Northrop Grumman (NOC) 10-Q2021 Q1 Quarterly report

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These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements (the “financial statements”) include the accounts of Northrop Grumman Corporation and its subsidiaries and joint ventures or other investments for which we consolidate the financial results (herein referred to as “Northrop Grumman,” the “company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). Intercompany accounts, transactions and profits are eliminated in consolidation. Investments in equity securities and joint ventures where the company has significant influence, but not control, are accounted for using the equity method.

Effective January 30, 2021 (the “Divestiture date”), we completed the previously announced sale of our IT and mission support services business (the “IT services divestiture”) for $3.4 billion in cash and recorded a pre-tax gain on sale of $2.0 billion. The IT and mission support services business was comprised of the majority of the Information Solutions and Services (IS&S) division of Defense Systems (excluding our Vinnell Arabia business); select cyber, intelligence and missions support programs, which were part of the Cyber and Intelligence Mission Solutions (CIMS) division of Mission Systems; and the Space Technical Services business unit of Space Systems. The assets and liabilities of the IT and mission support services business were classified as held for sale in the consolidated statement of financial position as of December 31, 2020. Operating results include sales and operating income for the IT and mission support services business prior to the Divestiture date. Sales for the IT and mission support services business were $162 million and $559 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 and pre-tax profit was $20 million and $51 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

These financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP” or “FAS”) and in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for interim reporting. The financial statements include adjustments of a normal recurring nature considered necessary by management for a fair presentation of the company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

The results reported in these financial statements are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the entire year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the information contained in the company’s 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K. During the first quarter of 2021, we changed the naming convention for our FAS/CAS pension accounts. The Net FAS (service)/CAS pension adjustment is now referred to as the FAS/CAS operating adjustment and the FAS (non-service) pension benefit is now referred to as the Non-operating FAS pension benefit. This change does not impact any current or previously reported amounts.

The quarterly information is labeled using a calendar convention; that is, first quarter is consistently labeled as ending on March 31, second quarter as ending on June 30 and third quarter as ending on September 30. It is the company’s long-standing practice to establish actual interim closing dates using a “fiscal” calendar, in which we close our books on a Friday near these quarter-end dates in order to normalize the potentially disruptive effects of quarterly closings on business processes. This practice is only used at interim periods within a reporting year.

Preparation of the financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingencies at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of sales and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates have been prepared using the most current and best available information; however, actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

The majority of our sales are derived from long-term contracts with the U.S. government for the development or production of goods, the provision of services, or a combination of both. We recognize revenue as control is transferred to the customer, either over time or at a point in time. For most of our contracts, control is effectively transferred during the period of performance, so we generally recognize revenue over time using the cost-to-cost method (cost incurred relative to total cost estimated at completion). The company believes this represents the most appropriate measurement towards satisfaction of our performance obligations. Revenue for contracts in which the control of goods produced does not transfer until delivery to the customer is recognized at a point in time (i.e., typically upon delivery).

Use of the cost-to-cost method requires us to make reasonably dependable estimates regarding the revenue and cost associated with the design, manufacture and delivery of our products and services. The company estimates profit on these contracts as the difference between total estimated sales and total estimated cost at completion and recognizes that profit as costs are incurred. Significant judgment is used to estimate total sales and cost at completion.

Contract sales may include estimates of variable consideration, including cost or performance incentives (such as award and incentive fees), contract claims and requests for equitable adjustment (REAs). Variable consideration is included in total estimated sales to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. We estimate variable consideration as the most likely amount to which we expect to be entitled.

We recognize changes in estimated contract sales or costs and the resulting changes in contract profit on a cumulative basis. Cumulative estimate-at-completion (EAC) adjustments represent the cumulative effect of the changes on current and prior periods; sales and operating margins in future periods are recognized as if the revised estimates had been used since contract inception. If it is determined that a loss is expected to result on an individual performance obligation, the entire amount of the estimable future loss, including an allocation of general and administrative (G&A) expense, is charged against income in the period the loss is identified.

