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Perimeter Solutions, Inc. (PRM)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q3 2025 delivered strong top-line growth and non-GAAP profitability: net sales rose 9% to $315.4M, Adjusted EBITDA increased 9% to $186.3M, and Adjusted EPS reached $0.82; GAAP diluted EPS was a loss of $0.62 due to large founder advisory fee expenses .
  • Results materially beat Wall Street consensus: revenue beat by ~$77M (+32%) and EPS beat by ~$0.14; coverage depth was limited (1–2 estimates). These beats, plus management’s commentary on structural contract changes, are positive stock reaction catalysts [GetEstimates].
  • Strategic momentum: a transformative five-year USDA contract shifts mix toward services, lowers price per gallon initially, and transitions to powder retardant—management expects EBITDA growth in 2026 in North America Fire on like-for-like acres despite the price cut .
  • Specialty Products headwinds persist from operational and safety issues at the third-party Sauget P2S5 plant (Flexsys/One Rock), compressing segment EBITDA; IMS continued to outperform with add-on product lines acquired .
  • Free cash flow was robust: management reported Q3 FCF of $193.6M and 9M FCF of ~$197M, supported by seasonal working capital conversion and restrained capex; net leverage was ~1.0x with $675M gross debt and $340.6M cash .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

What Went Well

  • Strong core execution: consolidated net sales +9% YoY to $315.4M; Adjusted EBITDA +9% YoY to $186.3M; Adjusted EPS $0.82 vs $0.75 prior-year quarter .
  • Structural improvements in fire safety contracts decoupled results from acres burned variability; customers’ more aggressive initial attack also supported retardant usage. “We have purposely shifted sales toward fixed services revenue… thereby improving the quality of our revenue base” .
  • Landmark USDA five-year contract adds consistency and predictability, transitions federal bases to full-service model, and moves to all-powder footprint; “We expect to grow our various financial metrics, certainly EBITDA… in 2026 inclusive of this contract” .

What Went Wrong

  • Specialty Products EBITDA fell to $9.1M from $12.9M YoY on significant Sauget plant downtime and safety issues; management warned the drag may persist until they regain operational control .
  • GAAP results overshadowed by founder advisory fee expense ($247.7M in Q3), producing a GAAP net loss of $90.7M and diluted EPS of -$0.62; large non-GAAP adjustments required to assess core performance .
  • Mix effects and year-one price cuts under the new USDA contract will reduce gallon-based revenue proportion near term; earnings growth relies on services expansion and efficiency capture .

Financial Results

Headline Metrics (Quarterly)

MetricQ1 2025Q2 2025Q3 2025
Net Sales ($USD Millions)$72.0 $162.6 $315.4
Gross Profit ($USD Millions)$28.2 $101.5 $199.1
Gross Margin %39.1% 62.4% 63.1%
GAAP Diluted EPS ($)$0.36 $(0.22) $(0.62)
Adjusted Diluted EPS ($)$0.03 $0.39 $0.82
Adjusted EBITDA ($USD Millions)$18.1 $91.3 $186.3
Adjusted EBITDA Margin %25.1% 56.2% 59.1%

Year-over-Year (Q3 2025 vs Q3 2024)

MetricQ3 2024Q3 2025
Net Sales ($USD Millions)$288.4 $315.4
GAAP Diluted EPS ($)$(0.61) $(0.62)
Adjusted Diluted EPS ($)$0.75 $0.82
Adjusted EBITDA ($USD Millions)$170.4 $186.3
Fire Safety Net Sales ($USD Millions)$251.8 $273.4
Specialty Products Net Sales ($USD Millions)$36.6 $42.0
Fire Safety Adjusted EBITDA ($USD Millions)$157.5 $177.2
Specialty Products Adjusted EBITDA ($USD Millions)$12.9 $9.1

Segment Breakdown (Q1–Q3 2025)

