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Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter sales fell on volume: Fourth-quarter net sales were $3.7 billion, down 1%. Higher price (+4%) and currency (+2%) were more than offset by volume, which fell 7%. Source
  • Tools & Outdoor sales fell on volume: Tools & Outdoor sales were down 2%: pricing rose 5%, currency 2%, and volume fell 9%. Organic revenues fell 4%, led by North American retail power tools, partly offset by outdoor growth. Source
  • Fourth-quarter gross margin up 240 basis points: Gross margin was 33.2%, up 240 basis points. Adjusted gross margin was 33.3%, up 210 basis points. Source
  • Cost program passed original savings target: The Global Cost Reduction Program has generated about $2.1 billion of pre-tax run-rate savings since mid-2022. Operational excellence remains one of three strategic imperatives. Source
  • Retail softness drove volume decline: Fourth-quarter volume fell 7%, which management primarily attributed to retail softness in North America. Source
  • Full-year free cash flow and debt reduction: Full-year operating cash flow was $971 million and free cash flow was $688 million, which supported about $240 million of total debt reduction. Source
  • Proceeds to go to debt reduction: Management expects to use the after-tax, after-fee proceeds from the CAM sale to reduce debt. Source
  • 2026 EPS midpoint growth: The 2026 ranges imply growth of 42% for GAAP EPS and 13% for adjusted EPS at the midpoint of each range. Free cash flow midpoint rises 16%. Source

“I would like to thank our team for their resilience and commitment to serving our customers and achieving these results despite the dynamic environment.”

Chris Nelson, Stanley Black & Decker's President & CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Diluted GAAP EPS Sourcefull year 2026$3.15 to $4.35New
Adjusted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$4.90 to $5.70New
Free cash flow Sourcefull year 2026$700 to $900 millionNew
Gap between GAAP and adjusted EPS Sourcefull year 2026approximately $1.35 to $1.75New
CAM net proceeds Sourceon closing, expected first half 2026$1.525 billion to $1.6 billionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Company gave first 2026 ranges for GAAP EPS, adjusted EPS and free cash flow. Source
  • New: Company announced a definitive agreement to sell the CAM business for $1.8 billion in cash. Source
  • New: Company will institutionalize annual productivity savings as an ongoing practice. Source
  • Ended: The prior release's 2025 planning assumptions are superseded by reported full-year 2025 results.

Fourth quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth-quarter sales fell on volume: Fourth-quarter net sales were $3.7 billion, down 1%. Higher price (+4%) and currency (+2%) were more than offset by volume, which fell 7%. Source
  • Full-year sales declined 2%: Full-year net sales were $15.1 billion, down 2% versus prior year and down 1% on an organic basis. Source
  • Full-year EPS and adjusted EPS: Full-year EPS was $2.65 and adjusted EPS was $4.67. Adjusted EPS excludes certain gains and charges. Source
  • Fourth-quarter net earnings margin fell: Net earnings were 4.3% of sales, down 90 basis points, mainly from the change in year-over-year tax rate. The fourth-quarter tax rate was 30.6%. Source
  • EBITDA margin rose on both measures: Fourth-quarter EBITDA margin was 11.8%, up 270 basis points. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 13.5%, up 330 basis points. Source

Segments and regions

  • Tools & Outdoor sales fell on volume: Tools & Outdoor sales were down 2%: pricing rose 5%, currency 2%, and volume fell 9%. Organic revenues fell 4%, led by North American retail power tools, partly offset by outdoor growth. Source
  • Tools & Outdoor margin rose 400 basis points: Segment margin was 13.2%, up 400 basis points. Adjusted segment margin was 13.6%, up 340 basis points, which management attributed to pricing, tariff mitigation and supply chain cost reductions. Source
  • North America down, Europe mixed: North America sales fell 4% in total and 5% organically. Europe rose 5% in total but fell 3% organically. Rest of World fell 2% in total and 4% organically. Source
  • Engineered Fastening sales rose 6%: Engineered Fastening sales rose 6%, with volume up 7%, price up 1% and currency up 1%, partly offset by a product line transfer to Tools & Outdoor (-3%). Source
  • Engineered Fastening margin up 140 basis points: Segment margin and adjusted segment margin were both 12.1%, up 140 basis points. Management cited higher volumes, modest price increases and strong cost controls. Source

“In 2025, our rapid response to tariffs and continued strategic focus resulted in meaningful margin and leverage reduction progress despite a challenging environment.”

