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Ichor Holdings, Ltd.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 9 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Q4 revenue above guidance midpoint: Fourth-quarter revenue was $223.6 million, above the mid-point of the range management gave in November, and down from $239.3 million in the third quarter. Source
  • Full-year revenue rose 11.6%: Fiscal 2025 revenue was $947.7 million, against $849.0 million in fiscal 2024, an increase of 11.6%. Source
  • Demand environment strengthening into fiscal 2026: Management said its focus now shifts to a strengthening demand environment for fiscal 2026, after Q4 results aligned with its earlier expectations. Source
  • Q1 revenue range of $240M to $260M: Management's Q1 2026 revenue range runs from $240 million to $260 million, with a $250 million mid-point. Source
  • Q4 GAAP gross margin 9.4 percent: GAAP gross margin was 9.4% in Q4, against 4.6% in Q3 and 11.6% a year earlier. Non-GAAP gross margin was 11.7%, against 12.1% in Q3. Source
  • Gross margin improvement plans taking shape: Management said its gross margin improvement strategies are just beginning to take shape, and expects meaningfully improved gross margin in fiscal 2026. Source
  • Fiscal 2025 free cash flow negative: For fiscal 2025, operating cash flow was $29.9 million against capital expenditures of $36.2 million, giving free cash flow of $(6.3) million. Source

“With Q4 results favorably aligned with our earlier expectations, our focus now shifts to the strengthening demand environment ahead for fiscal 2026,”

Phil Barros, Ichor’s CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefirst quarter of 2026$240 million to $260 million (mid-point $250 million)Kept
GAAP diluted EPS Sourcefirst quarter of 2026$(0.10) to $0.02 (mid-point $(0.04))New
Non-GAAP diluted EPS Sourcefirst quarter of 2026$0.08 to $0.16 (mid-point $0.12)New
Gross marginfirst quarter of 2026sequential improvement compared to the fourth quarter of 2025
Gross margin Sourcefiscal 2026meaningfully improved compared with fiscal 2025New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The January revenue floor of $240 million matches the low end of the February Q1 2026 revenue range.
  • New guidance: Management gave its first stated direction for fiscal 2026 gross margin, expected to be meaningfully improved on fiscal 2025. Source
  • New: Management refers to several new strategic initiatives for the coming year, tied to operational and technological priorities. Source

Fourth quarter and fiscal 2025 results

  • Q4 revenue above guidance midpoint: Fourth-quarter revenue was $223.6 million, above the mid-point of the range management gave in November, and down from $239.3 million in the third quarter. Source
  • Full-year revenue rose 11.6%: Fiscal 2025 revenue was $947.7 million, against $849.0 million in fiscal 2024, an increase of 11.6%. Source
  • Q4 GAAP net loss and EPS: Fourth-quarter GAAP net loss was $(16.0) million, or $(0.46) per diluted share, against $(22.9) million and $(0.67) in the third quarter. Source
  • Fiscal 2025 EPS on both bases: Fiscal 2025 non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.23 against $0.18 in fiscal 2024; GAAP diluted EPS was $(1.54) against $(0.64). Source

Products and customers

  • Gas delivery subsystems for etch and deposition: Gas delivery subsystems deliver, monitor and control precise quantities of specialized gases used in etch and deposition processes. Source
  • Chemical delivery for planarization and cleaning: Chemical delivery subsystems blend and dispense reactive liquid chemistries used in planarization, electroplating and cleaning processes. Source
  • Components and other industries served: The company also makes precision-machined components, weldments and brazed parts, and serves defense/aerospace and medical markets. Source

“While our gross margin improvement strategies are just beginning to take shape, we believe we will demonstrate meaningfully improved gross margin performance in fiscal 2026, compared to fiscal 2025.”

Phil Barros, Ichor’s CEO

Demand and order trend

  • Demand environment strengthening into fiscal 2026: Management said its focus now shifts to a strengthening demand environment for fiscal 2026, after Q4 results aligned with its earlier expectations. Source
  • Upward trend expected into second half: Management expects the upward revenue trend to continue into the second half of 2026. Source
  • Q1 revenue range of $240M to $260M: Management's Q1 2026 revenue range runs from $240 million to $260 million, with a $250 million mid-point. Source

Costs, gross margin and pricing

  • Q4 GAAP gross margin 9.4 percent: GAAP gross margin was 9.4% in Q4, against 4.6% in Q3 and 11.6% a year earlier. Non-GAAP gross margin was 11.7%, against 12.1% in Q3. Source
  • Inventory impairments drove Q3 gross margin: Inventory impairment was $3.1 million in Q4, $16.7 million in Q3 and $19.8 million for fiscal 2025, all within restructuring costs excluded from non-GAAP. Source
  • Gross margin improvement plans taking shape: Management said its gross margin improvement strategies are just beginning to take shape, and expects meaningfully improved gross margin in fiscal 2026. Source
  • Selling and admin costs rose in Q4: Selling, general and administrative expense was $27.1 million in Q4, against $22.5 million in Q3 and $20.1 million a year earlier. Source

“As we embark upon several new strategic initiatives that reflect our operational and technological priorities in the coming year, we expect to deliver strong earnings leverage in the quarters ahead.”

