Customers Pay Before the Factory BuildsNarrow moat

GE Vernova (GEV) — moat facet

GE Vernova's customers had prepaid $39.9 billion by June 2026, more than three times the shareholders' equity.

The queue pays GE Vernova in advance. Contract liabilities and deferred income were $39,944 million at 30 June 2026, up from $25,774 million at the end of 20251. Equity attributable to shareholders was $11,957 million2, so customer deposits are about 3.3 times the shareholders' stake3.

Contract liabilities and deferred income ($M)17,587Dec 202425,774Dec 202539,944Jun 2026GE Vernova Forms 10-K FY2025 and 10-Q Q2 2026
Customer deposits more than doubled in eighteen months.

That is a moat in cash form. A customer who pays years ahead for a production slot is financing the maker's working capital, and it only does so because it cannot get the machine elsewhere sooner. The increase in contract liabilities added $8,019 million to operating cash flow in 2025, against $2,799 million in 20244.

The deposits explain why a company with modest operating profits has so much cash: $13,120 million at June 20265. Free cash flow in the first half of 2026 was $9,897 million6, more than all of 2025.

The deposits are also a measure of confidence in the counterparty. Customers are prepaying for turbines they will run for decades, and they are prepaying GE Vernova rather than a smaller supplier.

The deposits are also why the balance sheet looks unusual. At the end of 2025 current liabilities were $40,972 million against current assets of $40,216 million7, and contract liabilities and deferred income were the largest single current liability at $25,774 million8. A company that owes its customers more than it holds in cash has been paid for work it has not yet done.

Contract liabilities, reported every quarter, carry the verdict. Growth from $25.8 billion to $39.9 billion in six months says the queue is lengthening; a quarter in which they fall while orders are flat would say the deposits are being worked off and not replaced.

Moat trajectory: Widening

Contract liabilities $17.6bn (2024) to $25.8bn (2025) to $39.9bn (June 2026).

The number that tests this moat
Reported
Contract liabilities and deferred income, latest quarter
$39,944M (30 June 2026), from $25,774M at end-2025

Customer money paid ahead of delivery; a fall with flat orders would mean the queue is shortening.

