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Distribution Solutions Group, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 March 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year revenue rose 9.8%: Revenue was $1.98 billion, up 9.8% on one fewer selling day. Five acquisitions contributed $121.5 million, and organic average daily sales rose 3.6%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter revenue nearly unchanged: Fourth-quarter revenue was $481.6 million, up $1.1 million. Two acquisitions closed in the fourth quarter of 2024 added $1.7 million, and organic average daily sales were flat. Source
  • Fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA margin down: Fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA was $35.4 million. For the full year it was $175.2 million, or 8.9% of revenue, against 9.7% in 2024. Source
  • Backlogs building into 2026: Management said it is beginning to see backlogs build and improved momentum in weekly sales cadence as it looks ahead to 2026. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose to $83.8 million: Cash generated from operations was $83.8 million for 2025 against $56.5 million in 2024. The fourth quarter contributed $16.9 million. Source
  • Credit facility extended through 2030: The senior secured facility now includes $700 million of term debt and a $400 million revolver, up from $255 million. Source
  • Fourth-quarter margin did not play out as anticipated: Management said the fourth-quarter margin did not play out as it expected, given the product mix, employee cost and investment dynamics it cited. Source

“While the fourth quarter margin did not play out as anticipated given some of these dynamics, it is not indicative of our longer-term plans or our confidence in the future.”

Bryan King, CEO and Chairman

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Senior secured credit facility extended through 2030, with $700 million of term debt and revolving capacity raised from $255 million to $400 million. Source

Full-year results and growth

  • Full-year revenue rose 9.8%: Revenue was $1.98 billion, up 9.8% on one fewer selling day. Five acquisitions contributed $121.5 million, and organic average daily sales rose 3.6%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter revenue nearly unchanged: Fourth-quarter revenue was $481.6 million, up $1.1 million. Two acquisitions closed in the fourth quarter of 2024 added $1.7 million, and organic average daily sales were flat. Source
  • Fourth-quarter operating income declined: Operating income was $7.7 million against $20.1 million a year earlier. It was net of $11.6 million of acquired intangible amortization and $7.2 million of severance, retention and other items. Source
  • Full-year net income turned positive: Net income was $8.3 million for 2025 against a $7.3 million loss in 2024. Diluted EPS was $0.18, and non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS was $1.24 against $1.44. Source
  • Fourth-quarter net loss narrowed: The fourth-quarter net loss was $6.4 million against $25.9 million a year earlier. The company said the prior-year quarter was hit by higher tax expense. Source

Segments and regions

  • Gexpro Services full-year profit higher: Gexpro Services operating income was $48.8 million on $496.7 million of revenue for 2025, against $36.5 million on $440.7 million. TestEquity operating income was $14.4 million against $4.0 million. Source
  • Segment EBITDA margins lower in all four: Fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA margins were lower at Lawson Products (6.7% against 9.8%), Gexpro Services (11.7% against 13.3%), TestEquity (6.4% against 7.8%) and Canada Branch Division (6.6% against 7.2%). Source
  • Lawson Products swung to quarterly loss: Lawson Products reported a fourth-quarter operating loss of $0.9 million against $3.6 million of income a year earlier, on revenue of $114.8 million against $111.8 million. Source
  • Canada Branch full-year revenue higher: Canada Branch Division revenue was $221.4 million for 2025 against $125.1 million, and $55.1 million in the fourth quarter against $59.0 million. Source Atlantic, acquired in 2024, is named in the margin discussion. Source

“This allowed us to return more than $23 million to shareholders through stock repurchases in 2025, reflecting our confidence in the Company's strategic advancement.”

