General Dynamics Corporation (GD)

Q2 2026 Earnings Preview

Ticker

GD

Earnings Date

July 29, 2026

Reporting Period

Q2 2026 (ending June 30, 2026)

Prepared

July 28, 2026

Last Earnings

April 29, 2026 (Q1 2026)

Sector ETF

XLI (Industrials)

1. Earnings Preview

Key Takeaway: The setup favors a beat — consensus is a manageable bar after Q1's broad-based outperformance, and the single biggest swing factor is whether Aerospace margins hold at or above the mid-teens level that surprised the Street last quarter.

Heading into Q2 2026, General Dynamics carries significant momentum from a Q1 that management described as exceeding its own internal expectations across all four segments. Consensus EPS of ~$3.98 and revenue of ~$13.5B represent a modest bar — management guided Q2 deliveries to be "very similar to Q1" (38 aircraft), and the Aerospace margin trajectory has been explicitly described as durable, with G800 gross margins already exceeding the G650 it replaced despite being only 25 units into the program. Estimate revisions have been modestly positive since the Q1 print (EPS consensus moved from ~$3.93 to ~$3.98 post-earnings), suggesting the Street has partially but not fully credited the guidance raise to $16.45–$16.55 for the full year. The stock has rallied ~16% since the Q1 print (from $338.73 to ~$393), with the move driven almost entirely by multiple expansion rather than estimate revisions, implying the market is pricing in sustained execution — leaving the stock vulnerable to any operational stumble. The key wildcard is the Middle East conflict: management flagged that numerous Aerospace transactions slowed at Q1's end due to regional tensions, and a prolonged conflict could weigh on Gulfstream order intake and G280 supply chain (Israeli labor force), while simultaneously accelerating Combat Systems demand for munitions and vehicle replenishment — a cross-segment dynamic that makes the net impact difficult to predict.

2. KPIs & Consensus Expectations

Key Takeaway: Consensus is a manageable bar across all four segments; Aerospace operating margin is the biggest swing factor — any print at or above 15% would confirm the mid-teens trajectory is durable, while Marine Systems revenue growth is the second key watch given the 21% YoY surge in Q1.

Table 1 — Q2 2026 Current Quarter Snapshot

KPI

Q1 2026 Actual

Q2 2025 Actual

Q2 2026 Consensus Est.

YoY Change

Guidance

Cons. vs. Guidance

Revenue ($B)

$13.48B

$13.04B

$13.55B

+3.9%

No Q2-specific guidance

N/A

Operating EPS (Diluted)

$4.10

$3.74

$3.98

+6.4%

FY: $16.45–$16.55

~+1.3% vs. FY midpoint

Operating Margin (%)

10.5%

10.0%

10.2%

+20 bps

FY: ~10.4%

~-20 bps vs. FY guide

Revenue — Aerospace ($B)

$3.28B

$3.06B

$3.31B

+8.2%

Q2 deliveries ~similar to Q1 (38)

N/A

Op. Income — Aerospace ($M)

$493M (15.0%)

$403M (13.2%)

$458M (13.8%)

+13.6%

Mid-teens trajectory

~-120 bps vs. Q1 actual

Revenue — Marine Systems ($B)

$4.34B

$4.22B

$4.37B

+3.6%

No Q2-specific guidance

N/A

Op. Income — Marine ($M)

$316M (7.3%)

$291M (6.9%)

$316M (7.2%)

+8.6%

Continued throughput improvement

N/A

Revenue — Combat Systems ($B)

$2.28B

$2.28B

$2.36B

+3.5%

No Q2-specific guidance

N/A

Op. Income — Combat ($M)

$310M (13.6%)

$324M (14.2%)

$327M (13.8%)

+0.9%

Solid margins; munitions growth

N/A

Total Aircraft Deliveries (#)

38

38

~39

Flat

"Very similar to Q1"

~+3% vs. guidance midpoint

Free Cash Flow ($B)

$1.95B

$1.40B

$0.65B

N/M (Q1 was peak)

FY: ~100% net income conv.

