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Garmin Ltd.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 18 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 5 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter revenue rose 17%: Fourth-quarter revenue was $2.12 billion, up from $1.82 billion in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Full-year revenue reached a record: Full-year revenue was $7.25 billion, up 15%, and all five segments posted record full-year revenue. Source
  • Operating income and margin grew: Fourth-quarter operating income was $614 million, up 19%, and operating margin was 28.9% against 28.3%. Source
  • 2026 guidance sets 9% growth: For fiscal 2026, management guided to revenue of $7.9 billion and pro forma EPS of $9.35, on the stated margins and a 16.0% tax rate. Source
  • Fitness revenue jumped 42%: Fitness revenue was $766 million, up 42%, with 59% gross and 34% operating margins and $257 million of operating income. Source
  • 2026 dividend paid in four installments: Proposed $1.05 installments fall on June 26, September 25 and December 24, 2026, and March 26, 2027. Source

“2025 was another year of remarkable growth and achievement for Garmin with record consolidated revenue, record revenue in all five of our segments, and record consolidated operating income.”

Cliff Pemble, President and Chief Executive Officer of Garmin Ltd.

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFiscal 2026$7.9 billionNew
Pro forma diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$9.35New
Gross margin SourceFiscal 202658.5%New
Operating margin SourceFiscal 202625.5%New
Pro forma effective tax rate SourceFiscal 202616.0%New
Dividend per share Source2026, four installments$4.20Raised from $3.60
Share repurchase authorization SourceThrough December 30, 2028$500 millionRaised from $300 million

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: First full-year 2026 guidance given for revenue, margins, tax rate and pro forma EPS. Source
  • Guidance raised: Proposed 2026 dividend of $4.20 per share compares with the $3.60 per share approved for 2025. Source
  • New: New $500 million repurchase program replaces the $300 million program, which was terminated effective February 19, 2026. Source
  • New: Collaboration with Truemed lets customers use pre-tax HSA and FSA funds for qualifying select Garmin products. Source
  • New: Collaboration with Meta announced to explore new ways of interacting with the automobile. Source
  • New: New US tax legislation reduced deductions and credits, which raised the quarter's effective tax rate. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth-quarter revenue rose 17%: Fourth-quarter revenue was $2.12 billion, up from $1.82 billion in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Full-year revenue reached a record: Full-year revenue was $7.25 billion, up 15%, and all five segments posted record full-year revenue. Source
  • Operating income and margin grew: Fourth-quarter operating income was $614 million, up 19%, and operating margin was 28.9% against 28.3%. Source
  • Pro forma EPS up 16%: GAAP diluted EPS was $2.73 and pro forma EPS $2.79, up 16%; full-year pro forma EPS was $8.56, up 16%. Source
  • 2026 guidance sets 9% growth: For fiscal 2026, management guided to revenue of $7.9 billion and pro forma EPS of $9.35, on the stated margins and a 16.0% tax rate. Source

Segments and regions

  • Fitness revenue jumped 42%: Fitness revenue was $766 million, up 42%, with 59% gross and 34% operating margins and $257 million of operating income. Source
  • Outdoor revenue flat on launch comparisons: Outdoor revenue was $628 million, flat, against prior-year launch cycles; operating income was $234 million at a 37% margin. Source
  • Aviation revenue rose 16%: Aviation revenue was $274 million, up 16%, with growth from OEM and aftermarket; operating income was $85 million at a 31% margin. Source
  • Marine revenue rose 18%: Marine revenue was $297 million, up 18%, led by chartplotters; operating income was $52 million at an 18% margin. Source
  • Auto OEM revenue fell 3%: Auto OEM revenue was $160 million, down 3%, as legacy programs approach end-of-life; the segment posted a $14 million operating loss. Source
  • Americas led regional sales growth: Quarterly sales rose 21% in the Americas, 14% in EMEA and 8% in APAC; full-year sales rose 14%, 18% and 12% respectively. Source

“We attribute this strong performance to our strategic focus on market diversification and creating superior products that are essential to our customers’ lives.”

