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Matson, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 24 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 16 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth quarter net income and EPS rose: Net income was $143.1 million, or $4.60 per diluted share, against $128.0 million, or $3.80, a year earlier. Revenue was $851.9 million, down from $890.3 million. Source
  • Full-year net income and EPS fell: Net income for 2025 was $444.8 million, or $13.81 diluted EPS, against $476.4 million and $13.93 in 2024. EBITDA was $704.7 million, against $738.9 million. Source
  • Ocean operating income slipped slightly in Q4: Ocean Transportation operating income was $136.0 million, down $1.4 million, as a lower China contribution was partly offset by a higher SSAT contribution. Source
  • US-China deal reduced Transpacific uncertainty: Management credited the U.S.-China trade and economic deal announced October 30, 2025 with reducing uncertainty over tariffs, port entry fees and other geopolitical factors. Source
  • One-time tax benefit cut Q4 tax rate: The fourth quarter effective tax rate was 5.2 percent, including a one-time $18.5 million, or $0.59 per share, adjustment. The full-year 2025 effective tax rate was 16.7 percent. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell after tax refund: Operating cash flow was $547.1 million for 2025, against $767.8 million, mainly because of a $118.6 million federal tax refund received in the second quarter of 2024. Source
  • Fourth quarter buybacks of 0.7 million shares: Matson repurchased about 0.7 million shares for $78.1 million in the quarter, leaving about 1.1 million shares under the program. Full-year buybacks were $303.3 million. Source
  • Seasonality expected to normalize in 2026: Management expects a more normal operating income seasonality pattern in 2026, with the second and third quarters strongest relative to the first and fourth quarters. Source

“Matson had a solid finish to the year with consolidated fourth quarter results that exceeded our expectations.”

Matt Cox, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Consolidated operating income Sourcefull year 2026approach the level achieved in full year 2025Kept
Ocean Transportation operating income Sourcefirst quarter 2026approximately $50 millionNew
Logistics operating income Sourcefirst quarter 2026modestly lower than the $8.5 million achieved in the first quarter 2025New
Consolidated operating income Sourcefirst quarter 2026lower than the $82.1 million achieved in the first quarter 2025New
Ocean Transportation operating income Sourcefull year 2026approach the level achieved in full year 2025New
Logistics operating income Sourcefull year 2026approach the $44.2 million achieved in full year 2025New
Hawaii container volume Sourcefull year 2026comparable to the level achieved in 2025New
China container volume Sourcefull year 2026modestly higher than the level achieved in 2025New
SSAT contribution Sourcefull year 2026comparable to the $32.5 million achieved in full year 2025New
Depreciation and amortization Sourcefull year 2026approximately $210 million, including approximately $35 million of dry-docking amortizationNew
Interest income Sourcefull year 2026approximately $15 millionNew
Interest expense Sourcefull year 2026approximately $6 millionNew
Other income (expense) Sourcefull year 2026approximately $7 million in incomeNew
Effective tax rate Sourcefull year 2026approximately 21.0 percentNew
Other capital expenditure payments Sourcefull year 2026approximately $150 to $170 millionNew
New vessel construction expenditures Sourcefull year 2026approximately $425 millionNew
Dry-docking payments Sourcefull year 2026approximately $45 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 consolidated operating income is still expected to approach the 2025 level, the same wording as in the January release. Source
  • New guidance: First-quarter 2026 Ocean Transportation operating income guidance of about $50 million was not in the January release. Source
  • New guidance: First-quarter 2026 consolidated operating income guidance, lower than $82.1 million, was not in the January release. Source
  • New guidance: A full-year 2026 effective tax rate of about 21.0 percent was given for the first time in this release. Source
  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 China container volume guidance, modestly higher than 2025, was given for the first time in this release. Source
  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 new vessel construction expenditures of about $425 million were given for the first time in this release. Source

Fourth quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth quarter net income and EPS rose: Net income was $143.1 million, or $4.60 per diluted share, against $128.0 million, or $3.80, a year earlier. Revenue was $851.9 million, down from $890.3 million. Source
  • Quarter results above company expectations: Management said fourth quarter consolidated results exceeded its expectations. Ocean Transportation operating income approached the prior-year level on higher than expected China freight rates and volume. Source
  • Full-year net income and EPS fell: Net income for 2025 was $444.8 million, or $13.81 diluted EPS, against $476.4 million and $13.93 in 2024. EBITDA was $704.7 million, against $738.9 million. Source

Segments and regional volumes

  • Ocean operating income slipped slightly in Q4: Ocean Transportation operating income was $136.0 million, down $1.4 million, as a lower China contribution was partly offset by a higher SSAT contribution. Source
  • China volume fell but freight rates rose: China volume fell in the quarter and for 2025. Management said freight rates and volume were higher than expected in the quarter, driven by e-commerce and e-goods demand. Source
  • Hawaii and Guam volumes rose on demand: Hawaii and Guam volumes both rose year over year on higher general demand, the company reported for the quarter. Source
  • Alaska volume fell on one fewer sailing: Alaska volume fell because of one less northbound sailing, partly offset by higher export seafood volume on AAX. Management expects continued Alaska economic growth. Source
  • Logistics operating income fell on supply chain: Logistics operating income was $7.7 million, down $2.4 million, mainly on a lower supply chain management contribution. Full-year Logistics operating income was $44.2 million. Source

“Our China service benefited from strong freight demand in our key customer segments as well as a more stable trading environment in the Transpacific tradelane.”

