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Bio-Rad Laboratories, 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: 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter sales rose 3.9 percent: Fourth-quarter net sales were $693.2 million, up 3.9 percent reported and 1.7 percent currency neutral, with the gain in Clinical Diagnostics. Source
  • Sartorius gain lifted full-year net income: Full-year net income was $759.9 million, or $27.85 per diluted share. A fair-value gain on the Sartorius AG investment drove it, partly offset by an intangibles impairment. Source
  • Fourth-quarter GAAP operating loss: Fourth-quarter GAAP operating loss was $118.9 million, after a $172.8 million impairment of purchased intangibles and related items. Full-year GAAP operating income was $47.2 million. Source
  • Life Science fourth-quarter sales fell: Life Science fourth-quarter net sales were $267.9 million, down 2.6 percent reported. Source
  • Gross margin fell year on year: Fourth-quarter GAAP gross margin was 49.8 percent, against 51.2 percent a year earlier. Non-GAAP gross margin was 52.5 percent, against 53.9 percent. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin lower: Non-GAAP operating margin was 12.0 percent in the fourth quarter and 12.1 percent for the year, against 13.8 and 12.9 percent. Source
  • Free cash flow of $375 million: Operating cash flow was $532 million and free cash flow was $375 million for 2025. Source
  • Stilla digital PCR acquisition integrated: The company said the Stilla Technologies acquisition expanded its Droplet Digital PCR position, and that the acquisition is integrated. Source

“our gross and operating margin performance fell below our expectations.”

Norman Schwartz, Bio-Rad’s Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Non-GAAP currency neutral revenue growth SourceFull-year 2026approximately 0.5 to 1.5 percentNew
Non-GAAP operating margin SourceFull-year 2026approximately 12.0 to 12.5 percentNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 guidance is new in this release. The Q3 release gave guidance only for full-year 2025. Source
  • New: Rajat Mehta was appointed Executive Vice President, Global Commercial Operations. The Q3 release did not mention this appointment. Source
  • New: The Stilla Technologies acquisition is described as integrated. The Q3 release did not mention it. Source

Full-year and fourth-quarter results

  • Fourth-quarter sales rose 3.9 percent: Fourth-quarter net sales were $693.2 million, up 3.9 percent reported and 1.7 percent currency neutral, with the gain in Clinical Diagnostics. Source
  • Full-year sales essentially flat currency neutral: Full-year net sales were $2,583.2 million. Currency neutral revenue was essentially flat, with Life Science down and Clinical Diagnostics up. Source
  • Sartorius gain lifted full-year net income: Full-year net income was $759.9 million, or $27.85 per diluted share. A fair-value gain on the Sartorius AG investment drove it, partly offset by an intangibles impairment. Source
  • Fourth-quarter GAAP operating loss: Fourth-quarter GAAP operating loss was $118.9 million, after a $172.8 million impairment of purchased intangibles and related items. Full-year GAAP operating income was $47.2 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP net income declined year on year: Full-year non-GAAP net income was $270.5 million, or $9.92 per diluted share, against $291.1 million, or $10.31, in 2024. Source

Segments and regions

  • Life Science fourth-quarter sales fell: Life Science fourth-quarter net sales were $267.9 million, down 2.6 percent reported. Source
  • Academic and biotech funding constrained Life Science: Currency neutral Life Science sales fell 4.0 percent in the quarter, attributed to constrained academic research and biotech funding. Source
  • Life Science down in the Americas: Life Science currency neutral sales fell in the Americas, partly offset by gains in EMEA and Asia Pacific. Source
  • Clinical Diagnostics fourth-quarter sales rose: Clinical Diagnostics fourth-quarter net sales were $425.3 million, up 8.4 percent reported and 5.6 percent currency neutral. Source
  • Quality controls and blood typing drove Clinical growth: Clinical Diagnostics growth came mainly from quality controls, blood typing and diabetes products. Infectious disease sales were lower. Source
  • Full-year Life Science sales declined: Full-year Life Science sales were $1,021.1 million, down 1.3 percent currency neutral. Source

“As we enter 2026, we remain committed to improving overall performance.”

