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Core & Main, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 24 March 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year sales and volume growth: Full-year net sales rose 2.8% to $7,647 million. Average daily net sales rose 4.8% on higher volumes and acquisitions, partly offset by one fewer selling week. Source
  • Fourth-quarter sales fell on week count: Fourth-quarter net sales fell 6.9% to $1,581 million, mainly from one fewer selling week. Average daily net sales rose 0.9%. Source
  • Sales initiatives grew double digits: Fusible high-density polyethylene, treatment plant solutions and geosynthetics each delivered double-digit average daily net sales growth in fiscal 2025, according to management. Source
  • Gross margin rose for year and quarter: Full-year gross profit margin rose 30 bps to 26.9%. Fourth-quarter margin rose 50 bps to 27.1%. Management linked both to gross margin initiatives and purchasing and pricing. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose to $650 million: Operating cash flow rose $29 million to $650 million. Management cited lower interest and income tax payments and higher net income, partly offset by working capital investment. Source
  • Ten branches and two acquisitions added: During and shortly after the year, the company opened ten new branches and completed two complementary acquisitions in high-growth geographies. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 net sales range set: Fiscal 2026 net sales are guided to $7,800 to $7,900 million, growth of 2% to 3%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA range set: Adjusted EBITDA is guided to $950 to $980 million, with an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 12.2% to 12.4%. Source

“Fiscal 2025 marked our 16th consecutive year of sales growth, a result that reflects the resilience of our business, the long-term strength of our end markets and the disciplined execution by our teams across the country,”

Mark Witkowski, CEO of Core & Main

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceFiscal 2026 (year ending January 31, 2027)$7,800 to $7,900 million, growth of 2% to 3%New
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFiscal 2026$950 to $980 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceFiscal 202612.2% to 12.4%New
Operating cash flow SourceFiscal 202660% to 70% of Adjusted EBITDANew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: The company gave its first guidance for fiscal 2026, the year ending January 31, 2027, after the fiscal 2025 full-year guidance period ended. Source
  • New: During and shortly after fiscal 2025, the company opened ten new branches and completed two complementary acquisitions. Source

Full-year and fourth-quarter results

  • Full-year sales and volume growth: Full-year net sales rose 2.8% to $7,647 million. Average daily net sales rose 4.8% on higher volumes and acquisitions, partly offset by one fewer selling week. Source
  • Fourth-quarter sales fell on week count: Fourth-quarter net sales fell 6.9% to $1,581 million, mainly from one fewer selling week. Average daily net sales rose 0.9%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose on fewer shares: Adjusted Diluted EPS rose 6.8% to $2.97 for fiscal 2025. Diluted EPS rose 8.5% to $2.31. The company attributed the increase to higher net income and lower Class A share counts. Source

Product categories and customers

  • Sales initiatives grew double digits: Fusible high-density polyethylene, treatment plant solutions and geosynthetics each delivered double-digit average daily net sales growth in fiscal 2025, according to management. Source
  • Fire protection grew on price and volume: Fourth-quarter average daily net sales for fire protection rose on higher volumes and higher average selling prices. Meters also rose on higher volumes. Source
  • Served customer groups named: The company provides solutions to municipalities, private water companies and professional contractors across municipal, non-residential and residential end markets in the United States and Canada. Source

“Our sales initiatives performed well throughout the year as we continued to expand our role as a solutions partner for aging water infrastructure.”

Mark Witkowski, CEO of Core & Main

Margins and costs

  • Gross margin rose for year and quarter: Full-year gross profit margin rose 30 bps to 26.9%. Fourth-quarter margin rose 50 bps to 27.1%. Management linked both to gross margin initiatives and purchasing and pricing. Source
  • Full-year SG&A rose faster than sales: Full-year SG&A rose 7.1% to $1,154 million, or 15.1% of net sales, up from 14.5%. Management attributed the rise to acquisition-related costs, personnel and inflation. Source
  • Fourth-quarter SG&A and operating income fell: Fourth-quarter SG&A fell 5.4% to $264 million, partly from one fewer selling week and cost reductions. Operating income fell 4.8% to $118 million. Source

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow rose to $650 million: Operating cash flow rose $29 million to $650 million. Management cited lower interest and income tax payments and higher net income, partly offset by working capital investment. Source
  • Net debt reduced; ABL undrawn: Net debt fell to $1,946 million from $2,275 million, mainly from lower ABL borrowings. No ABL borrowings were outstanding at year end, with about $1,226 million available. Source
  • Buybacks in fiscal 2025 and after: The company deployed $155 million to repurchase 3.2 million shares in fiscal 2025, and an additional $39 million to repurchase 0.8 million shares after year end. Source

“We believe these actions position Core & Main to compound market share gains, expand margins and sustain strong cash flow over time.”

Mark Witkowski, CEO of Core & Main

Footprint, acquisitions and priorities

  • Ten branches and two acquisitions added: During and shortly after the year, the company opened ten new branches and completed two complementary acquisitions in high-growth geographies. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 priorities named: Management named expanding offerings in higher-growth categories, measured greenfield expansion, disciplined acquisitions and technology investment as fiscal 2026 priorities. Source
  • Footprint of more than 370 locations: The company reported more than 370 locations and 5,600 associates, down from 5,700 associates in the prior release. Source

Fiscal 2026 guidance

  • Fiscal 2026 net sales range set: Fiscal 2026 net sales are guided to $7,800 to $7,900 million, growth of 2% to 3%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA range set: Adjusted EBITDA is guided to $950 to $980 million, with an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 12.2% to 12.4%. Source
  • Guidance assumptions stated: The fiscal 2026 guidance assumes flat pricing and end-market performance, contributions from previously closed acquisitions, organic growth initiatives and fiscal 2025 cost actions. Source

Coming up, as management said on 24 March 2026

  • Fiscal 2026 period covered: The company's fiscal 2026 guidance covers the fiscal year ending January 31, 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Branches opened Source10 new branches
Locations Sourcemore than 370

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Fourth-quarter average daily net sales fell for pipes, valves and fittings and storm drainage, which management attributed to lower volumes. Source
  • Financial: Fourth-quarter SG&A as a share of net sales rose to 16.7%, which management attributed to inflationary cost impacts and investment in personnel and technology. Source
  • Financial: Higher working capital investment in fiscal 2025 partly offset the rise in operating cash flow, according to the company. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The third-quarter release reaffirmed the fiscal 2025 full-year guidance issued in September. The fourth-quarter release does not state a status against it.
  • Not stated: Management said it executed cost actions with a clear framework for efficiency gains as the company scales. 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.