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Vertiv Holdings Co.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 22 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 5 raised, 1 lowered, 6 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 29%: Net sales were $2,676 million, up 29% from the prior-year quarter; organic net sales rose 28%. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose to $1.02: Diluted EPS was $1.02 against $0.46 a year earlier; adjusted diluted EPS was $1.24, up 63%. Source
  • Organic orders up about 60%: Organic orders rose about 60% year over year and 20% sequentially from the second quarter. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin 22.3%: Adjusted operating margin was 22.3%, up 220 basis points from a year earlier and 380 basis points from the second quarter. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow $462M: Operating cash flow was $509 million and adjusted free cash flow was $462 million, up 38%, helped by higher operating profit and lower interest. Source
  • Full-year 2025 guidance raised: Management raised full-year 2025 guidance for net sales, organic growth, adjusted operating profit, adjusted diluted EPS and adjusted free cash flow, citing backlog and pipelines. Source

“We delivered strong sales growth of 29% and built significant backlog, reflecting both accelerating market demand and our increasingly strong competitive position and unique capabilities to enable our customers’ most advanced infrastructure needs at scale.”

Giordano Albertazzi, Vertiv's Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceFourth quarter 2025$2,810M - $2,890MNew
Organic net sales growth SourceFourth quarter 202518% - 22%New
Adjusted operating profit SourceFourth quarter 2025$620M - $660MNew
Adjusted operating margin SourceFourth quarter 202522.1% - 22.7%New
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFourth quarter 2025$1.23 - $1.29New
Adjusted free cash flow SourceFourth quarter 2025$470M - $530MNew
Net sales SourceFull year 2025$10,160M - $10,240MRaised from $9,925M - $10,075M
Organic net sales growth SourceFull year 202526% - 28%Raised from 23% - 25%
Adjusted operating profit SourceFull year 2025$2,040M - $2,080MRaised from $1,950M - $2,030M
Adjusted operating margin SourceFull year 202520.0% - 20.5%
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFull year 2025$4.07 - $4.13Raised from $3.75 - $3.85
Adjusted free cash flow SourceFull year 2025$1,470M - $1,530MRaised from $1,375M - $1,425M
Capital expenditures SourceFull year 2025~$250 millionLowered from $250 - $300 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2025 net sales, organic growth, adjusted operating profit, adjusted diluted EPS and adjusted free cash flow ranges raised from the July release. Source
  • New guidance: Quarter-specific guidance for fourth quarter 2025 given; the second-quarter release gave third-quarter guidance instead. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Expected 2025 capital expenditures narrowed to about $250 million from a range of $250 million to $300 million. Source
  • New: Moody's upgraded Vertiv's credit rating to Ba1 from Ba2 during the quarter. Source
  • New: EMEA restructuring program accelerated in the quarter, with restructuring costs of $30.7 million excluded from adjusted measures. Source
  • New: Adjusted operating profit now also excludes restructuring costs, which the second-quarter release did not exclude. Source
  • New: Cash flow statement shows $221.7 million for acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired; the second-quarter release described an agreement to acquire Great Lakes. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose 29%: Net sales were $2,676 million, up 29% from the prior-year quarter; organic net sales rose 28%. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose to $1.02: Diluted EPS was $1.02 against $0.46 a year earlier; adjusted diluted EPS was $1.24, up 63%. Source
  • Operating profit up 39%: Operating profit was $517 million, up 39%; adjusted operating profit was $596 million, up 43%. Source

Segments and regions

  • Americas sales grew 43%: Americas net sales were $1,712.4 million, up 42.9%; Americas products grew 49.1% and services and spares grew 18.3%. Source
  • APAC sales grew 20%: APAC net sales were $519.8 million, up 20.2%; its adjusted operating margin was 13.2%, up from 10.2%. Source
  • EMEA sales flat, margin lower: EMEA net sales were $443.6 million against $442.5 million; adjusted operating margin fell to 18.8% from 25.9%. Source

