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Dauch Corp.: 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: 17 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter sales flat, net loss: Q4 sales were $1.38 billion, flat year over year. Net loss was $(75.3) million, or $(0.63) per share, against $(13.7) million, or $(0.12) per share, a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose in quarter: Q4 Adjusted EBITDA was $169.0 million, or 12.2% of sales, against $160.8 million, or 11.6%. Full-year Adjusted EBITDA was $743.2 million, or 12.7% of sales, against $749.2 million, or 12.2%. Source
  • Restructuring and acquisition costs rose: Restructuring and acquisition-related costs were $55.8 million in Q4 against $8.3 million, and $113.4 million for the year against $18.0 million. Q4 operating loss was $(33.8) million. Source
  • Operating cash flow lower: Q4 net cash from operations was $120.5 million against $151.2 million; full year was $411.6 million against $455.4 million. Adjusted free cash flow was $70.1 million in Q4 and $213.0 million for the year. Source
  • Debt and restricted cash higher: Long-term debt, net was $4,039.1 million against $2,576.9 million at year end. Restricted cash was $1,496.6 million, against none a year earlier. Q4 net debt activity was an inflow of $1,421.3 million. Source
  • 2026 targets include partial Dowlais year: The 2026 targets include a partial-year Dowlais contribution from the February 3 close. The release notes a preliminary estimate of IFRS to U.S. GAAP conversion effects for that partial year. Source

“We delivered strong fourth-quarter and full year Adjusted EBITDA margin growth, reflecting solid performance”

Dauch's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, David C. Dauch

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Sales Sourcefull year 2026$10.3 - $10.7 billionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$1.3 - 1.4 billionNew
Synergy benefits within Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$50 - $75 millionNew
Synergy run rate Sourceend of year onegreater than $100 millionNew
Equity income from China JV Sourcefull year 2026$65 - $75 millionNew
Adjusted free cash flow Sourcefull year 2026$235 - $325 millionNew
Capital expenditures Sourcefull year 20264.5% to 5% of salesNew
Restructuring cash payments Sourcefull year 2026$110 - $150 millionNew
Synergy implementation cash payments Sourcefull year 2026$100 - $125 millionNew
Net income Sourcefull year 2026$(130) to $(60) millionNew
Interest expense Sourcefull year 2026$350 millionNew
Depreciation and amortization Sourcefull year 2026$850 millionNew
Targeted EBITDA before reconciling items Sourcefull year 2026$1,015 to $1,115 millionNew
Reconciling items to Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026acquisition-related $65 million; restructuring $120 million; synergy integration $115 million; other $(15) millionNew
Net cash from operating activities Sourcefull year 2026$385 - $410 millionNew
Cash payments for acquisition costs Sourcefull year 2026$140 millionNew
Production assumption (units) Sourcefull year 2026North America ~15.0 million; Europe ~16.9 million; China ~32.7 million; global ~92.6 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The Dowlais acquisition closed, and the release welcomes the Dowlais team. Source
  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 targets are issued; the prior release carried full-year 2025 targets only. Source
  • New: Operations now described as spanning 24 countries and more than 175 locations, against nearly 75 facilities in 15 countries in the prior release. Source

Fourth quarter and full year results

  • Fourth-quarter sales flat, net loss: Q4 sales were $1.38 billion, flat year over year. Net loss was $(75.3) million, or $(0.63) per share, against $(13.7) million, or $(0.12) per share, a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year sales lower, net loss: Full-year sales were $5.84 billion against $6.12 billion. Net loss was $(19.7) million, or $(0.17) per share, against net income of $35.0 million, or $0.29 per share, in 2024. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose in quarter: Q4 Adjusted EBITDA was $169.0 million, or 12.2% of sales, against $160.8 million, or 11.6%. Full-year Adjusted EBITDA was $743.2 million, or 12.7% of sales, against $749.2 million, or 12.2%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS higher for full year: Full-year Adjusted EPS was $0.53 against $0.51. Q4 Adjusted EPS was $0.07, against an Adjusted loss per share of $(0.06) a year earlier. Source

