St. Louis, Nov. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ESE) (ESCO, or the Company) today reported its operating results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2025 (Q4 2025 and FY 2025, respectively). During Q4 2025, the Company completed the sale of VACCO Industries. The VACCO operating results are presented as Discontinued Operations in the attached tables and are excluded from the following discussion of the Company’s results from Continuing Operations for the comparable periods.

Operating Highlights

• Q4 2025 Sales increased $79 million (28.9 percent) to $353 million compared to $274 million in Q4 2024. Q4 organic sales increased $21 million (7.7 percent) and the Maritime acquisition contributed $58 million (21.2 percent) of revenue growth in the quarter.   
• FY 2025 Sales increased $176 million (19.2 percent) to $1.1 billion compared to $919 million in FY 2024. Organic sales increased $81 million (8.8 percent) and the Maritime acquisition added $95 million (10.4 percent) of revenue growth for the full year.   
• Q4 2025 GAAP EPS from Continuing Operations increased 13.8 percent to $1.73 per share compared to $1.52 per share in Q4 2024. Q4 2025 Adjusted EPS from Continuing Operations increased 29.6 percent to $2.32 per share compared to $1.79 per share in Q4 2024.
• FY 2025 GAAP EPS from Continuing Operations increased 13.1 percent to $4.49 per share compared to $3.97 per share in FY 2024. FY 2025 Adjusted EPS from Continuing Operations increased 26.4 percent to $6.03 per share compared to $4.77 per share in FY 2024.
• Q4 2025 Entered Orders increased $73 million (29.7 percent) to $321 million (book-to-bill of 0.91x).
• FY 2025 Entered Orders increased $565 million (56.5 percent) to $1.6 billion (book-to-bill of 1.43x), resulting in record year-end backlog of $1.1 billion. Excluding $364 million of acquired backlog at Maritime, FY 2025 orders increased $201 million (20.1 percent) over the prior year.     
• Net Cash provided by Operating Activities from Continuing Operations was $112 million in Q4 2025 and $200 million for FY 2025 (an increase of $79 million compared to FY 2024).
  
  

Bryan Sayler, Chief Executive Officer and President, commented, “We finished the year strong with another great quarter highlighted by 29 percent sales growth, 100 basis points of Adjusted EBIT margin improvement, and a 30 percent increase in Adjusted EPS from Continuing Operations.

“For the year, strong end-market demand, disciplined execution, and the acquisition of Maritime drove record sales, orders, backlog and Adjusted EPS. These results underscore the strength of our strategic positioning and our ability to create sustainable value in attractive markets.

“It was a truly historic year for ESCO as we continued to build on our solid foundation, delivering value across the enterprise while enhancing our portfolio by completing two consequential transactions. These accomplishments were the result of a lot of hard work and I would like to extend my appreciation to our entire team for their energy, focus, and dedication. Our collective efforts helped drive significant improvement in operating performance while taking a meaningful step forward in the evolution of the company.”

Segment Performance

Aerospace & Defense (A&D)

• Q4 2025 sales increased $71 million (71.6 percent) to $170 million from $99 million in Q4 2024. Organic sales increased $13 million (13.1 percent) and Maritime added $58 million (58.5 percent) of revenue growth in the quarter. FY 2025 sales increased $137 million (40.4 percent) to $478 million from $341 million in FY 2024. Organic sales increased $42 million (12.5 percent) and Maritime added $95 million (27.9 percent) of revenue growth for the year.   Sales growth in both the quarter and the year was driven by strength in Navy and commercial aerospace.
• Q4 2025 EBIT increased $17.0 million to $46.9 million from $29.9 million in Q4 2024. Adjusted EBIT increased $18.8 million in Q4 2025 to $48.7 million (28.6 percent margin) from $29.9 million (30.1 percent margin) in Q4 2024. The 63 percent increase in Adjusted EBIT was driven by the Maritime acquisition as well as leverage on higher volume, price increases, and mix. FY 2025 EBIT increased $39.3 million to $125.1 million from $85.8 million in FY 2024. FY 2025 Adjusted EBIT increased $43.7 million to $129.7 million (27.1 percent margin) from $86.0 million (25.2 percent margin) in FY 2024. Leverage on higher volume, price increases, mix, and the impact of Maritime more than offset inflationary pressures for the year.
• Q4 2025 entered orders increased $53 million (60.1 percent) to $141.9 million (book-to-bill of 0.83). Q4 orders growth was driven by strong commercial and defense aerospace orders at PTI and $43 million of Maritime orders. FY 2025 entered orders increased $465 million (108 percent) to $896 million (book-to-bill of 1.87) resulting in record year-end backlog of $803 million. FY 2025 included $364 million of acquired backlog at Maritime. Without this impact, A&D orders increased $101 million (23 percent) primarily driven by higher Navy orders at Globe and the addition of Maritime.
  
