Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a strong second quarter with revenue exceeding $10 billion, up 23% year-over-year, and profit reaching $2.3 billion, an increase of 23% [44] - Orders were up 27%, with commercial engine services (CES) growing 30% and defense propulsion technologies (DPT) up 7% [44] - Free cash flow nearly doubled to $2.1 billion compared to the previous year [44] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - CES services revenue increased by nearly 30% year-over-year, driven by internal shop visit revenue up more than 20% and spare parts revenue up over 25% [25] - DPT revenue grew 6%, with defense and systems up 6% and propulsion and additive technologies up 9% [48] - CES margins expanded by 50 basis points to 27.9%, while DPT margins declined by 20 basis points to 14.1% [47][48] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company expects air traffic growth to outpace global GDP, particularly in Asia Pacific and the Middle East [16] - The commercial services backlog has increased to over $140 billion, supporting growth for years to come [16] - The defense sector is seeing solid momentum globally, with increased funding for key defense propulsion initiatives [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to ramp up services and equipment to support customer fleets while fulfilling strong demand for new engines [19] - Investments of over $1 billion are planned for MRO and component repair facilities over the next five years [23] - The company is focused on enhancing engine performance and expanding its supply chain and service networks [20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management raised the 2025 guidance across the board, expecting total revenue growth in the mid-teens, up from low double digits [49] - The outlook for 2028 has also been raised, with expectations for adjusted EPS reaching approximately $8.40 and operating profit around $11.5 billion [42] - Management expressed optimism about the company's trajectory, citing strong fundamentals and a robust order backlog [16][42] Other Important Information - The company is investing approximately $3 billion in R&D in 2025, which is 6-8% of revenue [29] - The company has a life of program win rate of 75% for GE9X engines, indicating strong demand [26] - The company is effectively sold out through the rest of the decade for commercial and defense engines [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you reconcile the second half EBIT decline? - Management explained that while the second half EBIT is expected to be lower, the overall year is projected to see strong profit growth, with a better-than-expected second quarter contributing to raised revenue expectations [80][84] Question: What are the pricing assumptions for 2024-2028? - Management indicated that pricing is expected to offset inflation, with mid-single-digit pricing dynamics anticipated as the company moves beyond product launches [92][93] Question: What is the baseline for retirement rates? - Management acknowledged that retirements have been low but expect an increase as the fleet ages, with assumptions built around new aircraft deliveries and departure growth [95]