Release Details

Northrop Grumman Reports Higher 2001 Fourth Quarter Results

January 30, 2002
LOS ANGELES, Jan 30, 2002 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ --

Economic Earnings Increase Sales Nearly Double Sector Operating Margin Up 110 Percent Cash Flow From Operations Strong Business Backlog Totals $21.5 Billion Confirms 2002 Financial Guidance of $6.60 to $7.10 EEPS

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) today reported 2001 fourth quarter economic earnings of $158 million, compared with $106 million for the same period of 2000. On a per share basis, the company reported 2001 fourth quarter economic earnings of $1.55 on average diluted shares outstanding of 98.0 million, compared with economic earnings of $1.46 on average diluted shares outstanding of 72.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2000.

Under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), the company reported fourth quarter 2001 net income of $131 million, or $1.28 per share, compared with net income from continuing operations of $144 million, or $1.99 per share, for the same period of 2000. The comparable decline reflects a substantial decrease in pension income and increases in interest expense and in the number of shares outstanding.

For the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2001, sales increased to $4.3 billion compared with $2.2 billion reported for the fourth quarter of 2000. The increase is primarily due to the contributions of the three companies acquired in 2001: Litton Industries Inc., Newport News Shipbuilding and the Electronics and Information Systems group of Aerojet-General Corporation. Also contributing to the sales increase was strong organic growth at the company's Electronic Systems sector.

Northrop Grumman's operating margin for the 2001 fourth quarter increased 25 percent to $314 million from $252 million for the same period last year despite a sharp drop in pension income. Pension income declined to $88 million from $128 million reported for the last three months of 2000.

"Today's outstanding results validate our strategy to create a top-tier defense enterprise focused on our customers' current and future needs," said Kent Kresa, chairman and chief executive officer of Northrop Grumman. "Last year's strategic acquisitions -- which added some $8 billion in annualized revenues -- provided new core competencies and established a solid foundation for future growth."

Mr. Kresa added, "Looking ahead, we expect to focus on several critical areas as demand intensifies for next-generation warfighting capabilities, particularly C4ISR, precision strike, unmanned aerial vehicles and all classes of naval vessels. Another priority will be to support emerging initiatives such as missile defense and homeland security. With more than $21 billion in business backlog, continued strong operating performance and expected increases in the U.S. defense budget over the next several years, Northrop Grumman's future is certainly bright.

"We are reaffirming our 2002 financial guidance targets and expectations for double-digit revenue and economic earnings growth in 2003," Mr. Kresa concluded.

"We achieved several key operational milestones last year," said Dr. Ronald D. Sugar, Northrop Grumman's president and chief operating officer. "We have made substantial progress integrating newly acquired businesses and established three new operating sectors. Our Electronic Systems sector in particular posted excellent fourth quarter results, generating organic growth in sales and operating margin. Integrated Systems' role on the Joint Strike Fighter program positions the sector for an upturn in sales and our Information Technology sector's expanded capabilities as a result of the Litton acquisition position it to win major programs in 2002.

"Going forward, the watchwords for 2002 are 'execute and integrate' -- execute on our commitments and realize the synergies of our integrated enterprise," Dr. Sugar added.

For the year ended Dec. 31, 2001, the company reported economic earnings of $517 million, a 21 percent increase compared with 2000 economic earnings of $429 million. On a per share basis, 2001 economic earnings were $5.85 on average diluted shares outstanding of 85.3 million, compared with $6.05 for 2000 on average diluted shares outstanding of 70.9 million.

Under GAAP, the company reported 2001 net income totaling $427 million, or $4.80 per share for the year, compared with 2000 net income from continuing operations of $625 million, or $8.82 per share. The comparable decline reflects a substantial decrease in pension income and increases in interest expense and in the number of shares outstanding.

Sales for 2001 increased 78 percent to $13.6 billion from $7.6 billion for 2000, primarily due to the contributions of the three recently acquired companies. Northrop Grumman's 2001 operating margin was $1.0 billion, down from the prior year despite a 37 percent decline in pension income to $337 million from $538 million in 2000.

Contract acquisitions in 2001 totaled $24.9 billion, including $13.6 billion of funded order backlog from the three acquired companies. Business backlog increased to $21.5 billion, more than double the $10.1 billion reported for 2000.

