Custom Truck One Source Q4 Earnings Call Highlights

Core Insights - Custom Truck One Source reported record quarterly revenue of $528 million for Q4 2025, with adjusted EBITDA of $121 million, reflecting an 18% year-over-year increase. Full-year revenue reached $1.944 billion, an 8% increase from 2024, with adjusted EBITDA up 13% [7][8]. Segment Performance - APS (Advanced Power Solutions) generated $37 million in revenue for Q4, maintaining a gross margin of 27%. The full-year gross margin was just under 24%, improving by nearly 120 basis points year-over-year [1]. - TES (Truck and Equipment Sales) reported Q4 equipment sales of $284 million, down 8% year-over-year due to customers advancing capital spending and deferring deliveries. Full-year revenue was $1.1 billion, up 4% and the highest in the segment's history [2]. - ERS (Equipment Rental Solutions) achieved Q4 revenue of $207 million, a 20% increase year-over-year, with full-year revenue growing 17%. Utilization averaged 83.6% in Q4, up approximately 470 basis points from Q4 2024 [3][5]. Financial Performance - The company reported a Q4 net income of approximately $21 million but a full-year GAAP net loss of about $31 million, affected by a prior year gain from a sale-leaseback transaction. Excluding this gain, underlying net income improved due to higher gross profit and lower interest expenses [4]. - The average OEC (Original Equipment Cost) on rent was just under $1.4 billion in Q4, up 14% year-over-year, with management noting historically high levels of utilization and OEC on rent [5][6]. Strategic Initiatives - A strategic partnership with Hiab was highlighted, aimed at broadening the product portfolio and enhancing service capabilities in various markets [10]. - The company is investing in expanding aftermarket service capacity to support TES customers and grow parts and service revenue [11]. Balance Sheet and Cash Flow - The company ended 2025 with net debt of $1.65 billion and net leverage of 4.3x, an improvement from the previous year. Working capital progress was noted, with inventory declining by over $100 million in Q4 [12][13]. - Net rental capital expenditures exceeded $40 million in Q4, with total rental fleet OEC reaching almost $1.64 billion, a record high [14]. 2026 Outlook - Full-year 2026 guidance projects revenue between $2.005 billion and $2.12 billion, with adjusted EBITDA of $410 million to $435 million, indicating year-over-year growth of 3% to 9% in revenue and 7% to 13% in adjusted EBITDA [15]. - The company plans to reduce net investment in the rental fleet to approximately $150 million to $170 million in 2026, down from over $250 million in 2025, while still growing the rental fleet at a mid-single-digit rate [15]. Reporting Changes - Starting with the quarter ending March 31, 2026, the company will shift to two reportable segments: Specialty Equipment Rentals (SER) and Specialty Truck Equipment and Manufacturing (STEM) [16].