ESCO Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Results

St. Louis, Feb. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ESE) (ESCO, or the Company) today reported its operating results for the first quarter ended December 31, 2024 (Q1 2025).

Operating Highlights

Q1 2025 Sales increased $28.7 million (13.2 percent) to $247.0 million compared to $218.3 million in Q1 2024.
Q1 2025 Entered Orders were $275.0 million for a book-to-bill ratio of 1.11x, resulting in record backlog of $907 million.
Q1 2025 GAAP EPS increased 54 percent to $0.91 per share compared to $0.59 per share in Q1 2024.
Q1 2025 Adjusted EPS as defined in prior guidance increased 48 percent to $0.92 per share compared to $0.62 per share in Q1 2024.
Beginning in Q1 2025 we are excluding acquisition related amortization (which was $0.15 per share in Q1 2025) from our Adjusted EPS calculation. Q1 2025 Adjusted EPS excluding acquisition related amortization increased 41 percent to $1.07 per share compared to $0.76 per share in Q1 2024.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $34 million in Q1 2025, an increase of $25 million compared to the prior year period, as cash flow was positively impacted by higher net earnings and favorable working capital impacts.

Bryan Sayler, Chief Executive Officer and President, commented, “Our fiscal year got off to an outstanding start as we delivered 13 percent top line growth, over 200 basis points of Adjusted EBITDA margin expansion, and a 41 percent increase in Adjusted EPS compared to the prior year. All three segments delivered solid revenue growth, highlighted by notable strength across our Navy, commercial aerospace and utility end-markets. It was also great to see our Test business deliver a solid quarter with improving order flow, double digit revenue growth, and over 500 basis points of margin expansion.

“The ESCO team continues to build upon our strong position in attractive markets to increase value across the enterprise. Overall, it was a great way to start the year, with continuing momentum across our end markets giving us the confidence to raise our full year earnings guidance.”

Segment Performance

Aerospace & Defense (A&D)

Sales increased $19.6 million (21 percent) to $114.3 million in Q1 2025 from $94.7 million in Q1 2024. The Q1 increase was driven by strength in Navy and commercial aerospace, partially offset by lower defense aerospace.
Q1 2025 EBIT and Adjusted EBIT both increased $4.9 million to $21.6 million (18.9 percent margin) from $16.7 million (17.6 percent margin) in Q1 2024. Margin improvement was driven by leverage on higher volume and price increases, partially offset by inflationary pressures and mix.
Entered Orders decreased $51 million (30 percent) to $121 million in Q1 2025 compared to $172 million in Q1 2024. The decrease in orders was primarily driven by large Navy orders for Virginia Class Block V surface hull tiles and Block VI long lead material procurement for the Light-Weight Wide Aperture Array (LWWAA) in Q1 2024, partially offset by higher Q1 2025 Navy ejection valve and spares orders. Orders in the quarter resulted in a segment book-to-bill of 1.06x and record ending backlog of $607 million.

Utility Solutions Group (USG)

Sales increased $3.7 million (4 percent) to $86.7 million in Q1 2025 from $83.0 million in Q1 2024. Doble’s sales increased by $7.9 million (12 percent) driven by a strong quarter for offline and protection testing products and services. NRG sales decreased $4.2 million (22 percent) due to moderation in renewable energy projects in the quarter.
EBIT increased $2.9 million in Q1 2025 to $20.5 million from $17.6 million in Q1 2024. Adjusted EBIT increased $2.8 million to $20.5 million (23.6 percent margin) from $17.7 million (21.4 percent margin) in Q1 2024. Margin was favorably impacted by leverage on higher volume, price increases, and mix, partially offset by inflationary pressures.
Entered Orders increased $13 million (16 percent) to $90 million in Q1 2025. Doble orders increased by $10 million (15 percent) on strength across their product portfolio and highlighted by a $4.3 million order for offline test equipment at Phenix. NRG orders increased by $3 million in the quarter. The segment book-to-bill was 1.03x in the quarter and resulted in an ending backlog of $123 million.

RF Test & Measurement (Test)

Sales increased $5.5 million (13 percent) to $46.1 million in Q1 2025 from $40.6 million in Q1 2024. Sales growth primarily related to higher U.S. shielding, Test and Measurement in EMEA, and MPE filter sales.
EBIT increased $2.6 million in Q1 2025 to $4.4 million from $1.8 million in Q1 2024. Adjusted EBIT increased $2.8 million in Q1 2025 to $4.9 million (10.6 percent margin) from $2.1 million (5.1 percent margin) in Q1 2024. Margin was favorably impacted by leverage on higher volume, price increases, and cost reduction efforts, partially offset by inflationary pressures and mix.
Entered Orders increased $20 million (43 percent) to $65 million in Q1 2025. The increase was driven by a strong quarter for EMC Test & Measurement, A&D, and medical and industrial shielding orders. The segment book-to-bill was 1.41x in the quarter and resulted in ending backlog of $177 million.