N/A

Backlog ($B)

$130.8B

$103.7B

$127.9B

+23.3%

Record levels expected

N/A

Source: Visible Alpha Consensus and Actuals Data. All consensus figures as of July 28, 2026. Q2 2026 actuals not yet reported. Q1 2026 actuals and Q2 2025 actuals from Visible Alpha.

Table 2 — Beat/Miss History (Last 8 Quarters) — Top 2 KPIs: Operating EPS & Aerospace Revenue

Quarter

KPI

Reported

Consensus

Surprise %

Result

Q1 2026

Op. EPS

$4.10

$3.68

+11.4%

BEAT

Q1 2026

Aero Revenue

$3.28B

$3.15B

+4.1%

BEAT

Q4 2025

Op. EPS

$4.17

$4.11

+1.5%

BEAT

Q4 2025

Aero Revenue

$3.79B

$3.83B

-1.0%

MISS

Q3 2025

Op. EPS

$3.88

$3.72

+4.4%

BEAT

Q3 2025

Aero Revenue

$3.23B

$3.06B

+5.7%

BEAT

Q2 2025

Op. EPS

$3.74

$3.50

+6.9%

BEAT

Q2 2025

Aero Revenue

$3.06B

$3.06B

0.0%

IN-LINE

Q1 2025

Op. EPS

$3.66

$3.49

+4.9%

BEAT

Q1 2025

Aero Revenue

$3.03B

$3.02B

+0.3%

IN-LINE

Q4 2024

Op. EPS

$4.15

$4.00

+3.8%

BEAT

Q4 2024

Aero Revenue

$3.74B

$3.96B

-5.6%

MISS

Q3 2024

Op. EPS

$3.35

$3.47

-3.5%

MISS

Q3 2024

Aero Revenue

$2.48B

$2.95B

-15.9%

MISS

Source: Visible Alpha Consensus and Actuals Data. Pattern: GD has beaten Operating EPS in 6 of the last 8 quarters, with the two misses concentrated in Q3–Q4 2024 when Aerospace deliveries were disrupted; the last four quarters show a consistent beat pattern as the G700/G800 ramp normalized.

3. Guidance & Commentary Evolution

Key Takeaway: Management raised FY2026 EPS guidance at Q1 earnings (April 29) from $16.10–$16.20 to $16.45–$16.55 — an unusually early revision that signals high confidence; no further guidance changes have been issued since, and tone remains constructive heading into Q2.

Metric

Initial Guidance (Q4 2025 Earnings, Jan 2026)

Revised Guidance

Current Consensus

Note

FY2026 Operating EPS

$16.10–$16.20

$16.45–$16.55

$16.77

↑ Raised at Q1 2026 earnings (Apr 29); broad-based beat across Aerospace, Marine, and Technologies drove the raise; consensus sits above the raised range

FY2026 Free Cash Flow Conversion

~100% of net income

≥100% (evaluating upside)

~100%+

↑ Tone upgraded at Q1 earnings; Q1 FCF of $1.95B was the largest quarter of the year; management evaluating whether full-year can exceed 100%

FY2026 CapEx (% of Sales)

3.5%–4.0% of sales

~3.5%–4.0%

Unchanged; CapEx expected to grow each quarter as shipyard investments accelerate

FY2026 Effective Tax Rate

~17.5%

~17.5%

Unchanged; Q1 actual of 17.8% consistent with full-year guide

Aerospace Deliveries (Q2 cadence)

N/A (no Q2-specific guide at Jan earnings)

"Very similar to Q1" (~38 units)

~39 units

Guidance provided at Q1 earnings (Apr 29); Q3/Q4 expected to be highest delivery quarters

Aerospace Operating Margin

Mid-to-high teens by 2027

Mid-teens achieved in Q1 2026 (15.0%)

~13.8% for Q2

Tone upgraded; G800 margins already exceed G650; improvements described as "durable"; Q2 expected slightly below Q1 on mix

Share Repurchases

Dilution coverage only

Dilution coverage only

Deliberately cautious given political sensitivity; dividend (29 consecutive years of increases) remains primary capital return vehicle

4. Guidance vs. Estimate Revision Tracker

Key Takeaway: Estimates have moved modestly higher since the Q1 print, tracking the guidance raise; consensus for FY2026 EPS ($16.77) now sits above the raised guidance range ($16.45–$16.55), suggesting the Street is already pricing in another beat — a dynamic that raises the bar for a positive guidance reaction on Q2.

