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General Dynamics Corporation (GD) Stock Analysis 2026

IndustrialsDefense & Aerospace
$385.76as of 2026-08-04

BriMind AI Score

Proprietary
52
Neutral
Price CAGR
12.2%
1Y Return
+23.4%
Analyst Upside
+8.0%
Rev Growth
8.1%

Score based on historical price CAGR, revenue growth, analyst upside, and valuation factors. Updated daily.

BriMind 1-Year Price Target

$425.43+10.3% potential
Bear Case
$294.41
Bull Case
$548.91
Model Confidence90%

BriMind AI combines DCF, momentum, and analyst consensus to project a 12-month price target.

AI scores and price targets are for informational and educational purposes only. They do not constitute financial advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Always conduct your own research before making investment decisions. Full Disclaimer →

About General Dynamics Corporation

General Dynamics is a diversified defense company with leading positions across four segments: Aerospace (Gulfstream business jets — the most profitable segment), Marine Systems (Virginia-class nuclear submarines, DDG destroyers), Combat Systems (Abrams tanks, Stryker armored vehicles, wheeled military vehicles), and Technologies (IT services, cloud, cybersecurity for defense agencies). The Gulfstream business provides non-cyclical earnings stability alongside the defense segments, making GD unusually diversified among major defense contractors.

How General Makes Money

GD earns through long-term defense contracts (primarily cost-plus with CPFF and CPAF fee structures, plus some fixed-price production) and Gulfstream aircraft sales (private aviation demand from corporations and ultra-high-net-worth individuals). Submarine production is the most strategically important segment for the US military — Virginia-class subs are the workhorse of US undersea warfare and production backlog extends decades. Gulfstream's G700 and G800 are the newest ultra-long-range private jets.

General Revenue & Profitability Breakdown

This chart shows how General's revenue flows through to profit. Each row deducts a layer of costs: first the direct cost of making products/services (Cost of Revenue), then operating expenses like marketing and R&D, then taxes. What remains at the bottom is net income — the actual profit shareholders own. High gross and net margins indicate a business with strong pricing power and efficiency.

Revenue
$54.86B
Cost of Revenue
-$46.43B
Gross Profit
$8.43B15.4% margin
Operating Expenses
-$2.74B
Operating Income
$5.69B10.4% margin
Tax & Other
-$1.21B
Net Income
$4.49B8.2% margin
Gross Margin
15.4%
Operating Margin
10.4%
Net Margin
8.2%

Key Financial Metrics

A snapshot of the company's valuation, growth, profitability, and financial health. Key things to look at: P/E ratio measures how much you pay for $1 of earnings (lower = cheaper, but fast-growing companies command higher P/E); Free Cash Flow is the cash left after running the business — companies with strong FCF can buy back shares, pay dividends, or invest; Debt/Equity shows how leveraged the company is (high debt can be risky); Return on Equity tells you how efficiently the company generates profit from shareholders' money.

Market Cap
$103.74B
P/E (Trailing)
23.37
P/E (Forward)
20.79
Revenue
$54.86B
Revenue Growth
8.1%
Earnings Growth
13.4%
Gross Margin
15.4%
Operating Margin
10.4%
Net Margin
8.2%
Return on Equity
17.8%
Return on Assets
6.1%
Free Cash Flow
$4.40B
Debt / Equity
35.34
Current Ratio
1.44
Quick Ratio
0.85
Beta
0.34
Dividend Yield
1.7%
Payout Ratio
37.7%
Book Value / Share
$99.30

Wall Street Analyst Consensus

Professional analysts at investment banks set 12-month price targets after researching the company's earnings, competitive position, and industry trends. Strong Buy / Buy means the majority expect meaningful upside. Hold means analysts see fair value near the current price — not a sell signal, but limited near-term upside expected. The mean target is the average of all analyst price targets; the range shows where the most optimistic and most cautious analysts stand.

Mean Target$414.17+7.4% upside

GD Investment Case: Bull vs Bear

Every investment has two sides. The bull case outlines the key reasons the stock could outperform — competitive advantages, growth catalysts, and market tailwinds. The bear case highlights the most significant risks that could cause the investment to underperform. Good investors read both sides carefully before deciding. A strong bull case with manageable bear risks typically makes for a more compelling investment.

Bull Case (Reasons to Buy)

  • Virginia-class submarine production is chronically behind schedule with demand exceeding capacity — the US Navy wants more submarines than GD and Newport News (HII) can produce, providing exceptional long-term backlog visibility.
  • Australia's AUKUS submarine program could provide significant additional submarine demand over the next decade, expanding GD's production backlog.
  • Gulfstream's G700 and G800 aircraft launch into a strong private aviation market — corporate aviation demand has remained resilient from high-net-worth individuals and corporations.
  • IT and cyber services through GD Technologies are growing as defense agencies digitize operations and require secure cloud and cybersecurity services.

Bear Case (Key Risks)

  • Submarine production is capacity-constrained — GD cannot simply add submarine capacity quickly due to the specialized workforce and facilities required; delivery delays are an ongoing risk.
  • Abrams tank demand has been strong due to Ukraine conflict but may normalize as conflict dynamics evolve and the Army manages its existing fleet.
  • Gulfstream faces competition from Bombardier (Global Express), Dassault (Falcon), and Embraer as private aviation market matures.
  • IT services margins are lower than defense hardware, potentially diluting overall margins as GD Technologies grows in revenue mix.

What to Watch: GD Key Metrics

Marine Systems submarine production rate
Gulfstream aircraft deliveries and backlog
Combat Systems order growth
Funded backlog total
Free cash flow conversion rate

GD Stock — Frequently Asked Questions

Compare GD with Peers

GD vs LMTGeneral Dynamics vs Lockheed Martin — Which Defense Sto
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NOC vs GDNorthrop Grumman vs General Dynamics — Stealth Bomber v
GD vs RTXGeneral Dynamics vs Raytheon Technologies — Defense Man
LHX vs GDL3Harris vs General Dynamics — Defense Electronics vs B
HII vs GDHuntington Ingalls vs General Dynamics — Shipbuilder vs

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