General Dynamics (GD) Q1 Earnings: Taking a Look at Key Metrics Versus Estimates

For the quarter ended March 2023, General Dynamics (GD) reported revenue of $9.88 billion, up 5.2% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $2.64, compared to $2.61 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of +6.00% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.32 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $2.56, the EPS surprise was +3.13%.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

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:

• Revenue- Technologies: $3.24 billion versus $3.12 billion estimated by six analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +2.5% change.

• Revenue- Marine Systems: $2.99 billion versus the six-analyst average estimate of $2.59 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +12.9%.

• Revenue- Combat Systems: $1.76 billion compared to the $1.65 billion average estimate based on six analysts. The reported number represents a change of +4.8% year over year.

• Revenue- Aerospace: $1.89 billion versus $1.98 billion estimated by six analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -0.6% change.

• Operating earnings- Aerospace: $229 million compared to the $272.44 million average estimate based on five analysts.

• Operating earnings- Combat Systems: $245 million compared to the $231.95 million average estimate based on five analysts.

• Operating earnings- Technologies: $299 million versus $287.49 million estimated by five analysts on average.

• Operating earnings- Marine Systems: $211 million versus $206.69 million estimated by five analysts on average.

• Operating earnings- Corporate: -$46 million versus -$78.04 million estimated by four analysts on average.

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

Shares of General Dynamics have returned -1.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.6% 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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