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]