VC
Vontier Corp (VNT)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q3 2025 delivered slight top-line growth and margin expansion, with revenue $752.5M (+0.3% YoY) and GAAP operating margin up ~140 bps to 18.9%; adjusted EPS was $0.78, at the high end of guidance . Versus consensus, revenue modestly beat ($752.5M vs $747.9M*) and EPS slightly beat ($0.78 vs $0.77*).*
- Management raised full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $3.15–$3.20 (from $3.10–$3.20) and now targets ~95% adjusted FCF conversion (from ~100%); Q4 adjusted EPS guided to $0.82–$0.86 with core sales (1%) to +1% .
- Segment mix: Mobility Technologies +5.1% sales and margin +40 bps; Environmental & Fueling Solutions +2.3% sales and margin −20 bps; Repair Solutions −6.9% sales and margin −50 bps as macro headwinds persisted, though management cited sequential stabilization .
- Strategic signals: Car wash returned to YoY growth ahead of plan on Patheon software upgrades; unified payments/point-of-sale up high teens; continued 80/20 simplification, portfolio pruning (~$60M proceeds), and $70M buybacks in Q3; net leverage 2.4x .
- Potential stock catalysts: consistent delivery at/above guidance, raised FY EPS, car wash inflection and payments momentum offsetting Repair softness; near-term headwind from divestitures (~$15M Q4 sales, ~$2M adj OP) and tariff/interest expense watch for 2026 refinance .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Mobility Technologies momentum: sales +5.1% YoY; Retail Solutions up low double digits; car wash returned to YoY growth on mid-teens Patheon software upgrades; segment margin +40 bps YoY as simplification and R&D efficiency offset mix .
- Execution/strategy: CEO emphasized “Connected Mobility strategy” and raised outlook, citing core growth tracking >2% for the year and on track for ~10% adjusted EPS growth; “we’re confident in our ability to execute” .
- Cash and capital deployment: adjusted FCF $93.6M (82% conversion); ~$70M buybacks in Q3, ~$175M YTD; net leverage 2.4x; targeted divestitures/exits generated ~$60M proceeds .
What Went Wrong
- Repair Solutions remained a drag: sales −6.9% YoY; margin −50 bps on lower volumes amid pressured technician discretionary spend; high-ticket categories (storage/diagnostics) challenged; distributors continue destocking .
- Mobility margin shortfall vs internal expectations: CFO noted Mobility margins were up ~40–50 bps but ~100 bps were expected; ~$1–$1.5M cost/timing impacts at EFS contributed to the gap .
- International timing and portfolio headwind: international EFS tender timing was soft vs NA dispenser strength; divestitures remove ~$70M annualized revenue at ~10% adj OP margin and create
$15M sales/$2M adj OP headwind in Q4 .
Financial Results
Consolidated Results (chronological columns: oldest → newest)
Context:
- YoY: Revenue +0.3% (per release), GAAP EPS +16.7% (0.70 vs 0.60), Adjusted EPS +6.8% (0.78 vs 0.73), GAAP operating margin +140 bps (18.9% vs 17.5%); adjusted margin flat YoY .
- QoQ: Revenue −2.7% (vs Q2), GAAP EPS +12.9%, Adjusted EPS −1.3%, GAAP margin +130 bps, adjusted margin +20 bps .
Segment Breakdown (Q3 2025 vs Q3 2024)
Notes: Mobility core +4.8%; Retail Solutions up low double digits; car wash returned to YoY growth; EFS NA dispenser up mid-single digits; Repair softness tied to macro/technician spending and destocking .
KPIs
Guidance Changes
Current Guidance (Q3 release) vs Previous (Q2 release)
Divestiture headwind embedded in Q4 outlook: ~$15M sales and ~$2M adjusted operating profit .
Q3 2025 Outcome vs Q2 Guidance
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- Strategy and outlook: “Our third quarter performance reflects progress on our Connected Mobility strategy… Based on strong year-to-date performance we are raising the midpoint of our full-year guidance… we are on track to deliver 10% adjusted EPS growth this year.” – Mark Morelli, CEO .