EAC adjustments on a single performance obligation can have a material effect on the company’s financial statements. When such adjustments occur, we generally disclose the nature, underlying conditions and financial impact of the adjustments. No such adjustments were material to the financial statements during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

Backlog represents the future sales we expect to recognize on firm orders received by the company and is equivalent to the company’s remaining performance obligations at the end of each period. It comprises both funded backlog (firm orders for which funding is authorized and appropriated) and unfunded backlog. Unexercised contract options and indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts are not included in backlog until the time an option or IDIQ task order is exercised or awarded.

Company backlog as of March 31, 2021 was $79.3 billion. Of our March 31, 2021 backlog, we expect to recognize approximately 40 percent as revenue over the next 12 months and 60 percent as revenue over the next 24 months, with the remainder to be recognized thereafter.

For each of the company’s contracts, the timing of revenue recognition, customer billings, and cash collections results in a net contract asset or liability at the end of each reporting period. Contract assets are equivalent to and reflected as Unbilled receivables in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial position and are primarily related to long-term contracts where revenue recognized under the cost-to-cost method exceeds amounts billed to customers. Contract liabilities are equivalent to and reflected as Advance payments and billings in excess of costs incurred in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial position. The amount of revenue recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 that was included in the contract liability balances at the beginning of each year was $1.1 billion and $781 million, respectively.

See Note 9 for information regarding the company’s sales by customer type, contract type and geographic region for each of our segments. We believe those categories best depict how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of our revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors.

Non-cash investing activities include capital expenditures incurred but not yet paid of $58 million and $92 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

For all periods presented, the company had no material related party transactions.

We calculate basic earnings per share by dividing net earnings by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period.

Diluted earnings per share include the dilutive effect of awards granted to employees under stock-based compensation plans. The dilutive effect of these securities totaled 0.4 million shares and 0.7 million shares for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

On September 16, 2015, the company’s board of directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to $4.0 billion of the company’s common stock (the “2015 Repurchase Program”). On December 4, 2018, the company’s board of directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to an additional $3.0 billion in share repurchases of the company’s common stock (the “2018 Repurchase Program”). Repurchases under the 2015 Repurchase Program commenced in March 2016 and were completed in March 2020 at which time repurchases under the 2018 Repurchase Program commenced. As of March 31, 2021, repurchases under the 2018 Repurchase Program totaled $1.9 billion; $1.1 billion remained under this share repurchase authorization. By its terms, the 2018 Repurchase Program is set to expire when we have used all authorized funds for repurchases.

On January 25, 2021, the company’s board of directors authorized a new share repurchase program of up to an additional $3.0 billion in share repurchases of the company’s common stock (the “2021 Repurchase Program”). By its terms, repurchases under the 2021 Repurchase Program will commence upon completion of the 2018 Repurchase Program and will expire when we have used all authorized funds for repurchases.

During the first quarter of 2021, the company entered into an accelerated share repurchase (ASR) agreement with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (Goldman Sachs) to repurchase $2.0 billion of the company’s common stock as part of the 2018 Repurchase Program. Under the agreement, we made a payment of $2.0 billion to Goldman Sachs and received an initial delivery of 5.9 million shares valued at $1.7 billion that were immediately canceled by the company. The remaining balance of $300 million is included as a reduction to Retained earnings on the consolidated statement of financial position. The final number of shares to be repurchased will be based on the company’s daily volume-weighted average share price during the term of the transaction, less a discount, and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2021. Goldman Sachs may be required to deliver additional shares of common stock to the company at final settlement or, under certain circumstances, the company may be required to either, at the company’s election, deliver shares or make a cash payment to Goldman Sachs.

Share repurchases take place from time to time, subject to market conditions and management’s discretion, in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The company retires its common stock upon repurchase and, in

the periods presented, has not made any purchases of common stock other than in connection with these publicly announced repurchase programs.

Taxes receivable are included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial position. We had 0 taxes receivable as of March 31, 2021 and $792 million as of December 31, 2020.

The company has recorded unrecognized tax benefits related to our methods of accounting associated with the timing of revenue recognition and related costs, and the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. It is reasonably possible that within the next 12 months our unrecognized tax benefits related to the final revenue recognition regulations issued in December 2020 under IRC Section 451(b) and future regulatory interpretations of existing tax laws may change. At this time, we cannot reasonably estimate these changes.

