Derivative Financial Instruments And Hedging Activities

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Financial Instruments And Hedging Activities

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

We are exposed to market risk, primarily from foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates, commodity prices and investments. We may use derivative financial instruments to hedge some of these risks as described below. We do not use derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

Foreign Currency Risk. Our foreign currency exchange rate risk relates to receipts from customers, payments to suppliers and inter-company transactions denominated in foreign currencies. To the extent possible, we include terms in our contracts that are designed to protect us from this risk. Otherwise, we enter into derivative financial instruments, principally foreign currency forward purchase and sale contracts, designed to offset and minimize our risk. The dollar-weighted two-year average maturity of these instruments generally matches the duration of the activities that are at risk.

Interest Rate Risk. Our financial instruments subject to interest rate risk include variable-rate commercial paper and fixed- and floating-rate long-term debt obligations. We entered into derivative financial instruments, specifically interest rate swap contracts, to eliminate our floating-rate interest risk. The interest rate risk associated with our financial instruments is not material.

Commodity Price Risk. We are subject to rising labor and commodity price risk, primarily on long-term, fixed-price contracts. To the extent possible, we include terms in our contracts that are designed to protect us from these risks. Some of the protective terms included in our contracts are considered derivative financial instruments but are not accounted for separately, because they are clearly and closely related to the host contract. We have not entered into any material commodity hedging contracts but may do so as circumstances warrant. We do not believe that changes in labor or commodity prices will have a material impact on our results of operations or cash flows.

Investment Risk. Our investment policy allows for purchases of fixed-income securities with an investment-grade rating and a maximum maturity of up to five years. On June 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, we held $702 and $963 in cash and equivalents, respectively, but held no marketable securities other than those held in trust to meet some of our obligations under workers’ compensation and non-qualified supplemental executive retirement plans. On June 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, these marketable securities totaled $194 and $202, respectively, and were reflected at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheet in other current and noncurrent assets. See Note E for additional details.

Hedging Activities. We had notional forward exchange and interest rate swap contracts outstanding of $4.8 billion and $5.8 billion on June 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively. These derivative financial instruments are cash flow hedges, and are reflected at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheet in other current assets and liabilities. See Note E for additional details.

Changes in fair value (gains and losses) related to derivative financial instruments that qualify as cash flow hedges are deferred in AOCL until the underlying transaction is reflected in earnings. Alternatively, gains and losses on derivative financial instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting are recorded each period in earnings. All gains and losses from derivative financial instruments recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings are presented in the same line item as the underlying transaction, either operating costs and expenses or interest expense.

Net gains and losses recognized in earnings on derivative financial instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting were not material to our results of operations for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2019, and July 1, 2018. Net gains and losses reclassified to earnings from AOCL related to qualified hedges also were not material to our results of operations for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30,

2019, and July 1, 2018, and we do not expect the amount of these gains and losses that will be reclassified to earnings during the next 12 months to be material.

We had no material derivative financial instruments designated as fair value or net investment hedges on June 30, 2019, or December 31, 2018.

Foreign Currency Financial Statement Translation. We translate foreign currency balance sheets from our international businesses’ functional currency (generally the respective local currency) to U.S. dollars at the end-of-period exchange rates, and statements of earnings at the average exchange rates for each period. The resulting foreign currency translation adjustments are a component of AOCL.

We do not hedge the fluctuation in reported revenue and earnings resulting from the translation of these international operations’ results into U.S. dollars. The impact of translating our non-U.S. operations’ revenue into U.S. dollars was not material to our results of operations for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2019, or July 1, 2018. In addition, the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates on non-U.S. cash balances was not material for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2019, and July 1, 2018.