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Ryder System 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: 14 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year comparable EPS up 8%: Full-year 2025 comparable EPS was $12.92, up 8%, and GAAP EPS from continuing operations was $11.99, up 8%, on contractual earnings and buybacks. Source
  • Operating revenue up 1% for year: Full-year operating revenue was $10.4 billion, up 1%, primarily reflecting contractual revenue growth in SCS and FMS. Source
  • 2026 EPS high end assumes flat freight: Management said the high end of the 2026 EPS range assumes no meaningful improvement in freight market conditions. Source
  • Free cash flow of $946 million: 2025 free cash flow was $946 million against $133 million, reflecting lower capital expenditures and higher operating cash flow of $2.6 billion. Source
  • Initiatives delivered $100 million benefit: Multi-year strategic initiatives delivered an annual benefit of $100 million in 2025, with incremental benefits expected in 2026. Source
  • Adjusted ROE reached 17%: Adjusted return on equity was 17% for 2025, compared with 16% a year earlier. Source

“Fourth quarter results represented our fifth consecutive quarter of earnings-per-share growth and were in line with our expectations.”

Ryder Chairman and CEO Robert Sanchez

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total revenue growth SourceFY20261%New
Operating revenue growth (non-GAAP) SourceFY20263%New
Total revenue SourceFY2026$12,800 millionNew
GAAP EPS from continuing operations SourceFY2026$12.80 - $13.80New
Comparable EPS (non-GAAP) SourceFY2026$13.45 - $14.45New
ROE (non-GAAP) SourceFY202617% - 18%New
Net cash from operating activities, continuing operations SourceFY2026$2.7 billionNew
Free cash flow (non-GAAP) SourceFY2026$700 million - $800 millionNew
Capital expenditures SourceFY2026$2.4 billionNew
Debt-to-equity SourceFY2026 year-end230%New
Proceeds from sales (primarily revenue earning equipment) SourceFY2026$500 millionNew
Non-operating pension costs per share SourceFY2026$0.65New
GAAP EPS from continuing operations SourceFirst quarter 2026$1.95 - $2.20New
Comparable EPS (non-GAAP) SourceFirst quarter 2026$2.10 - $2.35New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: First-quarter 2026 EPS ranges given for the first time, with the first quarter described as the lowest earnings quarter historically. Source
  • New: Strategic initiatives upsized, with management citing $70 million of incremental benefits in 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Full-year comparable EPS up 8%: Full-year 2025 comparable EPS was $12.92, up 8%, and GAAP EPS from continuing operations was $11.99, up 8%, on contractual earnings and buybacks. Source
  • Fourth-quarter EPS rose on buybacks: Fourth-quarter GAAP EPS from continuing operations was $3.25, up 5%; comparable EPS was $3.59, up 4%, with the company citing share repurchases. Source
  • Operating revenue up 1% for year: Full-year operating revenue was $10.4 billion, up 1%, primarily reflecting contractual revenue growth in SCS and FMS. Source
  • Quarterly revenue flat year over year: Fourth-quarter total revenue was $3.2 billion and operating revenue $2.6 billion, both consistent with the prior year. Source

Segment results

  • FMS earnings fell on market conditions: FMS EBT was $136 million, down 10%; ChoiceLease benefited from initiatives while rental and used vehicle sales reflected market conditions. Source
  • SCS earnings down on automotive: SCS EBT was $83 million, down 8%; operating revenue rose 3% on omnichannel retail, offset by lost automotive business and production shutdowns. Source
  • DTS earnings up on lower bad debt: DTS EBT was $40 million, up 19%, on lower bad debt and acquisition synergies, partly offset by lower operating revenue. Source

“The earnings power of our contractual lease, dedicated, and supply chain businesses continues to generate higher operating cash flow and increased capital deployment capacity”

