Chart Industries Inc. (GTLS), a leading manufacturer of equipment for the energy sector, saw its stock price plummet 5.65% in the pre-market session on Friday. This sharp decline came after the company reported weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings and provided a somewhat disappointing outlook for 2025.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, Chart Industries reported adjusted earnings per share of $2.66, missing analysts' consensus estimate of $3.15 by a significant margin of 15.5%. The company's revenue of $1.11 billion also fell short of Wall Street's expectations of $1.17 billion, representing a 5.2% miss.

Despite the disappointing quarterly results, Chart Industries reiterated its full-year 2025 guidance. The company expects revenue to range between $4.65 billion and $4.85 billion, with adjusted EBITDA projected to be in the range of $1.175 billion to $1.225 billion. Adjusted diluted earnings per share are anticipated to be between $12.00 and $13.00.

The primary reasons behind Chart Industries' lackluster performance in the fourth quarter were cited as specific third-party expenses and inefficiencies at the company's Theodore, Alabama facility. However, management expressed confidence that these issues would not recur as the company enters 2025.

While the company's backlog reached a record $4.85 billion at the end of the fourth quarter, driven by strong demand for its products and services, the market seemed unimpressed with the outlook for the coming year. Investors may have been expecting more robust guidance, given the company's strong order book and the growing demand for energy-related equipment.