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Shoals Technologies Group, Inc.: 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

  • Earlier order-pattern language withdrawn: The company corrected the release, stating that the earlier language on customer order patterns and suspending guidance was included in error. Source
  • Fourth quarter revenue rose 39%: Revenue rose to $148.3 million from $107.0 million, driven by higher volumes of products for utility scale solar project demands. Source
  • Fourth quarter gross margin fell: Gross profit was 31.6% of revenue, against 37.6% a year earlier. The company attributed the decline to higher material costs and duties and tariffs. Source
  • Duties and tariffs absent last year: The company reported $3.3 million of duties and tariffs in the fourth quarter, with none of this type incurred in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Backlog and awarded orders reached $747.6 million: Backlog and awarded orders were $747.6 million, up 17.8% from a year earlier and 3.7% from September 30, 2025. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell sharply: Full-year net cash from operations was $17.1 million, against $80.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • First quarter and full-year 2026 guidance set: Guidance was issued for the first quarter and full year 2026, covering revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, operating cash flow, capital expenditures and interest expense. Source

“We are beginning to see tangible results of executing our strategic plan”

Brandon Moss, CEO of Shoals

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefirst quarter 2026 (quarter ending March 31, 2026)$125 million to $135 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefirst quarter 2026$16 million to $21 millionNew
Revenue Sourcefull year 2026$560 million to $600 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$110 million to $130 millionNew
Cash flow from operations Sourcefull year 2026$65 million to $85 millionNew
Capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$20 million to $30 millionNew
Interest expense Sourcefull year 2026$8 million to $12 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Guidance was given for the first quarter and full year 2026. The prior release gave guidance for the fourth quarter and full year 2025. Source
  • New: The company description now names data center power systems alongside utility scale solar and battery storage. The prior description referred to the global energy transition market. Source

Corrected press release

  • Earlier order-pattern language withdrawn: The company corrected the release, stating that the earlier language on customer order patterns and suspending guidance was included in error. Source
  • No material change in order patterns: The company states it has not experienced recent changes in customer order patterns in any material respect. Source
  • Reported financial results unchanged: The company says the correction makes no other changes to its reported financial results. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth quarter revenue rose 39%: Revenue rose to $148.3 million from $107.0 million, driven by higher volumes of products for utility scale solar project demands. Source
  • Quarterly operating and net income: Income from operations was $17.4 million, and net income was $8.1 million. Diluted EPS was $0.05 in both the current and prior-year quarter. Source
  • Full-year revenue grew 19%: Full-year revenue was $475.3 million, up 19%, driven by higher volumes for utility scale solar projects. Source
  • Full-year net income rose: Full-year net income was $33.6 million against $24.1 million, and diluted EPS was $0.20 against $0.14. Source

“The commercial team drove continued strength in bookings, resulting in record backlog and awarded orders, or BLAO, of $747.6 million”

Brandon Moss, CEO of Shoals

Gross margin and costs

  • Fourth quarter gross margin fell: Gross profit was 31.6% of revenue, against 37.6% a year earlier. The company attributed the decline to higher material costs and duties and tariffs. Source
  • Duties and tariffs absent last year: The company reported $3.3 million of duties and tariffs in the fourth quarter, with none of this type incurred in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • New Tennessee facility lease adds amortization: The lease for a new Portland, Tennessee operations facility added $1.5 million of right-of-use asset amortization compared with the prior period. Source
  • Full-year gross margin edged lower: Full-year gross margin was 35.0% against 35.6%. Management cited tariffs, material costs, non-recurring charges, competitive dynamics, volume discounts and product mix, partly offset by lower shrinkback expense. Source

Operating expenses and legal costs

  • Fourth quarter G&A rose on professional fees: General and administrative expenses were $27.3 million against $21.5 million. Professional services rose, partly offset by lower payroll costs. Source
  • Full-year legal costs drove G&A: Full-year general and administrative expenses were $101.5 million against $82.3 million, mainly from higher legal and professional costs. Source
  • Intellectual property litigation expense higher: Intellectual property litigation expense rose to $9.1 million in 2025 from $6.0 million in 2024. Source

“Shoals has never been more diversified, and enters the year in an unprecedented competitive position.”

