Q4 2025 Enerpac Tool Group Corp Earnings Call
Speaker #1: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. Welcome to Enerpac Tool Group's fourth quarter fiscal 2025 earnings conference call. As a reminder, this conference is being recorded on October 16, 2025.
Speaker #1: It is now my pleasure to turn the conference over to Travis Williams, Senior Director of Investor Relations. Please go ahead, Mr. Williams.
Speaker #2: Thank you, operator. Good morning, and thank you for joining us for ENERPAC TOOL GROUP's fourth quarter and year-end fiscal 2025 earnings call. On the call today to present the company's results are Paul Sternlieb, President and Chief Executive Officer and Darren Kozik, Chief Financial Officer.
Speaker #2: The slides referenced on today's call are available on the Investor Relations section of the company's website, which you can download and follow along. A recording of today's call will also be made available on our website.
Speaker #2: Today's call will reference non-GAAP measures. You can find a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP measures in the press release issued yesterday. Our comments will also include forward-looking statements that are subject to business risk that could cause actual results to be materially different.
Speaker #2: Those risks include matters noted in our latest SEC filings. With that, I will turn the call over to Paul.
Speaker #3: Thanks, Travis. Good morning, and thank you for joining us for our year-end fiscal 2025 earnings call. As I look back at the year just ended, I am extremely proud of our team, our many achievements, and the fundamentals that truly differentiate Enerpac.
Speaker #3: Obviously, we're operating in a very challenging and dynamic environment, marked by ongoing weakness in the industrial sector and widespread economic uncertainty. That said, ENERPAC posted record revenue in fiscal 2025.
Speaker #3: We also delivered a robust adjusted EBITDA margin of nearly 25%, with the opportunity for further improvement in the coming years. On the innovation front, we launched five new products, with more to come in fiscal 2026.
Speaker #3: Notably, these products continue to ramp commercially, we successfully integrated the acquired DTA business, which, as Darren will elaborate, ended the year on a very strong note.
Speaker #3: And our e-commerce business continues to gain traction with customers, posting 32% growth in fiscal 2025. We've also continued the rollout of our discipline commercial process, ENERPAC Commercial Excellence, or ECX.
Speaker #3: As of year-end fiscal 2025, we began introduction into our third and final region, APAC. In the fourth quarter, we repurchased a record $40 million in Enerpac stock, bringing the total for fiscal 2025 to $69 million.
Speaker #3: As we look to fiscal 2026, we are cautiously optimistic. While Europe remains a wild card, the prospect of lower interest rates and greater certainty around tariff policy along with healthy activity in the infrastructure sector are encouraging.
Speaker #3: Let me turn the call over to Darren, who will walk you through the highlights of fiscal 2025. He'll also provide our initial guidance for fiscal 2026, then I'll come back to share some more color on key initiatives and several exciting project wins.
Speaker #3: Darren?
Speaker #4: Thanks, Paul. As seen in slide four, ENERPAC's fiscal 2025 revenue of $617 million increased 5%. On an organic basis, adjusting for foreign exchange and the acquisition of DTA, we grew 1%.
Speaker #4: That put us near the midpoint of our previously provided guidance range as we benefited from multiple initiatives. Continued strong performance at Courtland, growth in heavy lifting technology, or HLT, and an excellent fourth quarter at DTA.
Speaker #4: At our IT and S business, revenue increased 1% organically for the year. Including DTA, IT and S revenue increased 4%, with a 5% growth in product sales and a 1% growth in service.
Speaker #4: As I mentioned, DTA's robust year-end performance brought us a full year revenue of $20 million. ENERPAC's operational discipline and supply chain expertise are improving throughput at DTA's facility.
Speaker #4: At the same time, we are successfully cross-selling DTA's horizontal movement technology to ENERPAC's existing distributor and customer base. In fact, some 45% of DTA's orders were new or crossed over sale to existing ENERPAC customers.
Speaker #4: Demonstrating the power of commercial synergies that underscore the strategic value of the acquisition. Turning to slide five, which shows our performance by geography, we delivered growth in two of our three regions in fiscal 2025.
Speaker #4: With low single-digit growth in the Americas and strong high single-digit growth in APAC, we believe this is another year of share gains for the company across ENERPAC as a whole.
