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Valvoline Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 19 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 6 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter sales rose 4%: Net revenues were $453.8 million, up 4%, or 10% considering Refranchising. System-wide store sales rose 11% to $918.4 million in the quarter. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EBITDA rose 6%: Adjusted EBITDA was $467 million, up 6%, or 11% considering Refranchising. Adjusted EPS of $1.59 rose 1%, or 8% considering Refranchising. Source
  • Quarterly reported earnings fell 71%: Reported income from continuing operations was $26 million, and EPS was $0.20, each down 71%. Operating income fell 37% to $84.5 million. Source
  • System-wide same-store sales rose 6.1%: System-wide same-store sales grew 6.1% for fiscal 2025 and 6.0% in the fourth quarter. Company-operated same-store sales rose 5.6% for the year; franchised rose 6.5%. Source
  • Operating cash flow reached $307 million: Full-year operating cash flow from continuing operations was $307.1 million against $282.9 million. Free cash flow was $47.9 million against $58.5 million. Source
  • Breeze store count and price: The company will acquire a net 162 stores after 45 are divested to Mainstreet Auto, LLC, at a net purchase price of $593 million. Source
  • Same-store sales guided 4% to 6%: Fiscal 2026 system-wide same-store sales growth is guided to 4% to 6%, against 6.1% reported for fiscal 2025. Source

“We continue to advance our strategic priorities and create long-term value for our shareholders,”

Lori Flees, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
System-wide SSS growth Sourcefiscal 20264% - 6%New
System-wide store additions Sourcefiscal 2026330 - 360New
Net revenues Sourcefiscal 2026$2.0 - $2.1 billionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal 2026$525 - $550 millionNew
Adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$1.60 - $1.70New
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026$250 - $280 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fiscal 2026 guidance given for six measures; the table notes it includes the Breeze acquisition. Source
  • New: FTC clearance received for the Breeze Autocare acquisition. Source

Fourth-quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth-quarter sales rose 4%: Net revenues were $453.8 million, up 4%, or 10% considering Refranchising. System-wide store sales rose 11% to $918.4 million in the quarter. Source
  • Full-year sales grew 6%: Fiscal 2025 net revenues were $1.7 billion, up 6%, or 12% considering Refranchising. System-wide store sales were $3,453.8 million, up 11%. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EBITDA rose 6%: Adjusted EBITDA was $467 million, up 6%, or 11% considering Refranchising. Adjusted EPS of $1.59 rose 1%, or 8% considering Refranchising. Source
  • Quarterly reported earnings fell 71%: Reported income from continuing operations was $26 million, and EPS was $0.20, each down 71%. Operating income fell 37% to $84.5 million. Source
  • Full-year reported earnings flat: Full-year income from continuing operations was $215 million, flat, and diluted EPS of $1.67 rose 2%. Source

Store network and same-store sales

  • System-wide same-store sales rose 6.1%: System-wide same-store sales grew 6.1% for fiscal 2025 and 6.0% in the fourth quarter. Company-operated same-store sales rose 5.6% for the year; franchised rose 6.5%. Source
  • Store count reached 2,180: System-wide stores rose 170 over the year to 2,180, with 1,016 company-operated and 1,164 franchised. The fourth quarter added 56 net stores. Source
  • Fourth-quarter openings and acquisitions: Company-operated stores had 26 openings, 8 acquisitions and 1 closure in the quarter; franchised stores had 24 openings and 1 closure. Source
  • Service center count boilerplate updated: The company description now cites approximately 2,200 service centers and more than 30 million services a year, against more than 2,100 and 28 million in the prior release. Source

“We are pleased to have received FTC approval on our purchase of Breeze Autocare.”