- Connected platform: “We are delivering integrated site‑wide solutions that combine hardware, software, connectivity, and services… These end‑to‑end solutions expand our TAM and create recurring revenue opportunities.” – CEO .
- 2026 setup: “We expect better operating margin performance in 2026 driven by underlying productivity improvements, increased R&D efficiency, continued 80/20… and more favorable mix as volumes at car wash and Repair Solutions normalize.” – CEO .
- Financial discipline: “Adjusted free cash flow of $94M came in at 82% conversion… Net leverage ended the quarter at 2.4x.” – CFO .
- Portfolio actions: “Divesting two small businesses… netted $60M proceeds… removing ~$70M in sales at ~10% adjusted operating margin; Q4 headwind ~$15M sales and ~$2M adjusted OP.” – CFO .
Q&A Highlights
- Orders and visibility: Book-to-bill just under 1x in Q3; around 1x for the year; larger digital solution wins lengthen sales cycles but support 2026 setup, including car wash pipeline strength tied to Patheon .
- Segment outlook for Q4: Mobility flat YoY on hard comps/project timing; EFS low to mid-single-digit growth; Repair down mid-to-high single digits; implied Mobility margin +50 bps, EFS +~100 bps, Repair −~50 bps .
- Mobility margins vs expectations: Q3 Mobility margin missed 100 bps improvement expectation by ~$1–$1.5M due to EFS costs/timing; actions underway to rectify .
- Tariffs mitigation: Repair most exposed; significant re-sourcing in place with China sourcing below 10% target by YE; gross margins in Repair roughly flat YoY as price offsets tariffs .
- Capital structure: $500M bond maturing April 2026 at 1.8% coupon; management flagged likely interest expense headwind upon refinancing .
Estimates Context
- Consensus vs actual (Q3 2025):
- Revenue: $747.9M* consensus vs $752.5M actual (beat) .*
- EPS: $0.77* consensus vs $0.78 actual (beat) .*
Values marked with * retrieved from S&P Global.
Implications for estimates:
- FY adjusted EPS guidance raised to $3.15–$3.20 supports modest upward revisions at the low end of street FY EPS; Q4 EPS guide $0.82–$0.86 suggests mid‑single‑digit YoY growth with small divestiture headwinds embedded .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Mix improvement and execution continue to offset Repair softness: Mobility and EFS delivered growth and stable-to-better margins; Repair remains pressured but shows sequential stabilization .
- High‑quality beat-and-raise: Q3 landed at high end of EPS guidance and management raised FY EPS while tightening sales range; cash conversion remains solid despite tax timing .
- Structural growth vectors advancing: payments/PoS up high teens and car wash returned to growth on software upgrades, validating the connected mobility strategy and expanding recurring revenue opportunities .
- Portfolio and capital deployment are accretive to quality: pruning non‑core, buying back stock ($70M in Q3), and maintaining leverage at 2.4x position the company for improved margin trajectory into 2026 .
- Watch items: Repair demand recovery pace; international tender timing in EFS; divestiture headwinds in Q4 (
$15M sales/$2M adj OP); 2026 refinancing’s interest expense impact . - Near‑term trading: Modest beats and raised FY EPS, plus car wash inflection, are constructive catalysts; lack of broad‑based top‑line acceleration and Q4 divestiture headwind are constraints .
- Medium‑term thesis: Secular tailwinds in convenience retail, software-led growth, and 80/20 simplification support above‑market growth and margin expansion potential into 2026; valuation re‑rating case strengthens with consistent delivery .
Additional Relevant Press Releases (Q3 2025)
- Sop: Preliminary update (Oct 15): management signaled sales slightly above midpoint and adjusted EPS near/high end of prior guide, consistent with final print .
All citations refer to primary source documents and the Q3 2025 earnings call transcript:
- Q3 2025 8‑K/Press Release and financial statements .
- Q2 2025 8‑K/Press Release .
- Q1 2025 8‑K/Press Release .
- Q3 2025 earnings call transcript .
- Oct 15, 2025 preliminary update .
Values marked with * in the Estimates Context section were retrieved from S&P Global.