Speaker #4: In APAC, our growth in 2025 was comprised of solid performance in standard products, and even better growth in HLT. Geographically, we've benefited from enhanced sales coverage in India, driving double-digit growth, and have high expectations in fiscal 2026 and beyond.
Speaker #4: We also saw improvement in the mining industry in Australia, a sector that had been a soft spot. Overall, our investment in commercial leadership and sales coverage in APAC is paying dividends as we capture share in the region.
Speaker #4: In the Americas, while standard product revenue was flat in fiscal 2025, we posted double-digit gains in HLT and service revenue. We enjoyed good demand for the infrastructure, petrochemical, and power generation markets, the latter of which includes some wins from the nuclear sector.
Speaker #4: On the other side, wind and general construction were weaker-end markets in the region. Geographically, Latin America has been softer due to macroeconomic issues and tariff-related policies.
Speaker #4: Offsetting growth in the Americas and APAC was a mid-single-digit decline in the EMEA region. For fiscal 2025, revenue from standard products was about flat.
Speaker #4: However, our HLT business, while posting a relatively good year, was down compared with a very strong fiscal 2024. As a reminder, HLT is a capital equipment business and tends to be lumpy.
Speaker #4: In the EMEA region, there are several cross-currents going into fiscal 2026. Including ongoing economic weakness in Central and Southern Europe. Nonetheless, we expect to benefit from good traction, and the new product fronts and out-of-pickup in HLT, which will include DTA.
Speaker #4: We also expect to make further progress on our other key growth initiatives, including our continued focus on the infrastructure market, our ongoing digital transformation, and additional enhancements to our ECX program, to name a few.
Speaker #4: Turning to slide six, for fiscal 2025, gross profit margin came in at 50.5%. The slight year-over-year decline was largely as expected, primarily driven by the inclusion of DTA and the mix in our service business.
Speaker #4: On the selling general and administrative expense line, adjusting for the restructuring charge in M&A expenses, SG&A improved by 80 basis points, to 26.8% of revenue.
Speaker #4: As compared to 27.6% in fiscal 2024. The company continues to optimize SG&A efficiency. Including standardizing and automating processes, and leveraging our lower-cost centers of excellence.
Speaker #4: Altogether, our team managed to accomplish and dynamic environment to deliver full year adjusted EBITDA growth of 4%, to $154 million. That represented a margin of 24.9%.
Speaker #4: Near the midpoint of our guidance. And for the full year, adjusted earnings per share of $1.81, compared with $1.72 for fiscal 2024, increased 5%.
Speaker #4: For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, revenue was up 6%, with an organic revenue decline of approximately 2%, as gains in the Americas and APAC were offset by the performance of the EMEA region.
Speaker #4: Product revenue declined 1% year-over-year on an organic basis, while service revenue declined 7%. Courtland continued to generate healthy growth, and as mentioned, DTA revenue expanded significantly to $9 million.
Speaker #4: Adjusted EBITDA increased 15% year-over-year, and margins were strong at 26.5% for the fourth quarter. Benefiting from the geographic mix, and volume leverage at DTA.
Speaker #4: Adjusted EPS grew 4% to $0.52. The effective tax rate for adjusted EPS was 24.9%, compared to 15.7% in fiscal 2024. Share count was down about 2% year-over-year in the quarter.
Speaker #4: Turning to slide eight, given our extremely strong balance sheet and excellent cash flow, we continue to focus on opportunities to deploy capital. With early signs of a healthier and more robust M&A environment, coupled with incremental M&A resources, we expect to expand the funnel and increase deal flow.
Speaker #4: We will also continue to opportunistically return capital to shareholders. Speaking of which, since the authorization was approved by our Board in 2022, the company has returned approximately $240 million to shareholders through the repurchase of 9 million shares, at an average cost of just below $27 per share.
Speaker #4: Today, we are pleased to announce that the board has approved a new share repurchase authorization, for $200 million. Which we believe speaks to the confidence in our ability to continue to create meaningful shareholder value.
Speaker #4: On the balance sheet, net debt was $38 million at year-end. Resulting in a net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 0.3 times. Total liquidity, including availability under a revolver and cash on hand, was $551 million.
