Sotera Health(SHC) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total company revenue increased by 5.7% to $1.164 billion in 2025, or 5.2% growth on a constant currency basis compared to 2024 [5][15] - Adjusted EBITDA rose by 8.2% to $593.8 million, or 7.8% on a constant currency basis, with margins expanding to 51%, an increase of 118 basis points [5][15] - Adjusted EPS for the year was $0.86, an increase of $0.16 versus 2024, driven by operational growth and a lower tax rate [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sterigenics revenue improved by 10.6% to $198 million, or 8% on a constant currency basis, driven by favorable pricing and volume [12] - Nordion's revenue decreased by 12.3% to $50 million due to unfavorable volume and mix from Cobalt-60 harvest timing [13] - Nelson Labs revenue increased by 2.3% to $55 million, with favorable pricing and core lab testing growth partially offset by lower advisory services revenue [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Customer satisfaction exceeded 80%, indicating strong service delivery [6] - Revenue from XBU customers expanded by 9% year-over-year, reflecting successful cross-selling initiatives [6][50] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to execute its 2025-2027 long-range plan, focusing on operational excellence, disciplined capital deployment, and enhancing free cash flow [8][21] - The construction of a new X-ray facility is planned to open in 2026, which is part of a strategic investment to expand service offerings [6][44] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to drive long-term growth and shareholder value, emphasizing strong cash flow generation and customer relationships [21][105] - The company expects total revenue for 2026 to be in the range of $1.233 billion to $1.251 billion, representing 5%-6.5% constant currency growth [9][18] Other Important Information - The company reduced borrowing costs by 75 basis points on its $1.4 billion term loan and paid down $86 million of debt, resulting in annual interest savings of $13 million [7] - The company has approximately $940 million of available liquidity as of December 31, 2025 [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Guidance and EBITDA margins - Management indicated that the expected EBITDA margin expansion is primarily due to normal operating leverage without any unusual dynamics [23][24] Question: Sterigenics client insourcing - Management noted that while one client is transitioning back to outsourcing, significant shifts in the market are not yet observed due to extended compliance periods [25][26] Question: 2026 outlook for Sterigenics - Management expects mid to high single-digit constant currency revenue growth for Sterigenics in 2026, with a soft start anticipated in Q1 [18][32] Question: Nelson Labs margins - Management expects Nelson Labs to maintain margins in the low to mid 30% range, with Q1 typically being the softest quarter [34][35] Question: Nordion segment headwinds - Management clarified that Nordion's challenges were due to Cobalt-60 harvest timing rather than demand issues [84][85] Question: Competitive positioning in Sterigenics - Management believes Sterigenics is well-positioned despite the extended compliance period, with strong customer satisfaction scores [68][69] Question: Impact of onshoring - Management has not seen significant movement towards onshoring but is prepared for potential shifts in the market [87] Question: Volume and mix visibility - Management indicated that volume and mix are key factors that could drive performance towards the higher end of guidance [91][92]