Patrick Hallinan, EVP, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Administrative Officer

Gross margin, SG&A and pricing

  • Fourth-quarter gross margin up 240 basis points: Gross margin was 33.2%, up 240 basis points. Adjusted gross margin was 33.3%, up 210 basis points. Source
  • Pricing and tariff mitigation drove gains: Management attributed the fourth-quarter gross margin expansion primarily to higher pricing, tariff mitigation and supply chain cost reductions. Source
  • Full-year gross margin up 90 basis points: Full-year gross margin was 30.3%, up 90 basis points. Adjusted gross margin was 30.7%, up 70 basis points. Source
  • SG&A ratio fell in fourth quarter: SG&A was 21.8% of sales, down 120 basis points. Adjusted SG&A was 21.5%, down 100 basis points, as cost management more than offset growth investments. Source

Cost reduction program and charges

  • Cost program passed original savings target: The Global Cost Reduction Program has generated about $2.1 billion of pre-tax run-rate savings since mid-2022. Operational excellence remains one of three strategic imperatives. Source
  • About $120 million added in quarter: The program added about $120 million of incremental pre-tax run-rate savings in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Fourth-quarter non-GAAP charges of $64.1 million: Pre-tax non-GAAP adjustments were $64.1 million, mainly restructuring, a non-cash impairment and footprint actions tied to the supply chain transformation. Source
  • Restructuring and impairment charges recorded: Restructuring charges were $37.0 million and asset impairment charges were $20.4 million in the quarter. Source

Demand and volume

  • Retail softness drove volume decline: Fourth-quarter volume fell 7%, which management primarily attributed to retail softness in North America. Source
  • Power tool demand dynamics in retail: Tools & Outdoor organic decline reflected power tool demand in North American retail and a soft market in several developed markets, partly offset by outdoor growth. Source
  • Aerospace and automotive demand lifted fastening: Engineered Fastening organic revenue rose 8%, due mainly to demand in aerospace and automotive. Source

Cash flow, debt and shareholder returns

  • Fourth-quarter operating cash flow: Operating cash flow was $956 million and free cash flow was $883 million, driven mainly by working capital improvements and tariff mitigation. Source
  • Full-year free cash flow and debt reduction: Full-year operating cash flow was $971 million and free cash flow was $688 million, which supported about $240 million of total debt reduction. Source
  • Dividends returned $500 million: Management said the company returned $500 million of cash to shareholders through its dividend in 2025, while also funding growth investments. Source

CAM divestiture and debt reduction

  • CAM stays in continuing operations: CAM results remain in continuing operations until the sale closes. The planning assumptions include CAM results for the first half of 2026. Source
  • Proceeds to go to debt reduction: Management expects to use the after-tax, after-fee proceeds from the CAM sale to reduce debt. Source
  • Leverage reduction and earnings power: Management described the CAM divestiture as a way to reduce net debt leverage and enhance earnings power for long-term growth. Source

2026 planning assumptions

  • 2026 EPS midpoint growth: The 2026 ranges imply growth of 42% for GAAP EPS and 13% for adjusted EPS at the midpoint of each range. Free cash flow midpoint rises 16%. Source
  • Planning includes CAM and tariffs: The planning assumptions include CAM results for the first half of 2026 and the current tariff landscape. Source
  • Excludes future acquisitions and divestitures: Forecast GAAP EPS excludes potential acquisitions and divestitures unless noted, along with future regulatory changes and cost actions responding to events not yet occurred. Source
  • Prior 2025 planning compared with results: The prior release planned 2025 adjusted EPS at about $4.55 and free cash flow at about $600 million. The company now reports adjusted EPS of $4.67 and free cash flow of $688 million.

Coming up, as management said on 4 February 2026

  • CAM sale expected to close: The divestiture is expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Consolidated volume change, fourth quarter Source-7%
Tools & Outdoor volume change, fourth quarter Source-9%
Engineered Fastening volume change, fourth quarter Source+7%

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said 2026 may be another uncertain and dynamic year. Source
  • Demand: Retail softness in North America was cited as the main reason for the fourth-quarter volume decline. Source
  • Regulatory: Completion of the CAM sale depends on regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The Global Cost Reduction Program reached its original target of about $2.1 billion of pre-tax run-rate savings. Source
  • On track: The prior release said the cost reduction program was on track to achieve targeted 2025 and full-program savings.
  • Not stated: Management said it remains committed to executing its plans to reach near- and long-term margin and cash flow objectives. 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.