greeksoup/ stock research

Whirlpool Corp.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 13 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year ongoing EPS fell to $6.23: Ongoing diluted EPS was $6.23 for 2025, against $12.21 in 2024, down 49.0%. GAAP diluted EPS was $5.66, against $(5.87) a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year net sales fell 6.5%: Net sales were $15,524 million for 2025, down 6.5% as reported. Excluding currency and divested businesses, they were $15,703 million, down 0.3%. Source
  • North America margin fell to 2.8%: MDA North America Q4 net sales were $2,573 million, down 0.9%. EBIT was $71 million, down 59.0%, with margin at 2.8% against 6.7%. Source
  • $200 million structural cost take-out executed: Management said it executed $200 million of structural cost take-out in 2025, which helped mitigate the impact of tariffs. Source
  • Free cash flow fell to $78 million: Operating cash flow was $467 million for 2025, against $835 million. Free cash flow after capital expenditures was $78 million, against $385 million. Source
  • Inventory build absorbed cash: Inventories used $372 million of cash in 2025, against a $172 million source in 2024. Accounts payable provided $174 million, against $125 million. Source
  • India stake sale produced $251 million gain: In Q4 the company sold an 11% stake in its India business and deconsolidated it, recording a gain of $251 million. Source

“With a challenging 2025 behind us, our confidence for 2026 is based on our recent successful product launches, reduced promotional intensity and a gradual recovery of the housing market.”

MARC BITZER, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Sourcefull year 2026$15.3 - $15.6 billionNew
Net sales growth Sourcefull year 2026approximately 5%New
GAAP net earnings margin Sourcefull year 2026~2.3%New
Ongoing EBIT margin Sourcefull year 20265.5 - 5.8%New
GAAP earnings per diluted share Sourcefull year 2026approximately $6.25New
Ongoing earnings per diluted share Sourcefull year 2026approximately $7.00New
Reported EBIT, ongoing EBIT and restructuring Sourcefull year 2026reported EBIT ~$825; ongoing EBIT ~$875; restructuring ~$50New
Tax rate Sourcefull year 2026approximately 25%New
Structural cost take-out Sourcefull year 2026over $150 million or 100 basis pointsNew
Cash provided by operating activities Sourcefull year 2026approximately $850 millionNew
Free cash flow Sourcefull year 2026$400 - $500 millionNew
Capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026approximately $400 millionNew
Debt reduction Sourcefull year 2026approximately $400 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 guidance for GAAP and ongoing EPS, cash flow and margins was given in this release; the prior release covered 2025 only. Source
  • New: Ownership stake in Whirlpool of India was reduced to about 40%, with proceeds used to reduce debt. Source
  • Ended: MDA Asia is no longer a separate operating segment after India was deconsolidated effective December 31, 2025; the prior release reported it as a segment. Source
  • New: Roxanne Warner takes the role of chief financial officer; the prior release named Jim Peters in that role. Source

Fourth-quarter and full-year results

  • Full-year ongoing EPS fell to $6.23: Ongoing diluted EPS was $6.23 for 2025, against $12.21 in 2024, down 49.0%. GAAP diluted EPS was $5.66, against $(5.87) a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year net sales fell 6.5%: Net sales were $15,524 million for 2025, down 6.5% as reported. Excluding currency and divested businesses, they were $15,703 million, down 0.3%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter sales and EPS lower: Q4 net sales were $4,098 million, down 0.9%, and organic net sales were $4,046 million, down 0.9%. Q4 GAAP EPS was $1.91, against $(7.10). Source
  • Ongoing EBIT margin fell to 4.7%: Full-year ongoing EBIT was $729 million, down 17.8%, with margin of 4.7% against 5.3%. Q4 ongoing EBIT was $135 million, down 45.6%. Source

