Trane Technologies plc (TT) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
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Overview
The earnings call summary and Q&A indicate strong growth prospects in Commercial HVAC, a key revenue driver, and optimistic guidance for 2025. While residential HVAC faces challenges, the overall market outlook remains positive. The company has a robust capital allocation strategy, including significant share repurchases, and is well-positioned in high-growth verticals like data centers. Despite some uncertainties, such as the impact of tariffs and commodity costs, the positive aspects outweigh the negatives, leading to a positive sentiment rating.
Key Financial Performance
Adjusted EPS Grew 10% year-over-year in Q4 2025. This growth was driven by strong performance in the Americas Commercial HVAC businesses and global services business, despite softness in residential and transport refrigeration markets.
Free Cash Flow Remained robust in 2025, funding strategic M&A, a growing dividend, and significant share repurchases. This reflects strong operational performance and disciplined capital allocation.
Enterprise Organic Bookings Increased by 22% year-over-year in Q4 2025, leading to a record backlog of $7.8 billion. This growth was driven by exceptional performance in the Americas Commercial HVAC businesses, with bookings up more than 35% year-over-year.
Organic Revenue Grew 4% year-over-year in Q4 2025, led by strength in Americas Commercial HVAC businesses and global services business. Excluding residential, organic revenue grew 7%.
Americas Commercial HVAC Bookings Increased by more than 35% year-over-year in Q4 2025, with Applied Solutions bookings up more than 120%. This was driven by strong demand across nearly all verticals and in both equipment and services.
EMEA Commercial HVAC Backlog Increased by nearly 40% year-over-year by the end of 2025. This growth was attributed to strong bookings and investments in the region.
Residential Revenue Declined mid-teens year-over-year in Q4 2025, reflecting the normalization of channel inventory.
Americas Transport Refrigeration Revenue Declined low single digits year-over-year in Q4 2025, outperforming transport markets that declined more than 20%.
EMEA Transport Revenue Declined at a similar rate to bookings, which were down low single digits year-over-year in Q4 2025. This outperformed end markets that were down mid-single digits.
Asia Pacific Organic Revenue Declined 6% year-over-year in Q4 2025, with China experiencing double-digit declines in bookings and revenue, while the rest of Asia saw bookings up low double digits and revenues down low single digits.
Adjusted EBITDA Margin (EMEA) Declined 160 basis points year-over-year in 2025, reflecting year 1 acquisition and integration costs.
Adjusted EBITDA Margin (Asia Pacific) Declined 20 basis points year-over-year in 2025, as costs were managed to limit deleverage while continuing to invest in the business.
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Operating Highlights
Stellar Energy Acquisition: Acquired Stellar Energy, a provider of turnkey data center cooling solutions, enhancing modular design and build capabilities.
Americas Commercial HVAC: Bookings up more than 35% year-over-year, with record backlog of $7.8 billion.
EMEA Commercial HVAC: Bookings up mid-teens, backlog increased nearly 40% year-over-year.
Asia Pacific Performance: Mixed performance; rest of Asia bookings up low double digits, China bookings declined double digits.
Revenue Growth: Achieved 6%-7% organic revenue growth guidance for 2026.
Adjusted EPS Growth: Guidance for adjusted EPS of $14.65 to $14.85, up 12%-14%.
Free Cash Flow: Maintained strong free cash flow conversion of 100% or greater.
Capital Allocation: Deployed $3.2 billion in 2025, including $720 million for M&A and $1.5 billion for share repurchases.
Innovation Investments: Continued heavy investment in services and digital capabilities to drive growth.
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Risk or Challenges
Residential Market Weakness: The residential market experienced a significantly weaker second half in 2025, and the outlook for 2026 is flat to modestly lower, with Q1 expected to be the trough, down about 20%. This poses a risk to revenue growth in this segment.
Transport Refrigeration Market Decline: Americas Transport refrigeration bookings were down mid-single digits, and revenues were down low single digits, reflecting a market decline of more than 20%. ACT forecasts the trailer market to decline by about 7% in 2026, with recovery not expected until late 2026 or 2027.
