Bay Street News

ESCO Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2024 Results

St. Louis, Nov. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ESE) (ESCO, or the Company) today reported its operating results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2024 (Q4 2024 and FY 2024, respectively).

Operating Highlights

Bryan Sayler, Chief Executive Officer and President, commented, “We finished the year strong with a solid Q4, highlighted by 9 percent sales growth, 130 basis points of Adjusted EBIT margin improvement, and a 17 percent increase in Adjusted EPS. It was great to see all three segments deliver sales growth and margin improvement in the quarter.   We were also able to offset the impacts of profitability erosion on Space development programs at VACCO through outstanding performance across our other businesses. PTI and Crissair in particular delivered excellent results in the quarter.   

“Overall, it was a great year as we delivered record financial performance and notably eclipsed the $1 billion mark on sales and orders.   I would like to thank our entire team for their hard work and dedication in achieving these excellent results. We could not deliver multiple record years in a row without the strong and engaged teams that exist across the Company.   

“As we enter 2025 there is a lot to be excited about across the company and we continue to see strong growth drivers in place across our core aerospace, Navy, and electric power end markets.”   

Segment Performance

Aerospace & Defense (A&D)

Utility Solutions Group (USG)

RF Test & Measurement (Test)

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. The UK government is currently assessing the transaction, and we are optimistic that the assessment will be positively resolved. Our current expectation would be to close the transaction in our second 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.

Business Outlook – 2025
Management expects growth in sales, Adjusted EBIT, and Adjusted EBITDA across each of the Company’s business segments in 2025. Our FY 2025 guidance excludes the impacts of:

Management’s expectations for growth in 2025 compared to 2024:

VACCO Space Business Strategic Review
The Company is in the process of conducting a strategic review of alternatives for the Space business at VACCO. The intent is to optimize ESCO’s portfolio of businesses and create value for ESCO shareholders. This decision was made as part of our continual strategic portfolio analysis, which is focused on positioning the Company to serve high-growth markets that have high-margin potential. As we conduct this review, we remain committed to executing on our current Space programs and serving the needs of our customers. VACCO operates two distinct product lines today, Space and Defense. As this review has evolved, our key consideration has become the feasibility of splitting these two businesses apart.

There is no deadline or definitive timetable for completion of the strategic alternatives review process and there can be no assurance that this process will result in the Company pursuing a transaction or any other strategic outcome. The Company does not intend to make any further public comment regarding the review of strategic alternatives for the Space business at VACCO until it has been completed or the Company determines that a disclosure is required or otherwise deemed appropriate.

Share Repurchase Program
The Company did not repurchase any shares of stock during Q4 2024. During FY 2024 the Company repurchased approximately 80,000 shares for $8 million.

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

2025 Annual Meeting
The 2025 Annual Meeting of the Company’s shareholders will be held on February 4, 2025.

Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call today, November 14, at 4:00 p.m. Central Time, to discuss the Company’s Q4 2024 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, 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 release, 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, 2023 and the following: the timing and outcome, if any, of the Company’s strategic alternatives review for the Space business at VACCO; 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.

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 www.escotechnologies.com.

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)  
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)  
    
          Three Months
Ended
September 30,
2024
  Three Months
Ended
September 30,
2023
 
                 
Net Sales   $ 298,533   272,647  
Cost and Expenses:          
  Cost of sales   178,808   164,424  
  Selling, general and administrative expenses   59,995   56,555  
  Amortization of intangible assets   8,219   7,930  
  Interest expense   6,019   2,347  
  Other expenses (income), net   1,450   199  
    Total costs and expenses   254,491   231,455  
                 
Earnings before income taxes   44,042   41,192  
Income tax expense   9,779   9,195  
                 
    Net earnings $ 34,263   31,997  
                 
  Earnings Per Share (EPS)          
                 
    Diluted – GAAP $ 1.32   1.24  
                 
    Diluted – As Adjusted Basis $ 1.46 (1 ) 1.25 (2 )
                 
    Diluted average common shares O/S:   25,854   25,862  
                 
(1 ) Q4 2024 Adjusted EPS excludes $0.14 per share of after-tax charges consisting primarily of $0.09 of debt financing and $0.03 of acquisition costs at Corporate related to the pending SM&P acquisition that was announced in July 2024, and $0.02 of restructuring charges (primarily severance) in the A&D segment.
                 
