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Curtiss Wright Corp.: Q4 FY2024 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2024, from the documents filed with the SEC on 13 February 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 11 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter reported sales rose 5%: Reported sales were $824 million, up 5%, with reported operating margin of 18.8% and reported diluted EPS of $3.09. Source
  • Full-year sales and EPS grew double digits: Full-year reported sales were $3.1 billion, up 10%, and reported diluted EPS was $10.55; adjusted diluted EPS was $10.90, up 16%. Source
  • Defense Electronics sales and margin fell: Segment sales were $227 million, down 5%, and adjusted operating margin fell to 24.3% from 28.8%. Source
  • Naval & Power sales rose on submarines: Segment sales were $346 million, up 12%, led by naval defense demand and revenue timing on submarine programs. Source
  • R&D spending offset absorption gains: Adjusted margin benefited from overhead absorption on higher revenue, partly offset by R&D investment in all three segments and mix in two. Source
  • Fourth-quarter new orders rose 37%: Fourth-quarter new orders were $939 million, up 37%, with a book-to-bill of 1.1x. Source
  • Full-year free cash flow reached $483 million: Full-year free cash flow was $483 million, with 116% adjusted FCF conversion. Source
  • Investor Day targets still in view: Management said it maintains line of sight to the three-year financial targets from its 2024 Investor Day. Source

“Our performance was highlighted by double-digit growth in sales, operating income and diluted EPS, along with record free cash flow of $483 million, as we delivered profitable growth while reducing working capital.”

Lynn M. Bamford, Chair and CEO of Curtiss-Wright Corporation

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total sales Sourcefull-year 2025$3,335 - $3,385 (7 - 8% growth)New
Operating income Sourcefull-year 2025$598 - $613 (10 - 12% growth)New
Operating margin Sourcefull-year 202517.9% - 18.1% (40 - 60 bps expansion)New
Diluted EPS Sourcefull-year 2025$12.10 - $12.40 (11 - 14% growth)New
Free cash flow Sourcefull-year 2025$485 - $505 (0 - 4% growth)New
Capital expenditures Sourcefull-year 2025$14 to $24 million year-over-year increaseNew
Aerospace & Industrial sales Sourcefull-year 2025$960 - $975 (3 - 5%)New
Defense Electronics sales Sourcefull-year 2025$975 - $990 (7 - 9%)New
Naval & Power sales Sourcefull-year 2025$1,400 - $1,420 (10 - 11%)New
Power & Process sales Sourcefull-year 202516 - 18%New
Commercial Aerospace sales Sourcefull-year 202510 - 12%New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: 2025 guidance is new in this release; the prior release gave only 2024 guidance. Source
  • New: The release describes the Ultra Energy acquisition as recently completed; the prior release did not name it. Source

Fourth-quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth-quarter reported sales rose 5%: Reported sales were $824 million, up 5%, with reported operating margin of 18.8% and reported diluted EPS of $3.09. Source
  • Fourth-quarter adjusted operating income held flat: Adjusted operating income was $163 million, flat year over year, and adjusted margin was 19.8%. Source
  • Full-year sales and EPS grew double digits: Full-year reported sales were $3.1 billion, up 10%, and reported diluted EPS was $10.55; adjusted diluted EPS was $10.90, up 16%. Source
  • Record year on several measures: The release headline describes record full-year sales, profitability, EPS, free cash flow and orders. Source
  • Full-year adjusted income and margin rose: Full-year adjusted operating income was $546 million, up 11%; adjusted margin was 17.5%, up 10 basis points. Source

Segment performance

  • Aerospace & Industrial margin rose 280 basis points: Segment sales were $251 million, up 5%; adjusted margin of 21.3% rose on higher actuation sales and restructuring benefits. Source
  • Defense Electronics sales and margin fell: Segment sales were $227 million, down 5%, and adjusted operating margin fell to 24.3% from 28.8%. Source
  • Naval & Power sales rose on submarines: Segment sales were $346 million, up 12%, led by naval defense demand and revenue timing on submarine programs. Source

“We achieved numerous financial records in 2024, while maintaining our commitment to invest in innovative technologies, capacity expansion, talent and systems to support our future growth.”

Lynn M. Bamford, Chair and CEO of Curtiss-Wright Corporation

End markets and customers

  • A&D sales rose 6% in fourth quarter: Total A&D market sales rose 6% and total commercial market sales rose 3% in the quarter. Source
  • Commercial aerospace OEM sales increased: Higher OEM sales in commercial aerospace added to A&D growth alongside naval and aerospace defense gains. Source
  • Power and process rose on nuclear products: Commercial power and process growth came from commercial nuclear products, partly offset by lower industrial valve sales in process. Source

Costs, margins and R&D

  • R&D spending offset absorption gains: Adjusted margin benefited from overhead absorption on higher revenue, partly offset by R&D investment in all three segments and mix in two. Source
  • Restructuring costs excluded from adjusted results: Restructuring expenses were $8,250 thousand in the quarter and $14,448 thousand for the year, and are excluded from adjusted figures. Source
  • Restructuring drove reported EPS below adjusted: Restructuring added $0.17 per share in the quarter, bringing the adjusted diluted EPS reconciliation to $3.27. Source

New orders and backlog

  • Fourth-quarter new orders rose 37%: Fourth-quarter new orders were $939 million, up 37%, with a book-to-bill of 1.1x. Source
  • Full-year orders led by A&D demand: Full-year new orders reflected A&D demand and solid commercial nuclear demand, with a book-to-bill of about 1.2x. Source
  • Backlog rose during the year: Backlog at year-end was higher than at December 31, 2023, which management attributed to demand across A&D and commercial markets. Source

Cash flow and capital returns

  • Fourth-quarter free cash flow rose $8 million: Fourth-quarter free cash flow was $278 million, up $8 million, with 223% adjusted FCF conversion. Source
  • Full-year free cash flow reached $483 million: Full-year free cash flow was $483 million, with 116% adjusted FCF conversion. Source
  • Capital spending rose on Naval & Power: Fourth-quarter capital expenditures rose about $11 million, mainly for growth investment in the Naval & Power segment. Source
  • Share repurchases totaled $250 million: The company repurchased about 766,000 shares for $250 million in 2024, including about 311,000 shares for $112 million in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Quarterly dividend held at $0.21: The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.21 a share. Source

Strategy, investment and leadership

  • Pivot to Growth strategy momentum cited: Management cited the momentum in its Pivot to Growth strategy as a basis for the year's results. Source
  • R&D spending rises alongside margin expansion: Management expects 2025 margin expansion together with higher R&D investment and double-digit EPS growth. Source
  • Investor Day targets still in view: Management said it maintains line of sight to the three-year financial targets from its 2024 Investor Day. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Backlog Source$3.4 billion, up 20%
New orders, full year Source$3.7 billion, up 20%
Book-to-bill, full year Sourceapproximately 1.2x

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Lower defense revenue and product mix were cited as pressure on Defense Electronics absorption and margin in the quarter. Source
  • Operational: Timing of embedded computing sales on the Stryker ground combat vehicle reduced ground defense revenue in the quarter. Source
  • Demand: Lower sales of industrial vehicle products weighed on general industrial demand in the quarter. Source
  • Financial: Management noted that 2025 free cash flow guidance reflects the timing of prior-year customer advances. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it maintains line of sight to the three-year targets communicated at the 2024 Investor Day. Source
  • Not stated: Management said the company is maintaining its commitment to invest in technologies, capacity, talent and systems. 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.