Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
(All amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes included in this report. Refer to Part II, Item 7 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (filed with the SEC on February 21, 2025) for additional discussion of our financial condition and results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023. In addition, discussion of year-to-year comparisons between 2024 and 2023 are not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and can be found in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Part II, Item 7 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. Those statements in the following discussion that are not historical in nature should be considered to be forward-looking statements that are inherently uncertain. See “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
Overview
We develop, manufacture, distribute and market specialty performance ingredients and products for the nutritional, food, pharmaceutical, animal health, plant nutrition, sterilization, fumigation, and industrial markets. Our three reportable segments are strategic businesses that offer products and services to different markets: Human Nutrition and Health, Animal Nutrition and Health, and Specialty Products, as more fully described in Note 10, Segment Information , of the consolidated financial statements. Sales and production of products outside of our reportable segments and other minor business activities are included in "Other and Unallocated".
Recent Developments
Anti-Dumping Investigation in the European Union
In late June 2025, the European Commission announced that it would impose provisional duties between 95.4% and 120.8% on imports into the European Union of choline chloride originating in the People’s Republic of China, effective July 1, 2025. The investigation was initiated by the European Commission in late October 2024, following a complaint lodged by Balchem Italia Srl and another complainant. On December 19, 2025, the European Commission published their final decision to set definitive duties between 90.0% and 115.9%. Further, the European Commission set rules to make it clear that the country of origin of choline chloride, regardless of form, will be the country where the chemical reaction between trimethylamine hydrochloride and ethylene oxide takes place.
Table of Contents
Segment Results
We sell products for all three segments through our own sales force, independent distributors, and sales agents.
The following tables summarize consolidated net sales by segment and business segment earnings from operations for the three years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
Business Segment Net Sales
Human Nutrition and Health
Animal Nutrition and Health
Specialty Products
Other and Unallocated (1)
Total
Business Segment Earnings From Operations
Human Nutrition and Health
Animal Nutrition and Health
Specialty Products
Other and Unallocated (1)
Total
(1) Other and Unallocated consists of a few minor businesses which individually do not meet the quantitative thresholds for separate presentation and corporate expenses that have not been allocated to a segment. Unallocated corporate expenses consist of: (i) Transaction and integration costs of $1,242, $1,484 and $1,617 for years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and (ii) Unallocated amortization expense of $0, $0, and $312 for years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively, related to an intangible asset in connection with a company-wide ERP system implementation.
Table of Contents
Results of Operations - Fiscal Year 2025 compared to Fiscal Year 2024
Summary of Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(in thousands)
Increase
(Decrease)
% Change
Net sales
Gross margin
Operating expenses
Earnings from operations
Interest and other expenses
Income tax expense
Net earnings
Management's discussion and analysis of the Consolidated Statements of Earnings is included below:
Net Sales
Increase
(Decrease)
(in thousands)
% Change
Human Nutrition and Health
Animal Nutrition and Health
Specialty Products
Other
Total
• The increase in net sales within the Human Nutrition and Health segment for 2025 compared to 2024 was driven by higher sales within both the nutrients business and the food ingredients and solutions businesses. Total sales for this segment grew 9.9%, with volume and mix contributing 6.6%, average selling prices contributing 2.8%, and the change in foreign currency exchange rates contributing 0.4%.
• The increase in net sales within the Animal Nutrition and Health segment for 2025 compared to 2024 was driven by higher sales in both the ruminant and monogastric species markets. Total sales for this segment increased by 7.5%, with average selling prices contributing 5.6%, volume and mix contributing 1.0%, and the change in foreign currency exchange rates contributing 0.9%.
• The increase in net sales within the Specialty Products segment for 2025 compared to 2024 was due to higher sales within both the performance gases market and the plant nutrition business. Total sales for this segment increased by 6.2%, with average selling prices contributing 4.0%, the change in foreign currency exchange rates contributing 1.3%, and volume and mix contributing 0.9%.
• Sales may fluctuate in future periods based on macroeconomic conditions, competitive dynamics, changes in customer preferences, and our ability to successfully introduce new products to the market.
Gross Margin
(in thousands)
Increase
(Decrease)
% Change
Gross margin
% of net sales
Gross margin dollars increased for 2025 compared to 2024 due to higher sales and a favorable mix, partially offset by certain higher manufacturing input costs.
Table of Contents
Operating Expenses
(in thousands)
Increase
(Decrease)
% Change
Operating expenses
% of net sales
The increase in operating expenses was primarily due to an increase in compensation-related expenses of $8,327 and higher professional services of $3,856, partially offset by lower amortization expense of $2,376 and a decrease in agent and broker commissions of $1,132.
