RTX Boosts Guidance on Defense Business Strength
RTX
Published on 04/21/2026 at 07:11 am EDT
By Kelly Cloonan
RTX bumped up its full-year forecast citing the strength of its defense business.
The defense contractor also on Tuesday logged higher profit and sales in its latest quarter, with growth in each of its segments.
For the full year, RTX now projects adjusted earnings per share of $6.70 to $6.90, up from $6.60 to $6.80. Analysts polled by FactSet forecast $6.85.
RTX now expects adjusted sales of $92.5 billion to $93.5 billion, compared with $92 billion to $93 billion previously. The company continues to forecast organic sales growth of 5% to 6%.
Chief Executive Chris Calio said the raised guidance is a result of the company's first-quarter performance and the strength of its defense business.
"Our differentiated products across RTX are well positioned to support our customers' needs and we're making significant investments to increase output and accelerate the fielding of new capabilities," Calio said.
Defense contractors like RTX have come into focus as the conflict in Iran depletes the U.S.'s missile stockpile, and as hostilities raise defense budgets around the world.
For the first quarter, RTX posted a profit of $2.06 billion, or $1.51 a share, compared with $1.54 billion, or $1.14 a share, a year earlier. The results include a 27 cents per share boost from acquisition accounting adjustments, the company said.
Adjusted earnings per share were $1.78, compared with estimates of $1.51 a share according to analysts polled by FactSet.
Revenue rose 9% to $22.08 billion, compared with analyst estimates of $21.46 billion.
The increase was driven by growth in each of the company's segments, including Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney and Raytheon.
RTX said its backlog was $271 billion at the end of the quarter, including $162 billion of commercial and $109 billion of defense.
Write to Kelly Cloonan at [email protected]
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
04-21-26 0710ET