On Oct. 24, defense giant Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) released Q3 earnings for the period ended Sept. 30, 2006. Shares are off about 4% since the announcement.

  • Lower cost of sales and lower share count contributed to the 8.5% increase in EPS.
  • The technical services, information technology, and electronics segments helped boost total revenues by a couple of percent.
  • Long-term debt declined 17% because of $522 million in debt repayment in the first nine months of FY06.
  • See what Fool Rich Smith was looking for this earnings report in "Foolish Forecast: Northrop Grumman Knocks."

(Figures in millions, except per-share data)

Income Statement Highlights

Avg. Est.

Q3 2006

Q3 2005

Change

Sales

$7,726

$7,433

$7,291

1.9%

Net Profit

--

$306

$291

5.2%

EPS

$1.07

$0.87

$0.80

8.5%

Diluted Shares

--

351

362

(3.1%)



Get back to basics with a look at the income statement.

Margin Checkup

Q3 2006

Q3 2005

Change*

Gross Margin

17.93%

15.06%

2.87

Operating Margin

7.35%

6.01%

1.34

Net Margin

4.06%

4.02%

0.04

*Expressed in percentage points.

Margins are the earnings engine. See how they work.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Assets

Q3 2006

Q3 2005

Change

Cash + ST Invest.

$1,463

$1,712

(14.5%)

Accounts Rec.

$3,690

$3,519

4.9%

Inventory

$1,275

$1,262

1%



Liabilities

Q3 2006

Q3 2005

Change

Accounts Payable

$1,494

$1,581

(5.5%)

Long-Term Debt

$3,796

$4,569

(16.9%)



Learn the ways of the balance sheet.

Cash Flow Highlights

YTD 2006

YTD 2005

Change

Cash From Ops.

$1,567

$1,981

(20.9%)

Capital Expenditures

$493

$519

(5%)

Free Cash Flow

$1,074

$1,462

(26.5%)



Find out why Fools always follow the money.

Related Companies:

  • Boeing (NYSE:BA)
  • Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT)
  • General Dynamics (NYSE:GD)

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