The company holds a portfolio of marketable securities to partially fund non-qualified employee benefit plans. A portion of these securities are held in common/collective trust funds and are measured at fair value using net asset value (NAV) per share as a practical expedient; and therefore are not required to be categorized in the fair value hierarchy table below. Marketable securities are included in Other non-current assets in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial position.

The company’s derivative portfolio consists primarily of foreign currency forward contracts. Where model-derived valuations are appropriate, the company utilizes the income approach to determine the fair value and uses the applicable London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) swap rates.

The derivative fair values and related unrealized gains/losses at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were not material. There were no transfers of financial instruments into or out of Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy during the three months ended March 31, 2021.

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents and commercial paper approximates fair value.

The estimated fair value of long-term debt was $14.9 billion and $18.2 billion as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. We calculated the fair value of long-term debt using Level 2 inputs, based on interest rates available for debt with terms and maturities similar to the company’s existing debt arrangements. The current portion of long-term debt is recorded in Other current liabilities in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of financial position.

In March 2021, the company repaid $700 million of 3.50 percent unsecured notes upon maturity.

We are engaged in remediation activities relating to environmental conditions allegedly resulting from historic operations at the former United States Navy and Grumman facilities in Bethpage, New York. For over 20 years, we have worked closely with the United States Navy, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the New

York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), the New York State Department of Health and other federal, state and local governmental authorities, to address legacy environmental conditions in Bethpage. In December 2019, the State of New York issued an Amended Record of Decision seeking to impose additional remedial requirements beyond measures the company previously had been taking; the State also communicated that it was assessing potential natural resource damages. In December 2020, the parties reached a tentative agreement regarding the steps the company will take to implement the State’s Amended Record of Decision and to resolve certain potential other claims, including for natural resource damages. The State of New York is preparing to file a new consent decree reflecting the agreement and to seek court approval. We have incurred, and expect to continue to incur, as included in Note 6, substantial remediation costs related to the legacy Bethpage environmental conditions. Applicable remediation standards and other requirements to which we are subject may continue to change, our costs may increase materially and those costs may not be fully recoverable. In addition, we are a party to various, and expect to become a party to additional, legal proceedings and disputes related to remediation, environmental impacts, costs, and the allowability of costs we incur, including with federal and state entities (including the Navy, Defense Contract Management Agency, the State, local municipalities and water districts) and insurance carriers, as well as class action and individual plaintiffs alleging personal injury and property damage and seeking both monetary and non-monetary relief. These Bethpage matters could result in additional costs, fines, penalties, sanctions, compensatory or other damages, determinations on allocation, allowability and coverage, and non-monetary relief. We cannot at this time predict or reasonably estimate the potential cumulative outcomes or ranges of possible liability of these aggregate Bethpage matters.

From time to time, the company is advised of claims by the U.S. government concerning certain potential disallowed costs, plus, at times, penalties and interest. When such findings are presented, the company and U.S. government representatives engage in discussions to enable the company to evaluate the merits of these claims, as well as to assess the amounts being claimed. Where appropriate, provisions are made to reflect the company’s estimated exposure for such potential disallowed costs. Such provisions are reviewed periodically using the most recent information available. The company believes it has adequately reserved for disputed amounts that are probable and reasonably estimable, and that the outcome of any such matters would not have a material adverse effect on its unaudited condensed consolidated financial position as of March 31, 2021, or its annual results of operations and/or cash flows.

The U.S. government has raised questions about an interest rate assumption used by the company to determine our CAS pension expense. On June 1, 2020, the government provided written notice that the assumptions the company used during the period 2013-2019 were potentially noncompliant with CAS. We submitted a formal response on July 31, 2020, which we believe demonstrates the appropriateness of the assumptions used. On November 24, 2020, the government replied to the company’s response, disagreeing with our position and requesting additional input, which we provided on February 22, 2021. We are engaging further with the government. The sensitivity to changes in interest rate assumptions makes it reasonably possible the outcome of this matter could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows, although we are not currently able to estimate a range of any potential loss.

Although management cannot predict whether new information gained as our environmental remediation projects progress, or as changes in facts and circumstances occur, will materially affect the estimated liability accrued, except with respect to Bethpage, we do not anticipate that future remediation expenditures associated with our currently identified projects will have a material adverse effect on the company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial position as of March 31, 2021, or its annual results of operations and/or cash flows.

