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UL Solutions Inc. Class A (ULS)
NYSE:ULS
US Market

UL Solutions Inc. Class A (ULS) AI Stock Analysis

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UL

UL Solutions Inc. Class A

(NYSE:ULS)

71Outperform
UL Solutions Inc. shows a strong financial position with notable revenue and profitability growth, supported by strategic initiatives and expansions. Despite strong financials, the stock's high valuation and potential external headwinds, such as tariffs and currency fluctuations, present risks. Technical indicators suggest moderate strength, while the new executive appointment is seen as a positive strategic move.
Positive Factors
Business Strategy
The company continues to capitalize on the longer-term mega trends with broad-based growth across all business lines.
Earnings
Fourth-quarter results came in nicely above expectations, with top-line upside driving adjusted EBITDA margin and EPS above estimates.
Financial Performance
ULS reported strong results, beating consensus estimates across the board as organic growth was robust in both their Industrial and Consumer segments.
Negative Factors
Margin Pressure
Management increased guidance on revenue but expects margin to be pressured by expenses to support growth, yet margins are poised to improve due to mix shift, lab investments, and robust organic growth.
Revenue Expectations
Software & Advisory falls light. Segment revenue was $93M, +2.2% organically and light of management/our expectations on lower advisory work, but better software trends.
Stock Performance
Shares trended modestly lower, attributed to heightened investor expectations and management's view that fourth-quarter results benefited from a pull-forward in demand ahead of looming tariff actions.

UL Solutions Inc. Class A (ULS) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

UL Solutions Inc. Class A Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionUL Solutions Inc. provides safety science services worldwide. It operates through three segments: Industrial, Consumer, and Software and Advisory. The Industrial segment provides testing, inspection, and certification services across various end markets, including energy, industrial automation, engineered materials, and built environment, as well as stakeholders, such as manufacturers, building owners, end users, and regulators. The Consumer segment offers safety certification testing, ongoing certification, global market access, testing for connectivity, performance and quality, and critical systems advisory and training services, as well as product market acceptance and risk mitigation services for customers in the consumer products end markets comprising consumer electronics, medical devices, information technologies, appliances, HVAC, lighting, and retail, as well as consumer applications, such as new mobility, smart products, and 5G. The Software and Advisory segment provide software and technical advisory services that enable customers to manage regulatory requirements, deliver supply chain transparency, and operationalize sustainability for regulated industries, including life sciences, supply chain regulations, transparency needs, and new ESG and sustainability requirements. It offers ULTRUS software brand to help customers improve speed to market, sustainability and safety. UL Solutions Inc. was formerly known as UL Inc. and changed its name to UL Solutions Inc. in June 2022. The company was founded in 1894 and is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois with additional offices in North America, Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East. UL Solutions Inc. operates as a subsidiary of ULSE Inc.
How the Company Makes MoneyUL Solutions Inc. makes money primarily through its testing, inspection, and certification services. The company charges fees for evaluating products against safety and regulatory standards, which is essential for manufacturers to gain market access in various regions. Key revenue streams include product testing services, certification, and inspection fees. Additionally, UL Solutions generates income through training and advisory services, helping companies navigate complex compliance landscapes. Strategic partnerships with industry leaders and government agencies enhance its service offerings and expand its market reach, contributing to its earnings.

UL Solutions Inc. Class A Financial Statement Overview

Summary
UL Solutions Inc. demonstrates strong financial performance with growth in revenue and profitability, effective cost management, and robust cash flow generation. The stable leverage and improved return on equity are positive, but increased debt levels should be monitored.
Income Statement
78
Positive
UL Solutions Inc. has shown solid growth in revenue with a notable increase from $2.678 billion in 2023 to $2.87 billion in 2024. The gross profit margin improved to 48.5% in 2024, indicating efficient cost management. Net profit margin increased to 11.4%, reflecting stronger profitability. The EBIT and EBITDA margins also showed improvement, indicating operational efficiency. Overall, the income statement highlights a positive growth trajectory and improved profitability.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The company's balance sheet reflects a stable financial position with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03, indicating moderate leverage. The equity ratio of 32.3% suggests a balanced capital structure. Return on equity improved significantly to 36.1%, showcasing effective use of shareholders' equity to generate profit. Although the balance sheet is stable, the increase in total debt warrants attention for potential risk management.
Cash Flow
75
Positive
Cash flow analysis shows healthy free cash flow growth from $252 million in 2023 to $287 million in 2024. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is strong at 1.61, indicating efficient cash generation relative to net income. The free cash flow to net income ratio is 0.88, suggesting effective conversion of earnings into free cash flow. The company demonstrates robust cash flow management, supporting its operational and strategic initiatives.
Breakdown
Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
2.87B2.68B2.52B2.52B2.30B
Gross Profit
1.39B1.28B1.21B1.18B1.03B
EBIT
462.00M368.00M412.00M287.00M363.00M
EBITDA
462.00M535.00M535.00M417.00M481.00M
Net Income Common Stockholders
326.00M260.00M293.00M224.00M231.00M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
298.00M315.00M373.00M1.38B971.00M
Total Assets
2.80B2.74B2.72B3.66B3.55B
Total Debt
935.00M1.06B660.00M154.00M119.00M
Net Debt
637.00M748.00M338.00M-1.17B-852.00M
Total Liabilities
1.87B2.06B1.64B1.33B1.28B
Stockholders Equity
904.00M654.00M1.05B2.31B2.25B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
287.00M252.00M208.00M314.00M368.00M
Operating Cash Flow
524.00M467.00M372.00M421.00M487.00M
Investing Cash Flow
-234.00M-175.00M-238.00M178.00M-344.00M
Financing Cash Flow
-284.00M-294.00M-1.12B-228.00M-20.00M

UL Solutions Inc. Class A Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price57.49
Price Trends
50DMA
54.19
Positive
100DMA
53.01
Positive
200DMA
51.19
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.83
Negative
RSI
62.46
Neutral
STOCH
89.29
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ULS, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 57.49 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 55.36, above the 50-day MA of 54.19, and above the 200-day MA of 51.19, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.83 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 62.46 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 89.29 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for ULS.