Speaker #4: As you can see, we have ample financial flexibility to continue our balanced capital allocation strategy, and are maintaining significant dry powder for our disciplined strategic M&A process.
Speaker #4: For fiscal 2025, cash flow from operations was $111 million, compared with $81 million in fiscal 2024. Pre-cash flow at $92 million, increased by $22 million to 32%, even with $8 million in incremental capital spending.
Speaker #4: Primarily associated with the headquarters relocation, as well as continued investments in our automated manufacturing capabilities and IT enhancements to improve efficiency and productivity. For our practice, at year-end, we provide initial guidance for the year ahead, which is shown on slide 9.
Speaker #4: Starting with the top line, we anticipate revenue of $635 to $655 million dollars, with underlying organic growth of 1 to 4%, with an assumption of the US dollar to euro exchange rate at 116.
Speaker #4: We believe our organic growth forecast represents Enerpac's continued outperformance relative to the industrial markets. The low end assumes little to no improvements in the macro environment, while the upper end of the range assumes a modest improvement.
Speaker #4: Our forecast for adjusted EBITDA is $158 million, to $168 million. At the midpoint, that translates to year-over-year growth of 6%, and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 25.3%.
Speaker #4: We are projecting free cash flow of $100 to $110 million, with CapEx x of $10 to $15 million. Also this year, we are introducing annual EPS guidance.
Speaker #4: For adjusted EPS, we are guiding to the range of $1.85 to $2. As you can see from this slide, we have included our modeling assumptions, including interest expense, depreciation and amortization, along with the adjusted tax rate.
Speaker #4: Our guidance also assumes no substantial change to the current tariff or regulatory environment. As for the first quarter of 2026, we expect some pressure on margins, as higher tariff-impacted costs flow through the cost of goods sold.
Speaker #4: As we progress through the year, that should subside, based on the actions we have taken to offset higher input costs. As we discussed in our three-quarterings call, we expect to be price cost neutral for the full fiscal year.
Speaker #4: With that, let me turn it back to Paul.
Speaker #3: Thanks, Darren. While conditions remain volatile in the industrial marketplace, we are excited about the specific actions ENERPAC is taking to continue to gain market share.
Speaker #3: We have continued to invest across the organization under the Powering ENERPAC Performance Program, known as PEP, to drive continuous improvement as we simplify and automate the business, improve operational capabilities, and support growth.
Speaker #3: On the service side, we have been taking actions to capture more differentiated and value-added service opportunities, including investing in equipment to support higher-margin service lines.
Speaker #3: We are also changing our business model in certain countries to improve service business margins. For example, in Algeria, we have transitioned from an agent-based to a direct model, which we expect to support long-term growth and profitability.
Speaker #3: And in fiscal 2025, we opened a new service center in Saudi Arabia, as you can see on slide 10. Given the expanding opportunities in the country and the broader Middle East region, we expect this to be a meaningful growth engine.
Speaker #3: We have also added new commercial capabilities and stronger leadership underpinned by ECX to continue to gain share. These teams are supported by our global marketing organization, which continues to drive awareness, brand recognition, and lead generation.
Speaker #3: For example, in the fourth quarter, we executed a global campaign around our battery-powered torque wrench, a product line we launched in late fiscal 2024.
Speaker #3: With a full range of sizes, our lineup not only offers meticulous calibration but also a significant differentiator in terms of the tool's ease of use.
Speaker #3: With the campaign, which has included nearly 1,000 customer demos across the globe, we have significantly improved the size and quality of our sales funnel, as the market continues to respond well to this innovative technology.
Speaker #3: Moreover, this direct end-user interaction has helped drive valuable insights for our innovation roadmap. At the same time, we are employing the 80/20 rule to further optimize our distribution channel.
Speaker #3: As shown on slide 11, in fiscal 2025, we reduced the number of distributors globally by 13% to fewer than 800. By focusing on the most productive distributors, we can improve the efficiency of our channel relationships, commit resources to the highest return outcomes, and win with the winners.
Speaker #3: And of course, during the year, we relocated to our new global headquarters in downtown Milwaukee. The move, which includes a substantially expanded innovation lab with significantly greater in-house capabilities, also supports collaboration and our ability to attract top talent.
