Watsco Reports Record Full-Year Gross Margin, Meets Inventory Reduction Target and Generates Record 4th Quarter Cash Flow in Challenging Market Conditions

Rhea-AI Summary

Watsco (NYSE: WSO) reported full-year 2025 results with revenues of $7.24 billion, record gross margin of 28.0% and operating income of $720 million. The company raised its annual dividend 10% to $13.20 per share, ended the year with $780 million in cash and investments and no debt.

Inventory declined 30% from its 2025 peak to $1.4 billion, operating cash flow was $570 million for the year (and a record $400 million in Q4), and e-commerce sales were about $2.5 billion (35% of sales).

Positive

• Inventory reduced 30% to $1.4 billion
• Net cash position improved to $733 million (change of $814 million since 2019)

Negative

• None.

Key Figures

Annual dividend: $13.20 per share 2025 revenue: $7.24 billion 2025 EPS: $12.25 +5 more

8 metrics

Annual dividend $13.20 per share Annual dividend increased 10%, effective April 2026 payment

2025 revenue $7.24 billion Full-year 2025 revenues, down 5% year over year

2025 EPS $12.25 Full-year 2025 diluted earnings per share vs. $13.30 in 2024

Gross margin 28.0% Record full-year 2025 gross profit margin, up 120 basis points

2025 operating cash flow $570 million Full-year operating cash flow, 97% of net income

Q4 operating cash flow $400 million Record fourth quarter 2025 operating cash flow

Peak inventory $2.1 billion Inventory peak during 2025 to support A2L transition

Year-end inventory $1.4 billion Inventory level at December 31, 2025 after 30% reduction

Market Reality Check

Price: $422.83 Vol: Volume 558,915 versus 20-...

normal vol

$422.83 Last Close

Volume Volume 558,915 versus 20-day average of 467,460 suggests elevated trading activity ahead of/into the release. normal

Technical Price at 417.92 is trading above the 200-day MA of 404.21, indicating a pre-news uptrend bias.

Peers on Argus

WSO gained 0.69% while peers were mixed: POOL -1.45%, QXO +5.00%, WCC +4.57%, AI...

WSO gained 0.69% while peers were mixed: POOL -1.45%, QXO +5.00%, WCC +4.57%, AIT +0.29%, FERG -0.10%. The pattern points to stock-specific drivers rather than a broad industry move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 30 (Neutral)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 30	Earnings call scheduling	Neutral	+0.0%	Announced timing and access details for reviewing 2025 results.
Jan 02	Dividend declaration	Positive	+3.1%	Declared $3.00 quarterly dividend, extending 52-year dividend track record.
Oct 29	Quarterly earnings	Positive	+2.8%	Reported record Q3 gross profit, margin and operating cash flow despite lower sales.
Oct 16	Investor Day announcement	Positive	+2.7%	Planned Investor Day to highlight technology platforms and growth strategies.
Oct 13	Earnings call scheduling	Neutral	-0.7%	Set date and format for Q3 2025 earnings conference call.

Pattern Detected

Recent Watsco news—especially dividends and operating updates—has often coincided with modestly positive price moves, suggesting investors generally reward capital returns and operational execution even in challenging conditions.

Recent Company History

Over the past several months, Watsco has focused investor attention on execution in a volatile HVAC/R market and on its technology and capital-return strategy. A January 2026 dividend declaration and an upcoming February 17, 2026 earnings call reinforce its long dividend history and communication cadence. Earlier, Watsco reported record third‑quarter gross profit, margin and operating cash flow, and highlighted technology investments and an Investor Day in December 2025. Today’s full‑year and Q4 results, including record margins and cash flow plus a dividend increase, extend these themes of resilience and tech-enabled execution.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement details how Watsco navigated regulatory transitions and softer HVAC volumes by exp...

Analysis

This announcement details how Watsco navigated regulatory transitions and softer HVAC volumes by expanding gross margin to a record 28.0%, generating $570 million in 2025 operating cash flow and lifting its annual dividend 10% to $13.20 per share. Investors may focus on the trade-off between declining revenue and EPS versus record profitability, the sharp inventory reduction from $2.1 billion to $1.4 billion, and ongoing technology investments that management highlights as key to long-term growth.

Key Terms

gross merchandise value, operating cash flow, forward-looking statements, gaap

4 terms

gross merchandise value financial

"The gross merchandise value (GMV) of products sold by customers through OnCallAirae was approximately $400 million..."

