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Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 10 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter sales rose 10.9%: Fourth-quarter net sales were $2.244 billion, up 10.9% reported, 9.2% constant currency and 5.4% organic constant currency, against $2.023 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS reached $8.20: Full-year diluted EPS was $3.55, down 19.9%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $8.20, up 2.5%. Adjusted net earnings were $1.629 billion against reported net earnings of $705.1 million. Source
  • GAAP gross margin fell on inventory charges: GAAP gross margin was 56.8% in Q4 against 63.2% a year earlier. Adjusted gross margin was 72.4% against 71.3%, after $172.2 million of inventory and manufacturing-related charges. Source
  • Operating cash flow reached $1.697 billion: Full-year operating cash flow was $1.697 billion and free cash flow $1.172 billion. Fourth-quarter free cash flow was $368.3 million against $402.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • U.S. moves to direct sales model: Management is moving the U.S. to a predominantly direct and specialized sales organization. It expects this to tempers 2026 sales guidance and to drive durable long-term growth. Source
  • 2026 reported revenue guided 2.5% to 4.5%: Reported revenue change for 2026 is guided at 2.5% to 4.5%, with organic constant currency guidance at 1.0% to 3.0%, and the figures are set out in the guidance list. Source
  • Up to $1.5 billion buyback authorized: The board approved authority to repurchase up to $1.5 billion of common stock, commencing February 9, 2026 with no expiration date. Source

“We made significant strategic and financial progress in 2025, delivering on our initial revenue growth, EPS and free cash flow commitments and integrating three acquisitions, all while navigating tariff headwinds,”

Ivan Tornos, Chairman, President and CEO of Zimmer Biomet

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Reported revenue change SourceFull-year 20262.5% - 4.5%New
Constant currency revenue change SourceFull-year 20262.0% - 4.0%New
Organic constant currency revenue change SourceFull-year 20261.0% - 3.0%New
Paragon 28 revenue effect excluded from organic guidance SourceThrough April 2026 anniversaryapproximately 100bpsNew
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFull-year 2026$8.30 - $8.45New
Share repurchase authorization SourceFrom February 9, 2026; no expiration dateup to $1.5 billionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 financial guidance was provided. The Q3 release gave guidance only for 2025. Source
  • New: A new share repurchase authorization of up to $1.5 billion was approved by the board, replacing no prior authorization named in the documents. Source
  • New: Management described a move to a predominantly direct and specialized sales organization in the U.S., which it said tempers 2026 sales guidance. Source

Fourth-quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth-quarter sales rose 10.9%: Fourth-quarter net sales were $2.244 billion, up 10.9% reported, 9.2% constant currency and 5.4% organic constant currency, against $2.023 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year sales rose 7.2%: Full-year net sales were $8.232 billion, up 7.2% reported, 6.4% constant currency and 3.9% organic constant currency, compared with $7.679 billion in 2024. Source
  • Fourth-quarter diluted EPS fell; adjusted rose: Fourth-quarter diluted EPS was $0.70, down 41.7%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.42, up 4.8%, against $2.31 a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS reached $8.20: Full-year diluted EPS was $3.55, down 19.9%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $8.20, up 2.5%. Adjusted net earnings were $1.629 billion against reported net earnings of $705.1 million. Source

Geographic results

  • U.S. and international both grew in Q4: Fourth-quarter U.S. sales were $1,312.6 million, up 11.1% reported and 5.7% organic. International sales were $931.2 million, up 10.6% reported and 5.0% organic. Source
  • Full-year U.S. sales rose 7.3%: Full-year U.S. sales were $4,764.0 million, up 7.3% reported and 3.7% organic. International sales were $3,467.5 million, up 7.0% reported and 4.1% organic. Source
  • Paragon 28 added to reported growth: Paragon 28, acquired in April 2025, added 2.5 percentage points to full-year reported sales growth, per the company's reconciliation table. Source

“While this bold action tempers our 2026 sales guidance, we are confident that it will drive durable long-term growth and solidify our position as the undisputed market leader.”

Ivan Tornos, Chairman, President and CEO of Zimmer Biomet

Product categories and approvals

  • S.E.T. sales rose 20.1% in Q4: Sports Medicine, Extremities, Trauma, Craniomaxillofacial and Thoracic (S.E.T.) sales were $587.6 million, up 20.1% reported and 2.9% organic; Paragon 28 contributed 15.8 points. Source
  • Knees grew 8.6% in Q4: Knees sales were $911.0 million, up 8.6% reported and 6.9% organic. International knees rose 12.1% reported; U.S. knees rose 6.0%. Source
  • Hips grew 6.8% in Q4: Hips sales were $555.4 million, up 6.8% reported and 4.9% organic. U.S. hips rose 7.9%; international hips rose 5.6% reported and 1.6% organic. Source
  • Full-year knees and hips both rose 4.7%: Full-year knees sales were $3,322.3 million and hips sales $2,093.5 million, each up 4.7% reported. Full-year S.E.T. sales grew 15.2% reported. Source
  • Technology and Data category grew 8.7%: Technology & Data, Bone Cement and Surgical sales were $189.8 million, up 8.7% reported and 6.6% organic. The Q3 release called this category 'Other'. Source
  • FDA clearance for ROSA Knee upgrade: The company received U.S. FDA clearance for ROSA Knee with OptimiZe, which it describes as the most advanced upgrade to its flagship robotic knee system since 2019. Source
  • Brachiator mini-rail system launched: The Paragon 28 subsidiary launched the Brachiator Mini-Rail External Fixation System for complex small bone reconstruction in the foot and ankle. Source

