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Crane NXT Co (CXT) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Sales Growth Amidst Market Challenges

In This Article:

  • Q4 Sales Growth: Approximately 12% year-over-year, reaching $399 million.

  • Full Year Sales Growth: Approximately 7% year-over-year, nearly $1.5 billion.

  • Adjusted EBITDA Margin: Approximately 27% for both Q4 and full year.

  • Adjusted Free Cash Flow Conversion: 109% in Q4 and 76% for the full year.

  • Adjusted EPS: $1.20 in Q4 and $4.26 for the full year.

  • CPI Backlog: $146 million at year-end, with a book-to-bill ratio over one for Q4.

  • Security and Authentication Technologies Core Sales Growth: Over 7% in Q4 and approximately 5% for the full year.

  • Net Leverage: Approximately 1.5 times at year-end, expected to increase to 2.3 times post-acquisition of De La Rue Authentication Solutions.

  • 2025 Sales Growth Guidance: 1% to 3%, with FX headwinds of 1 to 2 points.

  • 2025 Adjusted EPS Guidance: $4 to $4.30.

  • 2025 Adjusted Free Cash Flow Conversion Guidance: 90% to 110%.

Release Date: February 13, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

  • Crane NXT Co (NYSE:CXT) reported a 12% sales growth in Q4 and 7% for the full year 2024, aligning with expectations.

  • The company achieved an adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 27% for both Q4 and the full year.

  • Crane NXT Co (NYSE:CXT) successfully integrated acquisitions like OpSec and Tru Tag Smart Packaging, enhancing their product portfolio.

  • The company secured 13 new international currency denominations, showcasing its leading security technology.

  • Crane NXT Co (NYSE:CXT) increased its annual dividend by 6%, reflecting a strong commitment to shareholder returns.

Negative Points

  • Adjusted segment operating margin decreased by 130 basis points year-over-year due to segment mix and dilution from OpSec.

  • The US currency business is expected to decline by approximately 20% in 2025 due to production stoppages and lower demand.

  • Retail end market sales are projected to decline by high single digits in 2025 due to softness in orders.

  • The gaming segment experienced continued softness, impacting sales growth in the first half of 2025.

  • The company's 2025 guidance does not account for potential new tariffs, which could impact financial performance.

Q & A Highlights

Q: What gives you confidence in a sustained second-half inflection in the gaming market for 2025? A: Aaron Saak, President and CEO, stated that the gaming market remains healthy, and Crane NXT holds a unique leadership position. The backlog inventory burn-down at OEMs is taking longer, but lead times have improved. OEMs indicate that order inflection will naturally occur in Q2, with some positive signs already visible.