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Clarivate plc: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 24 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 13 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Q4 revenue down on divestitures: Fourth-quarter revenue was $617.0 million, down from $663.0 million, reflecting inorganic divestitures and disposals. Organic revenue fell 1.2%. Source
  • Full-year organic revenue roughly flat: Full-year revenue was $2,455.2 million against $2,556.7 million. Organic revenue declined 0.1%, with 0.6% recurring growth offset by lower transactional revenue. Source
  • Organic ACV up 1.8%: Organic ACV grew 1.8% in 2025 compared with 2024, mainly from improved product pricing. Source
  • Recurring share rose to 88%: Organic recurring revenue was 88% of total revenue, up 800 basis points from 80% in the prior year. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EBITDA margin 40.8%: Adjusted EBITDA was $1,001.8 million against $1,060.4 million. Margin was 40.8% against 41.5%; Q4 margin was 41.3% against 43.0%. Source
  • Free cash flow $365.3 million: Free cash flow was $365.3 million against $357.5 million. Operating cash flow was $628.5 million against $646.6 million. Source
  • Sale would focus on A&G and IP: Company believes a potential LS&H sale would allow more emphasis on A&G and IP, with proceeds used to reduce leverage. Source

“As a result, we realized nearly 2% organic ACV growth, increased recurring organic revenue, and stronger free cash flow conversion, all while meeting our full-year financial guidance for 2025.”

Matti Shem Tov, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Organic ACV growth Source20262.0% to 3.0%New
Recurring organic revenue growth Source20260.75% to 2.25%New
Revenues Source2026$2.30B to $2.42BNew
Adjusted EBITDA Source2026$980M to $1.04BNew
Adjusted EBITDA margin Source202642.0% to 43.5%New
Adjusted EBITDA margin expansion Source2026200 basis point expansionNew
Adjusted diluted EPS Source2026$0.70 to $0.80New
Adjusted diluted share count Source2026approximately 650 millionNew
Free cash flow Source2026$365M to $435MNew
Net cash provided by operating activities Source2026$615 to $685 (in millions)New
Capital expenditures Source2026250 (in millions)New
Net income (loss) Source2026(189) to (124) (in millions)New
Restructuring costs Source202625 (in millions)New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 guidance added; the prior release gave 2025 guidance. Source
  • New: Company is pursuing a sale of its Life Sciences & Healthcare business after a portfolio review. Source

Full-year and fourth-quarter results

  • Q4 revenue down on divestitures: Fourth-quarter revenue was $617.0 million, down from $663.0 million, reflecting inorganic divestitures and disposals. Organic revenue fell 1.2%. Source
  • Full-year organic revenue roughly flat: Full-year revenue was $2,455.2 million against $2,556.7 million. Organic revenue declined 0.1%, with 0.6% recurring growth offset by lower transactional revenue. Source
  • Q4 net income near breakeven: Fourth-quarter net income was $3.1 million, or $0.00 per diluted share, against a net loss of $191.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year net loss narrowed: Full-year net loss was $201.1 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, against $636.7 million, or $0.96, in 2024. Source
  • Adjusted EPS slightly lower: Full-year adjusted diluted EPS was $0.69 against $0.73. Fourth-quarter adjusted diluted EPS was $0.20 against $0.21. Source

Segment performance

  • Academia & Government grew organically: A&G revenue was $1,266.0 million for the year, down 4.6% reported and up 1.6% organically. Fourth-quarter organic growth was 1.1%. Source
  • Intellectual Property volumes declined: IP revenue was $799.4 million for the year, down 1.9% organically. Fourth-quarter organic revenue fell 3.8%, with IP volumes and sales lower. Source
  • Life Sciences & Healthcare declined: LS&H revenue was $389.8 million for the year, down 1.4% organically. Fourth-quarter revenue was $98.3 million, down 1.9% organically. Source

“We anticipate a steady improvement in our financial performance for 2026.”