Margins, charges and costs

  • GAAP gross margin fell on inventory charges: GAAP gross margin was 56.8% in Q4 against 63.2% a year earlier. Adjusted gross margin was 72.4% against 71.3%, after $172.2 million of inventory and manufacturing-related charges. Source
  • Charges on discontinued product lines: Excess and obsolete inventory charges on product lines to be discontinued by 2032 were $159.2 million in Q4 and $162.1 million for the year, against $1.3 million and $1.0 million in 2024. Source
  • Restructuring charges rose to $106.3 million: Restructuring and other cost reduction charges were $106.3 million in Q4 against $20.9 million a year earlier. Programs were initiated in February and December 2025. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin declined: Adjusted operating margin was 29.1% in Q4 against 30.8%, and 27.5% for the year against 28.6%. GAAP operating profit was $154.5 million against $389.0 million. Source
  • Adjusted tax rate 17.9% in Q4: The effective tax rate was (40.7)% in Q4 against 16.9% a year earlier. The adjusted effective tax rate was 17.9% against 17.5%. Source

“Against this backdrop, we are committed to delivering EPS and free cash flow growth while continuing to return capital to shareholders in a meaningful way.”

Ivan Tornos, Chairman, President and CEO of Zimmer Biomet

Cash flow and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow reached $1.697 billion: Full-year operating cash flow was $1.697 billion and free cash flow $1.172 billion. Fourth-quarter free cash flow was $368.3 million against $402.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Q4 buybacks totalled $250 million: The company completed $250 million of share repurchases in Q4. Full-year repurchases in the cash flow statement were $487.0 million, against $868.0 million in 2024. Source
  • Dividends paid and net debt: Dividends paid were $190.3 million for the year. Net debt was $6,927.2 million at December 31, 2025, against $5,679.1 million a year earlier; cash was $591.9 million. Source

Sales model transition and strategy

  • U.S. moves to direct sales model: Management is moving the U.S. to a predominantly direct and specialized sales organization. It expects this to tempers 2026 sales guidance and to drive durable long-term growth. Source
  • Two mymobility data collaborations: The company announced OneStep, to improve mobility data capture through smartphones, and PatientIQ, to integrate recovery data and patient-reported outcomes into electronic health records. Source

2026 guidance and buyback authorization

  • 2026 reported revenue guided 2.5% to 4.5%: Reported revenue change for 2026 is guided at 2.5% to 4.5%, with organic constant currency guidance at 1.0% to 3.0%, and the figures are set out in the guidance list. Source
  • 2026 adjusted EPS guided at $8.30 to $8.45: Adjusted diluted EPS for 2026 is guided at $8.30 to $8.45. The company states that a GAAP reconciliation is not available without unreasonable efforts. Source
  • Up to $1.5 billion buyback authorized: The board approved authority to repurchase up to $1.5 billion of common stock, commencing February 9, 2026 with no expiration date. Source

Coming up, as management said on 10 February 2026

  • Paragon 28 anniversary in April 2026: Paragon 28 is excluded from projected organic growth through its one-year anniversary in April 2026, after which it is no longer excluded. Source
  • No significant EU regulation costs from 2026: Management does not expect significant incremental costs related to the EU Medical Device Regulation from January 1, 2026. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management said the change to the U.S. sales model tempers 2026 sales guidance. Source
  • External: Management cited tariff headwinds that the company navigated during 2025 while integrating three acquisitions. Source
  • Operational: Inventory charges on product lines to be discontinued by 2032 were a material component of fourth-quarter gross margin. Source
  • Financial: Restructuring and cost reduction programs produced $106.3 million of Q4 charges, excluded from adjusted results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said it delivered on initial 2025 revenue growth, EPS and free cash flow commitments and integrated three acquisitions. Source
  • Met: The Q3 release said the launch would come soon after PMDA approval; the Q4 release reports the first iodine-treated hip procedure performed in Japan.
  • Not stated: The Q3 release maintained 2025 reported revenue and adjusted EPS guidance. The Q4 release does not state whether that guidance was met.
  • Not stated: Management stated it is committed to delivering EPS and free cash flow growth while continuing to return capital to shareholders. 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.