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Crane Nxt, Co.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 3 lowered, 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales rose 10.3% year over year: Net sales were $445.1 million, up $41.6 million. The acquired De La Rue Authentication Solutions business added 7.0%, favorable foreign exchange 1.9%, and core sales 1.4%. Source
  • CPI sales fell 3.8%: CPI sales were $216.3 million, down $8.6 million. Core sales fell 4.5%. CPI GAAP operating margin was 28.1%, down 60 basis points. Source
  • SAT sales rose 28.1%: SAT sales were $228.8 million. The De La Rue acquisition added 15.8%, core sales rose 8.8% mainly on Currency volumes, and foreign exchange added 3.4%. Source
  • Macro uncertainty affected CPI demand: Management said it narrowed Adjusted EPS guidance mainly because of ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty affecting demand in CPI. Source
  • Antares Vision acquisition agreed: Crane NXT signed definitive agreements to acquire Antares Vision, with closing of the overall transaction anticipated in the first half of 2026. Source
  • Sales growth range raised: Full-year Crane NXT sales growth is now 9% to 11%, from 6% to 8%. SAT sales growth is now 27% to 29%, from 19% to 21%. Source
  • CPI and margin guidance lowered: CPI sales growth is now -4% to -2%, from -2% to 0%. Adjusted segment operating margin is now about 25%, from about 25.5% to 26.5%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS range narrowed: Adjusted EPS range is now $4.00 to $4.10, from $4.00 to $4.30, with the low end unchanged. Source

“Given the sustained momentum in SAT, we are raising our full year sales guidance.”

Aaron W. Saak, Crane NXT's President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Crane NXT sales growth Sourcefull year 2025+9% to +11%Raised from +6% to +8%
SAT sales growth Sourcefull year 2025+27% to +29%Raised from +19% to +21%
CPI sales growth Sourcefull year 2025-4% to -2%Lowered from -2% to 0%
Adjusted segment operating margin Sourcefull year 2025~25%Lowered from ~25.5% to ~26.5%
Corporate expense Sourcefull year 2025~$55Kept
Non-operating expense, net Sourcefull year 2025~$54Kept
Adjusted tax rate Sourcefull year 2025~21.5%Kept
Adjusted EPS Sourcefull year 2025$4.00 to $4.10Lowered from $4.00 to $4.30
Adjusted free cash flow conversion Sourcefull year 2025~90% to ~110%Kept
Diluted shares Sourcefull year 2025~58 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year Crane NXT sales growth range raised to 9% to 11% from 6% to 8%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year SAT sales growth range raised to 27% to 29% from 19% to 21%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year CPI sales growth range lowered to -4% to -2% from -2% to 0%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted segment operating margin guidance lowered to about 25% from about 25.5% to 26.5%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted EPS guidance narrowed to $4.00 to $4.10; the top end moved down from $4.30. Source
  • New: Definitive agreements signed to acquire Antares Vision, with closing anticipated in the first half of 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales rose 10.3% year over year: Net sales were $445.1 million, up $41.6 million. The acquired De La Rue Authentication Solutions business added 7.0%, favorable foreign exchange 1.9%, and core sales 1.4%. Source
  • Core sales rose 1.4%: Core sales rose $5.7 million, or 1.4%, driven by SAT and partly offset by lower volumes in CPI. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose to $1.28: Adjusted EPS was $1.28 against $1.16 a year earlier. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.87 against $0.81. Adjusted net income was $74.1 million against $66.7 million. Source
  • GAAP operating margin edged down: GAAP operating profit was $81.9 million against $75.0 million. Adjusted operating profit margin was 24.7%, up 80 basis points from 23.9%. Source

CPI and SAT segment results

  • CPI sales fell 3.8%: CPI sales were $216.3 million, down $8.6 million. Core sales fell 4.5%. CPI GAAP operating margin was 28.1%, down 60 basis points. Source
  • CPI adjusted margin held flat: CPI adjusted operating margin stayed at 31.1%. GAAP margin declined on lower volumes, partly offset by productivity gains. Source
  • SAT sales rose 28.1%: SAT sales were $228.8 million. The De La Rue acquisition added 15.8%, core sales rose 8.8% mainly on Currency volumes, and foreign exchange added 3.4%. Source
  • SAT adjusted margin rose 250 basis points: SAT adjusted operating margin was 24.4% against 21.9%. GAAP SAT margin was 17.2%, up 80 basis points, on higher volumes and productivity, partly offset by acquisition dilution. Source

“Our third quarter results continue to show progress in the evolution of Crane NXT, with accelerating growth in our SAT segment”

Aaron W. Saak, Crane NXT's President and Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and EBITDA

