Lockheed Martin Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Results

1/26/21

Lockheed Martin Corporation [NYSE: LMT] today reported fourth quarter 2020 net sales of $17.0 billion, compared to $15.9 billion in the fourth quarter of 2019. Net earnings from continuing operations in the fourth quarter of 2020 were $1.8 billion, or $6.38 per share, compared to $1.5 billion, or $5.29 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2019. Cash from operations in the fourth quarter of 2020 was $1.8 billion, compared to $1.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2019. Cash from operations was after discretionary pension contributions of $1.0 billion in each of the fourth quarters of 2020 and 2019.

Net sales in 2020 were $65.4 billion, compared to $59.8 billion in 2019. Net earnings from continuing operations in 2020 were $6.9 billion, or $24.50 per share, compared to $6.2 billion, or $21.95 per share, in 2019. Cash from operations in 2020 was $8.2 billion, compared to $7.3 billion, in 2019. Cash from operations was after discretionary pension contributions of $1.0 billion in each of 2020 and 2019.

"Throughout 2020, the men and women of Lockheed Martin overcame the public health, operational and supply chain challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and continued to deliver the platforms, systems, and services essential to the national defense of the U.S. and its allies and to the continuation of scientific discovery. In concert with our resilient operational performance, we delivered strong financial results on behalf of our shareholders and contributed to our communities through the production of PPE, accelerated payments to small and medium businesses, and elevated charitable contributions to support a range of important local and national services," said Lockheed Martin president and CEO James Taiclet. "We also initiated an enhanced strategic vision for Lockheed Martin designed to accelerate the adoption of leading edge networking and related technologies into our national defense enterprise, while enhancing the performance and value of our major platforms to our customers. We intend to maintain our momentum as we enter 2021 in all of these dimensions for the benefit of our customers, communities and shareholders."

Strategic Action

As previously announced, on Dec. 20, 2020, the corporation entered into an agreement to acquire Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. (Aerojet Rocketdyne) for $56 per share in cash, which is expected to be reduced to $51 per share after Aerojet Rocketdyne pays a pre-closing special dividend to its stockholders on March 24, 2021. This represents a post-dividend equity value of approximately $4.6 billion, on a fully diluted as-converted basis, and a transaction value of approximately $4.4 billion after the assumption of Aerojet Rocketdyne's projected net cash balance. The corporation expects to finance the acquisition through a combination of cash on hand and new debt issuances. The acquisition provides the corporation the opportunity to integrate Aerojet Rocketdyne's propulsion systems more effectively into its products, generate cost and revenue synergies, and improve efficiencies in Aerojet Rocketdyne's production operations. The transaction will also allow customers incorporating Aerojet Rocketdyne products to offer more timely, innovative and affordable solutions, and reduce the prices paid by the U.S. Government for systems it buys. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2021 and is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and approval by Aerojet Rocketdyne's stockholders.

2021 Financial Outlook

The following table and other sections of this news release contain forward-looking statements, which are based on the corporation's current expectations. Actual results may differ materially from those projected. It is the corporation's practice not to incorporate adjustments into its financial outlook for proposed acquisitions, divestitures, ventures, changes in law, or new accounting standards until such items have been consummated, enacted or adopted. For additional factors that may impact the corporation's actual results, refer to the "Forward-Looking Statements" section in this news release.

