RTX raised its full-year profit and sales forecasts Tuesday after strong commercial aerospace and defense demand pushed the company’s backlog to a record $340 billion.
Third-quarter sales increased 11% to $24.97 billion, while adjusted earnings reached $2.26 per share.
The aerospace and defense group now expects adjusted 2026 earnings of $7.65 to $7.75 per share, up from its previous forecast of $7.10 to $7.25.
RTX also raised its full-year sales outlook to between $97 billion and $97.5 billion. Current reporting confirms the company raised its 2026 outlook for the third time this year as aerospace and defense demand remained strong.
Demand was broad across the company’s businesses.
Collins Aerospace revenue increased 10%, supported by a 23% rise in commercial original-equipment sales.
Pratt & Whitney revenue also rose 10%, with commercial aftermarket sales increasing 21% as airlines continued spending heavily on maintenance and replacement parts.
Raytheon sales climbed 14%, reflecting continued demand for missile and air-defense systems including Patriot and Tomahawk programs.
RTX said its backlog reached $340 billion after securing more than $81 billion of new commercial and defense orders.
That backlog provides unusually strong forward visibility but also increases the importance of production execution and supply-chain performance.
The results capture two powerful spending cycles operating simultaneously: airlines maintaining and expanding commercial fleets, and governments increasing defense procurement amid elevated geopolitical tensions.
Investors will now watch whether RTX can convert its record order book into revenue without margin pressure from supply constraints, labor costs or production bottlenecks.
The raised forecast indicates management currently expects demand to remain strong enough to support higher earnings through the remainder of 2026.
