Emmanuel Caprais on defense contracting
From ITT CFO Emmanuel Caprais to Speak at TD Cowen Aerospace & Defense Conference 🚀 · · Behind the Talks
“We expected some large defense contracts in Q4 but they're happening in Q1 instead — it's puzzling because there's a real need, but bureaucracy still needs to do its work and it's slowing awards.”
On , Emmanuel Caprais, Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer at ITT INC, spoke about defense contracting during ITT CFO Emmanuel Caprais to Speak at TD Cowen Aerospace & Defense Conference 🚀 on Behind the Talks.
About Emmanuel Caprais
Emmanuel Caprais, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of ITT, participated in the TD Cowen 46th Annual Aerospace & Defense Conference in early 2025 and in a September 2024 episode of the Impact Podcast. At the conference, Caprais stated that ITT closed 2024 with $3.6 billion in revenue, beat its margin targets two years early, and delivered 12% EPS growth. He noted that the company’s backlog was up more than 30% in total and more than 8% organically, and that aerospace and defense now represents nearly 20% of the total portfolio following the acquisition of Casaria. Caprais said ITT deployed over $800 million in 2024 and aims to deploy $500–700 million annually, while remaining disciplined on acquisitions, targeting multiples around 12–13x with a roughly 15% IRR. He described a headwind for the CCT business from limited Boeing activity, which represents about $10 million in quarterly revenue, and noted that some expected large defense contracts shifted from Q4 to Q1 due to bureaucratic delays. On the Impact Podcast, Caprais discussed ITT’s sustainability initiatives, stating that the company has been working on environmental projects for five years, starting with waste reduction and energy efficiency before making larger investments. He said ITT announced a $25 million investment in solar panels for most of its facilities, accepting a five- to six-year payback period for solar projects due to energy security and cost volatility concerns. Caprais described his role as an enabler for the environmental pillar, using coalitions of employees rather than a single sustainability officer. He also mentioned that ITT has hired people recently released from prison to address labor shortages and provide second chances. Caprais shared that his international experience, including being kidnapped at gunpoint in Mexico, helped develop his resilience.