Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2025	Mar. 31, 2024
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 196,040	$ 187,600
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	55,442	58,050
Net (gain) on sales of assets and businesses	(20,049)	(872)
Stock-based compensation	19,376	19,903
Deferred income taxes	(1,503)	43
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable	(41,912)	(40,619)
Unbilled receivables (contract assets)	(25,310)	(39,289)
Costs to fulfill a contract	(7,180)	(7,572)
Inventories	(49,582)	(59,841)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(14,065)	12,131
Contract liabilities	1,707	26,748
Income taxes	1,152	(14,210)
Retirement benefit obligations	(1,859)	(1,240)
Other	84	3,286
Net cash provided by operating activities	112,341	144,118
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for purchase of property, plant, and equipment	(51,990)	(56,301)
Proceeds from sale of assets	33	51
Proceeds from business divestiture	44,896	600
Payments for short-term investments		(3,723)
Proceeds from sales of short-term investments	2,923	9,732
Net cash (used in) investing activities	(4,138)	(49,641)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash dividends paid	(31,453)	(28,327)
Proceeds from sales of treasury stock	49,717	43,087
Payments for repurchases of common stock	(79,493)
Borrowings on revolving lines of credit and short-term borrowings	1,350,200	1,539,100
Payments on revolving lines of credit and short-term borrowings	(1,306,100)	(1,397,800)
Payments of long-term debt and finance lease obligations	(473)	(75,472)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(17,602)	80,588
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(8,730)	4,420
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	81,871	179,485
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	282,270	137,447
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 364,141	$ 316,932