Total dollar value of all goods and services sold through a marketplace or e-commerce platform during a set period, before deducting fees, returns or costs. Think of it as the total amount rung up at the register across an entire shopping mall: it shows the platform’s sales volume and user activity. Investors watch it to gauge growth and marketplace traction, but must pair it with metrics like revenue share and margins to assess profitability.

operating cash flow financial

"Operating cash flow was $570 million (97% of net income)"

Operating cash flow is the amount of money a company earns from its main business activities, like selling products or services. It shows how well the company can generate cash to pay bills, invest in growth, or return money to shareholders. This figure helps investors understand if the company’s core operations are healthy and sustainable.

forward-looking statements regulatory

"This document includes certain cforward-looking statementsd within the meaning of the Private Securities..."

Forward-looking statements are predictions or plans that companies share about what they expect to happen in the future, like estimating sales or profits. They matter because they help investors understand a company's outlook, but since they are based on guesses and assumptions, they can sometimes be wrong.

gaap regulatory

"including, without limitation, the effects of supplier concentration... and final GAAP adjustments."

GAAP, or Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, are a set of standardized rules and guidelines that companies follow when preparing their financial statements. They ensure consistency, transparency, and comparability across different companies, making it easier for investors to understand and compare financial information accurately. This helps investors make informed decisions based on trustworthy and uniform financial reports.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Boosts Annual Dividend 10% to $13.20 Per Share

Entrepreneurial Culture, Transformational Technologies and Debt-Free Balance Sheet Positions Company for Growth

MIAMI, Feb. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Watsco, Inc. (NYSE: WSO) announced its operating results for the full-year and fourth quarter period ended December 31, 2025. The Company also provided updates related to innovation and technology, business trends and long-term growth opportunities.

Watsco also announced today a 10% increase in its annual dividend to $13.20 per share effective with its next regular dividend payment in April 2026. This year marks Watsco’s 52^nd consecutive year of paying dividends.

Watsco is the largest distributor in the highly-fragmented North American HVAC market. Since entering distribution in 1989, Watsco has achieved a 17% compounded annual total-shareholder return through a combination of organic growth and the acquisition of more than 70 market-leading businesses.

The Company maintains a solid financial position with currently $780 million in cash and investments and no debt, enabling sustained investments in growth, including the Company’s industry-leading technologies. Approximately 73,000 contractors, installers and technicians engage digitally with the Company, which contributes to customer growth and reduced attrition. AI-driven initiatives have also been launched to further enhance the customer experience and improve efficiency. These investments are especially critical as contractors increase their adoption of digital, data-driven solutions in their businesses.

Recent Industry Dynamics
Since 2019, the HVAC/R industry has experienced volatility due to various macroeconomic and industry-specific factors that impacted OEMs, distributors and contractors alike. The COVID pandemic and subsequent supply chain disruptions, the 2023 regulatory transition to new higher-efficiency products, the reduction of available legacy refrigerants and the slow-down in housing activities have weighed on performance and contributed to volatility.

The industry was further impacted in 2025 by the transition to A2L refrigerant products, the second such regulatory-driven product change in three years. The transition impacted approximately 55% of products sold across 650 locations domestically and resulted in the conversion of over $1 billion of inventory to new products. In response, Watsco invested in people, technology, logistics, training and more to support its customers during the transition.

Despite these dynamics, the Company believes its overall performance in the context of these complexities and other macroeconomic headwinds speaks well of its business model and overall execution. Key performance metrics during this time period include:

	Year ended	Year ended
	December 31, 2019	December 31,2025	Change	CAGR %
Revenues	$4.8 billion	$7.2 billion	+52%	+7%
Operating income	$367 million	$720 million	+96%	+12%
Gross margin	24.3%	28.0%	+370 bps
Earnings per share	$6.50	$12.25	+88%	+11%
Dividends paid	$6.40	$11.70	+83%	+11%
Net (debt) cash	($81 million)	$733 million	+$814 million

Albert H. Nahmad, Chairman and CEO remarked: “The recent business environment has been among the most complicated in memory. I am gratified at the results we achieved and the execution by our teams over the time horizon summarized above. We raised margins, nearly doubled our profitability, invested $300 million in technology, nearly doubled our dividend and fortified our balance sheet to allow investment in most any-sized growth opportunity. We expect a more conventional industry environment and better prospects for growth as 2026 unfolds, and we believe there is room to further optimize inventory and improve operating efficiency.”

Mr. Nahmad added: “We are in a wonderful industry and our technology advantage remains immense. We operate a resilient business in a resilient industry and our focus on the long-term has been, and will be, far more consequential as we build our network, scale our technologies to delight customers and partner with our OEMs to grow and gain share.”