Driveline and Metal Forming segments

  • Driveline sales and EBITDA lower: Driveline Q4 sales were $971.0 million against $979.6 million, with segment Adjusted EBITDA of $132.2 million against $133.3 million. Full-year Driveline sales were $4,062.0 million against $4,253.3 million. Source
  • Metal Forming EBITDA rose: Metal Forming Q4 sales were $551.0 million against $520.6 million, with segment Adjusted EBITDA of $36.8 million against $27.5 million. Full-year segment Adjusted EBITDA was $180.0 million against $171.0 million. Source
  • Intersegment sales higher in quarter: Intersegment sales were $138.1 million in Q4 against $119.4 million, and $545.5 million for the year against $542.7 million. Q4 net external sales were $1,383.9 million. Source

“With the exciting close of the transformational acquisition, we warmly welcome the Dowlais team, and together, we will focus on generating robust value as a premier global Driveline and Metal Form supplier.”

Dauch's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, David C. Dauch

Margins, costs and non-recurring items

  • Gross profit lower in quarter: Q4 gross profit was $140.9 million against $154.3 million, with cost of goods sold of $1,243.0 million against $1,226.5 million. SG&A expenses were $98.5 million against $89.0 million. Source
  • Restructuring and acquisition costs rose: Restructuring and acquisition-related costs were $55.8 million in Q4 against $8.3 million, and $113.4 million for the year against $18.0 million. Q4 operating loss was $(33.8) million. Source
  • EV settlement treated as non-recurring: A $20.0 million impact from an EV cancellation settlement was classed as non-recurring in Q4 and the full year. It is excluded from Adjusted EBITDA and equals $0.16 per share in Adjusted EPS. Source
  • Interest expense up sharply: Q4 interest expense was $72.4 million against $43.9 million; full-year interest expense was $201.1 million against $186.0 million. Q4 interest income was $21.6 million, including $13.6 million on debt held in escrow. Source
  • Derivative gain and income tax: The Business Combination Derivative produced a $52.9 million gain for the full year, against none in 2024. Full-year income tax expense was $21.2 million against $27.8 million. Source

Cash flow, debt and cash balances

  • Operating cash flow lower: Q4 net cash from operations was $120.5 million against $151.2 million; full year was $411.6 million against $455.4 million. Adjusted free cash flow was $70.1 million in Q4 and $213.0 million for the year. Source
  • Capital spending and free cash flow: Free cash flow was $55.0 million in Q4 against $73.6 million, and $160.7 million for the year against $213.4 million. Restructuring and acquisition cash payments were $65.9 million for the year. Source
  • Debt and restricted cash higher: Long-term debt, net was $4,039.1 million against $2,576.9 million at year end. Restricted cash was $1,496.6 million, against none a year earlier. Q4 net debt activity was an inflow of $1,421.3 million. Source
  • Year-end cash including restricted: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $2,205.5 million at year end, against $552.9 million a year earlier. Source

2026 targets and basis

  • 2026 targets include partial Dowlais year: The 2026 targets include a partial-year Dowlais contribution from the February 3 close. The release notes a preliminary estimate of IFRS to U.S. GAAP conversion effects for that partial year. Source
  • Targets stated on non-GAAP measures: Targets are given for Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted free cash flow, which the release reconciles to GAAP net income and operating cash flow. Definitions of EBITDA and Adjusted measures appear in the release. Source
  • Production and trade assumptions: Targets rest on production estimates for key programs, no change to USMCA, and mitigation of most incremental tariff costs. Source

Dowlais combination and product scope

  • GKN units join the group: The Dowlais acquisition brings GKN Automotive and GKN Powder Metallurgy into the group, which the company describes as a premier Driveline and Metal Forming supplier. Source
  • Powertrain-agnostic product portfolio: Products support electric, hybrid and internal combustion vehicles, which the company describes as a powertrain-agnostic portfolio. Source
  • Listed on NYSE and LSE: The release reports fourth quarter and full-year 2025 results for shares listed on the NYSE and LSE under the ticker DCH. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Units Source2026 production assumptions: North America ~15.0 million, Europe ~16.9 million, China ~32.7 million, global ~92.6 million

Risks management discussed

  • External: Tariff exposure is assumed mitigated for most incremental costs, and USMCA is assumed unchanged in the 2026 targets. Source
  • Financial: The 2026 targets are based on a preliminary estimate of effects from converting Dowlais results from IFRS to U.S. GAAP for the partial year. Source
  • Demand: The 2026 targets depend on production estimates for the key programs the company supports. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management states the Dowlais acquisition has closed, following the earlier plan to complete the combination. 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.