Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported GAAP EPS of $1.01 for Q4 2025, up from $0.99 in the prior year, with adjusted EPS growing nearly 6% to $1.09 from $1.03 [9] - Average daily sales improved by 2.7% year over year in Q4, with core customer average daily sales growth turning positive [6][7] - For the fiscal year, average daily sales declined 1.3% year over year, with gross margin contracting to 40.8%, down 40 basis points [12][13] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - High-touch solutions, including vending and implant programs, continued to show strong performance, with vending sales up 10% year over year [17] - Core customer daily sales improved by 4.1% year over year, while national accounts declined by 0.7% [16] - Public sector sales grew by 8.5% year over year, although there was a negative impact from the government shutdown in October [16][70] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The aerospace sector remains strong, while heavy equipment and agriculture markets are stabilizing after a period of weakness [10][11] - The company noted pockets of acute softness in markets such as heavy trucks, but overall conditions are characterized as stable with some improvement [10][11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on three top priorities: maintaining momentum in high-touch solutions, re-energizing the core customer base, and optimizing cost to serve [4][5] - There is an emphasis on enhancing the e-commerce experience and marketing efforts to support core customer growth [5][18] - Leadership transitions are underway, with a new SVP of Sales and a focus on improving customer experience [21][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management described the operating environment as stable with ongoing uncertainty, particularly regarding tariffs and inflation [10] - Expectations for fiscal 2026 include average daily sales growth of 3.5% to 4.5%, with adjusted operating margins projected between 8.0% and 8.6% [23][24] - The company anticipates continued productivity improvements and a return to gross margin stability [24][44] Other Important Information - The company maintained a healthy balance sheet with net debt of approximately $430 million, representing about 1.1 times EBITDA [14] - Free cash flow for Q4 was $58 million, representing 104% of net income, with a full-year conversion of 122% [14][15] - The company returned $229 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends during the fiscal year [15] Q&A Session Summary Question: On gross margin and supplier price increases - Management acknowledged an unusual surge in supplier price increases and noted that they have taken further pricing actions to address this [37][41] Question: On seller effectiveness KPIs - Management indicated they are in the early stages of operational changes, with improvements in customer touches and sales per rep per day [50][51] Question: On macroeconomic conditions and national accounts - Management highlighted that while some markets are stabilizing, there are still acute challenges, particularly in heavy truck markets [54][55] Question: On pricing strategy for 2026 - Management stated that pricing actions will be taken as needed to meet inflation, with expectations for low single-digit increases [60][61] Question: On government shutdown impacts - Management noted a strong public sector performance in Q4, but a decline in October due to the shutdown, with expectations for recovery once it ends [69][70]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company generated total adjusted revenues of $730 million in Q4 2024, resulting in 6% organic growth, which was above expectations [18] - For the full year, total adjusted revenue was $2.76 billion, with 1% organic growth [19] - Adjusted EPS for Q4 was $1.42, exceeding guidance by $0.04, and for the full year, adjusted EPS was $4.90, representing 5% growth year over year [21][22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Life Sciences segment generated $336 million in Q4, up 5% on both a reported and organic basis, but down low single digits for the full year [25] - Diagnostics segment generated $393 million in Q4, up 4% on a reported basis and 6% on an organic basis, with 4% organic growth for the full year [27] - The Life Sciences instruments revenue was down high single digits in Q4 and down low double digits for the full year [25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4, organic revenue growth was 5% in Life Sciences and 6% in Diagnostics, with mid single digits growth in the Americas, low single digits in Europe, and mid single digits in Asia, particularly high single digits in China [23] - For the full year, China experienced low single digit growth in diagnostics and mid teens growth in life sciences, but overall, China declined in the low single digits organically [24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to step up strategic internal investments in 2025, expecting organic growth to improve [9][31] - A new Life Sciences Solutions business unit will be established, representing approximately 85% of the Life Sciences segment, reflecting a re-segmentation of the Applied Genomics business [14] - The company aims for adjusted operating margin expansion of 20 to 40 basis points in 2025, despite increased investments [31] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that while demand trends have stabilized, the pace of recovery remains uncertain, leading to a cautious outlook for 2025 [39] - The company expects total organic growth in 2025 to be in the range of 3% to 5%, with balanced growth expected throughout the year [30] - Management expressed optimism about the potential for recovery in the Applied Genomics business as it transitions to the Life Sciences Solutions portfolio [63] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $185 million worth of shares in Q4, bringing total buyback activity for 2024 to $370 million [22] - Free cash flow for Q4 was $151 million, with a full year total of $578 million, equating to 96% conversion of adjusted net income [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on key end markets and recovery areas - Management acknowledged a path to recovery but emphasized uncertainty in the pace of return to normalcy, with diagnostics and software businesses showing signs of improvement while instrumentation remains a concern [39][40] Question: Guidance for China and stimulus impact - Management expects China to align with company growth averages, with modest stimulus impact anticipated [41][42] Question: Segment outlooks relative to overall guidance - Diagnostics is expected to perform above the company average, while Life Sciences is projected to be in the low single digits [46][47] Question: Expectations for reagents growth - Management indicated that the reagents business is gaining market share and is expected to grow in mid single digits for fiscal 2025 [48][50] Question: Q1 guidance and margin visibility - Management noted that Q1 margins are typically below the full year average, with a similar cadence expected as in 2024 [54] Question: Applied Genomics recovery expectations - Management expressed optimism about the recovery of the Applied Genomics business as it transitions to the Life Sciences Solutions portfolio [63] Question: FX impact on margins - Management clarified that FX does not have a material impact on operating margins [66] Question: Strategic investments for 2025 - Management highlighted increased investments in digital capabilities and expanding sales channels as part of their strategy for 2025 [70]