With car prices still high and interest rates making monthly payments painful, personal finance expert Suze Orman has a simple message for drivers: take care of the car you already have. Orman argues that spending money on routine car maintenance is not wasted cash. She calls it “one of the smartest financial moves you can make this year,” especially for households that depend on one or two vehicles just to function day to day. Skipping maintenance might feel like saving money in the moment, but Orman s ...

ITT FY Conference Summary Company Overview - **Company**: ITT - **Industry**: Engineering manufacturing, focusing on components for harsh environments across various sectors including automotive, rail, defense, chemical, mining, oil and gas, and energy transition [4][5] Key Financial Highlights - **Q1 Performance**: Generated over $1 billion in orders, with a strong capital deployment strategy including $100 million in share repurchases during Q1 and $500 million year-to-date [5][6] - **Long-term Targets**: - Organic revenue growth of over 5% through 2030 - Total growth target of 10% - Adjusted operating margin of approximately 23% - EBITDA above 25% - EPS target of $11 (organic) or over $12 (total) [8] Growth Strategy - **Organic Growth**: - Targeting 5-7% in Industrial Process (IP), 2-4% in Motion Technologies (MT), and 7-9% in Connect and Control Technologies (CCT) [9] - Emphasis on higher growth and margin businesses, particularly in flow and connectors [11] - **Market Outperformance**: Historically outperformed market growth by 300-400 basis points through execution and innovation [15] - **Margin Expansion**: Aiming for 500 basis points of margin expansion by 2030 through efficiency improvements, automation, and better supply chain management [16][19] Capital Allocation and M&A Strategy - **M&A Focus**: - Targeting high-growth, high-margin businesses with strong management teams - Recent acquisitions include Habony (LNG hydrogen), MicroMode (RF connectors), and Kisaria (aero and defense) [35][36][38] - **Criteria for M&A**: Must have a leading market position and align with ITT's strategic goals [36][37] Innovation and Product Development - **R&D Investment**: Over 4% of revenue allocated to R&D, focusing on continuous improvement and new product development [34] - **New Product Launch**: Introduction of Vida, an embedded motor drive technology aimed at reducing energy waste in industrial pumps, with a projected addressable market of $6 billion [57][61] Segment Performance Insights - **Motion Technologies**: - Friction OE business expected to achieve 400-500 basis points of outgrowth in 2025, with historical outperformance of 700-800 basis points [45][46] - Continuous improvement in productivity and quality is a key focus [51] - **Connect and Control Technologies**: - Recent acquisition of Kisaria expected to drive high single-digit growth and margin progression through synergies with ITT's existing connector business [64][66] Market Outlook - **Book-to-Bill Ratio**: Strong performance in the marine industry with a book-to-bill ratio of 2.0 in Q1, driven by market demand for cleaner energy solutions [54][55] - **Future Growth**: Confidence in double-digit growth for the Svanoy segment, supported by strong order quality and customer loyalty [55] Additional Considerations - **Working Capital Management**: Significant room for improvement in working capital across segments, particularly in IP and CCT, with a focus on inventory management [42][43] - **Intellectual Property Protection**: Strong emphasis on protecting innovations, particularly in new motor technologies, with a competitive edge expected to last several years [71]