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Labcorp Holdings Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 17 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 7 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year revenue rose 7.2%: Full-year revenue was $13.95 billion against $13.01 billion, with organic growth of 4.4%, acquisitions adding 2.5% and foreign exchange 0.4%. Fourth-quarter revenue was $3.52 billion against $3.33 billion. Source
  • Diluted and adjusted EPS grew: Adjusted EPS was $16.44 for the full year against $14.57, and $4.07 in the fourth quarter against $3.45. Diluted EPS was $10.46 for the full year against $8.84. Source
  • Diagnostics revenue rose 5.5%: Fourth-quarter Diagnostics revenue was $2.73 billion against $2.59 billion, with organic growth of 4.1% and acquisitions adding 1.5%. Source
  • Consolidated adjusted margin rose 120 bps: Consolidated adjusted operating margin was 13.9% in the fourth quarter against 12.7%, and 14.3% for the full year against 13.8%. Source
  • Free cash flow fell in the quarter: Fourth-quarter free cash flow was $490.3 million against $665.1 million; full-year free cash flow was $1.21 billion against $1.10 billion. Source
  • 13 health-system and lab transactions: Labcorp expanded partnerships with health systems and regional or local laboratories by signing or closing 13 transactions during 2025. Source

“In 2025, Labcorp grew revenue over 7% and delivered double-digit adjusted EPS growth, margin expansion and strong free cash flow.”

Adam Schechter, Chairman and CEO of Labcorp

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Enterprise revenue SourceFull year 2026$14.61 billion to $14.79 billionNew
Enterprise revenue growth SourceFull year 20264.7% to 6.0%New
Diagnostics Laboratories revenue growth SourceFull year 20265.0% to 6.0%New
Biopharma Laboratory Services revenue growth SourceFull year 20263.0% to 5.0%New
Adjusted EPS SourceFull year 2026$17.55 to $18.25New
Free cash flow SourceFull year 2026$1.24 billion to $1.36 billionNew
Foreign currency translation impact on enterprise revenue SourceFull year 20260.4%New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 guidance was provided for enterprise revenue, adjusted EPS and free cash flow; the prior release had updated 2025 guidance. Source
  • New: Labcorp announced a strategic investment in a 500,000 square foot Central Laboratory facility in Indiana to address growth in demand. Source
  • New: Labcorp entered an agreement to acquire select outreach laboratory services from Parkview Health; the release gives no closing date. Source

Full-year and fourth-quarter results

  • Full-year revenue rose 7.2%: Full-year revenue was $13.95 billion against $13.01 billion, with organic growth of 4.4%, acquisitions adding 2.5% and foreign exchange 0.4%. Fourth-quarter revenue was $3.52 billion against $3.33 billion. Source
  • Diluted and adjusted EPS grew: Adjusted EPS was $16.44 for the full year against $14.57, and $4.07 in the fourth quarter against $3.45. Diluted EPS was $10.46 for the full year against $8.84. Source
  • Operating margin widened in quarter: Fourth-quarter operating income was $267.6 million against $216.5 million, an operating margin of 7.6% against 6.5%. Source

Diagnostics Laboratories results

  • Diagnostics revenue rose 5.5%: Fourth-quarter Diagnostics revenue was $2.73 billion against $2.59 billion, with organic growth of 4.1% and acquisitions adding 1.5%. Source
  • Margin rose on organic growth: Adjusted operating margin was 15.4% in the fourth quarter against 13.9%, which the company attributed to organic growth, including Invitae. Source
  • Requisitions and price/mix both rose: Total requisitions rose 2.2% and price/mix 3.3% in the quarter; organic requisitions rose 1.1% and organic price/mix 3.0%. Source

“Performance was driven by continued strength in our Diagnostics and Central Laboratory businesses”

Adam Schechter, Chairman and CEO of Labcorp

Biopharma Laboratory Services results

  • Biopharma revenue rose 3.4%: Fourth-quarter Biopharma revenue was $793.0 million against $767.0 million; organic growth was 0.6% and foreign exchange added 2.8%. Source
  • Central Labs grew, Early Development fell: Central Labs revenue grew 11.1% while Early Development revenue fell 13.5% in the quarter. Adjusted operating income was $136.1 million against $130.8 million. Source
  • Backlog reached $8.72 billion: Backlog was $8.72 billion, with trailing twelve-month net orders of $3.37 billion and a book-to-bill of 1.09. Source

Margins and operating costs

  • Consolidated adjusted margin rose 120 bps: Consolidated adjusted operating margin was 13.9% in the fourth quarter against 12.7%, and 14.3% for the full year against 13.8%. Source
  • Cost of revenues rose in the quarter: Cost of revenues was $2,522.6 million against $2,433.1 million; gross profit was $993.2 million against $896.3 million. Source
  • SG&A fell in the quarter: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $538.6 million in the fourth quarter against $595.2 million; the full year was $2,216.3 million against $2,230.0 million. Source

“We made significant progress across our strategic priorities, and we begin 2026 with strong momentum, and expect continued strong performance in 2026 as we remain focused on growth.”

