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    TDY
    Earnings call· Dec 2025(Q4 FY25)

    TELEDYNE TECHNOLOGIES INC TDY

    Jan 21, 2026 Source

    Executive summary

    Teledyne Q4 FY25 — Record Orders, Sales, and Non-GAAP Earnings

    Teledyne concluded FY25 with record quarterly performance across orders, sales, and non-GAAP earnings, driven by strong defense and recovering short-cycle commercial businesses. The company demonstrated financial resilience, generating significant free cash flow and maintaining a low leverage ratio, enabling strategic capital deployment through acquisitions and opportunistic share repurchases. Management is optimistic for FY26, anticipating continued organic growth and no contraction in short-cycle businesses.

    Highlights

    5
    • Achieved largest quarterly orders, sales, and non-GAAP earnings in company history.

    • Q4 FY25 sales increased 7.3% YoY, with non-GAAP earnings up 14.1% YoY.

    • Generated approximately $1.1 billion in free cash flow for 2 consecutive years, ending FY25 with a leverage ratio of 1.4x.

    • Digital Imaging segment non-GAAP operating margin increased 180 bps to a record 24.7%.

    • Full-year 2025 book-to-bill ratio was 1.08, indicating strong demand.

    Concerns

    3
    • Engineered Systems segment revenue decreased 9.9% in Q4 FY25 due to delayed contract awards.

    • Instrumentation segment non-GAAP operating margin decreased slightly YoY in Q4 FY25 on a tough comparison.

    • Aerospace and Defense Electronics segment non-GAAP margin decreased YoY due to comparatively lower margins at recently acquired businesses.

    Guidance & targets

    14
    CategoryTargetConfidence
    Full-year 2026 Revenue
    $6.37 billion
    high materiality
    High
    Full-year 2026 Non-GAAP EPS
    $23.65
    high materiality
    High
    Full-year 2026 GAAP EPS
    $19.76 to $20.22
    high materiality
    High
    Full-year 2026 Non-GAAP EPS
    $23.45 to $23.85
    high materiality
    High
    Q1 2026 GAAP EPS
    $4.45 to $4.59
    medium materiality
    High
    Q1 2026 Non-GAAP EPS
    $5.40 to $5.50
    medium materiality
    High
    FY26 Sales Seasonality
    approximately 48% of sales in the first half
    low materiality
    Medium
    FY26 Earnings Seasonality
    approximately 46% of earnings in the first half
    low materiality
    Medium
    FY26 Organic Revenue Growth
    about 3.6%
    medium materiality
    Medium
    FY26 Non-organic Revenue Growth
    a little over 4%, 4.2%
    medium materiality
    Medium
    FY26 Digital Imaging Non-GAAP Operating Margin
    about 23.4%
    medium materiality
    Medium
    FY26 Unmanned Business Revenue
    closer to $550 million
    medium materiality
    Medium
    FY26 Industrial and Scientific Vision Growth
    low single digits
    low materiality
    Medium
    FY26 X-ray Business Performance
    flat year-over-year
    low materiality
    Medium

    Segment performance

    4
    SegmentRevenueYoYQoQMargin
    Digital Imaging
    Strong sales from Teledyne FLIR, particularly in unmanned systems and defense surveillance. Record FLIR Maritime sales. Offset by lower sales in X-ray detectors and scientific cameras. Achieved record non-GAAP operating margin for the segment since FLIR incorporation.
    Infrared imaging components and subsystems growth: >20%FLIR surveillance products and complete unmanned air systems: grewFLIR Maritime sales: recordSensors and cameras for industrial machine vision applications: increased YoYX-ray detectors and scientific cameras: lower sales
    3.4%24.7%
    Instrumentation
    Driven by strong sales in marine interconnects and autonomous underwater vehicles, and growth in environmental instruments. Electronic test and measurement systems showed sequential improvement. Q4 margin decreased slightly YoY but full-year margin was a record.
    Marine instruments sales growth: 3.3%Interconnects for offshore energy and submarines: strong salesAutonomous underwater vehicles: record salesEnvironmental instruments sales growth: 6.1%Electronic test and measurement systems sales growth: 1.4% YoY, >10% sequentially
    3.7%28.4%
    Aerospace and Defense Electronics
    Primarily driven by Qioptiq and Micropac acquisitions and organic growth in defense electronics and commercial aerospace. Margin decreased due to lower margins at acquired businesses.
    40.4%decreased year-over-year
    Engineered Systems
    Revenue decreased due to delayed contract awards. Operating margin increased due to better performance on fixed-price contracts.
    -9.9%increased 259 basis points

    Operational metrics

    17
    Non-GAAP Earnings Growth
    14.1%YoY
    Q4 FY25

    Non-GAAP earnings increased 14.1%.

