| OTHER | OTHER Changes in Estimates Accounting for contracts using the percentage-of-completion method requires judgment relative to assessing risks, estimating contract sales and costs (including estimating award and incentive fees and penalties related to performance) and making assumptions for schedule and technical issues. Due to the number of years it may take to complete many of our contracts and the scope and nature of the work required to be performed on those contracts, the estimation of total sales and costs at completion is complicated and subject to many variables and, accordingly, is subject to change. When adjustments in estimated total contract sales or estimated total costs are required, any changes from prior estimates are recognized in the current period for the inception-to-date effect of such changes. When estimates of total costs to be incurred on a contract exceed estimates of total sales to be earned, a provision for the entire loss on the contract is recorded in the period in which the loss is determined. Many of our contracts span several years and include highly complex technical requirements. At the outset of a contract, we identify and monitor risks to the achievement of the technical, schedule and cost aspects of the contract and assess the effects of those risks on our estimates of total costs to complete the contract. The estimates consider the technical requirements (e.g., a newly-developed product versus a mature product), the schedule and associated tasks (e.g., the number and type of milestone events) and costs (e.g., material, labor, subcontractor, overhead and the estimated costs to fulfill our industrial cooperation agreements, sometimes referred to as offset agreements, required under certain contracts with international customers). The initial profit booking rate of each contract considers risks surrounding the ability to achieve the technical requirements, schedule and costs in the initial estimated total costs to complete the contract. Profit booking rates may increase during the performance of the contract if we successfully retire risks surrounding the technical, schedule and cost aspects of the contract, which decreases the estimated total costs to complete the contract. Conversely, our profit booking rates may decrease if the estimated total costs to complete the contract increase. All of the estimates are subject to change during the performance of the contract and may affect the profit booking rate. Comparability of our segment sales, operating profit and operating margin may be impacted favorably or unfavorably by changes in profit booking rates on our contracts accounted for using the percentage-of-completion method of accounting. Increases in the profit booking rates, typically referred to as risk retirements, usually relate to revisions in the estimated total costs that reflect improved conditions on a particular contract. Conversely, conditions on a particular contract may deteriorate, resulting in an increase in the estimated total costs to complete and a reduction in the profit booking rate. Increases or decreases in profit booking rates are recognized in the current period and reflect the inception-to-date effect of such changes. Segment operating profit and margin may also be impacted favorably or unfavorably by other items. Favorable items may include the positive resolution of contractual matters, cost recoveries on restructuring charges, insurance recoveries and gains on sales of assets. Unfavorable items may include the adverse resolution of contractual matters; restructuring charges, except for significant severance actions, which are excluded from segment operating results; reserves for disputes; certain asset impairments; and losses on sales of certain assets. Segment operating profit and items such as risk retirements, reductions of profit booking rates or other matters are presented net of state income taxes. As previously disclosed, we have a program, EADGE-T, to design, integrate, and install an air missile defense command, control, communications, computers – intelligence (C4I) systems for an international customer that has experienced performance matters and for which we have periodically accrued reserves. During the first quarter of 2017, we revised our estimated costs to complete EADGE-T as a consequence of ongoing performance matters and recorded an additional charge of $120 million ( $74 million or $0.25 per share, after tax) at our RMS business segment. As of September 24, 2017 , cumulative losses, including reserves, remained at approximately $260 million on this program. We are continuing to monitor the viability of the program and the available options and could record additional charges in future periods. However, based on the reserves already accrued and our current estimate of the costs to complete the program, at this time we do not anticipate that additional charges, if any, would be material. We have certain commercial satellite programs at our Space Systems business segment, where we have experienced performance matters related to the development and integration of the enhanced and modernized A2100 satellite platform. These commercial programs represent the development of new satellite technology to enhance the A2100’s power, propulsion and electronics, among other items, which is expected to benefit other commercial and government satellite programs. We have periodically revised our estimated costs to complete these programs. As previously reported, we recorded cumulative losses of approximately $260 million through June 25, 2017, including approximately $90 million recorded during the six months ended June 25, 2017. While the loss reflected our estimated total losses on the programs at that time, we continue to monitor any changes to the scope and estimated costs of these programs and may have to record additional loss reserves in future periods, which could be material to our operating results. Our consolidated net adjustments not related to volume, including net profit booking rate adjustments and other matters, net of state income taxes, increased segment operating profit by approximately $330 million and $1.1 billion in the quarter and nine months ended September 24, 2017 and $405 million and $1.1 billion in the quarter and nine months ended September 25, 2016 . These adjustments increased net earnings by approximately $214 million ( $0.74 per share) and $718 million ( $2.46 per share) in the quarter and nine months ended September 24, 2017 and $265 million ( $0.88 per share) and $730 million ( $2.39 per share) in the quarter and nine months ended September 25, 2016 . Restructuring Charges