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QuidelOrtho Corp.: 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

  • Fourth-quarter revenue of $724 million: Fourth-quarter total revenue was $724 million, as reported, with non-respiratory revenue of $600 million and respiratory revenue of $123 million. Source
  • Goodwill impairment drove full-year GAAP loss: GAAP net loss was $1.13 billion for 2025, including a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $701 million recorded in the third quarter, tied to prior acquisition accounting. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin up 240 basis points: Full-year adjusted EBITDA margin was 22%, a 240 basis point improvement, with adjusted EBITDA of $597 million. Source
  • Full-year free cash flow negative: Full-year free cash flow was $(77) million, including one-time ERP investments; operating cash flow was $105 million. Source
  • 2026 revenue and EBITDA targets: Full-year 2026 guidance is total revenues of $2.7 to $2.9 billion, adjusted EBITDA of $630 to $670 million and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 23.3%. Source
  • 2026 EPS and free cash flow targets: Full-year 2026 guidance is adjusted diluted EPS of $2.00 to $2.42 and free cash flow of $120 to $160 million, against $(77) million in 2025. Source
  • CFO to retire June 30: CFO Joseph M. Busky decided to retire, effective June 30, 2026. The company has begun a search for a successor. Source

“In 2025, we transitioned from COVID-driven volatility to a more durable, diversified diagnostics business,”

Brian J. Blaser, President and Chief Executive Officer of QuidelOrtho

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total revenues SourceFY 2026$2.7 - $2.9 billionNew
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY 2026$630 - $670 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceFY 202623.3%New
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFY 2026$2.00 - $2.42New
Free cash flow SourceFY 2026$120 - $160 millionNew
Free cash flow change SourceFY 2026 versus FY 2025improve by over $200 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: The company began providing fiscal year 2026 financial guidance covering revenue, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted diluted EPS and free cash flow. Source
  • New: Chief Financial Officer Joseph M. Busky announced his retirement, effective June 30, 2026. Source
  • Ended: The ERP system conversion, which carried one-time investment costs in 2025, was completed in the third quarter of 2025. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth-quarter revenue of $724 million: Fourth-quarter total revenue was $724 million, as reported, with non-respiratory revenue of $600 million and respiratory revenue of $123 million. Source
  • Non-respiratory growth excluding Donor Screening: Excluding Donor Screening, non-respiratory revenue grew 7% in constant currency in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Full-year revenue down 1.9% as reported: Full-year total revenues were $2,730.2 million, compared with $2,782.9 million in 2024, a decrease of 1.9% as reported. Source
  • Goodwill impairment drove full-year GAAP loss: GAAP net loss was $1.13 billion for 2025, including a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $701 million recorded in the third quarter, tied to prior acquisition accounting. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin up 240 basis points: Full-year adjusted EBITDA margin was 22%, a 240 basis point improvement, with adjusted EBITDA of $597 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • Labs grew 6% for the year: Labs revenue grew 8% as reported in the fourth quarter and 6% for the full year, both as reported and in constant currency. Source
  • TRIAGE growth and cardiac steadiness: The headline cites 9% TRIAGE growth for 2025 as reported, alongside 6% Labs growth and 240 basis points of adjusted EBITDA margin expansion. Source
  • Point of Care down on COVID-19 decline: Point of Care revenue fell 13.4% as reported to $601.6 million for the year; excluding COVID-19 it grew 1.5% in constant currency. Source
  • Latin America up, North America down: Latin America revenue rose 13.5% for the year to $252.9 million, while North America revenue fell 8.1% to $1,488.9 million. Source

“As a result, we are well positioned to generate substantially stronger free cash flow in 2026, which we believe more accurately reflects the earnings power of our business.”

Brian J. Blaser, President and Chief Executive Officer of QuidelOrtho

Products and customers

  • Flu revenue grew in both periods: Fourth-quarter flu revenue grew 6% both as reported and in constant currency; full-year flu revenue grew 3%. Source
  • COVID-19 testing demand fell: Respiratory revenue fell 20% for the year as COVID-19 testing declined; COVID-19 revenue was $80.2 million, against $184.9 million in 2024. Source
  • Donor Screening portfolio winding down: Donor Screening revenue was $52.6 million for the year, against $115.1 million in 2024, as the U.S. portfolio is wound down. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Operating expenses down 5%: GAAP and non-GAAP operating expenses each fell 5% in 2025, which the company attributes to its cost-savings initiatives. Source
  • $140 million cost savings delivered: The CEO said the company delivered $140 million in cost savings by the end of 2025, crediting the CFO's work on financial discipline. Source
  • Restructuring charges rose for the year: Restructuring, integration and other charges were $29.0 million in the fourth quarter and $263.6 million for the full year. Fourth-quarter other operating expenses included a $65.0 million contract termination cost. Source
  • Fourth-quarter GAAP loss, adjusted profit: Fourth-quarter GAAP diluted loss per share was $1.92, while adjusted diluted EPS was $0.46. Source

“With our financial strategy firmly in place and a strong team supporting the transition, we are confident in our ability to execute our 2026 priorities and maintain momentum.”

Brian J. Blaser, President and Chief Executive Officer of QuidelOrtho

Cash, debt and capital

  • Full-year free cash flow negative: Full-year free cash flow was $(77) million, including one-time ERP investments; operating cash flow was $105 million. Source
  • Fourth-quarter free cash flow positive: Fourth-quarter operating cash flow was $132 million and free cash flow was $87 million. Source
  • Year-end cash and borrowings: At year end, cash and cash equivalents were $169.8 million, up from $98.3 million; long-term borrowings were $2,471.9 million. Source

2026 guidance and CFO transition

  • 2026 revenue and EBITDA targets: Full-year 2026 guidance is total revenues of $2.7 to $2.9 billion, adjusted EBITDA of $630 to $670 million and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 23.3%. Source
  • 2026 EPS and free cash flow targets: Full-year 2026 guidance is adjusted diluted EPS of $2.00 to $2.42 and free cash flow of $120 to $160 million, against $(77) million in 2025. Source
  • Currency assumed neutral for 2026: Management expects foreign currency exchange to be neutral to full-year 2026 revenue, based on January 25, 2026 rates. Source
  • CFO to retire June 30: CFO Joseph M. Busky decided to retire, effective June 30, 2026. The company has begun a search for a successor. Source

Coming up, as management said on 11 February 2026

  • CFO successor search underway: The company has begun a search to identify a successor to CFO Joseph M. Busky, whose retirement is effective June 30, 2026. Source
  • Busky advisory role after retirement: Joseph M. Busky will serve in an advisory role after retiring, to support the transition. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Labs revenue Source$1,505.7 million (FY 2025)
Immunohematology revenue Source$543.8 million (FY 2025)
Point of Care revenue Source$601.6 million (FY 2025)
TRIAGE revenue Source$132.7 million (FY 2025)
Flu revenue Source$254.6 million (FY 2025)
COVID-19 revenue Source$80.2 million (FY 2025)
Research and development expense Source$186.2 million (FY 2025)

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Respiratory revenue declined on lower COVID-19 testing, a demand shift that reduced respiratory sales for the year. Source
  • Demand: Donor Screening revenue is declining as the company winds down its U.S. portfolio. Source
  • Financial: A non-cash goodwill impairment of $701 million, tied to prior acquisition accounting, produced a large GAAP loss in 2025. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The CEO said the company delivered $140 million in cost savings by the end of 2025. Source
  • Met: The company reported the FY 2025 adjusted EBITDA margin target of 22% as achieved, and adjusted diluted EPS within the $2.00 - $2.15 range. 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.