(2 ) Q4 2023 Adjusted EPS excludes $0.01 per share of after-tax restructuring charges primarily at Westland (severance and asset write-off).

   
   

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)  
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)  
    
          Year Ended
September 30,
2024
  Year Ended
September 30,
2023
 
                 
Net Sales   $ 1,026,759   956,033  
Cost and Expenses:          
  Cost of sales   622,741   580,377  
  Selling, general and administrative expenses   224,015   217,110  
  Amortization of intangible assets   32,804   28,953  
  Interest expense   15,247   8,769  
  Other expenses (income), net   2,063   1,877  
    Total costs and expenses   896,870   837,086  
                 
Earnings before income taxes   129,889   118,947  
Income tax expense   28,008   26,402  
                 
    Net earnings $ 101,881   92,545  
                 
  Earnings Per Share (EPS)          
                 
    Diluted – GAAP $ 3.94   3.58  
                 
    Diluted – As Adjusted Basis $ 4.18 (1 ) 3.70 (2 )
                 
    Diluted average common shares O/S:   25,872   25,879  
                 
(1 ) FY 24 Adjusted EPS excludes $0.24 per share of after-tax charges consisting primarily of $0.09 of debt financing and $0.06 of acquisition costs at Corporate related to the pending SM&P acquisition that was announced in July 2024; $0.05 of restructuring charges (primarily severance) in the A&D, Test and USG segments; and $0.04 of MPE acquisition backlog and inventory step-up charges.
                 
(2 ) FY 23 Adjusted EPS excludes $0.12 per share of after-tax charges consisting of $0.06 of executive management transition costs at Corporate, $0.02 of CMT acquisition inventory step-up charges, $0.03 of restructuring charges within the A&D segment and $0.01 of Corporate acquisition related costs.

   
   

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Business Segment Information (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
   
        GAAP   As Adjusted  
        Q4 2024   Q4 2023   Q4 2024   Q4 2023  
Net Sales                  
  Aerospace & Defense $ 124,291     107,009     124,291     107,009    
  USG   108,491     102,148     108,491     102,148    
  Test   65,751     63,490     65,751     63,490    
    Totals $ 298,533     272,647     298,533     272,647    
                       
EBIT                    
  Aerospace & Defense $ 23,351     18,647     24,170     19,075    
  USG   28,563     26,179     28,593     26,242    
  Test   12,015     11,115     12,015     11,115    
  Corporate   (13,868 )   (12,402 )   (12,955 )   (12,402 )  
    Consolidated EBIT   50,061     43,539     51,823     44,030    
    Less: Interest expense   (6,019 )   (2,347 )   (2,969 )   (2,347 )  
    Less: Income tax expense   (9,779 )   (9,195 )   (10,886 )   (9,308 )  
    Net earnings $ 34,263     31,997     37,968     32,375    
                          
Note 1: Adjusted net earnings of $38.0 million in Q4 2024 exclude $3.7 million (or $0.14 per share) of after-tax charges consisting primarily of $0.12 of debt financing and acquisition costs at Corporate related to the pending SM&P acquisition that was announced in July 2024 and $0.02 of restructuring charges (primarily severance) in the A&D segment.
                       
Note 2: Adjusted net earnings of $32.4 million in Q4 2023 exclude $0.4 million (or $0.01 per share) of after-tax restructuring charges primarily at Westland (severance and asset write-off)
                       
EBITDA Reconciliation to Net earnings:           Q4 2024   Q4 2023  
        Q4 2024   Q4 2023   As Adjusted   As Adjusted  
Consolidated EBITDA $ 64,112     56,363     65,874     56,854    
Less: Depr & Amort   (14,051 )   (12,824 )   (14,051 )   (12,824 )  
Consolidated EBIT   50,061     43,539     51,823     44,030    
Less: Interest expense   (6,019 )   (2,347 )   (2,969 )   (2,347 )  
Less: Income tax expense   (9,779 )   (9,195 )   (10,886 )   (9,308 )  
Net earnings $ 34,263     31,997     37,968     32,375    
                       

    
   

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Business Segment Information (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
   
