- Core EPS (non-GAAP)* rose 18 percent to $2.52 on strong operating performance; GAAP EPS of $2.47
- Revenue increased 9 percent to $25.8 billion reflecting record commercial deliveries
- Strong operating cash flow of $2.9 billion on higher volume
- Backlog remains strong at $485 billion with nearly 5,700 commercial airplane orders
- Repurchased 11 million shares for $1.5 billion in the quarter and 41 million shares for $6 billion YTD
- 2015 Core EPS (non-GAAP)* guidance increased $0.25 to between $7.95 and $8.15

CHICAGO, Oct. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ —

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] reported third-quarter revenue increased 9 percent to $25.8 billion on record commercial deliveries (Table 1). Core earnings per share (non-GAAP) for the quarter increased 18 percent* to $2.52, reflecting strong performance across the company, and GAAP earnings per share was $2.47.

Core earnings per share (non-GAAP)* guidance for 2015 increased to between $7.95 and $8.15, from $7.70 and $7.90 on continued strong operating performance. GAAP earnings per share guidance for 2015 increased to between $7.65 and $7.85, from $7.60 and $7.80. Operating cash flow guidance increased to approximately $9.5 billion. Revenue guidance increased $0.5 billion to between $95.0 billion and $97.0 billion on higher commercial airplane deliveries. Defense, Space & Security operating margin guidance increased to approximately 10 percent.

“By continuing to profitably deliver on our large and diverse backlog, we are driving strong growth in revenue, earnings and cash flow,” said Boeing President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Muilenburg. “Solid operating performance across our commercial and defense businesses during the quarter also supported our continued investment in innovation and our people, and our commitment to return cash to shareholders.”

“Three quarters of solid results and confidence in our continued operating performance enabled us to raise our revenue, earnings per share and operating cash flow guidance for the year. Looking ahead, our teams remain focused on improving productivity and quality and delivering improved capabilities to meet our customers’ expectations.”

Operating cash flow in the quarter was $2.9 billion, reflecting commercial airplane production rates and strong operating performance (Table 2). During the quarter, the company repurchased 11 million shares for $1.5 billion, leaving $6.0 billion remaining under the current repurchase authorization. Year to date, the company repurchased 41 million shares for $6.0 billion. The company also paid $0.6 billion in dividends in the quarter, reflecting an approximately 25 percent increase in dividends per share compared to the same period of the prior year.

Cash and investments in marketable securities totaled $9.9 billion, up from $9.6 billion at the beginning of the quarter. Debt was $9.0 billion, unchanged from the beginning of the quarter (Table 3).

Total company backlog at quarter-end was $485 billion, down from $489 billion at the beginning of the quarter, and included net orders for the quarter of $22 billion.

Commercial Airplanes third-quarter revenue increased 10 percent to $17.7 billion on higher delivery volume and mix (Table 4). Third-quarter operating margin was 10 percent, reflecting higher R&D and the dilutive impact of higher 787 deliveries partially offset by strong performance on production programs.

During the quarter, the company began final assembly and achieved power-on of the first 737 MAX airplane. In total, the 737 program has won nearly 2,900 firm orders for the 737 MAX since launch. Also during the quarter, the company completed firm configuration for the 777X. The 777X program is on schedule for first delivery in 2020.

Commercial Airplanes booked 166 net orders during the quarter. Backlog remains strong with nearly 5,700 airplanes valued at $426 billion.

Defense, Space & Security’s third-quarter revenue was $8.4 billion with an operating margin of 12.2 percent (Table 5).

Boeing Military Aircraft (BMA) third-quarter revenue increased 15 percent to $4.1 billion primarily as a result of F-15 contract negotiations and BMA operating margin was 12.2 percent. During the quarter, BMA was awarded contracts for 13 P-8A Poseidon aircraft, 22 Apache helicopters, and 15 Chinook helicopters. Also during the quarter, the company and the U.S. Air Force team completed the first flight of a KC-46A tanker aircraft.

Network & Space Systems (N&SS) third-quarter revenue was $2.1 billion, reflecting higher volume on the Commercial Crew program. Operating margin increased to 11.5 percent, reflecting favorable program mix. During the quarter, NASA extended Boeing’s international space station contract.

Global Services & Support (GS&S) third-quarter revenue decreased to $2.2 billion, reflecting the timing of Airborne Early Warning and Control deliveries. Operating margin increased to 12.9 percent on strong performance. During the quarter, GS&S was awarded a contract to develop and provide the next-generation communications system for the Australian Defence Force.

Backlog at Defense, Space & Security was $59 billion, of which 40 percent represents orders from international customers.

At quarter-end, Boeing Capital’s net portfolio balance was $3.4 billion, up from $3.3 billion at the beginning of the quarter. Total pension expense for the third quarter was $529 million, down from $715 million in the same period of the prior year.

Non-GAAP Measures Disclosures

We supplement the reporting of our financial information determined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) with certain non-GAAP financial information. The non-GAAP financial information presented excludes certain significant items that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to, results from our ongoing business operations. We believe that these non-GAAP measures provide investors with additional insight into the company’s ongoing business performance. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures, and other companies may define such measures differently. We encourage investors to review our financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. The following definitions are provided:

Core Operating Earnings, Core Operating Margin and Core Earnings Per Share

Core operating earnings is defined as GAAP earnings from operations excluding unallocated pension and post-retirement expense. Core operating margin is defined as core operating earnings expressed as a percentage of revenue. Core earnings per share is defined as GAAP diluted earnings per share excluding the net earnings per share impact of unallocated pension and post-retirement expense. Unallocated pension and post-retirement expense represents the portion of pension and other post-retirement costs that are not recognized by business segments for segment reporting purposes. Management uses core operating earnings, core operating margin and core earnings per share for purposes of evaluating and forecasting underlying business performance. Management believes these core earnings measures provide investors additional insights into operational performance as they exclude unallocated pension and post-retirement costs, which primarily represent costs driven by market factors and costs not allocable to government contracts. A reconciliation between the GAAP and non-GAAP measures is provided on page 13.

Operating Cash Flow Before Pension Contributions

Operating cash flow before pension contributions is defined as GAAP operating cash flow without pension contributions. Management believes operating cash flow before pension contributions provides additional insights into underlying business performance. Management uses operating cash flow before pension contributions as a measure to assess both business performance and overall liquidity. Table 2 provides a reconciliation between GAAP operating cash flow and operating cash flow before pension contributions.

Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow is defined as GAAP operating cash flow without capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment additions. Management believes free cash flow provides investors with an important perspective on the cash available for shareholders, debt repayment, and acquisitions after making the capital investments required to support ongoing business operations and long term value creation. Free cash flow does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures as it excludes certain mandatory expenditures such as repayment of maturing debt. Management uses free cash flow as a measure to assess both business performance and overall liquidity. Table 2 provides a reconciliation between GAAP operating cash flow and free cash flow.