  • Cost of sales and SG&A rose: Cost of sales was $252.5 million against $232.2 million. Selling, general and administrative expense was $107.2 million against $96.3 million. Source
  • Restructuring charges of $3.5 million: Restructuring charges were $3.5 million, against none a year earlier. They were predominantly severance tied to integrating DLR and OpSec and aligning CPI's cost structure. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 27.5%: Adjusted EBITDA was $122.4 million against $107.2 million. Acquired intangible asset amortization rose to $16.0 million from $13.4 million. Source
  • Nine-month adjusted margin fell: Nine-month adjusted operating margin was 20.8% against 23.6% a year earlier. Nine-month GAAP operating margin was 14.2% against 18.2%. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Macro uncertainty affected CPI demand: Management said it narrowed Adjusted EPS guidance mainly because of ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty affecting demand in CPI. Source
  • Total backlog declined from June: Total backlog was $557.0 million, against $591.6 million at June 30, 2025 and $484.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • SAT backlog held near June level: SAT backlog was $447.6 million, against $447.2 million at June 30, 2025. CPI backlog was $109.4 million against $144.4 million. Source

“As we look forward, I am excited to add Antares Vision to our portfolio in the first half of 2026”

Aaron W. Saak, Crane NXT's President and Chief Executive Officer

Cash, debt and leverage

  • Adjusted free cash flow rose: Adjusted free cash flow was $85.3 million against $59.0 million, and adjusted free cash flow conversion was 115.1%. Source
  • Lower working capital lifted cash flow: Management attributed the $26.3 million increase in adjusted free cash flow to lower working capital requirements. Operating cash flow was $92.0 million against $66.7 million. Source
  • Total debt rose on term loan: Total debt was $1,081.9 million at September 30, 2025, up from $750.6 million at year-end 2024, with the increase attributed to term loan proceeds used to fund the De La Rue acquisition. Source
  • Net leverage ratio at 2.3: Net debt was $911.3 million, and trailing twelve-month adjusted EBITDA was $390.9 million, giving a net leverage ratio of 2.3. Source
  • Cash rose to $182.4 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $182.4 million at September 30, 2025, up from $165.8 million at December 31, 2024. Source
  • Nine-month acquisition payments rose: Nine-month payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired, were $391.1 million against $269.9 million. Nine-month capital expenditures were $33.4 million against $34.6 million. Source

Dividends and shareholder returns

  • Quarterly dividend kept at $0.17: Crane NXT declared a $0.17 per share dividend for the fourth quarter of 2025, the same amount as the third quarter. Source
  • Nine-month dividends paid rose: Dividends paid were $9.7 million in the third quarter against $9.1 million, and $29.2 million in nine months against $27.4 million. Source
  • Dividend record and payment dates: The dividend is payable December 10, 2025, to holders of record as of November 28, 2025. Source

Strategy and the Antares deal

  • Antares Vision acquisition agreed: Crane NXT signed definitive agreements to acquire Antares Vision, with closing of the overall transaction anticipated in the first half of 2026. Source
  • Crane NXT describes its focus: The boilerplate describes the company as a provider of technology to secure, detect and authenticate what matters most to its customers. Source
  • Management cites progress in evolution: Management said the third quarter showed progress in the evolution of Crane NXT, with growth in the SAT segment accelerating. Source

Full year 2025 guidance

  • Sales growth range raised: Full-year Crane NXT sales growth is now 9% to 11%, from 6% to 8%. SAT sales growth is now 27% to 29%, from 19% to 21%. Source
  • CPI and margin guidance lowered: CPI sales growth is now -4% to -2%, from -2% to 0%. Adjusted segment operating margin is now about 25%, from about 25.5% to 26.5%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS range narrowed: Adjusted EPS range is now $4.00 to $4.10, from $4.00 to $4.30, with the low end unchanged. Source
  • Several items held unchanged: Adjusted tax rate about 21.5%, corporate expense about $55 million, non-operating expense about $54 million and diluted shares about 58 million were kept. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2025

  • Antares Vision closing expected: Closing of the overall Antares Vision transaction is anticipated in the first half of 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
SAT order backlog Source$447.6 million
CPI order backlog Source$109.4 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited macroeconomic uncertainty affecting demand in CPI as the main reason for narrowing Adjusted EPS guidance. Source
  • Financial: The De La Rue acquisition was dilutive to operating margin, which management named as a factor in the GAAP margin decline. Source
  • Operational: Integration of the DLR and OpSec businesses required severance charges, with $3.5 million recorded in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said core sales growth of 1% was in line with its expectations. Source
  • Not stated: Management described the closing of the overall Antares Vision transaction as anticipated in the first half of 2026. Source
  • Not stated: Management said the company was updating the full-year guidance it had provided on August 6, 2025. 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.