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Motorola Solutions, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 11 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Record full-year revenue, earnings, cash flow: Full-year sales were $11.7 billion, up 8%, and the release reports record revenue, earnings, cash flow and ending backlog. Source
  • Fourth-quarter sales rose 12%: Q4 sales were $3.4 billion, up 12%, including $188 million of acquisition revenue and $30 million from favorable currency. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS rose in Q4: Q4 non-GAAP EPS was $4.59, up 14%, and GAAP EPS was $3.86, up 8%. Full-year non-GAAP EPS was $15.38, up 11%, and GAAP EPS $12.75, up 38%. Source
  • Q4 operating margin expanded on leverage: GAAP operating margin rose to 27.9% from 27.0%, and non-GAAP to 32.1% from 30.4%. Higher tariffs partly offset the gain. Source
  • Record ending backlog of $15.7 billion: Ending backlog reached a record, with the company citing record orders as the driver of the year-on-year increase. Source
  • Record full-year operating and free cash flow: Operating cash flow reached $2.8 billion and free cash flow $2.6 billion. Capital expenditures were $265 million for the year. Source
  • Hytera paid $141 million net in 2025: Hytera paid $157 million toward amounts owed in 2025, of which the company received $141 million net of withholding taxes. Source
  • Memory market shifts from AI demand: Management said it is observing shifting memory market dynamics driven by substantial demand from AI data center customers. Source

““Our outstanding 2025 performance demonstrates the resilience and strength of our business,” said Greg Brown, chairman and CEO, Motorola Solutions.”

Greg Brown, chairman and CEO, Motorola Solutions

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue growth Sourcefirst quarter of 2026between 6% and 7% growth versus Q1 2025New
Non-GAAP EPS Sourcefirst quarter of 2026$3.20 to $3.25 per shareNew
Share count and tax rate Sourcefirst quarter of 2026approximately 168 million fully diluted shares; non-GAAP tax rate approximately 20.5%New
Revenue Sourcefull year 2026approximately $12.7 billionNew
Non-GAAP EPS Sourcefull year 2026$16.70 to $16.85 per shareNew
Share count and tax rate Sourcefull year 2026approximately 168 million fully diluted shares; non-GAAP tax rate approximately 22.5%New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 revenue and non-GAAP EPS guidance was given in this release. Source
  • New guidance: First-quarter 2026 revenue growth and non-GAAP EPS guidance was given in this release. Source
  • New: The company closed the Blue Eye acquisition, an AI-powered remote video monitoring provider, for $79 million net of cash acquired. Source
  • New: The company entered into a new five-year $2.25 billion revolving credit facility maturing in April 2030, replacing the prior facility. Source

Full-year and fourth-quarter results

  • Record full-year revenue, earnings, cash flow: Full-year sales were $11.7 billion, up 8%, and the release reports record revenue, earnings, cash flow and ending backlog. Source
  • Fourth-quarter sales rose 12%: Q4 sales were $3.4 billion, up 12%, including $188 million of acquisition revenue and $30 million from favorable currency. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS rose in Q4: Q4 non-GAAP EPS was $4.59, up 14%, and GAAP EPS was $3.86, up 8%. Full-year non-GAAP EPS was $15.38, up 11%, and GAAP EPS $12.75, up 38%. Source
  • Software and Services grew fastest: Software and Services grew 15% in Q4 and 13% for the year. Products and Systems Integration grew 11% in Q4 and 5% for the full year. Source

Segments and regions

  • Mission Critical Networks and video drove products growth: Products and Systems Integration growth came from Mission Critical Networks and Video Security and Access Control. Source
  • Software and Services growth broad-based: Software and Services growth came from all three technologies the company reports. Source
  • North America and International grew: Full-year growth came from North America and International, with acquisitions contributing $382 million of revenue. Source

Products and customer wins

  • Tennessee P25 system expansion: Notable Products and Systems Integration orders in Q4 included a $180 million P25 system expansion for the State of Tennessee. Source
  • Federal device and body-worn order: A $162 million order for P25 devices and body-worn assistants went to a U.S. federal customer in Q4. Source
  • Maryland ten-year P25 services renewal: A $201 million ten-year P25 services renewal for the State of Maryland was listed among the Software and Services wins. Source

