General Dynamics (GD) Q3 Earnings: How Key Metrics Compare to Wall Street Estimates

General Dynamics (GD) reported $10.57 billion in revenue for the quarter ended September 2023, representing a year-over-year increase of 6%. EPS of $3.04 for the same period compares to $3.26 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.94 billion, representing a surprise of +6.39%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +5.92%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $2.87.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how General Dynamics performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Gulfstream Aircraft Deliveries - Total: 27 versus 34 estimated by three analysts on average.

• Gulfstream Aircraft Deliveries - Mid-cabin aircraft: 5 versus the three-analyst average estimate of 9.

• Gulfstream Aircraft Deliveries - Large-cabin aircraft: 22 versus 25 estimated by three analysts on average.

• Revenue- Technologies: $3.31 billion compared to the $2.98 billion average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of +7.9% year over year.

• Revenue- Marine Systems: $3 billion compared to the $2.79 billion average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of +8.4% year over year.

• Revenue- Combat Systems: $2.22 billion compared to the $1.89 billion average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of +24.4% year over year.

• Revenue- Aerospace: $2.03 billion compared to the $2.23 billion average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of -13.4% year over year.

• Operating earnings- Aerospace: $268 million versus $298.36 million estimated by five analysts on average.

• Operating earnings- Combat Systems: $300 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $270.52 million.

• Operating earnings- Technologies: $315 million versus $273.02 million estimated by five analysts on average.

• Operating earnings- Marine Systems: $211 million compared to the $221.46 million average estimate based on five analysts.

• Operating earnings- Corporate: -$37 million versus -$70.77 million estimated by four analysts on average.

View all Key Company Metrics for General Dynamics here>>>

Shares of General Dynamics have returned +6.8% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -1.6% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

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