Core Insights - The company reported a record financial performance for the full year 2025, with significant growth in revenue and operating income across all segments, driven by strong demand in naval defense and commercial nuclear markets [1][4][11] - New orders increased by 18% in the fourth quarter, resulting in a book-to-bill ratio of nearly 1.2 times, indicating robust demand [1][6] - The company achieved a record operating margin of 18.6%, reflecting a year-over-year expansion of 110 basis points, attributed to operational excellence initiatives and restructuring actions [1][5][11] Financial Performance - Total sales for the fourth quarter reached $947 million, a 15% increase year-over-year, with organic growth of 11% [3][12] - Operating income rose by 14%, with diluted earnings per share growing by 16% year-over-year, driven by higher aerospace and defense sales [2][5] - Free cash flow was strong at $315 million, up 13%, reflecting a conversion rate of 224% [2] Segment Performance - Aerospace and Defense markets saw a 16% growth, exceeding expectations, driven by increased revenues in Ground and Naval Defense [3][12] - Commercial aerospace sales increased by over 20%, with a 13% growth in commercial markets, primarily due to higher revenues in the Power and Process market [2][15] - The Enablement Power segment reported a 21% increase in sales, driven by strong revenue growth in Naval Defense and aftermarket services [15][16] Future Outlook - For 2026, the company projects organic sales growth of 6% to 8%, with operating income growth expected to outpace sales growth [10][11] - The guidance includes anticipated operating margin expansion of 30 to 60 basis points, reaching a range of 18.9% to 19.2% [10][11] - Diluted EPS is expected to grow by 11% to 15%, supported by strong operational performance and a reduction in share count due to share repurchases [31][32] Market Trends - The company is well-positioned to benefit from increased global defense spending, particularly from the U.S. budget and NATO commitments [35][39] - In the commercial nuclear sector, the U.S. government's support for nuclear energy is expected to accelerate opportunities, including the construction of new reactors [41][42] - The company anticipates strong growth in small modular reactor (SMR) developments as projects transition from design to prototype stages [43][44] Operational Excellence - The company continues to focus on operational and commercial excellence, which has contributed to margin expansion and improved profitability [66][70] - Investments in research and development are being accelerated to support future organic growth, with a commitment to grow R&D faster than sales over time [5][37] - The disciplined approach to capital allocation aims to enhance shareholder value through strategic investments and share repurchases [9][10]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales for Q4 2025 reached $947 million, a 15% increase year-over-year, with organic growth of 11% and contributions from the I&C Solutions acquisition [4][5] - Operating income increased by 14%, with an operating margin of 19.7% [5][6] - Diluted earnings per share grew by 16% year-over-year, driven primarily by higher A&D sales [5][6] - Free cash flow was strong at $315 million, up 13%, reflecting a 224% conversion rate [6] - For the full year 2025, diluted earnings per share increased by 21%, and adjusted free cash flow reached a record $554 million [7][8] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Aerospace & Industrial segment sales increased by 5%, with strong OEM sales growth in commercial aerospace [12][13] - Defense Electronics segment saw a 17% sales growth, driven by increased demand for tactical communications equipment and embedded computing revenues [14][15] - Naval & Power segment sales increased by 21%, primarily due to strong revenue growth in naval defense and contributions from the I&C Solutions acquisition [15][16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - A&D markets experienced a 16% growth, with commercial aerospace sales increasing by over 20% [5][9] - The overall order book reached a record of $4.1 billion, up 10% year-over-year, with a book-to-bill ratio of nearly 1.2 times [8][10] - Commercial nuclear market showed tremendous growth, driven by strong demand for aftermarket equipment and advancements in SMR designs [9][21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company continues to execute its "Pivot to Growth" strategy, focusing on operational and commercial excellence to drive sales and profitability [4][10] - Investments in research and development are being accelerated to support future organic growth, with a commitment to grow R&D faster than sales over time [7][10] - The company is well-positioned to benefit from increased global defense spending and the U.S. government's focus on nuclear energy dominance [32][36] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to deliver strong performance in 2026, projecting organic sales growth of 6%-8% [10][11] - The outlook for A&D markets includes anticipated growth driven by U.S. defense budget priorities and increased demand for secure embedded computing solutions [18][20] - Management acknowledged potential headwinds in ground defense due to delays in orders but remains optimistic about future opportunities [8][19] Other Important Information - The company executed a record $465 million in share repurchases in 2025 and increased its annual dividend for the ninth consecutive year [10] - Capital expenditures are expected to increase by more than 25% year-over-year, reflecting ongoing investments to support growth [29][30] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: Exposure to missile programs and growth