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Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 October 2025: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales rose 7.9% with 5.6% organic growth: Net sales were $1,061.2 million, up 7.9% from $983.8 million. Organic sales rose 5.6%, with acquisitions adding 1.7% and currency 0.6%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $2.47 versus $2.14: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.47, against $2.14. Reported diluted EPS was $2.21, against $1.77, after special item charges of $0.26 per share. Source
  • International margin rose to 11.3%: International Welding adjusted EBIT margin was 11.3%, against 9.0%, on sales of $219.6 million, up 1.6%. Volume fell 4.2% and acquisitions added 3.7%. Source
  • Gross margin rose to 36.7%: Gross profit was $389.3 million, 36.7% of sales, against $352.1 million and 35.8%. Cost of goods sold fell to 63.3% of sales from 64.2%. Source
  • Price offset a 2.2% volume decline: Consolidated volume fell 2.2% in the quarter while price added 7.8%. Acquisitions added 1.7% and currency 0.6% to the 7.9% increase in net sales. Source
  • Cash conversion 149%: Operating cash flow was $236.7 million, cash conversion 149%, and free cash flow $205.1 million, against $163.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • $94 million returned in quarter: Shareholders received $94 million through dividends and buybacks: $52.7 million of share purchases and $41.6 million of dividends paid. Source

“We achieved strong quarterly results with an increase in profit margins, solid adjusted earnings growth, and record cash flow generation,”

Steven B. Hedlund, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Acquisition earnings contributionAnnual basis, excluding transaction costs$0.13 to $0.15 per diluted common share

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Quarterly cash dividend raised 5.3% to $0.79 per share, or $3.16 annualized. Source

Quarter results and growth

  • Sales rose 7.9% with 5.6% organic growth: Net sales were $1,061.2 million, up 7.9% from $983.8 million. Organic sales rose 5.6%, with acquisitions adding 1.7% and currency 0.6%. Source
  • Reported operating margin rose to 16.6%: Operating income was $176.7 million, 16.6% of sales, against $145.6 million and 14.8%. Rationalization and asset impairment charges fell to $5.8 million from $20.2 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $2.47 versus $2.14: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.47, against $2.14. Reported diluted EPS was $2.21, against $1.77, after special item charges of $0.26 per share. Source
  • Net income up 21.7% to $122.6 million: Net income was $122.6 million, up from $100.8 million. Pre-tax income was $166.0 million, up 25.8% from $131.9 million. Source

Nine-month year-to-date results

  • Nine-month sales up 5.6%: Nine-month sales were $3,154.3 million, up 5.6%, with organic growth of 2.4% and acquisitions adding 3.2%. Source
  • Nine-month adjusted EPS $7.22: Nine-month adjusted diluted EPS was $7.22, against $6.72. Reported diluted EPS was $6.86, against $5.68. Source
  • Nine-month operating margin 16.9%: Nine-month operating income was $533.7 million, 16.9% of sales, against 15.4%. Adjusted operating margin was 17.4% in both years. Source

“Focused execution, combined with growth investments and operating agility, position us well to outperform and generate superior value through the cycle.”

Steven B. Hedlund, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Segments and regions

  • Americas Welding sales up 8.6%: Americas Welding sales were $691.8 million, up 8.6%. Price added 9.6% and acquisitions 1.4%, while volume fell 2.4%. Adjusted EBIT margin was 18.2%, against 18.8%. Source
  • International margin rose to 11.3%: International Welding adjusted EBIT margin was 11.3%, against 9.0%, on sales of $219.6 million, up 1.6%. Volume fell 4.2% and acquisitions added 3.7%. Source
  • Harris sales up 14.8%: The Harris Products Group sales were $149.8 million, up 14.8%, with price adding 11.8% and volume 2.3%. Adjusted EBIT margin was 18.3%, against 16.4%. Source
  • Segment special charges itemised: Special items were mainly rationalization and asset impairment charges: $4.2 million in Americas Welding, $1.4 million in International Welding and $0.3 million in Harris. Source

Margins, costs and pricing

  • Gross margin rose to 36.7%: Gross profit was $389.3 million, 36.7% of sales, against $352.1 million and 35.8%. Cost of goods sold fell to 63.3% of sales from 64.2%. Source
  • SG&A rose as share of sales: SG&A was $206.8 million, 19.5% of sales, against 18.9%. In dollars it rose $20.5 million from the prior year period. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin edged up: Adjusted operating income was $184.6 million, 17.4% of sales, against $169.8 million and 17.3%. Source

Volume and price

  • Price offset a 2.2% volume decline: Consolidated volume fell 2.2% in the quarter while price added 7.8%. Acquisitions added 1.7% and currency 0.6% to the 7.9% increase in net sales. Source
  • Nine-month volume down 2.8%: Nine-month volume fell 2.8% while price added 5.2%. Acquisitions added 3.2% to the 5.6% increase in net sales. Source
  • Sales below second quarter level: Third-quarter sales were $1,061.2 million, below $1,088.7 million in the second quarter, when organic growth was 2.9%.

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Cash conversion 149%: Operating cash flow was $236.7 million, cash conversion 149%, and free cash flow $205.1 million, against $163.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Working capital rose to 18.6% of sales: Average operating working capital was 18.6% of sales, up from 16.9% at December 31, 2024. Inventories rose to $671.5 million from $544.0 million. Source
  • Debt to invested capital fell to 46.7%: Total debt was $1,238.5 million, and debt to invested capital was 46.7%, against 48.7% at December 31, 2024. Cash was $293.0 million. Source
  • Capex and acquisition cash spend: Capital expenditures were $31.6 million and acquisitions used $104.3 million of cash in the quarter, against $35.7 million and $100.1 million a year earlier. Source

Shareholder returns and share count

  • $94 million returned in quarter: Shareholders received $94 million through dividends and buybacks: $52.7 million of share purchases and $41.6 million of dividends paid. Source
  • Nine-month buybacks reached $286.5 million: Nine-month share purchases were $286.5 million, against $211.2 million, and nine-month dividends paid were $126.5 million, against $122.0 million. Source
  • Diluted share count down to 55.6 million: Diluted weighted average shares were 55.6 million, against 57.1 million a year earlier. Source

Acquisitions, tax and strategy

  • Alloy Steel stake moves to full ownership: The company agreed to buy the remaining 65% of Alloy Steel for about $90 million, after acquiring a 35% interest on April 1, 2025. Alloy has annual revenue of about $50 million.
  • Tax expense for OBBBA provisions: About $8.8 million of tax expense was recognized in the quarter for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act provisions, enacted July 4, 2025. Source
  • Reported tax rate 26.1%: Reported effective tax rate was 26.1%, against 23.6%. The adjusted rate was 21.1%, against 23.6%. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 October 2025

  • Dividend payable January 15, 2026: The $0.79 quarterly dividend is payable January 15, 2026 to holders of record on December 31, 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Consolidated volume change, third quarter 2025 Source(2.2)%
Consolidated volume change, nine months 2025 Source(2.8)%

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The second-quarter release expected the Alloy Steel purchase to close August 1, 2025. The third-quarter release does not state whether it closed.

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.