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Manitowoc Co. Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 9 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 9 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter net sales rose 13.6%: Net sales were $677.1 million in the fourth quarter, up 13.6% from the prior year. Source
  • Fourth-quarter orders up 55.8%: Orders were $803.4 million in the fourth quarter, up 55.8% from the prior year, with backlog at year end. Source
  • Fourth-quarter aftermarket sales up 14%: Non-new machine sales were $190.9 million in the fourth quarter, up 14.0% from the prior year. Source
  • Fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA up 13.5%: Adjusted EBITDA was $39.6 million, up 13.5%; adjusted EBITDA margin was 5.8% against 5.9%, and 5.4% for 2025 against 5.9% for 2024. Source
  • Fourth-quarter free cash flow $78.3M: Operating cash flow was $91.1 million and free cash flow was $78.3 million in the fourth quarter, after $12.8 million of capital expenditures. Source
  • U.S. conditions expected unchanged: Management said it expects more of the same conditions in the U.S. market, while its optimism about Europe continues to grow. Source
  • First full-year 2026 guidance: The release is the first to give full-year 2026 figures in these documents; the third-quarter release gave no 2026 ranges. Source

“We ended the fourth quarter with orders in excess of $800 million, $40 million in adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flow of $78 million.”

Aaron H. Ravenscroft, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Sourcefull-year 2026$2.25 billion to $2.35 billionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull-year 2026$125 million to $150 millionNew
Depreciation and amortization Sourcefull-year 2026$60 millionNew
Interest expense Sourcefull-year 2026$35 million to $38 millionNew
Provision for income taxes Sourcefull-year 2026$11 million to $15 millionNew
Adjusted diluted earnings per share Sourcefull-year 2026$0.45 to $0.90New
Capital expenditures Sourcefull-year 2026$45 million to $50 million, of which approximately $25 million is for the rental fleetNew
Free cash flow Sourcefull-year 2026$40 million to $65 millionNew
Restructuring savings Source2026$10 million annualized savingsNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 guidance ranges were given in this release; the third-quarter release gave no full-year 2026 figures. Source
  • New: A restructuring plan was implemented in January 2026 to streamline the organization. Source
  • New: Planned new locations in Chile, Mexico, France and Portugal. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth-quarter net sales rose 13.6%: Net sales were $677.1 million in the fourth quarter, up 13.6% from the prior year. Source
  • Quarterly earnings per diluted share: Net income was $7.0 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, and adjusted net income was $9.5 million, or $0.26 per diluted share. Source
  • Full-year sales rose 2.9%: Full-year 2025 net sales were $2,240.9 million, up 2.9% from 2024. Source
  • Full-year adjusted earnings declined: Full-year adjusted net income was $11.6 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, a decrease of $3.1 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, from 2024. Source

Orders and backlog

  • Fourth-quarter orders up 55.8%: Orders were $803.4 million in the fourth quarter, up 55.8% from the prior year, with backlog at year end. Source
  • Backlog rose from third quarter: Backlog was $666.5 million at the end of the third quarter, below the year-end level reported in the fourth-quarter release.
  • 2026 opened with higher backlog: Management said the company started 2026 with $794 million in backlog, up 22% from a year earlier. Source

“Looking to 2026, while we expect more of the same conditions in the U.S. market, our optimism in Europe continues to grow.”

Aaron H. Ravenscroft, President and Chief Executive Officer

Non-new machine sales

  • Fourth-quarter aftermarket sales up 14%: Non-new machine sales were $190.9 million in the fourth quarter, up 14.0% from the prior year. Source
  • Full-year non-new sales up 9.8%: Non-new machine sales for 2025 were $690.5 million, up 9.8% from 2024. Source
  • Aftermarket focus stated in Q3: In the third quarter management said it was investing in new products and expanding aftermarket offerings to grow recurring, higher-margin non-new machine sales.