Jonathan Collins, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Revenue mix and ACV

  • Organic ACV up 1.8%: Organic ACV grew 1.8% in 2025 compared with 2024, mainly from improved product pricing. Source
  • Recurring share rose to 88%: Organic recurring revenue was 88% of total revenue, up 800 basis points from 80% in the prior year. Source
  • Subscription revenue grew organically: Full-year subscription revenue was $1,605.5 million, up 0.8% organically, from new customer wins, retention and pricing. Source
  • Q4 subscription up organically: Fourth-quarter subscription revenue was $405.8 million, up 1.0% organically, from new sales, retention and pricing actions. Source

Transactional revenue and divestitures

  • Transactional revenue fell on divestitures: Full-year transactional revenue was $415.5 million against $500.1 million, reflecting divestitures in A&G and LS&H. Organic transactional revenue fell 4.8%. Source
  • Q3 flagged June 2026 disposal: The October release said 2025 revenue guidance was raised for transactional book sales made ahead of a planned June 2026 disposal.

“Although overall reported revenue will be lower due to the previously announced strategic divestitures of transactional based revenues, we forecast growth in organic ACV and recurring organic revenue.”

Jonathan Collins, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Costs and margins

  • Full-year adjusted EBITDA margin 40.8%: Adjusted EBITDA was $1,001.8 million against $1,060.4 million. Margin was 40.8% against 41.5%; Q4 margin was 41.3% against 43.0%. Source
  • Cost of revenues and SG&A lower: Fourth-quarter cost of revenues was $204.8 million against $227.7 million. SG&A was $179.1 million against $180.8 million. Source
  • Impairments and restructuring charges: Q4 goodwill and intangible impairments were $15.0 million against $224.1 million. Full-year restructuring and other impairments were $50.7 million against $19.6 million. Source
  • Net interest expense lower: Full-year net interest expense was $265.4 million against $283.4 million in 2024. Source

Cash flow, debt and capital returns

  • Free cash flow $365.3 million: Free cash flow was $365.3 million against $357.5 million. Operating cash flow was $628.5 million against $646.6 million. Source
  • Capital expenditures reduced: Full-year capital expenditures were $263.2 million, against $289.1 million in 2024. Source
  • Debt down $101.2 million: Total debt was $4,469.9 million at year-end, down $101.2 million, driven by a $100.0 million accelerated repayment in September 2025. Source
  • Further $100 million repaid January: A further $100.0 million was repaid in January 2026, fully redeeming senior secured notes due November 2026. Source
  • Share repurchases of about $225 million: About $225 million of shares were repurchased in 2025, including 21.2 million shares in Q4, totaling 56.0 million shares for the year. Source

Strategy and portfolio review

  • Value Creation Plan progressing: Management said the Value Creation Plan refined the business model, enhanced sales execution and invested in proprietary assets, with Agentic AI development across the portfolio. Source
  • Sale would focus on A&G and IP: Company believes a potential LS&H sale would allow more emphasis on A&G and IP, with proceeds used to reduce leverage. Source

Coming up, as management said on 24 February 2026

  • Life Sciences & Healthcare sale talks: Morgan Stanley retained as financial advisor; active discussions with interested parties are under way. Company gives no assurance a transaction will result. Source
  • No further sale comment until disclosure: Company will not comment further on the sale until additional disclosure is determined to be appropriate. Source

In management's words

“We are utilizing our proprietary solutions in conjunction with AI to deliver greater value to our customers, and we remain committed to disciplined execution, continued organic growth, and thoughtful capital allocation.”

Matti Shem Tov, Chief Executive Officer

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Organic ACV growth (FY2025) Source1.8%
Total ACV change (FY2025) Source-1.0%
Subscription revenue (FY2025) Source$1,605.5 million
Recurring revenue (FY2025) Source$2,039.7 million
Recurring revenue mix (FY2025) Source88%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Organic transactional revenue fell in Q4, primarily on lower IP volumes, which also weighed on the full-year IP segment. Source
  • Operational: Total ACV declined 1.0% in 2025 because certain product groups were wound down beginning in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Operational: Management said there can be no assurance that the LS&H sale process results in a transaction. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said 2025 guidance was met. Source
  • Not stated: Earlier-announced strategic review led to the Life Sciences & Healthcare sale process. 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.