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Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 12 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter revenue rose 9%: Revenue was $733.7 million, up $59.6 million or 9% from the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Operating income fell on impairment costs: Income from operations was $45.5 million against $48.2 million, down 6%, mainly on $14.8 million of incremental impairment and net lease termination costs. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose to $1.15: Diluted adjusted EPS was $1.15 against $0.98, and adjusted income from operations rose 14% to $90.6 million. Source
  • Full-year operating income rose 28%: For full-year 2025, revenue was $2.9 billion, up 9%, and income from operations was $315 million, up 28%. Source
  • Gross margin fell on cost of services: Cost of services was 80.7% of revenue against 79.2%, so gross profit was 19.3% of revenue against 20.8%. Source
  • Operating cash flow reached $350.7 million: Cash from operations was $350.7 million for 2025, against $337.5 million for 2024. Source

“Back-Up Care remained a standout all year - generating more than $725 million in revenue in 2025.”

Stephen Kramer, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefiscal year 2026$3.075 billion to $3.125 billionNew
Diluted adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal year 2026$4.90 to $5.10New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: The company gave its first 2026 guidance: revenue of $3.075 billion to $3.125 billion and diluted adjusted EPS of $4.90 to $5.10. Source
  • Ended: The 2025 guidance from the third-quarter release, revenue of about $2.925 billion and diluted adjusted EPS of $4.48 to $4.53, ended with reported full-year 2025 results.
  • New: The business description now lists back-up care and educational advisory services; the third-quarter release described workforce education services instead. Source

Fourth-quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth-quarter revenue rose 9%: Revenue was $733.7 million, up $59.6 million or 9% from the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Operating income fell on impairment costs: Income from operations was $45.5 million against $48.2 million, down 6%, mainly on $14.8 million of incremental impairment and net lease termination costs. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS declined: Net income was $21.7 million, down 25%, and diluted EPS was $0.38 against $0.50, with a higher effective tax rate. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose to $1.15: Diluted adjusted EPS was $1.15 against $0.98, and adjusted income from operations rose 14% to $90.6 million. Source
  • Full-year operating income rose 28%: For full-year 2025, revenue was $2.9 billion, up 9%, and income from operations was $315 million, up 28%. Source

Segment revenue and income

  • Quarter revenue by segment: Quarterly revenue was $514.8 million for full-service, $183.3 million for back-up care and $35.6 million for educational advisory services. Source
  • Full-service reported operating loss: Full service center-based child care reported an operating loss of $24.2 million, against a loss of $12.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Advisory income rose in quarter: Educational advisory income from operations was $10.7 million, or 30% of segment revenue, against $9.5 million and 29% a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year back-up care profit grew: For 2025, back-up care adjusted income from operations was $222.1 million, or 31% of revenue; full-service adjusted income rose to $114.4 million from $83.8 million. Source

“As we move into 2026, we remain focused on deepening our impact with the employers and families we serve, enhancing our services, and investing in people and technology”

Stephen Kramer, Chief Executive Officer

Center enrollment and network

  • Enrollment and tuition added revenue: Center enrollment gains and tuition price increases added to the revenue increase. Source
  • Back-up care utilization named driver: Management named higher utilization of back-up care services as the primary cause of the revenue increase. Source
  • Center count edged down: Centers operated fell from 1,013 at September 30, 2025 to 1,010 at year-end, while capacity stayed at about 115,000 children.

Costs, margins and tax rate

  • Gross margin fell on cost of services: Cost of services was 80.7% of revenue against 79.2%, so gross profit was 19.3% of revenue against 20.8%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose: Adjusted EBITDA was 17% of revenue in the quarter against 16%, and 17% for the full year against 15%. Source
  • SG&A ratio declined: Selling, general and administrative expenses were 12.9% of revenue against 13.4%; full-year SG&A was 12.8% against 13.2%. Source

Cash flow, debt and buybacks

  • Operating cash flow reached $350.7 million: Cash from operations was $350.7 million for 2025, against $337.5 million for 2024. Source
  • Net investments fell year on year: Net investments totaled $103.8 million for 2025, against $117.8 million for 2024. Source
  • Treasury stock purchases increased: Treasury stock purchases were $225.4 million in 2025 against $84.6 million in 2024, alongside $499.4 million of net revolver borrowing. Source
  • Cash and revolver availability: Cash and cash equivalents were $140.1 million at year-end, with $383.7 million available under the revolving credit facility. Source
  • Diluted share count declined: Weighted average diluted shares were 56.6 million in the quarter against 58.4 million, and 57.4 million for 2025 against 58.5 million. Source

Strategy and offerings

  • Offerings span life and career stages: The company says its offerings support working families and employers' workforce strategies across life and career stages. Source
  • Investments aimed at growth and margin: The company states its 2026 investments aim to drive growth, support margin progress and deliver the highest quality care and education. Source
  • Employer partnership over 40 years: The company describes 40 years of partnering with employers to support workforces and help working families and employees thrive. Source

Center impairment and lease costs

  • Q4 impairment split by segment: Impairment and net lease termination costs were $45.1 million in the quarter, of which $44.6 million related to full-service centers and $0.5 million to back-up care. Source
  • Full-year impairment costs $47.5M: For full-year 2025, impairment and net lease termination costs were $47.5 million, of which $47.0 million related to full-service centers. Source
  • Prior-year impairment costs $30.3M: The 2024 quarter and full year each carried $30.3 million of impairment and net lease termination costs, of which $29.2 million was full-service. Source

Non-GAAP and stock compensation

  • Adjusted net income up 14%: Adjusted net income was $65.1 million for the quarter, up 14%, as adjusted income from operations increased. Source
  • Stock-based compensation declined: Stock-based compensation expense was $8.1 million in the quarter against $9.0 million, and $30.6 million for 2025 against $33.6 million. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS $4.55: Full-year diluted adjusted EPS was $4.55, up 31%, and full-year adjusted net income was $261 million, up 29%. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Early education and child care centers operated Source1,010
Child capacity Sourceapproximately 115,000 children
Employer clients served Sourcemore than 1,450

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Impairment and lease termination costs stem from center closures, changed market assumptions and reduced performance at certain centers. Source
  • Financial: A higher effective tax rate reduced fourth-quarter net income alongside lower income from operations. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.