Phil Barros, Ichor’s CEO

Restructuring, facility exits and severance

  • Consolidation Restructuring Plan costs: Restructuring plan costs were $9.1 million in Q4 and $26.6 million for fiscal 2025 in the operating income reconciliation. Source
  • Scotland and Korea operations exited: Facility shutdown costs were $1.2 million in Q4 and $6.7 million for fiscal 2025, related to exiting the Scotland and Korea operations. Source
  • Reduction-in-force severance excluded: Severance under global reduction-in-force programs is excluded from non-GAAP results, separate from the Scotland and Korea exit severance. Source

Cash, balance sheet and debt

  • Cash rose to $98.3 million: Cash and cash equivalents ended Q4 at $98.3 million, up $5.8 million from Q3 and down $10.4 million from the prior year-end. Source
  • Q4 operating cash flow of $9.2 million: Q4 operating cash flow was $9.2 million and capital expenditures were $3.2 million. Source
  • Fiscal 2025 free cash flow negative: For fiscal 2025, operating cash flow was $29.9 million against capital expenditures of $36.2 million, giving free cash flow of $(6.3) million. Source
  • Credit agreement amended in September 2025: The company entered an amended and restated credit agreement in September 2025, with $0.2 million of deferred costs written off and $0.5 million of fees expensed. Source
  • Receivables and inventory declined in Q4: Accounts receivable fell $13.9 million and inventory fell $6.8 million in Q4, partly offset by lower accounts payable. Source

Strategy and investment

  • New strategic initiatives for coming year: Management said it is embarking on several new strategic initiatives reflecting operational and technological priorities for the coming year. Source
  • R&D spending for fiscal 2025: Research and development expense was $5.6 million in Q4 and $23.1 million for fiscal 2025, against $23.0 million in fiscal 2024. Source
  • Acquisitions pipeline costs in 2024: Transaction-related costs of $0.8 million in fiscal 2024 were tied to the acquisitions pipeline; none appear in the 2025 periods. Source

Tax and non-GAAP presentation

  • Scotland valuation allowance reversed in Q3: A valuation allowance was recorded in Q1 2025 on Scotland and Korea deferred tax assets; the Scotland allowance was reversed in Q3. Source
  • Income tax expense for fiscal 2025: Income tax expense was $5.2 million for fiscal 2025 and $2.8 million for fiscal 2024; Q4 2025 expense was $0.1 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP excludes amortization and share-based pay: Non-GAAP results exclude amortization of intangibles, share-based compensation, and discrete or infrequent charges outside normal operations. Source

Coming up, as management said on 9 February 2026

  • Q1 2026 ranges set: Management set Q1 2026 revenue and EPS ranges, shown as low-end, mid-point and high-end figures. Source
  • Revenue trend expected to rise: Management expects the upward revenue trend to continue through the second half of 2026. Source
  • Earnings leverage expected in coming quarters: Management said it expects to deliver earnings leverage in the quarters ahead as new initiatives proceed. Source
  • Annual 10-K still to be filed: The January release said the 10-K for fiscal 2025 had not yet been filed and Q4 figures were subject to completion.

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Gross margin SourceQ4 2025: 9.4% GAAP, 11.7% non-GAAP; fiscal 2025: 9.3% GAAP, 12.2% non-GAAP

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Inventory impairments were $16.7 million in Q3 and $19.8 million for fiscal 2025, all within charges excluded from non-GAAP gross profit. Source
  • Operational: Costs of exiting the Scotland and Korea operations were $1.2 million in Q4 and $6.7 million for fiscal 2025. Source
  • Financial: Valuation allowances on Scotland and Korea deferred tax assets were recorded in Q1 2025, with the Scotland allowance reversed in Q3. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said Q4 results were aligned with its earlier expectations. Source
  • Ahead: Q4 revenue was reported above the mid-point of the range communicated in November. Source
  • Not stated: The January release said Q1 2026 gross margin would improve sequentially from Q4; the February release does not restate it.

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.