Speaker #3: Reflecting on our mission, it's always nice to showcase a few relevant examples of where we are helping our customers and where ENERPAC plays an important role in high-profile projects.
Speaker #3: In fiscal 2024, we announced ENERPAC's involvement in the massive Therman Belt Tunnel Infrastructure Project, connecting Denmark to the rest of Europe. Which will be the longest immersed tunnel in the world when completed.
Speaker #3: We were pleased to receive significant follow-on orders associated with the project in the fourth quarter, demonstrating ENERPAC's continued value for this important customer. Separately, we have been part of another major infrastructure project in Denmark, a bridge connecting Copenhagen to Therman.
Speaker #3: As shown on slide 12, using Enerpac's JS250 jack-up system, the 32-meter long and 8-meter wide bridge element, weighing more than 100 tons, was successfully positioned with millimeter precision.
Speaker #3: And in Saudi Arabia, ENERPAC's HLT systems will support the building of a new football stadium in preparation for the 2034 World Cup. Finally, ENERPAC was proud to be part of the relocation of a 160-year-old Swedish church.
Speaker #3: Workers utilized ENERPAC's EVO synchronous lifting system and 19 high-tonnage cylinders to carefully raise the nearly 700-ton structure onto a relocation rig. The two-day move of the historic wooden church to a new location coincided with a major event in the country, drawing international media attention and even the King of Sweden.
Speaker #3: Our role in these projects highlights how we live our mission every day and how ENERPAC's technology makes complex, often hazardous jobs possible safely and efficiently for our customers.
Speaker #3: Speaking of HLT, we will be exhibiting at ConExpo in Las Vegas, the largest construction show in North America, in March 2026. We believe our presence at large, well-attended industry shows like this is a critical part of advancing the ENERPAC brand.
Speaker #3: And this year's exhibit will be complemented by the inclusion of DTA's horizontal moving technology. As you heard in our remarks, we are proud of the actions we have taken this past year to advance Enerpac's competitive position, and we remain excited about the future.
Speaker #3: Thank you to our team members worldwide for your ongoing commitment to our customers and partners, and for making ENERPAC a premier industrial tools and solutions provider.
Speaker #3: With that, we'd be happy to take questions.
Speaker #1: At this time, I would like to remind everyone that in order to ask a question, press star, then the number one on your telephone keypad.
Speaker #1: We will pause for just a moment to compile the Q&A roster. Your first question comes from the line of Tom Hayes with Roth Capital Partners; your line is now open.
Speaker #1: Please go ahead.
Speaker #5: Good morning, guys. Congrats on the strong finish to the year.
Speaker #6: Good Good morning, Tom. Thanks.
Speaker #7: Thank you.
Speaker #5: Paul, I was wondering, could we dig into the EMEA market a little bit? It seemed like it got a little bit weaker as the year progressed.
Speaker #5: Is that primarily Europe, or maybe just kind of flesh that out a little bit? And then I know you don't give guidance by region, but maybe just your thoughts on the market conditions as the year starts.
Speaker #6: Yeah, sure, Tom. Yeah, I think it is primarily Europe. That's the bulk of our EMEA region. And I think, you know, we did see softening from a macro standpoint.
Speaker #6: I would say, particularly in Central and Southern Europe, which has been weak and persistently weak. And so I think that that's been a challenge; just the macro.
Speaker #6: I would also say, in addition, our service business in the region was lapping a pretty significantly large project that we had in Q4 of fiscal 2024.
Speaker #6: So that was, you know, just another challenge on the year-over-year comp.
Speaker #5: Okay. So I mean, so you should have relatively easier comps this year. I would assume.
Speaker #6: Yeah, I think assuming the macro doesn't worsen or get better, yeah.
Speaker #5: All right. Maybe shifting gears a little bit, congratulations on the strong e-commerce performance. I know we've talked about it before and it seems like it's taking off.
Speaker #5: Is that, if you can remind me, is that primarily US or is it, have you rolled that out globally now?
Speaker #6: Sure, yeah. It's actually global. So we, if you recall, a few years ago when we really started this effort, of course we started in the U.S. and that's really well in place now, and we've been investing behind that.
Speaker #6: And then about a year or so into it, we did roll it out across most markets in Europe. I think we're in something like 18 or 20 countries.