KPI (Period)

Estimate ~5 Days Post Q1 Earnings (May 6, 2026)

Current Consensus (Jul 28, 2026)

Estimate Δ (%)

Initial Guidance (Q4 2025 Call)

Current Guidance (Q1 2026 Call)

Guidance Δ

Cons. vs. Current Guidance

Op. EPS — Q2 2026

$3.93

$3.98

+1.3%

No Q2-specific guide

No Q2-specific guide

N/A

N/A

Op. EPS — FY2026

$16.71

$16.77

+0.4%

$16.10–$16.20

$16.45–$16.55

+$0.35 (+2.2%)

+$0.27 above midpoint (+1.6%)

Revenue — Q2 2026 ($B)

$13.48B

$13.55B

+0.5%

No Q2-specific guide

No Q2-specific guide

N/A

N/A

Revenue — FY2026 ($B)

$55.39B

$55.48B

+0.2%

No FY revenue guide

No FY revenue guide

N/A

N/A

Aero Revenue — Q2 2026 ($B)

$3.25B

$3.31B

+1.8%

~38 deliveries

"Very similar to Q1"

Unchanged

N/A

Marine Revenue — Q2 2026 ($B)

$4.35B

$4.37B

+0.5%

No Q2-specific guide

No Q2-specific guide

N/A

N/A

Source: Visible Alpha Consensus and Actuals Data. Estimates have been remarkably stable since the Q1 print, with only modest upward drift. The more notable dynamic is that FY2026 consensus EPS ($16.77) already sits ~$0.27 above the raised guidance midpoint ($16.50), implying the Street expects another guidance raise at Q2 — which sets a higher bar for a positive stock reaction on guidance alone.

5. Stock Performance

Key Takeaway: GD has outperformed both XLI and the S&P 500 since the Q1 print (+16.1% vs. +7.4% for XLI and +4.1% for SPY); the move has been almost entirely multiple-driven (NTM P/E expanded ~11% over 1 month, ~19% over 3 months), suggesting the market is pricing in sustained execution rather than estimate revisions — leaving the stock more sensitive to any operational disappointment.

GD vs. XLI vs. S&P 500 — Indexed Performance Since Q1 2026 Earnings (April 29, 2026)

Date

GD (Indexed)

XLI (Indexed)

SPY (Indexed)

GD vs. XLI

Apr 29, 2026 (Base)

100.0

100.0

100.0

May 29, 2026

102.4

101.9

106.3

+0.5 pts

Jun 11, 2026 (Iran conflict escalation)

105.9

103.1

103.7

+2.8 pts

Jun 30, 2026

104.6

109.0

104.9

-4.4 pts

Jul 23, 2026 (LMT/RTX earnings)

112.7

107.1

103.7

+5.6 pts

Jul 27, 2026 (Pre-earnings)

114.9

107.8

103.9

+7.1 pts

Source: Yahoo Finance / Stock Price Data. Indexed to 100 at April 29, 2026 (Q1 2026 earnings date). XLI (iShares U.S. Industrials ETF) used as the sector benchmark, appropriate for GD’s defense/industrials classification.

Performance Decomposition: Over the trailing 1 month, GD is up +13.4% with NTM EV/EBITDA expanding +11.4% (from 13.84x to 15.43x), indicating the vast majority of the move is multiple expansion rather than estimate-driven. Over 3 months, GD is up +25.8% with the multiple up +16.6%, confirming the same dynamic. The stock’s re-rating reflects the market’s growing confidence in the Aerospace margin recovery and Marine throughput story, but also means the stock is now priced for continued execution with limited room for error.

