Earnings Call Insights: Hudson Technologies (HDSN) Q3 2025
Management View
- Hudson Technologies announced the departure of Brian Coleman as Chairman and CEO, with the Board entering the final stage of selecting a new Chief Executive Officer. Vincent Abbatecola, Lead Independent Director, stated the company is now centered on advancing a growth strategy focused on both organic and inorganic opportunities and emphasized, “we expect to announce an appointment in the near term.”
- Brian Bertaux, CFO and Interim CEO, highlighted, “we are very pleased with our strong third quarter results to close out our 9-month refrigerant selling season. Key third quarter highlights include 20% revenue growth, 32% gross margin and a 59% increase in net income of $12.4 million.” He noted revenue growth was driven by increased sales volume and higher average sales price of refrigerants.
- Bertaux also announced the renewal of the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) contract, valued at $210 million for the first 5-year period, calling it “a tremendous effort by our team to win this competitive bid.”
- Kathleen Houghton, Senior VP of Sales & Marketing, commented on the effectiveness of outreach to technicians, stating, “our sales activity in the third quarter largely mitigated what had been a late start to our 9-month season” and highlighted continued progress in reclamation activities.
Outlook
- Bertaux maintained, “we are maintaining our expectation of slightly above mid-20% gross margin for full year 2025.”
- He observed that “an ideal supply and demand balance in the HSC refrigerant landscape may not occur until 2029, which is when the next production curtailment will occur.”
- Houghton noted, “we remain confident that the current phase down of HFC Refrigerants represents a significant long-term growth opportunity for Hudson.”
- The EPA’s proposed rule changes are not expected to materially impact the business and may provide a slight advantage.
Financial Results
- Hudson recorded $74 million in revenue, an increase of 20% over the prior year period. Gross profit was $23.7 million compared to $15.9 million in the previous year’s quarter, and net income increased to $12.4 million or $0.27 per share from $7.8 million or $0.17 per share last year.
- Bertaux reported $90 million in cash at quarter end, with share repurchases totaling $5.8 million for the year so far.
- Operating income nearly doubled to $14 million, and the company generated $25 million in operating cash flow for the quarter.
- The DLA renewal contract remains consistent with prior years, and HFC inventory levels declined 18% in 2024, according to EPA data cited by Bertaux.
Q&A
- Gerard Sweeney, ROTH Capital Partners, asked about the CEO search and target skill sets. Eric Prouty responded the company seeks “someone with a larger company background that both has experience with acquisitions, but also a lot of skills around organic growth… and insight into other complementary areas.”
- Sweeney also questioned HFC pricing trends. Bertaux replied, “we would expect that perhaps pricing for next year… would be consistent with this year. But as we all know, that’s just — it’s something that we would expect to happen. But in a volatile market, it’s uncertain now.”
- Ryan Sigdahl, Craig-Hallum, asked if supply-demand imbalance changes strategy. Abbatecola said, “we need to reduce our overall exposure to the ups and downs of the gas market… through both organic expansions, but also likely through M&A and acquiring complementary lines.”
- Sigdahl inquired about the DLA contract and government shutdown impacts. Bertaux replied, “we’ve seen a little bit of an impact of that in the fourth quarter. Hopefully, it’s just timing.”
- Sigdahl asked about A2L refrigerants. Houghton stated, “we were well positioned… and we’re very well set up for going into 2026 relative to A2Ls,” and expects A2Ls to become a larger part of the business.
- Matthew Maus, B. Riley, asked about the drivers of the third quarter performance. Bertaux said, “it was more volume driven. So it was about 18% volume and a couple of points higher pricing.”
- Maus followed up on inventory build. Bertaux explained it was to ensure adequate supply for next year and reflected a normalized working capital structure.
- Andrew Steinhardt, Canaccord, asked about M&A to reduce seasonality. Houghton confirmed focus on service businesses and adjacent HVAC spaces. Bertaux declined to specify if new distribution centers would be added but said strategic initiatives are under review.
Sentiment Analysis
- Analysts were inquisitive and focused on strategic shifts, pricing outlook, and M&A, pressing for specifics on CEO transition, market dynamics, and contract implications. The tone was neutral with pockets of slight skepticism, especially regarding pricing and supply-demand balance.
- Management maintained a confident and measured tone during prepared remarks, with Bertaux emphasizing “we are very pleased with our strong third quarter results” and Houghton reiterating long-term growth confidence. During Q&A, the team was candid about uncertainties in pricing and strategy, using phrases like “it’s uncertain now” and “we’re not going to speak to that in detail.”
- Compared to the previous quarter, management’s tone was slightly more forward-looking and strategic, while analysts remained focused on tactical concerns and near-term impacts.
Quarter-over-Quarter Comparison
- The most significant change was the CEO transition, shifting strategic focus to include a broader search for skills in both organic and inorganic growth, particularly M&A and service expansion.
- Third quarter results rebounded from a slow Q2 start, with higher volume and pricing driving revenue growth, compared to Q2’s emphasis on weather-related sales delays and stable pricing.
- Full year gross margin expectations remain consistent, but management underlined the long-term supply-demand imbalance, extending the timeline to 2029.
- Analysts continued to scrutinize pricing, supply-demand, and the DLA contract; however, questions this quarter increasingly focused on expansion opportunities and strategic diversification.
- Management’s confidence increased, reflecting improved financial performance and the DLA contract renewal, while maintaining caution around market volatility and regulatory changes.
Risks and Concerns
- Management warned that supply-demand balance for HFC refrigerants may not normalize until 2029, extending industry uncertainty.
- Government shutdowns have introduced “near-term volatility” affecting the DLA contract.
- The EPA’s ongoing regulatory reviews could alter timelines for new equipment transitions, though current proposals are not expected to materially impact the business.
- Analysts raised concerns about HFC price volatility, inventory management, and the potential for transitory pricing benefits.
Final Takeaway
The third quarter marked a period of strong operational results for Hudson Technologies, highlighted by robust revenue and profit growth, renewal of a significant government contract, and a strategic CEO transition. Management is actively pursuing both organic and inorganic growth to diversify the business and reduce exposure to refrigerant market cycles. While short-term challenges remain due to market volatility and regulatory changes, the company remains confident in its long-term positioning and ability to drive continued shareholder value.