Margins, costs and restructuring

  • Fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA up 13.5%: Adjusted EBITDA was $39.6 million, up 13.5%; adjusted EBITDA margin was 5.8% against 5.9%, and 5.4% for 2025 against 5.9% for 2024. Source
  • Operating expenses rose in Q4: Engineering, selling and administrative expenses were $89.2 million in the fourth quarter, against $77.1 million a year earlier, and $342.9 million for 2025, against $315.7 million. Source
  • Restructuring expense in Q4: Restructuring expense was $3.1 million in the fourth quarter, against $1.2 million a year earlier; operating income was $20.2 million, against $16.2 million. Source
  • EPA settlement interest added back: Adjusted 2025 results add back $0.6 million of interest tied to the settlement of a legal matter with the EPA. Source
  • Prior-year tax benefit excluded: The company excluded a $55.1 million valuation allowance release benefit from its fourth-quarter 2024 adjusted results. Source

“In addition, we implemented a restructuring plan in January to streamline our organization, which we expect to save us roughly $10 million.”

Aaron H. Ravenscroft, President and Chief Executive Officer

Cash flow and capital

  • Fourth-quarter free cash flow $78.3M: Operating cash flow was $91.1 million and free cash flow was $78.3 million in the fourth quarter, after $12.8 million of capital expenditures. Source
  • Full-year free cash flow negative: Full-year 2025 free cash flow was negative $15.3 million, against $3.5 million in 2024, on operating cash flow of $22.2 million. Source
  • Inventory and payables drove quarter cash: Inventories released $136.8 million of cash in the fourth quarter, while accounts payable used $57.5 million. Source
  • Long-term debt increased: Long-term debt was $447.1 million at December 31, 2025, against $377.1 million a year earlier; cash was $77.3 million. Source
  • Adjusted ROIC 5.3% at year end: Adjusted ROIC was 5.3% at December 31, 2025, against 6.0% a year earlier and 4.8% at September 30, 2025. Source
  • No 2025 buybacks shown: The 2025 cash flow statement shows no common stock repurchases, against $5.7 million in 2024. The release gives no dividend or buyback plan. Source

Regions and end markets

  • U.S. conditions expected unchanged: Management said it expects more of the same conditions in the U.S. market, while its optimism about Europe continues to grow. Source
  • European orders grew for five quarters: In the third quarter, management said the European tower crane market had its fifth consecutive quarter of year-over-year order growth.
  • Americas softness cited in Q3: In the third quarter management cited softness in crane demand in the Americas from ongoing U.S. tariff pressures. The fourth-quarter release gives no regional order split.

Strategy and expansion

  • CRANES+50 strategy continued: Management said it continued to execute its CRANES+50 strategy through 2025, which it linked to non-new machine sales growth. Source
  • New locations planned abroad: Management said it is planning new locations in Chile, Mexico, France and Portugal; the release gives no dates or investment amounts. Source
  • Lean transformation supports strategy: The CEO said the ongoing lean transformation and CRANES+50 strategy are meant to strengthen the company's ability to navigate the crane cycle. Source

2026 guidance framework

  • First full-year 2026 guidance: The release is the first to give full-year 2026 figures in these documents; the third-quarter release gave no 2026 ranges. Source
  • Restructuring tied to 2026 plan: The 2026 ranges include a restructuring plan expected to deliver annualized savings within the year. Source
  • Capex includes rental fleet spend: Part of the 2026 capital expenditure range is for the rental fleet; the release does not describe other capex categories. Source

Coming up, as management said on 9 February 2026

  • Planned new locations: Management said it plans to add new locations in Chile, Mexico, France and Portugal; no dates were given. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management expects more of the same conditions in the U.S. market in 2026; the release gives no detail on them. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: The third-quarter release said 2025 would finish at the lower end of the adjusted EBITDA range; the fourth-quarter release reports $122 million, which management called in line with expectations. Source
  • Not stated: The plan was implemented in January 2026; management expects roughly $10 million of savings, and the release gives no progress against that figure. 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.