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CTS Corp.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 1 lowered. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales rose 8% year over year: Net sales were $143.0 million, against $132.4 million a year earlier. Growth came mainly from the diversified end markets, described below. Source
  • Net earnings and diluted EPS fell: Net earnings were $13.7 million, or 9.6% of sales, against $18.1 million, or 13.7%, a year earlier. The diluted EPS figure is on a GAAP basis. Source
  • Diversified end markets rose 22%: Sales to the industrial, aerospace and defense, and medical markets rose 22%, after a 13% rise in the second quarter. Source
  • Transportation sales declined 7%: Transportation end-market sales fell 7% year over year, following a 6% decline in the second quarter. Source
  • Adjusted gross margin rose: Reported gross margin was 38.7%, against 37.2% a year earlier. The gap to the adjusted figure is $0.2 million of restructuring-related charges. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin declined: Adjusted EBITDA rose to $34.1 million from $32.3 million, while its margin on net sales was lower. Source
  • Free cash flow lower in quarter: Free cash flow was $24.2 million against $31.5 million. Operating cash flow was $29.0 million against $35.4 million, and capital expenditures were $4.8 million against $3.9 million. Source

“Our business had another quarter of strong growth with sales up 22% year over year in the diversified end markets. The CTS team executed well in a challenging environment achieving solid profitability and strong cash generation”

Kieran O’Sullivan, CEO of CTS Corporation

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Sales Source2025$535-$545 millionRaised from $520-$550 million
Adjusted diluted EPS Source2025$2.20-$2.25Lowered from $2.20-$2.35

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted diluted EPS guidance range was lowered at the top, to $2.20-$2.25 from $2.20-$2.35. Source
  • Guidance raised: Sales guidance range was narrowed to $535-$545 million from $520-$550 million, raising the midpoint. Source
  • New: The company cited recent US tax legislation, which reduced adjusted diluted EPS by $0.03 in the quarter. Source

Results and profitability

  • Sales rose 8% year over year: Net sales were $143.0 million, against $132.4 million a year earlier. Growth came mainly from the diversified end markets, described below. Source
  • Net earnings and diluted EPS fell: Net earnings were $13.7 million, or 9.6% of sales, against $18.1 million, or 13.7%, a year earlier. The diluted EPS figure is on a GAAP basis. Source
  • Adjusted EPS nearly unchanged: Adjusted net earnings were $17.8 million, or 12.4% of sales, against $18.8 million, or 14.2% a year earlier. Source
  • Operating earnings flat, margin lower: Operating earnings were $20.9 million, or 14.6% of sales, against $20.9 million, or 15.8%. Adjusted operating earnings were $24.8 million, or 17.3%, against $23.3 million, or 17.6%. Source
  • Nine-month sales and EPS higher: Nine-month net sales were $404.0 million against $388.3 million, and nine-month diluted EPS was $1.52 against $1.43. Nine-month net earnings were $45.6 million. Source

Segments and end markets

  • Diversified end markets rose 22%: Sales to the industrial, aerospace and defense, and medical markets rose 22%, after a 13% rise in the second quarter. Source
  • Transportation sales declined 7%: Transportation end-market sales fell 7% year over year, following a 6% decline in the second quarter. Source
  • Product and customer base described: The company makes sensors, actuators and electronic components in North America, Europe and Asia, for customers in four named end markets. Source

“Diversification remains a strategic priority to drive growth and margin expansion.”

Kieran O’Sullivan, CEO of CTS Corporation

Margins and costs

  • Adjusted gross margin rose: Reported gross margin was 38.7%, against 37.2% a year earlier. The gap to the adjusted figure is $0.2 million of restructuring-related charges. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin declined: Adjusted EBITDA rose to $34.1 million from $32.3 million, while its margin on net sales was lower. Source
  • Operating expenses increased: SG&A was $27.2 million against $22.5 million. R&D was $6.9 million against $5.0 million. Restructuring charges were $0.3 million against $0.8 million. Source
  • Income tax expense increased: Income tax expense was $6.0 million against $3.8 million, on earnings before income taxes of $19.7 million against $21.8 million. Source

Cash, working capital and balance sheet

  • Free cash flow lower in quarter: Free cash flow was $24.2 million against $31.5 million. Operating cash flow was $29.0 million against $35.4 million, and capital expenditures were $4.8 million against $3.9 million. Source
  • Working capital ratio fell: Controllable working capital was $92.0 million, or 16.1% of annualized sales, against 18.4% a year earlier. Receivables were $85.9 million, inventory $54.2 million and payables $48.1 million. Source
  • Cash higher than at year-end: Cash and equivalents were $110.3 million at September 30, 2025, against $94.3 million at December 31, 2024. Long-term debt was $90.7 million, against $92.3 million. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Dividend held at four cents: The company declared $0.04 per share in the quarter and $0.12 for the nine months, the same as a year earlier. Source
  • Treasury stock balance increased: Treasury stock was $526.8 million at September 30, 2025, against $487.0 million at December 31, 2024. The release does not state repurchase amounts for the period. Source
  • Diluted share count declined: Diluted weighted-average shares were 29.6 million in the quarter, against 30.5 million a year earlier. The nine-month count was 30.0 million against 30.7 million. Source

Strategy and reporting items

  • Diversification kept as priority: Management said diversification remains a strategic priority aimed at growth and margin expansion. Source
  • Organic growth and acquisitions named: In the second-quarter release, management said its teams were focused on diversification through organic growth and acquisitions.
  • Prior-year 2024 amounts updated: Certain previously furnished 2024 amounts were updated for immaterial errors. Note 1 of the Form 10-Q as of September 30, 2025 gives more detail. Source
  • No forward non-GAAP reconciliation provided: The company cites the difficulty of forecasting restructuring, environmental, acquisition-related and currency items as the reason. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Gross margin Source38.9% adjusted; 38.7% reported
End-market revenue, diversified Sourceup 22% year over year
End-market revenue, transportation Sourcedown 7% year over year

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Net earnings included a $4.2 million charge tied to the EPA past cost recovery claim, which the company had disclosed before this release. Source
  • External: Management described the operating environment as challenging during the quarter. Source
  • External: The guidance figures are stated on the assumption that current market conditions continue. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said diversification remains a strategic priority, continuing the focus named in the prior quarter's release. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.