Open the filing on EDGARFirst Advantage Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results
Delivers Outstanding Fourth Quarter Results and Issues Full Year 2026 Guidance
Fourth Quarter 2025 Highlights
Revenues of $420.0 million
Net income of $3.5 million (0.8% margin); Diluted Net Income Per Share of $0.02
Adjusted EBITDA of $116.8 million (27.8% margin)
Adjusted Net Income of $51.9 million; Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share of $0.30
Cash Flows from Operations of $65.9 million
New $100 million authorization for share repurchases announced today
Full Year 2025 Highlights
Revenues of $1,574.4 million
Net loss of $(34.8) million ((2.2)% margin); Diluted Net Loss Per Share of $(0.20)
Adjusted EBITDA of $441.4 million (28.0% margin)
Adjusted Net Income of $181.7 million; Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share of $1.04
Cash Flows from Operations of $195.1 million
Full Year 2026 Guidance
Introducing full year 2026 guidance ranges for Revenues of $1,625 million to $1,700 million, Adjusted EBITDA of $460 million to $485 million, Adjusted Net Income of $200 million to $220 million, and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share of $1.15 to $1.25
ATLANTA, February 26, 2026 - First Advantage Corporation (NASDAQ: FA), a global software and data company, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025.
Key Financials
(Amounts in millions, except per share data and percentages)
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, |
|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|
| Revenues | $420.0 | $307.1 | $1,574.4 | $860.2 |
| Income (loss) from operations | $44.9 | $(80.7) | $132.5 | $(62.4) |
| Net income (loss) | $3.5 | $(100.4) | $(34.8) | $(110.3) |
| Net income (loss) margin | 0.8% | (32.7)% | (2.2)% | (12.8)% |
| Diluted net income (loss) per share | $0.02 | $(0.62) | $(0.20) | $(0.74) |
| Adjusted EBITDA | $116.8 | $82.9 | $441.4 | $249.3 |
| Adjusted EBITDA Margin | 27.8% | 27.0% | 28.0% | 29.0% |
| Adjusted Net Income | $51.9 | $30.2 | $181.7 | $123.7 |
| Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share | $0.30 | $0.18 | $1.04 | $0.82 |
Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Net Income, and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share are non-GAAP measures. Please see the end of this earnings release for definitions and schedules with reconciliations of these measures to their most directly comparable respective GAAP measures.
Q4 2025 includes $3.9 million of expenses related to the acquisition of Sterling Check Corp. (“Sterling”) and related integration, and $42.6 million of depreciation and amortization relating to the Sterling acquisition; Full year 2025 includes $32.8 million of expenses related to the acquisition of Sterling and related integration, and $166.8 million of depreciation and amortization relating to the Sterling acquisition.
“In 2025, we delivered exceptional financial results with meaningful success across all pillars of our FA 5.0 growth strategy,” said Scott Staples, Chief Executive Officer. “Our targeted go-to-market approach enabled us to grow revenues and expand margins, resulting in revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted Diluted EPS growth in line with or above our long-term targets. During the year, we completed the core integration activities for the Sterling acquisition, maintained a high customer retention rate of 96%, strengthened our balance sheet, and made significant progress on the increased synergy target set in May, with $55 million of acquisition synergies actioned through year end. Our customers continue to express high levels of interest in our best-of-breed solutions as we expand our technology and product offerings to enhance our value proposition, including leveraging AI to transform customer and applicant experiences.”
Staples continued, “We closed 2025 with outstanding performance in the fourth quarter, again demonstrating our ability to deliver positive results in a relatively flat hiring environment. We generated impressive combined upsell, cross sell, and new logo growth of 17%, exceeding our long-term revenue growth algorithm, alongside excellent customer retention of 97% in Q4. Our go-to-market strategy drove momentum in our targeted verticals and geographies during the quarter, with particular strength in retail & e-commerce, general staffing, transportation & logistics, and healthcare verticals, and continued consistent international sales growth.
With the core Sterling integration activities completed, we are well-positioned to maximize the benefits of our combined business and enhance our competitive strengths. Building upon the great success we have seen to date with our FA 5.0 growth strategy, in 2026, we are making strategic investments in our go-to-market and product capabilities to accelerate organic revenue growth. We are confident that we are positioned to further increase our momentum and deliver meaningful, sustained value for our customers and shareholders,” Staples concluded.
Share Repurchase Program
Today, First Advantage announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program with authorization to purchase up to $100 million of its common stock with no expiration date.
