v3.25.1
OTHER
3 Months Ended
Mar. 30, 2025
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
OTHER OTHER
Contract Estimates
We generate sales from long-term contracts for the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. Substantially all of our sales are recognized over time using the percentage-of-completion cost-to-cost measure of progress. Under the percentage-of-completion cost-to-cost measure of progress, the extent of progress towards completion is measured based on the ratio of costs incurred to date to the total estimated costs to complete the product or service. Certain sales are recognized at a point in time, which typically occurs upon customer acceptance or receipt of the product or service.
Significant judgments and assumptions are made in estimating contract sales, costs, and profit. We estimate profit as the difference between total estimated sales and total estimated costs to complete the contract and recognize that profit as costs are incurred (over time sales recognition) or when the customer accepts the product or service (point in time sales recognition). Contract sales may include estimates of variable consideration, including cost or performance incentives (such as award and incentive fees), un-priced change orders, requests for equitable adjustment (REAs), and contract claims. Variable consideration is included in total estimated sales to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative sales recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. We estimate variable consideration as the most likely amount to which we expect to be entitled. Contract costs include significant estimates related to labor, subcontractors, materials, overhead, general and administrative expenses, and costs to fulfill our industrial cooperation agreements, sometimes referred to as offset or localization agreements, required under certain contracts with international customers. Significant estimates related to costs include the complexity and scope of the work to be performed, labor productivity and availability, labor rates including terms of collective bargaining arrangements, execution by our subcontractors, the availability and cost of materials including any impact from changing costs or inflation, the length of time to complete the performance obligation,
overhead and general and administrative cost rates, and estimated useful lives of components and assets, among others. In particular, fixed-price development programs involve significant management judgment, as development contracts by nature have elements that have not been done before and thus, are highly subject to future unexpected changes in estimates as described below.
At the outset of a long-term contract, we identify and monitor risks to the achievement of the technical, schedule and cost aspects of the contract, as well as our ability to earn variable consideration, and assess the effects of those risks on our estimates of sales and total costs to complete the contract. The estimates consider the technical requirements (e.g., a newly developed product versus a mature product), the schedule and associated tasks (e.g., the number and type of milestone events) and costs (e.g., labor, subcontractors, materials, overhead, general and administrative expenses, and offset or localization agreements). The initial profit booking rate of each contract considers risks surrounding the ability to achieve the technical requirements, schedule and costs in the initial estimated total costs to complete the contract. We review our estimates related to sales, cost, and profit for each contract at least annually or when a change in circumstances warrants a modification to a previous estimate. For significant contracts, we review our estimates more frequently. As part of this process, management reviews information including, but not limited to, any outstanding key contract matters, progress towards completion and the related program schedule, identified risks and opportunities, and the related changes in estimates of revenues and costs. Profit booking rates may increase during the performance of the contract if we successfully retire risks related to earning variable consideration and/or the technical, schedule and cost aspects of the contract, which decreases the estimated total costs to complete the contract or may increase the variable consideration we expect to receive on the contract, which we refer to as favorable profit booking rate adjustments. Conversely, our profit booking rates may decrease if the estimated total costs to complete the contract increase or our estimates of variable consideration we expect to receive decrease, which we refer to as unfavorable profit booking rate adjustments.
We recognize changes in estimated contract sales or costs and the resulting changes in contract profit on a cumulative basis. Cumulative profit booking rate adjustments represent the cumulative effect of the changes on current and prior periods; sales and operating margins in future periods are recognized as if the revised estimates had been used since contract inception. Profit booking rate adjustments can have a significant effect on our financial statements and affect the comparability of our segment sales, operating profit and operating margin. Segment operating profit and margin can also be impacted favorably or unfavorably by, for example, certain items such as the positive resolution of contractual matters, cost recoveries on severance and restructuring, insurance recoveries and gains on sales of assets, as well as unfavorable items including the adverse resolution of contractual matters, supply chain disruptions, restructuring charges (except for significant severance actions, which are excluded from segment operating results), reserves for disputes, certain asset impairments, and losses on sales of certain assets. When estimates of total costs to be incurred on a contract exceed total estimates of the transaction price, a provision for the entire loss is determined at the contract level and is recorded in the period in which the loss is evident, which we refer to as a reach-forward loss.