Business Outlook – 2025
Beginning in Q1 2025, acquisition related amortization will be excluded from our Adjusted Earnings calculation. Our current assessment of FY 2025 acquisition related amortization does not include the impact of the pending SM&P acquisition. The initial fiscal 2025 guidance issued in our November press release is revised as follows:

	Guidance Range
November FY 2025 Adjusted EPS Guidance	$	4.70	$	4.90
Acquisition Related Amortization	$	0.60	$	0.60
Revised November FY 2025 Adjusted EPS Guidance	$	5.30	$	5.50

Due to strong market conditions and continued improvement in operational performance, we are raising our full-year guidance by $0.25 to a range of $5.55 to $5.75 (16 to 21 percent growth over the prior year) from $5.30 to $5.50. This guidance is in line with our initial revenue guidance range of $1.09 to $1.11 billion (6 to 8 percent annual growth).

	Guidance Range
Revised November FY 2025 Adjusted EPS Guidance	$	5.30	$	5.50
Guidance Increase	$	0.25	$	0.25
Revised FY 2025 Adjusted EPS Guidance	$	5.55	$	5.75

Management’s current expectation is for Q2 Adjusted EPS in the range of $1.20 to $1.30, which represents 10 to 19 percent growth over the prior year quarter.

	Guidance Range
Q2 2025 Adjusted EPS Guidance (prior methodology)	$	1.05	$	1.15
Acquisition Related Amortization	$	0.15	$	0.15
Q2 2025 Adjusted EPS Guidance	$	1.20	$	1.30

SM&P Acquisition
As announced on July 8, 2024, ESCO has agreed to acquire the Signature Management & Power (SM&P) business of Ultra Maritime for a purchase price of $550 million. The closing of the transaction is subject to certain conditions, including the completion of the regulatory approval processes in the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK). The US closing conditions have been met. We are in the final stages of the UK government assessment of the transaction and we are optimistic that the assessment will be positively resolved in the near term. Our current expectation would be to close the transaction either in our second or early in our third fiscal quarter. SM&P’s sole source product offerings will add significant scale to the ESCO Navy business, providing increased content on domestic Navy submarine and surface ship programs and expansion into vital UK and AUKUS navy platforms.

Dividend Payment
The next quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share will be paid on April 17, 2025 to stockholders of record on April 2, 2025.

Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call today, February 6, at 4:00 p.m. Central Time, to discuss the Company’s Q1 2025 results. A live audio webcast and an accompanying slide presentation will be available in the Investor Center of ESCO’s website. Participants may also access the webcast using this registration link. For those unable to participate, a webcast replay will be available after the call in the Investor Center of ESCO’s website.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release regarding Management’s intentions, expectations and guidance for fiscal 2025, including restructuring and cost reduction actions, sales, orders, revenues, margin, earnings, Adjusted EPS, acquisition related amortization, and any other statements which are not strictly historical, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. securities laws.

Investors are cautioned that such statements are only predictions and speak only as of the date of this presentation, and the Company undertakes no duty to update them except as may be required by applicable laws or regulations. The Company’s actual results in the future may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company’s operations and business environment including but not limited to those described in Item 1A, “Risk Factors”, of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024 and the following: the timing and outcome, if any, of the Company’s strategic alternatives review of VACCO and its Space business; of the Company’s pending acquisition of SM&P; the impacts of climate change and related regulation of greenhouse gases; the impacts of labor disputes, civil disorder, wars, elections, political changes, tariffs and trade disputes, terrorist activities, cyberattacks or natural disasters on the Company’s operations and those of the Company’s customers and suppliers; disruptions in manufacturing or delivery arrangements due to shortages or unavailability of materials or components or supply chain disruptions; inability to access work sites; the timing and content of future contract awards or customer orders; the timely appropriation, allocation and availability of Government funds; the termination for convenience of Government and other customer contracts or orders; weakening of economic conditions in served markets; the success of the Company’s competitors; changes in customer demands or customer insolvencies; competition; intellectual property rights; technical difficulties or data breaches; the availability of acquisitions; delivery delays or defaults by customers; performance issues with key customers, suppliers and subcontractors; material changes in the costs and availability of certain raw materials; material changes in the cost of credit; changes in laws and regulations including but not limited to changes in accounting standards and taxation; changes in interest, inflation and employment rates; costs relating to environmental matters arising from current or former facilities; uncertainty regarding the ultimate resolution of current disputes, claims, litigation or arbitration; and the integration and performance of acquired businesses.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The financial measures EBIT, Adjusted EBIT, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EPS are presented in this press release. The Company defines “EBIT” as earnings before interest and taxes, “EBITDA” as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, “Adjusted EBIT” and “Adjusted EBITDA” as excluding the net impact of the items described in the attached Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures, and “Adjusted EPS” as GAAP earnings per share excluding the net impact of the items described and reconciled in the attached Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.

