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Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 12 February 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year sales and organic growth: Full-year 2025 net sales rose 5.6% to $4,233.0 million. Organic sales added 2.5% and acquisitions added 2.7%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter volume down, price up: Fourth-quarter consolidated volume fell 6.4%, price added 8.9%, acquisitions added 1.1% and currency added 1.9%, for total sales growth of 5.5%. Source
  • Quarterly adjusted EPS up, reported EPS down: Fourth-quarter diluted EPS was $2.45 against $2.47. Adjusted EPS, excluding special items, was $2.65 against $2.57. Source
  • Americas Welding price-led growth: Americas Welding fourth-quarter net sales were $681.9 million: price added 10.4%, volume fell 6.9% and currency added 0.6%. Adjusted EBIT margin was 20.0% against 19.1%. Source
  • Adjusted margin held near prior year: Fourth-quarter adjusted operating margin was 18.0% against 18.2%. Adjusted operating income was $193.8 million against $185.6 million. Source
  • Free cash flow higher for the year: Free cash flow was $534.2 million for 2025 against $482.4 million. Fourth-quarter free cash flow was $52.0 million against $64.3 million. Source
  • New RISE strategy tied to returns: Management links growth, higher profitability and returns to the new RISE strategy and its 2030 targets. Source

“We finished the year with strong results and record sales, adjusted EPS and cash returns to shareholders in 2025,”

Steven B. Hedlund, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

What changed from last quarter

  • New: A new RISE strategy and 2030 targets are introduced; the prior release named neither. Source
  • New: Free cash flow is now listed among the non-GAAP measures; the prior release listed cash conversion without it. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Full-year sales and organic growth: Full-year 2025 net sales rose 5.6% to $4,233.0 million. Organic sales added 2.5% and acquisitions added 2.7%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter volume down, price up: Fourth-quarter consolidated volume fell 6.4%, price added 8.9%, acquisitions added 1.1% and currency added 1.9%, for total sales growth of 5.5%. Source
  • Quarterly adjusted EPS up, reported EPS down: Fourth-quarter diluted EPS was $2.45 against $2.47. Adjusted EPS, excluding special items, was $2.65 against $2.57. Source
  • Full-year net income and EPS: Full-year 2025 net income was $520.5 million, or $9.32 diluted EPS, against $466.1 million and $8.15 a year earlier. Source

Segment results

  • Americas Welding price-led growth: Americas Welding fourth-quarter net sales were $681.9 million: price added 10.4%, volume fell 6.9% and currency added 0.6%. Adjusted EBIT margin was 20.0% against 19.1%. Source
  • International Welding acquisitions and currency lift: International Welding sales rose 6.7% to $259.4 million, helped by acquisitions at 4.7% and currency at 5.1%, while volume fell 3.6%. Adjusted EBIT margin was 11.8% against 12.8%. Source
  • Harris Products Group price-led growth: The Harris Products Group sales rose 10.6% to $137.4 million, driven by price up 17.8%, while volume fell 8.9%. Adjusted EBIT margin was 16.7% against 17.0%. Source
  • Full-year segment margins mixed: Full-year adjusted EBIT margin was 18.7% for Americas against 19.6%, 11.5% for International against 10.9%, and 18.1% for Harris against 16.9%. Source

“We are effectively navigating a dynamic operating environment by capitalizing on growth opportunities, mitigating costs, and reshaping the business to extend our leadership position”

Steven B. Hedlund, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Footprint and customer reach

  • 71 facilities across 20 countries: The company operates 71 manufacturing and automation facilities in 20 countries and serves customers in over 160 countries. Source
  • Description recast as machinery and technology: The company description now frames Lincoln Electric as a high-performance industrial machinery and technology leader that helps customers maintain equipment. Source
  • Process range across production: Solutions cover welding, cutting, brazing, machining, process automation and field repair, according to the company's description. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Fourth-quarter gross margin fell: Fourth-quarter cost of goods sold rose to 65.3% of sales from 63.9%, so gross profit margin was 34.7% against 36.1%. Cost of goods sold rose $51.4 million. Source
  • Full-year gross margin lower: Full-year gross profit was $1,534.3 million, or 36.2% of sales, against 36.7% a year earlier. Source
  • SG&A share of sales improved: Fourth-quarter selling, general and administrative expenses were $183.6 million, or 17.0% of sales, against $187.1 million and 18.3%. Source
  • Adjusted margin held near prior year: Fourth-quarter adjusted operating margin was 18.0% against 18.2%. Adjusted operating income was $193.8 million against $185.6 million. Source

Cash flow and working capital

  • Free cash flow higher for the year: Free cash flow was $534.2 million for 2025 against $482.4 million. Fourth-quarter free cash flow was $52.0 million against $64.3 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow up for the year: Net cash provided by operations was $661.2 million for 2025 against $599.0 million. The fourth-quarter figure was $95.0 million against $95.8 million. Source
  • Cash conversion lower in quarter: Cash conversion was 35% in the fourth quarter against 44%, and 97% for the full year against 91%. Source
  • Working capital rose as share of sales: Average operating working capital was 17.9% of net sales against 16.9%. Inventories were $633.4 million at year-end against $544.0 million. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • $507 million returned in 2025: The company returned $507 million to shareholders in 2025 through dividends and share repurchases. Source
  • Buybacks and dividends split: Share repurchases were $338.3 million and dividends $168.2 million in 2025. Dividends per share were $3.00 against $2.84. Source
  • Capex and acquisitions spending: Capital expenditures were $127.0 million in 2025 against $116.6 million. Acquisitions, net of cash acquired, were $137.5 million against $252.7 million. Source
  • Debt-to-capital ratio down: Total debt to invested capital was 46.8% at year-end 2025 against 48.7% at year-end 2024. Source
  • Return on invested capital up: Return on invested capital as reported was 20.2% against 19.2%. Adjusted ROIC was 21.3% against 21.8%. Source

Strategy and 2030 targets

  • New RISE strategy tied to returns: Management links growth, higher profitability and returns to the new RISE strategy and its 2030 targets. Source
  • No 2030 figures in release: The release gives no numeric 2030 targets. The results conference call is also to cover the new strategic 2030 targets. Source
  • Earlier framing without RISE: The third-quarter release cited growth investments and operating agility as the basis to outperform through the cycle, without naming RISE.

Special items and tax

  • Fourth-quarter special items cost $0.20: Fourth-quarter special items were after-tax net charges of $10.6 million, or $0.20 per share, against $5.8 million, or $0.10, a year earlier. Source
  • Fourth-quarter tax rate higher: The fourth-quarter effective tax rate was 21.2% against 16.1%, a 5.1-point increase. Source
  • Rationalization charges lower for year: Full-year rationalization and asset impairment net charges were $18.2 million against $55.9 million. Fourth-quarter charges were $6.0 million against $4.5 million. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: The company recognized tax expense from the OBBBA provisions of about $2,900 in the fourth quarter and $11,700 for the year. Source
  • Operational: Rationalization plans produced asset impairment and restructuring charges in all three segments during 2025, including $9.8 million in Americas Welding. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management says it intends to execute the new RISE strategy and achieve its 2030 targets. No progress status is 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.