Earnings From Operations
(in thousands)
Increase
(Decrease)
% Change
Human Nutrition and Health
Animal Nutrition and Health
Specialty Products
Other and unallocated
Earnings from operations
% of net sales (operating margin)
• Human Nutrition & Health segment earnings from operations increased $17,949 primarily due to a gross margin contribution of $22,438. The increase in gross margin was driven by the aforementioned higher sales and a favorable mix, partially offset by certain higher manufacturing input costs. The increase in gross margin was partially offset by an increase in operating expenses of $4,489, primarily due to higher compensation-related costs of $5,909, partially offset by lower amortization of $2,329.
• Animal Nutrition & Health segment earnings from operations increased $4,674 primarily due to a gross margin contribution of $7,259. The increase in gross margin was driven by the aforementioned higher sales and a favorable mix, partially offset by certain higher manufacturing input costs. The increase in gross margin was partially offset by an increase in operating expenses of $2,585, primarily driven by higher compensation-related expenses of $2,147.
• Specialty Products segment earnings from operations increased $2,995 primarily due to a gross margin contribution of $4,065. The increase in gross margin was driven by the aforementioned higher sales. This was partially offset by an increase in operating expenses of $1,070, primarily related to higher professional services of $831.
Other Expenses (Income)
(in thousands)
Increase
(Decrease)
% Change
Interest expense, net
Other expense (income), net
Interest expense for 2025 and 2024 was primarily related to outstanding borrowings under the 2022 Credit Agreement. The decrease in net interest expense is mainly due to lower outstanding borrowings.
Table of Contents
Income Tax Expense
(in thousands)
Increase
(Decrease)
% Change
Income tax expense
Effective tax rate
The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily due to a decrease in certain state and foreign taxes partially offset by lower tax benefits from stock-based compensation.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Contractual Obligations
Our short-term purchase obligations primarily include contractual arrangements in the form of purchase orders with suppliers. As of December 31, 2025, such purchase obligations were $134,910. For debt obligations, see Note 7, Revolving Loan , and for operating and finance lease obligations, see Note 18, Leases .
We are not aware of any current or pending demands on, or commitments for, our liquid assets that will materially affect our liquidity.
There were no material changes during the year ended December 31, 2025 outside the ordinary course of business in the specified contractual obligations set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.
We expect our operations to continue generating sufficient cash flow to fund working capital requirements and necessary capital investments. We are actively pursuing additional acquisition candidates. We could seek additional bank loans or access to financial markets to fund such acquisitions, our operations, working capital, necessary capital investments or other cash requirements should we deem it necessary to do so.
Cash
Cash and cash equivalents increased to $74,570 at December 31, 2025 from $49,515 at December 31, 2024. At December 31, 2025, we had $61,986 of cash and cash equivalents held by our foreign subsidiaries. We presently intend to permanently reinvest these funds in foreign operations by continuing to make additional plant related investments, and potentially invest in partnerships or acquisitions; therefore, we do not currently expect to repatriate these funds in order to fund U.S. operations or obligations. However, if these funds are needed for U.S. operations, we could be required to pay additional withholding taxes to repatriate these funds. Working capital was $189,230 at December 31, 2025 as compared to $156,085 at December 31, 2024, an increase of $33,145. Significant cash payments during the year included repurchases of common stock of $107,636, capital expenditures and intangible assets acquired of $43,489, income taxes paid of $37,749, the payment of the 2024 declared dividend in 2025 of $28,287, and net payments on the revolving loan of $26,000.
(in thousands)
Increase
(Decrease)
% Change
Cash flows provided by operating activities
Cash flows used in investing activities
Cash flows used in financing activities
Operating Activities
The increase in cash flows from operating activities was primarily driven by the increase in net earnings and the impact from the changes in working capital.
Investing Activities
We continue to invest in corporate projects, improvements across all production facilities, and intangible assets. Total investments in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets were $43,489 and $35,661 for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Capital expenditures are projected to be approximately $40,000 to $45,000 for 2026. As mentioned above, we expect that our operations will continue to generate sufficient cash flow to fund the commitments for capital expenditures. These capital expenditures are part of our continuous efforts to support our growing businesses. Cash paid to acquire an existing toll
Table of Contents
manufacturer to add capacity amounted to $323 and $24,164 for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, net of cash acquired.
Financing Activities
In 2025, we borrowed $88,000 to fund share repurchases and the payment of the 2024 dividend, and made total loan repayments of $114,000, resulting in $386,000 available under the 2022 Credit Agreement (see Note 7, Revolving Loan ) as of December 31, 2025.