Ryder Chairman and CEO Robert Sanchez

Fleet, rental and used vehicle sales

  • Rental utilization slipped on smaller fleet: Power-fleet rental utilization was 72% against 73% a year earlier, on an 8% smaller average fleet. Source
  • Used pricing rose sequentially: Year over year, used tractor pricing rose 1% and truck pricing fell 9%; sequentially both rose, reflecting a higher retail sales mix. Source
  • Used vehicle sales volume declined: Used vehicles sold were 3,600 in the fourth quarter against 4,700, down 23%; full-year sales were 19,800 against 22,000. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • FMS and SCS margins compressed: FMS EBT as a percent of operating revenue was 10.5%, down from 11.6%; SCS was 8.0%, down from 8.9%, while DTS rose to 8.9% from 7.1%. Source
  • Overhead spending eased slightly: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $1,470 million for the year against $1,478 million, and $346 million in the fourth quarter against $365 million. Source
  • Comparable EBITDA higher in both periods: Comparable EBITDA was $2,867 million for 2025 against $2,776 million, and $726 million in the fourth quarter against $720 million. Source

“Historically, the first quarter has been our lowest earnings quarter and we expect it will represent the most difficult year-over-year comparisons, primarily due to used vehicle sales and rental market conditions.”

Ryder Chief Financial Officer Cristina Gallo-Aquino

Freight demand and 2026 forecast

  • 2026 EPS high end assumes flat freight: Management said the high end of the 2026 EPS range assumes no meaningful improvement in freight market conditions. Source
  • DTS fleet count fell with freight: DTS operating revenue fell 4% in the quarter on a lower fleet count, reflecting the prolonged freight market downturn. Source
  • SCS record sales in 2025: Management said SCS achieved record sales in 2025, positioning it for growth in 2026. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow of $946 million: 2025 free cash flow was $946 million against $133 million, reflecting lower capital expenditures and higher operating cash flow of $2.6 billion. Source
  • Capital expenditures fell to $2.1 billion: Capital expenditures were $2.1 billion in 2025 against $2.7 billion, mainly from lower investment in ChoiceLease and rental fleets. Source
  • $664 million returned to shareholders: The company returned $664 million to shareholders in 2025 through buybacks and dividends. Source
  • Debt-to-equity held at 250%: Debt-to-equity was 250% at year-end, unchanged from 2024 and at the low end of the company's 250% to 300% target range. Source

Strategy and transformed model

  • Initiatives delivered $100 million benefit: Multi-year strategic initiatives delivered an annual benefit of $100 million in 2025, with incremental benefits expected in 2026. Source
  • Adjusted ROE reached 17%: Adjusted return on equity was 17% for 2025, compared with 16% a year earlier. Source
  • Balanced growth strategy continues: Management said continued execution of the balanced growth strategy provides a foundation for contractual earnings growth and positions the company for a freight cycle upturn. Source
  • Lease pricing and maintenance savings: In FMS, the lease pricing and maintenance cost savings initiatives continued to contribute to earnings despite used vehicle and rental conditions. Source

Coming up, as management said on 11 February 2026

  • Capital returns continue: Management expects capital deployment capacity to keep supporting profitable growth and returns through buybacks and dividends in 2026. Source
  • Contractual sales expected to improve: Management expects contractual sales trends in FMS and DTS to improve as freight market conditions normalize. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
ChoiceLease end-of-period fleet count Source141,700
Commercial rental end-of-period fleet count Source31,600
Rental utilization, power units (fourth quarter) Source72%
Used vehicles sold (fourth quarter) Source3,600
SCS customer vehicles under contract, end of period Source13,100
DTS customer vehicles under contract, end of period Source18,000

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Weaker rental demand reduced FMS operating revenue in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Demand: Rental and used vehicle sales results reflected weaker freight market conditions in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Operational: Lost automotive business and extended customer production shutdowns weighed on SCS earnings. Source
  • External: Used truck pricing decreased 9% from prior year, while used tractor pricing increased 1%. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said SCS and DTS continued to earn pre-tax income at their high single-digit target as a percent of operating revenue. Source
  • Met: Earlier, the company said it was on track for 2025 earnings growth; this release says earnings growth was delivered. 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.