Costs, margins and tax

  • Q4 operating margin expanded on leverage: GAAP operating margin rose to 27.9% from 27.0%, and non-GAAP to 32.1% from 30.4%. Higher tariffs partly offset the gain. Source
  • Full-year GAAP margin rose to 25.6%: Full-year GAAP operating margin was 25.6%, against 24.8%. The company cited higher sales, operating leverage and a Hytera litigation recovery. Source
  • Tax rates rose on lower stock benefits: Q4 GAAP effective tax rate was 24.5%, against 22.2%, and non-GAAP 23.6%, against 22.0%, reflecting lower share-based compensation benefits. Source

Demand, backlog and orders

  • Record ending backlog of $15.7 billion: Ending backlog reached a record, with the company citing record orders as the driver of the year-on-year increase. Source
  • Software and Services backlog up 13%: Software and Services backlog rose 13%, or $1.4 billion, driven by demand across all three technologies. Source
  • Products and Systems Integration backlog down: Products and Systems Integration backlog fell 8%, or $323 million, mainly from MCN shipments in the first half of the year. Source

Cash, capital and returns

  • Record full-year operating and free cash flow: Operating cash flow reached $2.8 billion and free cash flow $2.6 billion. Capital expenditures were $265 million for the year. Source
  • Q4 free cash flow and capital spending: Q4 free cash flow was $1.1 billion after $114 million of capital expenditures. Source
  • Q4 buybacks and dividends: Full-year repurchases were $1.2 billion at an average of $420.21 per share, and dividends paid were $728 million. Source
  • Silvus term loan partly repaid: After year-end, $200 million of the $1.5 billion term loans for the Silvus acquisition was repaid, leaving $1.3 billion outstanding. Source

Hytera litigation

  • Hytera paid $141 million net in 2025: Hytera paid $157 million toward amounts owed in 2025, of which the company received $141 million net of withholding taxes. Source
  • January 2026 Hytera payment received: A $40 million Hytera payment in January 2026 was recorded as a gain within Other charges; the company received $36 million net. Source
  • Court ordered $70 million royalty payment: The court held Hytera in civil contempt and ordered about $70 million, plus $31 million of additional royalties. Hytera has appealed. Source
  • Hytera gains excluded from non-GAAP: Hytera-related legal expenses and gains from Hytera awards are excluded from non-GAAP operating income, consistent with prior treatment. Source

Strategy, acquisitions and trade conditions

  • Four acquisitions closed in 2025: In 2025 the company closed four acquisitions for $4.9 billion net of cash acquired, and repurchased $1.2 billion of its shares. Source
  • Blue Eye video monitoring acquisition: The Blue Eye acquisition adds AI-powered enterprise remote video monitoring services, closed in Q4 for $79 million net of cash. Source
  • Tariff monitoring continues: The company continues to monitor tariffs, including IEEPA tariffs, for policy volatility and pending judicial outcomes. Source
  • Memory market shifts from AI demand: Management said it is observing shifting memory market dynamics driven by substantial demand from AI data center customers. Source

Coming up, as management said on 11 February 2026

  • Hytera escrow ruling pending: The District Court has not yet ruled on escrow or direct payment of the $101 million, nor on copyright, asset turnover or injunction issues. Source
  • OBBBA funding over four years: Management expects the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to add funding for federal government customers over the four-year period available. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Ending backlog Source$15.7 billion, a record
Software and Services backlog Sourceup 13%, or $1.4 billion
Products and Systems Integration backlog Sourcedown 8%, or $323 million

Risks management discussed

  • External: Tariffs, import and export rules, and rare earth restrictions make the global trade landscape subject to change. Source
  • Operational: Management reported elevated volatility and uncertainty around the global supply chain. Source
  • Financial: Collection of the Hytera judgment remains in an ongoing legal process. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it substantially mitigated cost increases during 2025 and expects to keep developing mitigation actions. 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.