Speaker #6: In that region, including the UK, we rolled it out in Australia about a year ago as well. So, we'll still evaluate whether it makes sense to roll out to an additional market.
Speaker #6: Those will obviously be smaller. But at the same time, we're continuing to invest in the technology, the marketing, the analytics, you know, just to continue to drive strong growth in our e-commerce business, which, you know, is margin-accretive for us as well.
Speaker #5: Okay. Maybe just lastly on the DTA integration, it looks like it really kind of picked up steam in the fourth quarter. Where are you seeing really good traction that maybe is either geographically or in markets that you think you still have further opportunities there?
Speaker #5: Because, like you said, you've got about 45% of your revenue kind of cross-sells. My guess is there's probably more opportunity out there. Your general thoughts on DTA going into year two?
Speaker #6: Yeah, no, we were really pleased with the progress that our team made on DTA and both the integration and, obviously, the commercial synergies. They had an excellent quarter.
Speaker #6: I'd say orders have been robust. Our backlog has expanded as we've implemented our strategy to cross-sell their solutions to the existing, you know, I'll call it ENERPAC base of customers.
Speaker #6: And also expand their sales beyond their traditional stronghold, which of course was Europe. So, a lot of the growth opportunities that we've seen have been in the U.S. market.
Speaker #6: And, you know, that's where I think we see a lot of the lead activity and a lot of the upcoming order activity as well.
Speaker #6: You know, they posted a pretty strong Q4, obviously, that's ramped throughout the year. And I think that's just a testament to the strong work that our team has led in conjunction with DTA on driving more efficient manufacturing process improvements and bringing our supply chain expertise to bear to DTA.
Speaker #6: So, we're really pleased, and I think, you know, the investment thesis is truly playing out as we expected, especially from a commercial synergies perspective.
Speaker #5: Okay. I appreciate it. I'll leave it there. I'll jump back to the Q.
Speaker #6: Okay, thanks, Tom.
Speaker #1: Your next question comes from the line of Daniel Moore with CJ's Securities. Please go ahead.
Speaker #5: Thank you. Paul, Darren, good morning. Thanks for taking the questions.
Speaker #8: Good Good morning, Dan.
Speaker #7: Hey, Dan.
Speaker #5: We gave good color, so maybe it's a little redundant. And I know you don't disclose backlogs per se, but just entering Fiscal 2026, obviously you're up a little weaker.
Speaker #5: You just described that. Overall, you know, the pipeline of opportunities—how would you kind of describe it relative to maybe how we entered the year a year ago in fiscal 2025?
Speaker #5: And any other color by geography would be great.
Speaker #6: Yeah, I can start there and can also add some color, I think. But Dan, I think our view is probably in a similar spot, frankly, to where we started the prior year, just from a macro standpoint.
Speaker #6: I mean, obviously, there's still a lot of uncertainty. You know, while we have now seen the impact, or at least the implementation of tariffs, of course, there's still a lot of uncertainty about where those will end up.
Speaker #6: I'd say most notably, obviously with China in the current situation. So I think, you know, just given the uncertainty, from a macro standpoint, we're we're probably in a similar spot.
Speaker #6: Why, you know, our guidance is a bit wide this year at one to four percent, just depending on the macro and how that plays out over the next 12 months.
Speaker #6: But, you know, I think, you know, at the same time, I mean, we have some reasons to be optimistic. Clearly, if the tariff policies, you know, do kind of get solidified, and if, you know, interest rates continue to come down, those will help.
Speaker #6: And I think we're still pretty bullish and optimistic around the infrastructure market. We've seen really good progress there, with a lot of projects coming online.
Speaker #6: That our team has been supporting, some that we highlighted on our prepared remarks. So, you know, I think on balance, yeah, reasons to be cautious, but maybe cautiously optimistic just as the macro situation plays out.
Speaker #7: No, I think you're right, Paul. And it's definitely the infrastructure vertical, Dan, that we see. You know, really the build from an infrastructure perspective that's both in the U.S. You know, if there are bright spots in Europe, it's in infra and some of that defense spending.
Speaker #7: While the rest of that economy is a little bit slower, that's where we're obviously dedicating resources, keeping our eyes on, and looking for growth there.
