Lockheed Martin Reports Q1 2025 Net Earnings of $1.7 Billion

Lockheed Martin Corporation [NYSE: LMT] today reported first quarter 2025 sales of $18.0 billion, compared to $17.2 billion in the first quarter of 2024. Net earnings in the first quarter of 2025 were $1.7 billion, or $7.28 per share, compared to $1.5 billion, or $6.39 per share, in the first quarter of 2024. Cash from operations was $1.4 billion in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $1.6 billion in the first quarter of 2024. Free cash flow was $955 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $1.3 billion in the first quarter of 2024.

“The momentum we created last year continued into the first quarter of 2025, with sales growing 4% year-over-year and free cash flow generation of $955 million. We continued investing in the business with over $850 million of research and development and capital expenditures in the quarter, and returned $1.5 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases,” said Lockheed Martin Chairman, President and CEO Jim Taiclet. “These solid first quarter results reinforce confidence in our ability to achieve the full year 2025 financial guidance we laid out in January, demonstrating the resilience and adaptability of Lockheed Martin’s franchises amidst a highly dynamic geopolitical and technical environment.”

“We are focused on operational excellence to drive the timely and efficient execution of our $173 billion backlog, which represents more than two years of sales,” continued Taiclet. “We remain committed to realizing our vision of digital and interoperable systems and are aligning our mission roadmaps to best support our customers’ rapidly evolving security needs, both domestic and global. This focus, along with Lockheed Martin’s track record of innovation and performance, continues to result in new awards, including the recent missiles contracts for Precision Strike Missiles, THAAD and JASSM/LRASM, as well as the Trident II D5 Life Extension, comprising up to $10 billion of future work.”

Summary Financial Results

The following table presents the company’s summary financial results.

Cash from operations in the first quarter of 2025 was $1.4 billion with free cash flow of $955 million compared to $1.6 billion with $1.3 billion in free cash flow in the first quarter of 2024. The decrease in cash from operations was primarily due to an increase in contract assets as a result of the timing of milestones, higher insurance costs, and timing of payments for employee related accruals. These items were partially offset by a decrease in accounts receivable due to the timing of billings and collections and an increase in accounts payable due to timing of supplier payments. The decrease in free cash flows was primarily due to the cash from operations drivers and higher software expenditures.

During the quarter ended March 30, 2025, the company paid cash dividends of $796 million and repurchased 1.7 million shares for $750 million.

2025 Financial Outlook

The company’s financial outlook for 2025 and other sections of this news release contain forward-looking statements, which reflect the company’s judgment based on the information available at the time of this news release. The financial outlook for 2025 assumes the company’s programs are funded by and at levels consistent with the full year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025 signed by the President on March 15, 2025. However, the 2025 outlook does not include the evolving impacts of tariffs or related recoveries, the recent Next Generation Air Dominance announcement, or Executive Orders issued by the Administration. Additionally, it is the company’s practice not to incorporate adjustments into its financial outlook for proposed or potential acquisitions, divestitures, ventures, future gains or losses related to changes in valuations of the company’s net assets and liabilities for deferred compensation plans or early-stage company investments, pension risk transfer transactions or discretionary contributions, financing transactions, changes in law, or new accounting standards until such items have been consummated, enacted or adopted. Actual results may differ materially from those projected. For additional factors that may impact the company’s actual results, refer to the “Forward-Looking Statements” section in this news release.

Segment Results

The company operates in four business segments organized based on the nature of products and services offered: Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control (MFC), Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) and Space. The following table presents summary operating results of the company’s business segments and reconciles these amounts to the company’s consolidated financial results.

For information on factors impacting comparability of the company’s segment sales, operating profit and operating margins, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024.

Consolidated net profit booking rate adjustments increased segment operating profit by approximately $480 million in the quarter ended March 30, 2025, which includes $185 million of adjustments resulting from favorable performance upon completion on certain commercial civil space programs at Space and a classified program at Aeronautics. Consolidated net profit booking rate adjustments increased segment operating profit by approximately $195 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2024, which included a $100 million reach-forward loss recognized on a classified program at MFC.

Aeronautics 

Aeronautics’ sales during the quarter ended March 30, 2025 increased $212 million, or 3%, compared to the same period in 2024. This increase was primarily driven by a $215 million increase in sales from the F-35 program, resulting from higher volume on production contracts.

