General Dynamics Corporation · GD · FY2026 Q2 · Calendar Q3 2026

General Dynamics raises EPS outlook as backlog reaches a record $136.5 billion

The Q2 analysis supports a constructive operating trajectory: demand remained strong across aerospace, defense and technology, backlog reached a record $136.5 billion, and management raised full-year EPS guidance. The counterweight is execution risk, particularly higher investment needs, shipbuilding capacity, supply-chain concentration and fixed-price contracts.

Reported Before market openNYSEIndustrials $92.91B market cap
100quality score

Earnings scorecard

Reported versus consensus
Reported EPS $4.24 Consensus $3.96
EPS surprise +7.1% Reported versus consensus
Reported revenue $14.09B Consensus $13.52B
Revenue surprise +4.2% Reported versus consensus

Market reaction

prior-close to event-session close
Stock move -3.1% Event window
SPY move -1.5% Same window
Abnormal move -1.6% Stock minus SPY
Volume 1.7× Versus trailing sessions
Subsequent drift +0.3% Up to 20 sessions
GDSPY benchmark

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What changed

Compared with the prior quarter, reported backlog increased to a record $136.5 billion from $131 billion, full-year EPS guidance moved to $16.80-$16.90 from $16.45-$16.55, and management emphasized increased second-half capex for shipyard throughput. The current analysis also highlights a 142% quarterly cash-conversion rate and a $500 million pension contribution.

Guidance delta

Management raised full-year EPS guidance to $16.80-$16.90 from the prior quarter's $16.45-$16.55 range.

Key takeaways

  • Q2 revenue was $14.1 billion and EPS was $4.24, with double-digit earnings growth and margin expansion.
  • Record backlog of $136.5 billion and strong book-to-bill ratios support demand visibility across segments.
  • Management plans higher second-half capex to accelerate shipyard production while maintaining a roughly 105% cash-conversion target for the year.
  • Supply-chain conditions improved, but single-source components and execution remain key risks.

Management priorities

  • Deliver approximately 160 Gulfstream airplanes in 2026 and advance the G300, G400 and G800 programs.
  • Accelerate shipyard investment for submarines, DDG-51 destroyers and auxiliary ships.
  • Pursue OTA and agile-contract opportunities for GDIT and Mission Systems.
  • Maintain the approximately 105% cash-conversion target for the year.

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Earnings History

Estimate Beat Miss Match
GD EPS earnings history estimate and actual scatter chart 9 reported fiscal quarters and 4 future estimate-only quarters. Q1 '24 estimate $2.93 Q1 '24 actual $2.88, miss Q2 '24 estimate $3.27 Q2 '24 actual $3.26, match Q3 '24 estimate $3.48 Q3 '24 actual $3.35, miss Q2 '25 estimate $3.55 Q2 '25 actual $3.74, beat Q3 '25 estimate $3.70 Q3 '25 actual $3.88, beat Q4 '25 estimate $4.11 Q4 '25 actual $4.17, beat Q1 '26 estimate $3.67 Q1 '26 actual $4.10, beat Q2 '26 estimate $3.96 Q2 '26 actual $4.24, beat Q3 '26 estimate $4.12 Q4 '26 estimate $4.51 Q1 '27 estimate $4.31 Q2 '27 estimate $4.53
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Analyst Consensus ?

ConsensusBuy35 ratings
Bullish2057.1%
Neutral1440.0%
Bearish12.9%

Analyst 52W Price Targets

$344.25Current
$176Low
$358.39Average
$465High

Latest persisted target per named analyst; persisted current price from FN2's market snapshot as of Sep 23, 2026. Not an FN2 forecast.

Firm-level rating actions

FMP grade actions identify the grading firm, not a named analyst.

FirmRatingPrior ratingActionDate
UBS Neutral NeutralMaintainSep 8, 2026
Wells Fargo Overweight OverweightMaintainAug 4, 2026
TD Cowen Buy BuyMaintainJul 30, 2026
Susquehanna Positive PositiveMaintainJul 30, 2026
RBC Capital Sector Perform Sector PerformMaintainJul 30, 2026
Show 30 more rating actions

Named analyst price targets

Upside is calculated against the persisted current price $344.25. FMP does not supply a rating on these named-analyst rows.

FirmAnalyst52W targetPrice when postedUpsideDate
UBSGavin Parsons$408$359.39 +18.5%Sep 8, 2026
BernsteinDouglas Harned$421$397.12 +22.3%Aug 10, 2026
UBSAnalyst unavailable$395$384.52 +14.7%Aug 3, 2026
Morgan StanleyKristine Liwag$465$380.54 +35.1%Jul 30, 2026
RBC CapitalKen Herbert$410$375.83 +19.1%Jul 30, 2026
See 59 more

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Company context

Snapshot as of publication

General Dynamics Corporation is a global leader in the aerospace and defense industry, with its operations structured across four key divisions: Aerospace, Marine Systems, Combat Systems, and Technologies. The Aerospace segment focuses on the design, production, and sale of business jets, alongside offering a full suite of aviation services including aircraft maintenance, repair, management, charter services, and ground support. Marine Systems specializes in shipbuilding for the U.S. Navy, constructing nuclear-powered submarines, surface warships, and auxiliary vessels. This division also builds various commercial ships, such as tankers and cargo carriers. Furthermore, it provides extensive maintenance, modernization, and lifecycle support, along with engineering and design services for both naval and commercial fleets.…

Historical context

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Sources

  1. Earnings call transcript and parsed analysis · 2026-07-29T21:05:33.341994+00:00
  2. FN2 earnings calendar · 2026-09-03T01:23:14.877038+00:00
  3. Polygon adjusted daily market bars · 2026-09-23T17:50:57.051435+00:00
  4. Financial Modeling Prep analyst price-target consensus and quote snapshot · 2026-09-23T17:50:57.048504+00:00

Methodology

Reported and consensus figures come from FN2's earnings event records. Market reaction and volume are calculated from daily adjusted bars around the event; abnormal move subtracts the SPY move over the same window.

Analyst target low, average, and high values are derived at request time from each named analyst's latest persisted FMP target. The current-price marker comes from FN2's persisted market snapshot. They are sell-side estimates, not an FN2 valuation or recommendation.

Transcript intelligence is a structured synthesis of the current and prior earnings-call analyses. Missing values stay missing and are never estimated.

By FN2 Research · Updated · As of 2026-09-23. For educational purposes only; not investment advice.