Financial Performance - For Q2 fiscal 2025, net sales were 4.4billion,up1485 million, down 11%, with diluted earnings per share at 0.86,down90.95 in the prior year[64][75]. - Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations increased to 1.48,up91.36 in the prior year, reflecting strong operating results[64][75]. - Gross profit for Q2 fiscal 2025 was 2.37billion,a48,608 million, a 1% increase compared to 2024, with Software and Control sales up 5%[84]. - Gross profit for the first six months of 2025 was 4,606million,reflectinga101,404 million, with a margin of 16.3%[88]. - Diluted EPS from continuing operations rose to 1.88,a521.24 in 2024[90]. - Adjusted EBITA from continuing operations was 2,239million,a103.03 billion, with underlying sales flat due to slightly lower volume offset by higher prices[80]. - Software and Control sales reached 1,421millioninQ22025,a7151 million, up 240%, with a margin improvement of 10.4 percentage points[81]. - Intelligent Devices sales were 5.9billioninthefirstsixmonthsof2025,flatcomparedtotheprioryear,withunderlyingsalesincreasing1percent[97].−SoftwareandControlsalesincreasedto2,773 million in the first six months of 2025, reflecting a 5 percent increase compared to the prior year[98]. - Earnings for Intelligent Devices rose to 1,412million,anincreaseof86 million or 6 percent, with a margin increase of 1.5 percentage points to 24.0 percent[97]. - Adjusted EBITA for Software and Control increased by 27 percent to 886 million, with an adjusted EBITA margin of 32.0 percent, up 5.6 percentage points[98]. Expenses and Margins - Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses decreased to 1.28 billion, down 1% year-over-year, with SG&A as a percentage of sales at 28.9%, a decrease of 0.7 percentage points[69][70]. - SG&A expenses decreased by 67millionto2,506 million, with SG&A as a percentage of sales down to 29.1%[86]. Tax and Currency Impact - The effective tax rate for Q2 fiscal 2025 was 32%, impacted by 49millionofdiscretetaxitemsrelatedtotheAspenTechtransaction[74].−Theeffectivetaxrateforthefirstsixmonthsof2025was274.05 and 4.20,withadjustedearningspershareexpectedtobebetween5.90 and 6.05[107].−Thecompanyplanstoreturnapproximately2.3 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and dividend payments in fiscal 2025[108]. - The company anticipates a targeted reduction in net debt of approximately $1 billion over the next 6-12 months[102]. Debt and Capital Structure - Total debt-to-total capital ratio increased to 42.7 percent as of March 31, 2025, reflecting increased borrowings for the AspenTech transaction[100].