The following table presents the effect of profit booking rate adjustments on our financial results (in millions):
 Quarters Ended
March 30,
2025
March 31,
2024
Sales$496 $272 
Segment operating profit480 195 
% of segment operating profit23 %11 %
Net earnings379 154 
Diluted earnings per share1.61 0.64 
During the quarter ended March 30, 2025, we recorded $185 million of adjustments resulting from favorable performance upon completion on certain commercial civil space programs at Space and a classified program at Aeronautics. During the quarter ended March 31, 2024, we recognized a reach-forward loss of $100 million on a classified program at our MFC business segment.
We have various development programs for new and upgraded products, services, and related technologies which have complex design and technical challenges. This development work is inherently uncertain and subject to significant
variability in estimates of the cost and time required to complete the work by us and our suppliers. Many of these programs have cost-type contracting arrangements (e.g. cost-reimbursable or cost-plus-fee). In such cases, the associated financial risks are primarily in reduced fees, lower profit rates, or program cancellation if cost, schedule, or technical performance issues arise. However, some of our existing development programs are contracted on a fixed-price basis or include cost-type contracting for the development phase with fixed-price production options and our customers continue to implement procurement strategies such as these that shift risk to contractors. Competitively bid programs with fixed-price development work or fixed-price production options increase the risk of a reach-forward loss upon contract award and during the period of contract performance. Due to the complex and often experimental nature of development programs, we may experience (and have experienced in the past) technical and quality issues during the development of new products or technologies for a variety of reasons. Our development programs are ongoing, and while we believe the cost and fee estimates incorporated in the financial statements are appropriate, the technical complexity of these programs and fixed-price contract structure creates financial risk as estimated completion costs may exceed the current contract value, which could trigger earnings charges, termination provisions, or other financially significant exposures. These programs have risk for reach-forward losses if our estimated costs exceed our estimated contract revenues, and such losses could be significant to our financial condition and operating results in any period that they are recognized. Any such losses are recognized in the period in which the loss is evident.
We have experienced performance issues on an existing classified program at our Aeronautics business segment. The initial phase is on a fixed-price incentive fee contract with options for additional phases. Phases within the program involve highly complex design and systems integration and we have periodically recognized reach-forward losses. As of March 30, 2025, cumulative losses recognized to date on this program remained at approximately $825 million. We will continue to proactively manage the technical requirements and our performance, the remaining work and any future changes in scope or schedule, and estimated costs to complete the program, including future phases. We may need to record additional losses in future periods if we experience further performance issues, increases in scope, or cost growth. Any such losses could be material to our financial results. We and our industry team will continue to incur advanced procurement costs (also referred to as pre-contract costs) to enhance our ability to achieve the schedule and certain milestones which could be significant. We will monitor the recoverability of pre-contract costs, which could be impacted by our assessment of the customer’s decision regarding the funding of future phases of the program.
Our MFC business segment has been performing under a competitively bid classified contract, which includes a cost-reimbursable base contract for the initial phase of the program and multiple fixed-price options for additional phases. We previously disclosed that the options may be exercised over the next several years and if performed expect they would each be at a loss. During the first quarter of 2024, we concluded it was probable that the first option would be exercised and recognized a reach-forward loss of approximately $100 million. During the fourth quarter of 2024, we again assessed the likelihood that additional options may be exercised and concluded then that it is probable that all options will be exercised based on performance to date, future requirements of the program, discussions with the customer and suppliers, and anticipated customer funding, among other factors, resulting in the recognition of additional reach-forward losses of approximately $1.31 billion. As of March 30, 2025, cumulative losses recognized on the program remained at approximately $1.46 billion in total, of which, $1.33 billion remained accrued in other current liabilities in our consolidated balance sheet.