        GAAP   As Adjusted  
        FY 2024   FY 2023   FY 2024   FY 2023  
Net Sales                  
  Aerospace & Defense $ 448,175     392,443     448,175     392,443    
  USG   369,061     342,320     369,061     342,320    
  Test   209,523     221,270     209,523     221,270    
    Totals $ 1,026,759     956,033     1,026,759     956,033    
                       
EBIT                    
  Aerospace & Defense $ 84,747     71,643     85,917     73,070    
  USG   85,918     76,722     86,143     76,915    
  Test   28,629     32,395     29,110     32,395    
  Corporate   (54,158 )   (53,044 )   (51,079 )   (50,531 )  
    Consolidated EBIT   145,136     127,716     150,091     131,849    
    Less: Interest expense   (15,247 )   (8,769 )   (12,197 )   (8,769 )  
    Less: Income tax expense   (28,008 )   (26,402 )   (29,849 )   (27,353 )  
    Net earnings $ 101,881     92,545     108,045     95,727    
                          
Note 1: Adjusted net earnings of $108.0 million in FY 2024 exclude $6.2 million (or $0.24 per share) of after-tax charges consisting primarily of $0.15 of debt financing and acquisition costs at Corporate related to the pending SM&P acquisition that was announced in July 2024; $0.05 of restructuring charges (primarily severance) in the A&D, Test and USG segments; and $0.04 of MPE acquisition backlog and inventory step-up charges.
                       
Note 2: Adjusted net earnings of $95.7 million in FY 2023 exclude $3.2 million (or $0.12 per share) of after-tax charges consisting of $0.06 of executive management transition costs at Corporate, $0.02 of CMT acquisition inventory step-up charges, $0.03 of restructuring charges within the A&D segment, and $0.01 of Corporate acquisition related costs.
                       
EBITDA Reconciliation to Net earnings:           FY 2024   FY 2023  
        FY 2024   FY 2023   As Adjusted   As Adjusted  
Consolidated EBITDA $ 200,545     178,239     204,664     182,372    
Less: Depr & Amort   (55,409 )   (50,523 )   (54,573 )   (50,523 )  
Consolidated EBIT   145,136     127,716     150,091     131,849    
Less: Interest expense   (15,247 )   (8,769 )   (12,197 )   (8,769 )  
Less: Income tax expense   (28,008 )   (26,402 )   (29,849 )   (27,353 )  
Net earnings $ 101,881     92,545     108,045     95,727    
                       

   
   

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
   
        September 30,
2024
  September 30,
2023
             
Assets          
  Cash and cash equivalents $ 65,963   41,866
  Accounts receivable, net   240,680   198,557
  Contract assets   130,534   138,633
  Inventories   209,164   184,067
  Other current assets   22,308   17,972
    Total current assets   668,649   581,095
  Property, plant and equipment, net   170,596   155,484
  Intangible assets, net   407,602   392,124
  Goodwill   539,899   503,177
  Operating lease assets   37,744   39,839
  Other assets   14,130   11,495
      $ 1,838,620   1,683,214
             
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity        
  Current maturities of long-term debt $ 20,000   20,000
  Accounts payable   98,371   86,973
  Contract liabilities   124,845   112,277
  Other current liabilities   106,638   95,401
    Total current liabilities   349,854   314,651
  Deferred tax liabilities   75,333   75,531
  Non-current operating lease liabilities   34,810   36,554
  Other liabilities   39,273   43,336
  Long-term debt   102,000   82,000
  Shareholders’ equity   1,237,350   1,131,142
      $ 1,838,620   1,683,214

   
   

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Dollars in thousands)
       
    Year Ended September 30,
2024
  Year Ended September 30,
2023
Cash flows from operating activities:        
Net earnings $ 101,881     92,545  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash        
provided by operating activities:        
Depreciation and amortization   55,409     50,523  
Stock compensation expense   8,599     8,910  
Changes in assets and liabilities   (29,385 )   (68,821 )
Effect of deferred taxes   (8,962 )   (6,267 )
Net cash provided by operating activities   127,542     76,890  
         
Cash flows from investing activities:        
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired   (56,383 )   (17,694 )
Capital expenditures   (36,166 )   (22,377 )
Additions to capitalized software   (12,090 )   (12,397 )
Net cash used by investing activities   (104,639 )   (52,468 )
         
