Loading...
Access earnings results, analyst expectations, report, slides, earnings call, and transcript.
The earnings call presents a mixed sentiment. Positive elements include a strong book-to-bill ratio, revenue growth in diversified markets, and shareholder returns via buybacks. However, challenges such as declining transportation sales, geopolitical uncertainties, and a drop in EPS temper optimism. The Q&A session reveals some uncertainties, particularly around tariffs and the China market, but also highlights potential growth in diversified markets. Overall, the sentiment is balanced, leading to a neutral stock price prediction over the next two weeks.
Sales $126 million, essentially flat from Q1 2024; diversified end market sales up 14%, while transportation sales down 12%.
Adjusted Gross Margin 37%, up 77 basis points year-over-year; favorable exchange rate changes contributed $1.1 million.
Adjusted Earnings per Share $0.44, down from $0.47 in Q1 2024; net interest cost increased due to SyQwest acquisition.
Operating Cash Flow $16 million, down from $18 million in Q1 2024.
Cash Balance $90 million at the end of the quarter.
Long-term Debt $87 million.
Share Repurchase 144,000 shares repurchased for approximately $7 million; total of $8 million returned to shareholders through dividends and buybacks.
Book-to-Bill Ratio 1.17, up from 1.07 in Q1 2024; strong bookings in diversified end markets.
Total Booked Business Approximately $1 billion at the end of the quarter.
New Product Line in Transportation: In April, we added a win for a new product line in transportation, expanding our presence in the vehicle footwell.
AI-Driven Ultrasound Application: We added one new customer in the quarter for an AI-driven ultrasound application.
eBrake Product Offering: Interest in our eBrake product offering weight and cost advantages continues across OEMs.
Next-Generation Commercial Vehicle Actuator: We expect our next-generation commercial vehicle actuator to go into production later in the second quarter.
Diversified Markets Revenue Growth: Revenue from our diversified markets grew 14% in the quarter.
Aerospace and Defense Sales Growth: Aerospace and defense sales for the first quarter were up 39% from the first quarter of 2024.
Industrial Market Recovery: Sales in the industrial market were up 4% compared to the prior year period.
Transportation Sales Decline: Transportation sales were down approximately 12% from the same period last year.
Book-to-Bill Ratio: The book-to-bill ratio for the first quarter was 1.17 compared to 1.07 in the first quarter of 2024.
Adjusted Gross Margin: Our adjusted gross margin was 37% in the first quarter, up 77 basis points compared to the first quarter of 2024.
Operating Cash Flow: We generated $16 million in operating cash flow for the first quarter of 2025.
Diversification Strategy: We continue to execute on our diversification strategy to increase growth in our diversified medical, industrial, aerospace and defense markets.
Focus on Agility: We are focused on agility and adapting to cost and price adjustments in close collaboration with our customers and suppliers.
Geopolitical Environment: Current levels of uncertainty due to tariffs and the geopolitical environment may impact demand in the second half of 2025.
Tariffs: Potential demand softening due to uncertainty related to tariffs is being monitored, particularly in the transportation sector.
China Market Dynamics: Transportation sales are affected by dynamics in the China market, leading to a 12% decline in sales from the previous year.
Regulatory Issues: The timing of revenue from the SyQwest acquisition may be influenced by the approval of funding by the U.S. government.
Economic Factors: Overall demand in the transportation market may decrease in 2025 due to recent tariff announcements and economic uncertainty.
Commercial Vehicle Revenue: Softness in commercial vehicle revenue is anticipated throughout 2025.
Electric Vehicle Market: Electric vehicle penetration rates have softened in some regions, which may impact overall transportation revenue.
Diversification Strategy: CTS continues to execute on its diversification strategy to increase growth in diversified medical, industrial, aerospace, and defense markets while progressing on electrification and transportation.
New Product Lines: In April, CTS added a win for a new product line in transportation, expanding its presence in the vehicle footwell.
SyQwest Acquisition: The integration of the SyQwest business is progressing, with expectations of expanding product range and market opportunities.
Customer Base Expansion: CTS aims to expand its customer base and range of applications in diversified end markets.
Revenue Guidance: CTS maintains its guidance of sales in the range of $520 million to $550 million for 2025.
EPS Guidance: Adjusted diluted EPS is expected to be in the range of $2.20 to $2.35.
Market Conditions: Demand in the medical end market is expected to remain solid, while aerospace and defense revenue is expected to be strong due to backlog and SyQwest acquisition momentum.
Transportation Revenue Outlook: Transportation production volumes are expected to decrease in 2025 due to tariffs and market dynamics, with anticipated softness in commercial vehicle revenue.
Long-term Growth Prospects: Long-term growth is expected to be driven by material formulations and key high-quality end markets.
Total Dividends Returned to Shareholders: $8 million in total returned to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks in Q1 2025.
Share Repurchase: Repurchased 144,000 shares of CTS stock for approximately $7 million.
Remaining Share Repurchase Program: $55 million remaining under the current share repurchase program.
The earnings call reflects mixed signals: while aerospace, defense, industrial, and medical markets show strong performance, the transportation sector struggles, and EPS guidance was lowered due to tax impacts. Positive aspects include strong market growth and the SyQwest acquisition meeting expectations, but the adverse tax impact and transportation market softness temper enthusiasm. The Q&A session highlighted some concerns, such as unclear management responses and ongoing tax issues. Given the balance of positive and negative factors, the stock price is likely to remain stable over the next two weeks.
The earnings call showed positive financial performance with improved EBITDA and gross margin, strong aerospace and medical sales, and shareholder returns. Despite transportation sales decline, guidance remains optimistic. Analysts' Q&A highlighted growth in therapeutics and potential recovery in transportation. The integration of SyQwest and operational efficiency are progressing well. Overall, the positive financial metrics and optimistic guidance suggest a likely stock price increase in the near term.
The earnings call presents a mixed sentiment. Positive elements include a strong book-to-bill ratio, revenue growth in diversified markets, and shareholder returns via buybacks. However, challenges such as declining transportation sales, geopolitical uncertainties, and a drop in EPS temper optimism. The Q&A session reveals some uncertainties, particularly around tariffs and the China market, but also highlights potential growth in diversified markets. Overall, the sentiment is balanced, leading to a neutral stock price prediction over the next two weeks.
The company's earnings call reveals mixed results: a positive diversification strategy and an improved gross margin, but significant risks include an EPS miss, declining transportation sales, and a weak book-to-bill ratio. The Q&A section highlights concerns about tariffs and unclear timelines for product ramp-up. The lowered revenue guidance further contributes to a negative outlook, likely resulting in a stock price decline of 2% to 8%.
All transcripts are sourced directly from the official live webcast or the company’s official investor relations website. We use the exact words spoken during the call with no paraphrasing of the core discussion.
Full verbatim transcripts are typically published within 4–12 hours after the call ends. Same-day availability is guaranteed for all S&P 500 and most mid-cap companies.
No material content is ever changed or summarized in the “Full Transcript” section. We only correct obvious spoken typos (e.g., “um”, “ah”, repeated 10 times”, or clear misspoken ticker symbols) and add speaker names/titles for readability. Every substantive sentence remains 100% as spoken.
When audio quality is poor or multiple speakers talk over each other, we mark the section instead of guessing. This ensures complete accuracy rather than introducing potential errors.
They are generated by a specialized financial-language model trained exclusively on 15+ years of earnings transcripts. The model extracts financial figures, guidance, and tone with 97%+ accuracy and is regularly validated against human analysts. The full raw transcript always remains available for verification.