We have contracted with the Canadian government for the Canadian Maritime Helicopter Program (CMHP) at our RMS business segment that provides for design, development, and production of CH-148 aircraft (the Original Equipment contract), which is a military variant of the S-92 helicopter, and for logistical support to the fleet (the In Service Support contract) over an extended time period. During 2024, we entered into a modification to the In Service Support contract to better align contract scope with the Canadian government’s need and we continue to engage in discussions with the Canadian government to potentially restructure certain contractual terms and conditions that may be beneficial to both parties. Under the contract terms as modified, future sales and recovery of costs, including about $935 million of contract assets on the balance sheet, are dependent upon the Royal Canadian Air Force’s flight hours and program costs and performance as well as the outcome of any restructuring discussions. However, any restructuring discussions may be prolonged or unsuccessful and are dependent upon Canadian government resources and priorities and other factors outside of our control, such as trade relations with the United States. As of March 30, 2025, cumulative losses remained at approximately $100 million. Future performance issues or changes in our estimates may affect our ability to recover our costs, including recovery of the contract assets recognized on the balance sheet and our assessment of the reach-forward loss, and potential damages, which could be material to our operating results.
We also have a number of contracts with Türkish industry for the Türkish Utility Helicopter Program (TUHP), which anticipates co-production with Türkish industry for production of T70 helicopters for use in Türkiye, as well as the related provision of Türkish goods and services under buy-back or offset obligations, to include the future sales of helicopters built in Türkiye for sale globally. In 2020, the U.S. Government imposed certain sanctions on Türkish entities and persons that have affected our ability to perform under the TUHP contracts. We have provided force majeure notices under the affected contracts and partially stopped work on TUHP effective October 5, 2024. We have been in discussions with our customer regarding the path forward for the program in light of the continued impact of the sanctions on our ability to perform under the TUHP contracts and our decision to partially stop work. However we have been unable to reach an agreement to date and our customer has asserted that we do not have the contractual right to stop work and that our decision to stop work may lead to a termination for default and assessment of penalties and damages. As of March 30, 2025, cumulative losses related to development work for the program remained insignificant and the program remains in a contract liability position on the balance sheet. The TUHP contracts may be negotiated to be restructured or terminated, either in whole or in part and as a result, we could be at risk of recording significant reach-forward losses in future periods. Additionally, if we are unable to reach an agreement in the near term, we or our customer could elect to pursue other relief or remedies, which could result in a further reduction in sales, the imposition of penalties or assessment of damages, including the drawdown by the customer of letters of credit and performance bonds, and increased unrecoverable costs, which could be material to our financial results and cash flows.
Backlog
Backlog (i.e., unfulfilled or remaining performance obligations) represents the sales we expect to recognize for our products and services for which control has not yet transferred to the customer. It is converted into sales in future periods as work is performed or deliveries are made. For our cost-reimbursable and fixed-priced-incentive contracts, the estimated consideration we expect to receive pursuant to the terms of the contract may exceed the contractual award amount. The estimated consideration is determined at the outset of the contract and is continuously reviewed throughout the contract period. In determining the estimated consideration, we consider the risks related to the technical, schedule and cost impacts to complete the contract and an estimate of any variable consideration. Periodically, we review these risks and may increase or decrease backlog accordingly. As the risks on such contracts are successfully retired, the estimated consideration from customers may be reduced, resulting in a reduction of backlog without a corresponding recognition of sales. As of March 30, 2025, our ending backlog was $173.0 billion. We expect to recognize approximately 38% of our backlog over the next 12 months and a total of approximately 64% over the next 24 months as revenue with the remainder recognized thereafter.
Income Taxes
Our effective income tax rates were 15.9% and 15.8% for the quarters ended March 30, 2025 and March 31, 2024. The rates for all periods benefited from research and development tax credits, tax deductions for foreign derived intangible income, dividends paid to our defined contribution plans with an employee stock ownership plan feature and employee equity awards.