COVID-19

The global outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization and a national emergency by the U.S. Government in March 2020 and has negatively affected the U.S. and global economies, disrupted global supply chains, resulted in significant travel and transport restrictions, including mandated closures and orders to "shelter-in-place" and quarantine restrictions. Lockheed Martin has taken measures to protect the health and safety of its employees, work with its customers and suppliers to minimize disruptions and support its community in addressing the challenges posed by this ongoing global pandemic. The pandemic has presented unprecedented business challenges, and the corporation has experienced impacts in each business area related to COVID-19, primarily in increased coronavirus-related costs, delays in supplier deliveries, impacts of travel restrictions, site access and quarantine requirements, and the impacts of remote work and adjusted work schedules. Despite these challenges, the corporation and the U.S. Government's pro-active efforts, especially with regard to the supply chain, helped to partially mitigate the disruptions caused by COVID-19 on the corporation's operations in 2020. In addition, favorable contract award timing, strong operational performance and lower travel and overhead expenditures due to COVID-19 restrictions partially offset the impacts of COVID-19 on the corporation's financial results in 2020. However, the ultimate impact of COVID-19 in future periods remains uncertain. The corporation's 2021 financial outlook assumes, among other things, that its production facilities continue to operate and it does not experience significant work stoppages or closures, it is able to mitigate any supply chain disruptions and these do not worsen, and government funding priorities do not change. Working with its U.S. Government customers, the corporation continues to monitor COVID-19 risks and impacts as well as explore potential paths to recover any cost impacts. While these are the corporation's current assumptions, they could change and will depend on future pandemic related developments, including the duration of the pandemic, any potential subsequent waves of COVID-19 infection, the effectiveness, distribution and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines, and related government actions.

Cash Activities

The corporation's cash activities in the quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2020, included the following:

  • making capital expenditures of $722 million and $1.8 billion during the quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2020, compared to $643 million and $1.5 billion during the quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2019;
  • making discretionary pension contributions of $1.0 billion during the quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2020, and $1.0 billion during the quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2019;
  • repayment of $500 million and $1.7 billion of long-term debt during the quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2020, compared to repayment of $900 million of long-term debt during the quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2019;
  • receiving $1.1 billion of net proceeds from the issuance of debt during the year ended Dec. 31, 2020, compared to no net proceeds during the year ended Dec. 31, 2019;
  • paying cash dividends of $728 million and $2.8 billion during the quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2020, compared to $675 million and $2.6 billion during the quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2019; and
  • no shares repurchased and repurchasing 3.0 million shares for $1.1 billion during the quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2020, compared to repurchasing 1.3 million shares for $490 million and 3.5 million shares for $1.2 billion during the quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2019.

Segment Results

The corporation 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 corporation's business segments and reconciles these amounts to the corporation's consolidated financial results.

Net sales and operating profit of the corporation's business segments exclude intersegment sales, cost of sales, and profit as these activities are eliminated in consolidation. Operating profit of the corporation's business segments includes the corporation's share of earnings or losses from equity method investees as the operating activities of the investees are closely aligned with the operations of its business segments.

Operating profit of the corporation's business segments also excludes the FAS/CAS operating adjustment described below, a portion of corporate costs not considered allowable or allocable to contracts with the U.S. Government under the applicable U.S. Government cost accounting standards (CAS) or federal acquisition regulations (FAR), and other items not considered part of management's evaluation of segment operating performance such as a portion of management and administration costs, legal fees and settlements, environmental costs, stock-based compensation expense, retiree benefits, significant severance actions, significant asset impairments, gains or losses from significant divestitures, and other miscellaneous corporate activities.

The corporation recovers CAS pension cost through the pricing of its products and services on U.S. Government contracts and, therefore, recognizes CAS pension cost in each of its business segments' net sales and cost of sales. The corporation's consolidated financial statements must present pension and other postretirement benefit plan expense calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (referred to as FAS expense). The operating portion of the net FAS/CAS pension adjustment represents the difference between the service cost component of FAS pension expense and total CAS pension cost. The non-service FAS pension expense components are included in other non-operating expense. The net FAS/CAS pension adjustment increases or decreases CAS pension cost to equal total FAS pension expense (both service and non-service).