EBIT, Adjusted EBIT, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EPS are not recognized in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, Management believes EBIT, Adjusted EBIT, EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA are useful in assessing the operational profitability of the Company’s business segments because they exclude interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, which are generally accounted for across the entire Company on a consolidated basis. EBIT is also one of the measures used by Management in determining resource allocations within the Company as well as incentive compensation. The presentation of EBIT, Adjusted EBIT, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EPS provides important supplemental information to investors by facilitating comparisons with other companies, many of which use similar non-GAAP financial measures to supplement their GAAP results. The use of non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to replace any measures of performance determined in accordance with GAAP.

About ESCO
ESCO is a global provider of highly engineered products and solutions serving diverse end-markets. It manufactures filtration and fluid control products for the aviation, Navy, space, and process markets worldwide and composite-based products and solutions for Navy, defense, and industrial customers. ESCO is an industry leader in designing and manufacturing RF test and measurement products and systems; and provides diagnostic instruments, software and services to industrial power users and the electric utility and renewable energy industries. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, ESCO and its subsidiaries have offices and manufacturing facilities worldwide. For more information on ESCO and its subsidiaries, visit the Company’s website at http://www.escotechnologies.com.

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

					Three Months Ended December 31, 2024				Three Months Ended December 31, 2023

Net Sales				$	247,026				218,314
Cost and Expenses:
		Cost of sales			148,642				134,151
		Selling, general and administrative expenses			58,784				53,968
		Amortization of intangible assets			7,993				7,868
		Interest expense			2,257				2,667
		Other (income) expenses, net			(591	)			206
			Total costs and expenses		217,085				198,860

Earnings before income taxes					29,941				19,454
Income tax expense					6,468				4,285

			Net earnings	$	23,473				15,169

			Earnings Per Share (EPS)

			Diluted – GAAP	$	0.91				0.59

			Diluted – As Adjusted Basis	$	1.07		(1	)	0.76	(2	)

			Diluted average common shares O/S:		25,834				25,846

(1	)	Q1 2025 Adjusted EPS excludes $0.16 per share of after-tax charges consisting primarily of $0.01 of restructuring charges within the Test segment and acquisition related costs at Corporate and $0.15 of acquisition related amortization.

(2	)	Q1 2024 Adjusted EPS excludes $0.17 per share of after-tax charges consisting primarily of $0.03 of MPE acquisition inventory step-up and backlog charges and acquisition related costs and $0.14 of acquisition related amortization.

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Business Segment Information (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)

				GAAP				As Adjusted
				Q1 2025		Q1 2024		Q1 2025		Q1 2024
Net Sales
	Aerospace & Defense		$	114,301		94,733		114,301		94,733
	USG			86,660		82,984		86,660		82,984
	Test			46,065		40,597		46,065		40,597
		Totals	$	247,026		218,314		247,026		218,314

EBIT
	Aerospace & Defense		$	21,596		16,663		21,622		16,663
	USG			20,489		17,625		20,489		17,745
	Test			4,422		1,779		4,887		2,052
	Corporate			(14,309	)	(13,946	)	(9,310	)	(8,600	)
		Consolidated EBIT		32,198		22,121		37,688		27,860
		Less: Interest expense		(2,257	)	(2,667	)	(2,257	)	(2,667	)
		Less: Income tax expense		(6,468	)	(4,285	)	(7,730	)	(5,605	)
		Net earnings	$	23,473		15,169		27,701		19,588

Note 1: Adjusted net earnings of $27.7 million in Q1 2025 exclude $4.2 million (or $0.16 per share) of after-tax charges consisting primarily of restructuring charges within the Test segment and acquisition related costs at Corporate, and acquisition related amortization.

Note 2: Adjusted net earnings of $19.6 million in Q1 2024 exclude $4.4 million (or $0.17 per share) of after-tax charges consisting primarily of MPE acquisition inventory step-up and backlog charges and acquisition related costs, and acquisition related amortization.

