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Aaon, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 2 March 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year sales up 20.1%: Full-year net sales rose 20.1% to $1.44 billion; gross margin was 26.7% against 33.1%, and GAAP diluted EPS was $1.29 against $2.02. Source
  • Fourth-quarter sales up 42.5%: Fourth-quarter net sales were $424.2 million, up 42.5%, and diluted EPS was $0.39 against $0.30, up 30.0%. Source
  • 2026 sales growth guided 18%-20%: Management expects 2026 net sales to grow 18% to 20%, with gross margin of 29% to 31%. Source
  • BASX brand sales more than doubled: BASX-branded sales rose 138.8% to $181.4 million, which management tied to air-side and liquid cooling demand for data center applications. Source
  • Full-year gross margin fell: Full-year gross margin fell to 26.7% from 33.1%, which management tied to strategic investments in production expansion and ERP implementation. Source
  • Total backlog $1.83 billion record: Year-end backlog reached $1.83 billion, up 110.9% year over year and 38.5% sequentially, with BASX backlog up 141.3%. Source
  • Manufacturing footprint up 25%: Manufacturing footprint grew about 25%, and BASX data center production capacity more than doubled after the Memphis facility was commissioned. Source
  • ERP rollout hit Longview output: The ERP rollout initially hurt production at the Longview, Texas facility, and management said operating performance improved consistently over time. Source

“2025 represented a year of record growth for AAON, driven by strong bookings and sales reflecting expanding market share and growing demand for our products and custom solutions,”

AAON President and CEO Matt Tobolski

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales growth SourceFY202618%-20%New
Gross margin SourceFY202629%-31%New
SG&A as a percentage of sales SourceFY2026approximately 16%New
Depreciation and amortization expense SourceFY2026$95-$100 millionNew
Capital expenditure SourceFY2026$190.0 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: The company introduced 2026 guidance, citing revenue growth, gross margin, record backlog, expanded capacity and operational execution. Source
  • New: Management moderated the pace of near-term ERP rollouts to support a disciplined production ramp and faster margin improvement. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Full-year sales up 20.1%: Full-year net sales rose 20.1% to $1.44 billion; gross margin was 26.7% against 33.1%, and GAAP diluted EPS was $1.29 against $2.02. Source
  • Fourth-quarter sales up 42.5%: Fourth-quarter net sales were $424.2 million, up 42.5%, and diluted EPS was $0.39 against $0.30, up 30.0%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter gross margin 25.9%: Fourth-quarter gross margin was 25.9% against 26.1%; management tied the decline mainly to unabsorbed fixed costs at the new Memphis facility. Source

2026 guidance

  • 2026 sales growth guided 18%-20%: Management expects 2026 net sales to grow 18% to 20%, with gross margin of 29% to 31%. Source
  • SG&A and D&A guided for 2026: Management anticipates SG&A near 16% of 2026 sales, and depreciation and amortization of $95 million to $100 million. Source
  • 2026 capital expenditure plan $190.0 million: The CFO gave 2026 capital expenditure plans of $190.0 million, linked to investment in growth. Source

“While these initiatives carried upfront costs and impacted near-term results, they have meaningfully strengthened AAON's operating foundation and positioned the Company to meet the growing demand in the data center market.”

AAON President and CEO Matt Tobolski

Segment results

  • AAON Oklahoma sales up 11.1%: AAON Oklahoma sales were $215.5 million, up 11.1%, and segment gross margin was 27.5% against 30.7% a year earlier. Source
  • Coil Products sales up 93.6%: AAON Coil Products sales rose 93.6% to $102.6 million, including $75.3 million of BASX liquid cooling sales; segment gross margin was 21.3% against 16.1%. Source
  • BASX segment sales more than doubled: BASX segment sales rose 109.1% to $106.1 million, with gross margin of 27.1% against 18.8%; management tied the increase to data center demand and Memphis output. Source

Brands and data center demand

  • BASX brand sales more than doubled: BASX-branded sales rose 138.8% to $181.4 million, which management tied to air-side and liquid cooling demand for data center applications. Source
  • AAON-branded sales up 9.5%: AAON-branded sales rose 9.5% to $242.8 million, the strongest quarterly growth since the second quarter of 2024. Source
  • Bookings support share gains: Management said bookings trends for both brands support continued market share gains; AAON-branded bookings rose about 20% year over year. Source

“We begin 2026 with record backlog, allowing us to remain sharply focused on execution and customer delivery.”

AAON President and CEO Matt Tobolski

Margins and costs

  • Full-year gross margin fell: Full-year gross margin fell to 26.7% from 33.1%, which management tied to strategic investments in production expansion and ERP implementation. Source
  • Memphis overhead weighed on Oklahoma: Management attributed the Oklahoma segment margin decline entirely to $6.4 million of incremental overhead tied to the new Memphis facility. Source
  • Memphis incentive fee adjusted out: Non-GAAP adjusted EPS was $1.35 for 2025 after adding back a $6.1 million Memphis incentive fee, a broker fee tied to the plant purchase. Source

Backlog and bookings

  • Total backlog $1.83 billion record: Year-end backlog reached $1.83 billion, up 110.9% year over year and 38.5% sequentially, with BASX backlog up 141.3%. Source
  • BASX backlog drove the growth: BASX backlog rose 45.2% from the prior quarter, and a significant part is slated for Memphis production, supporting a steady 2026 ramp. Source
  • AAON-branded backlog up 60.8%: Management said AAON-branded backlog rose 60.8% year over year despite typical seasonal headwinds; the table shows $526.4 million at year-end. Source

Operations, capacity and ERP

  • Manufacturing footprint up 25%: Manufacturing footprint grew about 25%, and BASX data center production capacity more than doubled after the Memphis facility was commissioned. Source
  • Memphis reached profitability early: Management said Memphis reached profitability earlier than expected, while Tulsa production volumes were below plan. Source
  • ERP rollout hit Longview output: The ERP rollout initially hurt production at the Longview, Texas facility, and management said operating performance improved consistently over time. Source
  • Lead times remain extended: Management said lead times stayed extended because of strong order activity and recovery from prior production challenges. Source

Cash, balance sheet and returns

  • Cash and revolver balance: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $1.2 million at December 31, 2025, and the revolving credit facility balance was $398.3 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow expected to improve: Management expects operating cash flow to improve significantly in 2026, supported by higher earnings and improved working-capital efficiency. Source
  • Buybacks down, dividends paid up: Open-market repurchases were $30.0 million in 2025 against $100.0 million in 2024, while cash dividends paid rose to $32.6 million from $26.1 million. Source

Strategy and leadership

  • ERP upgrade expected to pay off: Management said the ERP upgrade, now largely behind the company, is expected to bring lasting benefits through throughput, efficiency and margin expansion. Source
  • Leadership team strengthened in 2025: The CEO said 2025 investments included strengthening the leadership team, enhancing supply chain management and expanding manufacturing capacity. Source
  • Production ramp planned through 2026: Management said it has a clear and disciplined plan to keep ramping production through 2026, supporting growth and margin expansion. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total backlog Source$1.83 billion

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management said fixed-cost under-absorption continues to pressure consolidated margins near term, while describing these impacts as largely transitory. Source
  • External: The release described the industry environment as challenging, while backlog conversion at AAON Oklahoma improved. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release said the company remained on track to add substantial capacity by year-end; this release reports the Memphis facility commissioned.
  • Not stated: The prior release expected ERP-related challenges to be resolved as the company made progress with its implementation.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.