Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total as-reported revenue grew by 10% in the second quarter, with constant currency organic revenue increasing by 9% driven by volume and a 210 basis points price increase [4] - Gross margin increased by 60 basis points to 44.3%, while EBIT margin rose by 90 basis points to 23.1% of revenue compared to the previous year [4] - Adjusted earnings per diluted share from continuing operations were $2.47, reflecting a 15% increase year-over-year [5] - Free cash flow for the first half of fiscal 2026 was $527.7 million, indicating strong performance driven by increased earnings and improved working capital [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the healthcare segment, constant currency organic revenue grew by 9%, with services growing by 13% and consumables by 10% [6][7] - For the AST segment, constant currency organic revenue increased by 7%, with services up by 13% but capital equipment revenue anticipated to decline [8] - Life sciences saw a 12% increase in constant currency organic revenue, driven by a 39% growth in capital equipment shipments [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The healthcare capital equipment backlog exceeded $400 million, with orders up by 3% year-to-date [6] - Capital equipment backlog in life sciences increased by over 50% to $114 million [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is increasing its revenue growth outlook for fiscal 2026 to approximately 8%-9% as-reported, with constant currency organic revenue growth now expected to be 7%-8% [9] - The earnings outlook has been revised to a range of $10.15-$10.30, with EBIT margins expected to improve by 10-20 basis points [10] - The company is confident in its ability to meet revised expectations, supported by strong performance in the first half of the year [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the operating margins improved despite headwinds from tariffs and inflation, with tariffs impacting margins by 90 basis points and material and labor inflation by 130 basis points [14][16] - The company expressed confidence in sustaining growth trends in services, particularly in the AST segment, due to stable volumes from medtech customers and recovery in bioprocessing [12][13] Other Important Information - Capital expenditures for the first half of fiscal 2026 totaled $180.1 million, with depreciation and amortization at $241.1 million [5] - The company ended the quarter with $1.9 billion in total debt, with a gross to EBITDA ratio of approximately 1.2 times [5] Q&A Session Summary Question: What drove the second consecutive quarter of double-digit growth in AST services? - Management attributed the growth to stable volume from medtech customers and recovery in bioprocessing, with confidence in sustaining a 9%-10% growth outlook [12][13] Question: Can you elaborate on the operating margins despite headwinds? - Management confirmed that tariffs and inflation were significant headwinds, with tariffs impacting margins by 90 basis points and inflation by 130 basis points [14][16] Question: What is the outlook for healthcare subsegments? - Management indicated that service growth is expected to remain strong, with consumables performing well and capital equipment growth dependent on shipment timing [27] Question: How is the company addressing capacity constraints in AST? - Management stated that expanding capacity is a long process, with several expansions completed and planned, ensuring a good position in most geographies [36] Question: What is the state of single-use scopes in healthcare? - Management noted that while there is a place for single-use scopes, particularly small diameter scopes, the bulk of the business remains with large diameter scopes due to their robustness and cost-effectiveness [46]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q3 2025 revenue was $271.6 million, flat compared to the prior year, with record aftermarket parts revenue of $188.4 million, up 6% year-over-year [6][12] - Adjusted EBITDA was $58 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 21.4% [6][19] - GAAP EPS decreased 12% to $2.35, while adjusted EPS decreased 9% to $2.59, exceeding guidance by $0.36 due to higher-than-expected aftermarket parts revenue [18][19] - Gross margin improved to 45.2%, up 50 basis points from 44.7% in Q3 2024 [12][16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Flow control segment revenue declined 3% to $94 million, with aftermarket parts revenue up 5% [7][8] - Industrial processing segment revenue decreased 4% to $106 million, with aftermarket parts revenue at a record $81 million, representing 76% of total revenue [8][9] - Material handling segment revenue increased 11% to a record $70 million, driven by an 18% increase in capital shipments [9][10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Market demand for capital equipment remains sluggish, but there is increasing activity expected in Q4 2025 [5][10] - Capital