Segments, products and customers

  • North America margin fell to 2.8%: MDA North America Q4 net sales were $2,573 million, down 0.9%. EBIT was $71 million, down 59.0%, with margin at 2.8% against 6.7%. Source
  • North America volume and price/mix down: Excluding currency, North America net sales fell 0.9%, driven by volume decline and price/mix, primarily in Canada. Source
  • Latin America sales down excluding currency: MDA Latin America Q4 net sales were $927 million, up 0.8%. Excluding currency, sales fell 4.6% on volume decline, and EBIT margin was 6.4% against 7.6%. Source
  • Small appliance sales rose 10.3%: SDA Global Q4 net sales were $423 million, up 10.3%, or 8.0% excluding currency. EBIT was $59 million, with margin at 13.8% against 12.5%. Source
  • Record new launches in North America: The company cited a record level of new product launches in North America, which management said supports share gains in the second half. Source
  • Direct-to-consumer growth lifted small appliances: Small domestic appliance EBIT margin rose on price/mix and growth in the direct-to-consumer business, according to the segment review. Source

“We will continue to prioritize debt reduction and show operational resilience in 2026, as we focus on working capital efficiency to deliver strong free cash flow.”

ROXANNE WARNER, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Costs, restructuring and impairment

  • $200 million structural cost take-out executed: Management said it executed $200 million of structural cost take-out in 2025, which helped mitigate the impact of tariffs. Source
  • Footprint restructuring costs in Q4: Q4 restructuring costs were $46 million for multi-region footprint optimization, and full-year restructuring costs were $63 million. Source
  • JennAir trademark impairment recorded: Q4 included a $106 million impairment charge, after the JennAir trademark's carrying value was found to exceed its fair value. Source
  • Gross margin lower in both periods: Gross margin was $575 million in Q4, against $671 million, and $2,386 million for the year, against $2,581 million. SG&A was $1,633 million for the year, against $1,684 million. Source

Cash flow and working capital

  • Free cash flow fell to $78 million: Operating cash flow was $467 million for 2025, against $835 million. Free cash flow after capital expenditures was $78 million, against $385 million. Source
  • Inventory build absorbed cash: Inventories used $372 million of cash in 2025, against a $172 million source in 2024. Accounts payable provided $174 million, against $125 million. Source
  • Capital spending lower, asset sales higher: Capital expenditures were $389 million, against $451 million. Proceeds from sales of assets and businesses were $198 million, against $95 million. Source

Debt, dividends and share repurchases

  • Year-end debt and cash balances: At December 31, 2025, notes payable were $351 million and current maturities of long-term debt were $586 million. Long-term debt was $5,583 million and cash was $669 million. Source
  • Net debt repayments in 2025: Net proceeds from new long-term borrowings were $1,200 million, and net repayments of long-term debt were $1,850 million. Source
  • Dividends paid lower, no buybacks: Dividends paid were $299 million, against $384 million. The company repurchased no common stock in 2025, against $50 million in 2024. Source
  • Dividends declared per share lower: Dividends declared were $5.30 per share for 2025, against $7.00 in 2024. Q4 declared dividends were $0.90 per share, against $1.75. Source

Portfolio, India and footprint

  • India stake sale produced $251 million gain: In Q4 the company sold an 11% stake in its India business and deconsolidated it, recording a gain of $251 million. Source
  • Investment in affiliated companies rose: Investment in affiliated companies was $827 million at year-end, against $279 million a year earlier. Source
  • Beko Europe indemnity costs in Q4: Q4 product and tax indemnity costs related to Beko Europe operations were $15 million, recorded in interest and sundry expense. Source
  • Employees and Americas share of sales: The company reported 41,000 employees for 2025, against 44,000 in the prior release. Close to 90% of about $16 billion in net sales was in the Americas. Source

Coming up, as management said on 28 January 2026

  • Price/mix to aid 2026 EBIT margin: Management expects price/mix to favorably impact EBIT margin as new product innovation continues and 2025 launches build momentum. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Manufacturing and technology research centers Source35

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said North America promotions had not yet reflected the full effect of tariffs on EBIT margin. Source
  • Financial: Management named working capital challenges from product refreshes and tariff-related operational shifts as a 2025 issue. Source
  • External: Latin America margin was pressured by Argentina's macro environment and Brazil competition, partly offset by a Brazil tax reserve release. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: The prior release said cost take-out was on track for about $200 million in 2025; this release reports $200 million executed.
  • Not stated: The prior release described 2025 as a record year of launches; this release describes a record level of launches in North America.

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.