  

Utility Solutions Group (USG)

• Q4 2025 sales increased $2 million (1.6 percent) to $110 million from $108 million in Q4 2024. Doble sales increased by $6 million (6.8 percent) and NRG sales decreased by $4 million (19.7 percent). FY 2025 sales increased $11 million (3.0 percent) to $380 million from $369 million in FY 2024. Doble sales increased $18 million (6.0 percent) and NRG sales decreased $7 million (9.6 percent) for the year. Sales growth in both the quarter and the year was driven by higher offline test equipment, protection testing, and services, partially offset by lower condition monitoring sales at Doble and lower renewables revenue at NRG.
• Q4 2025 EBIT increased $3.3 million to $31.9 million from $28.6 million in Q4 2024. Adjusted EBIT increased $3.4 million in Q4 2025 to $32.0 million (29.1 percent margin) from $28.6 million (26.4 percent margin) in Q4 2024. FY 2025 EBIT increased $8.8 million to $94.7 million from $85.9 million in FY 2024. FY 2025 Adjusted EBIT increased $9.1 million to $95.2 million (25.0 percent margin) from $86.1 million (23.3 percent margin) in FY 2024. Adjusted EBIT increases for the quarter and year were largely driven by price increases and mix, partially offset by inflationary pressures.
• Q4 2025 entered orders increased $17 million (16.8 percent) to $116 million (book-to-bill of 1.05). Record quarterly orders at Doble increased $21 million (25.7 percent) to $101 million and NRG orders decreased $4 million (21.2 percent) to $15 million compared to Q4 2024. FY 2025 entered orders increased $48 million (13.5 percent) to $404 million (book-to-bill of 1.06) resulting in year-end backlog of $143 million. For the year, Doble orders increased $47 million (16.2 percent) related to increased electric utility spending to maintain and expand the grid. NRG orders increased $1 million (1.4 percent) as renewables project developers focused on completing current projects as tax credits sunset under new U.S. tax legislation approved during the year.
  
  

RF Test & Measurement (Test)

• Q4 2025 sales increased $6 million (9.6 percent) to $72 million from $66 million in Q4 2024. FY 2025 sales increased $27 million (13.2 percent) to $237 million from $210 million in FY 2024.   Sales growth in both the quarter and the year was largely driven by higher Test & Measurement (EMC) and industrial shielding sales, partially offset by lower wireless sales.
• Q4 2025 EBIT and Adjusted EBIT both increased $0.6 million to $12.6 million (17.5 percent margin) from $12.0 million (18.3 percent margin) in Q4 2024.   The Adjusted EBIT margin was lower than the record margin of 18.3 percent in Q4 2024 as leverage on higher volume and price increases were offset by inflationary pressures. FY 2025 EBIT increased $5.5 million to $34.1 million from $28.6 million in FY 2024. FY 2025 Adjusted EBIT also increased $5.5 million to $34.6 million (14.6 percent margin) from $29.1 million (13.9 percent margin) in FY 2024. Leverage on higher volume and price increases in FY 2025 were partially offset by inflationary pressures and unfavorable mix.
• Q4 2025 entered orders increased $3.4 million (5.8 percent) to $63 million. Higher Test orders were highlighted by a $5.5 million defense project booked in the quarter. FY 2025 entered orders increased $53 million (24.6 percent) to a record $266 million (book-to-bill of 1.12) resulting in year-end backlog of $187 million. With the exception of the wireless market, Test experienced a broad rebound in orders across other served markets in FY 2025.
  
  

Discontinued Operations - VACCO Industries Divestiture
As previously announced, the Company closed the divestiture of VACCO Industries on July 18, 2025. During the fourth quarter, the Company recognized an after-tax gain of $173 million related to the sale and $1.1 million in earnings related to discontinued operations. An accrued tax expense of $59 million was recorded in the quarter, with the anticipation of making the tax payment related to the gain on the sale in the first half of FY 2026.

Business Outlook – FY 2026
Management expects double-digit sales, Adjusted EBIT, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EPS growth in FY 2026.

