RTX raises 2026 outlook after Q2 sales climb 14% and adjusted EPS rises 21%

RTX raised its 2026 adjusted sales forecast to $95 billion-$96 billion and lifted adjusted profit guidance to $7.10-$7.25 a share after second-quarter sales rose 14% to $24.7 billion and adjusted EPS climbed 21% to $1.89. The company said backlog increased 22% from a year earlier to $289 billion, including $170 billion in commercial aerospace and $119 billion in defense, as strong maintenance demand kept older aircraft in service and governments continued replenishing missile and munitions inventories depleted by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Raytheon sales rose 18% to $8.27 billion, helped by Patriot, Standard and AMRAAM demand, and RTX Chief Financial Officer Neil Mitchill said about half of Raytheon's first-half bookings, or $10 billion, came from international customers, including $7 billion from Europe. Lockheed Martin also struck a bullish tone, saying missiles and fire control revenue rose nearly 20% to $4.1 billion, backlog grew to $230.4 billion from $166.5 billion a year earlier, and 2026 revenue guidance was increased to $79.75 billion-$81.75 billion from $77.5 billion-$80 billion. Executives at both companies said they see further opportunities to scale production faster, including in Europe and the Middle East, as Pentagon and allied stockpiles are replenished.