Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales for Q4 2025 reached $947 million, a 15% increase year-over-year, driven by 11% organic growth and contributions from the INC 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, primarily due to higher A&D sales [5][6] - Free cash flow was strong at $315 million, up 13%, reflecting a 224% conversion rate [5][6] - For the full year 2025, operating margin expanded by 110 basis points to a record 18.6% [6][7] - Diluted earnings per share for the full year increased by 21% year-over-year [7] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Aerospace and Defense (A&D) markets saw a 16% growth, driven by ground and naval defense revenues [5][6] - Commercial aerospace sales increased by over 20% [5] - The defense electronics segment experienced a 17% sales growth, with increased demand for tactical communications equipment [12][13] - Naval and power segment sales increased by 21%, driven by strong revenue growth in naval defense [14][15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - 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] - New orders in Q4 increased by 18%, reflecting solid demand in naval defense and commercial nuclear markets [6][10] - Commercial nuclear market growth was driven by strong demand for aftermarket equipment and advancements in small modular reactor (SMR) designs [9][19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company continues to execute its "Pivot to Growth" strategy, focusing on operational and commercial excellence [4][6] - Investments in research and development are being accelerated to support future organic growth [7][10] - The company is committed to capital allocation towards high-return opportunities to enhance shareholder value [10][30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the growth in defense spending, particularly with a record U.S. budget and increased NATO commitments [30][34] - The company anticipates organic sales growth of 6%-8% for 2026, with operating income growth expected to outpace sales growth [11][21] - Management noted potential challenges in ground defense due to timing delays but remains confident in the overall defense market [8][80] 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][11] - Capital expenditures are projected to increase by more than 25% year-over-year, reflecting ongoing investments to support growth [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide more color regarding your exposure to missile programs? - The company has minor content related to missiles, primarily in telemetry and flight test instrumentation, but is well-positioned in broader defense areas related to the Golden Dome initiative [41][43] Question: What is the expected order for AP1000 reactors in 2026? - Orders could come from either European customers or the U.S., with Westinghouse as the primary customer. The size of the first order is not yet determined [45][46] Question: Can you elaborate on the dynamics enabling strong free cash flow despite increased CapEx? - The company has improved working capital management, with a target of approximately 18% working capital as a percentage of sales, which is expected to be a record [54][56] Question: What are the headwinds in the aerospace and industrial segments? - The company anticipates continued growth in naval defense and commercial nuclear, with some challenges in margin due to the transition to prototype work in SMRs [62][63] Question: How will operational and commercial excellence initiatives contribute moving forward? - The company expects continued benefits from operational excellence initiatives, with a projected incremental contribution margin on sales of roughly 25% [67][71]