Enersys Q1 Earnings Call Highlights

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EnerSys (NYSE:ENS) reported record first-quarter fiscal 2027 results, with sales rising 5% from a year earlier to $936 million as favorable price mix, higher volumes and foreign-currency translation supported growth. The company said its Network Infrastructure Solutions and Precision Power Solutions businesses performed strongly, while Industrial Mobility Solutions continued to face weaker material-handling demand despite an early recovery in transportation.

President and CEO Shawn O'Connell said the quarter reflected strength in data centers, communications and defense markets, along with operating-expense discipline and stock repurchases supported by cash generation. First-quarter orders rose 7% year over year, while book-to-bill was 1.06 times. Backlog was relatively flat from the prior year and increased 2% sequentially.

Profitability Boosted by Tariff Refunds and Tax Credits

Chief Financial Officer Andi Funk said the quarter included a $31 million, or $0.63-per-share, one-time benefit from refunds of previously paid IEEPA tariffs. The refunds were not included in the company’s guidance or its operational segment results.

Gross profit increased 24% year over year to $313 million, and gross margin expanded 510 basis points to 33.5%. Excluding the tariff refunds, gross profit rose 12% and gross margin improved 180 basis points. The company also received $9 million in expanded 45X manufacturing tax-credit benefits, largely related to moving production from its Monterrey, Mexico, plant to its Richmond, Kentucky, facility.

Adjusted operating earnings rose 47% from the prior-year period, while adjusted EBITDA increased 50% and adjusted diluted earnings per share climbed 65%. Excluding tariff refunds, adjusted operating earnings increased 22% with 45X benefits and 21% without them, according to the company.

EnerSys also changed its adjusted-metric presentation beginning this quarter to exclude non-cash stock-based compensation expense from adjusted operating earnings, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted diluted EPS. Prior-year figures were recast for comparability.

Segment Results Highlight Data Centers and Defense

• Network Infrastructure Solutions: Revenue increased 9% to $428 million, while adjusted operating earnings rose 50% to $45 million. Adjusted operating margin improved 280 basis points to 10.5%. The company cited demand for power electronics, data-center products and service offerings.
• Industrial Mobility Solutions: Revenue declined 3% to $407 million, and adjusted operating earnings fell 11% to $38 million. The segment’s 9.3% adjusted operating margin was down 70 basis points, as lower material-handling volumes offset price mix and cost improvements.
• Precision Power Solutions: Revenue grew 24% to $101 million, with adjusted operating earnings increasing 48% to $18 million. Adjusted operating margin rose 280 basis points to 18.2%, driven by aerospace and defense demand, particularly for counter-drone and missile-defense applications.

O'Connell said data-center revenue grew in the low teens during the quarter, while data-center orders increased more than 80% from a year earlier. Funk noted that such orders can extend 12 to 36 months, providing visibility into demand for the company’s lead-based offerings.

The company expects its recently launched DataSafe Noir lithium offering for data centers to begin contributing meaningfully to revenue in fiscal 2028. O'Connell said the product has generated customer interest due to its energy density, cost competitiveness and the ability to pair it with EnerSys’ service network.

In Industrial Mobility, management said transportation orders nearly doubled year over year in the first quarter, while material-handling orders declined by a high-single-digit percentage. EnerSys expects material-handling demand to improve later in fiscal 2027 and said it plans to begin recognizing revenue from its next-generation lithium offering in the second half.

DOE-Supported Lithium Plant Planned in South Carolina

EnerSys finalized a U.S. Department of Energy grant for a planned lithium-cell manufacturing facility in Greenville, South Carolina. The facility will focus on defense applications and serve as a lithium and Advanced Technologies Center of Excellence.

The plant is expected to have initial annual production capacity of approximately 1 gigawatt-hour and will manufacture high-energy-density cells for manned platforms, soldier power, space and autonomous systems. O'Connell said the facility is designed for specialized defense applications requiring smaller-format cells, specialized equipment and security protocols rather than broad commercial lithium production.

The revised DOE grant will provide approximately $150 million toward the project’s estimated $650 million cost. EnerSys expects its approximately $500 million net investment to be funded entirely through operating cash flow. The company also cited an approximately $200 million state and local incentive package from South Carolina and Greenville County.

Construction is planned to begin in the first half of fiscal 2028, with full production expected about three years after construction begins. Management expects the investment to generate an internal return in the mid-20% range.

Cash Flow, Capital Returns and Outlook

Operating cash flow was $230 million and capital expenditures totaled $12 million, producing $218 million in free cash flow compared with negative $32 million a year earlier. The result was aided by a $115 million U.S. federal tax refund and tariff-refund receipts. As of July 5, EnerSys held $531 million in cash and cash equivalents, while net debt totaled $522 million.

During the quarter, the company repurchased 219,000 shares for $50 million at an average price of about $229 per share. It had nearly $900 million remaining under its repurchase authorization. The board also increased the quarterly dividend 10% to $0.2875 per share for the second quarter of fiscal 2027.

For the fiscal second quarter, EnerSys forecast net sales of $955 million to $995 million and adjusted diluted EPS of $3.15 to $3.25, including $42 million to $47 million of 45X benefits to cost of sales. Excluding 45X benefits, it expects adjusted diluted EPS of $1.95 to $2.05, representing growth of about 25% at the midpoint from the prior-year period.

About Enersys (NYSE:ENS)

Enersys, headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania, is a global leader in stored energy solutions, specializing in manufacturing and distributing industrial batteries, battery chargers, power equipment, and related accessories. The company serves a diverse range of end markets, including telecommunications, data centers, medical, aerospace, defense, electric vehicle motive power, and utility outcomes. Its products are engineered to deliver critical reserve power and motive power applications across key infrastructure and industrial sectors.

The company's product portfolio encompasses lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion energy storage systems, chargers, inverters, power management software, and a broad array of battery accessories.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

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