“To meet the strong industry demand, we are investing even more decisively, expanding manufacturing and services capacity and amplifying our ER&D capabilities,”

Giordano Albertazzi, Vertiv's Chief Executive Officer

Orders, backlog and book-to-bill

  • Organic orders up about 60%: Organic orders rose about 60% year over year and 20% sequentially from the second quarter. Source
  • Trailing orders up on AI demand: Management attributed trailing twelve-month organic order growth to sustained demand and market penetration, particularly in AI-driven infrastructure. Source
  • Backlog rose to $9.5 billion: Backlog reached $9.5 billion, up from $8.5 billion at the end of the second quarter. Source
  • Pipeline activity grew: Management described significant growth in pipeline activity as continued market demand. Source

Margins and cost drivers

  • Adjusted operating margin 22.3%: Adjusted operating margin was 22.3%, up 220 basis points from a year earlier and 380 basis points from the second quarter. Source
  • Margin gains from volume and productivity: Management attributed the margin to operational leverage on higher sales and manufacturing and procurement productivity, partly offset by tariff impact. Source
  • Selling and admin costs rose: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $414.3 million, against $334.6 million in the prior-year quarter. Source

“We’ve built a durable foundation - one that’s not easily replicated - and we’re leveraging it to unlock value in a fast-growing, AI-driven market.”

Dave Cote, Vertiv's Executive Chairman

Cash, capital and credit

  • Adjusted free cash flow $462M: Operating cash flow was $509 million and adjusted free cash flow was $462 million, up 38%, helped by higher operating profit and lower interest. Source
  • Liquidity $2.7B, leverage 0.5x: Liquidity was $2.7 billion and net leverage about 0.5x at the end of the quarter. Source
  • Moody's upgraded credit rating: Moody's raised the credit rating to Ba1 from Ba2; management said it remains committed to investment grade ratings. Source
  • No share buybacks this quarter: No common stock was repurchased in the quarter; dividend payments were $14.2 million, against $9.4 million a year earlier. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Acquisitions and ER&D strengthen portfolio: Management said ER&D technology and strategic acquisitions strengthened the portfolio and data center expertise, placing Vertiv ahead of industry trends. Source
  • Positioned for growth in 2026: Management said the company is positioned to deliver growth for the rest of 2025 and for 2026, citing its portfolio. Source
  • Investment described as building foundation: Dave Cote described ongoing investment in differentiated technologies and global capacity as the basis for current results. Source

Guidance and tariff basis

  • Full-year 2025 guidance raised: Management raised full-year 2025 guidance for net sales, organic growth, adjusted operating profit, adjusted diluted EPS and adjusted free cash flow, citing backlog and pipelines. Source
  • Guidance excludes proposed tariffs: Guidance reflects tariff rates active on October 20, 2025 and excludes proposed tariffs that may take effect later, pending regulatory clarification. Source
  • Tariff rates in guidance basis: The guidance basis includes IEEPA tariffs of 20% on China, 25% on Mexico, 35% on Canada, 0% under USMCA, and 50% Section 232 copper, steel and aluminum tariffs. Source

Coming up, as management said on 22 October 2025

  • Capital spending to expand in 2026: Management said capital expenditures will expand further in 2026 to support anticipated significant revenue growth. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Book-to-bill Source~1.4x
Backlog Source$9.5 billion

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Tariff costs beyond current guidance are possible as the tariff perimeter changes. Source
  • Operational: Management said it is addressing operational inefficiencies seen last quarter, which the second-quarter release had cited as a margin factor. Source
  • Demand: Management expects EMEA market conditions to improve in the second half of 2026, the timing its restructuring is tied to. Source
  • Financial: Higher taxes and capital investment partly offset the rise in cash flow from operations. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The second-quarter release expected temporary margin factors to be materially resolved by year end; the third-quarter release gives no status on this.
  • Not stated: The second-quarter release reiterated the 25% long-term adjusted operating margin target for 2029; the third-quarter 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.