XPEL(US:XPEL)2026-02-25 17:02Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q4 revenue grew by 13.7% and Q4 EBITDA increased by 37.6% [4] - Gross margin for the quarter finished at 41.9%, relatively flat compared to Q3 [10] - Net income attributable to stockholders increased by 50.7% to $13.4 million, reflecting an 11% net income margin [22] - EPS for the quarter was $0.48, and for the year, net income attributable to stockholders grew 12.6% to $51.2 million, with a 10.8% net income margin [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total window film product line grew by 10% in Q4 and 21.7% for the year, driven by market share gains in auto and Windshield Protection Film [19] - Total installation revenue increased by over 17% in the quarter and 17.2% for the year [19] - Corporate store, dealership, service business, and aftermarket all saw growth in their respective segments [5] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. region revenue grew by 11% in Q4, despite ongoing market dynamics [4] - Canada experienced a slight revenue decline, with car sales down 13% sequentially in Q4 [9] - Europe showed strong performance with revenue growing by 26.8% in Q4 [9] - China revenue came in at $14 million, higher than expected, marking the first full quarter post-acquisition [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on investments in manufacturing and supply chain to support growth in key markets [4][16] - A strategic pivot has been made to concentrate on core products and improve sales efficiency [13][14] - The company aims to enhance its DAP platform and integrate it further into customer operations [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism for 2026, citing increased customer engagement and positive feedback from the dealer conference [17][50] - The company anticipates a rebound in EV sales through its referral channel and expects gross margins to improve as the year progresses [10][11] - Management acknowledged headwinds in Canada and the impact of weather on Q1 performance but remains confident in overall growth prospects [9][31] Other Important Information - The effective tax rate for the quarter was just under 14%, with a future planning assumption of a 21% effective rate [21] - Cash flow from operations was $2.7 million for the quarter and $66.9 million for the year, representing a 40% increase from the previous year [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is contemplated in the Q1 revenue guide? - Management acknowledged the impact of weaker auto demand and weather on Q1 performance but indicated that they have factored these elements into their guidance [27][30] Question: How do you see in-house manufacturing playing out over time? - Management indicated that the build-out could be gradual or involve larger chunks depending on decisions made in the coming months [33][35] Question: Can you provide more color on the increase in DSO? - Management noted that the increase in DSO is likely due to new OEM business with longer payment terms, but there is nothing alarming [39][43] Question: What underpins your optimism for 2026? - Management highlighted increased optimism from customers, structural improvements in vehicle affordability, and a positive pipeline of new customer wins as key factors [50][53] Question: How do you expect gross margin to trend this year? - Management expects gross margin headwinds to abate in Q1, with improvements anticipated in Q2 as pricing issues resolve [55][57]