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H.B. Fuller Company (FUL)
NYSE:FUL

H.B. Fuller Company (FUL) AI Stock Analysis

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FUL

H.B. Fuller Company

(NYSE:FUL)

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Neutral 63 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:63Neutral
Price Target:
$68.00
▲(17.42% Upside)
The score is held back primarily by moderate financial performance (revenue softness, pressured cash conversion, and meaningful leverage), partially offset by constructive technical momentum (price above major moving averages with positive MACD). Valuation is somewhat demanding (P/E 23.53 with a modest 1.46% yield), while the earnings call supports a mid-level uplift due to margin/profit guidance despite muted top-line growth and near-term cash/working-capital headwinds.
Positive Factors
Margin Expansion / Profitability
Sustained margin expansion reflects structural improvements: pricing, raw-material tailwinds and cost programs increased gross and EBITDA margins. If maintained, higher margins support stronger cash generation and resilience versus cyclic revenue, enabling reinvestment and deleveraging over the next 2–6 months.
M&A Execution and EBITDA Contribution
Disciplined bolt-on M&A has meaningfully grown EBITDA contribution and shown integration success, improving organic profitability and accelerating targets. This track record supports a repeatable M&A cadence that can sustainably enhance margins and diversify revenue over the medium term.
Diversified End Markets and Geographic Upside
Broad market exposure and pockets of growth (APAC rebound, LNG, data centers, glass product strength) reduce dependency on any single end market. Geographic and product diversification underpins more stable revenue streams and supports medium-term growth even if core markets remain muted.
Negative Factors
Elevated Leverage and Interest Burden
Net debt/EBITDA above target constrains strategic flexibility and raises sensitivity to interest costs. Elevated leverage limits the pace of bolt-on M&A, share repurchases or unexpected investments, and keeps a portion of operating cash flow tied to financing costs over the next several quarters.
Top-line Pressure and Volume Weakness
Sustained soft organic growth and volume declines suggest demand headwinds and competitive pressure in key end markets. With management guiding flat to low-growth revenue, prolonged top-line weakness could cap long-term free cash flow growth and make margin gains the primary driver of earnings.
Working Capital & FCF Conversion Pressure
Higher working capital and near-term inventory/CapEx from transformation projects (Quantum Leap, SAP) weaken cash conversion. Persistent elevated working capital can delay deleveraging and limit capital available for growth or returns, pressuring balance sheet recovery over the medium term.

H.B. Fuller Company (FUL) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

H.B. Fuller Company Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionH.B. Fuller Company, together with its subsidiaries, formulates, manufactures, and markets adhesives, sealants, coatings, polymers, tapes, encapsulants, additives, and other specialty chemical products worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Hygiene, Health and Consumable Adhesives; Engineering Adhesives; and Construction Adhesives. The Hygiene, Health and Consumable Adhesives segment produces and supplies specialty industrial adhesives such as, thermoplastic, thermoset, reactive, and water-based and solvent-based products for applications in various markets, including food and beverage containers, flexible packaging, consumer goods, package integrity and re-enforcement, and non-durable goods; corrugation, folding carton, tape and label, paper converting, envelopes, books, multi-wall bags, sacks, and tissue and towel; disposable diapers, feminine care, and medical garments; and health and beauty. The Engineering Adhesives segment produces and supplies high performance industrial adhesives such as reactive, light cure, two-part liquids, silicone, polyurethane, film, and fast cure products to the appliances and filters, windows, doors and wood flooring, and textile, transportation, electronics, medical, clean energy, aerospace and defense, appliance, heavy machinery, and insulating glass markets. The Construction Adhesives segment provides products used for tile setting, commercial roofing, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and insulation applications, as well as caulks and sealants for the consumer market and professional trade. The company sells its products directly through distributors and retailers. H.B. Fuller Company was founded in 1887 and is headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
How the Company Makes MoneyH.B. Fuller generates revenue primarily through the sale of its adhesive and sealant products across various markets. The company's revenue model is based on both direct sales to end-users and distribution through third-party channels. Key revenue streams include industrial adhesives for manufacturers, construction adhesives for building projects, and specialty products for specific applications. Significant partnerships with major corporations in the automotive and electronics sectors contribute to its earnings, as does the company's emphasis on research and development to create high-performance products that meet evolving industry standards. Additionally, the global demand for sustainable and eco-friendly adhesive solutions has opened new market opportunities, further enhancing the company's revenue potential.