2025 Full-Year Performance

• Revenues decreased 5% to $7.24 billion
• Gross profit decreased 1% to $2.0 billion
• Gross profit margin expanded 120 basis-points to a record 28.0%
• SG&A expenses increased 3%
• Operating income decreased 8% to $720 million (operating margin of 10.0% versus 10.3% last year)
• Earnings per share of $12.25 compared to $13.30 last year
• Operating cash flow was $570 million (97% of net income)
  
  

Sales trends

• 4% overall sales decline in U.S. markets and a 10% decline in non-U.S. markets
• 7% decrease in HVAC equipment (67% of sales)
• 1% decrease in sales for other HVAC products (29% of sales)
• Flat sales of commercial refrigeration products (4% of sales)
  
  

Revenues in 2025 reflect lower unit volumes of HVAC equipment, which were partially offset by higher average selling prices following the A2L product transition, further impacted by slower homebuilding. Gross profit margin expanded 120 basis-points to a record 28.0%, driven by further scaling of Watsco’s pricing optimization technologies, as well as OEM pricing actions implemented in 2025. Operating expenses increased due to higher labor, facilities and transportation costs partially associated with the A2L product transition, as well as the acquisition of three businesses during 2025.

Fourth Quarter Performance

• Revenues decreased 10% to $1.58 billion
• Gross profit decreased 8% to $428 million
• Gross profit margin expanded 40 basis-points to 27.1%
• SG&A expenses decreased 2%
• Operating income declined 25% to $102 million (operating margins of 6.4%)
• Earnings per share of $1.68 versus $2.37 last year
• Record operating cash flow of $400 million
  
  

Sales trends

• 13% decrease in HVAC equipment (67% of sales)
• 4% decrease in other HVAC products (29% of sales)
• 5% increase in commercial refrigeration products (4% of sales)
  
  

Fourth quarter 2025 performance should be considered in light of the strong 2024 comparable results, which included 22% sales growth in domestic residential HVAC equipment (20% unit growth) boosted by the sale of older, more economical 410A systems ahead of the A2L transition. Fourth quarter 2025 results also reflect an 11% increase in average selling price domestically, a 40 basis-point improvement in overall gross margins and improved operating efficiency as evidenced by a 2% reduction in SG&A.

It is important to note that the fourth and first quarters of each calendar year are highly seasonal due to the timing of the replacement of HVAC systems. Results are typically strongest in the second and third quarters, and the Company’s fourth quarter financial results are disproportionately affected by seasonality.

Innovation and Strategic Technology Initiatives
Watsco pioneered the industry’s most comprehensive digital ecosystem, which continues to reshape the industry. The Company has invested more than $250 million in technology over the last five years (an annual current run rate of approximately $60 million) with close to 300 technologists. Highlights of Watsco’s customer-facing platforms include:

• Watsco’s HVAC Pro+ Mobile Apps and E-Commerce platform have transformed the customer-experience by providing contractors a seamless digital experience, including sourcing products, accessing technical help, real-time inventory, pricing, product information and more. These tools empower customers to self-serve, place orders 24/7 and benefit from features like intelligent search, dynamic reordering, technical knowledge and product recommendations. The result is a frictionless buying journey, increased convenience and higher customer satisfaction, which we believe drives greater loyalty and repeat business with lower costs to serve. 2025 highlights relative to HVAC Pro+ and e-commerce include:
  
  
  • The addition of more than 10,000 new SKUs related to the A2L product launch, including all relevant data concerning features, dimensions, capacities, consumer literature and technical information, including bills of material, warranty information, regulatory match-ups and more.
    
  • The authenticated user community of our HVAC Pro+ Mobile Apps increased 15% to approximately 73,000 users.
  • E-commerce sales totaled approximately $2.5 billion during 2025 and comprised 35% of overall sales, with outperforming regions exceeding 60% e-commerce penetration. Order trends and the rate of improvement in customer attrition remain consistent year over year.
    
    
• OnCallAir® is Watsco’s digital sales platform used by HVAC/R contractors to engage, present and quote solutions to homeowners. The gross merchandise value (GMV) of products sold by customers through OnCallAir® was approximately $400 million during the fourth quarter of 2025. For the year ended December 31, 2025, contractors presented quotes to approximately 329,000 households and generated $1.8 billion GMV, a 20% increase versus the year ended December 31, 2024.
  
  

A.J. Nahmad, Watsco’s President, added: “As we work to further scale our core technology platforms among our customers, we constantly challenge ourselves to find new ways to delight our customers. Earlier this year, we set in motion incremental investments in new platforms that we think will enhance growth with existing customers, attract more new customers and boost profitability in the years ahead. We believe these initiatives hold great promise and we feel that they will enhance Watsco’s already-sizeable competitive advantage in the fragmented HVAC/R industry.”

