Lockheed Martin Q3 2024 Earnings Report

Lockheed Martin EPS Results

• Actual EPS: $6.84
• Consensus EPS: $6.50
• Beat/Miss: Beat by +$0.34
• One Year Ago EPS: $6.77

Lockheed Martin Revenue Results

• Actual Revenue: $17.10 billion
• Expected Revenue: $17.38 billion
• Beat/Miss: Missed by -$274.53 million
• YoY Revenue Growth: +1.30%

Lockheed Martin Announcement Details

• Quarter: Q3 2024
• Date: 10/22/2024
• Time: Before Market Opens
• Conference Call Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2024
• Conference Call Time: 11:00AM ET

Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) is a global aerospace, defense and technology company that develops and produces systems for government and commercial customers, with the U.S. Department of Defense serving as its largest customer. Its principal business areas include Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Mission Systems, and Space.

The company’s products and services include military aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning II, F-16 and C-130; air and missile defense systems; precision weapons; helicopters and maritime systems; radar, sensors and command-and-control technologies; satellites; space exploration systems; and missile-warning and strategic defense capabilities.

Lockheed Martin was created in 1995 through the merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta. Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, the company supports the U.S. government and works with defense and security customers, allies and partners in numerous countries. James D. Taiclet serves as its chairman, president and chief executive officer.

Lockheed Martin Q3 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

Key Takeaways

• Record backlog of over $165 billion and a 1.3 book-to-bill ratio driven by precision and air-defense munitions.
• Q3 $2.1 billion free cash flow and a 5% increase in the quarterly dividend to $3.30, marking the 22nd consecutive year of raises.
• Delivered 48 F-35s in Q3 and projects 90–110 aircraft for 2024, though ~$700 million of revenue is delayed pending Lot 18 contract negotiations.
• Anticipates ~$325 million in 2024 losses on an MFC classified program and continues to face pension contribution headwinds.
• Raised full-year 2024 outlook to ~$71.25 billion in sales (+5%), ~$7.48 billion segment profit, ~$26.65 EPS, and ~$6.2 billion free cash flow.

Presentation

[Operator]

Good day, and welcome everyone to the Lockheed Martin third quarter 2024 earnings results conference call. Today's call is being recorded. If you would like to ask a question, please press one, then zero. We ask that you please limit yourself to one question and requeue for a follow-up, time permitting. At this time, for opening remarks and introductions, I would like to turn the call over to Maria Ricciardone, Vice President, Treasurer, and Investor Relations. Please go ahead.

[Maria Ricciardone, VP, Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations at Lockheed Martin]

Thank you, Steve, and good morning. I'd like to welcome everyone to our third quarter 2024 earnings conference call. Joining me today on the call are Jim Taiclet, our Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, and Jay Malave, our Chief Financial Officer. Statements made in today's call that are not historical facts are considered forward-looking statements and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Federal Securities law. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Please see today's press release and our SEC filings for a description of some of the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. We've posted charts on our website today that we plan to address during the call to supplement our comments. These charts also include information regarding non-GAAP measures that may be used in today's call.

[Maria Ricciardone, VP, Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations at Lockheed Martin]

Please access our website at www.lockheedmartin.com and click on the Investor Relations link to view and follow the charts. With that, I'll turn the call over to Jim.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

Thanks, Maria. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us on our third quarter 2024 earnings call. The demand for Lockheed Martin systems and services remains robust across all four of our business areas. We ended Q3 with record backlog of more than $165 billion, reflecting a book-to-bill ratio of 1.3 in the quarter. Precision and air defense munitions drove the increase, including large orders for Javelin, Guided Multiple Launch Rockets, and Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff, and Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles. Compared with last year's third quarter, sales increased and segment operating margins expanded 20 points to 10.9%, led by missiles and fire control, reflecting increased production volumes. Free cash flow was $2.1 billion in the quarter as we continue to implement working capital efficiencies and optimization.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

High confidence in our future cash generation prospects supported our board's recent decision to raise the quarterly dividend by 5% to $3.30, the twenty-second consecutive year of increases, and to extend our share purchase authorization. Turning to the F-35, we delivered 48 F-35 aircraft in the quarter. We expect to deliver 90-110 aircraft in 2024, and the remaining balance of the Lot 15-17 aircraft thereafter. In addition, TR-3 flight testing continues with 95% of combat capabilities validated and additional capabilities progressing. With over 1,040 aircraft delivered and growing, the F-35 fleet has become an essential component of the collective security of the U.S. and our global allies. For example, by the 2030s, over 600 F-35s will be in operation across more than 10 European nations.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

In July, Greece announced that it will be the 19th nation to fly the F-35 and will acquire 20 aircraft. Plus, the rollout of the initial F-35 for Poland in August marked a significant milestone in our 20+ year partnership with that country. The F-35's superior sensors, stealth, and data-sharing capabilities are setting new standards for interoperability and joint operations with our allies, serving as the cornerstone for NATO's deterrence and defense posture. To further augment the capabilities of the F-35 and our other major platforms, we are investing heavily in autonomy and AI, as well as other enabling digital technologies. As an example, our Lockheed Martin AI Center and our RMS business area conducted realistic teaming scenarios with uncrewed aerial systems or drones and uncrewed ground vehicles at the U.S. Army in their recent experimental demonstration event.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

The successful demonstrations exhibited our abilities for using AI by launching an autonomous drone to provide guidance and navigation instructions to a ground-based robot to help it navigate a dangerous urban environment and enable greater safety for our soldiers than any current approaches can do. The rapid integration of digital technologies and capabilities is one element of our 21st Century Security strategy. Another example of this in the third quarter was Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works team, partnered with the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School to conduct full-scale live flight tests of an adaptive technology that makes real-time adjustments to flight control algorithms, resulting in substantial time and cost savings. And we do these kind of tech insertions on real, scalable combat platforms, those that, when implemented en masse, can have theater-level effects on combat capability and thereby deterrence from great power armed conflict.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

