On Wednesday, Goldman Sachs maintained a Neutral rating on RTX Corp. (NYSE: RTX) with a steady price target of $113.00. The firm's analysis followed RTX's third-quarter 2024 results, which revealed revenues, earnings per share (EPS), and free cash flow (FCF) that surpassed consensus predictions.
Despite these positive indicators, the company experienced a shortfall in segment earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) due to a lower-than-expected margin in its Collins division.
RTX reported strong quarterly free cash flow, amounting to $2.0 billion. Additionally, the company has updated its full-year 2024 guidance, increasing revenue forecasts by 0.5% and EPS projections by 2.5%, while maintaining its free cash flow outlook. The reaffirmation of the Geared Turbofan (GTF) engine management plan was noted, although it was mentioned that most of the significant work related to the plan is still pending, carrying associated risks.
The analyst acknowledged RTX's robust long-term fundamentals in the aerospace aftermarket and found its valuation appealing when compared to industry peers. However, concerns were raised about the disappointing performance of the Collins division's margin, the high exposure to the defense market, and uncertainties surrounding the GTF engine. The GTF's progress is on track, but its market share outcomes remain uncertain.
Goldman Sachs concluded that while RTX has demonstrated strong financial performance and has promising aspects in its business, the issues with the Collins margin, defense market exposure, and questions about the GTF engine's market share lead to a continued Neutral stance on the stock.
In other recent news, Raytheon Technologies Corporation (NYSE:RTX) has reported an 8% organic sales growth in its third-quarter earnings call, attributing the increase to strong demand in the commercial aftermarket and defense sectors.
The company has adjusted its full-year sales outlook to a range of $79.25 billion to $79.75 billion and earnings per share (EPS) to between $5.50 and $5.58. BofA Securities has raised their price target on RTX to $145.00, maintaining a Buy rating on the stock and highlighting the company's strong performance in the Defense sector and steady Commercial Aerospace operations.
RTX also noted a record backlog of $221 billion and returns of $10.3 billion to shareholders. The firm secured notable contracts including a $1.3 billion deal for the F135 engine upgrade and a $470 million contract for air traffic control systems. Despite supply chain and inflation issues, RTX anticipates continued organic sales growth and margin expansion.
These recent developments indicate a robust financial performance for RTX, with analysts from BofA Securities pointing out the company's substantial backlog of $60 billion, around $17 billion in third-quarter bookings, and a Book-to-Bill ratio of 1.48. The success of RTX Corp. indicates that the turnaround for the company, particularly in its Raytheon (NYSE:RTN) unit, is not only underway but also in its early stages.
InvestingPro Insights
RTX Corp's recent financial performance aligns with several InvestingPro Tips and metrics, offering additional context to Goldman Sachs' analysis. The company's revenue growth of 17.82% over the last twelve months, coupled with a significant 49.21% quarterly revenue growth, underscores the strong performance noted in the article. This growth is reflected in RTX's impressive stock performance, with a 76.04% total return over the past year and a 51.89% return year-to-date.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that RTX has maintained dividend payments for 54 consecutive years and has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years, demonstrating a commitment to shareholder returns. This is further supported by a current dividend yield of 2.01%. The company's financial stability is also evident in its operation with a moderate level of debt.
While Goldman Sachs maintains a Neutral rating, it's worth noting that RTX is trading near its 52-week high, with its current price at 97.54% of the 52-week high. The stock's P/E ratio of 35.85 suggests a premium valuation, which aligns with Goldman's observation of appealing valuation compared to peers.
For investors seeking more comprehensive insights, InvestingPro offers 11 additional tips for RTX Corp, providing a deeper understanding of the company's financial health and market position.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.