opportunities - The company has minor exposure to missile programs, primarily in telemetry and flight test instrumentation, but is well-positioned in related areas such as the Iron Dome [43][44] Question: Clarification on expected AP1000 orders - Orders could come from either European customers or the U.S., with Westinghouse as the primary customer; specifics on order size are not available at this time [46][47] Question: Free cash flow guidance and working capital dynamics - The company has improved working capital management, targeting a working capital percentage of sales of approximately 18% for 2026, which would be a record [55][57] Question: C-17 order timing and defense electronics bookings - The C-17 order is a Q1 order, and delayed bookings in defense electronics were noted, impacting the book-to-bill ratio [60] Question: Operational and commercial excellence initiatives - The Operational Growth Platform has contributed approximately $12 million to the P&L in 2025, with ongoing initiatives expected to continue driving margin expansion [68][72]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported fiscal fourth quarter 2025 net earnings of $151.8 million, or $1.35 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $103.9 million and net earnings per diluted share of $0.90 in the prior year period [32] - Adjusted earnings for the quarter totaled $155 million, or $1.37 per diluted share, compared to $97.4 million and $0.84 per diluted share in the prior year period [32] - Consolidated core EBITDA was $291.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2025, representing a 33% increase from the $219 million generated during the prior year period [33] - The consolidated core EBITDA margin was 13.8% compared to 11% in the prior year period [35] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America Steel Group generated adjusted EBITDA of $239.4 million for the quarter, equal to $207 per ton of finished steel shipped, an 18% increase compared to the prior year period [35] - The Emerging Businesses Group reported fourth quarter net sales of $221.8 million, a 13.4% increase year-over-year, while adjusted EBITDA increased by 19.1% to $50.6 million [36] - The Europe Steel Group reported adjusted EBITDA of $39.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to a loss of $3.6 million in the prior year period [37] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Finished steel shipments increased by 3% compared to a year ago, while rebar shipments from CMC's mills and downstream operations grew at a similar rate [35] - The Dodge Momentum Index reached a record high in September, indicating substantial pent-up demand, particularly within non-residential markets [25] - The company noted a significant backlog of potential projects, with approximately $2 trillion of corporate investments announced in calendar 2025 [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on integrating the acquisitions of Foley Products Company and Concrete, Pipe and Precast (CPMP) to create a large-scale precast platform [5][12] - The strategic entry into precast is expected to broaden the commercial portfolio and enhance exposure to structural trends in construction [7][8] - The company aims to drive meaningful and sustainable improvements to margins, earnings, cash flow, and returns on capital while reducing volatility [19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term outlook, citing strong demand across various sectors, including infrastructure and energy [45][47] - The company anticipates a multi-year trend of strong spending in construction, supported by significant project backlogs and structural drivers [26] - Management expects to generate significant value for shareholders through strategic initiatives and operational excellence programs [42] Other Important Information - The company modified its method of calculating adjusted EBITDA to exclude the impact of unrealized gains and losses from undesignated commodity derivatives [32] - The total consideration for the acquisitions of Foley and CPMP is approximately $2.5 billion, funded through cash on hand and committed bank financing [16] - The company expects to prioritize deleveraging in the quarters ahead with a goal of returning below two times net leverage within 18 months [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: Demand from different sectors in construction - Management noted strong infrastructure demand driven by the IIJA and a bullish outlook for non-residential spending, particularly in energy and data centers, while residential markets remain lackluster due to interest rates [45][46] Question: First quarter outlook - The first quarter outlook is expected to be consistent with the fourth quarter, with strong performance in the North America Steel Group but challenges in the Europe Steel Group due to seasonal factors and maintenance outages [48][49] Question: Focus on integration or further acquisitions - Management indicated a focus on integrating the newly acquired assets before considering additional acquisitions, emphasizing the importance of successful integration for future growth [54][55] Question: Historical growth rate for Foley - Foley is expected to grow at a level in excess of GDP over the next couple of years, with ongoing expansions in its territories [58] Question: Margin differences between Foley and CPMP - The margin differentials are attributed to different operating models and the recent acquisitions by CPMP, which may take time to improve [62] Question: Outlook for dividends and buybacks - Management confirmed no plans to change the dividend and indicated a focus on integration and organic growth projects while slowing down share repurchases until leverage is reduced [71][72]