3.5% [11][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Strong order momentum was noted across all segments, with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.5:1 for the company, and a record backlog of $109.9 billion, up 19% year-over-year [18] - The aerospace market showed accelerated interest, particularly in North America, contributing to strong order intake [8] - Combat systems backlog was approximately $18.7 billion, reflecting strong demand, particularly in Europe [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on operational performance improvements and expects continued margin strength and strong cash generation [16] - Strategic investments in differentiated defense electronics are anticipated to drive future growth in the technologies segment [16] - The company plans to maintain its core competencies and invest prudently to support growth in its existing markets [72] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed caution regarding the potential impacts of the ongoing government shutdown on cash flow and contract timing [24][39] - The company anticipates annual revenue of around $52 billion with margins of approximately 10.3%, while increasing EPS forecast to between $15.30-$15.35 [24] - Management noted that the supply chain remains a critical factor affecting production and delivery schedules, particularly for the Columbia class submarines [72] Other Important Information - The company generated $2.1 billion in operating cash flow, with free cash flow of $1.9 billion for the quarter, representing 179% of net income [19][22] - Capital expenditures were $212 million in the quarter, with a target of over 2% of sales for the full year [22] - The company ended the quarter with a cash balance of $2.5 billion and a net debt position of $5.5 billion, down $1.7 billion from the previous quarter [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: What factors drove the strong orders in aerospace? - Management indicated that the strength of the economy, a resilient order book, and improved delivery cadence contributed to the strong orders [26] Question: Is there a particular geographic area of strength? - North America was highlighted as the area of particular strength [27] Question: Are there any changes in the contracting environment with the new administration? - Management noted an emphasis on speed in contracting but did not observe wholesale changes [77] Question: What is the outlook for the Columbia class contracts? - Management expects those contracts to be executed this year, emphasizing a close working relationship with the government [82] Question: How does the company view the future growth potential in Europe? - Management sees robust growth potential in Europe, particularly in indigenous operations [71]

Xi’s stranglehold on rare earths will give China unprecedented leverage to win concessions from the US. Sitting in Beijing’s reserve is control over an even more vital supply chain: medicine. https://t.co/NFy5UxoItZ ...

How focused are you on that portion of the chip market. More analog semis that go into all manner of things we rely on each day. It's great to see you again, Ed.You have it exactly right. I'm very, very hyper focused on the air market. Therefore, the companies I track are a little bit different than the broader semiconductor industry.For example, we have furtive reporting this week. We've amphenol. Now, those are both key suppliers into air systems.Whether or not those suppliers will be confirmed, you know, ...

RT Bloomberg Live (@BloombergLive)How dependent are EU defense companies on rare earth minerals from China? "We all share a certain vulnerability...defense isn't the only industry that's dependent. It is true that earths are a problem, but I think the problems actually start elsewhere" @torstenreil #BloombergTech https://t.co/3bPSLkJRnI ...

You've got real experience navigating volatile industries, experience in the airline business and experience in the automaker business, too. You took over as CFO in the pandemic. Can you talk to us about this year, Paul.Just how agile have you and the team needed to be and how volatile have things been, too. >> Well, Jonathan, first of all, thank you very much for having us. It's a great day to be at GM and celebrate the success of uh all of our employees and partners worldwide.So really appreciate uh you b ...