During the first quarter of 2016, we recorded severance charges totaling approximately $80 million related to our Aeronautics business segment. The charges consisted of severance costs associated with the planned elimination of certain positions through either voluntary or involuntary actions. Upon separation, terminated employees received lump-sum severance payments primarily based on years of service. As of the end of the first quarter of 2017, we had substantially paid the severance cost associated with these actions. Equity Method Investee Impairment During the nine months ended September 24, 2017 , equity earnings included a charge recorded in the first quarter of approximately $64 million ( $40 million or $0.14 per share, after tax), which represented our portion of a noncash asset impairment related to certain long-lived assets held by our equity method investee, AMMROC. We are continuing to monitor this investment. It is possible that we may have to record our portion of additional charges should their business continue to experience performance issues, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Sales of Customer Receivables On occasion, our customers may seek deferred payment terms to purchase our products. In connection with these transactions, we may enter into arrangements for the non-recourse sale of customer receivables to unrelated third–party financial institutions. For accounting purposes, these transactions are treated as a sale of receivables and the sale proceeds from the financial institutions are reflected in our operating cash flows on the statement of cash flows. During the quarter and nine months ended September 24, 2017 , we sold approximately $146 million and $511 million of customer receivables. There were no gains or losses related to sales of these receivables. Revolving Credit Facility Extension In October 2017, our $2.5 billion revolving credit facility (the 5 -year Facility) was amended to extend its expiration date by one year from October 9, 2021 to October 9, 2022 . Long-Term Debt In September 2017, we issued notes totaling approximately $1.6 billion with a fixed interest rate of 4.09% maturing in September 2052 (the New Notes) in exchange for outstanding notes totaling approximately $1.4 billion with fixed interest rates ranging from 4.70% to 8.50% maturing 2029 to 2046 (the Old Notes). In connection with the exchange of principal, we paid a premium of $237 million , substantially all of which was in the form of New Notes. This premium will be amortized as additional interest expense over the term of the New Notes using the effective interest method. We may, at our option, redeem some or all of the New Notes at any time by paying the principal amount of notes being redeemed plus a make-whole premium and accrued and unpaid interest. Interest on the New Notes is payable on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on March 15, 2018. The New Notes are unsecured senior obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. In September 2016, we repaid $500 million of long-term notes with a fixed interest rate of 2.13% according to their scheduled maturities. In May 2016, we repaid $452 million of long-term notes with a fixed interest rate of 7.65% according to their scheduled maturities. We also had related variable interest rate swaps with a notional amount of $450 million mature, which did not have a significant impact on net earnings or comprehensive income. Income Taxes Our effective income tax rates were 25.4% and 26.1% for the quarter and nine months ended September 24, 2017 , and 23.7% and 23.1% for the quarter and nine months ended September 25, 2016 . The rates for both periods benefited from tax deductions for U.S. manufacturing activities, dividends paid to our defined contribution plans with an employee stock ownership plan feature, tax deductions for employee equity awards, and the research and development tax credit. The rates in the quarter and nine months ended September 25, 2016 also benefited from the nontaxable gain recorded in connection with the increase in AWE ownership. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, as amended (Topic 606) (commonly referred to as ASC 606), which will change the way we recognize revenue and significantly expand the disclosure requirements for revenue arrangements. We will adopt the requirements of the new standard on the effective date of January 1, 2018 using the full retrospective transition method, whereby ASC 606 will be applied to each prior year presented and the cumulative effect of applying ASC 606 will be recognized at January 1, 2016, the beginning of the earliest year presented. As ASC 606 supersedes substantially all existing revenue guidance affecting us under current GAAP, it will impact revenue and cost recognition across all of our business segments, as well as our business processes and our information technology systems. We do not expect our adoption of ASC 606 to impact our cash flows. We commenced our evaluation of the impact of ASC 606 in late 2014, by evaluating its impact on selected contracts at each of our business segments. With this baseline understanding, we developed a project plan to evaluate thousands of contracts across our business segments, develop processes and tools to dual report financial results under both current GAAP and ASC 606 and assess the internal control structure in order to adopt ASC 606 on January 1, 2018. We have periodically briefed our Audit Committee on our progress made towards adoption. We currently recognize the majority of our revenue using the percentage-of-completion method of accounting, whereby revenue is recognized as we progress on the contract. For contracts with a significant amount of development and/or requiring the delivery of a minimal number of units, revenue and profit are recognized using the percentage-of-completion cost-to-cost method to measure progress. For example, we use this method at our Aeronautics business segment for the F-35 program; at our MFC business segment for the THAAD program; at our RMS business segment for the Littoral Combat Ship and Aegis Combat System programs; and at our Space Systems business segment for government satellite programs. For contracts that require us to produce a substantial number of similar items without a significant level of development, we currently record revenue and profit using the percentage-of-completion units-of-delivery method as the basis for measuring progress on the contract. For example, we use this method in Aeronautics for the C-130J and C-5 programs; in MFC for tactical missile programs (e.g., Hellfire, JASSM), PAC-3 programs and fire control