Back to News
Mar 3, 2026 4:20 PM

Fuel Tech Reports 2025 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results

WARRENVILLE, Ill., March 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fuel Tech, Inc. (NASDAQ:FTEK), a technology company using advanced engineering processes to provide emissions control systems and water treatment technologies in utility and industrial applications, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025.

"2025 was a year of achievement for Fuel Tech, highlighted by a resurgence at our FUEL CHEM® operations that produced the highest annual segment revenue since 2018, a broadened opportunity landscape at our Air Pollution Control ("APC") business segment driven in large part by the expected growth of power generation to support data center construction and operation, and measurable progress at our Dissolved Gas Infusion ("DGI") business segment," said Vincent J. Arnone, President and CEO. "We maintained a strong balance sheet, finishing the year with nearly $32 million in cash and investments and no long-term debt."

Business Segment PerformanceRevenues at FUEL CHEM increased by 37.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025 ("Q4 2025") and by 27.9% for the 2025 full year ("FY 2025") compared to their respective prior year periods, with gross margin being maintained at historic segment levels. Results for Q4 2025 included contributions from a six-month, commercially-priced demonstration program for a new FUEL CHEM customer in the United States that commenced in early November and is continuing in the current first quarter. The annual revenue potential from this commercial contract should it convert from a demonstration is expected to be approximately $2.5 to $3.0 million based on the customer running the program full-time, with the revenue expected to generate historic FUEL CHEM gross margins.

Revenues generated by the Air Pollution Control ("APC") segment rose by 36.7% in Q4 2025 compared to the same period last year, but declined for FY 2025. Revenues for both periods reflected customer-driven delays and timing of project completion. The Company announced $8.8 million of new APC awards in 2025 from new and existing customers in the U.S., Europe and Southeast Asia. This activity supported an increase in consolidated APC segment backlog at December 31, 2025 to $7.0 million, up from $6.2 million at December 31, 2024.

Mr. Arnone continued, "We are continuing to pursue a robust sales pipeline comprised of multiple potential customers for the integration of our Selective Catalytic Reduction ("SCR") technologies with power generation sources that meet the emissions control requirements for data centers planned across the U.S. over the next several years. We remain actively engaged with our supply chain partners and engineering colleagues to advance these opportunities. Our current pipeline of potential sales opportunities related to data center construction is approximately $75-100 million."

The Company is continuing the extended demonstration of its DGI technology at a fish hatchery in the western U.S., which remains on track to conclude in the second quarter of 2026. The system is performing well, meeting customer expectations for the precise delivery of concentrated dissolved oxygen, and generating positive initial results. A second trial that commenced at a municipal wastewater site in the southeast U.S. was successfully completed in January 2026 and converted to a six-month demonstration rental contract that is expected to run through the third quarter of 2026.

Fourth Quarter 2025 ("Q4 2025") Consolidated Results OverviewAll comparisons are to the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024 unless otherwise stated.

Consolidated revenues for Q4 2025 rose 37% to $7.2 million from $5.3 million, driven by increases in both APC and FUEL CHEM segment revenues.

Consolidated gross margin for Q4 2025 expanded to 44.6% of revenues from 42.3% of revenues, primarily reflecting higher APC segment gross margins.

SG&A expenses for Q4 2025 were $4.2 million, or 57.3% of revenues, compared to $3.9 million, or 74.7% of revenues.

Interest income was flat at $0.3 million and related primarily to interest received on the held-to-maturity debt securities and money market funds.

Net loss in Q4 2025 was $(1.2) million, or $(0.04) per share, compared to net loss of $(1.9) million, or $(0.06) per share.

Adjusted EBITDA loss was $(1.2) million in Q4 2025 compared to an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $(1.8) million.

APC segment revenue rose 37% to $2.4 million from $1.8 million, primarily related to project timing. Segment gross margin expanded to 42.3% from 35.8%, primarily due to product and project mix.

FUEL CHEM segment revenue rose 37% to $4.9 million from $3.5 million, primarily driven by the extended life of certain coal fired units to satisfy increasing energy demand, to the addition of the aforementioned new customer demonstration and to all base units running at capacity without interruption from unscheduled outages. Segment gross margin was 45.8% compared to 45.5%.

2025 Full Year Overview

Consolidated revenues for 2025 rose to $26.7 million from $25.1 million in 2024, driven by higher FUEL CHEM segment revenues, partially offset by a decrease in APC segment revenues.

Consolidated gross margin for 2025 expanded to 46.4% from 42.3% in 2024, reflecting higher APC and FUEL CHEM gross margins.

SG&A expenses for 2025 were $14.1 million, or 52.7% of revenues, as compared to $13.8 million, or 54.8% of revenues in 2024, reflecting an increase in employee related cost and other expenses.

Interest income was $1.4 million in 2025 compared to $1.3 million in 2024.

Net loss for 2025 was $(2.3) million, or $(0.08) per share, compared to net loss of $(1.9) million, or $(0.06) per share, in 2024.

Adjusted EBITDA loss was $(2.7) million in 2025 compared to Adjusted EBITDA loss of $(2.2) million in 2024.

Financial Condition

At December 31, 2025, cash and cash equivalents were $11.9 million, short-term investments were $12.9 million, and long-term investments totaled $7.0 million. Stockholders' equity at December 31, 2025 was $40.0 million, or $1.29 per share, and the Company had no debt.