Key Events Since Q1 Earnings:

6. Material News & Developments

Key Takeaway: The most important development since Q1 earnings is the escalating U.S.-Iran military conflict, which is a net positive for GD’s defense segments (Combat Systems, Marine, Technologies) but a headwind for Gulfstream order intake and G280 supply chain — the balance of these effects will be a key focus on the Q2 call.

7. Insider Transaction Activity

Key Takeaway: Two discretionary open-market sales by insiders since Q1 earnings — both at prices well below current levels — are not alarming in isolation, but the absence of any open-market buying is notable given the stock’s strong run.

Name

Title

Transaction Type

Shares

Date

Note

Burns, Mark Lagrand

Executive Vice President

Open Market Sale

36,230 shares

May 11, 2026

Discretionary; sold at ~$341/share (stock now ~$393); retained ~38,975 shares post-sale

Burns, Mark Lagrand

Executive Vice President

Open Market Sale

36,480 shares

May 12, 2026

Discretionary; sold at ~$341/share; two-day sale pattern suggests planned liquidation; no 10b5-1 plan indicated

Malcolm, Mark

Director

Open Market Sale

5,480 shares

Jun 17, 2026

Discretionary; sold at ~$363/share; retained 10,643 shares; smaller transaction, less notable

Source: SEC Form 4 Filings. All three transactions are discretionary open-market sales with no 10b5-1 plan indicated. The EVP Burns sold ~72,710 shares over two days in May at ~$341 — approximately 13% below the current price — which in hindsight appears to have been early. The absence of any open-market purchases by insiders since the Q1 beat is not unusual for a defense company where executives typically receive equity compensation, but it does mean there is no positive insider signal heading into Q2.

8. Peer Commentaries & Read-Throughs (Last 60 Days)

Key Takeaway: Peer Q2 2026 earnings calls from LMT, RTX, NOC, GE Aerospace, and Textron Aviation all reported this quarter and provide uniformly positive read-throughs for GD’s defense segments and a constructive (if more nuanced) read-through for Gulfstream. The defense demand environment is the strongest in a generation; the Aerospace aftermarket is resilient; and supply chain constraints, while easing, remain a watch item.

Note: Only commentary from peers’ Q2 2026 earnings calls (reporting on the current quarter ending June 30, 2026) or forward-looking statements made after GD’s Q1 2026 earnings (April 29, 2026) are included below. Retrospective commentary on prior periods has been excluded.

8.1 Lockheed Martin (LMT) — Q2 2026 Earnings Call (July 23, 2026)

Relevance to GD: LMT is GD’s closest defense peer across Combat Systems (munitions, missiles) and Marine (naval programs). LMT’s Q2 2026 results are the single most important read-through for GD’s defense segments.

Theme

LMT Commentary (Q2 2026)

Read-Through Type

Implication for GD

Defense Demand & Backlog

Backlog hit a record $230B (+38% YoY); book-to-bill of 3.2x in Q2; "robust customer demand" driving broad-based growth across all segments in H2 2026

DIRECT — Positive

GD’s Combat Systems and Marine backlogs should also reflect sustained demand; GD’s trailing 12-month Combat Systems book-to-bill was 2.1x as of Q1 2026

Munitions Production Ramp

MFC sales up 19% YoY; $35B THAAD contract awarded; being asked to "triple PAC-3 MSE production, quadruple THAAD"; signed MOU with Rheinmetall for European ATACMS production center

DIRECT — Positive

GD’s Ordnance & Tactical Systems (munitions, artillery) is experiencing the same demand surge; Mesquite artillery facility expected to begin production in 2027; European munitions demand directly benefits GD Combat Systems

Navy / Undersea Warfare

Conventional Prompt Strike ($1.4B cumulative modifications); Trident II production facility progress; acquired Ultra Maritime for "advanced undersea sensing and autonomous sea drone capabilities" citing "growing demand"

