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Dole plc: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 25 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter revenue up 9.2%: Fourth-quarter revenue reached $2.4 billion. Like-for-like revenue rose 5.7%, and currency translation added $77.1 million. Source
  • Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA slightly lower: Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $72.7 million. On a like-for-like basis it fell 6.1%, with higher fruit costs in Fresh Fruit the main driver. Source
  • FY2026 target: at least $400 million: Management is targeting Adjusted EBITDA of at least $400 million for fiscal 2026, at an early stage of the year, and describes the platform as positioned for growth. Source
  • Fresh Fruit fourth-quarter profit down 16.6%: Fresh Fruit Adjusted EBITDA fell 16.6% to $26.6 million on higher banana fruit costs, from market sourcing costs and after Tropical Storm Sara, partly offset by commercial cargo profits. Source
  • Free cash flow fell to $1.7 million: Free cash flow from continuing operations was $1.7 million in 2025, against $180.3 million in 2024, on higher receivables outflows, higher tax payments and higher capital expenditure. Source
  • Ecuador port sale agreed: Dole agreed to sell port assets in Ecuador, with expected net proceeds of about $75 million. Source

“We are very pleased to deliver a strong operating result for the year, with Adjusted EBITDA of $395 million, surpassing our most recent guidance.”

Carl McCann, Executive Chairman

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal year 2026at least $400 millionNew
Routine capex Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately $100 millionNew
Interest expense Sourcefull year 2026approximately $60 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: First fiscal 2026 Adjusted EBITDA target given: at least $400 million. Source
  • New guidance: Routine capex forecast of approximately $100 million for fiscal 2026 given. Source
  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 interest expense forecast of approximately $60 million given. Source
  • New: Agreement announced to sell port assets in Ecuador for expected net proceeds of about $75 million. Source
  • New: Company made the transition to U.S. Domestic Issuer filings. Source
  • New: Board authorized share repurchases of up to $100 million in aggregate. Source
  • Ended: Fresh Vegetables business sold and reported as discontinued operations. Source

Fourth quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth-quarter revenue up 9.2%: Fourth-quarter revenue reached $2.4 billion. Like-for-like revenue rose 5.7%, and currency translation added $77.1 million. Source
  • Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA slightly lower: Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $72.7 million. On a like-for-like basis it fell 6.1%, with higher fruit costs in Fresh Fruit the main driver. Source
  • Full-year revenue and Adjusted EBITDA rose: Full-year revenue rose 8.2% to $9.2 billion. Adjusted EBITDA rose 0.8% to $395.4 million, ahead of latest guidance. Source
  • Full-year net income and EPS: Full-year net income was $82.0 million and diluted EPS was $0.53. Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.20, against $1.27 in 2024. Source
  • Fourth-quarter continuing earnings lower: Fourth-quarter continuing-operations net income fell to $6.8 million from $29.6 million, mainly on a non-cash discrete tax charge, partly offset by higher equity earnings. Source
  • FY2026 target: at least $400 million: Management is targeting Adjusted EBITDA of at least $400 million for fiscal 2026, at an early stage of the year, and describes the platform as positioned for growth. Source

Segments and regions

  • Fresh Fruit fourth-quarter revenue up: Fresh Fruit revenue rose 6.7% to $874.0 million on higher banana volumes and pricing, partly offset by lower pineapple and plantain volumes. Source
  • Fresh Fruit fourth-quarter profit down 16.6%: Fresh Fruit Adjusted EBITDA fell 16.6% to $26.6 million on higher banana fruit costs, from market sourcing costs and after Tropical Storm Sara, partly offset by commercial cargo profits. Source
  • EMEA fourth-quarter revenue up on currency: EMEA revenue rose 12.7% to $1.03 billion, helped by a $77.0 million currency benefit. Like-for-like revenue rose 4.5%, with underlying performance in Spain, France and South Africa. Source
  • Americas and ROW profit up on joint ventures: Americas and ROW Adjusted EBITDA rose 31.6% to $13.5 million in the quarter, helped by joint venture profitability and southern hemisphere export earnings. Source
  • EMEA full-year profit up 14.1%: EMEA full-year Adjusted EBITDA rose 14.1% to $150.0 million, with like-for-like growth of 7.7%. Source
  • Fresh Fruit full-year revenue up 9.8%: Fresh Fruit full-year revenue rose 9.8% to $3.6 billion on higher banana and pineapple volumes and pricing. Adjusted EBITDA fell 11.6% to $189.8 million. Source

“In 2025, the Group achieved several significant strategic milestones, including the sale of the Fresh Vegetables business”

Carl McCann, Executive Chairman

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin lower year on year: Reported gross margin was 6.7% in the fourth quarter against 7.3% a year earlier. Full-year gross margin was 7.8% against 8.5%. Source
  • Adjusted Net Income down on depreciation: Fourth-quarter Adjusted Net Income fell 9.8% to $13.8 million on lower Adjusted EBITDA and higher depreciation, partly offset by lower interest expense. Source

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow fell to $1.7 million: Free cash flow from continuing operations was $1.7 million in 2025, against $180.3 million in 2024, on higher receivables outflows, higher tax payments and higher capital expenditure. Source
  • Net debt reduced to $606.5 million: Net debt was $606.5 million at year end, down $30.7 million. Net leverage was 1.5x, against 1.6x a year earlier. Source
  • Capex included vessel lease buyouts: Capital expenditure from continuing operations was $121.5 million, including $36.1 million to buy out two vessel finance leases. Finance-lease additions were $15.6 million. Source
  • Post-year-end buybacks of 300,000 shares: After year-end the company bought back 300,000 shares at an average of $15.15, totaling $4.5 million. $95.5 million remains under the program. Source

“Today, our business is in a good position, with strong operational momentum across the group.”

Dole plc, press release

Strategy, portfolio and filings

  • Fresh Vegetables sale completed: The Fresh Vegetables business, sold in 2025, is reported as discontinued operations, with a loss from discontinued operations of $46.0 million for the year. Source
  • Ecuador port sale agreed: Dole agreed to sell port assets in Ecuador, with expected net proceeds of about $75 million. Source
  • Moved to U.S. Domestic Issuer filings: The company made the transition to U.S. Domestic Issuer filings, with further index inclusion as a stated target. Source
  • Development opportunities under exploration: Management continues to explore a range of development opportunities, which it says would strengthen the business if executed. Source

Operating context and people

  • Honduras farm rebuild after storm: Rehabilitation of impacted Honduran farms after Tropical Storm Sara is continuing, materially supported by $18.0 million of insurance proceeds. Source
  • Result credited to staff: Management credited the 2025 result to the experience and skill of its people. Source
  • Operational momentum across group: Management describes the business as positioned with operational momentum across the group. Source

Coming up, as management said on 25 February 2026

  • Q4 dividend payable April 8: Board-declared $0.085 per share cash dividend for the fourth quarter of 2025 is payable April 8, 2026 to holders of record on March 18, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Banana volumes sold Sourcehigher
Pineapple and plantain volumes sold Sourcelower
Cherry volumes (southern hemisphere export) Sourcehigher

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Higher fruit sourcing costs, both in the market and after Tropical Storm Sara, weighed on Fresh Fruit results. Source
  • External: Management cited macroeconomic uncertainty and other industry-specific factors as conditions for 2025. Source
  • Financial: Full-year results included non-cash fair value losses on financial instruments, a discrete tax charge and asset impairments. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management reported the Fresh Vegetables sale as completed among 2025 milestones. Source
  • Ahead: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA was described as surpassing the most recent guidance. 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.