RAL Tops Consensus in 3Q 2025; Commentary Seemingly Supports Our View of a Gradual Cyclical Recovery at T&M (with On-Going Strength at S&S); Shares Still Look Attractively Priced Off Trough Earnings (as well as RAL’s Overall Exposure to Secular Growth Areas, such as Electrification and Space & Defense)
Last night, after the market close, Ralliant Corp. (NYSE: RAL), which completed its tax-free separation from Fortive Corp. (NYSE: FTV) in late June 2025, reported 3Q 2025 results with sales roughly flat year-over year (but up 5% sequentially) to $529 million (compared with consensus of $521 million and guidance of $513-$527 million) with adjusted EBITDA of $107.9 million (versus consensus of $101.5 million and $140.9 million in 3Q 2024), on a margin of ~20.4% (down 610 bps year over year but ahead of management’s 18%-20% guidance). Adjusted EPS were $0.60 (compared with consensus of $0.57, guidance of $0.53-$0.60 and $0.95 in the prior period). Free cash flow (FCF) was $126.6 million (versus consensus of ~$57 million and $131.9 million in 3Q 2024).
By segment, Sensors & Safety Systems (S&S) segment sales, which enjoys myriad secular tailwinds (e.g., grid monetarization and defense & space) and comprises ~60% of sales, were up 11% year over year (and 5% sequentially) to $326 million with adj. EBITDA up 9% to $94 million (on a 25 basis point deterioration in margin to 28.7%) while sales in the more cyclical/seasonal (as well as volume sensitive) Test & Measurement segment fell 14% year over year (but were up 6% sequentially) to $203 million with adjusted EBITDA of $28 million (down nearly 50%) on a margin of 13.8% (which was down 960 bps year over year but up 480 bps sequentially).
RAL ended 3Q 2025 with net debt of $884.4 million, including $264 million in cash and debt of $1.486 billion, implying a net leverage ratio (per its credit agreement) of ~1.9x (within the company’s long-term target of 1.5x-2.0x). The company expects to make a ~$35 million tax-related payment (the last) to its former parent in 4Q 2025 and is poised to pay out a $0.05 per share dividend (or $5.7 million) on December 23rd; as well, the company remains authorized to repurchase ~$200 million worth of shares (roughly 4% of the outstanding shares at current prices).
In terms of guidance, management provided a 4Q 2025E outlook (see Exhibit 1 on page 2) calling for consolidated quarterly sales of $535-$550 million (compared with current consensus of ~$544 million), implying a low-to-mid digit sequential increase, with an adj. EBITDA margin of 20%-21% (roughly consistent with 3Q 2025) and adj. EPS of $0.62-$0.68 (versus current consensus of $0.66). For context, 4Q 2025 guidance is based on several underlying assumptions, including that sales will continue to “gradually improve” with “consistent” growth in S&SS and T&M sales trends “in line” with normal seasonality, along with interest expense of $16-$18 million, an adj. effective tax rate of 17%-19%, and a diluted share count of 113.5-114.0 million. Free cash flow conversion is expected to be “<95%” in the December quarter (but still greater than 100% for the full year).
While not yet providing specific 2026E guidance, management articulated some perspective on the seasonality/cadence of standalone RAL’s business, including the fact that March-quarter is typically the trough of annual results (with a mid-to-high single digit sequential top-line decline compared with the December-quarter along with a ~200-300 basis point sequential decline in the adj. EBITDA margin. Post spin-off interest expense is trending at ~$16 million per quarter and annual capex is expected to be ~2%-3% of sales, given on-going capacity expansion plans, looking into 2026.
In the medium-term, the company has articulated the expectation (at its 2025 Investor Day) that post-spin Ralliant would post “through cycle” compound annual top-line growth of 3%-5% (comprised of ~3% organic growth along with a ~1% tailwind from potential tuck-in M&A) with a consolidated margin profile in the “low-to-mid 20%s”, including a T&M margin in the “mid-teens to low-20%s” and an S&S margin in the “high-20%s”. In terms of cash flow, working capital and capital expenditures are expected to comprise less than 10% and roughly 2% of sales, respectively, resulting in a 95%-plus free cash flow (FCF) conversion rate and more than $1 billion of cumulative FCF generation through 2028E (see Exhibit 2 on page 3). Again, the company’s near-term capital allocation priorities remain focused on shareholders returns, primarily share repurchases along with a “modest” dividend, and lastly on opportunistic tuck-in acquisitions.
Recall, as part of our upgrade (see the note dated 9/18/2025) we highlighted that a portion of RAL’s underlying business, primarily within the Test & Measurement (T&M) segment, is in the midst of a relatively prolonged (but flattening to inflecting) cyclical downtrend (from both a top-line & margin perspective); in that context, while shares have outperformed since our recommendation the stock is still down mid-teens on an absolute basis (and mid-to-high 20%s on a relative basis) since the spin-off and that with shares trading at ~13x 2026E EV/EBITDA and ~16.5x 2026E EPS, a notable discount to all relevant peers, we continue to see shares as attractively priced, particularly off what we view as trough earnings and ahead of what is expected to be cyclical recovery in looking into 2026E-2027E (following a roughly two-year period of consecutive quarters of year-over-year organic sales declines that have left industry-wide T&M volumes ~25% below 2023 levels).
On a comparative basis, the higher-margin Sensors & Safety Systems (S&S) segment, which we note accounts for ~60% of consolidated sales at RAL, has posted relatively steady (albeit modest) core growth over the last several years. So while we are admittedly only modeling a relatively gradual slope of top-line improvement looking in 2026E (as opposed to a more V-shaped recovery) it strikes us that the risk to our numbers is likely to the upside, particularly given the depth/length of the downturn at T&M as well RAL’s exposure to secular demand trends, including grid modernization/new power demand, space & defense and electrification, among others (see Exhibit 3 on page 5). Moreover, considering that incremental margins on organic growth have historically (i.e., pre-spin) ranged in the 45%-50% area management’s current 30%-35% commentary/target could prove somewhat conservative.
All told, our fair value estimate (FVE) for post-spin Ralliant Corp. (NYSE: RAL) remains $54 per share reflecting a ~15.5x 2026E EV/EBITDA multiple (or ~20.5x 2026E EPS) and accounting for corporate costs and projected net debt (see Exhibit 4 on page 4).
Please see the Spin-Off Report dated June 12, 2025, and Updates from 6/30/2025, 8/12/2025 and 9/18/2025, for more information.