Cash Flow, Financial Strength and Liquidity
Watsco invested substantially in working capital during 2025 to build inventory to support customers during the A2L transition. Inventory peaked at $2.1 billion during 2025 and declined by 30% to $1.4 billion at December 31, 2025. Operating cash flow was $570 million for the year and a record $400 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2025, reflecting the sharp reduction in inventory. The Company expects more conventional working capital trends going forward, providing the opportunity for better inventory turns and enhanced returns on invested capital.

The Company’s objective is to maintain a healthy balance sheet that allows access to low-cost capital to fund strategic investments in growth. The Company’s strong financial position has been key to its ability to deliver sustained long-term returns, enabling investments regardless of macroeconomic or industry conditions. The Company’s stated goal is to generate annual operating cash flow in excess of net income consistent with its long-term track record.

Buy & Build Acquisition Strategy
Watsco has partnered with more than 70 independent distributors who have joined the Watsco family, contributing to the Company’s scale and, more importantly, its community of seasoned leaders. During 2025, the Company acquired three distributors in key Sunbelt markets and, since 2019, has acquired 12 companies that today represent approximately $1.6 billion in annualized sales and 120 locations. Our “buy and build” strategy builds upon their long-standing legacies through investment in new locations, new products and by leveraging Watsco’s technology platforms. The HVAC/R distribution landscape in North America remains highly fragmented with more than 2,100 independent distributors.

Full-Year and Fourth Quarter Earnings Conference Call Information
Date and time: February 17, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. (ET)
Webcast: http://investors.watsco.com (a replay will be available on the Company’s website)
Dial-in number: United States (844) 883-3908 / International (412) 317-9254

About Watsco
Watsco is the largest distributor in the highly-fragmented North American HVAC/R market. Watsco’s solid financial position and culture of innovation has enabled investments in long-term growth, including the Company’s industry-leading technology platforms. Today, approximately 73,000 contractors, installers and technicians engage digitally with the Company, resulting in improved growth and lower attrition. The Company is now advancing AI-driven initiatives to leverage its extensive data assets to enhance the customer experience and improve efficiencies. These investments position Watsco to capture market share as contractors increasingly adopt digital tools and incorporate data-driven solutions in their businesses.

This document includes certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may address, among other things, our expected financial and operational results and the related assumptions underlying our expected results. These forward-looking statements are distinguished by use of words such as “will,” “would,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “believe,” “designed,” “plan,” or “intend,” the negative of these terms, and similar references to future periods. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to changes in economic, business, competitive market, new housing starts and completions, capital spending in commercial construction, consumer spending and debt levels, regulatory and other factors, including, without limitation, the effects of supplier concentration, competitive conditions within Watsco’s industry, the seasonal nature of sales of Watsco’s products, the ability of the Company to expand its business, insurance coverage risks and final GAAP adjustments. Detailed information about these factors and additional important factors can be found in the documents that Watsco files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements were made. Watsco assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

WATSCO, INC. Condensed Consolidated Results of Operations (In thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited)
		Quarter Ended December 31,										Year Ended December 31,
			2025					2024					2025				2024
Revenues		$	1,578,757				$	1,753,962				$	7,239,290			$	7,618,317
Cost of sales			1,150,319					1,285,878					5,208,826				5,573,604
Gross profit			428,438					468,084					2,030,464				2,044,713
Gross profit margin			27.1	%				26.7	%				28.0	%			26.8	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses			332,645					338,489					1,337,882				1,293,439
Other income			5,735					6,593					27,765				30,501
Operating income			101,528					136,188					720,347				781,775
Operating margin			6.4	%				7.8	%				10.0	%			10.3	%
Interest income, net			5,850					6,713					17,329				20,869
Income before income taxes			107,378					142,901					737,676				802,644
Income taxes			20,328					27,721					150,088				166,904
Net income			87,050					115,180					587,588				635,740
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interest			15,305					18,339					90,594				99,454
Net income attributable to Watsco, Inc.		$	71,745				$	96,841				$	496,994			$	536,286
Diluted earnings per share:
Net income attributable to Watsco, Inc. shareholders		$	71,745				$	96,841				$	496,994			$	536,286
Less: distributed and undistributed earnings allocated to restricted common stock			7,998		(1	)		7,578		(1	)		32,807				37,369
Earnings allocated to Watsco, Inc. shareholders		$	63,747				$	89,263				$	464,187			$	498,917
Weighted-average Common and Class B common shares and equivalent shares used to calculate diluted earnings per share			37,927,340					37,738,113					37,899,859				37,510,332
Diluted earnings per share for Common and Class B common stock		$	1.68		(1	)	$	2.37		(1	)	$	12.25			$	13.30