Changes in net sales and operating profit generally are expressed in terms of volume. Changes in volume refer to increases or decreases in sales or operating profit resulting from varying production activity levels, deliveries or service levels on individual contracts. Volume changes in segment operating profit are typically based on the current profit booking rate for a particular contract. In addition, comparability of the corporation's segment sales, operating profit and operating margin may be impacted favorably or unfavorably by changes in profit booking rates on the corporation's contracts for which it recognizes revenue over time using the percentage-of-completion cost-to-cost method to measure progress towards completion. Increases in profit booking rates, typically referred to as risk retirements, usually relate to revisions in the estimated total costs to fulfill the performance obligations that reflect improved conditions on a particular contract. Conversely, conditions on a particular contract may deteriorate, resulting in an increase in the estimated total costs to fulfill the performance obligations and a reduction in the profit booking rate. Increases or decreases in profit booking rates are recognized in the current period and reflect the inception-to-date effect of such changes.

Segment operating profit and margin may also be impacted favorably or unfavorably by other items, which may or may not impact sales. Favorable items may include the positive resolution of contractual matters, insurance recoveries and gains on sales of assets. Unfavorable items may include the adverse resolution of contractual matters; 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.

The corporation's consolidated net adjustments not related to volume, including net profit booking rate adjustments, represented approximately 25 percent and 26 percent of total segment operating profit in the quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2020, as compared to 25 percent and 28 percent in the quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2019.

Aeronautics

Aeronautics' net sales in the fourth quarter of 2020 increased $333 million, or 5 percent, compared to the same period in 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to higher net sales of approximately $145 million for the F-16 program due to increased volume on international sustainment contracts and production contracts; about $125 million for higher volume on classified development contracts; and about $40 million for the F-35 program due to increased volume on sustainment and development contracts, which was partially offset by lower volume on production contracts.

Aeronautics' operating profit in the fourth quarter of 2020 increased $48 million, or 7 percent, compared to the same period in 2019. Operating profit increased approximately $40 million for the F-16 program due to higher volume and risk retirements on international sustainment contracts; about $20 million for the C-130 program due to higher risk retirements on sustainment contracts; and about $15 million for classified development contracts due to higher risk retirements. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of approximately $35 million for the F-35 program due to lower risk retirements and volume on production contracts. Adjustments not related to volume, including net profit booking rate adjustments, were $10 million higher in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.

Aeronautics' net sales in 2020 increased $2.6 billion, or 11 percent, compared to 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to higher net sales of approximately $1.8 billion for the F-35 program due to increased volume on sustainment, production, and development contracts; about $450 million for higher volume on classified development contracts; and about $300 million for the F-16 program due to increased volume on international production and sustainment contracts.

Aeronautics' operating profit in 2020 increased $322 million, or 13 percent, compared to 2019. Operating profit increased approximately $240 million for the F-35 program due to higher volume and risk retirements on development and sustainment contracts and higher volume on production contracts; about $70 million for the C-130 program due to higher risk retirements on sustainment contracts; and approximately $20 million for classified development contracts due to higher risk retirements. Operating profit on the F-16 program was comparable as higher volume was offset by lower risk retirements. Adjustments not related to volume, including net profit booking rate adjustments, were $90 million higher in 2020 compared to 2019.

Missiles and Fire Control

MFC's net sales in the fourth quarter of 2020 increased $97 million, or 4 percent, compared to the same period in 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to higher net sales of approximately $105 million for integrated air and missile defense programs due to increased volume (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)). This increase was partially offset by lower net sales of about $20 million due to the divestiture of the Distributed Energy Solutions business in November 2019.

MFC's operating profit in the fourth quarter of 2020 increased $26 million, or 7 percent, compared to the same period in 2019. Operating profit increased approximately $20 million for tactical and strike missile programs due to higher risk retirements (primarily Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM)). Operating profit for integrated air and missile defense programs was comparable as higher volume (THAAD and PAC-3) was offset by lower risk retirements (THAAD and PAC-3). Adjustments not related to volume, including net profit booking rate adjustments, were $15 million higher in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.

