Group 1 - Madison Investments reported a 2.65% return for the S&P 500 in Q4 2025, leading to a full-year return of 17.9% for 2025, with the index achieving over 21% annual growth over the last three years [1] - The Madison Large Cap Fund (Class I) outperformed the S&P 500 with a return of 3.43% in Q4 2025, indicating effective fund management [1] - Market leadership was characterized by High Beta and Momentum factors, with improvements in previously lagging sectors such as Healthcare, Financials, and Consumer Discretionary [1] Group 2 - Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ:HON) stock closed at $243.61 on February 24, 2026, with a one-month return of 12.45% and a 52-week gain of 22.35%, reflecting strong performance [2] - Honeywell has a market capitalization of approximately $164.16 billion, indicating its significant size in the market [2] - The Madison Large Cap Fund initiated a position in Honeywell, viewing it as a high-quality industrial conglomerate undergoing a portfolio transformation, which includes the sale and spin-off of various assets in 2025 [3] Group 3 - Honeywell is not among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, with 79 hedge fund portfolios holding its stock at the end of Q4 2025, an increase from 76 in the previous quarter [5] - While Honeywell is recognized for its investment potential, the company is compared to certain AI stocks that are perceived to offer greater upside potential and lower downside risk [5]

Management declared the multi-year portfolio transformation complete following the NuVista acquisition and the agreement to divest Anadarko assets, focusing capital on the Permian and Montney basins. The company achieved a significant inventory expansion, adding over 3,200 locations since 2023 at an average cost of $1.4 million per net 10,000-foot location without equity dilution. Performance in the Permian was attributed to 'stacked innovation,' specifically the use of surfactants in completions whic ...

Industry Overview - The U.S. automotive OEM industry is currently facing a challenging environment with vehicle sales expected to moderate in 2026 due to high interest rates, elevated car prices, and tighter household budgets impacting affordability [1] Company Highlights Modine Manufacturing Co. (MOD) - Modine reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.19 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.99 per share, with quarterly revenues of $805 million surpassing estimates by 5.90% [4] - The company is experiencing strong growth driven by increasing data center demand, expanding margins, and disciplined portfolio transformation, with management expecting 50-70% annual growth in the data center business over the next two fiscal years [5][6] - Modine's Climate Solutions segment is showing margin expansion, with expectations of segment margins in the 20-21% range for the fourth quarter and a fiscal 2027 margin target of 20-23% [7] - The company is advancing its portfolio transformation through a Reverse Morris Trust, which will position it as a pure-play diversified Climate Solutions company, with the deal expected to close in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2026 [8] - Modine has an expected revenue growth rate of 21.3% and an earnings growth rate of 49.9% for the next year ending March 2027, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for next year's earnings improving by 0.6% in the last seven days [9] Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. (ATMU) - Atmus reported fourth-quarter 2025 earnings of $0.66 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.57 per share, with revenues of $446.6 million exceeding estimates by 5.75% [12] - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 13% and an earnings growth rate of 7.3% for the current year, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year's earnings improving by 4.6% in the last seven days [12] LCI Industries (LCII) - LCI Industries posted fourth-quarter 2025 earnings of $0.89 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.69 per share, with quarterly revenues of $932.7 million exceeding estimates by 1.59% [14] - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 3.5% and an earnings growth rate of 17.8% for the current year, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year's earnings improving by 7.2% in the last seven days [15]