Source: GE Vernova Form 10-Q, Q2 2026 ↗
⚠ Threats to the moat
⚠ THREAT 01
Without the Deposits, 2025 Cash Flow Was Negative
GE Vernova's 2025 operating cash flow would have been negative without $8 billion of new customer deposits.
References
  1. ReportedContract liabilities and deferred income were $39,944 million at 30 June 2026, up from $25,774 million at the end of 2025.
    GE Vernova Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 30 June 2026 - the balance sheet, contract liabilities, borrowings, remaining performance obligations, orders and sales in units, business-unit revenue and the Prolec GE acquisition. — Q2 2026 · publ. 22 July 2026 · source ↗
  2. ReportedEquity attributable to shareholders was $11,957 million, so customer deposits are about 3.3 times the shareholders' stake.
    GE Vernova Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 30 June 2026 - the balance sheet, contract liabilities, borrowings, remaining performance obligations, orders and sales in units, business-unit revenue and the Prolec GE acquisition. — Q2 2026 · publ. 22 July 2026 · source ↗
  3. Moat Explorer calcEquity attributable to shareholders was $11,957 million, so customer deposits are about 3.3 times the shareholders' stake.
    Moat Explorer calculation from GE Vernova's Forms 10-K and 10-Q, the Form 10 information statement, results releases and market data ($ millions unless stated). Equipment gross profit = sales of equipment less cost of equipment: 18,831 - 18,654 = 177 (2021, 0.9%); 15,819 - 16,972 = -1,153 (2022, -7.3%); 18,258 - 18,705 = -447 (2023, -2.4%); 18,952 - 17,989 = 963 (2024, 5.1%); 20,934 - 18,759 = 2,175 (2025, 10.4%). Services gross profit: 14,175 - 9,407 = 4,768 (2021, 33.6%); 13,835 - 9,224 = 4,611 (2022, 33.3%); 14,981 - 9,716 = 5,265 (2023, 35.1%); 15,983 - 10,861 = 5,122 (2024, 32.0%); 17,134 - 11,774 = 5,360 (2025, 31.3%). Services share of gross profit 5,360 / 7,535 = 71.1% (2025); 5,122 / 6,085 = 84.2% (2024); 5,265 / 4,818 = 109% (2023). Services share of revenue 17,134 / 38,068 = 45.0%. Power services share of Power revenue 13,081 / 19,767 = 66.2%. Gas Power share of revenue 16,006 / 38,068 = 42.0%. Gas turbines under long-term service agreements 1,800 / 7,000 = 26%; onshore wind turbines under service agreements 24,000 / 59,000 = 41%. RPO: services share 85,993 / 150,238 = 57.2%; services RPO growth 85,993 / 75,976 - 1 = 13.2%; equipment RPO growth 64,245 / 43,047 - 1 = 49.2%; total RPO growth 150,238 / 119,023 - 1 = 26.2%; Power share of RPO at 30 June 2026 111,649 / 176,284 = 63.3%; Power equipment RPO 24,707 / 12,461 = 1.98 times; 39,261 / 24,707 - 1 = 59%. Electrification RPO 34,667 / 8,971 = 3.9 times (2022-2025); 34,667 / 9,642 = 3.6 years of 2025 segment revenue. Services RPO beyond 15 years 100% - 91% = 9%. Gas turbine backlog plus slot reservations at 30 June 2026 53 + 63 = 116 GW; 116 / 20 GW a year = 5.8 years of output. Gas turbine orders 173 / 112 - 1 = 54% (units), 29.8 / 20.2 - 1 = 48% (GW). Operating cash flow less the increase in contract liabilities 4,987 - 8,019 = -3,032 (2025). Net cash = cash less borrowings: 8,848 - 289 = 8,559 (31 Dec 2025); 13,120 - 2,849 = 10,271 (30 June 2026). Contract liabilities / equity attributable 39,944 / 11,957 = 3.3 times; contract liabilities less cash 39,944 - 13,120 = 26,824. Geography 2025: US 17,341 / 38,068 = 45.6%; US growth 17,341 / 12,467 - 1 = 39.1% (2023-2025); US share of pre-tax income 78 / 2,828 = 2.8%. Wind segment EBITDA 2021-2025 176 - 1,710 - 1,033 - 588 - 598 = -3,753; Offshore Wind contract losses 637 + 1,005 + 379 = 2,021 (2023-2025); Offshore Wind revenue 652 / 1,377 - 1 = -52.7%; Wind orders in units 854 / 2,290 - 1 = -62.7% (2023-2025); Wind revenue 9,110 / 9,701 - 1 = -6.1%; H1 2026 Wind EBITDA margin -657 / 3,459 = -19.0%. Power share of 2025 segment EBITDA 2,902 / (2,902 - 598 + 1,433) = 77.7%. Segment revenue growth 2025: Power 19,767 / 18,127 - 1 = 9.0%; Electrification 9,642 / 7,550 - 1 = 27.7%; revenue 38,068 / 34,935 - 1 = 9.0%. Growth 2021-2025 a year: Electrification (9,642 / 5,292)^(1/4) - 1 = 16.2%; Power (19,767 / 16,729)^(1/4) - 1 = 4.3%; Electrification 2023-2025 9,642 / 6,378 - 1 = 51.2%. Grid Solutions 6,620 / 3,226 - 1 = 105% (2021-2025); Nuclear Power 1,018 / 699 - 1 = 45.6% (2022-2025); Steam Power 1,937 / 3,270 - 1 = -40.8% (2021-2025). Electrification segment assets 21,000 / 9,017 = 2.3 times. Return on invested capital: invested capital = total assets less current liabilities less cash: 63,016 - 40,972 - 8,848 = 13,196 (2025); 51,485 - 31,685 - 8,205 = 11,595 (2024); average 12,395.5. NOPAT at an assumed 21% tax rate on operating income 1,388 x 0.79 = 1,096.5, ROIC 1,096.5 / 12,395.5 = 8.8% (2025); 2024 on year-end capital 471 x 0.79 / 11,595 = 3.2%. Adjusted basis: (adjusted EBITDA 3,196 - depreciation and amortization 847) x 0.79 = 1,855.7, / 12,395.5 = 15.0%. Capex / revenue 1,277 / 38,068 = 3.4%; capex growth 1,277 / 744 - 1 = 72% (2023-2025). 2025 capital returns 275 + 3,316 = 3,591. Average 2025 buyback price 3,316 / 8.2M shares = about $404. Shares outstanding 266,333,581 / 275,880,314 - 1 = -3.5% (Dec 2024 - June 2026). Dividends 2025 4 x $0.25 = $1.00. Valuation: P/E = market value / net income: 90.60 / 1.552 = 58.4 (2024); 177.33 / 4.884 = 36.3 (2025); trailing 255.05 / 9.529 = 26.8; 2025 excluding the $2.9bn tax benefit 4,884 - 2,900 = 1,984, 177.33 / 1.984 = 89. P/S 90.60 / 34.935 = 2.59; 177.33 / 38.068 = 4.66; 255.05 / 41.367 = 6.17. Trailing revenue 38,068 + 20,442 - 17,143 = 41,367; trailing net income 4,884 + 5,413 - 768 = 9,529; trailing net income less the Prolec gain 9,529 - 3,992 = 5,537. Forward EPS 957.63 / 45.68 = 20.96. Analyst target 1,237.34 / 957.63 - 1 = 29%. Price 957.63 / 1,195.94 - 1 = -20% from the 52-week high. 2026 guidance: revenue midpoint (45.5 + 46.5) / 2 = 46.0bn; adjusted EBITDA at 12%-14% of 46.0bn = 5.5-6.4bn; free cash flow midpoint 12.0bn; H1 revenue 20,442 / 46,000 = 44%; H1 free cash flow 9,897 / 12,000 = 82%. Wind 2026 EBITDA loss about 400 against 2025 598. Services RPO / 2025 services revenue 85,993 / 17,134 = 5.0 times; services RPO beyond five years 100% - 52% = 48%. Electrification orders / revenue 19.3 / 9.642 = 2.0 times; Electrification services / revenue 2,263 / 9,642 = 23.5%; Electrification 2026 EBITDA at 18% of 14.5bn = 2.61bn. Prolec gain / trailing net income 3,992 / 9,529 = 42%. 2025 tax benefit / net income 2,900 / 4,884 = 59%. Gas turbine market share 64.5 - 18.5 = 46.0 for the other four of the top five. Share price 957.63 / 327.79 = 2.9 times. Cumulative segment EBITDA 2021-2025: Power 1,407 + 1,655 + 1,722 + 2,268 + 2,902 = 9,954; Electrification -461 - 164 + 234 + 679 + 1,433 = 1,721. Adjusted EBITDA margin 807 / 33,239 = 2.4% (2023); 2,035 / 34,935 = 5.8% (2024). Power share of total revenue 19,767 / 38,068 = 51.9%; Gas Power share of Power 16,006 / 19,767 = 81%; Nuclear share of Power 1,018 / 19,767 = 5.2%; Grid Solutions share of Electrification 6,620 / 9,642 = 68.7%. Electrification revenue 9,642 / 5,076 - 1 = 90% (2022-2025). Wind revenue 9,110 / 11,539 - 1 = -21% (2021-2025); Wind share of revenue 9,110 / 38,068 = 23.9%. Segment EBITDA of the three segments 2,902 - 598 + 1,433 = 3,737. Q2 2026 orders / 2025 orders 24.2 / 59.3 = 41%. Electrification and other RPO at 30 June 2026 176,284 - 111,649 - 20,388 = 44,247. Power equipment RPO 39,261 / 12,461 = 3.2 times (Dec 2024 - June 2026). 