Speaker #5: Absolutely. Good color on DTA, and obviously good progress there. It may be just the cadence for your fiscal 2026 outlook. Darren, I appreciate the color on margins for Q1.
Speaker #5: You know, when we think about growth overall for fiscal 2025, up 1% organically, Q4 down 1 to 2%. So, do we think of fiscal Q1 kind of starting off similar to Q4 or closer to the low end of your full range?
Speaker #5: Just want to, you know, get a better sense for how you see things playing out for the first quarter or two.
Speaker #6: Yeah, no, good question. And I think, you know, just a reminder for everyone: from a business perspective, whether it be margins or free cash flow, a significant amount of that comes through in the second half of the year.
Speaker #6: Yeah, you saw that this year. We'll see that next year. Margins in Q1, we'll see those tariff costs come through, Dan, as we talked about.
Speaker #6: So, we will see pressure there. I think from a growth perspective, you know, as Paul talked about earlier, a large part of the first half of the year will depend on Europe.
Speaker #6: We need to see some of that momentum come back. I do think we're, you know, positive on the Americas. So you saw good performance in the Americas and APAC.
Speaker #6: We expect that to continue. And Europe's a wild card, as we talked about. So that's how we see it play out. But I do think, when you look at the comparables, we had a strong Q2 last year.
Speaker #6: So, that will be a little bit tougher to lap. But I expect Q1 to maybe look a little bit more like Q4.
Speaker #5: That's helpful. And then, maybe sneak in one more, just, you know, obviously, really good progress continues on SG&A. Just talk a little color around the assumptions for gross margin as well as SG&A embedded in the $26 guide.
Speaker #5: And I'll circle back for any follow-ups. Thanks again.
Speaker #6: Yeah, you know, we don't specifically guide per line item, Dan. How I'd think about it is, you know, our gross margins kind of the last couple of quarters is where we're sitting.
Speaker #6: I think we're comfortable with that level. You know, we do continue to work on the service business. That's a key piece of this. As that continues to improve, there could be some upside there in the second half of the year from our gross margin perspective.
Speaker #6: And really on SG&A, you know, we are laser-focused on that. You saw the benefits of that in Q4. I mean, our SG&A as a percent of revenue was under 25%.
Speaker #6: A lot of that is driven by volume leverage. So as we think about the first half of next year that will ride up a little bit, but that'll come back down in the second half as volume plays out.
Speaker #6: I think that's a little bit of the guide. We start to think about both lines in the P&L.
Speaker #7: Yeah, and I would add to that, Tom and Dan. I think, you know, you'll recall in Q3 we announced a smaller restructuring program. We really didn't see any impact, nor did we expect to see that in Q4 benefit yet.
Speaker #7: But we'll see that play out through the course of fiscal 2026. So that will be some benefit for us on SG&A as well. And then I think Darren's right on gross margin, but I would say over the midterm, we still have ample opportunities through powering ENERPAC performance to drive continued improvement in terms of conversion costs, as well as sourcing and material costs.
Speaker #7: Frankly, even with our footprint, we continue to look at opportunities there. Obviously, there are some longer poles in the 10 items that take time to execute, but I think we still feel very good about the funnel of initiatives that we've got.
Speaker #7: On COGS, and obviously impacting gross margin in the midterm.
Speaker #3: And just to circle back, Dan, you know, we take a 1% to 4% organic growth as another year of beating the market and gaining share.
Speaker #3: You know, and that's the premise. We have been doing that, and we believe we can continue to do that with the products we have.
Speaker #5: Perfect. And I'll circle back. Thank you again.
Speaker #6: Okay, thank you.
Speaker #1: Your next question comes from the line of Steve Silver with Argus Research. Please go ahead.
Speaker #8: Thanks, operator. And my congratulations on a productive year as well. In the prepared remarks, it sounded like the outlook for M&A maybe sounded a little bit more bullish compared to some recent quarters.
Speaker #8: And in the past, I know you guys have talked about the philosophy of acquiring high-quality and performing businesses not really looking at distressed or turnaround situations.
Speaker #8: So I was hoping you could provide a little color in terms of what the thinking is for the more constructive outlook on M&A. Whether it's just more of the strength of ENERPAC's balance sheet or any other competitive landscape changes that you're seeing.
