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Sotera Health Co.: 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: 7 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year revenue grew 5.7%: Constant currency growth was 5.2%, and management described the year as the 20th consecutive year of revenue growth. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 8.2%: Growth was 7.8% on a constant currency basis, against the 8.2% reported figure, with the difference reflecting currency movements. Source
  • Nordion fourth-quarter revenue fell on harvest timing: Nordion fourth-quarter segment income fell 18.9% to $29 million, with unfavorable volume and mix partly offset by favorable pricing. Source
  • Nelson Labs full-year revenue fell 3.9%: Nelson Labs full-year segment income rose 6.0% to $73 million, with revenue lower in reported and constant currency terms. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin up year over year: Full-year margin was 51.0% against 49.9% in 2024, and fourth-quarter margin was 51.8% against 52.7%. Source
  • Net leverage fell to 3.2x: Net debt was $1.89 billion at year-end, against $2.04 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Illinois EO settlements totaled $64.9 million: The charge also covered 129 claims settled under a term sheet dated July 23, 2025. Source

“This marks two decades of year-over-year revenue growth for the Company, which underscores the strength and resiliency of our business model.”

Michael B. Petras, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net revenues Sourcefull-year 2026$1.233 billion to $1.251 billionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull-year 2026$632 million to $641 millionNew
Interest expense Sourcefull-year 2026$135 million to $145 millionNew
Tax rate applicable to Adjusted Net Income Sourcefull-year 202627.0% to 29.0%New
Adjusted EPS Sourcefull-year 2026$0.93 to $1.01New
Weighted-average fully diluted share count Sourcefull-year 2026289 million to 291 million sharesNew
Capital expenditures Sourcefull-year 2026$175 million to $225 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: The company gave its first full-year 2026 guidance on February 24, 2026, as the January release had said it would.
  • New: Erika Ostrowski becomes Senior Vice President and General Counsel on April 1, 2026, succeeding Alex Dimitrief, who moves to an outside advisory role. Source

Full-year and fourth-quarter results

  • Full-year revenue grew 5.7%: Constant currency growth was 5.2%, and management described the year as the 20th consecutive year of revenue growth. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 8.2%: Growth was 7.8% on a constant currency basis, against the 8.2% reported figure, with the difference reflecting currency movements. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS rose: Net income rose to $78 million and diluted EPS to $0.27. The income statement includes a separate line for Illinois EO litigation settlements. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose to $0.86: Adjusted EPS, defined as Adjusted Net Income divided by weighted average diluted shares, was also $0.86 on a basic basis. Source
  • Fourth-quarter revenue rose 4.6%: Fourth-quarter net revenues were 2.5% higher on a constant currency basis. Fourth-quarter net income was $35 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, against $12 million a year earlier. Source
  • Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA rose 2.7%: Constant currency fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA growth was 0.5%. Fourth-quarter Adjusted EPS was $0.26, up $0.05 per diluted share. Source

Segment performance

  • Sterigenics full-year revenue up 8.3%: Sterigenics full-year segment income grew 9.2% to $413 million. Source
  • Sterigenics fourth-quarter growth from pricing: Sterigenics fourth-quarter net revenues rose 10.6% to $198 million, or 8.0% on a constant currency basis. Segment income was $110 million, a double-digit increase of 10.4%. Source
  • Nordion fourth-quarter revenue fell on harvest timing: Nordion fourth-quarter segment income fell 18.9% to $29 million, with unfavorable volume and mix partly offset by favorable pricing. Source
  • Nordion full-year revenue up 8.2%: Nordion full-year segment income rose 6.3% to $108 million. Source
  • Nelson Labs full-year revenue fell 3.9%: Nelson Labs full-year segment income rose 6.0% to $73 million, with revenue lower in reported and constant currency terms. Source
  • Nelson Labs fourth-quarter revenue up 2.3%: A decline in Expert Advisory Services partly offset the fourth-quarter gains. Source

“we are encouraged by our momentum and strengthened balance sheet”

Michael B. Petras, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Inflation partly offset Sterigenics income: Sterigenics fourth-quarter segment income growth was partly offset by inflation. Source
  • Nordion margin hit by product mix: Management said product mix reduced Nordion's fourth-quarter segment income margin. Source
  • Nelson Labs costs partly offset income: Nelson Labs fourth-quarter segment income rose 1.9% to $18 million, with higher costs partly offsetting the gain. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin up year over year: Full-year margin was 51.0% against 49.9% in 2024, and fourth-quarter margin was 51.8% against 52.7%. Source

Balance sheet and leverage

  • Net leverage fell to 3.2x: Net debt was $1.89 billion at year-end, against $2.04 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Year-end debt and cash balances: Total debt was $2.2 billion and cash $345 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • No revolver borrowings at year-end: Management said the revolving credit facility had no outstanding borrowings at December 31, 2025. Source

“Nelson Labs delivered growth in core lab testing, while disciplined operational execution drove meaningful margin improvement.”

Michael B. Petras, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Cash flow and shareholder base

  • Operating cash flow rose to $287 million: Operating cash flow was $287.2 million, compared with $224.2 million in 2024. Source
  • Capital spending fell to $138 million: Purchases of property, plant and equipment were $138.0 million in 2025 against $179.1 million in 2024. Purchases included in accounts payable were $25.3 million at year-end. Source
  • Three secondary sales lifted public float: Management said the secondary sales did not affect the company's liquidity or net leverage metrics. Source

EO litigation and professional fees

  • Illinois EO settlements totaled $64.9 million: The charge also covered 129 claims settled under a term sheet dated July 23, 2025. Source
  • EO facility professional fees rose: Professional fees for EO sterilization facilities were $46.2 million in 2025, against $32.7 million in 2024. Source
  • Adjusted measures exclude EO-related items: The company says its Adjusted Net Income excludes items it does not consider part of ongoing operating performance, including the EO settlements and professional fees. Source

Guidance basis and definitions

  • 2026 guidance rests on current plans: Management said the 2026 ranges are based on current plans and expectations and point to the risks set out in its filings. Source
  • Forward figures lack non-GAAP reconciliation: Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EPS and related measures for 2026 are not reconciled to GAAP because certain reconciling items cannot be predicted. Source
  • Constant currency basis defined: Constant currency growth translates prior-year results at current-period average exchange rates, which excludes currency effects. Source

Coming up, as management said on 24 February 2026

  • Barclay’s healthcare conference: Management presents at the Barclay’s conference at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Source
  • KeyBanc healthcare forum: Management presents at the KeyBanc Healthcare Forum at 9:45 a.m. Eastern Time. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: The 2026 ranges assume continued supply of ethylene oxide and Cobalt-60. Source
  • Regulatory: Changes in the regulatory landscape, restructuring items and fair value measurements are cited as uncertainties affecting forward non-GAAP figures. Source
  • External: Inflation, including its effect on energy prices and labor supply, is listed as an assumption in the 2026 ranges. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said it remains on track to meet the financial goals presented at its November 2024 investor day. Source
  • Not stated: The January preliminary estimate projected growth of at least 5.5%; the February release reports final full-year figures.

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.