H.B. Fuller Company Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jan 14, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 01, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call highlighted meaningful progress on profitability, margin expansion and successful M&A execution, with Q4 showing strong adjusted EPS (+39% YoY), EBITDA growth (+~15% YoY) and structural cost actions (pricing, raw-materials, Quantum Leap) that support management's 2026 EBITDA and EPS guidance. Offsetting these positives are ongoing top-line and volume pressures (organic revenue down 1.3% in Q4), a planned ramp-down of the solar business (~$30M headwind in 2026), muted construction and packaging end markets, and near-term cash/working-capital drag from transformation initiatives and seasonality (Chinese New Year timing). Overall, the company appears to be trading some near-term revenue growth for improved margins and long-term structural improvements, with management projecting flat to modest revenue growth but continued margin and profit expansion in 2026.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
EPS and Profitability Expansion
Q4 adjusted EPS $1.28, up 39% year-over-year; Q4 adjusted EBITDA $170 million, up ~14.6-15% YoY; Q4 adjusted EBITDA margin 19%, up 290 basis points YoY; adjusted gross profit margin 32.5%, up 290 basis points YoY.
Strong Segment Margin Performance (EA and HHC)
Engineering Adhesives (EA) adjusted EBITDA up 17% YoY with EBITDA margin 23.5% (up 260 bps); EA organic revenue +2.2% in Q4 and ~7% excluding solar. H.B. Fuller Consumer (HHC) EBITDA up almost 30% YoY with margin improving 380 bps to 17.5%, driven by pricing, raw material savings and acquisitions.
M&A Execution and Contribution
Acquisitions from 2023-24 (8 companies) delivered $73 million of EBITDA in 2025 versus $41 million pre-acquisition (post-synergy purchase price multiple ~6.7x). GEM/Medifill revenue up ~15% and EBITDA up ~30% versus pre-acquisition 2024; targeted bolt-on fastener coating buys ($17M spend) expected to generate ~$3M EBITDA in 2026; pipeline intact for disciplined M&A cadence.
Pricing, Raw Material Actions and Quantum Leap Cost Savings
Combined price and raw-material benefits delivered about $30M in 2025 with an expected carryover and incremental benefit of ~$35M in 2026; Project Quantum Leap manufacturing/warehouse consolidation driving structural cost savings, with ~ $10M incremental savings expected in 2026 and additional long-term maintenance CapEx and inventory efficiency benefits.
Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Progress
Q4 cash flow from operations $107M, up 25% YoY; net debt / adjusted EBITDA improved to 3.1x (down from 3.3x sequentially); repurchased ~1 million shares in fiscal 2025 supporting EPS; 2026 operating cash flow guidance $275M–$300M.
Geographic and Product Wins
Asia Pacific organic revenue +3% in Q4 and excluding solar APAC +10%; China showed a rebound and is a green shoot; wins in LNG and data-center projects; glass product (4SG) grew 18% in 2025 despite a 6% decline in housing starts.
Corporate Recognition and Culture
Recognized externally: Newsweek named H.B. Fuller one of America's Most Admired Workplaces for 2026 and Forbes named the company one of America's Best Employers for engineers.
2026 Financial Guidance
Management expects 2026 net revenue flat to +2% (organic ~flat), adjusted EBITDA $630M–$660M, adjusted EPS $4.35–$4.70, continued margin expansion toward the >20% EBITDA target.
Negative Updates
Top-Line Pressure and Volume Weakness
Consolidated Q4 net revenue down 3.1% YoY; organic revenue down 1.3% YoY; volumes down 2.5% while pricing was +1.2% in Q4. Even after adjusting for the Flooring divestiture, net revenue was only up ~1%.
BAS Segment Underperformance
BAS organic sales decreased 4.8% in Q4 with EBITDA down ~7% YoY; construction-related end markets remained muted and Q4 2024 comparables were strong, creating a tough year-over-year comparison.
Packaging and HHC Volume Softness
HHC organic revenue down 1.8% in Q4 driven by lower volumes in packaging and CPG customers (notably in North America), with increased competitive intensity and affordability pressures weighing on demand.
Solar Business De-emphasis Creating Near-Term Headwind
Solar revenue was approximately $80M in 2025 and is expected to ramp down to ~$50M in 2026 as the company deemphasizes that product—a ~$30M revenue reduction that will be a near-term headwind.
Working Capital and Free Cash Flow Pressure from Transformational Initiatives
Net working capital rose to 15.8% of annualized net revenue (+130 bps YoY) and free cash flow conversion remains muted; Quantum Leap and SAP carry higher near-term inventory and CapEx (Project Quantum Leap ~$50M of 2026 CapEx) which will likely keep working capital above target into 2026–2027.
Legal Reserve Related to Divested Flooring Business
Recorded a $35M pretax (~$25M after tax) reserve in Q4 for a product liability legal claim tied to the divested flooring business; the reserve is non-cash in the quarter and insurance coverage is expected to offset a substantial portion, but it introduces P&L volatility.
Leverage and Interest Expense Remain Elevated
Net debt / adjusted EBITDA at 3.1x (improved but above the 2.5–3.0x target band); expected 2026 net interest expense ~ $120M and D&A ~ $185M, indicating continued interest and leverage-related costs.
Near-Term Timing and Seasonality Impact — Q1 2026
Management expects Q1 2026 revenue down low single digits primarily due to late Chinese New Year timing shifting $15M–$20M of revenue into Q2 and an EBITDA impact of ~$6M–$8M; Q1 adjusted EBITDA guide $110M–$120M.
Company Guidance
Guidance for fiscal 2026: H.B. Fuller expects full-year net revenue flat to +2% (organic ~flat) with roughly +1 percentage point FX tailwind, adjusted EBITDA of $630–$660 million (continuing toward a >20% EBITDA margin target) and adjusted EPS of $4.35–$4.70; core tax rate 26–27% (vs. 25.9% in 2025); net interest ≈ $120 million; depreciation & amortization ≈ $185 million; weighted average diluted shares 55–56 million; operating cash flow $275–$300 million (weighted to back half of year) and capital expenditures ≈ $160 million (≈ $50 million for Project Quantum Leap). Q1 is expected down low single digits in revenue with adjusted EBITDA of $110–$120 million, with Chinese New Year timing shifting about $15–$20 million of revenue and $6–$8 million of EBITDA from Q1 into Q2. Key assumptions driving the guide include a ~$35 million net price/raw-material benefit in 2026 (about $25M carryover plus incremental actions), pricing roughly +0.5–1% across all GBUs, FX contributing modestly, ~ $10M of incremental Quantum Leap savings, offset by ~ $20M of wage/inflation and ~ $10M of higher variable compensation; net debt/adjusted EBITDA finished FY25 at 3.1x and M&A cadence is expected to normalize as leverage permits.