MetricQ1 2025Q2 2025Q3 2025
Fire Safety Net Sales ($USD Millions)$37.2 $120.3 $273.4
Specialty Products Net Sales ($USD Millions)$34.9 $42.4 $42.0
Fire Safety Adjusted EBITDA ($USD Millions)$10.1 $77.7 $177.2
Specialty Products Adjusted EBITDA ($USD Millions)$8.0 $13.7 $9.1

Consensus vs Actuals (Quarterly) – S&P Global

MetricQ1 2025 EstimateQ1 2025 ActualQ2 2025 EstimateQ2 2025 ActualQ3 2025 EstimateQ3 2025 Actual
Revenue ($USD)$75.0M*$72.0M $139.7M*$162.6M $238.3M*$315.4M
Primary EPS ($)$0.01*$0.03 $0.26*$0.39 $0.68*$0.82

Values marked with * retrieved from S&P Global.

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Capital ExpendituresFY 2025High-end increased to $30M (from $20M) in Q2 Unchanged in Q3; capex $5M in Q3 Maintained
North America Fire EBITDAFY 2026 vs 2025n/aExpect EBITDA growth in 2026 on like-for-like acres inclusive of new USDA contract Raised (directional)
Revenue/EBITDA MixFY 2026 onwardn/aHigher proportion from services/fixed components; lower from gallons due to year-one price cut Mix shift to services
Price per GallonUSDA Year 1n/aLower pricing in first year; overall multi-year savings to taxpayer Lowered
Trade Policy ExposureFY 2025~2–3% of EBITDA (Q1 commentary) Tracking at or below initial expectations; <2% of consolidated Adj. EBITDA Improved vs initial
Taxes (Cash)FY 2025Unchanged long-term assumptions Unchanged; Q3 cash tax $15.4M Maintained
LeverageOngoingModerate leverage strategy ~1.0x net debt/LTM Adj. EBITDA; $675M debt, $340.6M cash Maintained

No formal revenue/EPS guidance provided in Q3 materials .

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicQ1 2025 (Prev)Q2 2025 (Prev)Q3 2025 (Current)Trend
Fire activity & initial attackElevated early-season U.S. activity; normal risk range Normalized first-half activity; preparedness emphasis Aggressive initial attack directive boosted retardant use and limited acres burned Improving operational posture; lower sensitivity to acres
Contracting & mixDecentralized execution; value-based pricing Capex up; contract quality emphasized New USDA 5-year contract adds services, predictability, powder conversion More fixed revenue, multi-year visibility
Supply chain resiliencyn/aSacramento retardant facility opened; duplicated infrastructure All federal product manufactured in U.S.; domestic raw materials focus Resilience strengthening
Specialty Products (Sauget)Outsourced plant outage weighed on EBITDA; recovery expected by 2026 Drag persisted; litigation initiated to assume operations Safety events escalated; continued drag expected until takeover Negative; ongoing risk
IMS executionFirst add-on acquisitions; strong thesis Performing ahead of underwriting; capacity expansion More product lines acquired; continued outperformance Positive; scalable
Trade policy/tariffs2–3% EBITDA exposure; mitigations planned n/aEffects tracking <2% of consolidated Adj. EBITDA Slightly improved
Capital allocation$23M deployed; buybacks ~$62M deployed; buybacks; Compass settlement ~$17M deployed; IMS add-ons + capex Consistent discipline
Leverage & liquidity~1.7x net debt/LTM Adj. EBITDA; single 5% notes ~1.7x; $141M cash; $100M revolver ~1.0x; $340.6M cash; $100M revolver Deleveraging with cash build

