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LENNOX INTERNATIONAL INC (LII)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q3 2025 was a margin-resilient but top-line-soft quarter: revenue fell 5% to $1.427B while segment margin expanded 150 bps to 21.7%, driving diluted/adjusted EPS up 4% to a Q3 record $6.98 .
- Results versus S&P Global consensus: EPS beat ($6.98 vs $6.84*), revenue missed ($1.43B vs $1.48B*). Management cut FY25 guidance to revenue down ~1% and adjusted EPS $22.75–$23.25 (from +3% and $23.25–$24.25), and lowered FCF guide to ~$550M .
- Home Comfort Solutions (HCS) contracted on volume destocking and a weak summer; Building Climate Solutions (BCS) delivered 10% revenue growth and 330 bps margin expansion on pricing/mix, services, and factory productivity .
- Management cited refrigerant transition, channel/contractor destocking, and macro softness as primary headwinds; they expect inventory normalization by Q2 next year and a return to growth in 2026, with bolt-on parts/supplies acquisitions supporting mix and cash generation .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Margin resilience and record Q3 EPS: Segment margin rose to 21.7% (+150 bps) and adjusted/diluted EPS reached $6.98, a third-quarter record, despite a 5% revenue decline .
- BCS outperformance: Revenue up 10% to $514M with segment margin up 330 bps to 26.1% on favorable mix/price, services growth, and improved factory efficiency as the new Saltillo facility scaled .
- Strategic M&A for parts and accessories: Closed the NSI HVAC division (Duro Dyne & Supco) to expand parts/supplies; CEO emphasized accretion and portfolio strengthening for 2026 and beyond .
- Quote: “2025 is proving to be a transitional year… During these uncertain times, the Lennox team continues to respond with agility and discipline, delivering margin expansion in both segments.” — CEO Alok Maskara .
What Went Wrong
- Top-line softness and HCS volume pressure: Revenue fell 5% YoY to $1.427B; HCS revenue fell 12% with unit volume down ~23% and clear trade-down/repair behavior amid a weak summer, destocking, and macro uncertainty .
- Guidance cuts: FY25 revenue outlook reduced from +3% to ~-1%, adjusted EPS cut to $22.75–$23.25, and FCF guide lowered to ~$550M due to elevated inventories .
- Working capital drag: Q3 operating cash flow of $300.7M was below prior year ($452.1M) and Q3 free cash flow fell to $265.3M from $411.7M as finished goods inventory remained elevated .
Financial Results
Headline P&L – Sequential (2025)
Q3 YoY – Actuals
Q3 2025 Actual vs S&P Global Consensus
Values marked with * are retrieved from S&P Global.
Segment Performance (Q3 2025 vs Q3 2024)
Notes: HCS profit decline was driven by lower volumes (-$86M) and product cost inflation, partially offset by price/mix (+$85M) and lower selling/freight costs . BCS benefited from price/mix (+$33M), modest volume, and productivity gains at the new Saltillo facility .
Cash Flow & Balance Sheet KPIs
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- Strategic posture: “Our talented team… delivered margin expansion in both segments… The recent DuroDyne and Supco acquisition strengthens our parts and accessories portfolio, positioning us for greater success during the more normalized operating environment expected in 2026 and beyond.” — CEO Alok Maskara .
- Margin narrative: “Our segment margin was 21.7%, a record for the third quarter… Adjusted EPS was a third quarter record of $6.98” — CEO .
- 2026 setup: “We are adjusting our full-year outlook… While 2025 remains challenging… we remain optimistic about a return to market growth in 2026.” — CFO Michael Quenzer .
- Destocking timing: “If I had to guess… the destocking would probably be over by Q2 of next year… we’ll be back to normal levels by Q2 next year.” — CEO .
- Ductless expansion: “Within HCS, ductless represents about 2% of sales vs ~10% industry… multi-year benefit here… customers appreciate the brand name.” — CFO .
Q&A Highlights
- Channel and contractor destocking: Sell-in ~-20% and sell-through ~-10% in Q3; contractors reduced barn-held inventories as lead times improved; normalization targeted by Q2 next year .
- 4Q under-absorption: Sequential margin step-down driven by production pullback to right-size inventory; ~20% decremental implied in 4Q; absorption headwind to linger into Q1 next year .
- Emergency replacement and share: Emergency replacement nearly doubled off a small base; ~5% of BCS revenue; positioned for multi-year growth in 2026 season .
- Pricing and elasticity: OEM pricing discipline holding, with pressure more between contractors and consumers; expect annual pricing to offset inflation in 2026 with carryover benefits from tariffs/A2L mix .
- Portfolio actions: Rationalizing lowest 10–15% of low-margin R&C accounts to improve profitability; acquisition amortization ~$10M; potential 2026 EPS accretion $0.30–$0.40 from parts/supplies acquisition (management framing) .
Estimates Context
- Q3 2025 vs S&P Global consensus: EPS beat ($6.98 vs $6.84*), revenue miss ($1,426.8M vs $1,483.4M*), based on 19 EPS and 16 revenue estimates* .
- Given the FY guide cut (revenue ~-1%, EPS $22.75–$23.25), Street models likely need to move lower on revenue/FCF and slightly on EPS; mix/price and cost actions cushion earnings, while working capital recovery is a 2026 lever .
Values marked with * are retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Margin durability remains a differentiator: Despite volume pressure, LII delivered a record Q3 margin/EPS; BCS strength and pricing/mix continue to offset inflation .
- Near-term softer outlook: FY25 revenue/FCF/EPS guides were cut on industry destocking and weak summer sell-through; 4Q faces under-absorption headwinds as production is pulled back .
- Clear 2026 setup: Management expects destocking to end by Q2 next year; Saltillo productivity, emergency replacement growth, and ductless penetration provide tailwinds into 2026 .
- Strategic mix shift: Rationalizing low-margin R&C and leaning into parts/supplies (NSI HVAC division) should support margins and cash conversion through the cycle .
- Watch working capital: Elevated inventories pressured 2025 FCF but provide a rebound opportunity as levels normalize .
- Trading implications: Near term, guidance reset and 4Q absorption could weigh; medium term, margin resiliency, services/parts mix, and normalization in demand form a constructive setup into 2026 .
Additional Relevant Press Releases (Q3 period)
- Acquisition close: Completed purchase of NSI Industries’ HVAC division (Duro Dyne & Supco), expanding parts/supplies portfolio .
- Dividend: Declared $1.30/share quarterly dividend payable October 15, 2025 .
- AI/digital: Launched AI support agents with >7,000 technician registrations and >15,000 sessions to enhance field support/customer experience .