Northrop Grumman shares slide as earnings impacted by B-21 charge

(Updated – January 25, 2024 9:04 AM EST)

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:) shares fell 4.5% premarket Thursday on the back of its latest quarter results, which missed earnings expectations due to a B-21 charge of $7.68 per share.

The company reported Q4 EPS of ($1.45), $7.35 worse than the analyst estimate of $5.81. Revenue for the quarter came in at $10.6 billion, up 6% YoY and above the consensus estimate of $10.43 billion.

The company also said it achieved a record backlog of over $84 billion, driven by a book-to-bill ratio of 1.14. Its full-year 2023 diluted EPS of $13.53 included a B-21 charge of $7.68 per share and an MTM expense of $2.08 per share.

“Our team delivered a strong finish to the year in 2023. We generated free cash flow at the high end of our guidance range, significantly exceeded our sales guidance and beat EPS consensus absent the B-21 charge we identified as a possibility this time last year,” said Kathy Warden, chief executive officer and president of NOC.

The company sees sustained global demand for its products and sees FY24 revenue between $40.8 billion and $41.2 billion vs the consensus estimate of $41.15 billion. In addition, it reaffirmed its 2024 and 2025 free cash flow outlook and projects solid growth in 2026.

Reacting to the results, analysts at Jefferies, who have a Hold rating and $510 price target on the stock, said: “NOC recognized a $1.56BB charge for B-21 as the co received an award for the first LRIP lot. NOC now believes it is probable each of the first five units will be performed at a loss.”

The analysts also noted the company posted “balanced growth across all four segments.

“Aero sales were guided to low $11BB (+4% y-o-y) w/ margins of mid-9%, vs our est of $10.9BB and 10.0%. Defense is at ~$6BB (2% y-o-y) and low-12% margins (+10 bps) vs. our $5.9BB and 12.1% est. MS is guided to low-to-mid-$11B (+5% y-o-y) and margins of ~15%, in line w/ our ests of $11.4BB and 15.1%,” added the analysts at Jefferies.