China Market Challenges: In Asia Pacific, China experienced double-digit declines in bookings and revenue, and the outlook for 2026 remains relatively flat, indicating ongoing challenges in this key market.
EMEA Transport Market Weakness: EMEA transport markets are expected to be flat to modestly lower in 2026, following a down market in 2025. This could limit growth opportunities in the region.
Residential Inventory Normalization Impact: Proactive measures to normalize residential inventory reduced factory production days by one-third, resulting in roughly 60% deleverage in that business, impacting margins.
Acquisition and Integration Costs: In EMEA, adjusted EBITDA margin declined 160 basis points due to year 1 acquisition and integration costs, which weighed on near-term margins despite positioning for long-term growth.
Asia Pacific Mixed Performance: The Asia Pacific region is expected to have mixed performance in 2026, with challenges in China offsetting growth in other parts of the region, leading to relatively flat overall performance.
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Guidance & Outlook
Revenue Growth: The company is initiating 2026 guidance with 6% to 7% organic revenue growth and total reported revenue growth of 8.5% to 9.5%, including contributions from FX and M&A.
Adjusted EPS: 2026 adjusted EPS is projected to be $14.65 to $14.85, representing a 12% to 14% increase.
Free Cash Flow: The company targets free cash flow conversion of 100% or greater in 2026.
Commercial HVAC: Exceptional bookings and record backlog in Americas and EMEA provide strong visibility into future revenues and market outgrowth. Growth is expected to be solid in the first half of 2026 and even stronger in the second half.
Residential Markets: The residential market is expected to be flat to modestly lower in 2026, with Q1 being the trough and growth anticipated in the second half of the year.
Transport Refrigeration: Americas transport markets are forecasted to decline by about 7% in 2026, with recovery expected in late 2026 and extending into 2027 and beyond.
EMEA Growth: EMEA Commercial HVAC is expected to grow mid-single digits in the first half of 2026, improving to high single digits in the second half as backlog converts.
Asia Pacific: Mixed performance is expected in Asia Pacific, with flat overall performance in 2026. China is anticipated to remain challenging, while the rest of Asia is expected to outperform.
Capital Allocation: The company plans to deploy $2.8 billion to $3.3 billion in 2026, focusing on strategic M&A, dividends, and share repurchases.
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Shareholder Return Plan
Dividend Growth: In 2025, the company allocated approximately $840 million to dividends as part of its balanced capital allocation strategy.
Share Repurchase Program: In 2025, the company deployed roughly $1.5 billion to share repurchases. Additionally, $4.7 billion remains under the share repurchase authorization for future use.
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Key Q&A
Q:What is the guidance on revenue growth for Americas Commercial HVAC in 2026?
A:The first quarter is expected to have strong growth in the 7% to 8% range, the second quarter is expected to grow to about 10%, and the second half of the year is expected to grow in the low teens. This is based on strong bookings growth in 2025 and a 9-month cycle from order date to ship dates.
Q:What is the confidence level in U.S. residential HVAC inventory and pricing?
A:Management is confident that inventory levels are right-sized as they intentionally reduced production days in Q4 2025. They expect residential HVAC to be flat to down up to 5% in 2026. Pricing has not faded, and any pricing impact is more due to lower volumes.
Q:Are orders broadening out among end markets or narrowing to specific sectors like data centers?
A:Orders are broad-based across 12 of 14 verticals in the Americas, including retail and office, which are showing growth. Data centers remain very strong but are not the sole driver of growth.
Q:Has there been any impact on Applied orders from changes in customer lead times?
A:No significant changes in customer lead times have been observed over the past 12 months. Trane has introduced quick ship programs to address emergency or last-minute orders.
Q:How has the Service business for data centers evolved?
A:Attachment rates for Service in data centers have improved compared to a decade ago. Hyperscalers and colos prefer OEMs to handle Service work, and the size of data center farms has led to more dedicated resources for Service.
Q:What are the expectations for segment incrementals and price/cost dynamics in 2026?
A:Management expects 25% or better organic incrementals across all segments. Pricing is expected to contribute around 1.5 points to organic growth, with a proven track record of staying ahead of inflation.
Q:What is Trane's positioning in the data center market, especially with innovations like liquid cooling?
