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Darling Ingredients Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 11 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Quarter net income declined: Net income attributable to Darling was $56.9 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, against $101.9 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Combined Adjusted EBITDA rose: Combined Adjusted EBITDA, which adds Darling's 50% share of Diamond Green Diesel, was $336.1 million against $289.5 million for the same quarter a year earlier. Source
  • Fiscal year net income declined: Fiscal 2025 net income was $62.8 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, against $278.9 million, or $1.73, in fiscal 2024. Net sales for the year were $6.1 billion against $5.7 billion. Source
  • DGD share of EBITDA declined: DGD Adjusted EBITDA was $127.7 million before discount and broker fees. Darling's 50% share was $57.9 million against $59.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • DGD operating result turned to loss: DGD operating income was $65.2 million in the quarter against $48.8 million. For the year it was a loss of $30.4 million against $314.9 million income, including a $140.1 million inventory valuation benefit. Source
  • Current pricing to weigh on first quarter: Management said current market pricing will modestly affect core ingredients performance in the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • Bank leverage at 2.90X: The preliminary bank covenant leverage ratio was 2.90X at Jan. 3, 2026. Source

“While Diamond Green Diesel (DGD) had a challenging year, our best-in-class operations led the industry and produced industry-leading results,”

Randall C. Stuewe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Core ingredients adjusted EBITDA (all segments excluding DGD) Sourcefirst quarter 2026approximately $240-$250 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Financial guidance now covers only the core ingredients business, which excludes Diamond Green Diesel. Source
  • New: The company realigned its portfolio in the quarter, with restructuring and impairment charges of $58.0 million mainly tied to Enviroflight and CTH natural casing. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Quarter net income declined: Net income attributable to Darling was $56.9 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, against $101.9 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Total net sales reached $1.7 billion: Total net sales were $1.7 billion against $1.42 billion, with third-party net sales at $1,363.7 million against $1,194.9 million. Source
  • Combined Adjusted EBITDA rose: Combined Adjusted EBITDA, which adds Darling's 50% share of Diamond Green Diesel, was $336.1 million against $289.5 million for the same quarter a year earlier. Source
  • Fiscal year net income declined: Fiscal 2025 net income was $62.8 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, against $278.9 million, or $1.73, in fiscal 2024. Net sales for the year were $6.1 billion against $5.7 billion. Source
  • Fiscal year combined EBITDA fell: Combined Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2025 was $1.03 billion against $1.08 billion for fiscal 2024. Source

Segments and business lines

  • Feed Ingredients sales and EBITDA rose: Feed Ingredients net sales were $1,128.2 million against $924.2 million, and segment Adjusted EBITDA was $193.4 million against $150.0 million. Source
  • Food Ingredients sales and EBITDA rose: Food Ingredients net sales were $429.1 million against $361.7 million, and segment Adjusted EBITDA was $82.4 million against $64.0 million. Source
  • Fuel Ingredients sales and EBITDA rose: Fuel Ingredients net sales were $152.6 million against $131.9 million, and segment Adjusted EBITDA was $27.2 million against $25.2 million, before the DGD share. Source
  • Corporate cost increased: Corporate segment Adjusted EBITDA was a cost of $24.7 million against $8.9 million, equal to corporate selling, general and administrative expense in the quarter. Source

“We have taken the steps to sharpen our portfolio and focus on our core strengths, and are well positioned to build on this momentum in 2026.”

Randall C. Stuewe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Diamond Green Diesel joint venture

  • DGD share of EBITDA declined: DGD Adjusted EBITDA was $127.7 million before discount and broker fees. Darling's 50% share was $57.9 million against $59.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Equity income from DGD fell: Equity in net income of DGD was $21.6 million in the quarter against $24.0 million. For the full year the line was a loss of $48.8 million against income of $149.1 million. Source
  • DGD operating result turned to loss: DGD operating income was $65.2 million in the quarter against $48.8 million. For the year it was a loss of $30.4 million against $314.9 million income, including a $140.1 million inventory valuation benefit. Source
  • Sales to DGD increased: Net sales to Diamond Green Diesel as a related party were $346.1 million against $222.8 million in the quarter, and $1,197.7 million against $968.9 million for the year. Source
  • Discount fees reduced DGD figure: Discount and broker fees of $11.9 million in the quarter and $29.1 million for the year were deducted from DGD Adjusted EBITDA before the 50% share was taken. Source
  • Darling's share definition reworded: The release describes Darling's share as 50% of DGD Adjusted EBITDA. The January 29 statement described it as net of discount and broker fees, and the table still applies that deduction. Source

Costs, margins and restructuring

  • Gross margin rose in quarter: Gross margin was $429.2 million against $333.8 million, as cost of sales and operating expenses rose to $1,280.6 million from $1,083.9 million. Source
  • Restructuring charges by segment: Restructuring and asset impairment charges were $32.1 million in Feed Ingredients and $25.8 million in Food Ingredients. Source
  • Selling and admin costs rose: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $151.9 million against $107.5 million, a rise of $44.4 million. Source
  • Depreciation and interest rose: Depreciation and amortization was $139.5 million against $128.2 million, and interest expense was $55.5 million against $54.9 million. Source

Demand, pricing and fat prices

  • Current pricing to weigh on first quarter: Management said current market pricing will modestly affect core ingredients performance in the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • Margin improved despite lower fat prices: Management said the company delivered sequential gross margin improvement in the quarter despite lower fat prices, and credited operational excellence. Source
  • Extra week lifted fourth-quarter volumes: Management attributed higher fourth-quarter volumes and sales to the additional week in the fiscal year and a favorable lag in fat pricing. Source

Capital, cash and leverage

  • Liquidity and revolver capacity: Cash and equivalents were $88.7 million and $1.32 billion was available under the committed revolver. Total debt outstanding was $3.94 billion. Source
  • Production tax credits monetized: Management said the company monetized $255 million of $285 million in Production Tax Credit sales during fiscal 2025, which it said improves cash generation. Source
  • Bank leverage at 2.90X: The preliminary bank covenant leverage ratio was 2.90X at Jan. 3, 2026. Source
  • Capital spending for the year: Capital expenditures were $156.4 million in the fourth quarter and $380.5 million for fiscal 2025. Source
  • Diluted share count edged lower: Diluted common shares were 160.4 million in the quarter against 161.1 million, and 160.2 million for the year against 161.4 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 11 February 2026

  • EPA renewable volume rule pending: Management expects the EPA's upcoming Renewable Volume Obligation to support fat prices once it is finalized. No date is given. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
DGD renewable diesel gallons sold, fourth quarter Source285.3 million gallons; $0.41 per gallon EBITDA
DGD renewable diesel gallons sold, fiscal year Source1.003 billion gallons; $0.21 per gallon EBITDA
Facilities operated Sourceover 260 facilities in more than 15 countries

Risks management discussed

  • External: Current market pricing for fat is expected to modestly affect core ingredients results in the first quarter. Source
  • Regulatory: Finalization of the EPA's Renewable Volume Obligation is still pending, and management links it to fat price support. Source
  • Financial: Discounts on sales of tax credits are recorded against Darling's share of DGD Adjusted EBITDA.
  • Operational: The portfolio realignment led to restructuring and impairment charges on the Enviroflight and CTH natural casing businesses. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The January 29 statement anticipated solid year-end improvement over the earlier expectation. This release does not state how the year compared with it.
  • Not stated: Management described the leverage decline as a commitment to deleveraging, with cash generation supporting continued deleveraging in 2026. 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.