Adam Schechter, Chairman and CEO of Labcorp

Cash flow and capital returns

  • Free cash flow fell in the quarter: Fourth-quarter free cash flow was $490.3 million against $665.1 million; full-year free cash flow was $1.21 billion against $1.10 billion. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose for the year: Full-year operating cash flow was $1,640.5 million against $1,585.8 million; fourth-quarter operating cash flow was $614.2 million against $777.2 million. Source
  • Share repurchases totaled $450 million: The company repurchased $225 million of common stock in the fourth quarter and $450 million for the full year, against $250.1 million in 2024. Source
  • Acquisitions and dividends for 2025: The company invested $582.0 million in acquisitions for the year and $258.0 million in the fourth quarter; dividends paid were $240.7 million for the year. Source
  • Year-end cash and total debt: Cash and cash equivalents were $532.3 million and total debt was $5.58 billion at the end of the year. Source

Partnerships, deals and automation

  • 13 health-system and lab transactions: Labcorp expanded partnerships with health systems and regional or local laboratories by signing or closing 13 transactions during 2025. Source
  • Partnerships framed as access and efficiency: Labcorp says the partnerships give health systems and regional laboratories access to its menu of routine and specialty tests, while driving efficiencies for customers. Source
  • Incyte pathology assets acquired: Labcorp completed the acquisition of select anatomic pathology assets from Incyte Diagnostics during the fourth quarter. Source
  • Roche automated mass spectrometry agreement: Labcorp says it became the first U.S. commercial laboratory to enter an agreement to implement Roche's automated mass spectrometry solution. Source

Products and tests launched

  • More than 130 tests launched: Labcorp launched more than 130 new tests in 2025, including in oncology, women's health, neurology and autoimmune. Source
  • First FDA-cleared Alzheimer's blood test: The company launched the first FDA-cleared blood test for Alzheimer's disease assessment in primary care settings, aiming to widen access to early evaluation. Source
  • MRD testing widened to more stages: MRD testing access was expanded for several breast, lung and colon cancer stages, to help clinicians detect recurrence earlier than traditional imaging. Source
  • OnDemand consumer tests added: Several new consumer-initiated tests were launched through Labcorp OnDemand, including tests for food allergies, micronutrients and thyroid health. Source

Basis of 2026 guidance

  • Guidance assumes year-end FX rates: The 2026 guidance uses foreign exchange rates effective as of December 31, 2025, for the full year. Source
  • Guidance includes planned capital allocation: Enterprise guidance includes the estimated impact of currently anticipated acquisitions, share repurchases and dividends. Source
  • Enterprise revenue net of eliminations: Enterprise level revenue guidance is presented net of intercompany transaction eliminations. Source

Workforce and reach

  • Nearly 71,000 employees: The company reports nearly 71,000 employees serving clients in approximately 100 countries; the prior release gave nearly 70,000 employees. Source
  • FDA approvals supported above 85%: The company says it provided support for more than 85% of new drugs and therapeutic products approved by the FDA in 2025, against 75% for 2024 in the prior release. Source
  • Self-described global lab leader: Labcorp describes itself as a global leader of innovative and comprehensive laboratory services serving doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and patients. Source

Coming up, as management said on 17 February 2026

  • Central Lab construction start: Construction of the Indiana Central Laboratory facility is expected to begin later in 2026; no completion date is given. Source
  • Dividend payment date: The $0.72 quarterly dividend is payable March 12, 2026, to holders of record at the close of business on February 27, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Requisition growth, Diagnostics, total Source2.2%
Requisition growth, Diagnostics, organic Source1.1%
Price/mix growth, Diagnostics, total Source3.3%
Tests performed for patients Sourcemore than 750 million

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Fourth-quarter free cash flow fell, which the company attributed to working capital timing. Source
  • Operational: Restructuring and other charges were $110.8 million in the fourth quarter against $11.4 million; the footnote says they include Early Development actions. Source
  • Financial: The company recorded a charge for settling certain U.S. pension obligations to retired employees, shown as an adjustment in the non-GAAP reconciliation. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The third-quarter release reported a signed agreement for Empire City assets; the fourth-quarter release reports completion after quarter end. Source
  • Met: The third-quarter release said the acquisition was being progressed across 13 states; the fourth-quarter release reports completion. 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.