Sales at Electronic Systems in the 2001 fourth quarter increased 60 percent to $1.5 billion from $962 million in reported sales for the last three months of 2000. Operating margin for the quarter nearly tripled to $145 million compared with $55 million for the same period last year. The 2001 sales and margin improvements reflect the contributions by Litton's Advanced Electronics business and the Electronics and Information Systems group of Aerojet-General. The increases are also due to growth at the sector's Combat Avionics Systems, Land Combat Systems and its Automation and Information business areas.

Information Technology reported 2001 fourth quarter sales of $1.1 billion, more than double the $537 million in sales reported for the same period of 2000. The increase reflects the contributions from Litton's Information Systems business as well as organic growth in its Enterprise Information Technology business. Operating margin increased to $45 million for the 2001 fourth quarter compared with $11 million for the same period in 2000. Last year's fourth quarter operating margin included a $9 million non cash reduction related to retiree benefits.

Integrated Systems generated 2001 fourth quarter sales of $784 million, up slightly from the $779 million in sales reported for the same period a year ago. The sector's operating margin for the quarter was $42 million compared with $52 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2000, reflecting lower sales and operating margin in the Airborne Early Warning and Electronics Warfare business area and lower operating margin on unmanned vehicle contracts.

Ships generated sales of $803 million and operating margin of $28 million for the fourth quarter. The results include the contributions of Newport News Shipbuilding, acquired by the company on Nov. 29. Although Newport News will operate as a separate sector for the near term, the company has aggregated Newport News and Ships Systems results for financial reporting purposes. Operating margin for the quarter includes a downward cumulative margin rate adjustment of $13 million on the polar tanker program.

Component Technologies reported 2001 fourth quarter sales of $127 million and an operating loss of $12 million. Component Technologies' operating margin continued to be adversely impacted by the downturn in the telecommunications industry and by the effect of additional amortization due to the company's acquisition of Litton. Looking ahead, the sector is well positioned to capitalize on a market turnaround. Component Technologies continues to generate solid performance in its nontelecommunications business.

For the last three months of 2001, the company generated $405 million of cash from operations, reflecting strong cash performance particularly from the Electronic Systems sector. Northrop Grumman's net debt at Dec. 31, 2001, was $5.0 billion, up from the $1.3 billion reported at the end of 2000, reflecting both the assumption of Litton and Newport News debt and increased borrowings to finance last year's three acquisitions. Interest expense for the 2001 fourth quarter was $104 million, up from the $40 million reported for the same period of 2000.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is an $18 billion global aerospace and defense company with its worldwide headquarters in Los Angeles. Northrop Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in defense and commercial electronics, information technology, systems integration and nuclear and non-nuclear shipbuilding and systems. With approximately 100,000 employees and operations in 44 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.

Note: Certain statements and assumptions in this release contain or are based on "forward-looking" information (that the company believes to be within the definition in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) and involve risks and uncertainties. Such "forward-looking" information includes the statements above as to future impacts on revenues and earnings. Such statements are subject to numerous assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are outside the company's control. These include the company's ability to successfully integrate its acquisitions, assumptions with respect to future revenues, expected program performance and cash flows, the outcome of contingencies including litigation, environmental remediation, divestitures of businesses, and anticipated costs of capital investments. The company's operations are subject to various additional risks and uncertainties resulting from its position as a supplier, either directly or as subcontractor or team member, to the U.S. Government and its agencies as well as to foreign governments and agencies; actual outcomes are dependent upon factors, including, without limitation, the company's successful performance of internal plans; government customers' budgetary restraints; customer changes in short-range and long-range plans; domestic and international competition in both the defense and commercial areas; product performance; continued development and acceptance of new products; performance issues with key suppliers and subcontractors; government import and export policies; acquisition or termination of government contracts; the outcome of political and legal processes; legal, financial, and governmental risks related to international transactions and domestic and global needs for ships, military aircraft, military and civilian electronic systems and support, information technology and other products; as well as other economic, political and technological risks and uncertainties and other risk factors set out in the company's filings from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, the company's reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q.

