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Baxter International Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 12 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales up 8% reported, 3% operational: Continuing-operations sales were about $2.97 billion. The reconciliation removes about 3 points for the Kidney Care MSA and 2 points for currency, leaving 3% operational growth. Source
  • Adjusted EPS down 24%: Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.44 against $0.58 a year earlier. Management attributed the decline to product mix, non-recurring items such as inventory adjustments, and a higher effective tax rate. Source
  • GAAP loss from continuing operations: On a U.S. GAAP basis, continuing operations lost $1,035 million, or $2.01 per diluted share, against a $488 million loss a year earlier. Source
  • Medical Products & Therapies up 6%: Medical Products & Therapies sales were $1.39 billion, up 6% reported and 4% operational. Infusion Therapies & Technologies rose on IV solutions against a prior-year comparison. Source
  • Gross margin fell to 19.4%: Reported gross margin was $577 million, or 19.4% of net sales, down from $959 million and 34.8% a year earlier, as cost of sales rose to $2,397 million. Source
  • Decentralized operating model: Management says the new model places functional roles inside each division to bring teams closer to customers and improve execution. Source
  • FY2026 adjusted EPS guided $1.85 to $2.05: Full-year 2026 adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations is guided to $1.85 to $2.05, excluding special items. Source

“While we delivered sales growth across all segments, our fourth-quarter results did not meet our expectations, underscoring the importance of our focus on driving continuous improvement across the enterprise,”

Andrew Hider, president and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Sales growth, reported SourceFull-year 2026flat to 1%New
Sales growth, organic SourceFull-year 2026approximately flatNew
Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations SourceFull-year 2026$1.85 to $2.05New
Kidney Care MSA effect on sales growth bridge SourceFull-year 2026~30 bpsNew
Foreign exchange effect on sales growth bridge SourceFull-year 2026(~100) bpsNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: First full-year 2026 guidance given: reported sales growth flat to 1%, organic approximately flat, adjusted EPS $1.85 to $2.05. Source
  • New: A new operating model was introduced to simplify the organization, accelerate innovation and improve performance. Source
  • New: Michael R. McDonnell was appointed to the board of directors effective Feb. 13, 2026. Source
  • Ended: Cathy R. Smith and Stephen H. Rusckowski leave the board effective Feb. 13, 2026. Source
  • New: The quarterly dividend was decreased to $0.01 per share. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales up 8% reported, 3% operational: Continuing-operations sales were about $2.97 billion. The reconciliation removes about 3 points for the Kidney Care MSA and 2 points for currency, leaving 3% operational growth. Source
  • Adjusted EPS down 24%: Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.44 against $0.58 a year earlier. Management attributed the decline to product mix, non-recurring items such as inventory adjustments, and a higher effective tax rate. Source
  • GAAP loss from continuing operations: On a U.S. GAAP basis, continuing operations lost $1,035 million, or $2.01 per diluted share, against a $488 million loss a year earlier. Source

Segments and regions

  • Medical Products & Therapies up 6%: Medical Products & Therapies sales were $1.39 billion, up 6% reported and 4% operational. Infusion Therapies & Technologies rose on IV solutions against a prior-year comparison. Source
  • Healthcare Systems up 5%: Healthcare Systems & Technologies sales were $827 million, up 5% reported and 4% operational, with Care & Connectivity Solutions demand and Front Line Care growth. Source
  • Pharmaceuticals up 4% on compounding: Pharmaceuticals sales were $668 million, up 4% reported and 2% operational. Drug Compounding rose 22% reported, while Injectables & Anesthesia fell 8% reported. Source
  • U.S. sales up 3% reported: U.S. sales from continuing operations were about $1.55 billion, up 3% reported and down 1% on an operational basis. Source
  • International sales up 14% reported: International sales from continuing operations were about $1.42 billion, up 14% reported and 8% operational. Source

“While the work ahead will take time, I’m encouraged by the dedication of our employees and remain confident in Baxter’s long-term trajectory.”

Andrew Hider, president and CEO

Products and customers

  • Connex 360 monitor launch cited: Front Line Care growth included the recent launch of the Welch Allyn Connex 360 Vital Signs Monitor. Source
  • Smart pump data presented at ASHP: Baxter presented real-world data at the ASHP 2025 Midyear Clinical Meeting on smart infusion pump integration with hospital electronic medical records, based on more than one million Spectrum IQ infusions. Source
  • Advanced Surgery demand continued: Advanced Surgery sales were $328 million, up 12% reported and 11% operational, which management links to continued global demand. Source
  • Other sales tied to Vantive: Other sales were $91 million against $12 million a year earlier. The company says this line primarily includes sales to Vantive under the Kidney Care MSA. Source

Costs and margins

  • Gross margin fell to 19.4%: Reported gross margin was $577 million, or 19.4% of net sales, down from $959 million and 34.8% a year earlier, as cost of sales rose to $2,397 million. Source
  • Adjusted gross margin 35.5%: Excluding special items, gross margin was 35.5% of net sales, against 44.5% in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • SG&A flat in dollars: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $761 million, flat year over year, at 25.6% of net sales versus 27.6%. Source
  • R&D spending down 40%: Research and development expenses were $126 million, down 40%, at 4.2% of net sales versus 7.7% a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted operating income down 16%: Adjusted operating income, excluding special items, was $352 million, down 16%, at 11.8% of net sales. Source

“We are excited to welcome Mike to the Baxter board and look forward to his many contributions.”

Brent Shafer, chair, Baxter board of directors

Cash and capital spending

  • Free cash flow $438 million: Free cash flow from continuing operations was $438 million for 2025, against $373 million in 2024. Source
  • Operating cash flow $951 million: Cash flows from operations, continuing operations, were $951 million for 2025, against $819 million in 2024. Source
  • Capital spending $513 million: Capital expenditures on continuing operations were $513 million for 2025, against $446 million in 2024. Source

Strategy, people and board

  • Decentralized operating model: Management says the new model places functional roles inside each division to bring teams closer to customers and improve execution. Source
  • Baxter Foundation STEM grant: The company announced a three-year $2.6 million grant from the Baxter Foundation to continue a Northwestern University STEM partnership in the Chicagoland area. Source
  • McDonnell brings CFO experience: The release describes Michael R. McDonnell as a finance executive with CFO experience across life sciences and technology companies, and early audit work at PwC. Source
  • Board size set at 10: The board will have 10 directors after the changes take effect. Source

2026 guidance and bridge

  • FY2026 adjusted EPS guided $1.85 to $2.05: Full-year 2026 adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations is guided to $1.85 to $2.05, excluding special items. Source
  • FY2026 sales growth flat to 1%: Reported sales growth from continuing operations is guided at flat to 1%, with organic sales growth approximately flat. Source
  • Bridge from reported to organic growth: The bridge includes about 30 basis points from the Kidney Care MSA and about 100 basis points deducted for foreign exchange. Source

Coming up, as management said on 12 February 2026

  • Dynamo Series U.S. launch: Upcoming U.S. launch of the Dynamo Series smart stretcher; the release gives no launch date. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Charges covered inventory and contract asset write-downs and warranty and remediation estimates tied to field corrective actions on infusion pumps. Source
  • Financial: The quarter included a goodwill impairment on the Front Line Care unit and a valuation allowance against U.S. deferred tax assets. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Missed: Management said fourth-quarter results did not meet its expectations. The prior release gave Q4 sales growth of about 2% reported and adjusted EPS of $0.52 to $0.57. Source
  • Not stated: Operational sales growth reflects the previously announced China IV solutions exit. The documents give no status update on the exit. 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.