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Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 13 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 11 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth quarter operating income fell: Operating income was $0.6 million, down $31.1 million from the fourth quarter of 2024. Fourth quarter net income was $3.3 million, or $0.18 per diluted share. Source
  • Full year adjusted EBITDA increased: Full year adjusted EBITDA was $209.7 million, or 7.6% of sales, up $29.0 million. Lean manufacturing and purchasing savings, restructuring savings and favorable foreign exchange were the main drivers. Source
  • Sealing profit fell on cost increases: Sealing Systems segment adjusted EBITDA was $32.1 million, down $8.1 million from $40.2 million. Cost increases reduced it by $12.2 million, partly offset by volume, mix and currency. Source
  • Fluid Handling profit declined on costs: Fluid Handling Systems segment adjusted EBITDA was $15.1 million, down $12.3 million from $27.3 million. Cost increases reduced it by $14.6 million, partly offset by volume, mix and currency. Source
  • Full year awards reached $297.9 million: Full year 2025 net new business awards totaled $297.9 million in incremental anticipated future annualized sales, including $69.5 million received in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Key customer program production declined: Production on a key customer program declined significantly, negatively affecting fourth quarter results, according to management. Source
  • Full year free cash flow was $16.3 million: Operating cash flow was $64.4 million for 2025 and free cash flow was $16.3 million, against $25.9 million in 2024, after $48.2 million of capital expenditures. Source
  • Fourth quarter free cash flow declined: Fourth quarter free cash flow was $44.6 million, down $18.7 million, with lower cash earnings in the period cited as the main driver. Source

“Our full year 2025 results exceeded our original plans and expectations for both adjusted EBITDA and cash flow despite significant production declines on a key customer program that negatively impacted the fourth quarter.”

Jeffrey Edwards, chairman and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Sales Sourcefull year 2026$2.7 - $2.9 billionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$260 - $300 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA margin Sourcefull year 2026reach or exceed 10 percent of salesNew
Capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$55 - $65 millionNew
Cash restructuring Sourcefull year 2026$25 - $30 millionNew
Net cash interest Sourcefull year 2026$105 - $115 millionNew
Net cash taxes Sourcefull year 2026$30 - $35 millionNew
Light vehicle production assumption, North America (units) Sourcefull year 202615.0 millionNew
Light vehicle production assumption, Europe (units) Sourcefull year 202616.9 millionNew
Light vehicle production assumption, Greater China (units) Sourcefull year 202632.7 millionNew
Light vehicle production assumption, South America (units) Sourcefull year 20263.2 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: The company issued initial full year 2026 guidance for sales, adjusted EBITDA, capital expenditures, restructuring, interest, taxes and production assumptions. Source

Fourth quarter and full year results

  • Fourth quarter sales rose on currency: Fourth quarter 2025 sales were $672.4 million, up 1.8% from $660.8 million, mainly due to favorable foreign exchange, partly offset by unfavorable volume and mix. Source
  • Fourth quarter operating income fell: Operating income was $0.6 million, down $31.1 million from the fourth quarter of 2024. Fourth quarter net income was $3.3 million, or $0.18 per diluted share. Source
  • Full year adjusted EBITDA increased: Full year adjusted EBITDA was $209.7 million, or 7.6% of sales, up $29.0 million. Lean manufacturing and purchasing savings, restructuring savings and favorable foreign exchange were the main drivers. Source
  • Full year net loss narrowed: Full year net loss was $4.2 million, or $(0.23) per diluted share, an improvement of $74.6 million. Management cited non-recurrence of pension settlement expense as a positive factor. Source

Segment sales and profit

  • Segment sales rose on currency: Sealing Systems sales were $357.8 million, up $7.4 million, and Fluid Handling Systems sales were $297.1 million, up $2.3 million. Currency added $11.9 million and $3.0 million respectively. Source
  • Sealing profit fell on cost increases: Sealing Systems segment adjusted EBITDA was $32.1 million, down $8.1 million from $40.2 million. Cost increases reduced it by $12.2 million, partly offset by volume, mix and currency. Source
  • Fluid Handling profit declined on costs: Fluid Handling Systems segment adjusted EBITDA was $15.1 million, down $12.3 million from $27.3 million. Cost increases reduced it by $14.6 million, partly offset by volume, mix and currency. Source

