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CuriosityStream Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 11 March 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Q4 revenue up 36%: Fourth-quarter revenue was $19.2 million against $14.1 million a year earlier. Full-year revenue was $71.7 million, up 40% from $51.1 million. Source
  • Two revenue pillars drove growth: Management named AI model training licensing and subscription revenue from existing and new partnerships as the two pillars, with cost discipline expanding gross margins. Source
  • 18 AI training fulfillments completed: The company completed 18 distinct AI training fulfillments in 2025 across categories including factual, scripted, sports and raw footage. Source
  • Q4 gross margin reached 61%: Fourth-quarter gross profit was $11.6 million, a 61% margin, up from 52% a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA turned positive: Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $1.1 million against a $1.9 million loss a year earlier. Full-year Adjusted EBITDA was $8.2 million against a $6.0 million loss. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow up 46%: Full-year Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $13.9 million, up 46% from $9.5 million. Fourth-quarter Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $4.3 million. Source
  • First-half revenue range set: Management expects first-half 2026 revenue of $38 million to $42 million. Source
  • First-half free cash flow range set: Management expects first-half 2026 Adjusted Free Cash Flow of $6 million to $9 million. Source

“We are pleased to announce a strong finish to 2025, as we delivered on our promise of double-digit growth in both revenue and cash flow,”

Clint Stinchcomb, President & CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefirst half of 2026$38 - $42 millionNew
Adjusted Free Cash Flow Sourcefirst half of 2026$6 - $9 millionNew
Share repurchases Sourceauthorization total$6 millionRaised

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: First-half 2026 revenue guidance of $38 million to $42 million was given. Source
  • New guidance: First-half 2026 Adjusted Free Cash Flow guidance of $6 million to $9 million was given. Source
  • New: The Board added $2 million to the share repurchase authorization, bringing the total to $6 million. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Q4 revenue up 36%: Fourth-quarter revenue was $19.2 million against $14.1 million a year earlier. Full-year revenue was $71.7 million, up 40% from $51.1 million. Source
  • Two revenue pillars drove growth: Management named AI model training licensing and subscription revenue from existing and new partnerships as the two pillars, with cost discipline expanding gross margins. Source
  • Net loss widened on share compensation: Fourth-quarter net loss was $3.8 million, including $4.3 million of non-cash stock-based compensation. Full-year net loss was $6.4 million, including $14.4 million. Source

Regions and distribution partners

  • Traditional licensing across regions: Programs and series were licensed to new and returning traditional media partners, including public broadcasters, pay-TV partners and academic distributors. Source
  • Samsung TV Plus partnership expanded: The Samsung TV Plus partnership was expanded, with the Curiosity Now channel launched in Spain. Source
  • European service launches on Amazon: Curiosity University launched on Amazon Prime in the UK, the Netherlands, Finland and Sweden, among other European service launches reported. Source

“These gains reflect the strength of our complementary revenue pillars - licensing driven by high volume structured video fulfillments for AI model training and subscription sturdiness from existing and new partnerships, with both amplified by cost discipline that expanded gross margins.”

Clint Stinchcomb, President & CEO

Content, services and reach

  • Original slate expanded: Premieres included Cleopatra: The Mystery of the Mummified Hand and FAST: The Celestial Eye, and the company premiered a second season of Deadly Science. Source
  • Curiosity University premium on Roku: Curiosity University launched as a premium subscription on The Roku Channel across North and Latin America. Source
  • Flagship service availability: The flagship Curiosity Stream SVOD service is available in more than 175 countries, according to the company description. Source

AI licensing and data library

  • 18 AI training fulfillments completed: The company completed 18 distinct AI training fulfillments in 2025 across categories including factual, scripted, sports and raw footage. Source
  • Several million clips licensed: Several million short-form clips and long-form programs were licensed for AI training and traditional media distribution. Source
  • Library grew from nearly 2 million hours: The third-quarter release described a library of nearly 2 million hours. The fourth-quarter release says the company secured rights to about 2 million additional hours.

“Our team made great progress in 2025 and laid the groundwork for what we believe will be the greatest year in company history by virtually all metrics.”

Clint Stinchcomb, President & CEO

Gross margin and cost lines

  • Q4 gross margin reached 61%: Fourth-quarter gross profit was $11.6 million, a 61% margin, up from 52% a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year gross margin 57%: Full-year gross profit was $40.5 million, a 57% margin, against $25.8 million and a 50% margin in 2024. Source
  • Q3 gross margin was 58.7%: Third-quarter gross profit was $10.8 million, a 58.7% margin, before the fourth-quarter margin of 61%.
  • Full-year operating cost lines: Full-year cost of revenues was $31.1 million against $25.4 million. Advertising and marketing was $14.0 million against $14.4 million, and general and administrative was $33.8 million against $24.7 million. Source

Profitability and cash flow

  • Adjusted EBITDA turned positive: Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $1.1 million against a $1.9 million loss a year earlier. Full-year Adjusted EBITDA was $8.2 million against a $6.0 million loss. Source
  • Q4 Adjusted EBITDA below Q3: The third-quarter release reported Adjusted EBITDA of $3 million, so the fourth-quarter figure of $1.1 million was lower sequentially.
  • Operating cash flow rose: Fourth-quarter net cash from operating activities was $4.0 million, up from $3.0 million. Full-year operating cash flow was $13.1 million, up from $8.2 million. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow up 46%: Full-year Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $13.9 million, up 46% from $9.5 million. Fourth-quarter Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $4.3 million. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Cash and no debt at year end: Cash, restricted cash and held-to-maturity securities totaled $27.3 million, with no debt, as of December 31, 2025. Source
  • Buyback authorization raised: The Board added $2 million to the share repurchase authorization, bringing the total to $6 million. Source
  • Dividends paid rose: Dividends paid were $22.0 million in 2025 against $4.1 million in 2024. Source
  • Cash rose as investments fell: Cash and cash equivalents were $18.3 million at year end, up from $7.8 million, while short-term investments fell to $9.0 million from $24.2 million. Source

Guidance and strategy

  • First-half revenue range set: Management expects first-half 2026 revenue of $38 million to $42 million. Source
  • First-half free cash flow range set: Management expects first-half 2026 Adjusted Free Cash Flow of $6 million to $9 million. Source
  • Groundwork for a record year: The CEO said the team laid groundwork for what management believes will be the greatest year in company history by virtually all metrics. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
AI training fulfillments completed in 2025 Source18
Countries for flagship SVOD service Sourcemore than 175
Payment currencies available Source42
Video and audio library, third quarter 2025nearly 2 million hours

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the company delivered on its promise of double-digit growth in revenue and cash flow. Source
  • Ahead: Management described third-quarter 2025 results as above guidance.

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.