Cabot's Q4 Earnings and Sales Miss Estimates, Decline Y/Y

Core Insights - Cabot Corporation (CBT) reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings of 79 cents per share, a significant decline from $2.43 in the same quarter last year [1] - Adjusted earnings were $1.70 per share, down from $1.80 year-over-year, and missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.72 [1] - Net sales for the quarter were $899 million, falling short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $952.6 million, and representing a 10.2% decrease from the prior-year quarter [1] Segment Performance - Sales in the Reinforcement Materials segment decreased by approximately 12.6% year-over-year to $563 million, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $617 million [2] - Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) in the Reinforcement Materials segment were $119 million, down around 3.3% from the previous year, primarily due to lower volumes in the Asia Pacific and the Americas [2] - The Performance Chemicals division saw a 4.3% decline in sales to $308 million, also missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $313 million [3] - EBIT in the Performance Chemicals segment decreased by approximately 4.6% to $42 million, driven by a 5% decrease in volumes, particularly due to reduced demand in Europe [3] Financial Overview - At the end of the fourth quarter, Cabot had a cash balance of $258 million, with cash flows from operating activities amounting to $219 million [4] - Capital expenditures for the quarter totaled $64 million, while $25 million was used for dividends and $39 million for share repurchases [4] Future Outlook - The company does not expect a recovery in the external environment for fiscal 2026, citing ongoing weakness in regional demand for Reinforcement Materials due to high Asian tire imports [5] - Adjusted EPS for fiscal 2026 is projected to be between $6.00 and $7.00, reflecting macroeconomic uncertainty and competitive pressures [5] - Performance Chemicals is expected to show profit growth, supported by strength in Battery Materials and opportunities in infrastructure and alternative energy [5] Stock Performance - Cabot's shares have declined by 47.6% over the past year, compared to a 39.1% decline in the industry [6]