Norman Schwartz, Bio-Rad’s Chief Executive Officer

Margins and tax rate

  • Gross margin fell year on year: Fourth-quarter GAAP gross margin was 49.8 percent, against 51.2 percent a year earlier. Non-GAAP gross margin was 52.5 percent, against 53.9 percent. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin lower: Non-GAAP operating margin was 12.0 percent in the fourth quarter and 12.1 percent for the year, against 13.8 and 12.9 percent. Source
  • Tax rate higher on earnings mix and legislation: Non-GAAP tax rate for the fourth quarter was 25.3 percent, against 20.9 percent. Management attributed the higher rate to earnings mix and new tax legislation. Source

Operating costs and charges

  • Product rationalization costs recorded: Product rationalization costs of $13.2 million were recorded in the fourth quarter and excluded from non-GAAP results. Source
  • Restructuring costs rose for the year: Restructuring costs were $8.0 million in the fourth quarter, against $14.7 million. Full-year restructuring costs were $46.1 million, against $21.7 million in 2024. Source
  • Non-GAAP R&D spending decreased: Non-GAAP R&D was $65.7 million in the fourth quarter, against $67.8 million. Full-year R&D was $256.9 million, against $281.8 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP SG&A increased: Non-GAAP SG&A was $214.9 million in the fourth quarter, against $199.7 million. Full-year SG&A was $809.4 million, against $798.5 million. Source

Cash flow, capital and returns

  • Free cash flow of $375 million: Operating cash flow was $532 million and free cash flow was $375 million for 2025. Source
  • Capital spending eased: Capital expenditure was $157.6 million for 2025, against $165.6 million. Fourth-quarter capital expenditure was $45.8 million, against $42.9 million. Source
  • Treasury stock purchases rose: Treasury stock purchases were $295.5 million for 2025, against $203.6 million in 2024. The same $295.5 million appeared in the nine-month figures of the Q3 release. Source
  • Cash and short-term investments held: Cash and cash equivalents were $529.8 million at December 31, 2025, against $488.1 million a year earlier. Short-term investments were $1,010.9 million. Source

Strategy and product portfolio

  • Stilla digital PCR acquisition integrated: The company said the Stilla Technologies acquisition expanded its Droplet Digital PCR position, and that the acquisition is integrated. Source
  • Oncology diagnostics partnerships: The oncology strategy advanced through partnerships with Gencurix and Biodesix to distribute and develop IVD oncology assays. Source
  • Wider global product registrations: Over 1,200 clinical diagnostics products gained new-to-market registrations with regulators in over 60 countries during 2025. Source

People and leadership

  • Commercial operations leader appointed: Rajat Mehta was appointed Executive Vice President, Global Commercial Operations, to align global commercial strategy. Source
  • Headcount near 7,400 employees: The company reported approximately 7,400 employees, against over 7,500 in the Q3 release. Source
  • Chief Executive title given as CEO: This release gives the title Chief Executive Officer for Norman Schwartz. The Q3 release gave Chairman and CEO. Source

Coming up, as management said on 12 February 2026

  • Annual report on Form 10-K: The Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 is described as to be filed with the SEC. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
New-to-market product registrations Sourceover 1,200 products in over 60 countries

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Constrained academic research and biotech funding was cited, with reduced demand for instruments, in the Q3 release.
  • Financial: The effective tax rate in the periods was affected by the Sartorius AG fair-value change and by shifts in the geographical mix of earnings. Source
  • Regulatory: IVDR compliance costs for previously approved products were $4.1 million for 2025, excluded from non-GAAP results. Source
  • External: Lower reimbursement rates for diabetes testing in China were cited as the main driver of the Q3 Clinical Diagnostics sales decrease.

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.