    Sales Growth
    7.3%YoY
    Q4 FY25

    Fourth quarter sales increased 7.3% from last year.

    Non-GAAP Earnings Growth
    11.5%YoY
    FY25

    For the full year, non-GAAP earnings increased 11.5%.

    Sales Growth
    7.9%YoY
    FY25

    For the full year, sales increased 7.9%.

    Leverage ratio
    1.4x
    FY25 end

    Ended 2025 with a leverage ratio of just 1.4x.

    Capital expenditures
    $39.8Mvs $29M in 2024
    Q4 FY25

    Capital expenditures were $39.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with $29 million in 2024.

    Depreciation and amortization expense
    $84.6Mvs $77.2M in 2024
    Q4 FY25

    Depreciation and amortization expense was $84.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with $77.2 million in 2024.

    Net debt
    $2.12B
    FY25 end

    Ended the quarter with $2.12 billion of net debt. That is approximately $2.48 billion of debt less cash of $352.4 million.

    Total debt
    $2.48B
    FY25 end

    Approximately $2.48 billion of debt.

    Cash and investments balance
    $352.4M
    FY25 end

    Cash of $352.4 million.

    Non-GAAP operating margin
    22.6%30 bps improved over prior year
    FY25

    For the full year 2025, digital imaging margins came in at about 22.6%, which was about 30 basis points improved over the prior year.

    Unmanned business revenue
    $500M
    FY25

    Our 2025 revenue on unmanned, both air, ground and underwater was about $500 million.

    FX contribution to growth
    40 bps
    FY25

    The total contribution in -- for the year was about 40 basis points.

    Capital expenditures growth
    40%
    last year

    just last year, we increased our CapEx by 40%.

    R&D spending growth
    10%
    last year

    we increased our R&D spending by 10%.

    Commercial Aviation business as % of total
    5%
    current

    our overall Commercial Aviation business is only about 5% of the business

    OEM Aviation business as % of Aviation
    1/3
    current

    only about 1/3 of our aviation business is OEM

    Industry KPIs

    6
    MetricValueDetails
    M a contribution$850MUSD
    Orders book to bill1.07
    Segment revenue growth3.4%%
    Design wins product cycle rampsproduction rate contract
    End market revenue mix organic growth3.6%%
    Operating margin incremental leverage24.7%%

    Orderbook & backlog

    6
    Book-to-bill1.07Q4 FY25

    Total for Q4

    Book-to-bill1.08FY25

    Total for full year

    Book-to-bill1.06Q4 FY25

    Digital Imaging segment

    Book-to-bill1.25Q4 FY25

    Aerospace and Defense segment

    Book-to-billabout 1Q4 FY25

    Instrumentation segment

    Book-to-billunder 1Q4 FY25

    Engineered Systems segment, noted as a lumpy business

    Product announcements

    2
    ProductTypeDetails
    Loitering Munitionlaunch
    Space-based infrared detectorslaunch

    Deals & partnerships

    2
    DD-ScientificU.K.-based manufacturer of high-performance electrochemical gas sensors.

    Acquisition of a U.K.-based manufacturer of high-performance electrochemical gas sensors, critical for environmental instruments and offering recurring revenue.

    MultipleVarious acquisitions$850M

    Over $850 million spent on acquisitions throughout 2025.

    Risks & headwinds

    4
    Delayed contract awards in Engineered Systems segmentQ4 FY25

    decreased 9.9%

    Mitigation: segment operating margin increased 259 basis points due to better performance on fixed-price contracts.

    Tough comparison in Instrumentation segmentQ4 FY25

    decreased slightly

    Mitigation: increased 36 basis points for the full year 2025 to a record 28.4%.

    Lower margins at recently acquired businessesQ4 FY25

    decreased year-over-year

    Slower start in protocol analyzer business2026

    a little slower start in '26

    Mitigation: as we move into the year, that will even itself out.

