RTX Stock Rallies 8% After Reporting Better-Than-Expected Earnings on Aviation Strength, Defense Demand

(Reuters) - A recovery in commercial air traffic and increased global defense spending helped RTX report better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings on Tuesday, by boosting margins in its aftermarket service and defense business lines.

Shares of the Arlington, Virginia-based company were trading 8.42% up in morning trading.

The defense and aerospace major also forecast a 2024 profit target in the range of $5.25 to $5.40 per adjusted share, while analysts estimate $5.28 per share, according to LSEG data.

RTX capitalized on a strong aftermarket business as airlines extend the use of their planes to meet strengthened travel demand and shortage of new jets.

Pratt and Whitney, an RTX subsidiary, booked a 25% jump in operating profit in the reported quarter, amid an ongoing inspection drive to check for potentially flawed components in its geared turbofan jet engines.

RTX's defense arm Raytheon, led by retiring Wes Kremer, reported a 14% rise in operating profit, helped by AMRAAM rockets and Patriot systems, key weapons used by Ukraine to repel the Russian invasion.

U.S. defense companies are getting more contracts as the Russia-Ukraine war, the need to support allies in the Middle East and the specter of Chinese aggression drive up demand, even as growth is hindered by pandemic-related labor and supply-chain disruptions.

Experts expect a boost in the order backlog of RTX along with other major companies that receive government contracts, such as Lockheed , General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman , following the passage of the $886-billion U.S. defense policy bill.

RTX reported an adjusted net income of $1.29 per share in the final quarter, ahead of analysts' estimate of $1.24 per share. Sales came in at $19.93 billion, beating Street expectation of $19.7 billion, as per LSEG data.

However, the company forecast 2024 revenue below expectations, owing to lingering supply challenges in the global aerospace industry.

It expects revenue between $78 billion and $79 billion, against analysts' average expectation of $79.67 billion.