Brandon Moss, CEO of Shoals

Demand and order book

  • Backlog and awarded orders reached $747.6 million: Backlog and awarded orders were $747.6 million, up 17.8% from a year earlier and 3.7% from September 30, 2025. Source
  • Growth in domestic and international markets: Management attributed the increase to continued demand for solar products, with growth in new domestic and international markets. Source
  • Backlog and take-or-pay terms: Backlog covers signed purchase orders or minimum purchase commitments with take-or-pay provisions. Awarded orders are not yet under signed contracts. Source

Products and end markets

  • Battery storage added as order category: Management described battery energy storage (BESS) as an offering with its own backlog and awarded orders at period end. Source
  • Multi-category position in several segments: Management said the company is growing into a multi-category leader across several market segments, building on its utility solar experience. Source
  • Core utility solar share defended: Management said the company is defending share within its core markets while expanding its product portfolio. Source

Cash, balance sheet and capital

  • Operating cash flow fell sharply: Full-year net cash from operations was $17.1 million, against $80.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Capital spending increased: Purchases of property, plant and equipment were $33.0 million in 2025, against $8.4 million in 2024. Source
  • Receivables and inventory built up: Accounts receivable and inventory both rose over the year, with receivables at $128.8 million and inventory at $89.9 million at year end. Source
  • Warranty payments used operating cash: Warranty liability used $41.0 million of operating cash in 2025, against $29.1 million in 2024. Source
  • Year-end cash balance lower: Year-end cash and cash equivalents were $7.3 million, against $23.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • No share repurchases in 2025: The cash flow statement shows no repurchase of Class A common stock in 2025, against $25.3 million in 2024. Source

Strategy and portfolio

  • Strategic plan results beginning: Management said it is beginning to see tangible results from executing its strategic plan. Source
  • Investments and process gains credited: Management credited strategic investments, portfolio expansion and process improvements with positioning the company for the coming year and beyond. Source

Non-GAAP adjustments

  • Shrinkback litigation excluded from adjusted measures: Adjusted measures exclude wire insulation shrinkback litigation expenses, which management treats as distinct from ordinary course legal matters. Source
  • Plant consolidation costs excluded: Plant optimization expenses of $1.1 million for 2025 relate to consolidating operations into a new facility and are excluded from adjusted measures. Source

2026 guidance issued

  • First quarter and full-year 2026 guidance set: Guidance was issued for the first quarter and full year 2026, covering revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, operating cash flow, capital expenditures and interest expense. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation not provided: No reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA guidance to GAAP is provided, because the company cannot do so without unreasonable effort. Source
  • Guidance based on current conditions: The guidance is stated as based on current business conditions, business trends and other factors. Source

Coming up, as management said on 24 February 2026

  • Quarterly guidance to continue: Management intends to keep providing quarterly guidance consistent with its current practice. Source
  • First quarter 2026 period ends March 31: The first quarter 2026 guidance covers the quarter ending March 31, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Backlog and awarded orders Source$747.6 million
Gross margin Source31.6% fourth quarter 2025; 35.0% full year 2025
BESS backlog and awarded orders Sourcemore than $67 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Competitive dynamics and volume discounts in key markets were cited as pressures on full-year gross margin. Source
  • Regulatory: The company continues to incur expenses in its lawsuit against the supplier of the defective wire. Source
  • Operational: Lease costs for the new Portland, Tennessee facility are adding right-of-use amortization to operating expenses. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release gave fourth quarter 2025 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA ranges. The reported quarter results appear in the results section.
  • Not stated: The prior release gave a full-year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA range. The reported full-year figure appears in the results section.

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.