Scout Investments, Inc., an affiliate of Carillon Tower Advisers, released the “Carillon Scout Mid Cap Fund” second quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The Russell Midcap Index posted positive returns in the second quarter despite a sharp sell-off at the beginning of April following the liberation Day tariff announcement. However, the delay in collecting additional tariffs provided more time for trading partners to negotiate better terms. In addition, please check the ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 4% year-over-year increase in orders, totaling $12.4 billion, with equipment orders growing by 5% driven by power, which more than doubled year-over-year [21] - Revenue increased by 12%, with equipment revenue growing by 18% and services revenue increasing by 6% [22] - Adjusted EBITDA rose over 25% to $770 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin expansion of 80 basis points [23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Power orders grew by 44%, with gas power equipment orders nearly tripling year-over-year [26] - Wind orders decreased by 5% year-over-year, primarily due to lower onshore wind equipment orders outside of North America [30] - Electrification orders remained strong at approximately $3.3 billion, although total orders decreased by 31% year-over-year due to large orders recorded in the previous year [33] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The equipment backlog grew from $45 billion to $50 billion in Q2, with a total backlog now reaching $129 billion [17][18] - The company expects at least $1.5 billion of agreements in the Middle East to convert into orders in Q3 [9] - Demand for data centers remains strong, with nearly $500 million in orders in the first half of 2025 [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on robotics and automation as part of its strategy to improve productivity and efficiency [13] - There is a strong emphasis on maintaining financial strength while investing in organic growth and strategic acquisitions [14][15] - The company plans to restructure to improve efficiency, with expected costs of approximately $250 million to $275 million over the next twelve months [38][39] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the growth potential driven by electrification and power markets, with expectations for continued margin improvement [5][42] - The company anticipates challenges in the European HVDC market but sees strong momentum in other segments [10] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining a disciplined approach to pricing and project management in the electrification segment [50][51] Other Important Information - The company ended Q2 with a cash balance of approximately $8 billion and no debt, allowing for continued investment in growth and shareholder returns [25] - The company has repurchased approximately $1.6 billion in stock year-to-date [14] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: Can you provide more color on the demand outlook for the electrification segment, particularly regarding regional differences? - Management noted that while Europe is losing steam, Asia is picking up, and there is a need to drive variable cost productivity due to decelerating pricing [49][50] Question: What is the pricing dynamic for services in the Gas Power business? - Management indicated that there is a price-up environment in services, which will materialize in the income statement over the next 12 to 24 months [54] Question: Why are gross margins declining, particularly in service gross margins? - Management explained that the gross margins moved due to the mix of revenues between equipment and services, which is expected to set up for a positive future [87]