DIRECT — Positive

Directly validates GD’s Electric Boat (Columbia/Virginia class) and Mission Systems (Bluefin autonomous undersea) investment thesis; growing demand for undersea warfare capabilities is a multi-year tailwind

Supply Chain & Production Capacity

Partnering with GM Defense to apply automotive manufacturing expertise to defense production; investing in new factories, automation, robotics, and AI on production lines; CapEx guidance raised to $2.0–$2.4B

INDIRECT — Positive

Industry-wide trend of capacity investment validates GD’s elevated CapEx (3.5–4.0% of sales); government’s emphasis on "faster, faster, faster" and increased flexibility on requirements benefits all defense primes

FMS Approvals & International Demand

FMS cases being approved at a "much more rapid rate"; NATO allies pledged $50B in additional investments; European demand for munitions and air defense systems at record levels

DIRECT — Positive

GD’s Combat Systems has significant European exposure (wheeled/tracked vehicles, munitions); faster FMS approvals accelerate order conversion to revenue

8.2 RTX Corporation — Q2 2026 Earnings Call (July 23, 2026)

Relevance to GD: RTX’s Raytheon segment competes with and complements GD’s Combat Systems and Technologies segments; Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace provide read-throughs for Gulfstream’s supply chain and aerospace aftermarket.

Theme

RTX Commentary (Q2 2026)

Read-Through Type

Implication for GD

Defense Demand & Backlog

Record backlog of $289B (+22% YoY, +6% sequentially); Raytheon book-to-bill of 2.4x in Q2; over $10B in international awards in H1 2026 (2x YoY), including $7B+ from European customers; 48% of Raytheon backlog is now international

DIRECT — Positive

Validates the global defense demand environment; GD’s Combat Systems and Technologies segments should benefit from the same international demand surge, particularly from European allies

Munitions Output

Raytheon more than doubled YoY output across critical munitions in H1 2026; investing additional $100M domestically for GMT component production; collaborating with NATO nations to identify European suppliers for AMRAAM components

DIRECT — Positive

GD’s Ordnance & Tactical Systems is experiencing the same demand; the industry-wide munitions ramp is a multi-year revenue driver for GD’s Combat Systems segment

Naval Programs

Raytheon sales up 18% YoY driven by "higher volume on naval programs"; Coyote counter-UAS deployed by both U.S. Army and Navy; Standard Missile and Tomahawk in high demand

DIRECT — Positive

Directly validates GD’s Marine Systems (Electric Boat, Bath Iron Works) demand environment; growing naval program volumes are a sustained tailwind

Commercial Aerospace Aftermarket

Commercial aftermarket up 18% YoY; "passenger air travel remains resilient"; airframers citing "strong demand with further growth expected in H2, driving need for OE products across narrowbody, widebody, and business jet platforms"

INDIRECT — Positive

Explicit mention of "business jet platforms" in demand commentary is a positive read-through for Gulfstream’s aftermarket services (Jet Aviation) and new aircraft demand

Supply Chain

"12 consecutive quarters of material growth" at Raytheon; qualified 150 new suppliers in 2025; rocket motors, castings, and microelectronics remain constrained value streams; multiyear agreements critical for suppliers to invest

INDIRECT — Mixed

Supply chain improving but not fully resolved; GD’s Marine Systems (sole-source suppliers for complex submarine components) and Aerospace (G280 Israeli supply chain) face similar constraints

8.3 Northrop Grumman (NOC) — Q2 2026 Earnings Call (July 21, 2026)

Relevance to GD: NOC’s Defense Systems and Marine segments overlap with GD’s Combat Systems and Marine Systems; NOC’s nuclear Navy propulsion work is a direct read-through for GD’s Electric Boat.