The second element of 21st Century Security is designing resilience and antifragility into the defense industrial base. To this end, we just signed a teaming agreement with our partner, General Dynamics, in the third quarter for the production of solid rocket motors. The initial work will focus on producing SRMs for the GMLRS rocket and will start in 2025 at GD's facility in Camden, Arkansas. This third source of solid rocket motors will enable us to move more quickly to ramp production for critical defense capabilities and strengthen the defense supply chain. The third element of 21st Century Security is the implementation of a global and regional approach to production and sustainment with our allies and partners. We have expanded international collaborations to enable indigenous military capability development in countries including Australia, Germany, Poland, and India.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

I recently had the opportunity to discuss the expansion of Lockheed Martin's sustainment and production operations in India with Prime Minister Modi in July, including growing the capacity and the capabilities of our joint ventures with Tata that already manufacture C-130J empennages, F-16 wings, and helicopter cabins in Hyderabad. Turning to the U.S. defense budget, we are currently in a continuing resolution that funds U.S. government operations through December 20 of 2024. For our part, our teammates across all of Lockheed Martin will thereby be able to continue to work diligently to deliver on our customer commitments. We'll also be dedicated to delivering strong financial performance through the remaining months of twenty twenty-four, and to carry that momentum into the coming year as well, so now I'll turn it over to Jay.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

Thanks, Jim, and good morning, everyone. Today, I'll provide an overview of our consolidated financials and operational highlights in the quarter before handing off to Maria, who will cover business area results. Then I'll come back to discuss the 2024 outlook and some longer-term trending. Starting on chart four, sales of $17.1 billion were up 1% year-over-year, led by MFC and RMS. As expected, Aeronautics was down primarily due to delayed revenue recognition of approximately $700 million associated with the lapse in F-35 program funding as we continue to work through Lot 18 negotiations. Normalizing for that impact, consolidated sales would be up 5% year-over-year. Segment operating profit of $1.9 billion was up 3% year-over-year, with consolidated margins at a respectable 10.9%.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

Net profit adjustments in the quarter were higher than prior year and amounted to 20% of segment operating profit. GAAP earnings per share of $6.80 increased 1% year-over-year, driven by higher profit and lower share count, partially offset by higher interest expense, a higher tax rate, and lower pension income. Turning to new business, we recorded over $22 billion of orders in the third quarter for a book-to-bill ratio of approximately 1.3, led by MFC, with orders exceeding $8 billion and driving overall backlog to over $165 billion. Free cash flow was $2.1 billion in the quarter, aided by strong collections, including international program advances.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

This brings our year-to-date total free cash flow to just over $4.8 billion, enabling another $700 million of independent research and development and capital expenditures in the quarter, further enhancing our leadership position in 21st Century Security and integrated deterrence. Finally, we returned $1.7 billion of our free cash flow to shareholders via share repurchases and dividends. Turning to some key operational milestones and program highlights in the quarter. At Aeronautics, through the third quarter, we delivered 48 F-35s. In addition, the team continues to make progress towards Tech Refresh 3 combat capability, with incremental milestones on track for completion in the fourth quarter. Beyond the F-35, the C-130 franchise had a very successful quarter. The worldwide fleet of over 550 C-130J Super Hercules surpassed 3 million flight hours, demonstrating the platform's unmatched global reach and multi-mission versatility.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

We also delivered the first eight C-130J-30 tactical airlifters to the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Ohio in July and delivered the first J variant aircraft to longtime C-130 customer, New Zealand. At RMS, the U.S. Marine Corps formally accepted the 23rd and final next-generation VH-92A presidential helicopter built by Sikorsky, marking a significant milestone for the company, whose aircraft have flown every U.S. president since 1957. This highly tailored solution, based on the proven S-92 helicopter, meets the Marine Corps' unique and critical mission of supporting the commander-in-chief around the world. At Space, in September, NASA awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to design and build the next-generation Lightning Mapper instruments for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's, or NOAA's, GeoXO program. The baseline contract is valued at approximately $300 million for two instruments, with options for an additional two.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

This award follows on the GeoXO award we received in June to design and build the core NOAA spacecraft constellation. This continues our long tradition of designing and building weather and environmental spacecraft, including many Earth observation instruments. I'll stop here and hand it over to Maria to talk more about the business area financials.

[Maria Ricciardone, VP, Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations at Lockheed Martin]

Thanks, Jay. Today, I'll discuss third quarter year-over-year results for the business areas. Starting with Aeronautics on chart 5. Third quarter sales at Aero declined 3% year-over-year, primarily driven by lower F-35 volume due to delays in the Lot 18-19 contract negotiations that Jay previously mentioned.

[Maria Ricciardone, VP, Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations at Lockheed Martin]

Partially offsetting that headwind with higher volume at C-130 and the continued production ramp on the F-16 program. Segment operating profit decreased 2%, with lower volume and unfavorable mix being partially offset by higher profit booking rate adjustments, mainly due to a favorable adjustment related to a legacy C-5 claim. With the F-35 surpassing 1,000 aircraft deliveries this quarter, I'd like to highlight a few other notable items from the other major platforms. More than 2,600 C-130 aircraft have been delivered to 63 nations, with more than 550 J variants delivered to 22 countries, and Egypt set to become the 23rd. And the F-16 has delivered more than 4,600 aircraft to 27 countries over the past 50 years. Turning to Missiles and Fire Control on Chart 6.

[Maria Ricciardone, VP, Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations at Lockheed Martin]

MFC had another solid quarter, with sales up 8% year-over-year, driven by production ramps on precision fires programs within the tactical and strike missile segments, primarily Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, GMLRS, and Long Range Anti-Ship Missile, LRASM. Segment operating profit increased 15% year-over-year due to the higher volume and the higher booking rate profit adjustments, primarily at PAC-3, while margins were again solid at 14.4%. MFC's book-to-bill ratio in the quarter was a strong 2.7, leading to another record backlog, now over $40 billion, driven by continued global demand. In the quarter, the U.S. Army awarded the largest single-year production contract for Javelins and related equipment, worth $1.3 billion to the Javelin Joint Venture, as well as a $4 billion dollar contract for GMLRS.

