— Continued Profitable Growth and Business Expansion —
Fourth Quarter 2025 Highlights
- Record fourth quarter net sales of
$115.6 million , up 13.7 percent, from$101.6 million in the prior-year quarter. - Gross profit of
$39.3 million , versus$39.8 million in the prior-year quarter. - Gross margin of 34.0 percent, reflecting an expected decrease from 39.2 percent in the prior-year quarter due to elevated tariffs.
- Net income of
$7.2 million , up 22.8 percent, from$5.9 million in the prior-year quarter. - Net income margin of 6.2 percent, from 5.8 percent in the prior-year quarter.
- Adjusted EBITDA of
$12.5 million , versus$11.3 million in the prior-year quarter. - Adjusted EBITDA margin of 10.8 percent, versus 11.1 percent in the prior-year quarter.
Guidance
- Net sales for the 2026 first quarter expected to increase by 8 to 10 percent from the prior-year quarter.
- Gross margin for the 2026 first quarter expected to be between 34 and 36 percent.
- Adjusted EBITDA margin for the 2026 first quarter expected to be between 9 and 11 percent.
- Net sales for full-year 2026 expected to increase by low double-digits from the prior year.
- Gross margin and adjusted EBITDA margin for full year 2026 expected to continue to improve compared with the prior year, under current global tariff policy.
“We finished 2025 with a strong fourth quarter, demonstrating the strength and resilience of our business model and our ability to continue to drive profitable growth against an uncertain macroeconomic backdrop. We again achieved double-digit volume growth and our pricing turned positive for the first time since the first quarter of 2023,” said
“We continue to closely monitor tariff and foreign currency developments and adjust our global supply chain as appropriate. During the fourth quarter of 2025, 46 percent of our goods were sourced from Taiwan, 14 percent from
“Our new paper bags product category continues to perform strongly, expanding steadily and generating meaningful revenue growth. In 2025, we won a significant paper bag contract with one of our largest national chain accounts, and we are actively pursuing further opportunities, some of which are at the final confirmation stage. We are also strengthening this category by supplying generic paper bags to smaller customer accounts, and we expect to continue gaining market share in this category in the coming years.
“In today’s dynamic trade environment, we are confident that Karat’s proven global sourcing flexibility and efficient logistics capabilities will support a solid growth trajectory,” Yu added.
Fourth Quarter 2025 Financial Results
Net sales for the 2025 fourth quarter increased 13.7 percent to
Cost of goods sold for the 2025 fourth quarter increased 23.4 percent to
Gross profit for the 2025 fourth quarter was
Operating expenses in the 2025 fourth quarter decreased to
Other income, net, increased 17.7 percent to
Net income for the 2025 fourth quarter increased 22.8 percent to
Net income attributable to Karat for the 2025 fourth quarter increased 21.3 percent to
Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure defined below, totaled
Adjusted diluted earnings per common share, a non-GAAP measure defined below, was
2025 Full Year Results
Net sales for the year ended
Cost of goods sold for the year ended
Gross profit for the year ended
Operating expenses for the year ended
Other income, net, was
Net income for the year ended
Net income attributable to
Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure defined below, was
Adjusted diluted earnings per common share, a non-GAAP measure defined below, was
Dividend
On
Share Repurchase Program
During the 2025 fourth quarter, the Company purchased 137,374 shares of its common stock at an average purchase price of
Investor Conference Call
The Company will host an investor conference call today,
| Phone: | (877) 418-4045 (domestic); (412) 317-6745 (international) |
| Conference ID: | |
| Webcast: | Accessible at https://irkarat.com/events-presentations/; archive available for approximately one year |
About
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution readers that forward-looking statements are predictions based on our current expectations about future events. These forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, achieving our financial guidance, are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Our actual results, performance, or achievements could differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including the risks discussed under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part I of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any updates discussed under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part II of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise that occur after the date of this release, except as required by law.
