General Dynamics GD is scheduled to release third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 30, before market open. The company delivered an earnings surprise of 7.3% in the last reported quarter.
Let’s discuss the factors that are likely to be reflected in the upcoming quarterly results.
Key Factors Likely to Influence GD’s Q3 Results
General Dynamics’ quarterly earnings are expected to have continued to benefit from strong backlog and healthy book-to-bill ratios across its business segments. The company's defense operations are likely to have remained the primary growth driver, benefiting from sustained demand for submarines, combat vehicles, munitions and mission systems amid rising global defense spending.
The company expects Gulfstream and Jet Aviation to have benefited from higher aircraft deliveries, stronger service revenues, productivity improvements and continued progress along the learning curves for newer aircraft models. For the third quarter, management expects the Aerospace operating margin to have remained approximately in line with the second quarter, before improving in the fourth quarter.
For the second quarter, Management reported better workforce availability, improved material deliveries and measurable productivity gains. These improvements should have supported third-quarter execution as the company sought to accelerate shipbuilding output and fulfill its substantial backlog.
Management expects continued double-digit growth in European Land Systems and Ordnance and Tactical Systems, supporting high-single-digit growth for the overall segment. These trends should have provided a favorable demand backdrop for the third quarter.
Although supply-chain performance has improved, dependence on single-source suppliers, labor constraints and production challenges associated with newer aircraft could have delayed deliveries and pressured third-quarter revenues and margins.
GD’s Q3 Expectations
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $4.14 per share, indicating a year-over-year increase of 6.7%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pinned at $13.69 billion, implying a year-over-year improvement of 6%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for total Gulfstream aircraft deliveries is pegged at 40 compared with 39 aircraft delivered in the year-ago quarter.
What the Zacks Model Unveils
Our proven model predicts an earnings beat for General Dynamics this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is the case here, as you will see below.
General Dynamics Corporation Price and EPS Surprise
General Dynamics Corporation price-eps-surprise | General Dynamics Corporation Quote
Earnings ESP: The company’s Earnings ESP is +0.77%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: Currently, the company carries a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Other Stocks to Consider
Investors may also consider the following players from the same sector as these, too, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this reporting cycle.
ATI INC ATI is likely to come up with an earnings beat when it announces third-quarter results on Oct. 29, before market open. It has an Earnings ESP of +1.09% and a Zacks Rank #1 at present.
The consensus estimate for ATI’s third-quarter sales suggests an improvement of 17.4% from the year-ago quarter’s reported number. The company delivered an average earnings surprise of 12.7% for the trailing four quarters.
BWX Technologies BWXT is expected to come up with an earnings beat when it reports third-quarter results on Nov. 2, after market close. It has an Earnings ESP of +0.22% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter earnings is pinned at $1.19 per share. The consensus estimate for third-quarter sales suggests an improvement of 14.6% from the year-ago quarter’s reported number.
Curtiss-Wright CW is likely to come up with an earnings beat when it announces third-quarter results on Nov. 4, after market close. It has an Earnings ESP of +0.23% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present.
The consensus estimate for CW’s third-quarter sales suggests an improvement of 7.8% from the year-ago quarter’s reported numbers. The company delivered an average earnings surprise of 3.7% for the trailing four quarters.
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).