RTX's $289 Billion Backlog, Explained

Raytheon Technologies (RTX) operates as one of the world's largest defense companies, experiencing significant revenue and earnings growth. In the second quarter of 2021, the company's revenue increased by 14% year over year to $24.7 billion, and non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share grew by 21% to $1.89. The company's backlog, comprising signed but not yet delivered or recorded deals, surged by 22%, reaching $289 billion.

Despite its impressive backlog, RTX's order structure is more diversified than one might initially assume. While defense orders make up 40% of the $289 billion backlog, commercial aerospace accounts for 60% of the total. This diversification suggests a promising sales outlook for the coming years. The company recently secured a seven-year contract to provide Tomahawk cruise missiles to the U.S. military, worth $22.9 billion.

RTX's guidance for the year anticipates sales between $95 billion and $96 billion, bolstered by the strong order pipeline and potential defense order growth. However, despite its robust performance, RTX did not make the Motley Fool Stock Advisor's list of top 10 stocks for long-term growth, with better-performing stocks like Netflix and Nvidia also highlighted in the report.