Northrop Grumman will webcast its security analyst conference call at 2 p.m. E.S.T. on Jan. 30, 2002. A live audio broadcast of the conference call will be available on the investor relations page of the company's Web site at http://www.northropgrumman.com.

                           NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
                               FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
                         QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2001
                        ($ in millions, except per share)

                                    FOURTH QUARTER            TOTAL YEAR
                                  2001          2000        2001       2000

     FINANCIAL METRICS (Other Data)
      Economic earnings
       (see Reconciliation)       $158          $106        $517       $429
      Economic earnings
       per share                 $1.55         $1.46       $5.85      $6.05

      Net cash provided by
       operating activities      $405*          $379       $597*       $975

      EBITDAP(See
       Reconciliation)            $407        $1,347      $1,347       $942
      EBITDAP per share          $4.14        $15.79      $15.79     $13.29

                                DEC. 31       DEC. 31
                                 2001*          2000

      Cash and cash equivalents   $464          $319
      Accounts receivable        2,522         1,557
      Inventoried costs          1,525           585
      Property, plant and
       equipment, net            2,767         1,015
      Total debt                 5,495         1,615
      Net debt(1)                5,031         1,296
      Mandatorilly redeemable
       preferred stock             350            --
      Shareholders' equity       7,408         3,919
      Total assets             $21,081        $9,622

      Debt to capitalization
       ratio(2)                    41%           29%

                                    FOURTH QUARTER             TOTAL YEAR
      Reconciliations             2001          2000        2001       2000
       from GAAP to
       financial metrics
      Economic earnings
       Income from continuing
        operations
        before taxes              $214          $219        $699       $975
       Amortization of
        goodwill and
        purchased
        intangibles                101            58         379        206
       Pension income              (88)         (128)       (337)      (538)
       Income tax                  (69)          (43)       (224)      (214)
      Economic earnings            158           106         517        429
      Preferred dividend            (6)           --         (18)        --
      Economic earnings
       available to
       Common shareholders        $152          $106        $499       $429

      Diluted weighted average
       common shares outstanding
       (in Millions)             98.04         72.50       85.26      70.90

      Calculation of EDITDAP
       Income from continuing
        operations before taxes   $214          $219        $699       $975
       Net interest expense        103            31         340        145
       Depreciation                 77            41         266        154
       Amortization of goodwill
        and purchased intangibles  101            58         379        206
       Pension income              (88)         (128)       (337)      (538)
      EBITDAP                     $407          $221      $1,347       $942

      *  preliminary amounts
     (1) Total debt less cash and cash equivalents
     (2) Total debt divided by the sum of shareholders' equity, mandatorilly
         redeemable preferred stock and total debt


                           NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
                                OPERATING RESULTS
                        ($ in millions, except per share)

                                            CONTRACT ACQUISITIONS
                                    FOURTH QUARTER            TOTAL YEAR
                                  2001         2000        2001        2000

      Electronic Systems        $1,551        $1,111      $5,771     $4,370
      Information Technology     1,139           907       4,276      2,051
      Integrated Systems           750         1,295       2,233      2,990
      Ships                      6,458            --      12,408         --
      Component Technologies       129            --         645         --
      Intersegment Eliminations   (208)          (58)       (394)      (186)

      TOTAL                     $9,819        $3,255     $24,939     $9,225

                                        FUNDED
                                    ORDER BACKLOG
                                       DEC. 31
                                  2001          2000

      Electronic Systems        $6,031        $4,979
      Information Technology     1,436           943
      Integrated Systems         3,523         4,291
      Ships                     10,528            --
      Component Technologies       218            --
      Intersegment Eliminations   (249)         (107)

      TOTAL                    $21,487       $10,106

                                                   NET SALES
                                    FOURTH QUARTER            TOTAL YEAR
                                  2001          2000       2001        2000

      Electronic Systems        $1,543          $962      $4,719     $2,915
      Information Technology     1,130           537       3,783      1,717
      Integrated Systems           784           779       3,001      3,150
      Ships                        803            --       1,880         --
      Component Technologies       127            --         427         --
      Intersegment Eliminations    (83)          (49)       (252)      (164)

