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Littelfuse Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter sales grew 12%: Net sales were $594 million, up 12% year over year, with organic growth of 7 points; acquisitions added 3 points and favorable FX 2 points. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $2.69 in the quarter: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.69 in the fourth quarter. GAAP diluted loss per share was ($9.72) for the quarter, as reported in the same release. Source
  • Passive products drove organic growth: Passive products and sensors grew 23% organic, the main driver of the segment's 14% organic sales increase in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Quarterly adjusted EBITDA margin 20.5%: Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 20.5% in the fourth quarter, up 480 bps; the full-year margin was 20.9%, up 260 bps. Source
  • $301.2 million goodwill charge recorded: The company recorded a $301.2 million non-cash goodwill impairment on the Electronics-Semiconductor reporting unit in the fourth quarter. Source
  • First-quarter guidance on adjusted basis: Management expects first-quarter net sales of $625 million to $645 million, adjusted diluted EPS of $2.70 to $2.90, and a 24% adjusted tax rate. Source

“we are entering 2026 from a position of strength”

Greg Henderson, Littelfuse President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Sourcefirst quarter of 2026$625 - $645 millionNew
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefirst quarter of 2026$2.70 - $2.90New
Adjusted effective tax rate Sourcefirst quarter of 202624%New
Total revenue growth Sourcefirst quarter of 2026 versus prior yearapproximately 15%New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: First-quarter 2026 guidance was given for net sales, adjusted diluted EPS, adjusted tax rate and revenue growth; the prior release gave fourth-quarter guidance. Source
  • New: The Basler Electric acquisition was completed in the fourth quarter; the prior release described it as upcoming. Source

Fourth-quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth-quarter sales grew 12%: Net sales were $594 million, up 12% year over year, with organic growth of 7 points; acquisitions added 3 points and favorable FX 2 points. Source
  • Full-year sales rose 9%: Full-year 2025 net sales were $2,386 million, up 9%, with organic growth of 6 points, acquisitions adding 2 points and FX 1 point. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $2.69 in the quarter: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.69 in the fourth quarter. GAAP diluted loss per share was ($9.72) for the quarter, as reported in the same release. Source

Electronics segment

  • Electronics sales up 21% in quarter: Electronics net sales rose 21% in the fourth quarter; the Dortmund Fab acquisition added 4 points and favorable FX 2 points. Source
  • Passive products drove organic growth: Passive products and sensors grew 23% organic, the main driver of the segment's 14% organic sales increase in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Semiconductor sales grew 6% organic: Semiconductor product sales grew 6% organic on protection demand, within the Electronics segment. Source
  • Electronics margin reached 23.7%: Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 23.7% in the fourth quarter, up 370 bps, which the company ties to passive and protection volume leverage. Source
  • Full-year Electronics margin 22.9%: Full-year Electronics organic sales rose 8%, and adjusted EBITDA margin rose 190 bps to 22.9%. Source

“we remain committed to driving technology innovations to help our customers solve increasingly complex challenges”

Greg Henderson, Littelfuse President and Chief Executive Officer

Transportation segment

  • Transportation sales roughly flat: Transportation net sales rose 1% in the fourth quarter; favorable FX added 2 points while organic sales fell 1%. Source
  • Passenger vehicle organic sales up 2%: Passenger vehicle organic sales rose 2%, supported by core passenger car products, while lower global passenger car builds and sensor declines offset part of the gain. Source
  • Marine exit cut commercial vehicle sales: Commercial vehicle sales were lower following the previously disclosed exit of the marine business; commercial vehicle organic sales fell 4%. Source
  • Transportation margin up 830 bps: Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 16.0%, up 830 bps, on improved operational execution and a favorable comparison to a prior-year $11.1 million out-of-period adjustment. Source
  • Full-year Transportation margin 17.7%: Full-year Transportation net sales rose 1%, and adjusted EBITDA margin rose 370 bps to 17.7%. Source

Industrial segment

  • Industrial sales up 4% with Basler: Industrial net sales rose 4% in the fourth quarter; the Basler acquisition added 5 points and favorable FX 1 point. Source
  • Organic sales fell 1% in quarter: Organic sales fell 1%: improved energy storage, grid, renewables and data center demand was more than offset by lower HVAC demand. Source
  • Industrial margin flat at 16.2%: Adjusted EBITDA margin was flat at 16.2%; productivity, mix and a favorable comparison to a prior-year $4.1 million out-of-period adjustment were offset by lower volume. Source
  • Full-year Industrial organic growth 9%: Full-year Industrial organic sales rose 9% on energy storage, renewables, data center and HVAC demand; adjusted EBITDA margin rose 220 bps to 19.5%. Source

Margins, costs and tax rate

  • Quarterly adjusted EBITDA margin 20.5%: Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 20.5% in the fourth quarter, up 480 bps; the full-year margin was 20.9%, up 260 bps. Source
  • Adjusted tax rate rose to 18.4%: Adjusted effective tax rate was 18.4% for the quarter versus 16.6% a year earlier, and 23.0% for the full year versus 22.0%. Source
  • Restructuring and impairment charges rose: Restructuring, impairment and other charges were $306.9 million in the fourth quarter, against $98.1 million a year earlier. Source

Goodwill impairment on Semiconductor

  • $301.2 million goodwill charge recorded: The company recorded a $301.2 million non-cash goodwill impairment on the Electronics-Semiconductor reporting unit in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Charge tied to sales and profitability: Management attributes the charge to sales and profitability below original expectations amid persistent soft market conditions. Source
  • Smaller impairments on equipment: Separate impairment charges of $0.5 million and $0.4 million were recorded on machinery and equipment in commercial vehicle and electronics products. Source

Cash flow, debt and capital returns

  • Full-year operating cash flow $434 million: Full-year cash flow from operations was $434 million and free cash flow was $366 million; fourth-quarter figures were $139 million and $120 million. Source
  • Capex lower, acquisition outlay $407.7 million: Full-year capital expenditures were $67.6 million against $75.9 million a year earlier; cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired, was $407.7 million. Source
  • Net debt $660.3 million: Net debt was $660.3 million and the consolidated net leverage ratio was 1.2x, against a covenant ceiling of 3.50:1.00. Source
  • Buybacks and dividends paid: Full-year share repurchases were $27.6 million, against $40.9 million a year earlier; cash dividends paid were $72.0 million. Source

First-quarter 2026 expectations and strategy

  • First-quarter guidance on adjusted basis: Management expects first-quarter net sales of $625 million to $645 million, adjusted diluted EPS of $2.70 to $2.90, and a 24% adjusted tax rate. Source
  • Backlog and Basler cited for growth: Management cites its strengthening backlog, deepening customer engagement and Basler contributions as support for about 15% first-quarter revenue growth. Source
  • Focus on strategic priorities: Management says its focus is on executing strategic priorities and scaling the company for long-term performance and shareholder value. Source

Coming up, as management said on 28 January 2026

  • First-quarter 2026 expectations: Management tied its first-quarter 2026 figures to current market conditions and gave them on the company's adjusted basis. Source
  • Dividend payment on March 5: The $0.75 per share cash dividend is payable March 5, 2026 to holders of record on February 19, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
End customers served Sourceover 100,000

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Lower power semiconductor volumes offset protection demand gains in the Electronics segment. Source
  • Demand: Management cites soft on-highway, off-road and agriculture demand behind lower commercial vehicle sales. Source
  • Operational: Lower volume and unfavorable mix offset part of the Transportation margin improvement. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management says fourth-quarter results were above the guidance range set in the third-quarter release. Source
  • Not stated: Management says it remained disciplined in executing its strategic priorities throughout 2025. 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.