[Maria Ricciardone, VP, Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations at Lockheed Martin]

The U.S. Air Force awarded an over $3 billion multi-year large lot procurement contract for JASSM, LRASM, providing a key antifragility measure to increase industry resilience and ensure operations can be ramped more quickly going forward. Shifting to Rotary and Mission Systems on Chart 7. Sales increased 6% in the quarter to $4.4 billion, primarily driven by higher volume at integrated warfare systems and sensors on radar programs, as well as the Canadian Surface Combatant program. Sikorsky programs also saw higher volume, led by CH-53K, BLACK HAWK, and SEAHAWK. Operating profit was comparable to the prior year, with higher volume being offset by lower profit booking rate adjustments. Finally, at Space, on Chart 8, sales decreased slightly year-over-year.

[Maria Ricciardone, VP, Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations at Lockheed Martin]

The reduction was driven by lower volume at commercial civil space, primarily on the Orion program, partially offset by higher volume at Strategic and Missile Defense on our strategic reentry programs. Operating profit increased 5% compared to Q3 2023, driven by favorable mix, partially offset by lower equity earnings from United Launch Alliance, ULA. Recently, Space was awarded a contract to continue nearly seventy years of partnership between the U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin through the Fleet Ballistic Missile, FBM, program, a key component of our nation's strategic deterrence. Under the contract, we will provide Trident missile production support and reentry system hardware, as well as operations and maintenance to support the readiness and reliability of the missile systems. FBM will continue to be a growth driver for space for years to come. Now I'll turn it back over to Jay to wrap up our prepared remarks.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

Thanks, Maria. All right, turning to Chart 9 and our outlook for 2024. With one quarter remaining, we've shifted to approximate point estimates that reflect increased expectations for sales, segment operating profit, earnings per share, and free cash flow. We've slightly reduced our share repurchase target for the year to approximately $3.7 billion, primarily due to the redeployment of capital to the Terran Orbital acquisition. All told, we still expect to return greater than 100% of free cash flow to shareholders in 2024 via repurchases and dividends. Quickly stepping through the other metrics, we estimate sales of approximately $71.25 billion, reflecting growth of 5% over 2023 as our backlog continues to convert across the portfolio. We're also increasing the segment operating profit expectation, driven by the higher sales volume, to approximately $7.475 billion.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

We continue to anticipate consolidated segment operating profit margins of approximately 10.5%. Moving to earnings per share, we're increasing our forecast by $0.30 from the prior midpoint to approximately $26.65. Primary drivers of the change are incremental profit of about $0.17, with other below-the-line items and taxes bringing in an additional $0.13. Lastly, on free cash flow, we now estimate approximately $6.2 billion for the year, up slightly from the prior midpoint, while absorbing the unfavorable impact of the recent F-35 Lot 15-17 aircraft delivery settlement, which we estimate will be approximately $600 million in 2024, with expected recovery over the next few years. Before I talk about trending, I'd like to reiterate a few key assumptions regarding our 2024 outlook.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

First, we expect F-35 Lot 18-19 to be awarded this year, maintaining program funding and continuity. We continue to make progress in negotiations towards a contract that secures our mutual goals of delivering advanced fifth-generation fighter capability to our services. Should the negotiation timeline be extended beyond year-end, the financial impact would be one of timing. We could see about 3% or $2 billion of our sales shift into 2025, along with associated impacts to profit and about $1 billion of free cash flow. The second key assumption is that we continue to anticipate $325 million of full-year losses on the MFC-classified program. That said, we will continue to assess facts and circumstances that could lead to the recognition of additional losses in the year. Third, this outlook does not assume any pension contribution in 2024.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

All right, so let's shift now to the outlook beyond 2024, and I'll provide a multi-year framework on chart 10. To start with, our record backlog position provides a strong foundation for sustained top-line growth over the coming years. Looking at sales through the twenty twenty-seven timeline, our baseline assumption still reflects a low single-digit compound annual growth rate off of the higher-than-expected sales expectation for 2024. As I stated previously, the demand signals point to mid-single-digit growth through 2027, but the outlook remains tempered by our current assessment of the pace at which the value chain can meet the demand. Our confidence in a mid-single-digit growth rate will grow as clarity increases on new business campaigns, funding stability, and capacity acceleration of the production systems.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

On segment margins, we anticipate improvement of 10-20 basis points per year based on our continued focus on operational excellence and program performance, combined with program de-risking. So in other words, steady improvement to a more normal range of around 11% ROS by 2027. Thinking about EPS trends over the three-year horizon, while we anticipate year-over-year benefits from higher segment operating profit and a lower share count, these benefits will be diluted by continued FAS/CAS pension headwinds, particularly in 2025, and higher effective tax rates from a change in certain deductions based on current law. For free cash flow, we continue to target a low single-digit CAGR through 2027, based on delivering cumulative working capital reductions that partially offset known pension contribution headwinds.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

While offsetting the pension contributions dollar for dollar in each year with working capital reductions alone is a challenge, we have confidence that we could fully offset the headwinds and improve the growth rate to mid-single digits through the combination of organic and inorganic cash generation initiatives. We'll provide more details in January as we shore up plans with better visibility to 2024 pension asset returns, post-election policy, and interest rates. Overall, this baseline multi-year framework remains consistent to the investment thesis we've discussed previously. We still expect low single-digit free cash flow growth over the next three years, supplemented by share repurchases to deliver a mid-single-digit free cash flow per share return over the same horizon with upside potential.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

So in summary, on chart eleven, performance year to date gives us confidence to raise the full-year outlook for 2024, and in our ability to deliver solid sales and free cash flow growth over the next few years. At the same time, we continue to invest in digital transformation capabilities and innovative technologies that will help differentiate our mission solutions for customers. And we remain focused on operational execution to deliver on our commitments and long-term value for our customers and shareholders alike. With that, Steve, let's open up the call for Q&A.

