Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Full year sales for 2025 were $2.1 billion, consistent with the previous year [6][11] - Full year operating income was $287 million, with earnings per share at $5.52 [7][11] - Operating margin decreased to 13.9% from 14.9% in the prior year, primarily due to lower volume [12][11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consumer and Specialties segment sales for Q4 were $274 million, with Household and Personal Care sales at $133 million, up 2% sequentially but down 1% year-over-year [13] - Specialty Additives sales were $142 million, down 2% from the prior year, impacted by lower residential construction demand [14] - Engineered Solutions segment sales grew 2% year-over-year to $245 million, with High Temperature Technologies sales at $178 million, up 1% [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales in the Consumer and Specialties segment for the full year were $1.1 billion, with a 3% decline in Household and Personal Care sales overall [14] - Specialty Additives sales for the full year were $585 million, down 4% from the prior year, affected by a slowdown in residential construction [15] - Engineered Solutions segment sales for the full year were $975 million, with record operating income of $163 million and an operating margin of 16.7% [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on organic growth through investments in higher growth markets, innovative products, and geographic expansion [7][8] - Significant investments were made in pet litter facilities, natural oil purification operations, and paper and packaging satellite plants [8][9] - The company aims to leverage regulatory changes to drive demand for local mineral supply and enhance revenue streams [30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management noted a challenging year in 2025 due to geopolitical uncertainty and softer market demand [5][6] - For 2026, the company expects stable market conditions with potential growth driven by new business and investments made in 2025 [24][26] - Management expressed confidence in achieving mid-single-digit growth in 2026, supported by new product launches and market recovery [20][24] Other Important Information - The company returned $73 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases while maintaining a strong balance sheet [9][19] - Full-year free cash flow was $87 million, with expectations for 6%-7% of sales in 2026 [19][20] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: Regarding the Consumer and Specialties segment's operating margin performance - Management indicated that the performance was in line with expectations, impacted by lower residential construction demand and fixed cost absorption issues [35][36] Question: Insights on the paper PCC business and market conditions - Management highlighted growth opportunities in Asia, with a focus on increasing market penetration and new technologies [40][41] Question: Capital deployment strategy for 2026 - The company plans to maintain a balanced approach, allocating 50% of free cash flow to shareholders while keeping some for organic and inorganic growth opportunities [46][48]