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Quaker Chemical 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

  • Fourth-quarter sales rose 6%: Net sales were $468.5 million, up 6% from $444.1 million. Favorable currency translation added 2% of the increase. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 11%: Adjusted EBITDA was $71.9 million, up about 11%, attributed to higher net sales and better operating margins. Full-year adjusted EBITDA was $299.2 million. Source
  • Full-year net loss on charges: Full-year net loss attributable to Quaker was $2.5 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, compared with $6.51 of net income per diluted share a year earlier. Source
  • Asia/Pacific sales rose 15%: Asia/Pacific sales were $125.7 million, helped by higher volumes and acquisitions, partly offset by lower selling price and mix. Segment operating earnings were $34.0 million. Source
  • Organic volume slipped under 1%: Organic volume was down less than 1%. Management put net share gains at about 4%, offsetting softer underlying markets it estimates were down low-to-mid single digits. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell to $136.5 million: Operating cash flow was $136.5 million for 2025, against $204.6 million in 2024, with restructuring and working-capital outflows cited as drivers. Source

“We finished 2025 with our second consecutive quarter of year-over-year profitability improvement, as adjusted EBITDA increased 11% from the prior year.”

Joseph A. Berquist, Chief Executive Officer and President

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Management expects first-quarter 2026 gross margin to improve once fourth-quarter seasonal, operational and disposal items are resolved. The third-quarter release gave no first-quarter view. Source
  • New guidance: Management gave a 2026 end-market view of similar levels through the first half, with possible growth in the second half. The third-quarter release had expected soft conditions through year end. Source

Fourth-quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth-quarter sales rose 6%: Net sales were $468.5 million, up 6% from $444.1 million. Favorable currency translation added 2% of the increase. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 11%: Adjusted EBITDA was $71.9 million, up about 11%, attributed to higher net sales and better operating margins. Full-year adjusted EBITDA was $299.2 million. Source
  • Full-year net loss on charges: Full-year net loss attributable to Quaker was $2.5 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, compared with $6.51 of net income per diluted share a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP earnings per share rose 24%: Full-year non-GAAP earnings per diluted share were $7.02, against $7.44 a year earlier. Source

Segment results by region

  • Asia/Pacific sales rose 15%: Asia/Pacific sales were $125.7 million, helped by higher volumes and acquisitions, partly offset by lower selling price and mix. Segment operating earnings were $34.0 million. Source
  • Americas sales flat, earnings edged up: Americas sales were $207.8 million, with acquisitions and currency offset by lower organic volumes. Segment operating earnings rose to $51.2 million from $50.9 million. Source
  • EMEA sales rose 7%: EMEA sales were $135.0 million, helped by acquisitions, price and mix and currency, partly offset by lower organic volumes. Segment operating earnings were $21.8 million. Source

“Looking ahead to 2026, we anticipate end markets to remain at similar levels through the first half of the year, with potential for incremental growth in the latter half of 2026.”

Joseph A. Berquist, Chief Executive Officer and President

Volume and pricing

  • Organic volume slipped under 1%: Organic volume was down less than 1%. Management put net share gains at about 4%, offsetting softer underlying markets it estimates were down low-to-mid single digits. Source
  • Pricing and mix declined: Selling price and product mix fell 1%. Management attributed the decline to product and geographic mix and to index-based customer contracts. Source
  • Asia/Pacific volumes grew on wins: Asia/Pacific volumes rose on continued new business wins. Management reported organic volume growth there of 4%. Source

Gross and EBITDA margins

  • Gross margin flat year over year: Fourth-quarter gross margin was flat. Management cited seasonal absorption, operational issues and product disposal charges during the quarter. Source
  • Full-year gross margin declined: Non-GAAP gross margin was 36.1% for the year against 37.3%. Non-GAAP operating margin was 10.6% against 11.6%. Source
  • Quarterly EBITDA margin rose, annual fell: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 15.3% for the quarter against 14.6%, and 15.8% for the year against 16.9%. Source

“Given our proven track record to win new business, and our disciplined focus on operations and controlling costs, we are confident that we will deliver revenue and adjusted EBITDA growth in 2026.”

Joseph A. Berquist, Chief Executive Officer and President

Demand and sequential sales

  • Americas and EMEA volumes fell: Americas and EMEA volumes declined on softer end-market activity, partly offset by new business wins. Source
  • Sales fell 5% from third quarter: Sales fell about 5% from the third quarter, reflecting normal seasonal trends and softer end-market conditions. Organic volumes decreased in all three segments. Source
  • Prior soft-market view through year-end: The third-quarter release expected the soft environment to persist at least through year end, with normal seasonality expected.

Cash flow, debt and capital

  • Operating cash flow fell to $136.5 million: Operating cash flow was $136.5 million for 2025, against $204.6 million in 2024, with restructuring and working-capital outflows cited as drivers. Source
  • Net debt about 2.3 times EBITDA: Gross debt was $871.2 million and cash $179.8 million, giving net debt of $691.4 million. Source
  • Capital spending rose to $55.9 million: Capital spending was $55.9 million in 2025 against $41.8 million. Acquisition payments were $164.2 million. Source

Returns to shareholders

  • Shareholder returns totaled $75.9 million: Dividends and share repurchases together came to $75.9 million for 2025. Source
  • Fourth-quarter buybacks rose to $5.0 million: Fourth-quarter repurchases were $5.0 million, against $3.8 million in the third quarter. Source
  • Dividends and buybacks in cash: Cash dividends paid were $34.4 million in 2025, and share repurchases used $41.5 million. Source

Acquisitions and deal costs

  • Acquisitions added to sales: Acquisitions added 6% to revenue. The CEO said the company continues to be pleased with Dipsol's contribution. Source
  • Dipsol closed in April 2025: Dipsol was completed in April 2025 and funded with borrowings under the existing credit facility, per the third-quarter release.
  • Acquisition costs excluded from non-GAAP: Acquisition-related expenses were $7.3 million in the quarter and $12.0 million for the year. The company excludes them from non-GAAP results. Source

Coming up, as management said on 23 February 2026

  • Q1 gross margin improvement expected: Management expects first-quarter gross margin to improve as the fourth-quarter items are resolved. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Capital expenditure Source$55.9 million in 2025 (investments in property, plant and equipment), against $41.8 million in 2024

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Soft market conditions and customer order patterns reduced organic volume, mainly in the Americas and EMEA. Source
  • Operational: Operational issues and higher product disposal charges in the fourth quarter weighed on gross margin. Management says they have been resolved. Source
  • Financial: Full-year results include impairment and restructuring charges that the release lists within the net loss. Source
  • Financial: Net leverage stands at about 2.3 times trailing adjusted EBITDA, with $871.2 million of gross debt. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The third-quarter release expected year-over-year revenue and earnings growth in the fourth quarter. This release does not state whether that was met.
  • Not stated: The third-quarter release said the company was building momentum toward above-market growth in 2026 and beyond. This release gives no status on that.

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.