 

(1)

The quarterly EPS results reflect dilution of 9 cents per share in 2025 ($3.3 million impact) and 2 cents per share in 2024 ($0.9 million impact) attributable to the amount that (a) dividends actually paid on restricted shares exceeds (b) the net income allocable to restricted common stock. The Company expects this dilutive impact to be seasonal during the first and fourth quarters of each year due to EPS in such periods generally being less than the quarterly dividend rate.

WATSCO, INC. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited, in thousands)
		December 31, 2025			December 31, 2024
Cash and cash equivalents		$	433,283		$	526,271
Short-term cash investments			300,000			255,669
Accounts receivable, net			796,181			877,935
Inventories, net			1,386,317			1,385,436
Other current assets			38,725			34,670
Total current assets			2,954,506			3,079,981
Property and equipment, net			136,012			140,535
Operating lease right-of-use assets			452,547			419,138
Goodwill, intangibles, net and other			871,740			839,869
Total assets		$	4,414,805		$	4,479,523
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		$	600,589		$	873,628
Current portion of lease liabilities			117,153			110,273
Total current liabilities			717,742			983,901
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion			350,616			321,715
Deferred income taxes and other liabilities			124,386			109,669
Total liabilities			1,192,744			1,415,285
Watsco, Inc. shareholders' equity			2,781,376			2,656,990
Non-controlling interest			440,685			407,248
Total shareholders' equity			3,222,061			3,064,238
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		$	4,414,805		$	4,479,523

WATSCO, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited, in thousands)
		Year Ended December 31,
			2025				2024
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income		$	587,588			$	635,740
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			43,752				40,822
Share-based compensation			35,344				35,022
Non-cash contribution to 401(k) plan			8,743				8,735
Provision for doubtful accounts			5,201				4,285
Other, net			18,844				765
Other income from investment in unconsolidated entity			(27,765	)			(30,501	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable, net			83,425				(85,555	)
Inventories, net			11,957				(41,678	)
Accounts payable and other liabilities			(203,051	)			197,765
Other, net			5,575				7,702
Net cash provided by operating activities			569,613				773,102
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net purchases of short-term investments			(44,331	)			(255,669	)
Capital expenditures, net			(34,093	)			(29,828	)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired			(19,198	)			(5,173	)
Other investments			(500	)			—
Net cash used in investing activities			(98,122	)			(290,670	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends on common stock			(473,765	)			(423,521	)
Distributions to non-controlling interest			(132,196	)			—
Net repayments under revolving credit agreement			—				(15,400	)
Net proceeds from the sale of Common stock			—				281,784
Proceeds from dividend reinvestment plan			21,665				13,224
Other, net			16,180				(14,617	)
Net cash used in financing activities			(568,116	)			(158,530	)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			3,637				(7,743	)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents			(92,988	)			316,159
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year			526,271				210,112
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year		$	433,283			$	526,271

Barry S. Logan
Executive Vice President
(305) 714-4102
e-mail: blogan@watsco.com

FAQ

What did WSO report for full-year 2025 revenue and margin?

Watsco reported $7.24 billion in revenues and a record 28.0% gross margin for 2025. According to the company, margin expansion was driven by pricing optimization technologies and OEM pricing actions implemented during 2025.

How much did Watsco raise its annual dividend (WSO) and when does it take effect?

Watsco increased its annual dividend by 10% to $13.20 per share, effective with the next regular payment in April 2026. According to the company, this marks the 52nd consecutive year of dividend payments.

What were Watsco's operating cash flow and inventory trends in 2025 (WSO)?

Operating cash flow was $570 million for 2025 and a record $400 million in Q4. According to the company, inventory fell 30% from its 2025 peak to $1.4 billion, improving working-capital dynamics.

How large is Watsco's digital commerce and contractor engagement in 2025 (WSO)?

E-commerce sales were approximately $2.5 billion, representing 35% of total sales in 2025. According to the company, about 73,000 authenticated HVAC Pro+ users engaged digitally, supporting customer retention and repeat business.

What impact did the A2L product transition have on Watsco's 2025 results (WSO)?

The A2L transition converted over $1 billion of inventory and pressured unit volumes, while raising average selling prices. According to the company, it invested in people, logistics and technology to support customers during the transition.