Record Backlog and Order Growth
Orders were up nearly 22% in the quarter, resulting in a record backlog of $932 million. All three reporting segments contributed to this growth.
Strong Financial Performance
Sales increased by 6.6%, and adjusted EBIT margins reached 18%, with incremental margins on sales growth at 56%. Adjusted earnings per share increased by 24% compared to last year's second quarter.
Successful Acquisition of ESCO Maritime Solutions
The acquisition closed on April 25th, and the business is trending well, tracking at or above projections made during the deal announcement. Estimated sales for the five months of ownership are in the range of $90 to $100 million.
Aerospace and Defense Segment Growth
Orders grew by 5%, with strong performance from Navy orders and commercial aerospace. Adjusted EBIT margins improved by 400 basis points, and adjusted EBIT dollars increased by 28%.
Utility Solutions Group Performance
Orders grew by nearly 17%, with Doble and NRG delivering double-digit order growth. Adjusted EBIT margins in this segment improved by 290 basis points.
Test Segment Recovery
Order growth was exceptional, increasing by 75% compared to last year. Sales were up 9%, and the business experienced benefits from volume leverage and price increases.
Cash Flow and Debt Reduction
Strong operating cash flow resulted in a debt-to-EBITDA leverage ratio drop to 0.3 times after the ESCO maritime acquisition.