[Operator]

We will now begin the Q&A session of today's conference. If you have not pressed the one-zero, and you wish to ask a question, please press one, then zero, now on your touch-tone phone. You will hear an annunciator indicating you have placed yourself in queue, and you may remove yourself from queue at any time by depressing the one, then zero again. If you are using a speakerphone or Bluetooth, please pick up the handset before pressing the numbers. Once again, if you have a question, please press one, then zero at this time. Our first question will come from the line of Ron Epstein of Bank of America. Please go ahead.

[Ron Epstein, Senior Equity Analyst at Bank of America Corporation]

Yeah, thank you. Good morning, Jim and Jay.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

Good morning, Ron.

[Ron Epstein, Senior Equity Analyst at Bank of America Corporation]

Maybe circling back on some of your prepared comments, Jim. When we think about the current situation in kind of the tactical fighter world, where it seems the Air Force is giving a rethink to NGAD, the system, what it should be, you mentioned some of the work you guys are doing on AI and drones. If you look at how Increment One of CCA was awarded to maybe, you know, non-usual companies, right? And kind of new players. How are you thinking about Increment Two and what, you know, the interplay between manned and unmanned systems, tactical fighters, drones? I mean, does it change how you think about going forward, what NGAD could be and what it means for Lockheed?

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

Sure, Ron. We're preserving our optionality based on what the U.S. government and services determine to be their strategy for tactical fighter deployment over the next, you know, 20-30 years. And so part of that strategy is,

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

you know, having our Skunk Works continue to develop technologies that could be implemented for a sixth-generation tactical aircraft. It's a step, you know, function above what the F-22 and F-35 can do today. So we are investing time, talent, and energy into that in Skunk Works, which is, you know, in this setting, all we can really say about that. The second piece of it, though, is the crewed/uncrewed teaming element of whether it's NGAD or F-35 plus a CCA, if you will, or multiple CCAs. We're already working that out, too. We've developed a pod that will enable the F-35 to control even today CCAs, if you will.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

And we have a flight control system and a communication system in development that will enable that as well, and that could be converted, I think, to F-22 as well. So we are working both of those elements, but the key part of it is you still gotta have volume. And I, you know, I'm an ex-Air Force pilot myself. We have to be able to meet the J-20, which is the Chinese combat tactical aircraft, fifth generation as well, with enough numbers in the Pacific, or at least field enough numbers of, you know, it's F-35 and F-22 now is the only really competitive jets against the J-20, one-to-one.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

We have to field enough of those aircraft in a short enough timeframe to maintain an effective deterrent in the Pacific, and the Russians are also developing, you know, fifth generation aircraft as well. So the threat will emerge in Europe, too. So we gotta have volume to start with on fifth gen. We need to be able to bring autonomy and the CCA concept into fifth gen and sixth gen, if there is one. So we're keeping all of those avenues open, and we're investing really in all three, again, to preserve the optionality for the defense industrial base and our partners to be able to deliver on which of those strategies or what combination that the U.S. government decides to pursue.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

I'll just add, Ron, just to, you know, in our outlook, the multi-year outlook that I gave you, that accounts for and assumes that we'll have significantly incremental investment in areas such as autonomy, AI, crewed/uncrewed teaming, and in command and control systems.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

Yep.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

We feel that our investment is going to the right places as these platforms and systems evolve.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

Yeah, and as far as Increment 2 on the CCA, Ron, the way it's been described to us is Increment 1 was proof of concept, more of an experimental, kind of approach. Increment 2 is gonna be targeted to be fieldable, combat-ready, scalable, design and production of the uncrewed teaming half of the system. So, we are fully dedicated to that. Like I said, we have Skunk Works, working on, you know, both the parent and the child, if you will, when it comes to all CCA concepts. And Increment 2 is gonna be really where we're, I think, most competitive because we can show that we can control these vehicles, with today's technology, already at scale. So, we're gonna be eager to compete for that.

[Operator]

Our next question comes from the line of Sheila Kahyaoglu of Jefferies. Please go ahead.

[Sheila Kahyaoglu, Managing Director and Aerospace & Defense Equity Research Analyst at Jefferies]

Good morning, Jim and Jay. Jay, maybe one for you. Maybe if we could go to slide 10. Appreciate you giving the long-term target medium-term targets for low single-digit revenue growth. Can you maybe rank order the segments with MFC leading? I think you've talked about mid-single-digit growth or $750 million there, and what other segments follow? What campaigns get you to that mid-single-digit opportunity for top line growth?

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

Yeah, sure. Thank you, Sheila, and good morning. You know, you kind of nailed it in your question. The leader of growth will be MFC over this time period through 2027, and I would put them at the high single digit clip very comfortably based on the backlog that they have today and the visibility that we have to incremental orders. The other three business areas in this framework, at least starting off with this low single digit, the rest of them will be in this low single digit framework, pretty kind of consistently. Now, how do we go from a low single digit to a high single digit? Quite frankly, a lot of that opportunity is already sitting in the backlog.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

If the system can convert, and I'd say the entire enterprise, so it's not just supply chain, it's our operations as well, can convert on that backlog quicker, and we did see this in 2024. If you recall, we came into the year thinking that we would grow low single-digit, and we converted that and changed it to 5% growth here in 2024. So under the same framework, it is a step change from where we are in 2024, but we've demonstrated that we can improve throughout the year. So as that visibility gets better, that would enable us to go from a low single-digit to a mid-single-digit. Yes, there are other campaigns, and some of those are classified. You know, if, if you go back a few years, we talked about the four pillars of growth.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

New awards was an element of that, as well as classified growth. New awards, we got one of those, which was the Next Generation Interceptor, so that's already a win. The other one would be in our classified portfolio, and those are campaigns that will happen over the next, I would say, 6-18 months. But as I mentioned, and I mentioned in my prepared remarks, the foundation for the growth to mid-single-digit is pretty solid. It's at least in the short term more of a conversion issue.

[Operator]

Our next question comes from the line of Noah Poponak of Goldman Sachs. Please go ahead.