Speaker #6: Yeah, sure, Steve. Thanks. Good morning. Yeah, I think we remain pretty busy on the M&A front. We're spending a lot of time and energy and resources there.
Speaker #6: Certainly, from a balance sheet perspective, we are obviously very healthy, with a lot of capacity and financial flexibility. As we've remarked, we are retaining effectively a lot of dry powder.
Speaker #6: To do things inorganically and sort of strike when the iron is hot. If I reflect on the past few years, I mean, we've looked at certainly a lot of interesting opportunities.
Speaker #6: But I think fundamentally, on a majority valuation has been an issue and we've always said that we will not overpay. And certainly we'll walk away from things that don't create value for ENERPAC and our shareholders.
Speaker #6: That said, I think looking forward, I'm pretty encouraged by our funnel of opportunities. I would say that that has picked up pace. It continues to grow nicely.
Speaker #6: We've also augmented our resources from an M&A standpoint to expand the number of targets in our funnel as we head into fiscal 2026.
Speaker #6: And I think, you know, just the pace and the quality of deal flow overall has picked up. I would say considerably in the past couple of quarters.
Speaker #6: And we continue to have very robust dialogue with any number of opportunities. So it's, you know, at the forefront of our work and thinking.
Speaker #6: But certainly we remain extremely disciplined in our process. With not only strategic, but obviously a financial and returns lens as well for our shareholders.
Speaker #5: Great. Thanks for the color. And one more if I may. So APAC was really a key growth driver in fiscal 25 with the high single-digit growth.
Speaker #5: I'm curious as to what proportion of that growth was seen from the second brand strategy and really as you're entering fiscal 26. The outlook for continued growth in that second brand strategy.
Speaker #6: Yeah, I think from a couple of pieces to talk through, I'll talk through the geography and then turn it to Paul to talk about kind of the branding and the second brand.
Speaker #6: I think what you heard in the prepared remarks is, you know, we had a fantastic year in India. You know, that continues to be a double-digit growth geography for us.
Speaker #6: We continue to invest there, more sales coverage, and we're seeing great returns out of India. I'd say the second piece is we did see that return in Australia, specifically in the mining sector.
Speaker #6: You know, there was bullish growth coming out of both of those geos, which really helped us see a bright future for both of them in FY26 and beyond.
Speaker #7: Yeah, and Steve, I would just comment on second brand specifically. Obviously that's an initiative, you know, that's we launched now a couple of years ago.
Speaker #7: It's certainly a long-term initiative. Year over year, we continue to see growth and good progress, but I'll just remind folks that it is a limited number of SKUs we're talking about, you know, in the mid-200s range versus, obviously, tens of thousands of SKUs for Enerpac.
Speaker #7: That said, we did see growth. We expect to see continued growth in the second brand, particularly in Asia-Pacific here in fiscal 2026. Part of that will be as we expand distributors and channel partners.
Speaker #7: For the second brand, we continue to do that in the second half of fiscal 2025 and going into 2026 here. We are also adding some additional product lines in fiscal 2026, or SKUs, or, you know, different product categories.
Speaker #7: To that second brand. So we expect that to help us drive growth. But, you know, part of it is also a long-term investment in marketing, appropriately for that brand, the larger brand.
Speaker #7: So that becomes, you know, more well-known in the region. But we're pleased with the progress that we've made so far.
Speaker #5: Great. Thanks for the additional color, and best of luck in the new year.
Speaker #6: Okay, thank you.
Speaker #7: Thank you.
Speaker #1: Again, if you would like to ask a question, press star, one on your telephone keypad. Your next question comes from the line of Daniel Moore with CJ's Securities.
Speaker #1: Please go ahead.
Speaker #8: Thank you again. Appreciate the comments on the M&A outlook. Obviously, you know, balance sheet extremely strong and cash flow is only going to tick higher.
Speaker #8: Just talk about, you know, what the stock pulling back here, your maybe if not the cadence, you know, willingness to be a little bit more aggressive in terms of redeploying the 200 million repurchase authorization.
Speaker #8: And how are you thinking about balancing, you know, M&A versus buybacks here in the near term?
Speaker #6: Yeah, I think as we've talked about really from a buyback perspective, we're opportunistic and, you know, Q4 is a perfect example of that. We saw a window.