    What to watch in Q1 FY26

    5

    Digital Imaging Non-GAAP Operating Margin

    FY26
    Current22.6% (FY25), 24.7% (Q4 FY25)
    Target23.4% (FY26 target), aiming for 24%

    Why it matters

    Indicates the segment's ability to sustain and improve profitability after a strong Q4, crucial for overall company margins.

    For the full year 2025, digital imaging margins came in at about 22.6%, which was about 30 basis points improved over the prior year. 2026, we're a little more hopeful, and we believe that the margins would go up maybe another 80 basis points and get to about 23.4%. And with good luck, I hope we'll get to the 24%.

    Q&A highlights

    7

    What is the organic vs. inorganic growth split for FY26, and how do short-cycle and long-cycle businesses contribute? Also, what is the outlook for Digital Imaging margins, considering the Q4 performance?

    FY26 growth is expected to be ~3.6% organic and ~4.2% inorganic, with no significant difference between short and long-cycle growth, and no short-cycle contraction. Digital Imaging margins in Q4 benefited by 50 bps from a contingent liability reversal, and FY26 margins for the segment are projected to reach ~23.4%, with an aspiration for 24%.

    We think most of the growth would be organic about 3.6%, nonorganic, a little over 4%, 4.2%, about. In terms of short and long cycle, I don't see a lot of differences between those 2. We think that we have probably a little smaller increases in certain areas like environmental and test and measurement, maybe a little over 2%, but that will be offset with a healthy increase in our marine instruments, about 5%.

    asked by Greg Konrad · answered by Robert Mehrabian

    2 min read6 chapters

    Detailed Narrative

    01

    Strong Q4 FY25 Performance and Capital Deployment

    Teledyne achieved its largest quarterly orders, sales, and non-GAAP earnings in company history, with sales up 7.3% and non-GAAP earnings up 14.1% year-over-year. The company generated approximately $1.1 billion in free cash flow for two consecutive years, ending FY25 with a low leverage ratio of 1.4x. Capital deployment included over $850 million in acquisitions throughout the year and $400 million in stock repurchases within the fourth quarter.

    02

    Digital Imaging Segment Strength

    The Digital Imaging segment saw strong performance, particularly from Teledyne FLIR, with infrared imaging components and subsystems increasing over 20%. Sales of FLIR surveillance products and complete unmanned air systems also grew, contributing to a record 24.7% non-GAAP operating margin for the segment, a 180 basis point increase. The segment also secured its first production contract for loitering munitions and was selected to supply space-based infrared detectors for three of four Tranche 3 Tracking Layer satellite primes.

    03

    Instrumentation Segment Performance

    The Instrumentation segment experienced a 3.7% increase in Q4 sales, driven by strong sales of interconnects for offshore energy and submarines, as well as record sales of autonomous underwater vehicles. Environmental instruments sales increased 6.1%, and electronic test and measurement systems grew 1.4% year-over-year, and over 10% sequentially. Full-year 2025 non-GAAP operating margin for the segment reached a record 28.4%.

    04

    Aerospace and Defense Electronics & Engineered Systems

    Aerospace and Defense Electronics sales surged 40.4% in Q4, primarily due to the Qioptiq and Micropac acquisitions and organic growth in defense electronics and commercial aerospace. Engineered Systems revenue decreased 9.9% due to delayed contract awards, but segment operating margin increased 259 basis points due to better performance on fixed-price contracts.

    05

    Outlook for 2026 and Strategic Focus

    Teledyne projects full-year 2026 revenue of approximately $6.37 billion and non-GAAP EPS of $23.65 at the midpoint, consistent with consensus. Management expects growth to be led by long-cycle businesses, with no short-cycle businesses contracting on a full-year basis. The company plans to continue its strategy of operational excellence, focused acquisitions, and opportunistic stock repurchases, with increased investment in CapEx by 40% and R&D spending by 10% last year.

    06

    Unmanned Systems and Space Programs

    The company's unmanned businesses (air, ground, and underwater) generated about $500 million in revenue in 2025, projected to grow to $550 million in 2026. The space-based infrared detector program for the SDA's Tranche 3 Tracking Layer is expected to contribute north of $100 million over the next few years, with performance starting in 2026 over a 2- to 3-year period.

    AI-generated summary of the company’s earnings call. Not investment advice.