Transcript: Matson Q4 2025 Earnings Conference Callby Benzinga Insights Benzinga Staff WriterFollowMatson (NYSE:MATX) reported fourth-quarter financial results on Tuesday. The transcript from the company's fourth-quarter earnings call has been provided below.Benzinga APIs provide real-time access to earnings call transcripts and financial data. Visit https://www.benzinga.com/apis/ to learn more.The full earnings call is available at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/dacgw6mk/Full TranscriptOPERATORSarah ...

Matson (NYSE:MATX) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 24, 2026 04:30 PM ET Company ParticipantsJoel Wine - Executive VP and CFOJustin Schoenberg - Director of Investor Relations and Corporate DevelopmentMatt Cox - Chairman and CEOConference Call ParticipantsJake Lacks - VP and Equity AnalystReed Seay - Equity Research AnalystOperatorThank you for standing by, and welcome to the Matson's Fourth Quarter 2025 Financial Results Conference Call. At this time, all participants are in listen-only mode. After the speak ...

4Q 2025 Earnings Conference Call February 24, 2026 Forward-Looking Statements Statements made during this presentation that set forth expectations, predictions, projections or are about future events are based on facts and situations that are known to us as of February 24, 2026. We believe that our expectations and assumptions are reasonable. Actual results may differ materially, due to risks and uncertainties, such as those described on pages 28-40 of our Form 10-Q filed on November 5, 2025 and other subse ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3 2025, consolidated operating income decreased by $81.3 million year-over-year to $161 million, primarily due to lower contributions from Ocean Transportation and Logistics [14] - Net income decreased by 32.3% year-over-year to $134.7 million, and diluted earnings per share decreased by 28% year-over-year to $4.24 per share [14] - Interest income was $7.6 million in the quarter compared to $10.4 million in the same period last year [14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Ocean Transportation, operating income was lower year-over-year due to decreased freight rates and container volume in the China service [4] - Logistics operating income in Q3 was $13.6 million, down $1.8 million from the previous year, primarily due to lower contributions from freight forwarding, transportation brokerage, and supply chain management [12][13] - Container volume in Hawaii increased by 0.3% year-over-year, while in Guam, it decreased by 4.2% year-over-year [5][11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Container volume in the China service decreased by 12.8% year-over-year due to ongoing uncertainty from tariffs and global trade [6] - The Trans-Pacific trade lane experienced muted peak season demand compared to the previous year, leading to lower freight rates and volume expectations for Q4 2025 [7][8] - In Alaska, container volume increased by 4.1% year-over-year, supported by economic growth and job creation [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company remains optimistic about a more stable trading environment starting in Q4 2025 due to a trade deal between the U.S. and China [5][9] - The company is committed to maintaining service reliability and superior customer service, focusing on managing transportation needs amid market volatility [21] - The company plans to continue returning excess capital to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases [16] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the operating environment remains challenging due to tariffs and global trade uncertainties, but they expect improvements following the recent trade deal [4][5] - The company anticipates consolidated operating income for Q4 2025 to be approximately 30% lower year-over-year [17] - Management emphasized the importance of delivering for customers during unsettled times as a key to future success [21] Other Important Information - The company expects to incur approximately $20 million in port entry fees in Q4 2025, which will not be passed on to customers [9][10] - The company has repurchased approximately 13.1 million shares since initiating its share repurchase program, representing 30.2% of its stock [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Are current pricing levels sustainable given the pressure on traditional spot rates? - Management indicated that they have consciously held prices despite falling spot rates, believing that their pricing strategy is sustainable and reflects the value provided [25][26] Question: What are the factors affecting utilization headwinds in the quarter? - Management attributed lower utilization to a premium in their pricing relative to market rates and the front-loading of inventory by customers [28][29] Question: Is there a possibility of refund for the incurred port fees? - Management is awaiting final regulations from the USTR and the China Ministry of Transport to determine if refunds or rebates are possible [34] Question: How is the company responding to changes in sourcing from China? - Management noted a trend of customers diversifying their sourcing strategies while still recognizing China's importance as a manufacturing source [46][47] Question: What is the current share of cargo from sources other than China? - Management reported that approximately 20% of cargo on CLX and MAX services comes from other countries, with Vietnam being a significant contributor [48] Question: How are pricing dynamics evolving in domestic lanes? - Management stated that pricing in domestic trades has remained stable, with annual rate increases aligned with underlying cost increases [49]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3 2025, consolidated operating income decreased by $81.3 million year-over-year to $161 million, primarily due to lower contributions from ocean transportation and logistics [15][16] - Net income decreased by 32.3% year-over-year to $134.7 million, and diluted earnings per share decreased by 28% year-over-year to $4.24 per share [16] - Interest income was $7.6 million in the quarter compared to $10.4 million in the same period last year [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Ocean transportation operating income was lower year-over-year due to decreased freight rates and container volume in the China service [4] - Logistics operating income decreased by $1.8 million year-over-year to $13.6 million, primarily due to lower contributions from freight forwarding, transportation brokerage, and supply chain management [13][15] - The SSAT terminal joint venture contributed $9.3 million, a year-over-year increase of $2.4 million due to higher lift revenue [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Container volume in the Hawaii service increased by 0.3% year-over-year, while in Guam, it decreased by 4.2% year-over-year due to lower general demand [5][12] - Container volume in the China service decreased by 12.8% year-over-year, primarily due to tariff uncertainties impacting global trade [6][8] - In Alaska, container volume increased by 4.1% year-over-year, supported by economic growth and job creation [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company remains committed to maintaining high service reliability and superior customer service, focusing on managing transportation needs amid market volatility [24] - The recent trade and economic deal between the U.S. and China is viewed as a positive step towards a more stable trading environment [5][24] - The company plans to continue returning excess capital to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases in the absence of large growth investment opportunities [18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expects consolidated operating income in Q4 2025 to be approximately 30% lower year-over-year due to ongoing market challenges [4][19] - There is optimism for a more stable trading environment starting in Q4 2025 due to reduced uncertainty regarding tariffs and global trade [5][10] - The Hawaii economy is softening, with tourism and inflation impacting growth, while construction remains a bright spot [6] Other Important Information - The company has not passed port entry fees on to customers and maintains a philosophy of charging based on the value provided [10][11] - Total debt at the end of Q3 was $370.9 million, a reduction of $10.1 million from the previous quarter [18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Are current pricing levels sustainable given the pressure on traditional spot rates? - Management believes that while absolute freight rates may come down, it will be in an orderly manner consistent with previous seasonal patterns [28][29] Question: Are the $6.4 million in port fees included in the operating profit down 30% in Q4? - Yes, the port fees are included in the operating profit [33] Question: Is there a mechanism to get the $6.4 million in port fees refunded? - Management is awaiting final regulations from the USTR and the China Ministry of Transport to determine if refunds are possible [37] Question: Are customers weary of sourcing from China? - There is a trend of customers diversifying their sourcing strategies, but China remains an important manufacturing source [48][50] Question: What percentage of cargo on CLX and MAX services comes from sources other than China? - Approximately 20% of cargo comes from other sources, primarily Vietnam, with expectations for growth from Thailand and other regions [51] Question: How is pricing progressing in domestic lanes? - The company has seen a steady pricing environment with annual rate increases that mirror underlying cost increases [52]