With respect to Bethpage, as discussed in Note 5, in December 2019, the State of New York issued an Amended Record of Decision, seeking to impose additional remedial requirements beyond those the company previously had been taking; the State also communicated that it was assessing potential natural resource damages. In December 2020, the parties reached a tentative agreement regarding the steps the company will take to implement the State’s Amended Record of Decision and to resolve certain potential other claims, including for natural resource damages. The State of New York is preparing to file a new consent decree reflecting the agreement and to seek court approval. As discussed in Note 5, the applicable remediation standards and other requirements to which we are subject may continue to change, our costs may increase materially, and those costs may not be fully recoverable.

In the ordinary course of business, the company uses standby letters of credit and guarantees issued by commercial banks and surety bonds issued principally by insurance companies to guarantee the performance on certain obligations. At March 31, 2021, there were $480 million of stand-by letters of credit and guarantees and $80 million of surety bonds outstanding.

The company maintains a commercial paper program that serves as a source of short-term financing with capacity to issue unsecured commercial paper notes up to $2.0 billion. At March 31, 2021, there were 0 commercial paper borrowings outstanding.

The company maintains a five-year senior unsecured credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $2.0 billion (the “2018 Credit Agreement”) that matures in August 2024 and is intended to support the company’s commercial paper program and other general corporate purposes. Commercial paper borrowings reduce the amount available for borrowing under the 2018 Credit Agreement. At March 31, 2021, there was 0 balance outstanding under this facility.

The company sponsors defined benefit pension and OPB plans, as well as defined contribution plans. We fund our defined benefit pension plans annually in a manner consistent with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended by the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

For financial statement purposes, we account for our employee pension plans in accordance with FAS. However, the cost of these plans is charged to our contracts in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the related U.S. Government Cost Accounting Standards (CAS). The FAS/CAS operating adjustment, previously referred to as the net FAS (service)/CAS pension adjustment, reflects the difference between CAS pension expense included as cost in segment operating income and the service cost component of FAS expense included in total operating income.

Unallocated corporate income (expense) includes the portion of corporate costs not considered allowable or allocable under applicable CAS or FAR, and therefore not allocated to the segments, such as a portion of management and administration, legal, environmental, compensation, retiree benefits, advertising and other corporate unallowable costs. Unallocated corporate income (expense) also includes costs not considered part of management’s evaluation of segment operating performance, such as amortization of purchased intangible assets and the additional depreciation expense related to the step-up in fair value of property, plant and equipment acquired through business combinations, as well as certain compensation and other costs.

During the first quarter of 2021, the $2.0 billion pre-tax gain on the sale of our IT services business and $192 million of unallowable state taxes and transaction costs associated with the divestiture were recorded in Unallocated corporate income (expense).

Falls Church, Virginia

We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of financial position of Northrop Grumman Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of March 31, 2021, and the related condensed consolidated statements of earnings and comprehensive income, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “interim financial information”). Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying interim financial information for it to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

This interim financial information is the responsibility of the Company’s management. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our reviews in accordance with standards of the PCAOB. A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (herein referred to as “Northrop Grumman,” the “company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a leading global aerospace and defense company. We use our broad portfolio of capabilities and technologies to create and deliver innovative platforms, systems and solutions in space; manned and autonomous airborne systems, including strike; strategic deterrence systems; hypersonics; missile defense; weapons systems; cyber; command, control, communications and computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR); and logistics and modernization. We participate in many high-priority defense and government programs in the United States (U.S.) and abroad. We conduct most of our business with the U.S. government, principally the Department of Defense (DoD) and intelligence community. We also conduct business with foreign, state and local governments, as well as commercial customers.

The following discussion should be read along with the financial statements included in this Form 10-Q, as well as our 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which provides additional information on our business and the environment in which we operate and our operating results.

Effective January 30, 2021 (the “Divestiture date”), we completed the previously announced sale of our IT and mission support services business (the “IT services divestiture”) for $3.4 billion in cash and recorded a pre-tax gain on sale of $2.0 billion. The IT and mission support services business was comprised of the majority of the Information Solutions and Services (IS&S) division of Defense Systems (excluding our Vinnell Arabia business); select cyber, intelligence and missions support programs, which were part of the Cyber and Intelligence Mission Solutions (CIMS) division of Mission Systems; and the Space Technical Services business unit of Space Systems. Operating results include sales and operating income for the IT and mission support services business prior to the Divestiture date.