MFC's net sales in 2020 increased $1.1 billion, or 11 percent, compared to 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to higher net sales of approximately $725 million for integrated air and missile defense programs due to increased volume (THAAD and PAC-3); and about $605 million for tactical and strike missile programs due to increased volume (primarily Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS), High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), JASSM, and hypersonics). These increases were partially offset by a decrease of approximately $80 million for sensors and global sustainment programs due to lower volume on the Apache sensors program; and about $120 million as a result of the divestiture of the Distributed Energy Solutions business.

MFC's operating profit in 2020 increased $104 million, or 7 percent, compared to 2019. Operating profit increased approximately $90 million for tactical and strike missile programs due to higher volume (primarily JASSM, hypersonics, GMLRS, and HIMARS); and approximately $30 million for integrated air and missile defense programs due to increased volume (THAAD and PAC-3), which was partially offset by lower risk retirements (THAAD and PAC-3). These increases were partially offset by a decrease of approximately $40 million for sensors and global sustainment programs primarily due to lower risk retirements and a reduction in the profit booking rate on the Apache sensors program. Adjustments not related to volume, including net profit booking rate adjustments, were $40 million lower in 2020 compared to 2019.

Rotary and Mission Systems

RMS' net sales in the fourth quarter of 2020 increased $323 million, or 8 percent, compared to the same period in 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to higher net sales of approximately $215 million for Sikorsky helicopter programs due to higher volume on production contracts (primarily Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH), CH-53K and Seahawk); about $130 million for integrated warfare systems and sensors (IWSS) programs due to higher volume (primarily Aegis Combat System (Aegis) and Advanced Hawkeye); and about $45 million for C6ISR (command, control, communications, computers, cyber, combat systems, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) programs due to higher volume (primarily on undersea combat systems programs). These increases were partially offset by a $70 million decrease for various training and logistics solutions (TLS) programs due to lower volume.

RMS' operating profit in the fourth quarter of 2020 increased $53 million, or 15 percent, compared to the same period in 2019. Operating profit increased approximately $55 million for IWSS programs due to higher risk retirements and volume (primarily Aegis, TPQ-53, and Advanced Hawkeye); and about $20 million for C6ISR programs due to improved performance and higher volume (primarily undersea combat systems). These increases were partially offset by a $25 million decrease for Sikorsky helicopter programs primarily due to lower risk retirements on international military aircraft programs. Operating profit on TLS programs was comparable as higher margin volume was offset by lower risk retirements. Adjustments not related to volume, including net profit booking rate adjustments, were $35 million higher in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.

RMS' net sales in 2020 increased $867 million, or 6 percent, compared to 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to higher net sales of approximately $570 million for Sikorsky helicopter programs due to higher volume on production contracts (primarily Seahawk, VH-92A, CRH, and CH-53K), which was partially offset by lower volume on Black Hawk production programs; about $175 million for IWSS programs due to higher volume (primarily Aegis); and approximately $165 million for C6ISR programs due to higher volume (primarily undersea combat systems). These increases were partially offset by a $55 million decrease for various TLS programs due to lower volume.

RMS' operating profit in 2020 increased $194 million, or 14 percent, compared to 2019. Operating profit increased approximately $90 million for TLS programs due to $80 million in charges for an army sustainment program in 2019 not repeated in 2020; about $70 million for Sikorsky helicopter programs primarily due to higher volume on production contracts (primarily VH-92A, Seahawk, CRH, and CH-53K); and about $35 million for IWSS programs primarily due to higher volume and higher risk retirements on TPQ-53 and Advanced Hawkeye and lower charges on a ground-based radar program. Operating profit on C6ISR programs was comparable as higher volume was offset by lower risk retirements. Adjustments not related to volume, including net profit booking rate adjustments, were $15 million higher in 2020 compared to 2019.

Space

Space's net sales in the fourth quarter of 2020 increased $401 million, or 14 percent, compared to the same period in 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to higher net sales of approximately $245 million for government satellite programs due to higher volume (primarily Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next Gen OPIR) and classified contracts); and about $105 million for strategic and missile defense programs due to higher volume (primarily hypersonic development programs, inclusive of impacts due to the acquisition of Integration Innovation Inc.'s (i3) hypersonics portfolio in November 2020).