Aeronautics’ operating profit during the quarter ended March 30, 2025 increased $41 million, or 6%, compared to the same period in 2024. This increase was attributable to two main factors: a $20 million increase in profit booking rate adjustments and a $20 million increase from higher volume, as described above. The increase in profit booking rate adjustments was primarily due to an $80 million adjustment resulting from favorable performance at completion on a classified program, partially offset by lower profit rate adjustments on C-130 programs.

Missiles and Fire Control

MFC’s sales during the quarter ended March 30, 2025 increased $380 million, or 13%, compared to the same period in 2024. This increase was primarily driven by a $370 million increase in sales from tactical and strike missile programs, resulting from production ramp-up on Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), and precision fires programs.

MFC’s operating profit during the quarter ended March 30, 2025 increased $154 million, or 50%, compared to the same period in 2024. This increase was attributable to two main factors: a $135 million increase in profit booking rate adjustments and a $25 million increase from production ramp-up, as described above. The increase in profit booking rate adjustments was primarily due to a $100 million reach-forward loss for a classified program and an unfavorable profit adjustment on Hellfire recognized in the first quarter of 2024 that did not recur, partially offset by lower favorable profit adjustments on Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3).

Rotary and Mission Systems

RMS’ sales during the quarter ended March 30, 2025 increased $240 million, or 6%, compared to the same period in 2024. This increase was primarily driven by a $145 million increase in sales from integrated warfare systems and sensors (IWSS) programs due to higher volume on the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) and radar programs; and a $125 million increase from Sikorsky helicopter programs due to higher production volume on Black Hawk programs.

RMS’ operating profit during the quarter ended March 30, 2025 increased $91 million, or 21%, compared to the same period in 2024. This increase was attributable to three main factors: a $45 million increase in profit booking rate adjustments, a $25 million increase from favorable contract mix and cost recoveries, and a $20 million increase from higher volume, as described above. The increase in profit booking rate adjustments was primarily due to unfavorable profit adjustments on Seahawk programs in the first quarter of 2024 that did not recur. The increase in favorable contract mix and cost recoveries includes a $50 million intellectual property license arrangement.

Space

Space’s sales during the quarter ended March 30, 2025 decreased $64 million, or 2%, compared to the same period in 2024. This decrease was primarily attributable to lower sales of $155 million on national security space programs due to program lifecycle on Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next Gen OPIR) system and lower volume on Transport Layer programs. This decrease was partially offset by an increase of $75 million primarily due to favorable performance at completion on certain commercial civil space programs.

Space’s operating profit during the quarter ended March 30, 2025 increased $54 million, or 17%, compared to the same period in 2024. This increase was attributable to an $85 million increase in profit booking rate adjustments partially offset by $20 million of lower equity earnings driven by lower launch volume from the company’s investment in United Launch Alliance (ULA). The increase in profit booking rate adjustments was primarily due to favorable performance at completion on certain commercial civil space programs.

Total equity (losses)/earnings (ULA) represented approximately $(5) million, or (1)%, of Space’s operating profit during the quarter ended March 30, 2025, compared to approximately $15 million, or 5% for the same period in 2024.

Income Taxes

The company’s effective income tax rate was 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 the company’s defined contribution plans with an employee stock ownership plan feature and employee equity awards.

Business segment operating profit

Business segment operating profit represents operating profit from the company’s business segments before unallocated income and expense. This measure is used by the company’s senior management in evaluating the performance of its business segments and is a performance goal in the company’s annual incentive plan. Business segment operating margin is calculated by dividing business segment operating profit by sales. The table below reconciles the non-GAAP measure business segment operating profit with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, consolidated operating profit.

Free cash flow

Free cash flow is cash from operations less capital expenditures. The company’s capital expenditures are comprised of equipment and facilities infrastructure and information technology (inclusive of costs for the development or purchase of internal-use software that are capitalized). The company uses free cash flow to evaluate its business performance and overall liquidity and it is a performance goal in the company’s annual and long-term incentive plans. The company believes free cash flow is a useful measure for investors because it represents the amount of cash generated from operations after reinvesting in the business and that may be available to return to stockholders and creditors (through dividends, stock repurchases and debt repayments) or available to fund acquisitions or other investments. The entire free cash flow amount is not necessarily available for discretionary expenditures, however, because it does not account for certain mandatory expenditures, such as the repayment of maturing debt and future pension contributions.

About Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security® vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at www.lockheedmartin.com.