Bryan King, CEO and Chairman

Products, customers and mix

  • Product and solutions mix shifted: Management said margin pressure during the period was primarily driven by shifts in the product and solutions mix, including acquisition-related impacts. Source
  • Customer base about 220,000: The company serves about 220,000 customers, up from about 200,000 in its third-quarter release. Its employee count is given as about 4,300, down from about 4,400. Source
  • Gross profit slipped on flat revenue: Fourth-quarter gross profit was $157.6 million against $160.0 million, while cost of goods sold rose to $324.0 million from $320.5 million. Source

Costs and margins

  • Fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA margin down: Fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA was $35.4 million. For the full year it was $175.2 million, or 8.9% of revenue, against 9.7% in 2024. Source
  • Source Atlantic affected full-year margin: Full-year adjusted EBITDA margin excluding Source Atlantic, acquired in 2024, would have been 9.2%, against the 8.9% reported. Source
  • Selling, general and administrative costs higher: SG&A was $149.9 million in the fourth quarter against $139.9 million, and $583.8 million for 2025 against $557.8 million. Source
  • Operating margin down in quarter, up in year: Operating income was 1.6% of revenue in the fourth quarter against 4.2%, and 4.0% for the full year against 3.1%. Source
  • Adjusted operating income declined: Non-GAAP adjusted operating income was $26.5 million in the fourth quarter against $37.3 million, and $140.8 million for 2025 against $148.4 million. Source

“we believe actions being taken within our verticals are positioning us better for long-term profitable growth”

Bryan King, CEO and Chairman

Demand and the order book

  • Fourth-quarter organic sales flat: Organic average daily sales in the fourth quarter were flat against the year-ago quarter. Source
  • Third-quarter organic growth was 6.0%: The third-quarter release reported organic sales growth of 6.0% year over year, compared with flat organic average daily sales in the fourth quarter.
  • Full-year organic daily sales up 3.6%: Organic average daily sales rose 3.6% for 2025 against 2024, despite one fewer selling day in the year. Source
  • Backlogs building into 2026: Management said it is beginning to see backlogs build and improved momentum in weekly sales cadence as it looks ahead to 2026. Source
  • Industry softness pressured short-term margins: Management attributed short-term margin pressure to industry-wide softness and continued investments in the business. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow rose to $83.8 million: Cash generated from operations was $83.8 million for 2025 against $56.5 million in 2024. The fourth quarter contributed $16.9 million. Source
  • Buybacks of $23.5 million in 2025: Share repurchases were $23.5 million in 2025 at an average price of $30.26, and net capital expenditures were $26.8 million. Source
  • Fourth-quarter capital spending and buybacks: In the fourth quarter, net capital expenditures were $8.5 million and share repurchases were $3.5 million. Source
  • Liquidity of $469 million at year end: Liquidity comprised $75.3 million of cash, restricted and unrestricted, and $393.7 million available under the credit facility. Source
  • Net working capital flat year over year: Net working capital was $473.5 million at year end, unchanged from the prior year-end period. Source

Strategy and financial flexibility

  • Credit facility extended through 2030: The senior secured facility now includes $700 million of term debt and a $400 million revolver, up from $255 million. Source
  • Liquidity framed for acquisitions: Management said the expanded liquidity enhances financial flexibility to pursue acquisitions and other strategic growth initiatives. Source
  • Growth investment continued alongside cash gains: Management said net income and operating cash flow improved while the business continued investing in growth initiatives. Source
  • Acquisition spend far lower in 2025: Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired, were $2.2 million in 2025 against $199.4 million in 2024. Source

Margin pressure and employee costs

  • Fourth-quarter margin did not play out as anticipated: Management said the fourth-quarter margin did not play out as it expected, given the product mix, employee cost and investment dynamics it cited. Source
  • Healthcare and talent costs weighed on margin: Management cited timing of employee-related costs, particularly healthcare benefits, and leadership talent investments as margin pressure. Source
  • Quarter not indicative of long-term plans: Management said the fourth-quarter margin is not indicative of its longer-term plans or its confidence in the future. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Customers served Sourceapproximately 220,000
Organic average daily sales growth, full year 2025 Source3.6%
Organic average daily sales change, fourth quarter 2025 Sourceflat

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited a challenging macroeconomic environment affecting most U.S. companies in 2025. Source
  • Demand: Industry-wide softness has pressured margins in the short term, according to management. Source
  • Operational: Shifts in product and solutions mix, including acquisition-related impacts, drove margin pressure during the period. Source
  • Operational: Timing of employee-related costs, especially healthcare benefits, and leadership talent investments pressured margins. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Missed: Management said the fourth-quarter margin did not play out as it had anticipated. Source
  • Not stated: Management referred to progress on its key operating initiatives and disciplined execution of its strategy. 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.