      TOTAL                     $4,304        $2,229     $13,558     $7,618

                                               OPERATING MARGIN
                                    FOURTH QUARTER            TOTAL YEAR
                                  2001          2000        2001       2000

      Electronic Systems          $145           $55        $359       $181
      Information Technology        45            11         170        104
      Integrated Systems            42            52         258        316
      Ships                         28            --          19         --
      Component Technologies       (12)           --         (38)        --

             Total                $248          $118        $768       $601

       Other items included in
        operating margin:
        Corporate expenses         (16)           (1)        (74)       (17)
        Deferred state tax
         provision                  (6)            7         (27)       (24)
        Pension income              88           128         337        538

      Operating margin             314           252       1,004      1,098

      Other income, net              4             7          68         52
      Interest expense            (104)          (40)       (373)      (175)

      Income from continuing
       operations before taxes     214           219         699        975

      Federal and foreign
       income taxes                 83            75         272        350

      Income from continuing
       operations                  131           144         427        625

      Income from discontinued
       operations, net of tax       --             0          --         39
      Loss on disposal of
       discontinued operations,
       net of tax                   --           (19)         --        (56)

      Net income                  $131          $125        $427       $608

      Diluted earnings per share
       Continuing operations     $1.28         $1.99       $4.80      $8.82
       Discontinued operations      --            --          --       0.55
       Disposal of discontinued
        operations                  --         (0.26)         --      (0.79)
       Diluted earnings per
        share                    $1.28         $1.73       $4.80      $8.58


                           NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
                          ADDITIONAL SEGMENT INFORMATION
                                 ($ in millions)

     Sales by business area
      within segment:               FOURTH QUARTER            TOTAL YEAR
                                  2001          2000       2001        2000
     Electronic Sensors &
      Systems
      Aerospace Electronic
       Systems                    $548          $371      $1,702     $1,179
      C3I&N                        246           326         911        902
      Navigation Systems           286            --         798         --
      Defensive Electronic
       Systems                     307           191         767        511
      Other                        156            74         541        323
       Total                     1,543           962       4,719      2,915

     Information Technology
      Government Information
       Technology                 $630          $257      $2,178       $829
      Enterprise Information
       Technology                  285           111         829        229
      Technology Services          140           115         515        475
      Commercial Information
       Technology                   75            54         261        184
       Total                     1,130           537       3,783      1,717

     Integrated Systems
      ACS                         $421          $386      $1,594     $1,717
      AEW/EW                       211           235         745        780
      AGS/BM                       148           163         664        674
      Intrasegment Eliminations      4            (5)         (2)       (21)
       Total                       784           779       3,001      3,150

     Ships
     Surface Combatants           $236           $--        $672        $--
     Amphibious & Auxiliary       $197           $--        $514        $--
     Commercial & International    $77           $--        $336        $--
     Aircraft Carriers            $185           $--        $185        $--
     Submarines                    $63           $--         $63        $--
     Services & Other              $68           $--        $172        $--
     Intersegment Eliminations    $(23)          $--        $(62)       $--
       Total                      $803           $--      $1,880        $--

     Component Technologies       $127           $--        $427        $--


                                     FOURTH QUARTER            TOTAL YEAR
      Amortization of Goodwill     2001         2000         2001       2000

     Electronic Systems            $22           $18         $81        $63
     Information Technology         16             8          58         19
     Integrated Systems              8             9          32         32
     Ships                          11            --          31         --
     Component Technologies          8            --          38         --

             Total                  65            35         240        114

      Amortization of Purchased      FOURTH QUARTER            TOTAL YEAR
       Intangibles                 2001         2000         2001       2000

     Electronic Systems            $21           $19         $81        $76
     Information Technology          5             1          15          2
     Integrated Systems              4             3          15         14
     Ships                           2            --          17         --
     Component Technologies          4            --          11         --

             Total                 $36           $23        $139        $92

      Amortization of Goodwill
       and Other Purchased           FOURTH QUARTER            TOTAL YEAR
       Intangibles                 2001         2000         2001       2000

     Electronic Systems            $43           $37        $162       $139
     Information Technology         21             9          73         21
     Integrated Systems             12            12          47         46
     Ships                          13            --          48         --
     Component Technologies         12            --          49         --

             Total                $101           $58        $379       $206

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