[Noah Poponak, Managing Director and Aerospace & Defense Equity Research Analyst at Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.]

Hey, good morning, everyone. Good morning.

[Noah Poponak, Managing Director and Aerospace & Defense Equity Research Analyst at Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.]

Jay, I was hoping to get some more help from you on the MFC margin. Do the last two quarters suggest the operating performance is better, or is it just that the loss accrual is loaded into the fourth quarter? And I guess remind me why the accounting is that way, as opposed to taking it all when you know you have it. And I don't know if you could talk about how you expect that to progress through 2, but I guess just fundamentally, like, is the new classified program or the overall operating performance in the segment improving or worsening? Or is it just, you know, the volatility is accounting?

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

Yeah, I would say the volatility is accounting. I would say in the this year to date, the performance is better than prior year. We've seen an improvement. When you put aside the losses related to the classified program, their profit adjustments year to date have shown growth, and they're performing, I think, pretty well in the base. So you know, this was a good quarter as an example. We didn't really record any losses related to the classified program, and we delivered 14.4% margins in the quarter, and that's essentially where they're operating this year, ex the losses. You got it right as far as timing. We would expect, you know, we recorded $100 million in the first quarter.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

So that would say that about $225 million will record, or what's included in our guidance for the fourth quarter. As far as your question on the accounting, it's a good question. It really depends on the facts and circumstances and the probability. We have to make an assessment and a probability of the exercise of certain options. And so the visibility is clearer as things are more short term, and the visibility gets a little bit more murkier as you go out a little bit further. So you have to make assessments of similar facts, some facts such as customer interactions that we have, their intentions, visibility to funding over a longer period of time.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

The performance of the system is one, and how we're doing from a testing perspective, so all of these factors taken together have to go into the assessment to determine if and when we record a forward loss, so that's where we are. As far as 2025, our, you know, our baseline assumption would be that we go from $325 million to anywhere between, say, $250 million to $300 million in losses in 2025, assuming a one per year type of framework. As I mentioned in my prepared remarks, we have to take another look at whether or not there will be additional losses that have to be recognized early on to your question. Again, that's a really quarter-to-quarter assessment that we have to make.

[Operator]

Our next question comes from the line of Myles Walton of Wolfe Research. Please go ahead.

[Myles Walton, Managing Director at Wolfe Research]

Thanks. Good morning. Hey, Jim, just a follow-up first on CCA. Are you currently competing on the autonomy portion of Increment 1, and is that what gives you a better feeling for where Increment 2 Lockheed could be? And then, Jay, could you just update us on the Aero classified contract? I think you booked another charge in the quarter. I'm just curious if there's any line of sight to when, you know, you're sort of back on the right sides of that program.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

So Myles, based on the classification of the CCA program, especially longer term, I can't refer to it directly as far as who's competing for what element of it. But what I can tell you is, and echoing Jay, we are investing heavily in autonomy, AI, 5G connectivity, distributed, you know, remote node cloud, those kinds of things that enable a CCA-type device to be effective. Now, we're testing in open air, I'll call it, these kind of technologies with existing platforms, which is another use case, but it's one we could talk about. So you've already seen potentially that we've got an autonomous BLACK HAWK up and running, full capability helicopter that can do missions with you sitting on your couch in your living room, programming the mission in and changing it in flight on your iPad, right?

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

This is scalable, big hardware, big effect, platforms that can be elevated in their capability with autonomy, AI, et cetera. We've also done the same thing with an F-16, with the Air Force, that shows that we can actually dogfight an F-16 without a pilot in it and be effective. So these technologies, one could probably surmise, if you can apply them to legacy hardware at that level of scale, that you can certainly apply them to hardware that is a smaller scale, and uncrewed, as well.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

On the question on the classified program at Aeronautics, we did realize incremental risk in the quarter. You know, in the press release, it had about $80 million there. Year to date, we're about $145 million. So we have obviously realized some incremental learnings that have converted to incremental losses. You know, it's a classified program, so I can't really talk too much about what it is. But what I can tell you is that, you know, we are essentially meeting our schedule objectives, albeit at a higher cost. And I would say the cost is really a function of the aggressive pricing that you know, we bid originally. And so, as we recalibrate, we are kind of keeping an eye on our cost.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

We'll do continuous reviews, as you would expect us to do, and we'll have another review here in November with the team, so we can go back and understand and pressure test the risk management plan. But it's not just an oversight function. I think it's incumbent upon us as a leadership team to not only provide the oversight, but also make sure that we're providing the tools and the resources to make sure they're successful. This program will be managed as a whole team, and we're all in it together. You know, as I mentioned on the costs, it's you know, again, it was bid aggressively. Jim and I have been pretty firm over the past few years that we're really reining in those practices, and we really haven't seen any of those since that time.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

And so, you know, we've got a contractual commitment that we've got to meet, and we will meet, and we'll manage this program as best as we possibly can. And I think part of what we're trying to do is change the trajectory, drive towards better outcomes, while at the same time, deliver the mission capability that we've contracted to give our customer.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

Myles, I can speak to one command and control system that we have demonstrated because it was in, again, an open space. Recently, the Air and Space Force put on its sort of annual gathering, if you will, outside of Washington, DC. And it. It's a bit of a trade show setup, so it was public. We were demonstrating to customers there, in open space, again, not classified, our ability to use that iPad technology to control eight CCAs off an F-35 flight control and comm system. So we've already shown that out in the open, but again, that's technology we've been working on for, you know, literally a decade or two at Skunk Works.

[Operator]

Our next question comes from the line of Doug Harned of Bernstein. Please go ahead.

[Doug Harned, Managing Director at Sanford C. Bernstein]

Good morning. Thank you.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

Good morning.

