Taylor Devices' Q4 Earnings Surge Y/Y on Defense Demand

Core Insights - Taylor Devices, Inc. (TAYD) experienced a 4.7% stock increase following its earnings report for the quarter ended May 31, 2025, outperforming the S&P 500 index, which declined by 1.2% during the same period. However, the stock has seen a 5.8% decline over the past month, indicating potential company-specific concerns or broader market factors affecting performance [1] Quarterly Performance - In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, Taylor Devices reported earnings per share of $1.17, an increase from 80 cents in the prior-year quarter. Sales reached $15.6 million, reflecting a 29% rise from $12.1 million in the same quarter last year. Net earnings for the quarter were $3.7 million, compared to $2.5 million a year earlier, marking a 49% increase [2] Full-Year Performance - For the full fiscal year 2025, sales reached a record $46.3 million, up 4% from $44.6 million in fiscal 2024. Net income climbed to $9.4 million, a 5% improvement from $9 million the previous year. Full-year earnings per share rose to $3.01 from $2.68 [3] Business Metrics - Taylor Devices ended fiscal 2025 with a firm order backlog of $27.1 million, indicating continued customer demand and providing visibility into near-term revenues. All three customer-facing product groups—Aerospace/Defense, Structural, and Industrial—positively contributed to the results, with Aerospace/Defense and Industrial markets showing strong momentum [4] Management Commentary - CEO Tim Sopko highlighted that both the fourth quarter and the full fiscal year marked record highs for sales and profitability. The net income of $9.4 million represented 20.3% of sales, slightly higher than last year's 20.2% ratio, indicating steady margins despite macroeconomic challenges. Management attributed the performance to effective execution of growth strategies and ongoing investments in people, technology, processes, and facilities [5] Influencing Factors - The company's performance was bolstered by strong demand in Aerospace/Defense and Industrial sectors, which offset weaknesses in Structural markets. Elevated interest rates negatively impacted construction-related demand in structural products, while foreign exchange volatility posed additional challenges for international sales. Despite these issues, operating leverage from higher volumes and cost discipline supported both revenue and earnings growth [6]