Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 30
Rolls-Royce Lifts 2026 Cash Flow Outlook by £200 Million as Profit View Jumps £700 Million
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 30

Rolls-Royce Lifts 2026 Cash Flow Outlook by £200 Million as Profit View Jumps £700 Million

3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 30

Summary

  • £3.8 billion-£4 billion in free cash flow and £4.7 billion-£4.9 billion in operating profit are now Rolls-Royce’s full-year targets after its half-year results beat earlier guidance.
  • £700 million of the profit upgrade and £200 million of the cash-flow increase reflect stronger first-half trading, with management still gaining from engine reliability improvements and renegotiated airline contracts.
  • Power systems added another growth engine: Rolls said its power-generation order book rose 55% as US AI data centers sought diesel backup and gas turbines amid grid constraints.
  • Defense demand remains supportive through UK submarine propulsion and broader military spending, while Rolls is also positioning for longer-term upside in small modular reactors and a possible return to narrowbody jet engines.
  • £120 billion in market value now puts Rolls roughly level with Rio Tinto for fourth in the FTSE 100, though it still trails Shell, AstraZeneca and HSBC.

Insights

Is Rolls-Royce becoming the ultimate winner from two global shocks—AI power shortages and rising defense spending?
Can Rolls-Royce turn booming data-center backup demand into lasting growth, or is the market already pricing in too much?