Expectations for growth in FY 2026 compared to FY 2025:

• Net sales are expected to grow 16 to 20 percent to a range of $1.27 to $1.31 billion on a consolidated basis, with A&D growing 33 to 38 percent (6 to 8 percent organic growth plus Maritime revenue of $230 to $245 million), USG growing 4 to 6 percent, and Test growing 3 to 5 percent.
• Adjusted EBIT is expected to increase approximately 21 to 25 percent with Adjusted EBIT margins increasing to 20.9 to 21.5 percent of sales.
• Adjusted EBITDA is expected to increase approximately 20 to 24 percent with Adjusted EBITDA margins increasing to 23.8 to 24.6 percent of sales.
• The effective income tax rate is expected to be in the range of 23.7 to 24.1 percent in 2026.
• FY 2026 Adjusted EPS is expected to increase 24 to 29 percent to a range of $7.50 to $7.80 per share.
• Q1 2026 Adjusted EPS is expected to increase 32 to 42 percent compared to the prior year first quarter and be in the range of $1.25 - $1.35 per share.
• Consistent with prior years, revenues and Adjusted EPS are expected to grow sequentially throughout the year.
  
  
  

Dividend Payment
The next quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share will be paid on January 16, 2026 to stockholders of record on January 2, 2026.  

2026 Annual Meeting
The 2026 Annual Meeting of the Company’s shareholders will be held on January 30, 2026.

Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call today, November 20, at 4:00 p.m. Central Time, to discuss the Company’s Q4 2025 results. A live audio webcast and an accompanying slide presentation will be available in the Investor Center of ESCO’s website. Participants may also access the webcast using this registration link. For those unable to participate, a webcast replay will be available after the call in the Investor Center of ESCO’s website.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release regarding Management’s intentions, expectations and guidance for fiscal 2026, including restructuring and cost reduction actions, sales, orders, revenues, margin, earnings, Adjusted EPS, acquisition related amortization, and any other statements which are not strictly historical, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. securities laws.

Investors are cautioned that such statements are only predictions and speak only as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no duty to update them except as may be required by applicable laws or regulations. The Company’s actual results in the future may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company’s operations and business environment including but not limited to those described in Item 1A, “Risk Factors”, of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024 and the following: the impacts of climate change and related regulation of greenhouse gases; the impacts of labor disputes, civil disorder, wars, elections, political changes, tariffs and trade disputes, terrorist activities, cyberattacks or natural disasters on the Company’s operations and those of the Company’s customers and suppliers; disruptions in manufacturing or delivery arrangements due to shortages or unavailability of materials or components or supply chain disruptions; inability to access work sites; the timing and content of future contract awards or customer orders; the timely appropriation, allocation and availability of Government funds; the termination for convenience of Government and other customer contracts or orders; weakening of economic conditions in served markets; the success of the Company’s competitors; changes in customer demands or customer insolvencies; competition; intellectual property rights; technical difficulties or data breaches; the availability of acquisitions; delivery delays or defaults by customers; performance issues with key customers, suppliers and subcontractors; material changes in the costs and availability of certain raw materials; material changes in the cost of credit; changes in laws and regulations including but not limited to changes in accounting standards and taxation; changes in interest, inflation and employment rates; costs relating to environmental matters arising from current or former facilities; uncertainty regarding the ultimate resolution of current disputes, claims, litigation or arbitration; and the integration and performance of acquired businesses.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The financial measures EBIT, Adjusted EBIT, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EPS are presented in this press release. The Company defines “EBIT” as earnings before interest and taxes, “EBITDA” as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, “Adjusted EBIT” and “Adjusted EBITDA” as excluding the net impact of the items described in the attached Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures, and “Adjusted EPS” as GAAP earnings per share excluding the net impact of the items described and reconciled in the attached Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.

EBIT, Adjusted EBIT, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EPS are not recognized in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, Management believes EBIT, Adjusted EBIT, EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA are useful in assessing the operational profitability of the Company’s business segments because they exclude interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, which are generally accounted for across the entire Company on a consolidated basis. EBIT is also one of the measures used by Management in determining resource allocations within the Company as well as incentive compensation. The presentation of EBIT, Adjusted EBIT, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EPS provides important supplemental information to investors by facilitating comparisons with other companies, many of which use similar non-GAAP financial measures to supplement their GAAP results. The use of non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to replace any measures of performance determined in accordance with GAAP.

About ESCO
ESCO Technologies is a global provider of highly engineered products and solutions serving diverse end-markets. It manufactures filtration and fluid control products, advanced composites, as well as signature and power management solutions for aviation, Navy, and industrial customers. ESCO is an industry leader in designing and manufacturing RF test and measurement products and systems; and provides diagnostic instruments, software and services to industrial power users and the electric utility and renewable energy industries. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, ESCO and its subsidiaries have offices and manufacturing facilities worldwide. For more information on ESCO and its subsidiaries, visit ESCO’s website at www.escotechnologies.com.
   
   

SOURCE ESCO Technologies Inc.        
Kate Lowrey, Vice President of Investor Relations, (314) 213-7277