General Dynamics (GD): analysis in plain words
Is General Dynamics cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
General Dynamics (GD) is listed on the NYSE and we classify it in aerospace and defence. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against General Dynamics according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
General Dynamics (GD) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $364.87 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 21.5x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +12.9% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 8.2% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 0.7x | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 1.70% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $98.6 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The General Dynamics figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any GD figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How General Dynamics makes money
General Dynamics reports four segments: Aerospace, which builds Gulfstream business jets; Marine Systems, which builds nuclear submarines and surface ships for the U.S. Navy; Combat Systems, which makes Abrams tanks, Stryker vehicles and munitions; and Technologies, which provides IT and mission systems. The U.S. government is its biggest customer.
Over the last 12 months, General Dynamics brought in revenue of $56.5 billion. For every 100 it sells, General Dynamics keeps 15.4 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 10.5 after all operating costs (operating margin). With 117,000 full-time employees, that is about $483,000 of revenue per employee.
General Dynamics against its sector
To know whether a General Dynamics figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares General Dynamics with the median of the 12 aerospace and defence companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | General Dynamics | aerospace and defence median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 21.5x | 24.9x (12) |
| Revenue growth | +12.9% | +14.4% (14) |
| Net margin | 8.2% | 8.2% (14) |
| Dividend yield | 1.70% | 1.17% (14) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 0.7x | 1.3x (12) |
In short, against the typical aerospace and defence company, General Dynamics pays a higher dividend yield and carries less debt. By size, General Dynamics ranks number 5 of 10 aerospace and defence companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for General Dynamics
These are the strengths in the General Dynamics figures as of November 4, 2026:
- General Dynamics earns 18.0% a year on its shareholders' money (return on equity).
- General Dynamics generates real cash: $4.6 billion of free cash flow over 12 months, 4.6% of its stock market value.
- Its debt is low: General Dynamics would need 0.7x its annual operating profit (EBITDA) to repay its net debt.
The main risk for General Dynamics
The General Dynamics figures as of November 4, 2026 show no clear red flag (no heavy debt, no losses, no falling sales). Its main risk is the one built into its business: production delays and problems, and changes in defence budgets.
Frequently asked questions about General Dynamics
Is it a good time to buy General Dynamics stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell General Dynamics, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, General Dynamics stock trades at $364.87, 9% below its 52-week high ($400.00) and 19% above its low ($306.77). Its P/E is 21.5x against a aerospace and defence median of 24.9x, and 19.4x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With General Dynamics, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does General Dynamics pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, General Dynamics pays $6.36 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 1.70%. It uses 37% of its profit to pay it, which leaves room to keep paying it if profit dips. The aerospace and defence median on Fintols is 1.17%.
Is General Dynamics stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, General Dynamics trades at 21.5x its last 12 months of earnings: in line with the aerospace and defence median (24.9x). Including its debt, General Dynamics is valued at 15.5x its EBITDA (EV/EBITDA). A high P/E alone does not make General Dynamics expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are General Dynamics's competitors?
On Fintols we compare General Dynamics with Boeing, GE Aerospace and Lockheed Martin, which are also in aerospace and defence. As of November 4, 2026, Boeing is worth $140.3 billion and trades on a P/E of 18.3; GE Aerospace is worth $341.8 billion and trades on a P/E of 37.7; Lockheed Martin is worth $137.5 billion and trades on a P/E of 21.1. Each has a side-by-side comparison with General Dynamics below.
General Dynamics competitors
- Boeing (BA) analysis · General Dynamics vs Boeing comparison
- GE Aerospace (GE) analysis · General Dynamics vs GE Aerospace comparison
- Lockheed Martin (LMT) analysis · General Dynamics vs Lockheed Martin comparison
To understand General Dynamics better
- How to Write an Investment Thesis (Step by Step)
- P/E Ratio and EPS Explained: How to Read Them Without Traps
More companies like General Dynamics: aerospace and defence stocks, S&P 500 companies and S&P 100 companies. Open the full GD analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about General Dynamics, not investment advice.