“we anticipate further improvements in 2026 with our adjusted EBITDA margin expected to reach or exceed 10 percent of sales for the full year”

Jeffrey Edwards, chairman and CEO

Awards and programs

  • Full year awards reached $297.9 million: Full year 2025 net new business awards totaled $297.9 million in incremental anticipated future annualized sales, including $69.5 million received in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Awards skew to battery and hybrid: 74 percent of full year net new business awards related to battery electric and full-hybrid programs, and 51 percent were with Chinese OEM customers. Source
  • Nine-month awards reported earlier: The third quarter release reported $228.5 million of net new business awards through the first nine months, including $96.4 million received in the third quarter.

Costs, restructuring and margins

  • Fourth quarter gross profit declined: Gross profit was $70.2 million in the fourth quarter, down from $82.0 million, as cost of products sold rose to $602.2 million from $578.7 million. Source
  • Customer disruption added inefficiencies: Manufacturing inefficiencies from a customer supply chain and production disruption, plus a year-end true-up of compensation accruals, weighed on fourth quarter results. Source
  • Restructuring charges rose in quarter: Restructuring charges were $11.5 million in the fourth quarter against $3.2 million a year earlier, and $20.0 million for the full year against $23.6 million. Source

Demand and customer production

  • Key customer program production declined: Production on a key customer program declined significantly, negatively affecting fourth quarter results, according to management. Source
  • Underlying demand described as resilient: Management described underlying light vehicle demand in key regions as resilient, citing fleet age, population growth, newly licensed drivers and declining vehicle inventories. Source
  • 2026 production assumptions mixed: Assumptions for 2026 show lower light vehicle production in North America, Europe and Greater China, and higher production in South America, compared with 2025. Source

Cash flow and liquidity

  • Full year free cash flow was $16.3 million: Operating cash flow was $64.4 million for 2025 and free cash flow was $16.3 million, against $25.9 million in 2024, after $48.2 million of capital expenditures. Source
  • Fourth quarter free cash flow declined: Fourth quarter free cash flow was $44.6 million, down $18.7 million, with lower cash earnings in the period cited as the main driver. Source
  • Year-end liquidity totaled $352.6 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $191.7 million at year end. Total liquidity, including undrawn revolving credit availability, was $352.6 million. Source
  • Resources described as sufficient: Management believes the company has sufficient financial resources to support operations, planned initiatives and cash interest on its debt for the foreseeable future. Source

Tax and balance sheet

  • Valuation allowance reversal excluded: Adjusted results exclude a $45.4 million valuation allowance reversal on net deferred tax assets in France, Spain and Korea. The fourth quarter income tax benefit was $33.9 million. Source
  • Deferred tax assets increased: Deferred tax assets were $103.1 million at December 31, 2025, up from $63.2 million, and total equity was a deficit of $91.6 million. Source
  • Debt due within one year rose: Debt payable within one year was $86.1 million at year end, up from $42.4 million. Long-term debt was $1,018.5 million. Source

Strategy, workforce and 2026 view

  • New customers and programs in focus: Management plans to expand relationships with new customers and launch innovative programs with enhanced contribution margins, to raise profit margins and returns on invested capital over time. Source
  • Workforce of about 22,000: The company reported approximately 22,000 team members, including contingent workers. Source
  • Further profitable growth expected in 2026: Following 2025 results, the company expects further profitable growth and margin enhancement in 2026, considering recent industry forecasts for global light vehicle production. Source

Coming up, as management said on 13 February 2026

  • New program launches planned: Management said it will continue to launch new programs and optimize costs while delivering value to customers. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Light vehicle production units, North America (2025 actual) Source15.3 million
Light vehicle production units, Europe (2025 actual) Source17.0 million
Light vehicle production units, Greater China (2025 actual) Source33.1 million
Light vehicle production units, South America (2025 actual) Source3.0 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Production declines on a key customer program negatively affected fourth quarter results, according to management. Source
  • External: Supply chain disruption, changing trade and tariff policies and affordability concerns were cited as affecting production volumes. Source
  • Financial: Higher wages, general inflation, unfavorable volume and mix including price adjustments, and higher SGA&E expense were cited as headwinds in 2025. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said 2025 results exceeded original plans for adjusted EBITDA and cash flow, despite production declines on a key customer program. 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.