Core Viewpoint - Sonoco Products (SON) shares surged 30% year-to-date, reaching a 52-week high of $57.83 after beating Q4 earnings and providing strong guidance for 2026, raising questions about the sustainability of this momentum [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - Sonoco's adjusted operating profit increased by 47.1% year-over-year, driven by the acquisition of Eviosys, which boosted Consumer Packaging revenue by 62.1% to $1.14 billion [1] - The company reported adjusted earnings of $1.05 per share, exceeding the consensus estimate of $1.01 [1] - Operating cash flow declined by 17.28% to $689.8 million in 2025, influenced by one-time divestiture taxes and working capital needs from the Eviosys integration [1] Group 2: Strategic Initiatives - Sonoco reduced its net debt by $2.7 billion in 2025, lowering the leverage ratio to approximately 3.0x [1] - The company completed a portfolio transformation, simplifying its Consumer Packaging segment by consolidating its global Metal Packaging and Rigid Paper Containers businesses [1] - The 2026 guidance projects adjusted earnings of $5.80 to $6.20 per share, indicating a 20% improvement excluding divested businesses [1] Group 3: Market Position and Valuation - Sonoco trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 9x, which is below historical averages for the packaging sector, suggesting potential for multiple expansion [1] - The company offers a 4.1% dividend yield, supported by 42 consecutive years of increases, appealing to income-focused investors [1] Group 4: Technical Indicators and Market Sentiment - The stock's 14-day relative strength index reached 82.11, indicating it is in overbought territory [1] - Sonoco's stock is trading near the analyst consensus price target of $57.88, with mixed ratings of five Buy and five Hold [1] - Management acknowledged headwinds in the market, including uncertain conditions and softer volumes in rigid paper packaging [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q4 was $162 million, up 14% year-over-year, exceeding the high end of the guidance range [4][10] - EPS for Q4 was $0.36, up 33% from the previous year [4][10] - Full year revenue was $593 million, up 7% year-over-year, also above the high end of the guidance range [10][14] - Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations was $140 million, up 9% from 2024 [14] Business Segment Data and Key Metrics Changes - MedTech and Specialty Audio revenue for Q4 was $73 million, up 4% year-over-year, with full year revenue at $264 million, also up 4% [5][10] - Precision Devices segment revenue for Q4 was $90 million, up 23% year-over-year, with full year revenue growing 10% [6][10] - Gross margins for MedTech and Specialty Audio were 51.9% for Q4, while Precision Devices had gross margins of 40.1% [10][11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported strong demand across key end markets including MedTech, Defense, Industrial, EV, and Energy, with revenue growth in all segments [6][8] - Book-to-bill ratio was greater than 1x, indicating healthy bookings and demand [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on leveraging unique technologies to design custom-engineered solutions for high-growth markets [4] - There is a strong emphasis on organic growth and potential acquisitions to enhance market position [9][22] - The company aims to maintain strong organic revenue growth above historic levels, with expectations for continued growth in 2026 and beyond [9][16] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ability to achieve revenue, earnings, and cash flow growth, supported by a robust backlog and increased order activity [16] - The company anticipates strong year-over-year growth in the first quarter of 2025, despite it being seasonally low [9] - Management highlighted the importance of collaboration with customers to drive new design wins and revenue growth [8] Other Important Information - Cash generated from operations was $47 million in Q4, with capital spending at $15 million [13] - The company exited the quarter with $54 million in cash and $114 million in borrowings under its revolving credit facility [13] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on energy order and thin-film capacitor products - Management expects the energy order ramp-up to fully commence by the end of Q2 2025, with revenue expectations in the $50 million-$65 million range for 2026 [18][21] Question: Prospects for future organic growth and acquisitions - Management indicated a positive outlook for organic growth opportunities and a strong pipeline for potential acquisitions [22] Question: Gross margin guidance for March and June quarters - Management moved away from specific gross margin guidance, focusing instead on revenue, but indicated potential for margin expansion in the back half of 2026 [29] Question: Supply-demand dynamics in Industrial - Management expects strong Industrial shipments in the first half of 2026, with overall growth anticipated for the full year [46][48] Question: Impact of component shortages on demand - Management acknowledged concerns about capacity and pricing dynamics but noted strong bookings and demand [49]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q4 was $162 million, up 14% year-over-year, exceeding the high end of guidance [4][10] - EPS for Q4 was $0.36, up 33% from the previous year [4][10] - Full year revenue was $593 million, up 7% year-over-year, also exceeding guidance [10][14] - Cash from operations was $47 million in Q4, above the high end of guidance [10][14] Business Segment Data and Key Metrics Changes - MedTech and specialty audio revenue for Q4 was $73 million, up 4% year-over-year, with full year revenue at $264 million, also up 4% [5][10] - Precision devices segment revenue for Q4 was $90 million, up 23% year-over-year, with full year revenue growing 10% [6][10] - Gross margins for MedTech and specialty audio were 51.9% in Q4, while precision devices had gross margins of 40.1% [10][11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Strong demand was noted across key end markets including MedTech, defense, industrial, EV, and energy [6][8] - Book-to-bill ratio was reported at 1.06, indicating healthy demand [32] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on leveraging unique technologies to design custom-engineered solutions for high-growth markets [4][9] - Plans for continued organic revenue growth above historic levels were emphasized, with a focus on synergistic acquisitions and share buybacks [9][10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ability to achieve revenue, earnings, and cash flow growth, supported by a robust backlog and increased order activity [16] - The company anticipates strong year-over-year growth in Q1, despite it being a seasonally low quarter [9][15] Other Important Information - The company is transitioning to an industrial technology focus, moving away from traditional gross margin guidance [28] - Capital spending for Q1 is expected to be $10 million, with continued investments in capacity expansion related to energy orders [15] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on energy order and thin-film capacitor products - Management expects full ramp-up of energy orders by the end of Q2, with revenue expectations in the $50-$65 million range for 2026 [21][38] Question: Gross margin guidance for March and June quarters - Management indicated a focus on revenue guidance rather than gross margin, with expectations of 45%-50% gross margins for the full year 2025 [28][29] Question: Fastest growing markets for 2026 - Key markets identified include defense, MedTech, industrial, EV, and energy, with strong bookings supporting growth [32][33] Question: Production buildout for energy orders - The company is on track to ramp up production significantly in the next five months, with a focus on low-mix production for energy orders [38][39] Question: Supply-demand dynamics in industrial - Management expects strong industrial shipments in the first half of 2026, with growth anticipated for the full year [46][48]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2025, revenue was $162 million, up 14% year-over-year, exceeding the high end of the guidance range [4][11] - EPS for Q4 was $0.36, up 33% from the previous year [4][11] - Full year revenue reached $593 million, a 7% increase year-over-year, surpassing the high end of the organic growth target [11][14] - Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations was $140 million, up 9% from 2024 [14] Business Segment Data and Key Metrics Changes - MedTech and specialty audio revenue in Q4 was $73 million, up 4% year-over-year, with full year revenue at $264 million, also up 4% [5][11] - Precision devices segment revenue in Q4 was $90 million, up 23% year-over-year, with full year revenue growing 10% [6][11] - Segment gross margins for MedTech and specialty audio were 51.9%, while precision devices had gross margins of 40.1% [11][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The defense market is experiencing increased order volumes, with a focus on electronic warfare applications [8][9] - The energy market is identified as a significant growth opportunity for 2026 and beyond [9] - Industrial markets are seeing a rebound, with expectations of strong shipments in the first half of 2026 [45][48] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on leveraging unique technologies to design custom-engineered solutions for high-growth markets [4][10] - There is a commitment to pursuing synergistic acquisitions and share buybacks to enhance shareholder value [10][14] - The company aims to maintain strong organic revenue growth above historic levels, with a target of 4%-6% organic growth [10][24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ability to achieve revenue, earnings, and cash flow growth, supported by a robust backlog and increased order activity [16] - The first quarter of 2026 is expected to show strong year-over-year growth despite being seasonally low [10] - Management highlighted the positive momentum in defense spending and the potential for margin expansion in the second half of 2026 [30][32] Other Important Information - Cash generated from operations in Q4 was $47 million, with capital spending at $15 million [13] - The company exited the quarter with $54 million in cash and $114 million in borrowings under its revolving credit facility [13] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on energy order and thin-film capacitor products - Management expects the energy order ramp-up to be fully operational by the end of Q2 2026, with projected revenue in the $50-$65 million range for this product category [20][38] Question: Prospects for future organic growth and acquisitions - Management indicated a promising pipeline for organic growth and acquisitions, with a focus on expanding into new medical applications and defense spending [22][24] Question: Gross margin guidance for upcoming quarters - Management moved away from specific gross margin guidance, focusing instead on revenue, but indicated potential for margin expansion in the back half of 2026 [29] Question: Supply-demand dynamics in industrial markets - Management expects strong industrial shipments in the first half of 2026, with growth anticipated for the full year [45][48] Question: Component shortages impacting demand - Management acknowledged concerns about capacity and pricing dynamics but noted strong bookings and demand trends [49]

