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TWIN DISC INC (TWIN)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q3 FY25 revenue grew 9.5% YoY to $81.24M but fell 9.6% QoQ; diluted EPS was -$0.11 versus +$0.27 in Q3 FY24 and $0.07 in Q2 FY25, with sequential gross margin expansion to 26.7% from 24.1% on mix improvement and operational efficiencies .
- Against S&P Global consensus, TWIN modestly missed revenue and significantly missed EPS and EBITDA: Revenue $81.24M vs $83.40M*, EPS -$0.11 vs $0.21*, EBITDA $4.0M vs $6.6M*; coverage remains thin (1 estimate each)* .
- Backlog strengthened to ~$133.7M from $124.0M in Q2, underpinned by Marine & Propulsion (Veth) strength and contributions from Kobelt and Katsa; operating cash flow was ~$3.4M in the quarter .
- Management flagged potential Q4 tariff cost headwinds of ~$(0.5)M (~1% of COGS) but expects pricing and sourcing actions (including a May 1 price increase) to limit margin impact; tone remained constructive on defense, commercial marine and hybrid/electric propulsion opportunities .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
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What Went Well
- Sequential margin improvement: gross margin rose to 26.7% from 24.1% in Q2, aided by operations and mix (ARFF transmission initiatives, Kaizen, sourcing, engineering reviews) .
- Backlog momentum and demand breadth: six‑month backlog rose to ~$133.7M, sustained by Veth, riverboat and European luxury yacht demand, and growing defense patrol boat activity in North America and Europe .
- Integration traction: Katsa and newly acquired Kobelt expanded industrial/marine offerings and are being scaled across TWIN’s network, with synergies and channel enhancement underway .
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What Went Wrong
- EPS miss and YoY profit compression: diluted EPS of -$0.11 vs $0.27 YoY, driven by lower operating income and a $1.6M increase in Other Expense (FX loss ~$1.1M and higher pension amortization ~$0.5M) .
- Mix headwinds: Gross margin down ~150 bps YoY on reduced oil & gas transmission shipments into China; industrial/oil & gas dynamics continued to weigh on product mix .
- Higher operating expense base: ME&A up $2.3M YoY to $19.4M on acquisitions (Katsa, Kobelt), professional fees, and wage/benefit inflation .
Financial Results
Actuals vs prior periods and consensus
- Notes: Consensus from S&P Global; number of estimates = 1 for revenue and EPS*. Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Segment breakdown (Q3 FY25 vs Q3 FY24)
KPIs and balance sheet
Guidance Changes
No formal revenue/EPS guidance was issued in the quarter; management commentary emphasized backlog strength, margin initiatives, tariff mitigation, and disciplined execution .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO: “Our third quarter results reflect another solid performance, with sequential margin improvement and strong momentum exiting the quarter… order activity for Veth remained robust… Our six-month backlog grew meaningfully sequentially, supported by sustained order activity across key markets along with the addition of Kobelt.” .
- CEO: “We remain focused on… integrating recent acquisitions, driving operational efficiencies, and positioning Twin Disc as a leader in hybrid and electric marine solutions.” .
- CFO: “Gross margins remained strong at 26.7%, reflecting improvement through the quarter, with Veth performance showing notable progress… While foreign exchange volatility impacted results, core operational trends were encouraging.” .
- CEO (call): Estimated tariff impact in Q4 of ~$500k (~1% COGS) with mitigation via pricing/surcharges and sourcing flexibility .
- CFO (call): Sequential margin recovery to 26.7% from 24.1% in Q2; positive operating cash generation (~$3.4M) and continued focus on inventory/cost structure .
Q&A Highlights
- Orders/backlog and macro: No material cancellations in marine; order rates strengthening, with growing defense patrol boat demand in NA/EU; potential pause in pleasure crafts from tariff effects (smaller exposure) .
- Tariff mitigation: May 1 pricing implemented; proactive sourcing optimization; management does not expect a significant Q4 margin impact .
- M&A integration synergies: Katsa expanding into broader market designs; Kobelt network to be rationalized and integrated; significant runway, especially in brake products across marine/industrial end markets .
- Operational efficiencies: ARFF transmission line benefited from Kaizen, sourcing, and design review; evaluating production transfers to relieve capacity constraints post tariff clarity .
Estimates Context
- Revenue modest miss: $81.24M actual vs $83.40M* consensus (one estimate)* .
- EPS significant miss: -$0.11 actual vs $0.21* consensus (one estimate)* .
- EBITDA below consensus: $3.99M actual vs $6.60M* consensus* .
- Coverage remains thin (1 estimate for EPS and revenue), implying outsized impact from single-analyst modeling and higher estimate volatility*.
- Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Sequential margin rebound supports the cost/operations improvement narrative; gross margin rose to 26.7% from 24.1% in Q2 with further initiatives underway (ARFF line, sourcing, engineering) .
- Demand/backlog resiliency offsets macro noise: backlog increased to ~$133.7M from $124.0M, driven by Marine & Propulsion (Veth), European luxury yachts, NA riverboats, and strengthening defense .
- Tariff headwind manageable: ~$0.5M (~1% COGS) expected in Q4, with proactive pricing/surcharges and sourcing mitigation; management does not foresee a significant Q4 margin hit .
- Profitability pressure vs consensus this quarter (EPS/EBITDA misses) largely tied to FX and pension amortization; estimate dispersion risk remains elevated given sparse coverage .
- Integration of Katsa and Kobelt expands product breadth and channel reach; cross‑selling and network optimization are near‑term catalysts, especially in industrial brakes and higher‑content engineered solutions .
- Dividend steady at $0.04/share; balance sheet levered post M&A (net debt $24.5M), but liquidity adequate with $16.2M cash and positive operating cash flow .
- Trading setup: trajectory hinges on gross margin sustainability, defense pipeline conversion, and tariff cost absorption; any upside surprise on Q4 margins or defense orders could be a stock catalyst .
Additional Context and Disclosures
- Q3 FY25 details: Sales $81.24M; EBITDA $3.99M; backlog $133.7M; operating cash flow ~$3.4M .
- Q2 FY25 comparison: Sales $89.92M; gross margin 24.1%; backlog $124.0M .
- Q1 FY25 baseline: Sales $72.90M; gross margin 26.5% .
- Kobelt acquisition closed Feb 18, 2025 (~$14M 2024 revenue; expected to be immediately accretive to GAAP earnings) .
Footnote: Asterisked estimate values are from S&P Global consensus and may reflect differing metric definitions vs company-reported figures. Values retrieved from S&P Global.