Theme

NOC Commentary (Q2 2026)

Read-Through Type

Implication for GD

Defense Demand & Backlog

$20B in net awards in Q2; book-to-bill of 1.84x; backlog at record $105B (+17% YoY); now expects full-year book-to-bill of at least 1.25x; "bipartisan support for defense investment" and "unprecedented levels of defense investment as allies accelerate modernization"

DIRECT — Positive

Confirms the broad-based defense demand environment; GD’s record $130.8B backlog as of Q1 2026 is consistent with this industry-wide trend

Nuclear Navy / Marine

Nuclear Navy propulsion is the "biggest growth driver" in NOC’s marine business; delivering first low-rate initial production units with plans to scale through this and next decade; team "executing very well to drive schedule improvement and improve margins"

DIRECT — Positive

Directly validates GD’s Electric Boat (Columbia/Virginia class) growth story; NOC’s improving schedule and margin performance in nuclear Navy work is a positive signal for GD’s Marine Systems throughput trajectory

Munitions & International Demand

H2 revenues expected to step up $700M+ driven by "higher ammunition sales"; 10 multiyear agreements for missile acceleration representing up to $10B in sales over 7 years; FMS cases approved at "much more rapid rate"

DIRECT — Positive

GD’s munitions and ordnance business (Ordnance & Tactical Systems) is experiencing the same demand acceleration; faster FMS approvals benefit GD’s international Combat Systems sales

FY2026 Sales Guidance

Raised FY2026 sales guidance to $43.75–$44.25B; expects mid-to-high single-digit YoY sales growth in Q3; "second half step-up in sales similar to last year’s profile"

INDIRECT — Positive

Industry-wide H2 acceleration is consistent with GD’s own guidance that Q3/Q4 will be the strongest delivery quarters for Aerospace and the highest revenue quarters overall

8.4 GE Aerospace — Q2 2026 Earnings Call (July 16, 2026)

Relevance to GD: GE Aerospace is a key read-through for Gulfstream’s demand environment (GE/CFM engines power some Gulfstream platforms) and for the broader commercial aerospace aftermarket that supports Jet Aviation.

Theme

GE Aerospace Commentary (Q2 2026)

Read-Through Type

Implication for GD

Aerospace Demand

"We do not have a demand problem"; orders up 17% with both commercial and defense segments up at least low double digits; demand "far more resilient than many would have expected" despite dynamic macro environment; CEO Culp: "sold out into the early 2030s"

INDIRECT — Positive

Broad aerospace demand resilience is a positive backdrop for Gulfstream’s order intake and backlog; business aviation demand has historically tracked commercial aerospace sentiment

Aftermarket / Services

Commercial services revenue up 32% in H1 2026; "aftermarket demand has been resilient"; MRO footprint "40% oversubscribed"; commercial services backlog of ~$170B (up ~$30B since end of 2024)

INDIRECT — Positive

Strong aftermarket demand and oversubscribed MRO capacity is a positive read-through for Gulfstream’s Jet Aviation services business, which benefits from the same high fleet utilization and aging aircraft dynamics

Supply Chain

"Much more supply side challenge than demand"; spare parts delinquency grew 20% sequentially in Q2 due to material availability constraints; however, 9 consecutive quarters of double-digit increases from critical suppliers

INDIRECT — Mixed

Supply chain constraints remain a watch item for Gulfstream’s production ramp; GD management flagged similar dynamics in Q1 (supply chain is the binding constraint on Aerospace production rate increases)

Tariffs

$100M tariff refund received in Q2; free cash flow benefited from "year-over-year favorability from tariffs"

INDIRECT — Positive

GD management noted only a "very modest amount" of tariff recovery in Q1; any IEEPA tariff refunds in Q2 could provide a modest FCF tailwind, consistent with GE’s experience

8.5 Textron Aviation (TXT) — Q2 2026 Earnings Call (July 28, 2026)

Relevance to GD: Textron Aviation (Citation jets, King Air turboprops) is Gulfstream’s closest publicly-reported business aviation peer. TXT’s Q2 2026 results provide the most direct read-through for Gulfstream’s demand, supply chain, and workforce dynamics.

