Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported organic growth of 2.2% in Q4, with an operating margin of 21.1% and earnings per share (EPS) of $1.83, marking a 9% increase year-on-year [5][18] - Full-year adjusted operating margin was 23.4%, up 200 basis points year-on-year, with adjusted EPS growing to $8.06, reflecting a 10% increase [5][25] - Free cash flow conversion was over 130% in Q4 and slightly above 100% for the full year [5][18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Safety and Industrial segment saw organic sales growth of 3.8% in Q4, driven by strong performance in safety and industrial adhesives [19] - Transportation and Electronics segment reported a 2.4% increase in organic sales in Q4, supported by growth in electronics and aerospace, despite weakness in the automotive sector [21] - Consumer segment experienced a decline of 2.2% in Q4, leading to a full-year revenue decrease of 0.3% due to weaker consumer sentiment [22][23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that all geographic areas delivered growth in 2025, with China growing mid-single digits, while Europe and the U.S. saw low single-digit growth [24][25] - The U.S. market showed signs of softness, particularly in the automotive and consumer sectors, but overall industrial businesses remained solid [39][40] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on three pillars of commercial excellence: improved sales effectiveness, stronger collaboration with channel partners, and increased customer loyalty [6] - A significant emphasis is placed on innovation, with 284 new products launched in 2025, and plans for 350 launches in 2026 [7] - The company is transitioning towards priority verticals, with over 60% of revenue now aligned to these areas, aiming for higher growth and margin potential [34][36] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged a soft macro environment but emphasized that strong execution allowed the company to outperform [10][30] - For 2026, the company expects organic sales growth of approximately 3%, with adjusted EPS projected between $8.50 and $8.70 [11][26] - The management remains cautious about the pace of recovery in the U.S. consumer market and auto build rates, while maintaining confidence in industrial business performance [12][13] Other Important Information - The company returned $4.8 billion to shareholders in 2025, including $1.6 billion in dividends and $3.2 billion through share repurchases [9][25] - The company is committed to a multi-year capital allocation strategy, aiming to return $10 billion to shareholders [9] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide context on the pivot to priority verticals? - Management indicated that over 60% of revenue is now aligned with priority verticals, with significant investments directed towards these areas [34][36] Question: How do you see the year starting out, particularly in the U.S.? - Management noted that while the industrial businesses performed well, there are concerns about softness in the auto sector and consumer electronics [39][40] Question: What is the current state of customer inventory levels? - Customer inventory levels in industrial channels are normalized, while consumer inventory is slightly elevated but improving [50] Question: What is the pricing strategy moving forward? - The company expects to implement price increases and tighten pricing governance, aiming for about 80 basis points in pricing improvement in 2026 [52][53] Question: How do you expect litigation costs to trend in 2026? - Management anticipates litigation costs to remain in line with 2025 levels, depending on the overall docket [85]