Federal Signal (FSS) risk factors, FY2025 10-K

Federal Signal's FY2025 10-K, filed Feb 25, 2026, lists 21 risk factors in 4 groups. Against the prior year's 21: 2 substantially reworded.

Risk factors listed
214 groups
New this year
0vs 21 last year
Dropped
0since the prior 10-K
Substantially reworded
2of those kept
Section length
6k wordsItem 1A

What the changes say

  • U.S. municipal and governmental spending remains central to profitability, with industrial cyclicality and shutdown risks unchanged.
  • International sales remain 21% of total sales, exposing operations to foreign laws, politics, trade restrictions, and currency fluctuations.
  • The disclosed updates primarily replace 2024 with 2025 while retaining the same exposure percentages and risk descriptions.

What changed since the prior 10-K

Reworded

  • 36% rewrittenMacroeconomic and Industry Risks

    Our financial results are subject to U.S. economic uncertainty and compliance with laws and regulations

    Updates the reporting year from 2024 to 2025; the 79% U.S. sales exposure and municipal, cyclical, and shutdown risks remain unchanged.

  • 23% rewrittenMacroeconomic and Industry Risks

    We have international operations that are subject to compliance with domestic and foreign laws and regulations and can be impacted by economic and political uncertainties and conflicts and foreign currency rate fluctuations

    Updates the reporting year from 2024 to 2025; the 21% international sales exposure and compliance, political, trade, and currency risks remain unchanged.

All 21 risk factors

Headings as the filing states them, in filing order.

Macroeconomic and Industry Risks

  1. 01Our financial results are subject to U.S. economic uncertainty and compliance with laws and regulations36% rewritten
  2. 02We have international operations that are subject to compliance with domestic and foreign laws and regulations and can be impacted by economic and political uncertainties and conflicts and foreign currency rate fluctuations23% rewritten
  3. 03Inflation in the U.S. and elsewhere could adversely affect our business
  4. 04The execution of our growth strategy is dependent upon the continued availability of credit and third-party financing arrangements for our customers
  5. 05We operate in highly competitive markets

Strategic and Operational Risks

  1. 06The inability to obtain raw materials, component parts, and/or finished goods in a timely and cost-effective manner could adversely affect our ability to manufacture and market our products
  2. 07Failure to keep pace with technological developments may adversely affect our operations
  3. 08Our efforts to develop new products and services or enhance existing products and services involve substantial research, development, and marketing expenses, and the resulting new or enhanced products or services may not generate sufficient revenues to justify the expense
  4. 09Disruptions within our dealer network or the inability of our dealers to secure adequate access to capital could adversely affect our business
  5. 10We may be unsuccessful in our future acquisitions, if any, which may have an adverse effect on our business
  6. 11Businesses acquired by us may have liabilities that are not known to us
  7. 12We could incur restructuring and impairment charges as we continue to evaluate opportunities to restructure our business and rationalize our manufacturing operations in an effort to optimize our cost structure
  8. 13We are subject to a number of restrictive debt covenants

Human Capital and Labor Risks

  1. 14Our ability to operate effectively could be impaired if we fail to attract and retain key personnel
  2. 15Our business may be adversely impacted by work stoppages and other labor relations matters
  3. 16Our pension funding requirements and expenses are affected by certain factors outside of our control, including the performance of plan assets, the discount rate used to value liabilities, actuarial assumptions and experience, and legal and regulatory changes
  4. 17Increased IT security threats, including more sophisticated cybersecurity attacks, pose a risk to our systems, networks, products, and operations, and related changes in laws, regulations, policies, and contractual obligations could adversely affect our business
  5. 18Infringement of, or an inability to protect, our intellectual property rights could adversely affect our business

Legal and Financial Risks

  1. 19We may incur material losses and costs as a result of lawsuits or claims that may be brought against us that are related to product liability, warranty, product recalls, intellectual property, client service interruptions, or other matters
  2. 20The costs associated with complying with environmental, safety, and other regulations could lower our margins
  3. 21An impairment in the carrying value of goodwill, intangible assets, or long-lived assets could negatively affect our financial position and results of operations

Other Federal Signal 10-Ks

  • FY2024 10-K risk factors
    21 risks

    Dependence on the U.S. economy drives 79% of net sales, with municipal and industrial market cyclicality heavily impacting profitability.

    Filed Feb 26, 2025

About this page

The headings are the filing's own. The one-line readings and the overview are automated and can be wrong: read Item 1A of the 10-K for the exact wording.