Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 7% increase in sales for the fourth quarter, driven primarily by growth in the Climate Solutions segment [22] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 32% or $25 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 16.1%, representing a 300 basis point improvement from the prior year [23] - Full year adjusted EBITDA margin ended at 15.2%, which is 210 basis points above fiscal 2024 [24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Climate Solutions segment reported a 30% increase in revenues and a 45% increase in adjusted EBITDA, resulting in a 220 basis point improvement in adjusted EBITDA margins to 21% [7][16] - Performance Technologies segment achieved a 15% adjusted EBITDA margin in the fourth quarter, with a 200 basis point year-over-year improvement [12][19] - Data center sales grew by $69 million or 80% from the prior year, driven by higher North American sales and the Scott Springfield acquisition [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America showed strong demand for chillers, with data center sales primarily driving growth [8][10] - The European market is experiencing a downturn, with some projects being delayed due to changing technologies and economic conditions [52][54] - The company anticipates total sales growth of 2% to 10% for fiscal 2026, with Climate Solutions expected to grow 12% to 20% [29][30] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on expanding its Climate Solutions segment and has made significant investments to drive growth [5][6] - A reorganization of the Performance Technologies segment into two product groups aims to streamline operations and improve margins [13][31] - The company is actively pursuing bolt-on acquisitions to enhance its product offerings and market presence [11][57] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the data center market, with visibility into customer plans extending up to five years [39][40] - The company is navigating challenges related to tariffs and supply chain issues but believes its local for local strategy mitigates risks [42][28] - Despite uncertainties in the market, management remains optimistic about achieving fiscal 2026 targets, including adjusted EBITDA in the range of $420 million to $450 million [32] Other Important Information - The company generated $27 million of free cash flow in the fourth quarter, with full-year free cash flow at $129 million [25] - A $100 million stock buyback program was announced, with $18 million of share repurchases completed [26] - The company is on track to launch production in India in Q2, aiming to service Southeast Asia and the Middle East [10] Q&A Session Summary Question: Data center visibility and build schedules - Management indicated strong confidence in data center opportunities, with visibility extending up to five years for some customers [39][40] Question: Tariff impacts and sourcing from China - The company has significantly reduced dependency on Chinese supply chains and feels comfortable with its local for local strategy [42] Question: Demand uncertainties in Performance Technologies - The largest uncertainty is the rate of market recovery, particularly in agricultural and construction sectors [43] Question: Data center demand in North America vs Europe - North America is experiencing strong demand, while Europe is seeing some downturn due to technology adjustments [52][54] Question: M&A activity and strategic exits - The company is confident in executing at least one acquisition in the near term and is focused on divesting non-strategic automotive businesses [57][58]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 7% increase in sales for the fourth quarter, driven primarily by growth in the Climate Solutions segment [21] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 32% or $25 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 16.1%, representing a 300 basis point improvement from the prior year [22] - Full year adjusted EBITDA margin ended at 15.2%, which is 210 basis points above fiscal 2024 [23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Climate Solutions segment reported a 30% increase in revenues and a 45% increase in adjusted EBITDA, resulting in a 220 basis point improvement in adjusted EBITDA margins to 21% [7][15] - Performance Technologies segment achieved a 15% adjusted EBITDA margin in the fourth quarter, with a 200 basis point year-over-year improvement [11][20] - Data center sales grew by $69 million or 80% from the prior year, driven by higher North American sales and the Scott Springfield acquisition [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America showed strong demand for chillers, with data center sales significantly contributing to revenue growth [8][15] - The European market is experiencing some downturn, with customers adjusting their spending plans [52] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on expanding its Climate Solutions segment and has made significant investments to drive growth [5][10] - A new modular data center cooling solution is being launched to meet market demands for high-density compute infrastructure [9] - The Performance Technologies segment is being reorganized into two product groups to better focus on key end markets and customers [29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the data center market, with visibility of customer plans extending up to five years [38] - The company anticipates total sales growth of 2% to 10% for fiscal 2026, with Climate Solutions expected to grow by 12% to 20% [27] - Performance Technologies is expected to see sales decline by 2% to 12% due to depressed end markets [28] Other Important Information - The company generated $27 million of free cash flow in the fourth quarter, with full year free cash flow at $129 million [24] - A $100 million stock buyback program was announced, with $18 million of share repurchases completed [25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss data center visibility and customer build schedules? - Management indicated strong confidence in data center opportunities, with visibility extending up to five years for some customers [36][38] Question: Is there anything sourced from China that is hard to find elsewhere? - The company has significantly reduced dependency on China and feels comfortable with its local supply chain strategy [40] Question: What is the outlook for Performance Technologies? - The largest uncertainty is the rate of market recovery, particularly in Performance Technologies, while Climate Solutions is expected to grow steadily [41] Question: Can you clarify the split in data center revenue between the US and Europe? - The split is approximately 75% North America and 25% Europe [64] Question: How will data center revenue ramp up in fiscal 2026? - The first quarter is expected to be the softest, with ramp-up occurring throughout the year as capacity increases [66] Question: What is the growth outlook for Climate Solutions? - Data center revenue is expected to grow by at least 30%, while other areas may see flat or low double-digit growth [70] Question: What are the plans for divestitures in the Performance Technologies segment? - Currently, no divestitures are built into the guidance, but the company is focused on exiting non-strategic businesses [78]

Vertiv (VRT) FY Conference Summary Industry Overview - The critical digital infrastructure industry is projected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9% to 12% through 2029, with mid-teens growth anticipated in cloud and colocation sectors [3][4][6] - The demand for data center capacity remains strong, driven by AI advancements and the need for enhanced infrastructure [5][9][22] Core Insights - The company maintains that the growth assumptions from the Investor Day remain valid despite market fluctuations, with a potential for even stronger demand than previously anticipated [4][7][9] - The shift from AI training to inference is noted, with inference expected to grow faster due to its monetization potential [15][17] - The company reported a record quarter for orders, with a year-on-year increase of 13% and a 60% increase compared to the previous year [11][12] Demand Dynamics - The demand for large data centers continues, alongside a rise in smaller, distributed edge data centers [18][19] - There are no significant long-term changes in market dynamics, although short-term adjustments may occur due to resource constraints [21][22] - The company is optimistic about long-term demand, supported by a strong pipeline and industry trends [22][23] Competitive Landscape - New entrants in the market, including sovereign and neo cloud providers, are expanding the industry, but the company does not perceive this as an increase in risk [26][27] - The company employs rigorous credit checks and often requires advanced payments to mitigate risks associated with new customers [28][29] Tariff Impact - The company has not observed any material impact from tariffs on demand, as the demand for AI capacity remains robust [31][32] - There is a focus on maintaining competitive lead times, which may provide opportunities for market share gains amidst tariff uncertainties [37][39] Capital Expenditure (CapEx) Strategy - The company plans to maintain a 25% to 30% capacity headroom versus demand, indicating confidence in future growth [47][50] - CapEx allocation is influenced by geopolitical conditions, but no dramatic shifts in strategy are expected [48][49] Product Innovation and Market Share - Recent product launches, including new chillers and modular solutions, are aimed at increasing market share and addressing customer needs [52][56] - The company is particularly focused on expanding its liquid cooling capacity, which has seen significant growth [61][62] Conclusion - Vertiv is positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for critical digital infrastructure, with a strong pipeline, innovative product offerings, and a strategic approach to managing risks associated with market dynamics and tariffs [9][22][37][61]