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Archrock, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 25 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 11 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year revenue and EBITDA rose: Full-year 2025 revenue was $1,489.8 million against $1,157.6 million in 2024. Adjusted EBITDA was $900.9 million against $595.4 million. Source
  • Fourth-quarter net income up about 95%: Fourth-quarter net income was $116.8 million, with EPS of $0.67, against $59.8 million and $0.34 in the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Discrete items lifted fourth quarter: Results also included a $22.9 million cash net benefit from prior-period sales and use tax settlements and $31.6 million of net gains on year-end asset sales. These items were not in 2025 guidance. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA excluding discrete items: Excluding these impacts, full-year 2025 adjusted EBITDA would have been $846.4 million, against the most recent guidance range of $835 million to $850 million. Source
  • Contract operations gross margin rose to 78%: Contract operations adjusted gross margin was $256.6 million, up 28% from $200.2 million. The margin percentage was 78%, against 70% in the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Leverage cut to 2.69x: The leverage ratio was 2.69x at December 31, 2025, down from 3.3x a year earlier. Long-term debt was $2.4 billion. Source
  • Growth capex plan for 2026: Management plans approximately $250 million to $275 million of growth capex in 2026, to support customers' expansion plans, and expects it to add to free cash flow. Source

“Archrock finished 2025 strong, reporting adjusted EBITDA above the midpoint of guidance, after raising our outlook twice during the year - underscoring the strength of our natural-gas-driven strategy and the dedication of our team,”

Brad Childers, Archrock’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net income Sourcefull year 2026$306,000 to $356,000 (in thousands)New
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$865,000 to $915,000 (in thousands)New
Cash available for dividend Sourcefull year 2026$572,000 to $602,000 (in thousands)New
Contract operations revenue Sourcefull year 2026$1,320,000 to $1,355,000 (in thousands)New
Contract operations adjusted gross margin percentage Sourcefull year 202671.5% to 72.5%New
Aftermarket services revenue Sourcefull year 2026$200,000 to $220,000 (in thousands)New
Aftermarket services adjusted gross margin percentage Sourcefull year 202622.0% to 23.0%New
Selling, general and administrative Sourcefull year 2026$145,000 (low) and $140,000 (high), in thousandsNew
Growth capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$250,000 to $275,000 (in thousands); approximately $250 million to $275 millionNew
Maintenance capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$125,000 to $135,000 (in thousands)New
Other capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$25,000 to $35,000 (in thousands)New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 guidance issued for the first time, incorporating the fourth-quarter divestiture of 123,000 horsepower. Source
  • New: Quarterly dividend declared at $0.22 per share, up from $0.21 in the third-quarter release. Source
  • New: Sale of about 123,000 total horsepower in the fourth quarter, with cash proceeds of $78 million. Source
  • New: On January 21, 2026, the company completed an $800 million offering of 6.000% senior notes due 2034. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Full-year revenue and EBITDA rose: Full-year 2025 revenue was $1,489.8 million against $1,157.6 million in 2024. Adjusted EBITDA was $900.9 million against $595.4 million. Source
  • Fourth-quarter net income up about 95%: Fourth-quarter net income was $116.8 million, with EPS of $0.67, against $59.8 million and $0.34 in the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Discrete items lifted fourth quarter: Results also included a $22.9 million cash net benefit from prior-period sales and use tax settlements and $31.6 million of net gains on year-end asset sales. These items were not in 2025 guidance. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA excluding discrete items: Excluding these impacts, full-year 2025 adjusted EBITDA would have been $846.4 million, against the most recent guidance range of $835 million to $850 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • Contract operations revenue up 14%: Contract operations revenue was $327.1 million, against $286.5 million a year earlier. Total operating horsepower reached 4.6 million, against 4.2 million. Source
  • Aftermarket services revenue reached $50.0 million: Aftermarket services revenue was $50.0 million, against $40.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Adjusted gross margin dollars were $12.0 million. Source
  • Active horsepower up 8%, AMS dollars up 23%: In 2025 active horsepower grew 8% against 2024, and AMS adjusted gross margin dollars rose 23%. Contract operations adjusted gross margin was above 70% for five consecutive quarters. Source

“We plan approximately $250 million to $275 million of growth capex in 2026 to support our customers’ expansion plans, which will also drive substantial free cash flow generation.”