Since the filing of our 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Administration has not released a budget request for fiscal year 2022. However, the Administration released a summary of the President’s discretionary funding request for fiscal year 2022, which proposes $753 billion for national defense programs and $769 billion in non-defense discretionary funding. On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was enacted to address certain impacts of the COVID-19 crisis and extend certain measures previously enacted under earlier relief bills. The Administration also recently announced a $2 trillion infrastructure plan. The COVID-19 relief bill and, if enacted, an

infrastructure bill, may have broader implications for the defense industry, our customers’ budgets and priorities, and the overall economic environment, including the national debt. It is difficult to predict the specific course of future defense budgets. However, the threat to national security remains very substantial and we believe that our capabilities, particularly in space, missiles, missile defense, hypersonics, counter-hypersonics, survivable aircraft and mission systems should help our customers to meet the threats and, as a result, continue to allow for long-term profitable growth in our business.

The political environment, federal budget and debt ceiling are expected to continue to be the subject of considerable debate, which could have material impacts on defense spending broadly and the company’s programs in particular.

For purposes of the operating results discussion below, we assess our performance using certain financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with GAAP. Organic sales is defined as total sales excluding sales attributable to the company's IT services divestiture. This measure may be useful to investors and other users of our financial statements as a supplemental measure in evaluating the company’s underlying sales growth as well as in providing an understanding of our ongoing business and future sales trends by presenting the company’s sales before the impact of divestiture activity.

Transaction-adjusted net earnings and transaction-adjusted earnings per share exclude impacts related to the IT services divestiture, including the gain on sale of the business, associated federal and state income tax expenses, transaction costs, and the make-whole premium for early debt redemption. They also exclude the impact of mark-to-market pension and OPB (“MTM”) expense and related tax impacts, which are generally only recognized during the fourth quarter. These non-GAAP measures may be useful to investors and other users of our financial statements as supplemental measures in evaluating the company’s underlying financial performance by presenting the company’s operating results before the non-operational impact of divestiture activity and pension and OPB actuarial gains and losses. These measures are also consistent with how management views the underlying performance of the business as the impact of the IT services divestiture and MTM accounting are not considered in management’s assessment of the company’s operating performance or in its determination of incentive compensation awards.

We reconcile these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures below. These non-GAAP measures may not be defined and calculated by other companies in the same manner and should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to operating results presented in accordance with GAAP.

Selected financial highlights are presented in the table below:

The table below reconciles sales to organic sales:

First quarter 2021 sales increased $537 million, or 6 percent, due to higher sales at Space Systems, Mission Systems and Aeronautics systems, partially offset by lower sales at Defense Systems principally due to the impact of the IT services divestiture. First quarter 2021 organic sales increased $934 million, or 12 percent. As a result of the company using a fiscal calendar convention for interim reporting periods (as described in Note 1 to the financial statements), sales at each sector during the first quarter of 2021 benefited approximately 5 percent from three additional working days when compared to the first quarter of 2020.

See “Segment Operating Results” below for further information by segment and “Product and Service Analysis” for product and service detail. See Note 9 to the financial statements for information regarding the company’s sales by customer type, contract type and geographic region for each of our segments.

First quarter 2021 operating income increased $1.9 billion, or 202 percent, primarily due to the IT services divestiture, including the $2.0 billion pre-tax gain on sale and $192 million of unallocated corporate expense for unallowable state taxes and transaction costs. Operating income also increased due to higher segment operating income, partially offset by a lower FAS/CAS operating adjustment. First quarter 2021 operating margin rate increased to 30.8 percent reflecting the items above.

First quarter 2021 general and administrative (G&A) costs as a percentage of sales increased to 9.8 percent from 9.1 percent in the prior period primarily due to the timing of indirect cost recognition during the year.

See “Segment Operating Results” below for further information by segment. For information regarding product and service operating costs and expenses, see “Product and Service Analysis” below.

The first quarter 2021 effective tax rate increased to 27.2 percent from 17.6 percent in the prior year period primarily due to federal income taxes resulting from the IT services divestiture. See Note 3 to the financial statements for additional information.