Theme

Textron Aviation Commentary (Q2 2026)

Read-Through Type

Implication for GD / Gulfstream

Business Aviation Demand

"Customer demand remains very strong. Simply put, people want our products and we have multiyear backlogs in many areas"; aviation backlog of $8B; "healthy commercial and military demand environments"

DIRECT — Positive

Confirms robust business aviation demand environment; Gulfstream’s trailing 12-month book-to-bill of 1.3x as of Q1 2026 is consistent with Textron’s commentary; multiyear backlogs across the industry support GD’s delivery ramp

Deliveries & Volume

Delivered 40 jets and 44 turboprops in Q2 (vs. 49 jets in Q2 2025); decrease driven by "lower CitationJet and defense volume"; targeting equilibrium of 200 jets/year with improvement expected "towards middle/late 2027"

INDIRECT — Neutral

Textron’s delivery decline is product-mix specific (CitationJet, not large-cabin); Gulfstream operates in the large/ultra-large cabin segment where demand is structurally stronger; GD guided Q2 deliveries "very similar to Q1" (38 units)

Supply Chain

"Supply chain has improved in most areas" but "still experience issues with some key components"; expanding dual sourcing initiatives; cross-company supply chain council initiated

DIRECT — Mixed

Confirms supply chain is the binding constraint on business aviation production rates — consistent with GD’s Q1 commentary that supply chain (not demand or capacity) limits Gulfstream’s production ramp

Workforce / Labor

~50% of workforce has less than 5 years of experience (vs. <30% in 2019); attrition returned to normalized levels; productivity gains expected to "yield next year" as it takes "5–7 years" to fully season a factory worker

DIRECT — Mixed

Gulfstream faces the same workforce seasoning challenge; GD’s Q1 commentary on "durable productivity improvements" on G700/G800 suggests Gulfstream may be further along the learning curve than Textron Aviation

Aftermarket / Services

Higher aftermarket parts and service revenues in Q2; expanded global service footprint with new Melbourne facility; NetJets taking first five Ascend aircraft

DIRECT — Positive

Confirms healthy business aviation aftermarket; Gulfstream’s Jet Aviation services business should benefit from the same high fleet utilization and growing installed base

8.6 RTX Bernstein Conference (May 29, 2026) — Forward-Looking Defense Commentary

Relevance to GD: RTX CEO Christopher Calio’s comments at the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference (May 29, 2026) — issued after GD’s Q1 earnings — provide forward-looking defense demand context relevant to GD’s Q2 2026 reporting period.

8.7 Peer Read-Through Summary

GD Segment

Key Peer Signal

Direction

Confidence

Aerospace (Gulfstream)

TXT: demand "very strong", multiyear backlogs; RTX: business jet platforms cited in demand commentary; GE: aftermarket resilient, MRO oversubscribed

Positive

High

Marine Systems

NOC: nuclear Navy propulsion is "biggest growth driver"; RTX: naval program sales up 18%; LMT: undersea warfare demand "growing"; Navy FY27 budget request +40% YoY

Positive

Very High

Combat Systems

LMT: MFC sales +19%, munitions ramp accelerating; RTX: Raytheon munitions output doubled; NOC: H2 revenues stepping up $700M+ on ammunition; Saab: 29.8% organic growth, B2B 2.71x

Positive

Very High

Technologies

RTX: classified/confidential awards $4B+; NOC: national security space backlog $16B+; bipartisan support for cyber, AI, and mission systems spending

Positive

Moderate

Supply Chain (All Segments)

TXT: "still experience issues with some key components"; GE: spare parts delinquency up 20% sequentially; RTX: rocket motors, castings remain constrained

Mixed

High

Data Sources & Citations

Disclaimer: This document is prepared for informational purposes only based on publicly available data as of July 28, 2026. All consensus estimates are sourced from Visible Alpha and reflect analyst expectations as of the preparation date. Actual results may differ materially from estimates. This is not investment advice.