Brad Childers, Archrock’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Products and customers

  • Focus on large and electric-drive units: Management expects steady demand particularly in large-horsepower and electric-motor-drive segments, where it strategically focuses capital. Source
  • Fleet sold and redeployed into new builds: In 2025 Archrock sold 325,000 horsepower for $192 million and redeployed the proceeds into high-return new build investments, standardizing the fleet. Source
  • Fourth-quarter sale of 123,000 horsepower: About 84,000 of the 123,000 horsepower sold was active. Cash proceeds from the sale totaled $78 million. Source
  • Gas demand tied to LNG and AI power: Management cited sustained natural gas demand growth driven by LNG exports and the accelerating power needs of AI data centers as market drivers. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Contract operations gross margin rose to 78%: Contract operations adjusted gross margin was $256.6 million, up 28% from $200.2 million. The margin percentage was 78%, against 70% in the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Margin excluding tax benefit was 71.5%: Excluding the $22.9 million sales and use tax benefit, the contract operations adjusted gross margin percentage was 71.5% for the fourth quarter. Source
  • Aftermarket gross margin at 24%: Aftermarket services adjusted gross margin percentage was 24% in the fourth quarter, against 23% a year earlier. Source

“As we look forward, we are leveraging our high-quality portfolio, financial strength and flexibility and innovative technology to profitably capture market opportunities presented by sustained natural gas demand growth”

Brad Childers, Archrock’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Demand and utilization

  • Steady demand expected for 2026: Management said it expects continued steady demand for natural gas compression services, particularly for large-horsepower and electric-motor-drive units. Source
  • Record U.S. gas output expected: Management said U.S. natural gas production is expected to reach record levels for the sixth consecutive year in 2026. Source
  • Full fleet utilization at 95.5%: Archrock maintained full fleet utilization in the fourth quarter, ending at 95.5%. Total operating horsepower was 4.6 million at period end. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Leverage cut to 2.69x: The leverage ratio was 2.69x at December 31, 2025, down from 3.3x a year earlier. Long-term debt was $2.4 billion. Source
  • $800 million senior notes issued in January: Archrock completed an $800 million offering of 6.000% senior notes due 2034 on January 21, 2026, netting $789.4 million. Source
  • Shareholder returns rose to $211.8 million: Dividends and share repurchases returned $211.8 million in 2025, against $123.7 million in 2024. Management described the increase as more than 70% year over year. Source
  • Quarterly dividend raised to $0.22: The quarterly dividend was declared at $0.22 per share, about 16% above the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Dividend covered 4.9 times: Cash available for dividend covered the fourth-quarter dividend 4.9 times, as defined by the company. Source
  • Fourth-quarter buybacks of 647,480 shares: The company repurchased 647,480 shares at an average $24.44 for about $15.8 million in the fourth quarter. Remaining capacity was $117.7 million at year-end. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Growth capex plan for 2026: Management plans approximately $250 million to $275 million of growth capex in 2026, to support customers' expansion plans, and expects it to add to free cash flow. Source
  • Returns-based capital allocation continues: Management said the dividend increase leaves room for additional shareholder returns as it continues its returns-based capital allocation strategy. Source
  • Second accretive acquisition in 18 months: Management said 2025 results were achieved while completing its second accretive acquisition in 18 months, alongside asset sales. Source

Coming up, as management said on 25 February 2026

  • Buyback authority runs through 2026: The repurchase program was increased by $100 million through December 31, 2026, leaving $117.7 million of capacity at year-end 2025. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Net income guidance excludes long-lived and other asset impairment, which the company cannot forecast. Impairment was $18.3 million in 2025. Source
  • Financial: Fourth-quarter benefits from a sales and use tax settlement and year-end asset gains were not in the 2025 guidance and are not repeatable as stated. Source
  • Financial: No operating cash flow forecast was given because changes in assets and liabilities are not estimable. Those changes were $(58.9) million in 2025. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The third-quarter release said 2026 growth capex would require a minimum of $250 million. The current plan is $250 million to $275 million.
  • Not stated: Management said it continues to execute its returns-based capital allocation strategy. Source

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.