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UL Solutions Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 19 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 3 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter revenue rose 6.8%: Revenue was $789 million, with organic growth of 5.7%; the company said Consumer and Industrial led the organic growth. Source
  • Net income declined 16.5%: Net income was $71 million against $85 million; diluted EPS was $0.32 against $0.40 a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year Adjusted EBITDA margin 25.9%: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA was $792 million, up 20.7%, with margin up 300 basis points from 2024. Source
  • Industrial revenue up 7.3%: Industrial revenue was $352 million, or 6.1% organic; energy and automation and fire safety drove the gains. Source
  • Restructuring Plan charged in quarter: Pre-tax charges of $37 million related to the expense reduction initiative announced in November 2025. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin widened: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 27.5% against 22.9%, with operating leverage on higher revenue. Source
  • Operating cash flow set a record: Net cash from operations was $600 million for 2025, up from $524 million in 2024. Source

“Surpassing $3 billion in annual revenue for the first time is a significant milestone, reflecting our business model’s strength and resilience during an environment of changing global dynamics.”

President and CEO Jennifer Scanlon

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA margin Sourcefull-year 2026between 26.5% and 27.0%New
Effective tax rate Sourcefull-year 2026approximately 26%New
Capital expenditures Sourcefull-year 2026between 7% and 8% of revenueNew
Quarterly dividend Sourcefirst quarter of 2026$0.145 per shareRaised from $0.13 per share

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 guidance was introduced, covering organic revenue growth, Adjusted EBITDA margin, tax rate and capital expenditures. Source
  • New: The company signed a definitive agreement to sell its Employee Health and Safety software business, previously reported in Software and Advisory. Source

Fourth quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth-quarter revenue rose 6.8%: Revenue was $789 million, with organic growth of 5.7%; the company said Consumer and Industrial led the organic growth. Source
  • Net income declined 16.5%: Net income was $71 million against $85 million; diluted EPS was $0.32 against $0.40 a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS rose 8.2%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.53 against $0.49, and adjusted net income was $114 million, up 11.8%. Source
  • Quarterly Adjusted EBITDA increased 28.4%: Adjusted EBITDA was $217 million, against $169 million a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year revenue grew 6.4%: Revenue was $3,053 million against $2,870 million, including 6.2% organic growth. Source
  • Full-year Adjusted EBITDA margin 25.9%: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA was $792 million, up 20.7%, with margin up 300 basis points from 2024. Source

Segments and service lines

  • Industrial revenue up 7.3%: Industrial revenue was $352 million, or 6.1% organic; energy and automation and fire safety drove the gains. Source
  • Industrial profitability rose: Industrial Adjusted EBITDA was $128 million; margin was 36.4% against 32.0%. Source
  • Consumer growth led by technology: Consumer revenue was $335 million, up 8.4% (7.1% organic). Adjusted EBITDA was $66 million, up 46.7%, with margin of 19.7% against 14.6%. Source
  • Software and Advisory revenue unchanged: Revenue was $102 million; adjusted EBITDA rose 21.1% to $23 million, with margin of 22.5% on higher billable utilization. Source
  • Certification and ongoing services grew: Certification Testing was $223 million against $199 million; Ongoing Certification Services was $259 million against $248 million. Source

“We are well positioned in 2026 for continued high-quality growth thanks to strategic investments we’ve made to support our customers’ innovations,”

President and CEO Jennifer Scanlon

Costs, margins and restructuring

  • Restructuring Plan charged in quarter: Pre-tax charges of $37 million related to the expense reduction initiative announced in November 2025. Source
  • Consumer operating income includes charges: Consumer operating income was $12 million, after $28 million of Restructuring Plan charges, against $22 million a year earlier. Source
  • Quarterly tax expense rose: Income tax expense was $34 million against $7 million; net income margin was 9.0% against 11.5%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin widened: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 27.5% against 22.9%, with operating leverage on higher revenue. Source
  • Lab productivity and footprint actions: The CFO credited laboratory productivity gains and footprint optimization for the Adjusted EBITDA margin improvement in 2025. Source
  • Full-year net income flat: Full-year net income was $345 million, the same as 2024, with income tax expense of $125 million against $70 million. Source

Cash flow, capital and debt

  • Operating cash flow set a record: Net cash from operations was $600 million for 2025, up from $524 million in 2024. Source
  • Free cash flow rose: Free cash flow was $403 million against $287 million; the company defines it as operating cash flow less capital expenditures. Source
  • Capital expenditures fell: Capital expenditures were $197 million against $237 million; management said it continues strategic investments to drive greater productivity. Source
  • Total debt reduced by repayments: Total debt was $494 million after $253 million of net repayments; cash was $295 million plus $8 million of short-term investments. Source

“and we remain confident in our ability to deliver sustainable long-term value.”

Chief Financial Officer Ryan Robinson

Strategy and portfolio changes

  • Software sale to sharpen ULTRUS focus: Management said the sale of the Employee Health and Safety software business will let it concentrate on its core ULTRUS software portfolio. Source
  • Megatrends shape investment focus: Management pointed to the global energy transition and rapid AI-fueled digitalization as megatrends it is focusing on. Source
  • Acquisitions and portfolio refinements continue: Management said it continues to pursue acquisitions and portfolio refinements, and that 2026 guidance rests on assumptions that may change. Source

Demand and service mix

  • Demand sustained across all regions: The CFO said full-year 2025 results came amid sustained demand in every geographic region. Source
  • Geopolitical impacts under monitoring: Management said it is carefully monitoring potential impacts of the geopolitical environment on its business. Source
  • Non-certification services revenue rose: Non-certification Testing and Other Services revenue was $232 million against $221 million in the quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 19 February 2026

  • Software sale expected to close: Management expects the Employee Health and Safety software sale to close in the second quarter of 2026. Source
  • Dividend payment date set: The first-quarter 2026 dividend is payable March 12, 2026, to holders of record at the close of business on March 2, 2026. Source
  • Restructuring completion by Q1 2027: The Restructuring Plan is expected to be substantially completed by the end of the first quarter of 2027.

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Customers Sourceover 80,000

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited geopolitical uncertainty as a reason customers may modify, delay or cancel plans to purchase services. Source
  • Operational: Management said implementing the Restructuring Plan could affect whether 2026 guidance is achieved. Source
  • Demand: Softness in advisory services offset software demand, leaving the segment's revenue unchanged. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results exceeded guidance. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release said the plan would raise annual operating income by $25 to $30 million once complete; this release does not restate it.

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.