Core Insights - Nathan Jones from Stifel Nicolaus set a price target of $118 for Veralto Corp (NYSE: VLTO), indicating a potential increase of about 30.6% from the current stock price of $90.35 [1][6] Financial Performance - In 2025, Veralto reported a 6% increase in total sales, reaching $5.5 billion, with core sales growth at 4.7% [2][6] - The company achieved double-digit growth in adjusted earnings per share and generated over $1 billion in free cash flow, highlighting its solid financial standing [2] Strategic Initiatives - Veralto has implemented a $750 million share repurchase program and an 18% dividend increase to strengthen its financial position [3][6] - The acquisition of In-Situ has expanded Veralto's Water Analytics portfolio, allowing entry into the growing environmental water and hydrology markets [3] Future Outlook - Looking ahead to 2026, Veralto expects continued core sales growth and margin expansion driven by strong product demand [4] - The company faced challenges in the fourth quarter, with core sales growth at 1.6% due to price increases and slight volume declines, alongside impacts from tariffs and growth investments on incremental margins [4] Quarterly Earnings - Veralto reported impressive quarterly earnings of $1.04 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.98, marking a 6.01% earnings surprise [5] - Although revenues for the quarter were slightly below estimates, they improved from the previous year, demonstrating Veralto's resilience in a competitive market [5]