LOS ANGELES, May 18, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) will confirm 2004 and 2005 financial guidance today at its Annual Meeting of Stockholders held in Redondo Beach, Calif.
Consistent with previous guidance, the company expects 2004 sales of approximately $28 billion. Earnings per share from continuing operations are expected to range between $5.60 and $5.90 ($2.80 and $2.95 after giving effect to the two-for-one split of the company's common stock to be distributed in the form of a stock dividend to shareholders of record on May 28, 2004). Net cash provided by operating activities for 2004 is expected to total approximately $1.5 billion.
For 2005, the company continues to expect sales of approximately $30 billion, continued margin expansion and solid double-digit growth in earnings per share. The company's projection for growth in 2005 earnings per share assumes the same pension expenses as in 2004 and does not include the impact of adoption of the proposed Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, Share-Based Payment - an amendment of FASB Statements No. 123 and 95. The company expects 2005 cash provided by operations to be between $1.8 billion and $2.0 billion.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense company headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. Northrop Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in systems integration, defense electronics, information technology, advanced aircraft, shipbuilding and space technology. With 120,000 employees, and operations in all 50 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.
Note: Certain statements and assumptions in this release contain or are based on "forward-looking" information (that Northrop Grumman believes to be within the definition in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) and involve risks and uncertainties, and include, among others, statements in the future tense, and all statements accompanied by terms such as "project," "expect," "estimate," "assume," "guidance" or variations thereof. This information reflects the company's best estimates when made, but the company expressly disclaims any duty to update this information if new data becomes available or estimates change after the date of this release.
Such "forward-looking" information includes, among other things, financial guidance regarding sales, segment operating margin, pension expense, employer contributions under pension plans and medical and life benefits plans, and cash flow, and is subject to numerous assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are outside Northrop Grumman's control. These include Northrop Grumman's assumptions with respect to future revenues, expected program performance and cash flows, returns on pension plan assets and variability of pension actuarial and related assumptions, the outcome of litigation and appeals, environmental remediation, divestitures of businesses, successful reduction of debt, successful negotiation of contracts with labor unions, effective tax rates and timing and amounts of tax payments, and anticipated costs of capital investments, among other things. Northrop Grumman's operations are subject to various additional risks and uncertainties resulting from its position as a supplier, either directly or as subcontractor or team member, to the U.S. Government and its agencies as well as to foreign governments and agencies; actual outcomes are dependent upon various factors, including, without limitation, Northrop Grumman's successful performance of internal plans; government customers' budgetary constraints; customer changes in short-range and long-range plans; domestic and international competition in both the defense and commercial areas; product performance; continued development and acceptance of new products and, in connection with any fixed price development programs, controlling cost growth in meeting production specifications and delivery rates; performance issues with key suppliers and subcontractors; government import and export policies; acquisition or termination of government contracts; the outcome of political and legal processes; natural disasters and terrorist acts; legal, financial, and governmental risks related to international transactions and global needs for military aircraft, military and civilian electronic systems and support, information technology, naval vessels, space systems and related technologies, as well as other economic, political and technological risks and uncertainties and other risk factors set out in Northrop Grumman's filings from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, Northrop Grumman reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q.