Investor Relations and Media Contacts:
310-279-5980
ir@karatpackaging.com
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In thousands, except share and per share data) | |||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Year Ended | ||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | |||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 115,617 | $ | 101,649 | $ | 467,743 | $ | 422,633 | |||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 76,268 | 61,826 | 295,607 | 258,304 | |||||||||||
| Gross profit | 39,349 | 39,823 | 172,136 | 164,329 | |||||||||||
| Operating expenses | |||||||||||||||
| Selling expenses | 11,919 | 13,909 | 53,844 | 52,286 | |||||||||||
| General and administrative expenses (including | 18,749 | 18,360 | 77,371 | 71,530 | |||||||||||
| Loss (gain), net, on disposal of machinery and impairment expense | 210 | 254 | (493 | ) | 2,752 | ||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 30,878 | 32,523 | 130,722 | 126,568 | |||||||||||
| Operating income | 8,471 | 7,300 | 41,414 | 37,761 | |||||||||||
| Other income (expenses) | |||||||||||||||
| Rental income (including | 682 | 592 | 2,923 | 2,076 | |||||||||||
| Other income, net | 44 | 8 | 73 | 162 | |||||||||||
| Gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions | 404 | 368 | (1,543 | ) | 520 | ||||||||||
| Interest income (including | 553 | 565 | 2,210 | 2,299 | |||||||||||
| Interest expense (including | (486 | ) | (516 | ) | (2,055 | ) | (2,123 | ) | |||||||
| Total other income, net | 1,197 | 1,017 | 1,608 | 2,934 | |||||||||||
| Income before provision for income taxes | 9,668 | 8,317 | 43,022 | 40,695 | |||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 2,474 | 2,458 | 10,358 | 9,871 | |||||||||||
| Net income | 7,194 | 5,859 | 32,664 | 30,824 | |||||||||||
| Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest | 384 | 244 | 1,186 | 849 | |||||||||||
| Net income attributable to | $ | 6,810 | $ | 5,615 | $ | 31,478 | $ | 29,975 | |||||||
| Basic and diluted earnings per share: | |||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 0.34 | $ | 0.28 | $ | 1.57 | $ | 1.50 | |||||||
| Diluted | $ | 0.34 | $ | 0.28 | $ | 1.56 | $ | 1.49 | |||||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic | 20,037,669 | 20,026,773 | 20,057,549 | 20,002,211 | |||||||||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted | 20,122,932 | 20,173,554 | 20,180,070 | 20,124,284 | |||||||||||
NET SALES BY CATEGORY (UNAUDITED) (In thousands) | |||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Year Ended | ||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||
| Chains and Distributors * | $ | 93,327 | $ | 79,411 | $ | 370,556 | $ | 329,448 | |||
| Online | 17,071 | 16,755 | 75,286 | 70,130 | |||||||
| Retail * | 5,219 | 5,483 | 21,901 | 23,055 | |||||||
| $ | 115,617 | $ | 101,649 | $ | 467,743 | $ | 422,633 | ||||
* During the three months ended
SELECTED BALANCE SHEET AND CASH FLOW INFORMATION (In thousands) | |||||
| Selected Balance Sheet Information: | |||||
| (Unaudited) | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 37,880 | $ | 31,584 | |
| Short-term investments | $ | — | $ | 28,343 | |
| Accounts receivable, net of allowance for bad debt | $ | 36,402 | $ | 26,736 | |
| Inventories | $ | 81,682 | $ | 70,722 | |
| Total assets | $ | 287,686 | $ | 294,522 | |
| Accounts payable | $ | 26,323 | $ | 17,831 | |
| Total current liabilities | $ | 70,220 | $ | 46,447 | |
| Total liabilities | $ | 130,816 | $ | 132,323 | |
| Total stockholders’ equity | $ | 156,870 | $ | 162,199 | |
| Selected Cash Flow Information: | Year Ended | ||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||
| (Unaudited) | |||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 33,815 | $ | 47,982 | |||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | $ | 25,399 | $ | (5,855 | ) | ||
| Dividends paid to shareholders | $ | (36,100 | ) | $ | (31,016 | ) | |
| Repurchases of common stock | $ | (2,998 | ) | $ | — | ||
| Net cash used in financing activities | $ | (52,918 | ) | $ | (33,619 | ) | |
