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Forward Air Corp.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 February 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year operating income of $36 million: The company reported full-year 2025 operating income of $36 million and Consolidated EBITDA of $307 million, against $311 million for 2024. Source
  • Fourth-quarter operating loss versus profit: Fourth-quarter income from continuing operations was a loss of $2.9 million, compared with income of $75.9 million a year earlier, when the prior-year period included a goodwill impairment. Source
  • Omni revenue up $34 million: Omni revenue rose to $360 million and Reported EBITDA to $36 million, with a margin of 10 percent, up 20 basis points. Source
  • Intermodal EBITDA and margin declined: Intermodal Reported EBITDA fell to $7 million with a margin of 14.2 percent, from $10 million and 17.5 percent a year earlier. Source
  • Expedited margin up 350 basis points: Expedited Freight Reported EBITDA margin was 10.1 percent in the fourth quarter, up from 6.6 percent a year earlier. Source
  • Operating cash flow improved $113 million: Cash provided by operating activities was $44 million for 2025, against cash used of $69 million in 2024, an improvement of $113 million. Source
  • Liquidity ended year at $367 million: Liquidity at year-end was $367 million, made up of $106 million in cash and $261 million of credit facility availability, versus $382 million at end of 2024. Source

“We delivered solid results in 2025 despite less than favorable freight market conditions,”

Shawn Stewart, President & Chief Executive Officer

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The company unified its U.S. domestic ground operations and unveiled a new Latin American regional structure. Source
  • New: The company description now lists Latin America where the prior quarter's release listed Mexico. Source

Full-year and fourth-quarter results

  • Full-year operating income of $36 million: The company reported full-year 2025 operating income of $36 million and Consolidated EBITDA of $307 million, against $311 million for 2024. Source
  • Fourth-quarter revenue nearly flat: Fourth-quarter operating revenue was $631 million, against $633 million a year earlier, a decline of 0.3 percent. Source
  • Fourth-quarter operating loss versus profit: Fourth-quarter income from continuing operations was a loss of $2.9 million, compared with income of $75.9 million a year earlier, when the prior-year period included a goodwill impairment. Source
  • Net loss per diluted share narrowed: Net loss attributable to Forward Air was $0.91 per diluted share, compared with $1.23 a year earlier, a 26.0 percent change. Source

Segments and regions

  • Omni revenue up $34 million: Omni revenue rose to $360 million and Reported EBITDA to $36 million, with a margin of 10 percent, up 20 basis points. Source
  • Omni posts highest results since acquisition: Omni recorded its highest revenue, highest Reported EBITDA and highest margin, excluding goodwill adjustments, since the January 2024 acquisition. Source
  • Expedited Freight EBITDA up $7 million: Expedited Freight Reported EBITDA improved by $7 million to $25 million in the fourth quarter compared with a year earlier. Source
  • Intermodal EBITDA and margin declined: Intermodal Reported EBITDA fell to $7 million with a margin of 14.2 percent, from $10 million and 17.5 percent a year earlier. Source

“Our fourth quarter results were consistent with recent quarters, led by the Omni segment”

Shawn Stewart, President & Chief Executive Officer

Expedited Freight margin and pricing

  • Expedited margin up 350 basis points: Expedited Freight Reported EBITDA margin was 10.1 percent in the fourth quarter, up from 6.6 percent a year earlier. Source
  • Pricing per hundredweight up 3.4 percent: Revenue per hundredweight was $30.70, up 3.4 percent; excluding fuel it was $24.30, up 2.4 percent. Source
  • Pricing focus and expense management: Management said the Expedited segment focused on charging the optimal price and actively managed expenses. Source

Volumes and demand

  • Expedited pounds declined 10.7 percent: Expedited Freight total pounds fell 10.7 percent to 598,724 thousand, and pounds per day fell by the same percentage. Source
  • Intermodal drayage volume and yield down: Intermodal drayage shipments fell 9.3 percent to 57,953, and revenue per drayage shipment fell 6.7 percent to $790. Source
  • Shipments and weight per shipment: Total shipments fell 9.6 percent to 708 thousand, and weight per shipment was 846 pounds, down 1.2 percent. Source

“We have an experienced team leading the Intermodal segment and I am confident in their ability to deliver solid results as we manage through the current freight market,”

Shawn Stewart, President & Chief Executive Officer

Costs and expense lines

  • Salaries and benefits fell: Salaries, wages and employee benefits were $116.4 million in the fourth quarter, down from $130.0 million, and $535.7 million for the year against $536.4 million. Source
  • Transaction and integration costs eased: Transaction and integration costs were $5.7 million in the fourth quarter, against $10.1 million, and $31.5 million for the year against $81.5 million. Source
  • Severance costs declined: Severance costs were $0.6 million in the fourth quarter, against $1.9 million, and $5.7 million for the year against $16.3 million. Source
  • Operating lease expense rose: Operating lease expense was $53.6 million in the fourth quarter, against $48.3 million, and $204.0 million for the year against $182.2 million. Source

Cash, liquidity and capital spending

  • Operating cash flow improved $113 million: Cash provided by operating activities was $44 million for 2025, against cash used of $69 million in 2024, an improvement of $113 million. Source
  • Liquidity ended year at $367 million: Liquidity at year-end was $367 million, made up of $106 million in cash and $261 million of credit facility availability, versus $382 million at end of 2024. Source
  • Free cash flow positive for the year: Free cash flow was $17.5 million for 2025, against negative $100.9 million in 2024; the fourth quarter was negative $30.7 million. Source
  • Capital spending below prior year: Purchases of property and equipment were $29.1 million for 2025, against $37.1 million in 2024. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Expedited Freight total pounds Source598,724 thousand, down 10.7%
Expedited Freight shipments Source708 thousand, down 9.6%
Expedited revenue per hundredweight Source$30.70, up 3.4%; ex fuel $24.30, up 2.4%
Expedited revenue per shipment Source$259.77, up 2.2%; ex fuel $205.63, up 1.2%
Intermodal drayage shipments Source57,953, down 9.3%
Intermodal drayage revenue per shipment Source$790, down 6.7%
Expedited Freight fuel expense, fourth quarter Source$1.8 million, down 29.3%
Intermodal fuel expense, fourth quarter Source$1.4 million, down 30.0%
Consolidated fuel expense, full year Source$20.1 million against $21.5 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said Intermodal port activity was hurt by trade-related softness and seasonality, lowering shipments and revenue per shipment. Source
  • Operational: Consolidated EBITDA adds back $19.8 million of abandoned software project costs recorded in the fourth quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it focused in 2025 on aligning costs to demand and executing its transformation strategy; no completion status was given. 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.