bookings were flat compared to the previous year, primarily due to sustained weakness in capital project orders [7][24] - Operating rates in the U.S. are higher than in other regions, with paper side rates around low 80% and China at 60% [45][46] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on operational improvements and strategic acquisitions, including Clyde Industries and Babbini [22][25] - The acquisition strategy is supported by a renewed revolving credit facility, increasing borrowing capacity to $750 million [22] - The company anticipates a healthy aftermarket demand and improved business activity moving forward [10][25] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about capital orders moving forward, despite delays in bookings due to administrative processes [31][32] - The impact of tariffs is still present, creating uncertainty, but conditions are improving compared to earlier in the year [34][35] - The second half of 2025 is expected to show solid improvement across various metrics, with strong aftermarket parts activity anticipated [89] Other Important Information - Cash flow from operations was $47 million, and free cash flow was $44 million in Q3 2025 [6][19] - The company is monitoring tariff impacts and exploring alternative suppliers to mitigate costs [24] - The backlog at the end of Q3 was $273 million, with capital orders making up about 60% of that [73] Q&A Session Summary Question: Percentage of aftermarket parts revenue for each segment - Flow control: 74% current quarter vs. 70% prior year; Industrial processing: 76% current vs. 67% prior; Material handling: 52% current vs. 55% prior [29] Question: Clarification on capital bookings being pushed to 2026 - Management noted several projects are in late stages, but administrative requirements may delay bookings [31][32] Question: Impact of tariffs on capital equipment needs - Management indicated that while conditions are better, uncertainty remains, affecting customer caution [34][35] Question: Insights on factory utilization rates globally - U.S. operating rates are higher than global averages, with paper side at low 80% and China at 60% [45][46] Question: Backlog contribution from Clyde Industries - Expected backlog contribution from Clyde Industries is around $30 million [75]

Core Insights - The U.S. trade deficit in July surged to a four-month high, primarily due to businesses stockpiling goods and raw materials ahead of new tariffs announced by President Trump [1][3] - The trade deficit expanded nearly 33% from the previous month to $78.3 billion, slightly above economists' median forecast of $78 billion [1][3] Group 1: Import and Export Data - July imports increased by 5.9%, marking the largest rise since the beginning of the year, while exports saw a slight uptick [3][4] - The surge in imports reflects U.S. companies' urgency to stockpile goods before the implementation of "reciprocal tariff rates" on countries without trade agreements with the U.S. [3][4] Group 2: Specific Import Trends - The increase in imports was broad-based, with industrial goods reaching a four-month high and consumer goods also rising [4] - Capital equipment imports, excluding automobiles, recorded the largest increase since the beginning of the year [4] - A significant rise in non-monetary gold imports contributed to the surge in industrial goods imports [4] Group 3: Trade Deficit with Major Partners - The trade deficit with major partners generally widened, with the deficit with China expanding for the first time in six months [4] - The deficit with Mexico slightly increased, while the deficit with Canada also grew after hitting a low in June [4] - Adjusted for inflation, the goods trade deficit expanded to $100.1 billion in July, following a record high earlier in the year [4]

Group 1 - The trade deficit in the U.S. narrowed significantly in June, reaching the lowest level since September 2023, with a reduction of 16% to $60.2 billion [1] - Total imports decreased by 3.7%, primarily due to the value of imported goods falling to the lowest level since March 2024, while exports saw a relatively smaller contraction [1] - Consumer goods imports hit the lowest level since September 2020, with declines in industrial goods and automotive imports, although capital equipment imports increased [1] Group 2 - The report indicates that U.S. companies had previously stockpiled goods ahead of significant tariff increases announced by President Trump on April 2, which may now be subsiding [1] - The U.S. economy showed an annualized growth rate of 3% in the second quarter, with net exports contributing 5 percentage points to GDP, contrasting with a nearly 5 percentage point drag in the first quarter [1] - The White House announced adjusted tariffs for countries that do not reach trade agreements by the August 1 deadline, with potential future tariffs on pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and critical minerals expected to disrupt international trade further [2]