Lori Flees, President and CEO

Costs, margins and below-the-line items

  • Selling and admin costs climbed: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $95.3 million in the quarter against $81.1 million, and $349.9 million for the year against $305.1 million. Source
  • Pension expense rose on remeasurement: Net pension and other postretirement plan expenses were $26.3 million in the quarter against $1.3 million, including a fourth-quarter remeasurement loss of $26.6 million. Source
  • Other income fell year over year: Other income, net was $2.1 million in the quarter against $44.5 million a year earlier. Investment and divestiture-related costs were $13.8 million, against income of $41.1 million in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin held steady: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 28.7% in the quarter against 28.5%, and 27.3% for the year in both periods. Source
  • Interest and tax expense changed: Net interest and other financing expenses were $21.0 million in the quarter against $18.0 million. Income tax expense was $11.6 million against $26.2 million. Source

Cash flow and capital spending

  • Operating cash flow reached $307 million: Full-year operating cash flow from continuing operations was $307.1 million against $282.9 million. Free cash flow was $47.9 million against $58.5 million. Source
  • Capital additions rose to $259 million: Additions to property, plant and equipment were $259.2 million against $224.4 million. Maintenance additions were $66.1 million against $35.9 million. Source
  • Free cash flow excluding growth was lower: Free cash flow excluding growth capital expenditures was $241.0 million against $247.0 million. Source
  • Acquisition spend and sale proceeds: Acquisitions, net of cash acquired, were $65.0 million for the year; proceeds from sale of operations, net of cash disposed, were $121.0 million. Source

“Their dedication to delivering a quick, easy, and trusted experience to our guests remains a key driver of our growth.”

Lori Flees, President and CEO

Balance sheet and shareholder returns

  • Cash and debt at year-end: Cash and cash equivalents were $52 million at September 30, 2025, and total debt was $1.1 billion. Source
  • Share repurchases returned $60 million: Share repurchases returned $60 million in cash to shareholders for the year. The cash flow statement shows $76.8 million of repurchases, including $16.4 million of excise taxes. Source
  • Diluted share count declined: Weighted average diluted shares were 128.6 million for the year against 131.0 million, and 128.4 million in the quarter against 130.3 million. Source
  • Stockholders' equity rose: Stockholders' equity was $338.5 million at September 30, 2025, against $185.6 million a year earlier. Source

Breeze Autocare acquisition

  • Breeze store count and price: The company will acquire a net 162 stores after 45 are divested to Mainstreet Auto, LLC, at a net purchase price of $593 million. Source
  • Breeze price subject to adjustments: The price is subject to adjustments for store acquisitions and sale-leaseback transactions Breeze completed since signing, and customary closing adjustments. Source
  • Term Loan B to fund Breeze: The transaction will be funded with a newly issued $740 million Term Loan B. Source
  • Breeze team to join Valvoline: Management said it looks forward to welcoming the Breeze team to Valvoline on closing. Source

Fiscal 2026 guidance

  • Same-store sales guided 4% to 6%: Fiscal 2026 system-wide same-store sales growth is guided to 4% to 6%, against 6.1% reported for fiscal 2025. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA guided at $525-$550 million: Adjusted EBITDA is guided to $525 million to $550 million, against $467 million for fiscal 2025. The company says it cannot reconcile this non-GAAP range to GAAP without unreasonable efforts. Source
  • Adjusted EPS guided at $1.60-$1.70: Adjusted EPS is guided to $1.60 to $1.70, against $1.59 for fiscal 2025. Source
  • Store additions and capex guided: System-wide store additions are guided to 330 to 360, and capital expenditures to $250 million to $280 million. Source

Comparability and key items

  • Refranchising moved 67 stores to franchise: The company sold 67 stores from company to franchise ownership across three transactions in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 and first quarter of fiscal 2025. Recast figures assume these occurred before October 1, 2023. Source
  • Same-store sales definition revised: From fiscal 2025, same-store sales are measured on stores in operation for 12 full months, and prior periods were revised to match. Source
  • Key items excluded from adjusted results: Adjusted results exclude key items such as pension expense, legacy and separation items, information technology transition costs and investment and divestiture-related items. Source

Coming up, as management said on 19 November 2025

  • Breeze closing planned December 1: Management expects to close the Breeze transaction on December 1, 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Capital expenditure Source$259.2 million, fiscal 2025 (additions to property, plant and equipment)
Maintenance capital expenditure Source$66.1 million, fiscal 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Pension and postretirement expense is affected by remeasurement; the fourth quarter included a $26.6 million loss. Source
  • Operational: Information technology transition costs of $11.5 million for the year include support for enhanced manual procedures and material weakness remediation. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the company delivered its financial targets in fiscal 2025. 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.