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Curtiss Wright Corp.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 12 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 11 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year sales and operating income rose: Full-year reported sales were $3.5 billion, up 12%, with reported operating income of $634 million and reported diluted EPS of $12.87. Source
  • Adjusted margin and EPS both rose: Adjusted operating margin was 18.6%, up 110 basis points, and adjusted diluted EPS was $13.23, up 21%, compared with $10.90 in the prior year. Source
  • Fourth-quarter sales rose 15%: Fourth-quarter reported sales were $947 million, up 15%, with reported diluted EPS of $3.69 and adjusted diluted EPS of $3.79, up 16%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter orders rose 18%: New orders reached $1.1 billion in the fourth quarter, up 18%, principally reflecting commercial nuclear and naval defense demand. Source
  • Backlog reached $4.1 billion: Backlog of $4.1 billion at year-end was up 18% from December 31, 2024, after full-year new orders of $4.1 billion, up 10%. Source
  • Free cash flow totaled $554 million: Full-year free cash flow was $554 million, 111% of adjusted net earnings; fourth-quarter free cash flow of $315 million rose $37 million on higher cash earnings and working capital. Source

“We delivered record-high sales and operating income, 110 basis points in operating margin expansion, and 21% growth in adjusted diluted EPS, as we maintained our commitment to operational excellence and targeted investments across the portfolio.”

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

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total sales SourceFull-year 2026$3,710 - $3,765New
Operating income SourceFull-year 2026$703 - $722New
Operating margin SourceFull-year 202618.9% - 19.2%New
Diluted EPS SourceFull-year 2026$14.70 - $15.15New
Free cash flow SourceFull-year 2026$575 - $595New
Capital expenditures SourceFull-year 2026increase of approximately $25 millionNew
Aerospace & Industrial sales SourceFull-year 2026$1,030 - $1,045New
Defense Electronics sales SourceFull-year 2026$1,055 - $1,075New
Naval & Power sales SourceFull-year 2026$1,625 - $1,645New
Ground Defense sales SourceFull-year 2026(4 - 6%)New
Power & Process sales SourceFull-year 202612 - 14%New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 adjusted guidance was issued for sales, operating income, operating margin, diluted EPS and free cash flow; the prior release gave 2025 guidance. Source
  • New: A FY26 Restructuring Program is excluded from 2026 adjusted results alongside the FY24 program. Source

Fourth-quarter and full-year results

  • Full-year sales and operating income rose: Full-year reported sales were $3.5 billion, up 12%, with reported operating income of $634 million and reported diluted EPS of $12.87. Source
  • Adjusted margin and EPS both rose: Adjusted operating margin was 18.6%, up 110 basis points, and adjusted diluted EPS was $13.23, up 21%, compared with $10.90 in the prior year. Source
  • Fourth-quarter sales rose 15%: Fourth-quarter reported sales were $947 million, up 15%, with reported diluted EPS of $3.69 and adjusted diluted EPS of $3.79, up 16%. Source
  • Adjusted margin flat in fourth quarter: Adjusted operating income rose 14% to $187 million, while adjusted operating margin of 19.7% was essentially flat, as overhead absorption gains were offset by mix. Source

Segment results

  • Defense Electronics margin rose 160 basis points: Defense Electronics sales rose 17% to $267 million; adjusted operating margin reached 25.9%, aided by absorption on higher revenues and operational excellence, partly offset by R&D. Source
  • Naval & Power sales rose on submarine timing: Naval & Power sales rose 21% to $417 million; adjusted operating margin fell 120 basis points to 17.9% as product mix and R&D offset absorption gains. Source
  • Aerospace & Industrial margin declined on mix: Aerospace & Industrial sales rose 5% to $262 million; adjusted operating income fell 2% to $53 million, and adjusted margin fell 120 basis points to 20.1%. Source

“Our full-year 2025 performance reflected the continued momentum that we are generating under our Pivot to Growth strategy.”