[Doug Harned, Managing Director at Sanford C. Bernstein]

You know, on F-35, you've said that you expect a lot. You don't know for sure, but that Lot 18 and 19 negotiations hopefully will be completed in Q4. Tech Refresh 3 you're 95% through. Now, what I'm trying to understand are really two things. You know, a lot of times you can have 5% left on something. We've, this has been going on a long time, getting Tech Refresh 3 done. You know, how do we get confident that you're gonna get there in Q4? And does this have an interplay with the Lot 18 and 19 negotiations? Because if I can just ask separately, you know, we're trying to understand what the cash implications are in 2025 if you get all this done or perhaps if it slips.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

So, Doug, it's Jim. I'll start off. I wanna lay out the fundamental framework of the F-35 program, and then I'll turn it over to Jay for some of the cash flow impacts and expectations in the financial results of that. So first of all, just to reiterate, there's a very important distinction between the F-35 production system and how we book revenue and profit on the production system versus the event of final aircraft delivery, which is actually fairly small proportion of the revenue and profit that an aircraft, F-35 aircraft generates for industry, right? So that important distinction. Now, there's two current program conditions that you touched on that affect both of these outcomes, right?

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

So what I wanna also emphasize is both of the outcomes are not necessarily economic value outcomes, they are timing-related outcomes. So there's a time value of money aspect of it. But the economic value of an F-35 that's delivered out of the system is not much affected, if you will, by these two issues, but the timing is affected. So let me just start with TR-3 software finalization. So that's one of the conditions that we're managing through with the F-35 program and how that affects the delivery schedule. So about a year and a half ago, we had conversations, and I did personally about a Release 1 and a Release 2 concept. The government calls that truncation, but that's really what the concept is, like we would do in tech or telecom.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

We're gonna do a Release 1 of software. We're gonna work through the discovery of that, and then when that is ready, we will be able to have an initial product. The initial product is TR-3, which is capable of doing unit stand-up, basing operations, and training at operating Air Force and Navy and Marine bases, as well as our allies, with the TR-3, I'll call it again, Release 1 software in it. You can fly the jet, you can practice basic and advanced fighter maneuvers, you can deal with, you know, develop tactics in your squadron. You can train your maintainers on how to do this new aircraft.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

So if you're swapping out a F-15 squadron to an F-35 squadron, the maintainers actually need to get their hands on the planes just as much as the pilots do, and then make sure all the tooling and everything is working for them. The Release 1 is what's being delivered now. That was the 48 in the third quarter. They all have Release 1. You can fly the jet. What it doesn't have are some of those incremental software validations that show that all combat systems and all weapons will be able to be effectively deployed because the testing program and flight test and bench test has been completed, and we get a certification of reliability for that weapon, for example. There are a lot of test points there.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

And those test points are going to be developed not just in the fourth quarter, but they're going to be developed over the course of 2025 as well. Because when I say a weapon, it's, is it an AMRAAM? Is it an AIM-9? You know, what weapon are we talking about? There's, you know, literally, dozens of weapons, and there are multiple test points on things like Distributed Aperture System, et cetera. So this is a complex path to what I'll call Release 2. That's the full-up combat capability. And as we work through those capability certifications individually, there'll be diminishing CAS withholds along the way as those flight tests are completed, and the certifications happen. Jay can kind of aggregate that for you in a minute. But that's how this part of the program works on a fundamental basis.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

So we feel that our projection of, in 2024, 90-110 deliveries out of that process into Release 1. In 2025 and beyond, 180 deliveries a year of F-35. Now, those are gonna be a mix of those coming off the line, brand new, and those that are parked. So the 180s will be a mix of those. We're working on a weekly basis right now to prioritize specific aircraft deliveries, literally one at a time. Does one go to the Dutch Air Force first and the Marines second? And whenever we reprioritize, which we're doing by the week based on the needs of the customer base, now we need to change a bill of materials. We'll do other things, and parked aircraft may remain when a new aircraft may come right out to the fleet.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

So the complexity of this TR-3 software definitization and release is gonna take some time, but we will be able to deliver a mix of aircraft above the 156 production rate for the next few years because we'll be mixing based on what the customer's looking for. So that's one of the issues that you talked about. The other issue is actually, I would consider it completely unrelated from this. And that issue is any lot negotiation for a program such as this, and at the scale that this program is at. So we are on a lot contractual negotiation with the U.S. government, and by we, I mean, you know, our major suppliers with us, and all the way down to our smaller suppliers. Now, currently, that lot negotiation is 18 and 19, and it's not completed yet.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

Under the Federal Acquisition Regulation, if the government does not have a formal agreement with the supplier completed, the government cannot pay for either work being done under that undefinitized contract. In fact, it's not a completed contract, to be clear, or pay for a product that is actually completed either. That is where we, as industry then, have to prioritize keeping our production system on pace while the government, by law, cannot pay us. It's essential for the health of the lower-tier suppliers that we do that. We all kind of step up and do it as an industry. But the prime and major subs cannot book our revenue and profit, even though we're expending cost, and that's where the cash impact of the negotiation comes in.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

We're not gonna stop the production line because it would be unwise, I'll say. Until the formal agreement is signed, we are gonna keep it going until the formal agreement is signed, at which time these cash payments will be releasable. So those are the two issues we're facing. I want to say one other thing, Doug, you know, while you've asked about this topic of F-35, this isn't just a Lockheed Martin commitment to make this program a success, it's an industry-wide commitment, and I would also add a government commitment to make it a success. I'll just give you a few of the things that we've been part of and led over the last, I'd say 2-3 months.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

We held a CEO summit of the top five industry partners in Fort Worth at the factory, where we took an entire day determining how we could integrate our systems, IT systems, test systems, our processes, how we develop subassemblies, and other items that go on the jet and integrate them with the jet, how those processes, and personnel, moving more people between companies on either a temporary or almost semi-permanent basis to make sure we've got the best talent working on every problem. So that's one thing that we've done. That same CEO-level team followed up with the government, and the meeting there was chaired by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. The Joint Program Office leader was there, General Schmidt.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