2026 guidance midpoints: revenue 41.5 (Dec 2025), 44.5 (Jan 2026), 45.0 (Apr 2026), 46.0 (Jul 2026); free cash flow 4.75, 5.25, 7.0, 12.0. Market value 255.05 / 35.71 = 7.1 times the when-issued value. R&D / revenue 1,197 / 38,068 = 3.1%. Trailing revenue growth over 2024 41,367 / 34,935 - 1 = 18%. Power orders share 32.8 / 59.3 = 55%. Wind services / Power services 1,859 / 13,081 = 14%; onshore wind units / gas turbine units 59,000 / 7,000 = 8.4. Power services RPO / Power services revenue 69,841 / 13,081 = 5.3 years. Electrification H1 2026 EBITDA margin 1,200 / 6,597 = 18.2%; Power H1 2026 1,842 / 10,449 = 17.6%. Return on equity 2025 4,884 / ((11,178 + 9,546) / 2 = 10,362) = 47.1%; excluding the tax benefit (4,884 - 2,900) / 10,362 = 19.1%. Q2 2026 capex implied by operating cash flow less free cash flow 5,492 - 5,107 = 385. SG&A / revenue 5,360 / 29,654 = 18.1% (2022); 4,949 / 38,068 = 13.0% (2025). Cost of services growth 11,774 - 9,716 = 2,058; services revenue growth 17,134 - 14,981 = 2,153 (2023-2025). Electrification 2026 guide without Prolec (14.5 - 3.1) / 9.642 - 1 = 18%; (15.0 - 3.1) / 9.642 - 1 = 23%. HA installed base growth 51 / 126 = 40%. Contract liabilities / receivables at end-2025 25,774 / 9,803 = 2.6 times; receivables / revenue 9,803 / 38,068 = 26%. Backlog target progress (176.3 - 135) / (200 - 135) = 64%. Heavy-duty orders Q2 2026 / 2025 52 / 110 = 47%. Average capacity per gas turbine sold 15.3 / 81 = 0.19 GW (2025); 11.1 / 101 = 0.11 GW (2022). Equity / contract liabilities 11,957 / 39,944 = 30%. Cost of services growth 2,058 / 9,716 = 21%; services revenue growth 2,153 / 14,981 = 14% (2023-2025). Gas turbine orders / sales 29.8 / 15.3 = 1.9 (2025). Electrification share of guided 2026 revenue 14.75 / 46.0 = 32%; of 2025 revenue 9,642 / 38,068 = 25%. Electrification share of 2025 orders 19.3 / 59.3 = 33%. Aeroderivative orders 63 / 44 - 1 = 43% - gross margins, revenue mix and geography. — 2021-2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in GE Vernova's Forms 10-K and 10-Q, the Form 10 information statement, results releases and market data; operands shown in the source line. The 21% tax rate used for NOPAT is the US federal statutory rate, an assumption, because the 2025 reported tax line is a benefit.
  4. ReportedThe increase in contract liabilities added $8,019 million to operating cash flow in 2025, against $2,799 million in 2024.
    GE Vernova Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 - financial statements: income, balance sheet, cash flow, taxes and capital returns. — FY2025 · publ. 29 January 2026 · source ↗
  5. ReportedThe deposits explain why a company with modest operating profits has so much cash: $13,120 million at June 2026.
    GE Vernova Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 30 June 2026 - the balance sheet, contract liabilities, borrowings, remaining performance obligations, orders and sales in units, business-unit revenue and the Prolec GE acquisition. — Q2 2026 · publ. 22 July 2026 · source ↗
  6. ReportedFree cash flow in the first half of 2026 was $9,897 million, more than all of 2025.
    GE Vernova second-quarter 2026 results release (Form 8-K exhibit) - orders, revenue, segment EBITDA, free cash flow, the gas turbine backlog and slot reservations, data-centre orders and raised 2026 guidance - second-quarter results, orders, backlog and gas turbine slots. — Q2 2026 · publ. 22 July 2026 · source ↗
  7. ReportedAt the end of 2025 current liabilities were $40,972 million against current assets of $40,216 million, and contract liabilities and deferred income were the largest single current liability at $25,774 million.
    GE Vernova Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 - financial statements: income, balance sheet, cash flow, taxes and capital returns. — FY2025 · publ. 29 January 2026 · source ↗
  8. ReportedAt the end of 2025 current liabilities were $40,972 million against current assets of $40,216 million, and contract liabilities and deferred income were the largest single current liability at $25,774 million.
    GE Vernova Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 - financial statements: income, balance sheet, cash flow, taxes and capital returns. — FY2025 · publ. 29 January 2026 · source ↗
Sources
Generated September 28, 2026