Speaker #6: You know, we were able to invest back in ourselves, and that was the largest repurchase we've done since the relaunch of ENERPAC.
Speaker #6: We will take advantage of those opportunities, Dan, when they're out there. In the absence of that, we continue to really push hard on M&A.
Speaker #6: You know, DTA is now behind us. It's integrated. You've seen the success we can drive with that. I mean, nothing better proof positive than what we did in Q4 with DTA.
Speaker #6: So we will balance them equally, but if there's opportunities from a repurchase perspective, we'll take them. And we see them.
Speaker #7: Yeah, and I would just, I'd echo Darren's comments. I mean, obviously, as we said, it's always balance capitalization approach. You know, first priority is investment in the business.
Speaker #7: We feel we've done that and are continuing to do that. We referenced in the prepared remarks a number of cases where we've made capital investments in manufacturing and IT to drive further productivity and efficiency, supporting a stronger growth engine for the business.
Speaker #7: And then certainly, you know, a heavy focus and lens on M&A. But with a very disciplined approach. But at the same time, we are pleased that our board authorized the new 200 million dollar share repurchase authorization.
Speaker #7: So that does give us, obviously, the go-ahead to, as Darren said, be opportunistic when we see that the stock is, you know, in our view, undervalued in the marketplace.
Speaker #7: And we'll continue to do that throughout the year where it makes sense.
Speaker #5: Really helpful. And just on the M&A front, you gave a lot of color, but are you seeing potential sellers now willing to come back and have dialogues at, you know, rational multiples?
Speaker #5: I guess, obviously, in the early days of the tariffs, a lot of uncertainty kind of put things on pause. Are you seeing that those discussions open back up a little bit?
Speaker #6: Yeah, I don't know it's so much that, Dan. I think it's a mix. I think we're seeing a lot of newer opportunities come into the funnel.
Speaker #6: That are really interesting to evaluate. Again, obviously, they have to pass muster in terms of strategic and financial returns criteria. You know, but we continue to have dialogue with folks that we have in the past, as well as on situations that may change there.
Speaker #6: So I think it's really a mix, but I would say, you know, broadly our team is doing a really nice job. It's sort of priming the funnel with a lot of newer, interesting opportunities that we've been evaluating.
Speaker #5: Great. Last.
Speaker #7: I think I would add is obviously.
Speaker #5: Yep.
Speaker #7: Yep. No, I was going to say, Dan, you know, we're obviously investing more resources. From an M&A perspective, we talked a little bit about that.
Speaker #7: We do see opportunities opening, and we want to be ready when they're there. So we are making that investment back to find the right deals for the company.
Speaker #5: Perfect. Courtland Bio, you know, again, mid-teens this year, 10% Q4. Just talk about the outlook and whether, you know, double-digit growth. Again, this is kind of reasonable and embedded in your guide.
Speaker #5: Thank you.
Speaker #6: Yeah, I think, you know, we remain very bullish on Courtland. Obviously, it's in our other segment; it is our other segment. It's certainly not related to our core tools business.
Speaker #6: But we definitely like the business a lot. You know, in our view, you know, really strong growth engine, margin accretive effectively for us. We continue to invest appropriately in the business.
Speaker #6: It has exposure to, you know, high growth end markets. We've got really blue-chip customers in that business. We continue to drive a strong commercial funnel.
Speaker #6: You know, we bring new products to market and ramp those commercially in partnership with our customers. So the business continues to perform well, and our outlook continues to be very positive on that business from a growth and margin perspective.
Speaker #5: Thank you.
Speaker #6: Thank you.
Speaker #1: That concludes our Q&A session. I will now turn the call back over to Paul Sternlieb, President and Chief Executive Officer, for closing remarks.
Speaker #6: Okay. Thank you for joining us this morning. For anyone who is in ConExpo or planning to attend in March, please reach out to Travis so we can show off our HLT and DTA technology at the show.
Speaker #6: We will also be participating at the Baird Industrial Conference in Chicago on November 12th. Excuse me, November 12th. And as a proud Milwaukee-based company, I'd be remiss if I didn't add, let's go brewers.
Speaker #6: Thank you and have a good day.