The U.S. Navy and Marines had their air bosses there, and that was in the Pentagon, to lay out a similar integration framework with U.S. government systems, processes, and personnel that's appropriate under law and regulation. And then we had another CEO update with U.S. senior government officials, and this was just two weeks ago, and seven partner nation customer officials in Washington to trade a status of what we were all doing together. And in two more weeks, I'm bringing my executive team at Lockheed Martin, across all the businesses and functions. We're gonna gather in Fort Worth to make sure that every resource, every operational practice, every supply chain element that we can bring from across the company, and certainly all the technical talent, is devoted to this program.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

That is what we are doing to make sure this is a success. And the last thing I'll say there is that, the customers need and want this this aircraft. That was the opinion of the U.S. government in our meeting with the Chief. There are six customers since 2020, and I think these are all the competitions that we're in, actually, that chose the F-35 that weren't in the original partner group or the original order team. There was Switzerland, Finland, Germany, Canada, the Czech Republic, and Greece, and then follow-ons from, partners that already have the aircraft in operation also were added, Japan, Netherlands, Republic of Korea, and Israel. So the demand for the aircraft, and actually the essential need for the aircraft, is there.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

Industry is getting together with government, and I think in ways that we haven't done before, to really make this a success. And we got to work our way through the lot negotiation, which is, again, it's a timing issue as far as payments, and we got to work our way through TR-3 integration, which is a technical issue. But, you know, literally, it's an all-hands-on-deck, not just in industry, but I'd say in government, too, to get this, to get this all done. Jay, any additions there?

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

Yeah, let me just add to, try to give you a little bit of color on, on the cash impact to your question. You know, as Jim mentioned, that what we're looking at here is an output estimate of about one hundred and eighty aircraft deliveries per year over the next 3+ years. So effectively, what will happen is cash collections will smooth out over this period of time. It's important to point out that that remains consistent with the low single-digit free cash flow growth framework that we've articulated today and previously. Just maybe a little bit on 2024. As I mentioned in my prepared remarks, we estimated the impact this year of unfavorable impact of about $600 million. That consists of two factors.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

Number one, less deliveries than the 156 rate, so we'll deliver, you know, in that range of 100 aircraft or so. So there's going to be less aircraft delivered, and so there's an impact for cash flow from that. The second impact is the impact of the withholds. While we will release some of those withholds this year based on completion of milestones, there will still be some that carry over into next year and a little bit into 2026. Now, in 2024, that unfavorable impact was $600 million. That was entirely offset by other working capital efficiencies in the rest of the portfolio of about $600 million, mostly through advances that we've seen there.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

And so the net impact, and then what enabled us to deliver the same free cash flow, and in fact, better than the midpoint that we'd originally guided to, was that offset. As you go to 2025, we'll deliver more aircraft, and so we will see the benefit of having delivered more aircraft, and we will also see the benefit of having incremental withholds released. I would quantify that today at around $300 million-$400 million, and then that'll, that'll then continue to flow in 2026 and beyond. And hopefully, that helps.

[Operator]

Our next question will come from the line of Rich Safran of Seaport Research Partners. Please go ahead.

[Rich Safran, Managing Director and Aerospace & Defense Equity Research Analyst at Seaport Research Partners]

Jim, Jay, Maria, good morning. How are you?

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

Good morning.

[Rich Safran, Managing Director and Aerospace & Defense Equity Research Analyst at Seaport Research Partners]

Jay, on your opening remarks on pension, I think in the past, you made some comments about possibly reducing some of your pension headwinds. So I want to know if you could maybe update us on what your thinking is there, if you still intend to reduce the headwinds after 2025 using debt or cash, and if so, what the timing of that might be? Thanks.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

Yes. Thanks, Rich. So essentially, in my prepared remarks, I talked about the inorganic and organic means of managing this pension headwind. You know, the inorganic would essentially be the issuance of debt as a primary enabler to be able to do that. That's still on the table, as I said on my prepared remarks, that we're going to go through between here and the end of the year and finalize our plans based on various factors. And as you would expect, we're trying to exhaust all of the opportunities on an organic basis. So what can we wring out in working capital over this period of time to be able to offset as much as possible? To the extent that we can't, we do have the ability to go on, you know, financing to take out.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

I think that the key takeaway there is that I remain confident that we'll be able to do that through the combination of organic working capital reduction, as well as some level of inorganic, mostly on the debt side.

[Operator]

Our next question will come from the line of David Strauss of Barclays. Please go ahead.

[David Strauss, Managing Director and Aerospace & Defense Equity Research Analyst at Barclays]

Good morning. Thanks for taking the question.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

Yep.

[David Strauss, Managing Director and Aerospace & Defense Equity Research Analyst at Barclays]

Just wanted to clarify on the longer-term framework relative to, you know, what you had said previously on 2025. I think you had talked about a 2025 growth in line with 2024, which is at 5%. So is that still the case or not? I know this isn't you know, this is out through 2027. If you could just touch on that. And then, maybe Jim, if you could touch on progress on the solid rocket motor side of things in terms of, you know, how that's going. Obviously, you know, you announced this partnership with General Dynamics during the quarter as well. Thanks.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

Yeah, just on the framework as it relates to 2025. 2025 is very consistent with the multi-year framework that's on that chart, which is our starting point here is a low single digit growth framework off of the 2024 number. And again, it's, you know, we're looking at MFC being the driver there, kind of starting off at a high single digit rate, and the other business areas being either flat, slightly flat or up in the low single digits. And so that's really our starting point. Again, we'll give a lot more color in January as we finalize these plans, but I'd say 2025 is consistent with what we're saying in the multi-year framework.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

I guess, just a reminder, David, and I think it applies to 2025 as it does in the three-year framework. When we went into 2024, we started at low single digit, we upgraded it to mid-single digit. I think as our visibility improves, as I mentioned in my prepared remarks, there's still the case where we could be mid-single digits in 2025, but we need to see it come through. We need to see the production and operating systems be able to consistently grow at a mid-single-digit CAGR, which is, you know, a lot easier said than done in the environment that we've been living under over the past few years.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

