On Jan. 24, defense contractor General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) released fourth-quarter earnings for the period ended Dec. 31.

  • Information systems & technology and combat systems sales grew by 20.3% and 12.4%, respectively.
  • Earnings from "continuing operations" grew 16% to $1.13 per share.
  • Our Motley Fool CAPS community is still impressed with the stock, making this a four-star General.

(Figures in millions, except per-share data)

Income Statement Highlights

Q4 2006

Q4 2005

Change

Sales

$6,514.0

$5,764.0

13.0%

Net Profit

$408.0

$406.0

0.5%

EPS

$1.00

$1.00

0.0%

Diluted Shares

408.7

405.3

0.8%



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

Margin Checkup

Q4 2006

Q4 2005

Change

Gross Margin

N/A

N/A

N/A

Operating Margin

10.8%

10.6%

0.2

Net Margin

6.3%

7.0%

(0.8)

*Expressed in percentage points.

Margins are the earnings engine. See how they work.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Assets

Q4 2006

Q4 2005

Change

Cash + ST Invest.

$1,604.0

$2,331.0

(31.2%)



Liabilities

Q4 2006

Q4 2005

Change

Long-Term Debt

$2,774.0

$2,778.0

(0.1%)

*Includes other non-current liabilities.

Learn the ways of the balance sheet.

Cash Flow Highlights

Q4 2006

Q4 2005

Change

Cash From Ops.*

$824.0

$895.0

(7.9%)

Capital Expenditures

$137.0

$104.0

31.7%

Free Cash Flow

$687.0

$791.0

(13.1%)

*From continuing operations.

Find out why Fools always follow the money.

Related Companies:

  • Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT)
  • Honeywell International (NYSE:HON)
  • Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC)
  • Goodrich (NYSE:GR)
  • Alliant Techsystems (NYSE:ATK)

Related Foolishness:

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Fool by Numbers is designed to give you the raw earnings information in a timely fashion, putting all the numbers you need in one easy-to-read place. But at The Motley Fool, we believe numbers tell only part of the story, so check Fool.com for more of our in-depth discussion of what the numbers mean.

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