On December 9, 2025, the Company's Board of Directors approved a new stock repurchase program (the "December 2025 program"), which replaced the previously approved June 1999 program. The December 2025 program authorizes the repurchases of up to and including 4,000,000 shares of the Company's ordinary shares. This new stock repurchase program has no expiration date, does not oblige the Company to acquire any particular amount of the Company's ordinary shares, and may be terminated at any time. As of December 9, 2025, the 1999 program was terminated and all remaining authorized shares (5,742 shares) were expired. Since the inception of the December 2025 program, a total of 69,659 shares have been repurchased. We intend to acquire shares from time to time at prevailing market prices if and to the extent we deem it is advisable to do so based on our assessment of corporate cash flow, market conditions and other factors. Open market repurchases of common stock could be made pursuant to a share repurchase agreement in compliance with Rule 10b-18 or a trading plan established pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which would permit common stock to be repurchased at a time that we might otherwise be precluded from doing so under insider trading laws or self-imposed trading restrictions. We also repurchase (withhold) shares from employees in connection with the tax settlement of vested shares and/or exercised stock options, as applicable, under the Company's omnibus incentive plan. Such repurchases of shares from employees are funded with existing cash on hand. Repurchases of common stock were $107,636 and $5,682 for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Proceeds from stock options exercised were $9,307 and $17,228 for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Dividend payments were $28,287 and $25,576 during 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Other Matters Impacting Liquidity
We have a liability of $6,731 for uncertain tax positions, including the related interest and penalties, recorded in accordance with ASC 740-10, for which we are unable to reasonably estimate the timing of settlement, if any.
We currently provide postretirement benefits in the form of two retirement medical plans, as discussed in Note 14, Employee Benefit Plans . The liability recorded in other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 was $1,122 and $1,522, respectively, and the plans are not funded. Historical cash payments made under these plans have typically been less than $200 per year. We do not anticipate any changes to the payments made in the current year for the plans.
Balchem NV ("Chemogas") has an unfunded defined benefit plan. The plan provides for the payment of a lump sum at retirement or payments in case of death of the covered employees. The amount recorded for these obligations on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 was $869 and $613, respectively, and was included in other long-term obligations.
We provide an unfunded, nonqualified deferred compensation plan maintained for the benefit of a select group of management or highly compensated employees. Assets of the plan are held in a rabbi trust, which are included in "Other non-current assets" on the consolidated balance sheets. They are subject to additional risk of loss in the event of bankruptcy or insolvency of the Company. The deferred compensation liability was $12,806 as of December 31, 2025, of which $12,781 was included in "Other long-term obligations" and $25 was included in "Accrued compensation and other benefits" on our consolidated balance sheets. The deferred compensation liability was $11,470 as of December 31, 2024, of which $11,449 was included in "Other long-term obligations" and $21 was included in "Accrued compensation and other benefits" on our consolidated balance sheets. The related rabbi trust assets was $12,798 as of December 31, 2025, of which $12,773 was included in "Other non-current assets" and $25 was included in "Other current assets" on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The related rabbi trust assets was $11,465 as of December 31, 2024, and was included in "Other non-current assets" on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
Related Party Transactions
We were engaged in related party transactions with St. Gabriel CC Company, LLC for the years ended December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024. Refer to Note 17, Related Party Transactions .
Table of Contents
Critical Accounting Estimates
Critical accounting estimates are those estimates made in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles that involve a significant level of estimation uncertainty and have had or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. Our management is required to make these critical accounting estimates and assumptions during the preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These estimates and assumptions impact the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements. Estimates and assumptions are reviewed periodically, and the effects of revisions are reflected in the consolidated financial statements in the period they are determined to be necessary. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Our critical accounting estimates are those that require application of management's most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain and that may change in subsequent periods. Management considers the following to be critical accounting estimates.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The valuation methods and assumptions used in valuing goodwill and identified intangibles and assessing the impairment of goodwill and identified intangibles involves a significant level of estimation uncertainty. In addition, the assumptions used in determining the useful life of an intangible asset involves a significant level of estimation uncertainty. Refer to the Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets section in Note 1, Business Description and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies , for details related to the valuation and impairment process of both goodwill and intangible assets. Changes in market conditions, laws and regulations, and key assumptions made in future quantitative assessments, including expected cash flows, competitive factors and discount rates, could result in the recognition of an impairment charge, and in turn could have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations in subsequent periods.
Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 1, Business Description and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies , in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements regarding significant accounting policies and recent accounting pronouncements.