And David, as far as the solid rocket motor industrial base, I think this is a really positive example of how industry does come together in the service of national security, right? So first of all, I've just recirculated this question with our Chief Operating Officer, Frank St. John, who's outstanding, on Northrop Grumman and Aerojet Rocketdyne, which is now managed by L3Harris. My question to Frank is: Are these companies putting all the resources that we think they could be putting into their solid rocket motor operations, quality, delivery, schedule, personnel, et cetera, and open to us collaborating with them to make sure those deliveries happen? And his answer to me was yes. So our existing industry partners are stepping up to try to meet the elevated demand and investing to do that.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

That's great, but we still need a third source from an antifragility perspective, as we call it, and that is a partnership with General Dynamics. And that started off at the C-level, and we figured out there was complementary capabilities between General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin, where we could actually have the design done at Lockheed Martin for the SRM, and that General Dynamics had the ability, the facilities, and the kind of production operations and personnel that could actually produce it. And so we are working together on that. We'll have to get that new solid rocket motor certified. It'll be again Lockheed Martin IP design, if you will, and General Dynamics is standing up simultaneously the ability to produce them at rate.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

We have to do a few test articles next year in 2025. There'll be further testing that's done by the services to get their certification, the military services, in 2026, and should be producing at rate, we hope, by 2027, and that'll add a third supplier for the National Defense Industrial Base, not just for Lockheed Martin, but for others as well, and really strengthen our ability to produce these systems.

[Operator]

Our next question comes from the line of Jason Gursky of Citi. Please go ahead.

[Jason Gursky, Equity Research Analyst at Citi]

Hey, good morning, everybody. Thanks for taking the question.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

Good morning.

[Jason Gursky, Equity Research Analyst at Citi]

Jay, I just wanna really pound the table. Not pound the table, beat a dead horse here, I should say, and make sure I fully, fully understand the multi-year outlook here. So what you're saying is low single digit's the baseline. You can outperform that into the mid single digits, so long as the supply chain and the production system kind of, you know, maybe performs as well as it did this year relative to expectations. What's the blue sky scenario here? Let's say that the supply chain all snaps back into place, the production system's working well. You are then in this context, you know, producing mid-single-digit growth. But I would imagine that you've got a pipeline of additional opportunities out there. Is there a blue sky scenario where you're actually doing better than mid-single digit?

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

You know, it's a great question, Jason. Let me just first say terms in the framework. I mean, obviously, over 2025, there's better visibility than there would be for 2027, so the outlook feels good. And so my comment in terms of confidence, as far as the demand signal being able to drive to a mid-single digit growth rate in 2025, is heightened by the better visibility. If you think about what we've seen in 2024 as an example, in answer to your question. You know, given what we've seen, the demand cycle would have also enabled a higher growth rate than 5% in 2024. So I think the answer to your question in the short term is yes.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

I don't know that I can sit there and say that a multi-year framework would be a high single digit number, but I think that given all the right circumstances, you could definitely see a year that could deliver high single digit. But again, we're starting from low, we gotta get to mid. We get to mid, and then we can talk about anything beyond that. First things first.

[Operator]

Our next question will come from the line of Rob Stallard of Vertical Research. Please go ahead.

[Rob Stallard, Partner at Vertical Research Partners]

Thanks so much. Good morning. I'll keep it brief.

[Rob Stallard, Partner at Vertical Research Partners]

Jay, a question on the cash situation. Can you give us an idea of just how much working capital benefit you have to get through in the next couple of years to offset pension? And just how risky is this prediction?

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

You know, Rob, the way I would characterize it is, just quick math, one day equates to about $200 million of free cash flow. And I would say through 2025 and 2026, we would have to do at least two days of working capital improvement. So is it possible? Yes, but in both years, so you'd have to do cumulatively four days through 2025 and 2026. It's possible, but it's a stretch. And so that's why I believe kind of a better higher confidence plan would be to combine the initiatives on working capital with some of potential inorganic capabilities or cash generation, with the ability to really draw that back down over a period of time with continued cash flow growth.

[Jay Malave, CFO at Lockheed Martin]

And so I think it's a, you know, it's what I would say next year is that we've probably got, you know, two days that are not yet solutioned between now and the end of the year, that we gotta go figure out. And to the extent that we can, that relates to 2025, you know, the inorganic becomes the gap filler.

[Maria Ricciardone, VP, Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations at Lockheed Martin]

All right, Steve, this is Maria. I think we've come to the top of the hour, so I'll turn it back over to Jim for some final thoughts.

[Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO at Lockheed Martin]

Sure. Thanks, Maria. Look, I just wanna recognize the employees across Lockheed Martin, their dedication, their resilience, and they consistently are innovating now in ways I think we've never have, and cooperated across businesses and functions before, like we never have. I wanna really make sure that they're recognized this afternoon. We wanna make sure that our allies and our country can defend itself, and therefore, deter any aggression against us, and that's what they think they're doing and what they are doing every day. I wanna thank them, and thank you for joining us all. I look forward to connecting you again for our Q4 call in January. We'll see you then. Steve, that concludes the call for today. Thanks, everybody.

[Operator]

Ladies and gentlemen, that does conclude our conference call for today. On behalf of today's conference call, we'd like to thank you for your participation and thank you for using AT&T. Have a wonderful day. You may now disconnect.

Participants

Executives

• Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President and CEO
• Maria Ricciardone, VP, Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations
• Jay Malave, CFO

Analysts

• Doug Harned, Managing Director at Sanford C. Bernstein
• Myles Walton, Managing Director at Wolfe Research
• Noah Poponak, Managing Director and Aerospace & Defense Equity Research Analyst at Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
• Rich Safran, Managing Director and Aerospace & Defense Equity Research Analyst at Seaport Research Partners
• Jason Gursky, Equity Research Analyst at Citi
• Rob Stallard, Partner at Vertical Research Partners
• David Strauss, Managing Director and Aerospace & Defense Equity Research Analyst at Barclays
• Ron Epstein, Senior Equity Analyst at Bank of America Corporation
• Sheila Kahyaoglu, Managing Director and Aerospace & Defense Equity Research Analyst at Jefferies