UL Solutions Inc. Class A Risk Analysis

UL Solutions Inc. Class A disclosed 104 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. UL Solutions Inc. Class A reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

UL Solutions Inc. Class A Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (55)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
UNUNF
79
Outperform
$3.13B21.767.17%0.78%5.04%31.69%
RTRTO
71
Outperform
$11.18B28.807.44%2.28%3.96%-17.48%
ULULS
71
Outperform
$11.51B35.3041.85%0.88%7.17%25.35%
CBCBZ
69
Neutral
$4.31B73.273.19%13.97%-54.48%
ABABM
66
Neutral
$2.92B37.034.46%2.00%2.81%-67.57%
60
Neutral
$8.66B25.7411.46%1.21%-5.98%-46.55%
55
Neutral
$4.02B-11.16-12.81%5.53%21.89%-64.83%
* General Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ULS
UL Solutions Inc. Class A
57.72
23.25
67.45%
ABM
ABM Industries
47.03
3.60
8.29%
CBZ
CBIZ
79.50
4.75
6.35%
UNF
UniFirst
174.61
18.47
11.83%
ARMK
ARAMARK Holdings
32.63
1.77
5.74%
RTO
Rentokil Initial
22.27
-4.85
-17.88%

UL Solutions Inc. Class A Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date: Feb 20, 2025 | % Change Since: 3.70% | Next Earnings Date: May 26, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call reflected a strong performance in 2024 with significant revenue growth and strategic expansions. Despite potential headwinds from tariff-related activity and currency fluctuations, the company's robust financial health and strategic investments position it well for continued growth.
Highlights
Record Revenue Growth
UL Solutions delivered revenues of $2.9 billion in 2024, up 7.2% versus 2023 and 8.7% on an organic basis. The Industrial segment led with 9.4% growth, including an 11.9% organic increase.
Strong Financial Performance
Adjusted EBITDA for the full year grew 16.5%, with a margin expansion of 190 basis points. Adjusted net income increased by 18.8%, and free cash flow was $287 million for the year.
Successful IPO and Strategic Acquisitions
UL Solutions completed its IPO in April and a follow-on offering in September. The company made strategic acquisitions, including BatterieIngenieure and TesTneT, to support global energy transition efforts.
Continued Expansion and Investment
Opened a state-of-the-art battery testing lab in Auburn Hills, Michigan, expanded capacity in Mexico, and announced plans for an advanced automotive testing center in Korea. $237 million was reinvested in capital expenditures.
Lowlights
Potential Normalization in Industrial Growth
While the Industrial segment achieved 13.9% organic growth in Q4, there is an expectation of normalization in demand for ongoing certification services in 2025.
Impact of Tariff-related Activity
Increased activity in ongoing certification services possibly due to manufacturers anticipating tariffs, which could result in slightly lower growth in 2025 if demand was pulled forward.
Currency Headwinds
A potential 1% revenue headwind in 2025 due to currency fluctuations, mostly offset by expense reductions, but still impacting overall revenue.
Company Guidance
During the UL Solutions Fourth Quarter 2024 Earnings Call, CEO Jenny Scanlon and CFO Ryan Robinson presented a robust financial performance for the year, with key metrics highlighting substantial growth. UL Solutions reported a 7.2% increase in revenues, reaching $2.9 billion, and an 8.7% rise on an organic basis compared to 2023. The Industrial segment led the way with a 9.4% growth, including 11.9% organically, while the Consumer segment saw a growth of 5.6%, with 6.9% on an organic basis. The Software & Advisory segment experienced a 5% growth, with 4.4% organically. Adjusted EBITDA grew by 16.5%, with a margin expansion of 190 basis points, and adjusted net income rose by 18.8%, resulting in $287 million of free cash flow. Moreover, the company executed strategic capital allocation, including $237 million in capital expenditures and $100 million in dividends, while maintaining an investment-grade balance sheet. Looking forward, UL anticipates mid-single-digit organic revenue growth and an adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 24% for 2025, driven by ongoing industry megatrends such as the global energy transition and digitalization.

UL Solutions Inc. Class A Corporate Events

Executive/Board Changes
UL Solutions Inc. Announces Board of Directors Changes
Neutral
Feb 14, 2025

On February 11, 2025, UL Solutions Inc. announced changes to its board of directors, with Lisa Lambert deciding not to stand for re-election and Frank Coyne not being nominated due to the board’s retirement policy. The company intends to nominate Vikram Kini, CFO of Ingersoll Rand Inc., for election to the board. These changes will reduce the board size from 13 to 12 members, as decided by the board.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

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.