Sees FY26 Operating Margin at 10.4%
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 28 2026
0mins
Should l Buy GD?
Sees FY26 operating margin 10.4%. Says improvement in some areas of the supply chain, but others still at risk. Sees tariff impact higher in FY26 than FY25. Targeting 100% free cash flow conversion in FY26. Says capital allocation strategy remains focused on investing in the business.
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Analyst Views on GD
Wall Street analysts forecast GD stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for GD is 386.85 USD with a low forecast of 360.00 USD and a high forecast of 410.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
15 Analyst Rating
7 Buy
8 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 352.050
Low
360.00
Averages
386.85
High
410.00
Current: 352.050
Low
360.00
Averages
386.85
High
410.00
About GD
General Dynamics Corporation is a global aerospace and defense company. It offers a portfolio of products and services in business aviation; ship construction and repair; land combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions, and technology products and services. Its segments include Aerospace, Marine Systems, Combat Systems and Technologies. The Aerospace segment produces business jets and is the standard bearer in new technology aircraft, aircraft repair, customer support and custom completion services. The Marine Systems segment designs and builds nuclear-powered submarines and is engaged in surface combatant and auxiliary ship design and construction for the U.S. Navy. The Combat Systems segment manufactures land combat solutions worldwide, including wheeled and tracked combat vehicles, weapons systems and munitions. The Technologies segment provides a full spectrum of services, technologies and products to a range of military, intelligence, federal civilian and state customers.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Margin Weakness: Despite an 8% increase in sales, operating earnings rose only 2%, net earnings declined by 0.4%, and earnings per share increased by just 0.5%, indicating weakening profit margins, particularly in the aerospace and technologies divisions.
- Marine Systems Surge: The marine systems division saw a 22% revenue increase and over 72% growth in operating profit, with a 210 basis point improvement in operating margin, yet it remains the least profitable division with a margin of only 7.2%.
- Cautious 2026 Outlook: General Dynamics expects to earn about $16.15 per share on sales of approximately $54.5 billion in 2026, projecting mid-single-digit growth; however, the stock appears expensive, prompting analysts to recommend a sell despite the earnings beat.
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- Key Facility Visits: Hegseth will tour facilities operated by General Dynamics, Anduril, and Bath Iron Works, and is scheduled to administer the oath of enlistment to new recruits at the Seabees Museum, focusing on discussions with industry leaders and workers about production challenges and workforce needs.
- Advocating Procurement Reform: The visit aims to push for changes in defense procurement, including faster contracting timelines, greater reliance on commercial technologies, and longer-term agreements designed to provide companies with more certainty to invest and expand production, reflecting a commitment to military readiness.
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- Earnings Beat: General Dynamics reported Q4 2025 earnings of $4.17 per share, exceeding Wall Street's expectation of $4.11, with sales reaching $14.4 billion, $600 million above forecasts; however, the stock fell nearly 3% on earnings day.
- Margin Weakness: Despite an 8% increase in sales, operating earnings rose only 2%, net earnings declined by 0.4%, and earnings per share increased by just 0.5%, indicating weakening profit margins, particularly in the aerospace and technologies divisions.
- Marine Systems Surge: The marine systems division saw a 22% revenue increase and over 72% growth in operating profit, with a 210 basis point improvement in operating margin, yet it remains the least profitable division with a margin of only 7.2%.
- Cautious 2026 Outlook: General Dynamics expects to earn about $16.15 per share on sales of approximately $54.5 billion in 2026, projecting mid-single-digit growth; however, the stock appears expensive, prompting analysts to recommend a sell despite the earnings beat.
See More
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- Defense Industrial Tour: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is set to visit major defense manufacturers in Rhode Island and Maine on Monday as part of the nationwide “Arsenal of Freedom” tour, aimed at enhancing attention to the U.S. defense industrial base, emphasizing manufacturing capacity and supply chain readiness.
- Key Facility Visits: Hegseth will tour facilities operated by General Dynamics, Anduril, and Bath Iron Works, and is scheduled to administer the oath of enlistment to new recruits at the Seabees Museum, focusing on discussions with industry leaders and workers about production challenges and workforce needs.
- Advocating Procurement Reform: The visit aims to push for changes in defense procurement, including faster contracting timelines, greater reliance on commercial technologies, and longer-term agreements designed to provide companies with more certainty to invest and expand production, reflecting a commitment to military readiness.
- Manufacturing Capacity Weaknesses Exposed: Defense officials have indicated that recent global conflicts and rising demand for military equipment have revealed weaknesses in U.S. manufacturing capacity, particularly in shipbuilding, munitions, and advanced technologies, with the tour highlighting these constraints and signaling policy priorities for future acquisition and industrial planning.
See More
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- Historic Milestone: The Dow Jones Industrial Average surpassed 50,000 for the first time in 2026, marking a significant achievement since its inception in 1896, reflecting sustained investor confidence amid economic fluctuations.
- Tech Stock Influence: This milestone was largely driven by strong performances from technology stocks, particularly Nvidia's replacement of Intel, highlighting the market's heightened focus and investment enthusiasm in the artificial intelligence sector.
- Market Rebound: Following a downturn in 2022, the Dow rebounded nearly 13% in 2023, with this breakthrough occurring against the backdrop of the index climbing over 1,100 points, demonstrating a robust market recovery.
- Changing Economic Landscape: Despite concerns over Trump's tariff policies and the impact of AI spending, the market has shown resilience, indicating investor optimism regarding future economic growth.
See More
Technological Transformation in Modern Warfare
- Market Growth: The C5ISR market is projected to reach $161.46 billion by 2026, indicating a significant shift in military spending towards technologies that eliminate battlefield blind spots, creating investment opportunities for related companies.
- AI and Robotics: Spending in the cognitive electronic warfare sector is expected to approach $30 billion next year, highlighting that AI and robotics have become central to defense, driving rapid advancements in this area for companies.
- VisionWave's Technological Breakthrough: VisionWave Holdings is nearing completion of AstraDRC™, a semiconductor design tool that automatically fixes chip design errors, which is expected to significantly enhance chip manufacturing efficiency and reduce production delays.
- Strategic Acquisition Integration: VisionWave's acquisition of SaverOne consolidates over 30 specialized engineers to accelerate the development of the VisionRF technology platform, aiming to enhance capabilities in addressing concealed threats through RF sensing technologies.
See More
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Collaboration with FAA: Canada is working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address outstanding certification issues.
Involvement of Key Companies: The collaboration involves Bombardier and General Dynamics, indicating a focus on resolving certification matters in the aviation sector.
See More
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See More
