ESCO Technologies (ESE) Earnings Transcript

Financial Performance - The company reported a 35% increase in top-line sales and a 380 basis point expansion in adjusted EBIT margin, resulting in a 73% year-over-year increase in adjusted earnings per share to a record $1.64 for Q1 [1][11] - Orders booked in the first quarter exceeded $550 million, marking a 143% increase compared to the previous year, with all segments experiencing double-digit growth [2][10] - Adjusted EBIT margins improved to 19.4%, with adjusted EBIT and adjusted EBITDA dollars more than doubling from the previous year's first quarter [11][12] Segment Highlights - The aerospace and defense segment saw orders over $380 million, a significant increase from $75 million in the prior year, driven by strong demand from commercial and military aircraft customers [11][12] - The utility solutions group experienced a 10% increase in orders, primarily from strong performance at Doble, although overall sales growth was modest at 1% due to declines in the renewables business [13][14] - The test business had a robust start with orders up over 17% and sales up nearly 27%, benefiting from strong market activity in various sectors [8][14] Guidance and Outlook - The company raised its full-year sales guidance by $20 million, now projecting sales between $1.29 billion and $1.33 billion, primarily driven by the test business [16][17] - Adjusted earnings per share for the full year are now expected to be in the range of $7.90 to $8.15, reflecting a growth of 31% to 35% compared to the previous year [17] - The company remains optimistic about long-term growth prospects in its markets, particularly in the aerospace and defense sectors, despite some near-term challenges in renewables [7][30]