Space's operating profit in the fourth quarter of 2020 increased $108 million, or 42 percent, compared to the same period in 2019. Operating profit increased approximately $85 million due to higher equity earnings from the corporation's investment in United Launch Alliance (ULA) primarily due to higher launch volume and launch vehicle mix. Operating profit on government satellite programs was comparable as higher volume was offset by lower risk retirements. Operating profit for strategic and missile defense programs was also comparable as higher risk retirements and volume on hypersonic development programs were offset by lower risk retirements and volume on fleet ballistic missile programs. Adjustments not related to volume, including net profit booking rate adjustments, were $10 million higher in the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to the same period in 2019.

Space's net sales in 2020 increased $1.0 billion, or 9 percent, compared to 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to higher net sales of approximately $525 million for government satellite programs due to higher volume (primarily Next Gen OPIR); and about $430 million for strategic and missile defense programs due to higher volume (primarily hypersonic development programs, inclusive of impacts due to the acquisition of i3's hypersonics portfolio in November 2020).

Space's operating profit in 2020 decreased $42 million, or 4 percent, compared to 2019. Operating profit decreased approximately $90 million for government satellite programs due to lower risk retirements on the various programs (primarily AEHF) that were partially offset by higher risk retirements and volume on the Next Gen OPIR program. This decrease was partially offset by increases of $40 million for commercial satellite programs due to charges recorded for performance matters in 2019 not repeated in 2020. Operating profit for strategic and missile defense programs was comparable as higher risk retirements and volume on hypersonic development programs were offset by lower risk retirements and volume on fleet ballistic missile programs. Adjustments not related to volume, including net profit booking rate adjustments, were $100 million lower in 2020 compared to 2019.

Total equity earnings recognized by Space (primarily ULA) represented approximately $90 million, or 24 percent, and approximately $135 million, or 12 percent, of Space's operating profit during the quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2020, compared to approximately $5 million, or 2 percent and approximately $145 million, or 12 percent in the quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2019.

Income Taxes

The corporation's effective income tax rate was 18.1 percent and 16.4 percent in the quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2020, compared to 18.2 percent and 14.0 percent in the quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2019. The rates for all periods benefited from tax deductions for foreign derived intangible income, dividends paid to the corporation's defined contribution plans with an employee stock ownership plan feature, and employee equity awards. The rates for the year ended Dec. 31, 2020, and the quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2019, also benefited from the research and development tax credit. The rate for the year ended Dec. 31, 2019, further benefited from additional research and development credits and tax deductions for 2018 attributable to foreign derived intangible income treatment resulting from the proposed tax regulations released on March 4, 2019.

Pension Transactions

In December 2020, certain of the corporation's pension plans used pension trust assets to purchase two group annuity contracts from insurance companies for $2.2 billion. The first transaction transferred $1.4 billion of the corporation's outstanding defined benefit pension obligations related to approximately 13,500 U.S. retirees and beneficiaries to an insurance company. As a result of this transaction, the insurance company assumed the outstanding pension obligations and is now required to pay and administer the retirement benefits owed to these retirees and beneficiaries. The second transaction requires another insurance company to reimburse our pension trust fund for all future benefit payments made to approximately 2,500 U.S. retirees and beneficiaries under a group annuity contract purchased for $793 million. Under the terms of this transaction, the plan retains the outstanding pension obligations and will continue to pay and administer the retirement benefits to these retirees and beneficiaries but will be reimbursed for all future benefit payments covered by the contract with no net ongoing cash funding obligation to the plan for the covered participants as the cost of providing benefits is funded by the contract. These transactions have no impact on the amount, timing, or form of the monthly retirement benefit payments to the covered retirees and beneficiaries. Additionally, these transactions did not impact the corporation's earnings or cash flows in 2020.

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin Corporation is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 114,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. 

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