CAE(CAE)2024-11-13 18:21Financial Data and Key Metrics - Consolidated revenue for Q2 2025 was $1.14 billion, an 8% increase compared to Q2 2024 [22] - Adjusted segmented operating income was $149.0 million, up from $135.6 million in Q2 2024 [22] - Adjusted EPS was $0.24, compared to $0.26 in Q2 2024 [22] - Net cash from operating activities was $162.1 million, down from $180.2 million in Q2 2024 [26] - Free cash flow was $140 million, compared to $147.4 million in Q2 2024 [26] - Net debt position at the end of the quarter was approximately $3.1 billion, with a net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 3.25 times [29] Business Line Performance Civil Aviation - Civil revenue grew 12% year-over-year to $640.7 million, with adjusted segmented operating income rising 1% to $115.9 million, resulting in an 18.1% margin [31] - Delivered 18 full flight simulators, up from 11 in the previous year [31] - Average training center utilization was 70%, a decrease of one percentage point compared to the previous year [15] - Secured $693 million in orders, with a book-to-sales ratio of 1.08 [18] - Civil adjusted backlog reached a record $6.7 billion, up 13% year-over-year [19] Defense - Defense revenue rose 4% to $495.9 million, with adjusted segmented operating income up 55% to $33.1 million, delivering a 6.7% margin [32] - Recorded $2.3 billion in orders, resulting in a 4.6 times book-to-sales ratio [21] - Defense adjusted backlog reached a record $11.4 billion, up approximately 94% year-over-year [21] - Legacy contracts contributed around 30 basis points of margin dilution, with adjusted segment operating income margin for defense at 7% excluding this impact [33] Market Performance - Strong demand in civil and defense markets, despite challenges in commercial aviation due to OEM aircraft supply disruptions [13] - Growth in business aviation training, commercial training in Asia-Pacific, and simulator products [16] - US pilot hiring remained low, impacting incremental pilot training demand [16] - Commercial aviation training utilization was approximately three percentage points lower than last year [17] Strategic Direction and Industry Competition - The company is focused on long-term growth in both civil and defense segments, driven by high demand for pilots and pilot training [34] - The civil aviation training market is supported by growth in air travel, the need for more pilots, and evolving aviation technologies and regulations [35] - The defense sector is experiencing a prolonged upcycle, with increased budgets across NATO and allied nations, driving demand for training and simulation solutions [43] - The company is leveraging its expertise in both civil aviation and defense to meet the growing demand for training solutions [44] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management remains confident in the company's long-term growth trajectory, despite temporary challenges in the commercial aviation sector [12] - The company expects a stronger performance in the latter half of the fiscal year, driven by seasonal improvements in commercial and business aviation, accretion from the SIMCOM investment, and increased profitability from full flight simulator deliveries [41] - The company is targeting approximately 10% annual growth in civil adjusted segment operating income for fiscal 2025, with margins expected to be between 22% and 23% [42] - In defense, the company anticipates annual revenue growth in the low to mid-single digits, with adjusted segment operating income margins expected to increase to the 6% to 7% range [46] Other Important Information - The company completed a restructuring program, resulting in $30.9 million in costs, with no further restructuring expenses expected [23] - The company expects to achieve annual run rate cost savings of approximately $20 million by the end of fiscal 2026 [24] - The company repurchased and canceled 392,730 common shares under its normal course issuer bid, at a weighted average price of $24.43 per share [31] Q&A Session Summary Question: Defense margin improvement and path to double-digit margins [48] - The company is focused on retiring legacy contracts and replacing them with higher-margin contracts, driving margin improvement [49] - Strong execution and securing transformative backlog growth, such as the $1.7 billion Canadian FAcT program, are key to achieving double-digit margins [50] Question: Civil inflection in the second half and impact of SIMCOM [52] - The company expects a stronger second half due to seasonal improvements, SIMCOM's contribution, and increased profitability from full flight simulator deliveries [53] - The company is managing costs and operational efficiency to mitigate the impact of lower pilot hiring in the US [54] Question: Full flight simulator delivery target and supply chain issues [56] - The company is still aiming for over 50 full flight simulator deliveries this year [57] - Supply chain issues, particularly with Boeing and Airbus, are temporary, and the company is managing CapEx to stay in lockstep with demand [58] Question: Book-to-bill ratio and CapEx guidance [62] - The civil book-to-bill ratio remains comfortably above one, indicating strong market demand [63] - CapEx guidance for fiscal 2025 has been revised slightly downward, reflecting the company's agility in investment processes [63] Question: Defense margin improvement and seasonality [64] - The company expects continued margin improvement in defense, driven by cost savings and strong execution [66] - The defense business is expected to perform better in the second half of the year, with margins weighted towards the latter half [66] Question: SIMCOM acquisition and future JV consolidation opportunities [68] - The SIMCOM acquisition strengthens the company's position in the business aviation training market and is expected to be accretive to earnings and free cash flow [69] - The company is open to further JV consolidation opportunities, particularly in high-margin segments [68] Question: Cost-saving opportunities beyond restructuring [70] - The company is focused on managing CapEx and SG&A costs, with ongoing efforts to improve operational efficiency [71] Question: Impact of US administration change and tariffs [73] - The company does not expect significant impact from potential tariff changes, given its strong presence in the US market [74] Question: Legacy contract retirement progress [75] - The company is on track to retire legacy contracts as planned, with one contract expected to be retired in the current quarter [76] Question: Network growth and focus on business jet platforms [78] - The company is deploying simulators for both commercial and business jet platforms, with demand in both segments [79] Question: Civil margin split between Q3 and Q4 [89] - The company expects Q4 to be stronger than Q3, with higher deliveries and cost savings contributing to margin improvement [89] Question: CEO search process [91] - The CEO search process is separate from the CFO search, with a focus on selecting a candidate who can propel the company to the next level [91]