Matt Cox, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Demand and the trading environment

  • US-China deal reduced Transpacific uncertainty: Management credited the U.S.-China trade and economic deal announced October 30, 2025 with reducing uncertainty over tariffs, port entry fees and other geopolitical factors. Source
  • E-commerce demand supported China freight: Management cited e-commerce and e-goods demand, and freight demand in key customer segments, as drivers of China service results in the quarter. Source
  • 2025 Transpacific trade was difficult: Management described the 2025 Transpacific trading environment as difficult across the last three quarters, citing continued uncertainty and volatility from tariffs and global trade. Source

Costs, pricing and tax effects

  • SSAT contribution rose on prior impairment: SSAT contributed $9.3 million in the quarter, against a $9.5 million loss a year earlier that included an $18.4 million impairment on a terminal operating lease asset. Source
  • One-time tax benefit cut Q4 tax rate: The fourth quarter effective tax rate was 5.2 percent, including a one-time $18.5 million, or $0.59 per share, adjustment. The full-year 2025 effective tax rate was 16.7 percent. Source
  • Ocean revenue fell on China freight rates: Ocean Transportation revenue decreased $37.9 million, or 5.1 percent, in the quarter on lower China freight rates and volume. Full-year Ocean revenue fell $74.2 million on lower China volume. Source

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow fell after tax refund: Operating cash flow was $547.1 million for 2025, against $767.8 million, mainly because of a $118.6 million federal tax refund received in the second quarter of 2024. Source
  • Cash fell while debt and fund balance held: Cash and equivalents were $141.9 million at year end, down from $266.8 million. Total debt was $361.2 million, and the Capital Construction Fund held $532.7 million. Source
  • Fourth quarter buybacks of 0.7 million shares: Matson repurchased about 0.7 million shares for $78.1 million in the quarter, leaving about 1.1 million shares under the program. Full-year buybacks were $303.3 million. Source
  • Capital spending rose on vessel construction: Capital expenditures including vessel construction totaled $393.4 million in 2025, against $310.1 million in 2024, with $244.3 million for new vessel construction. Source

Expectations framing and service footprint

  • Full-year view tied to US demand: Management based its full-year 2026 expectations on continued solid U.S. consumer demand and a stable Transpacific trading environment. Source
  • Seasonality expected to normalize in 2026: Management expects a more normal operating income seasonality pattern in 2026, with the second and third quarters strongest relative to the first and fourth quarters. Source
  • Service footprint spans islands and China: Matson runs Hawaii, Alaska and Guam ocean services, a premium expedited China-to-Long Beach service, and Matson Logistics across North America and Asia. Source

Coming up, as management said on 24 February 2026

  • Quarterly dividend payable March 5: The board declared a $0.36 per share dividend, payable March 5, 2026, to holders of record at the close of business on February 5, 2026. Source
  • First-quarter China volume expected lower: Management expects first-quarter 2026 China container volume to be lower than the same period a year earlier. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Hawaii container volume, Q4 2025 year over year Sourceup 0.6 percent
Alaska container volume, Q4 2025 year over year Sourcedown 3.3 percent
China container volume, Q4 2025 year over year Sourcedown 7.2 percent
China container volume, 2025 year over year Sourcedown 9.5 percent
Guam container volume, Q4 2025 year over year Sourceup 4.4 percent
Other containers volume, Q4 2025 year over year Sourceup 11.6 percent
China freight rates, Q4 2025 Sourcehigher than expected

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said tariffs and global trade uncertainty made the China trading environment challenging for customers managing freight. Source
  • Demand: Management cited softer tourism and ongoing inflation, including elevated interest rates, weighing on Hawaii's economy, which it described as sluggish. Source
  • Demand: Management expects Guam's economy to moderate in the near term, reflecting a challenging tourism environment. Source
  • Operational: Alaska container volume was held back by one fewer northbound sailing than in the year-ago quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said fourth quarter consolidated results exceeded its expectations. Source
  • Not stated: Final fourth quarter diluted EPS of $4.60 fell within the $4.22 to $4.70 range given in the January preliminary release.

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.