Raytheon Company
(
RTN
) reported first quarter 2012 adjusted earnings per share of $1.46,
beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.16. The result was also
higher than the year-ago quarterly earnings of $1.37 per share.
During the quarter, on a reported basis, earnings were $1.33 as
compared to $1.06 in first quarter of 2011. The difference between
reported and adjusted was due to FAS/CAS Adjustment.
Operational Performance
Revenue was $5.94 billion, down 2% from $6.05 billion in the
year-ago period. However, it surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate
by $166 million.
Total backlog at the end of the quarter was $34.3 billion, up
from $33.7 billion in the year-ago period.
Operating income was $706 million versus $589 million in the
year-ago period.
Segment Performance
Integrated Defense Systems (IDS):
Revenue was approximately flat year-over-year at $1.22 billion. The
segment received a $182 million contract to provide Patriot
engineering services and a $90 million contract to provide
engineering services, production and support for the Aegis weapon
system. Segment operating income was $216 million, up 11.9% year
over year.
Intelligence and Information Systems (IIS):
Segment revenue increased 1.87% year over year to $764 million in
the quarter driven by recent acquisitions in cyber security.
Segment operating income was $62 million compared to a loss of $28
million in the prior year period. During the quarter, the segment
received a number of classified contracts for $284 million.
Missile Systems (
MS
):
Revenue increased 1.66% year over year to $1.35 billion. MS
recorded $180 million of operating income compared with $155
million in the first quarter of 2011.
During the quarter, the segment booked a $497 million contract
for Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and a $172
million contract for AIM-9X Sidewinder short range air-to-air
missiles, both for the U.S. Navy and international customers.
The company also received a $171 million contract for the
development of Standard Missile-3 ("SM-3") for the Missile Defense
Agency ("MDA") and $79 million for the development of the
Accelerated Improved Intercept Initiative ("AI3") program for the
U.S. Army.
Network Centric Systems (
NCS
):
Revenue decreased 10.8% year over year to $1 billion in the
quarter, largely due to lower sales in U.S. Army programs. The
segment operating income was $116 million, down 27.5%
year-over-year. During the quarter, NCS received an $81.0 million
contract on the Navy Multiband Terminal ("NMT") program for the
U.S. Navy.
Space and Airborne Systems (
SAS
):
Revenue in the quarter decreased marginally by 0.6% year over year
to $1.26 billion. SAS recorded $173 million of operating income, up
from $156 million in the previous year period.
Technical Services (
TS
):
Revenue was approximately flat year over year at $802 million. The
segment generated operating income of $71 million compared with $81
million in first quarter of 2011.
Financial Update
Raytheon ended the reported period with cash and cash
equivalents of $3.54 billion versus $2.66 billion at the end of
first quarter of 2011. Long-term debt increased to $4.61 billion
compared to $3.61 billion in the year-ago period.
Operating cash flow generated from continuing operations during
the reported quarter was $111 million compared with $60 million in
the prior year period.
As a part of its previously announced share repurchase program,
the company repurchased 7.9 million shares of common stock for $400
million. Also, during the quarter, the company increased its annual
dividend rate by 16% to $2 per share.
Peer Comparison
Yesterday, one of its peers,
Northrop Grumman Corporation
(
NOC
) reported impressive first quarter 2012 results. Earnings of $1.88
per share compared favorably with $1.44 per share posted in the
first quarter of 2011. Northrop results also exceeded the Zacks
Consensus Estimate of $1.59 for the quarter. Sales for the reported
quarter decreased 7.9% to $6.19 billion from $6.73 billion in the
year-ago quarter, and were 1.0% lower than the Zacks Consensus
Estimate of $6.26 billion.
Guidance
The company maintained its sales guidance in the range of $24.5
billion to $25 billion for 2012. However, it raised its EPS
guidance to $5.55-$5.70 for 2012 versus its previous expectation of
$5.45 to $5.60.
Outlook
We believe that Raytheon is one of the best-positioned companies
among the large-cap defense players due to its strong order
bookings and order backlog of $34.3 billion at the end of the first
quarter of 2012. Going forward, we expect revenue and earnings
growth to be driven by a strong presence in the areas of
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (
ISR
); air & missile defense systems; border security; air traffic
management; training and homeland security; and cyber security.
This is, however, offset by apprehensions over future growth of
the U.S. defense budget, the fate of high-cost programs, risks
related to key project executions and order cancelations.
The company presently retains a short-term Zacks #4 Rank (Sell).
We have a long-term Neutral recommendation on the stock.
Based in Waltham, Massachusetts, Raytheon Company is a leader in
technology and innovation specializing in defense, homeland
security and other government markets throughout the world. It
provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration
and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects and
command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well
as a broad range of mission support services.
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