TLDR
- AYI stock rose 7.42% to $308.83 after Q3 results showed $1.2B in net sales, a 22% increase from last year.
- Adjusted EPS climbed to $5.12, a 23.4% increase, while reported EPS dropped 14% due to restructuring charges.
- Adjusted operating profit surged 33% to $222M, despite lower GAAP operating profit impacted by brand cuts and severance costs.
- AIS segment revenue soared 249%, with QSC contributing $172.8M; ABL saw modest 2.7% growth.
- Acuity raised its dividend by 13%, closed two acquisitions, and repurchased $91.3M in stock during the quarter.
Acuity Inc. (NYSE: AYI) posted strong fiscal third-quarter 2025 results on June 26, with shares jumping 7.42% to $308.83 during midday trading. Net sales for the quarter ended May 31 came in at $1.2 billion, marking a 21.7% year-over-year increase.
Despite a 4% decline in reported operating profit to $140 million, adjusted operating profit rose 33% to $222 million. Diluted EPS fell 14% to $3.12 due to restructuring-related charges, while adjusted EPS rose to $5.12, up 23% from last year.
Acuity Inc., $AYI, Q3-25. Results:
🟢 +1.3% Pre-Market📊 Adj. EPS: $5.12 🟢
💰 Revenue: $1.2B 🟢
📈 Net Income: $98.4M
🔎 Strong sales growth in both Lighting and Intelligent Spaces segments drove adjusted earnings higher despite special charges impacting GAAP results. pic.twitter.com/z5DcthQQvW— EarningsTime (@Earnings_Time) June 26, 2025
Segment Breakdown: ABL and AIS Performance
The Acuity Brands Lighting (ABL) segment generated $923.2 million in revenue, up 2.7% year over year. Adjusted operating profit grew 7.3% to $173.9 million, with margins improving to 18.8%. Reported operating profit declined by 11.6%, mainly due to $29.7 million in special charges for brand elimination, severance, and facility reorganization.
The Intelligent Spaces (AIS) segment delivered remarkable growth, with revenue surging 249% to $264.1 million. This included $172.8 million in sales from the newly acquired QSC. Adjusted operating profit for AIS rose to $62.3 million, with margin expansion of 70 basis points to 23.6%.
Capital Allocation and Acquisition Activity
Acuity continued to deploy capital strategically. Net cash from operations for the first nine months of fiscal 2025 totaled $398.9 million. The company closed its QSC acquisition and acquired M3 Innovation during the quarter.
It also increased its quarterly dividend by 13% to $0.17 per share and repurchased approximately 344,000 shares for $91.3 million.
Shareholder Returns and Market Performance
Acuity’s performance has consistently outpaced the broader market. The company reported a 29.1% return over the past year, a 101.28% return over three years, and a staggering 271.39% return over five years. This compares favorably to S&P 500 returns of 11.95%, 56.77%, and 103.8% for the same periods.
Despite near-term pressures from restructuring, Acuity’s focus on innovation and operational efficiency is paying off. With strong segment growth, effective capital deployment, and rising shareholder returns, the company remains well-positioned for continued momentum into fiscal 2026.