EBITDA Reconciliation to Net earnings:								Adjusted		Adjusted
				Q1 2025		Q1 2024		Q1 2025		Q1 2024
Consolidated EBITDA			$	46,005		35,573		46,498		36,408
Less: Depr & Amort				(13,807	)	(13,452	)	(8,810	)	(8,548	)
Consolidated EBIT				32,198		22,121		37,688		27,860
Less: Interest expense				(2,257	)	(2,667	)	(2,257	)	(2,667	)
Less: Income tax expense				(6,468	)	(4,285	)	(7,730	)	(5,605	)
Net earnings			$	23,473		15,169		27,701		19,588

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)

				December 31, 2024	September 30, 2024

Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	71,284	65,963
	Accounts receivable, net			202,661	240,680
	Contract assets			131,404	130,534
	Inventories			219,383	209,164
	Other current assets			20,779	22,308
		Total current assets		645,511	668,649
	Property, plant and equipment, net			168,468	170,596
	Intangible assets, net			396,302	407,602
	Goodwill			532,312	539,899
	Operating lease assets			38,710	37,744
	Other assets			13,761	14,130
			$	1,795,064	1,838,620

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
	Current maturities of long-term debt		$	20,000	20,000
	Accounts payable			75,881	98,371
	Contract liabilities			129,737	124,845
	Other current liabilities			90,491	106,638
		Total current liabilities		316,109	349,854
	Deferred tax liabilities			75,520	75,333
	Non-current operating lease liabilities			36,400	34,810
	Other liabilities			38,102	39,273
	Long-term debt			92,000	102,000
	Shareholders’ equity			1,236,933	1,237,350
			$	1,795,064	1,838,620

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Dollars in thousands)

		Three Months Ended December 31, 2024		Three Months Ended December 31, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$	23,473		15,169
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		13,807		13,452
Stock compensation expense		2,524		2,180
Changes in assets and liabilities		(7,151	)	(22,539	)
Effect of deferred taxes		1,521		484
Net cash provided by operating activities		34,174		8,746

Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired		–		(56,179	)
Capital expenditures		(5,208	)	(7,848	)
Additions to capitalized software		(2,587	)	(2,942	)
Net cash used by investing activities		(7,795	)	(66,969	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt		42,000		99,000
Principal payments on long-term debt and short-term borrowings		(52,000	)	(29,000	)
Dividends paid		(2,064	)	(2,064	)
Purchases of common stock into treasury		–		–
Other		(6,031	)	(1,432	)
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities		(18,095	)	66,504

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(2,963	)	1,249

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		5,321		9,530
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		65,963		41,866
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	71,284		51,396

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Other Selected Financial Data (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)

Backlog And Entered Orders – Q1 2025			A&D		USG		Test		Total
	Beginning Backlog – 10/1/24	$	600,382		119,943		158,644		878,969
	Entered Orders		120,606		89,574		64,825		275,005
	Sales		(114,301	)	(86,660	)	(46,065	)	(247,026	)
	Ending Backlog – 12/31/24	$	606,687		122,857		177,404		906,948

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)

EPS – Adjusted Basis Reconciliation – Q1 2025
	EPS – GAAP Basis – Q1 2025	$	0.91
	Adjustments (defined below)		0.16
	EPS – As Adjusted Basis – Q1 2025	$	1.07

	Adjustments exclude $0.16 per share consisting primarily of $0.01 of restructuring
	charges within the Test segment and acquisition related costs at Corporate and
	$0.15 of acquisition related amortization.
	The $0.16 of EPS adjustments per share consists of $5,490K of pre-tax charges
	offset by $1,262K of tax benefit for net impact of $4,228K.

EPS – Adjusted Basis Reconciliation – Q1 2024
	EPS – GAAP Basis – Q1 2024	$	0.59
	Adjustments (defined below)		0.17
	EPS – As Adjusted Basis – Q1 2024	$	0.76

	Adjustments exclude $0.17 per share consisting primarily of $0.03 of MPE
	acquisition inventory step-up and backlog charges and acquisition related costs and
	$0.14 of acquisition related amortization.
	The $0.17 of EPS adjustments per share consists of $5,739K of pre-tax charges
	offset by $1,320K of tax benefit for net impact of $4,419K.

EPS – Adjusted Basis Reconciliation – Q2 2025 Guidance			Low	High
	EPS – GAAP Basis – Q2 2025	$	1.05	1.15
	Adjustments (defined below)		0.15	0.15
	EPS – As Adjusted Basis – Q2 2025	$	1.20	1.30

	Adjustments exclude an estimated $0.15 of acquisition related amortization.
	The estimated $0.15 of EPS adjustment per share consists of $5.0 million of pre-tax charges
	offset by $1.15 million of tax benefit for net impact of $3.85 million.

EPS – Adjusted Basis Reconciliation – FY 2025 Guidance			Low	High
	EPS – GAAP Basis – FY 2025	$	4.94	5.14
	Adjustments (defined below)		0.61	0.61
	EPS – As Adjusted Basis – FY 2025	$	5.55	5.75

	Adjustments exclude $0.61 per share consisting primarily of $0.01 of restructuring charges within
	the Test segment and acquisition related costs at Corporate and an estimated $0.60 of acquisition
	related amortization. The estimated $0.61 of EPS adjustments per share consists of $20.5
	million of pre-tax charges offset by $4.7 million of tax benefits for net impact of $15.8 million.