How Defense Companies Allocate Their Earnings Amid Trump's Executive Order
Breaking Defense reports that seven major defense contractors generated $21.2 billion in free cash flow in 2024, with RTX issuing the most in dividends at $3.2 billion. The data suggests that these companies are prioritizing shareholder returns over investments in production lines, which could impact the president’s demands for increased production capacity. According to McAleese and Associates, Boeing was excluded from overall totals due to its negative free cash flow burn.