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (UNAUDITED) (In thousands, except per share amounts) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin: | Three Months Ended | Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amounts | % of | Amounts | % of | Amounts | % of | Amounts | % of | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 7,194 | 6.2 | % | $ | 5,859 | 5.8 | % | $ | 32,664 | 7.0 | % | $ | 30,824 | 7.3 | % | |||||||||||
| Add (deduct): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | (553 | ) | (0.5 | ) | (565 | ) | (0.6 | ) | (2,210 | ) | (0.5 | ) | (2,299 | ) | (0.5 | ) | |||||||||||
| Interest expense | 486 | 0.4 | 516 | 0.5 | 2,055 | 0.4 | 2,123 | 0.5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 2,474 | 2.2 | 2,458 | 2.4 | 10,358 | 2.3 | 9,871 | 2.3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 2,759 | 2.4 | 2,695 | 2.7 | 10,891 | 2.3 | 10,675 | 2.5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 138 | 0.1 | 350 | 0.3 | 1,182 | 0.3 | 2,065 | 0.5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Secondary offering transaction costs (1) | — | — | — | — | 214 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Impairment of operating right-of-use asset | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1,993 | 0.5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 12,498 | 10.8 | % | $ | 11,313 | 11.1 | % | $ | 55,154 | 11.8 | % | $ | 55,252 | 13.1 | % | |||||||||||
| Reconciliation of Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Common Share | Three Months Ended | Year Ended | ||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||||||||
| Diluted earnings per common share | $ | 0.34 | $ | 0.28 | $ | 1.56 | $ | 1.49 | ||||||
| Add (deduct): | ||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.06 | 0.10 | ||||||||||
| Impairment of operating right-of-use asset | — | — | — | 0.10 | ||||||||||
| Secondary offering transaction costs (1) | — | — | 0.01 | — | ||||||||||
| Tax impact | (0.01 | ) | — | (0.02 | ) | (0.05 | ) | |||||||
| Adjusted diluted earnings per common share | $ | 0.34 | $ | 0.29 | $ | 1.61 | $ | 1.64 | ||||||
(1) Secondary offering transaction costs represent legal and professional fees incurred in connection with the completion of the secondary offering by certain executive officers and stockholders of the Company, which were directly related to the offering and were incremental to our normal operating expenses.
| Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA by Entity | Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
| Global Wells | Eliminations | Consolidated | |||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 6,803 | $ | 452 | $ | (61 | ) | $ | 7,194 | ||||||
| Add (deduct): | |||||||||||||||
| Interest income | (398 | ) | (155 | ) | — | (553 | ) | ||||||||
| Interest expense | 34 | 452 | — | 486 | |||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 2,474 | — | — | 2,474 | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 2,456 | 303 | — | 2,759 | |||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 138 | — | — | 138 | |||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 11,507 | $ | 1,052 | $ | (61 | ) | $ | 12,498 | ||||||
| Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA by Entity | Year Ended | ||||||||||||||
| Global Wells | Eliminations | Consolidated | |||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 31,464 | $ | 1,396 | $ | (196 | ) | $ | 32,664 | ||||||
| Add (deduct): | |||||||||||||||
| Interest income | (1,624 | ) | (586 | ) | — | (2,210 | ) | ||||||||
| Interest expense | 89 | 1,966 | — | 2,055 | |||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 10,358 | — | — | 10,358 | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 9,678 | 1,213 | — | 10,891 | |||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 1,182 | — | — | 1,182 | |||||||||||
| Secondary offering transaction costs (1) | 214 | — | — | 214 | |||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 51,361 | $ | 3,989 | $ | (196 | ) | $ | 55,154 | ||||||
(1) Secondary offering transaction costs represent legal and professional fees incurred in connection with the completion of the secondary offering by certain executive officers and stockholders of the Company, which were directly related to the offering and were incremental to our normal operating expenses.
| Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA by Entity | Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
| Global Wells | Eliminations | Consolidated | |||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 5,634 | $ | 287 | $ | (62 | ) | $ | 5,859 | ||||||
| Add (deduct): | |||||||||||||||
| Interest income | (564 | ) | (1 | ) | — | (565 | ) | ||||||||
| Interest expense | 7 | 509 | — | 516 | |||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 2,458 | — | — | 2,458 | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 2,391 | 304 | — | 2,695 | |||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 350 | — | — | 350 | |||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 10,276 | $ | 1,099 | $ | (62 | ) | $ | 11,313 | ||||||
| Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA by Entity | Year Ended | |||||||||||||
| Global Wells | Eliminations | Consolidated | ||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 29,678 | $ | 994 | $ | 152 | $ | 30,824 | ||||||
| Add (deduct): | ||||||||||||||
| Interest income | (1,829 | ) | (470 | ) | — | (2,299 | ) | |||||||
| Interest expense | 61 | 2,062 | — | 2,123 | ||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 9,871 | — | — | 9,871 | ||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 9,461 | 1,214 | — | 10,675 | ||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 2,065 | — | — | 2,065 | ||||||||||
| Impairment of operating right-of-use asset | 1,993 | — | — | 1,993 | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 51,300 | $ | 3,800 | $ | 152 | $ | 55,252 | ||||||
| Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow | Three Months Ended | Year Ended | |||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 15,357 | $ | 8,250 | $ | 33,815 | $ | 47,982 | |||||||
| Add (deduct): | |||||||||||||||
| Purchase of property and equipment | (236 | ) | (216 | ) | (756 | ) | (934 | ) | |||||||
| Deposits paid for property and equipment | (505 | ) | (544 | ) | (3,749 | ) | (3,134 | ) | |||||||
| Free Cash Flow | $ | 14,616 | $ | 7,490 | $ | 29,310 | $ | 43,914 | |||||||
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Karat utilizes certain financial measures and key performance indicators that are not defined by, or calculated in accordance with, GAAP to assess our financial and operating performance. A non-GAAP financial measure is defined as a numerical measure of a company’s financial performance that (i) excludes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of excluding amounts, that are included in the comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the statement of operations; or (ii) includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of including amounts, that are excluded from the comparable GAAP measure so calculated and presented. The following non-GAAP measures are presented in this press release:
- Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net income before interest income and interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, secondary offering transaction costs, and impairment of operating right-of-use asset.
- Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by net sales.
- Free Cash Flow is calculated as cash from operating activities less cash used in (i) purchases of property and equipment, and (ii) deposits paid for property and equipment.
- Adjusted diluted earnings per common share is calculated as diluted earnings per common share, plus the per share impact of stock-based compensation, secondary offering transaction costs, impairment of operating right-of-use asset, and adjusted for the related tax effects of these adjustments.
We believe the above-mentioned non-GAAP measures, which are used by management to assess the core performance of Karat, provide useful information and additional clarity of our operating results to our investors in their own evaluation of the financial performance and liquidity of Karat and facilitate a comparison of such performance from period to period. These are not measurements of financial performance or liquidity under GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or construed as substitutes for net income or other cash flow data prepared in accordance with GAAP for purposes of analyzing our financial performance or liquidity. These measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, revenue, net income, earnings per share, cash flows or other measures of financial performance and liquidity prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures may not provide information that is directly comparable to that provided by other companies, as other companies may calculate such financial results differently.