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Fourth Quarter 2025 Earnings Release Paulo Ruiz & Olivier Leonetti | February 3, 2026 © 2026 Eaton. All rights reserved. 1 Forward-looking statements and non-GAAP financial information This presentation or the comments we make on our call today contain forward-looking statements concerning, among other matters, first quarter and full year 2026 earnings per share, adjusted earnings per share, organic growth and segment operating margins; full year 2026 operating cash flow, free cash flow, and anticipated sha ...

Core Insights - BASF SE has signed a definitive agreement to divest its optical brightening agent business to Catexel, aligning with its 'Winning Ways' strategy for portfolio transformation [1][6] - The transaction includes the Monthey facility in Switzerland and approximately 80 employees, reflecting BASF's focus on businesses closely integrated into its core value chains [2][6] - The divestment supports BASF's strategy to actively manage its portfolio and prioritize key segments while entrusting the business to a new owner with the capability to develop its potential [3] Financial and Operational Details - Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed, and it is subject to standard regulatory and closing conditions, with an anticipated closing in the first quarter of 2026 [2][6] - Catexel plans to integrate the optical brightening agent business into its specialty chemicals portfolio, which includes products for detergents, cleaning, personal care, and industrial applications [3] Market Performance - BASF SE remains a leading supplier and innovator in the home care and industrial cleaning markets post-divestiture, with shares gaining 8.9% over the past six months compared to a 12.4% decline in the industry [4]