A:Trane is working closely with hyperscalers and chip manufacturers to design data centers of the future. Chillers are expected to remain integral to data centers, with innovations improving efficiency and reducing power consumption.
Q:What is the outlook for residential HVAC in Q1 2026?
A:Residential HVAC is expected to be down about 20% in Q1 2026 due to tough comps from the previous year. Deleveraging is expected to be better than in Q4 2025, and inventory levels are right-sized.
Q:What is the visibility and outlook for biopharma reshoring projects?
A:Life sciences was one of the weaker verticals in 2025, but the pipeline for large biopharma reshoring projects is strong. Management is optimistic about these projects materializing in the near term.
Q:What is the expected impact of Stellar Energy on Trane's capabilities?
A:Stellar Energy enhances Trane's ability to build modular chiller plants, which reduce the need for skilled labor on job sites and improve testing efficiency. While currently focused on data centers, this modular concept has potential in other verticals.
Q:What is the outlook for Commercial Unitary orders in 2026?
A:Commercial Unitary orders are expected to be flattish in 2026, with growth depending on different verticals.
Q:How is Trane managing capacity expansion for Applied systems and Service?
A:Trane has increased chiller capacity by over 4x in recent years through lean operations and new lines. They are also working closely with supply chain partners and have over 7,500 technicians globally to support Service and commissioning.
Q:What is the outlook for data center growth in EMEA?
A:Data center growth in EMEA is strong but involves smaller data centers compared to the U.S. Trane is well-positioned to support larger data centers if they materialize in Europe.
Q:What is the expected impact of tariffs and commodity costs in 2026?
A:Tariff costs are expected to increase by about $50 million in 2026, with total costs around $200 million after mitigations. About half of copper and aluminum needs for 2026 are hedged, and steel pricing is locked for six months.
Q:What is the outlook for HVAC content in data centers over the next 2-4 years?
A:The HVAC content as a fraction of data center spending is expected to remain about the same. However, power consumption by thermal management systems may decrease, allowing more power for computing.
Q:Review of Unclear Management Responses
A:Management avoided directly addressing the specific impact of liquid cooling on the need for chillers in data centers, stating that they are still modeling the effects. Additionally, they did not provide a clear breakdown of the split between new construction and retrofit in Commercial HVAC growth, especially in EMEA.
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Earnings Word Cloud
The most frequently occurring keywords in this quarter's earning call
Americas Commercial
Americas EMEA
Americas HVAC
Americas Transport
Bookings
Chairman CEO
Commercial HVAC
EMEA HVAC
EMEA backlog
Energy
HVAC standout
Services
Slide capital
Solutions booking
Stellar
Technologies Conference
Trane Technologies
acquisition integration
backlog end
booking HVAC
booking backlog
booking record
business Americas
capability
channel inventory
compound rate
decline
deleverage
demand system
dynamic
expertise
hand
margin basis
market EMEA
mid teen
record backlog
revenue rate
success
system value
teen market
transport market
TT Transcript
Trane Technologies plc (TT) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive1-29
The earnings call summary and Q&A indicate strong growth prospects in Commercial HVAC, a key revenue driver, and optimistic guidance for 2025. While residential HVAC faces challenges, the overall market outlook remains positive. The company has a robust capital allocation strategy, including significant share repurchases, and is well-positioned in high-growth verticals like data centers. Despite some uncertainties, such as the impact of tariffs and commodity costs, the positive aspects outweigh the negatives, leading to a positive sentiment rating.
Trane Technologies plc (TT) Presents at Baird 55th Annual Global Industrial Conference Transcript
Neutral11-12
Trane Technologies plc (TT) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive10-30
The earnings call summary and Q&A responses indicate a positive outlook. The company has raised revenue and EPS guidance, expects strong growth in commercial HVAC and transport refrigeration, and has a solid free cash flow conversion. While there are challenges in residential HVAC, management anticipates improvement. The Q&A section highlights strong pipelines, innovation in data centers, and positive impacts from M&A. Despite some vague responses, overall sentiment is positive, suggesting a stock price increase.
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Neutral9-11
TT Report
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