H.B. Fuller Company Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Income statement shows resilient operating margins but TTM revenue contraction and weaker net margin (~3%) versus prior years. Balance sheet leverage is meaningful (debt-to-equity ~1.1; net debt/adj. EBITDA 3.1x noted), reducing flexibility. Cash flow remains positive, but free cash flow is down YoY and cash conversion is weaker than ideal.
Income Statement
62
Positive
TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) revenue declined versus the prior year, signaling softer demand or pricing pressure. Profitability remains solid for a specialty chemicals profile with steady gross margin (~30%) and stable EBIT/EBITDA margins, but net margin is modest (~3%) and has trended down from stronger levels in 2022–2023. Overall: resilient operating profitability, but growth and bottom-line conversion have weakened recently.
Balance Sheet
58
Neutral
Leverage is meaningful, with debt running a little above equity (debt-to-equity ~1.1 across recent periods), which reduces financial flexibility versus lower-levered peers. Equity has grown over time and returns on equity are positive but have moderated from earlier highs (down from ~11% in 2022 to ~6% in TTM). Overall: stable asset/equity base, but leverage and declining returns temper the picture.
Cash Flow
55
Neutral
Cash generation is positive, with TTM operating cash flow comfortably positive and free cash flow also positive; however, free cash flow is down year over year and free cash flow is only about half of net income, indicating weaker cash conversion than ideal. Operating cash flow relative to revenue is also not especially strong, suggesting working-capital or reinvestment needs are absorbing cash. Overall: consistently positive cash flow, but conversion and recent momentum are soft.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue3.47B3.57B3.51B3.75B3.28B
Gross Profit1.10B1.07B1.02B963.55M845.13M
EBITDA527.08M490.50M528.60M490.43M438.12M
Net Income151.97M130.26M144.91M180.31M161.39M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets5.18B4.93B4.72B4.46B4.27B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments107.21M169.35M179.45M79.91M61.79M
Total Debt2.02B2.07B1.90B1.80B1.65B
Total Liabilities3.18B3.10B2.97B2.85B2.68B
Stockholders Equity2.00B1.83B1.76B1.61B1.60B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow121.22M163.20M259.26M126.55M117.23M
Operating Cash Flow263.49M302.44M378.40M256.51M213.32M
Investing Cash Flow-232.25M-407.08M-319.20M-375.29M-94.66M
Financing Cash Flow-107.90M112.09M35.14M160.32M-154.07M

H.B. Fuller Company Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price57.91
Price Trends
50DMA
60.00
Positive
100DMA
59.52
Positive
200DMA
58.37
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.21
Positive
RSI
47.43
Neutral
STOCH
44.09
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For FUL, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 57.91 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 61.51, below the 50-day MA of 60.00, and below the 200-day MA of 58.37, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.21 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 47.43 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 44.09 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for FUL.

H.B. Fuller Company Risk Analysis

H.B. Fuller Company disclosed 21 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. H.B. Fuller Company reported the most risks in the "Legal & Regulatory" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

H.B. Fuller Company Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
71
Outperform
$3.12B34.3136.41%1.87%4.98%30.84%
64
Neutral
$3.87B62.077.39%19.12%
63
Neutral
$3.26B21.997.93%1.54%-1.30%-36.69%
63
Neutral
$3.31B29.204.79%3.48%1.03%-24.57%
61
Neutral
$10.43B7.12-0.05%2.87%2.86%-36.73%
61
Neutral
$2.72B32.9316.89%0.50%11.86%1.99%
58
Neutral
$2.67B-301.81-0.64%1.37%0.08%-107.33%
* Basic Materials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
FUL
H.B. Fuller Company
60.10
-0.51
-0.83%
HWKN
Hawkins
130.25
18.36
16.41%
AVNT
Avient
36.15
-4.88
-11.89%
KWR
Quaker Chemical
153.74
21.18
15.98%
WDFC
WD-40 Company
231.23
1.38
0.60%
PRM
Perimeter Solutions
26.15
14.17
118.28%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jan 16, 2026