Cliff Pemble, President and Chief Executive Officer of Garmin Ltd.

Products and customers

  • D2 aviator watches launched: Launched the D2 Air X15 and D2 Mach 2 aviator smartwatches with cockpit connectivity and aviation, health and fitness features. Source
  • Connect+ adds AI nutrition tracking: Connect+ gained nutrition tracking and insights powered by AI-based Garmin Active Intelligence to help users reach nutrition goals. Source
  • Users raised activity by 8%: The annual Garmin Connect data report shows users increased activity levels by 8% on average over the year. Source
  • GPSMAP 9000xsv chartplotter launched: The GPSMAP 9000xsv chartplotter series launched for captains and anglers. Source
  • Next-generation Unified Cabin introduced: A next-generation Unified Cabin domain controller was introduced at CES with digital key, seat-specific audio/video and an AI assistant. Source

Costs, margins and tax

  • Gross margin little changed: Gross margin was 59.2% in the quarter against 59.3%; full-year gross margin was 58.7%, the same as the prior year. Source
  • Operating expenses rose 14%: R&D rose 14% on engineering personnel costs and SG&A rose 14% on advertising and personnel costs, lifting total operating expenses to $644 million. Source
  • Effective tax rate rose: Effective tax rate was 16.8% in the quarter against 15.6% a year earlier. Source
  • Currency gains lifted GAAP EPS: Foreign currency gains and losses added $0.03 to full-year diluted GAAP EPS, net of tax; pro forma EPS excludes this effect. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Quarterly operating cash flow $554 million: Fourth-quarter operating cash flow was $554 million and free cash flow $430 million; full-year free cash flow was $1.36 billion. Source
  • Cash and securities about $4.1 billion: Cash and marketable securities totaled about $4.1 billion at quarter end. Source
  • Capital spending increased: Capital spending was $124 million in the quarter and $270 million for the year, against $85 million and $194 million a year earlier. Source
  • Receivables and inventory rose: Receivables were $1.25 billion and inventories $1.77 billion at year-end, up from $983 million and $1.47 billion. Source

Capital returns and buybacks

  • Dividends and buybacks paid in quarter: The company paid about $173 million in dividends and repurchased $51 million of its shares in the quarter. Source
  • 2026 dividend paid in four installments: Proposed $1.05 installments fall on June 26, September 25 and December 24, 2026, and March 26, 2027. Source
  • Earlier $300M program used $244M: Under the $300 million program the company repurchased $244 million through December 27, 2025, before its termination. Source
  • Buyback timing left to management: Timing and volume of repurchases under the new authorization are set by management, which may suspend, modify or end the program. Source

Strategy and product safety

  • Brazilian Air Force selects G5000H: The G5000H cockpit system was selected for Brazilian Air Force UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, one of several military modernization programs. Source
  • Autoland used in in-flight emergency: Garmin Autoland was used for the first time to return an aircraft to the ground after an in-flight malfunction. Source
  • OnBoard man-overboard product launched: Garmin OnBoard, a wireless man-overboard and engine cutoff system for boaters, launched in the quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 18 February 2026

  • Final 2025 dividend installment: Payment of $0.90 per share on March 27, 2026, with a record date of March 13, 2026. Source
  • Annual meeting vote on 2026 dividend: Shareholder approval of the $4.20 dividend is sought at the June 5, 2026 annual meeting. Source
  • More product launches planned: Management expects many new product launches through the year, building on the momentum described in the release. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Units shipped, fiscal 2025 Sourceover 20 million units

Risks management discussed

  • External: Foreign currency rates and tariffs are described as fluid assumptions in the 2026 guidance and can change quickly. Source
  • Regulatory: New US tax legislation reduced deductions and credits, which raised the effective tax rate for the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Three of four $0.90 installments of the 2025 dividend were paid on the dates listed. 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.