Management Commentary

  • Strategic mission and returns: “Our goal is… exceptional service while delivering our investors private equity-like returns… built on three key operational pillars” .
  • Contract predictability: “We renewed substantially all key retardant contracts… prioritized adjustments to drive greater consistency and predictability” .
  • Initial attack outcomes: “This more aggressive initial attack posture helped limit acres burned… while driving meaningful use of retardant” .
  • USDA contract impact: “We expect to grow… EBITDA in our North America fire business in 2026 inclusive of this contract… further moves our business towards consistency… increasing proportion from services” .
  • Capacity: “We were not tapped out on capacity this year and wouldn’t expect to be tapped out in a stronger fire season” .
  • International momentum: “Our international business really is firing on all cylinders… Europe, Middle East, Asia, Australia and South America were strong” .
  • Specialty plant issues: “Significant safety events… demonstrate the urgent need to get these assets out of Flexsys control… expect continued financial impact until resolved” .
  • Free cash flow and leverage: “We define free cash flow… we had FCF in Q3 of $193.6M and ~$197M for nine months… levered ~1x net debt to LTM adjusted EBITDA” .

Q&A Highlights

  • Earnings power and acres sensitivity: Management views 2025 fire safety earnings as indicative of normalized earnings power; initial attack reduces sensitivity of gallons to acres .
  • Capacity and dispersion: Benefit from more even dispersion of acres across geography and time; air tanker fleet growth and base throughput increases support volumes .
  • USDA contract economics: Despite year-one price cuts, mix shift to services and efficiency gains expected to grow EBITDA in 2026 on like-for-like acres .
  • Agency merger implications: Federal contract already spans five agencies; a merged U.S. Wildland Fire Service aligns with streamlined, joint contracting .
  • Contracting philosophy: Collaborative, customer-centric contracting can drive outsized value; 2025 results reflect two years of disciplined contracting .

Estimates Context

  • Q3 2025: Revenue beat by ~$77.2M ($315.4M actual vs $238.3M consensus); EPS beat by ~$0.14 ($0.82 vs $0.68)*. Strength driven by international retardants, suppressants, services mix, and proactive initial attack .
  • Q2 2025: Revenue beat ($162.6M vs $139.7M); EPS beat ($0.39 vs $0.26)*, aided by normalized U.S. fire activity and international strength .
  • Q1 2025: EPS modestly above consensus ($0.03 vs $0.01); revenue slightly below ($72.0M vs $75.0M) as suppressants faced prior-year product launch comp .
    Coverage depth is limited (1–2 estimates), increasing potential for outsized surprises*.
    Values retrieved from S&P Global.

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Q3 was a clean beat on revenue and EPS versus limited consensus, with broad-based strength and structural contract improvements—supportive for near-term stock performance* [GetEstimates].
  • Mix shift toward services under the USDA contract and powder conversion should reduce volatility and enhance predictability; management explicitly expects EBITDA growth in 2026 despite a year-one price cut .
  • Specialty Products remains the key risk: Sauget plant safety/operational issues are meaningful and ongoing until operational control is secured; monitor litigation progress and segment recovery timing .
  • Cash generation and balance sheet are strengths: Q3 FCF ~$193.6M and net leverage ~1.0x provide ample capital flexibility for IMS add-ons and opportunistic M&A .
  • International retardant adoption remains early and strong across multiple regions, forming a durable multi-year growth vector .
  • Near-term trading: Focus on service-mix narrative, initial-attack benefits, and additional contract disclosures; watch for any incremental updates at the Baird conference .
  • Medium-term thesis: Durable cash flows, decentralized execution, structural contract changes, and IMS roll-ups support earnings compounding; specialty operational resolution is the gating factor for multiple expansion .

KPIs and Additional Data

  • Free Cash Flow: $193.6M in Q3; ~$197M for 9M; capex $5.0M in Q3 .
  • Liquidity and Leverage: $675M gross debt; $340.6M cash; $100M undrawn revolver; ~1.0x net debt/LTM Adjusted EBITDA .
  • Year-to-date (9M) totals: Net sales $550.1M (+16% YoY), Adjusted EBITDA $295.7M (+20% YoY), Adjusted EPS $1.24 .

Note: All non-GAAP measures (Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income/EPS) are per company definitions and reconciliations in Q3 materials -.