Transcat Inc (NASDAQ:TRNS) stock rose 5.94% (As on May 23, 11:4:22 AM UTC-4, Source: Google Finance) after the company beats market’s expectations for the fourth quarter of FY 23. Consolidated gross profit was $19.2 million, an increase of $2.5 million, or 14.9%, while gross margin expanded 110 basis points due to margin improvements in both operating segments. Operating expenses were $13.3 million, an increase of $1.1 million, or 9.4%, driven by incremental expenses from acquired businesses (including stock-based compensation expense), increased intangibles amortization expense, and higher incentive-based employee costs due to higher sales. Adjusted EBITDA was $9.0 million which represented an increase of $1.3 million or 17.6%.

TRNS in the fourth quarter of FY 23 has reported the adjusted earnings per share of 48 cents, beating the analysts’ estimates for the adjusted earnings per share of 35 cents, according to the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The company had reported the adjusted revenue growth of 11.1 percent to $62.07 million in the fourth quarter of FY 23, beating the analysts’ estimates for revenue by 3.94%. Distribution sales were $22.3 million, an increase of 5.1% on improved end market demand and strength in our Rentals business. Distribution segment gross margin was 25.2%, an increase of 70 basis points due to a favorable sales mix driven by strength in the Rentals business. At March 25, 2023, the Company had $37.3 million available for borrowing under its secured revolving credit facility. Total debt of $49.1 million was up $0.7 million from fiscal 2022 year-end due to the acquisitions of Alliance, Complete Calibrations, e2b and Elite during the current fiscal year. The Company’s leverage ratio, as defined in the credit agreement, was 1.60 at March 25, 2023, compared with 1.74 at March 26, 2022.

Moreover, service segment revenue was $39.8 million, an increase of $5.1 million or 14.7% and included $1.6 million of incremental revenue from acquisitions. Organic revenue growth was 10.0% and was driven by strong end market demand and continued market share gains. The segment gross margin increased 90 basis points from prior year primarily due to continued productivity improvements offset by increased start-up costs from new client-based lab implementations.

In the year ahead, the company expects organic Service revenue growth in the high single-digits and gross margin improvement to continue. The company is investing in the high-growth NEXA business as well as new client-based labs, which will support additional organic revenue growth and margin expansion in the second half of the year but will temporarily weigh on year-over-year gross margin expansion in the first quarter of FY24.