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

End markets and growth drivers

  • Aerospace & Defense sales rose 16%: Total A&D market sales rose 16% in the fourth quarter, with ground defense up 36% and commercial aerospace up 22% among the segments of growth. Source
  • Commercial markets rose 13%: Commercial markets rose 13%; power & process rose 22% on the I&C Solutions acquisition and organic commercial nuclear sales, while general industrial was flat. Source
  • Defense Electronics timing offset growth: Aerospace defense sales in Defense Electronics were flat as international growth was offset by timing on domestic programs, while ground defense ran ahead of expectations. Source
  • Full-year growth across end markets: Full-year sales rose 15% in ground defense, 15% in naval defense, 14% in commercial aerospace and 17% in power & process; general industrial was flat. Source

Margins, costs and R&D

  • Overhead absorption helped; mix weighed: Higher revenue improved overhead absorption in all three segments and operational excellence helped, while unfavorable mix in A&I and Naval & Power offset those gains. Source
  • R&D expense edged down in quarter: Research and development expense was $25.4 million in the fourth quarter versus $25.8 million a year earlier; full-year R&D rose to $95.2 million from $91.6 million. Source
  • Restructuring expense fell year on year: Restructuring expense was $4.5 million for 2025 versus $14.4 million for 2024, tied to the 2024 Restructuring Program that is excluded from adjusted results. Source

“We also experienced strong demand across our A&D and Commercial Nuclear markets, which enabled the team to drive record new orders of $4.1 billion, providing continued confidence in our future top-line growth.”

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

Orders and backlog

  • Fourth-quarter orders rose 18%: New orders reached $1.1 billion in the fourth quarter, up 18%, principally reflecting commercial nuclear and naval defense demand. Source
  • Backlog reached $4.1 billion: Backlog of $4.1 billion at year-end was up 18% from December 31, 2024, after full-year new orders of $4.1 billion, up 10%. Source
  • Commercial nuclear demand grew: Management cited solid demand across A&D markets for full-year orders and growth in commercial nuclear products within the Commercial markets. Source

Cash flow, capital and returns

  • Free cash flow totaled $554 million: Full-year free cash flow was $554 million, 111% of adjusted net earnings; fourth-quarter free cash flow of $315 million rose $37 million on higher cash earnings and working capital. Source
  • Capital spending rose on Naval & Power: Fourth-quarter capital expenditures rose about $14 million, primarily on growth investments within the Naval & Power segment. Source
  • Share repurchases reached $465 million: Full-year repurchases were about 934,000 shares for $465 million, including about 250,000 shares for $140 million in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Quarterly dividend declared at $0.24: The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.24 a share, compared with $0.21 a share declared in the prior-year release. Source

Investment, targets and workforce

  • R&D and capital investment to rise: Management said it is continuing to increase both R&D and capital investment, alongside margin expansion and free cash flow generation. Source
  • Three-year targets confidence restated: Management said the 2026 guidance reinforces its confidence in achieving the three-year financial targets set at the 2024 Investor Day. Source
  • FY26 Restructuring Program added: Adjusted 2026 guidance excludes costs of an FY26 Restructuring Program, alongside the FY24 program already excluded from 2025 adjusted results. Source
  • Workforce about 9,100 employees: The company says it employs approximately 9,100 highly skilled employees, up from about 8,800 in the prior-year release. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Backlog Source$4.1 billion, up 18%
New orders, fourth quarter Source$1.1 billion, up 18%; book-to-bill 1.2x

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Revenue timing on domestic fighter jet and UAV programs offset gains in Defense Electronics aerospace defense sales in the quarter. Source
  • Demand: General industrial sales were flat, as off-highway gains in Aerospace & Industrial were offset by lower on-highway industrial vehicle sales. Source
  • Operational: Naval & Power adjusted margin fell as unfavorable product mix and higher R&D spending offset absorption gains on higher revenue. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The previous release said management maintained line of sight to the three-year targets; the current release says the 2026 guidance reinforces confidence in achieving them.

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.