Conference Call

Management will host a conference call on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 10:00 am ET / 9:00 am CT to discuss the results and business activities. Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing:

(877) 423-9820 (Domestic) or

(201) 493-6749 (International)

The conference call will also be accessible via the Upcoming Events section of the Company's web site at www.ftek.com. Following management's opening remarks, there will be a question-and-answer session.

About Fuel Tech

Fuel Tech develops and commercializes state-of-the-art proprietary technologies for air pollution control, process optimization, water treatment, and advanced engineering services. These technologies enable customers to operate in a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable manner. Fuel Tech is a leader in nitrogen oxide (NOx) reduction and particulate control technologies and its solutions have been installed on over 1,300 utility, industrial and municipal units worldwide. The Company's FUEL CHEM® technology improves the efficiency, reliability, fuel flexibility, boiler heat rate, and environmental status of combustion units by controlling slagging, fouling, corrosion and opacity. Water treatment technologies include DGI® Dissolved Gas Infusion Systems which utilize a patented saturator and a patent-pending channel injector to deliver supersaturated oxygen solutions and other gas-water combinations to target process applications or environmental issues. This infusion process has a variety of applications in the water and wastewater industries, including remediation, aeration, biological treatment and wastewater odor management. Many of Fuel Tech's products and services rely heavily on the Company's exceptional Computational Fluid Dynamics modeling capabilities, which are enhanced by internally developed, high-end visualization software. For more information, visit Fuel Tech's web site at www.ftek.com.

NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and reflect Fuel Tech's current expectations regarding future growth, results of operations, cash flows, performance and business prospects, and opportunities, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, our management. Fuel Tech has tried to identify forward-looking statements by using words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "will," and similar expressions, but these words are not the exclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements. These statements are based on information currently available to Fuel Tech and are subject to various risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including, but not limited to, those discussed in Fuel Tech's Annual Report on Form 10-K in Item 1A under the caption "Risk Factors," and subsequent filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which could cause Fuel Tech's actual growth, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, performance and business prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these statements. Fuel Tech undertakes no obligation to update such factors or to publicly announce the results of any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events, developments, or changed circumstances or for any other reason. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in Fuel Tech's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

FUEL TECH, INC.CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

December 31,

 

 

2025

 

2024

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

11,939

 

 

$

8,510

 

Short-term investments

 

 

12,942

 

 

 

10,184

 

Accounts receivable, less current expected credit loss of $108 and $106, respectively

 

 

5,355

 

 

 

9,368

 

Inventories, net

 

 

373

 

 

 

397

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

1.355

 

 

 

1,160

 

Total current assets

 

 

31,944

 

 

 

29,619

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

4,739

 

 

 

5,084

 

Goodwill

 

 

2,116

 

 

 

2,116

 

Other intangible assets, net

 

 

646

 

 

 

327

 

Right-of-use operating lease assets

 

 

536

 

 

 

585

 

Long-term investments

 

 

6,991

 

 

 

10,875

 

Other assets

 

 

207

 

 

 

191

 

Total assets

 

$

47,179

 

 

$

48,797

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

3,242

 

 

$

2,915

 

Accrued liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating lease liabilities - current

 

 

89

 

 

 

77

 

Employee compensation

 

 

1,308

 

 

 

1,248

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

 

1,634

 

 

 

1,615

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

6,273

 

 

 

5,855

 

Operating lease liabilities - non-current

 

 

491

 

 

 

548

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

187

 

 

 

176

 

Other liabilities

 

 

296

 

 

 

263

 

Total liabilities

 

 

7,247

 

 

 

6,842

 

Stockholders' equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $.01 par value, 40,000,000 shares authorized, 32,281,179 and 31,767,329 shares issued, and 31,074,438 and 30,708,273 shares outstanding in 2025 and 2024, respectively

 

 

322

 

 

 

317

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

165,616

 

 

 

165,295

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(121,796

)

 

 

(119,472

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(1,718

)

 

 

(1,915

)

Nil coupon perpetual loan notes

 

 

76

 

 

 

76

 

Treasury stock, at cost (Note 5)

 

 

(2,568

)

 

 

(2,346

)

Total stockholders' equity

 

 

39,932

 

 

 

41,955

 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 

$

47,179

 

 

$

48,797

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

FUEL TECH, INC.CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Twelve Months Ended

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

2025

 

2024

 

2025

 

2024

Revenues

 

$

7,247

 

 

$

5,283

 

 

$

26,677

 

 

$

25,133

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

 

4,013

 

 

 

3,048

 

 

 

14,294

 

 

 

14,510

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

 

4,155

 

 

 

3,946

 

 

 

14,050

 

 

 

13,761

 

Research and development

 

 

504

 

 

 

405

 

 

 

2,014

 

 

 

1,564

 

Total costs and expenses

 

 

8,672

 

 

 

7,399

 

 

 

30,358

 

 

 

29,835

 

Operating loss

 

 

(1,425

)

 

 

(2,116

)

 

 

(3,681

)

 

 

(4,702

)

Interest income

 

 

288

 

 

 

283

 

 

 

1,415

 

 

 

1,251

 

Other (expense) income, net

 

 

(58

)

 

 

9

 

 

 

(43

)

 

 

1,585

 

Loss before income taxes

 

 

(1,195

)

 

 

(1,824