Cash flows from financing activities:        
Proceeds from long-term debt   217,000     103,000  
Principal payments on long-term debt and short-term borrowings   (197,000 )   (154,000 )
Dividends paid   (8,246 )   (8,252 )
Purchases of common stock into treasury   (7,998 )   (12,401 )
Debt issuance costs   (2,988 )   (1,826 )
Other   (1,541 )   (4,851 )
Net cash used by financing activities   (773 )   (78,330 )
         
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents   1,967     (1,950 )
         
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   24,097     (55,858 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period   41,866     97,724  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 65,963     41,866  

   
   

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Other Selected Financial Data (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
   
Backlog And Entered Orders – Q4 2024   A&D   USG   Test   Total
  Beginning Backlog – 7/1/24 $ 594,742     128,890     165,027     888,659  
  Entered Orders   129,931     99,544     59,368     288,843  
  Sales     (124,291 )   (108,491 )   (65,751 )   (298,533 )
  Ending Backlog – 9/30/24 $ 600,382     119,943     158,644     878,969  
                     
                     
                     
Backlog And Entered Orders – FY 2024   A&D   USG   Test   Total
  Beginning Backlog – 10/1/23 $ 484,069     133,459     154,834     772,362  
  Entered Orders   564,488     355,545     213,333     1,133,366  
  Sales     (448,175 )   (369,061 )   (209,523 )   (1,026,759 )
  Ending Backlog – 9/30/24 $ 600,382     119,943     158,644     878,969  

   
   

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)
   
EPS – Adjusted Basis Reconciliation – Q4 2024      
  EPS – GAAP Basis – Q4 2024 $ 1.32  
  Adjustments (defined below)   0.14  
  EPS – As Adjusted Basis – Q4 2024 $ 1.46  
         
  Adjustments exclude $0.14 per share consisting of after-tax charges primarily of $0.09 of  
  debt financing and $0.03 of acquisition costs at Corporate related to the pending SM&P  
  acquisition, and $0.02 of restructuring charges (primarily severance) in the A&D segment.  
  The $0.14 of EPS adjustments per share consists of $4.8 million of pre-tax charges      
  offset by $1.1 million of tax benefit for net impact of $3.7 million.      
         
EPS – Adjusted Basis Reconciliation – FY 2024      
  EPS – GAAP Basis – FY 2024 $ 3.94  
  Adjustments (defined below)   0.24  
  EPS – As Adjusted Basis – FY 2024 $ 4.18  
         
  Adjustments exclude $0.24 per share of after-tax charges consisting primarily      
  of $0.09 of debt financing and $0.06 of acquisition costs at Corporate related to      
  the pending SM&P acquisition, $0.05 of restructuring charges (primarily severance)      
  in the A&D, Test and USG segments, and $0.04 of MPE acquisition backlog      
  and inventory step-up charges.      
  The $0.24 of EPS adjustments per share consists of $8.0 million of pre-tax charges      
  offset by $1.8 million of tax benefit for net impact of $6.2 million.      
         
EPS – Adjusted Basis Reconciliation – Q4 2023      
  EPS – GAAP Basis – Q4 2023 $ 1.24  
  Adjustments (defined below)   0.01  
  EPS – As Adjusted Basis – Q4 2023 $ 1.25  
         
  Adjustments exclude $0.01 per share consisting of after-tax restructuring      
  charges primarily at Westland (severance and asset write-off).      
  The $0.01 of EPS adjustments per share consists of $0.5 million of pre-tax charges      
  offset by $0.1 million of tax benefit for net impact of $0.4 million.      
         
EPS – Adjusted Basis Reconciliation – FY 2023      
  EPS – GAAP Basis – FY 2023 $ 3.58  
  Adjustments (defined below)   0.12  
  EPS – As Adjusted Basis – FY 2023 $ 3.70  
         
  Adjustments exclude $0.12 per share of after-tax charges consisting of executive      
  management transition costs at Corporate, CMT acquisition inventory step-up charges,    
  restructuring charges within the A&D segment and Corporate acquisition related costs.    
  The $0.12 of EPS adjustments per share consists of $4.1 million of pre-tax charges      
  offset by $0.9 million of tax benefit for net impact of $3.2 million.      

   
SOURCE ESCO Technologies Inc.
Kate Lowrey, Vice President of Investor Relations, (314) 213-7277


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