programs (e.g., LANTIRN ® , Sniper ® ); in RMS for Black Hawk and Seahawk helicopter programs; and in Space Systems for commercial satellite programs. For contracts to provide services to the U.S. Government, revenue is generally recorded using the percentage-of-completion cost-to-cost method. Under ASC 606, revenue will be recognized as the customer obtains control of the goods and services promised in the contract (i.e., performance obligations). Given the nature of our products and terms and conditions in our contracts, in particular those with the U.S. Government (including foreign military sales (FMS) contracts), the customer obtains control as we perform work under the contract. Therefore, we expect to recognize revenue over time for substantially all of our contracts using a method similar to our current percentage-of-completion cost-to-cost method. Accordingly, adoption of ASC 606 will primarily impact our contracts where revenue is currently recognized using the percentage-of-completion units-of-delivery method. As a result, we anticipate recognizing revenue for these contracts earlier in the performance period as we incur costs, as opposed to when units are delivered. We may also have more performance obligations in our contracts under ASC 606, which may impact the timing of recording sales and operating profit, including those where sales recognition is deferred pending the incurrence of costs. Backlog will also be impacted upon our adoption to reflect these changes and the requirements of ASC 606. During the third quarter of 2017, we completed our preliminary assessment of the cumulative effect of adopting ASC 606 on our December 31, 2015 balance sheet using the full retrospective transition method. The adoption resulted in a decrease in inventories, an increase in billed receivables, contract assets (i.e., unbilled receivables) and contract liabilities (i.e., customer advances and amounts in excess of costs incurred) to primarily reflect the impact of converting contracts currently applying the units-of-delivery method to the cost-to-cost method for recognizing revenue and profits. We expect the net impact of these reclassifications to increase both our current assets and current liabilities by approximately 2% . In addition, we completed our preliminary assessment of adopting ASC 606 on our fiscal year 2016 operating results during the third quarter of 2017. We expect the adoption of ASC 606 to increase our 2016 net sales by approximately less than 1% and decrease our operating profit and net earnings from continuing operations each by approximately less than 2% . The impact of adopting ASC 606 on our 2016 operating results may not be indicative of the adoption impacts in future periods or of our operating performance. We will continue our evaluation of ASC 606, including any new interpretations, through the date of adoption. In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) , which eliminates the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We do not expect a significant impact to our consolidated assets and liabilities, net earnings, or cash flows as a result of adopting this new standard. We plan to adopt the new standard January 1, 2019. In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715) , which changes the income statement presentation of certain components of net periodic benefit cost related to defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans. Currently, we record all components of net periodic benefit costs in operating profit as part of cost of sales. Under ASU 2017-07, we will be required to record only the service component of net periodic benefit cost in operating profit and the non-service components of net periodic benefit cost (i.e., interest cost, expected return on plan assets, amortization of prior service cost or credits, and net actuarial gains or losses) as part of non-operating income. We plan to adopt the requirements of ASU 2017-07 on January 1, 2018 using the retrospective transition method. We expect the adoption of ASU 2017-07 to result in an increase to consolidated operating profit of $471 million and $846 million for 2016 and 2017, respectively, and a corresponding decrease in non-operating income for each year. We do not expect any impact to our business segment operating profit, our consolidated net earnings, or cash flows as a result of adopting ASU 2017-07. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) , which eliminates the requirement to compare the implied fair value of reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill (i.e., commonly referred to as Step 2) from the current goodwill impairment test. The new standard does not change how a goodwill impairment is identified. We will continue to perform our quantitative and qualitative goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying amount, but if we are required to recognize a goodwill impairment charge, under the new standard the amount of the charge will be calculated by subtracting the reporting unit’s fair value from its carrying amount. Under the current standard, if we are required to recognize a goodwill impairment charge, Step 2 requires us to calculate the implied value of goodwill by assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of its assets and liabilities as if that reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination and the amount of the charge is calculated by subtracting the reporting unit’s implied fair value of goodwill from its actual goodwill balance. The new standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted, and should be applied prospectively from the date of adoption. We elected to adopt the new standard for future goodwill impairment tests at the beginning of the third quarter of 2017, because it significantly simplifies the evaluation of goodwill for impairment. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” (under the caption "Critical Accounting Policies") for additional information. The impact of the new standard will depend on the outcomes of future goodwill impairment tests. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) , which requires the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements for both lessees and lessors. The new standard is effective January 1, 2019 for public companies, with early adoption permitted. The new standard will be applied using a modified retrospective approach to the beginning of the earliest period presented in the financial statements. We are continuing to evaluate the expected impact to our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. We plan to adopt the new standard effective January 1, 2019. |