“This program underscores our confidence in our business and conviction in our attractive long-term opportunities,” commented Steven Marks, EVP and Chief Financial Officer. “Within our capital allocation framework, we consider current market conditions and view share repurchases at today’s valuation levels as a highly attractive use of capital, while maintaining a balanced focus on liquidity and shareholder value creation. Our commitment to disciplined balance sheet management and focus on deleveraging remains, evidenced by our $25 million voluntary debt prepayment to be made in late February, as we expect to continue reducing net leverage toward our long-term target of 2x to 3x.”
Full Year 2026 Guidance
“We are pleased to be commencing 2026 in a strong position, building upon our momentum of 27% Adjusted Diluted EPS growth in 2025. Our full year 2026 guidance reflects confidence in our ability to continue to deliver positive results powered by disciplined execution, go-to-market excellence, and a relentless focus on our customers,” commented Marks. “Our guidance takes into consideration our latest view of expected product mix, our targeted investments, the realization of synergies already actioned or expected to be actioned in 2026, and our latest view of the macroeconomic environment and labor market. We remain committed to delivering on our objectives, generating profitable growth with strong free cash flow and consistent deleveraging.”
The following table summarizes our full year 2026 guidance.
| As of February 26, 2026 |
|---|
| Revenues | $1,625 million - $1,700 million |
| Adjusted EBITDA | $460 million - $485 million |
| Adjusted Net Income | $200 million - $220 million |
| Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share | $1.15 - $1.25 |
A reconciliation of the foregoing guidance for the non-GAAP metrics of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income to GAAP net income (loss) and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share to GAAP diluted net income (loss) per share cannot be provided without unreasonable effort because of the inherent difficulty of accurately forecasting the occurrence and financial impact of the various adjusting items necessary for such reconciliation that have not yet occurred, are out of our control, or cannot be reasonably predicted. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to assess the probable significance of the unavailable information, which could have a material impact on its future GAAP financial results.
Actual results may differ materially from First Advantage’s full year 2026 guidance as a result of, among other things, the factors described under “Forward-Looking Statements” below.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
First Advantage will host a conference call to review its fourth quarter and full year 2025 results today, February 26, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. ET.
To participate in the conference call, please dial 800-225-9448 (domestic) or 203-518-9708 (international) approximately ten minutes before the 8:30 a.m. ET start. Please mention to the operator that you are dialing in for the First Advantage fourth quarter and full year 2025 earnings call or provide the conference code FA4Q25. The call will also be webcast live on the Company’s investor relations website at https://investors.fadv.com under the “News & Events” and then “Events & Presentations” section, where related presentation materials will be posted prior to the conference call.
Following the conference call, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Company’s investor relations website, https://investors.fadv.com. Alternatively, the live webcast and subsequent replay will be available at https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/5179695/3B5073CD5631AA2BE2C785CFEC3D8000.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, our operations and financial performance. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements relate to matters such as our industry, business strategy, goals, and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, capital expenditures, liquidity and capital resources, and other financial and operating information. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “future,” “will,” “seek,” “foreseeable,” “target,” “guidance,” the negative version of these words, or similar terms and phrases.
These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties, assumptions, or changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict or quantify. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:
negative changes in external events beyond our control, including our customers’ onboarding volumes, economic drivers which are sensitive to macroeconomic cycles, such as interest rate volatility and inflation, geopolitical unrest, global trade disputes, uncertainty in financial markets, and changes in tax laws;
our operations in a highly regulated industry and the fact that we are subject to numerous and evolving laws and regulations, including with respect to personal data, data security, and artificial intelligence (“AI”);
inability to identify and successfully implement our growth strategies on a timely basis or at all;
potential harm to our business, brand, and reputation as a result of security breaches, cyber-attacks, or the mishandling of personal data;
our reliance on third-party data providers;
due to the sensitive and privacy-driven nature of our products and solutions, we could face liability and legal or regulatory proceedings, which could be costly and time-consuming to defend and may not be fully covered by insurance;
our international business exposes us to a number of risks;
the timing, manner and volume of repurchases of common stock pursuant to our share repurchase program;
the continued integration of our platforms and solutions with human resource providers such as applicant tracking systems and human capital management systems as well as our relationships with such human resource providers;
our ability to obtain, maintain, protect and enforce our intellectual property and other proprietary information;
disruptions, outages, or other errors with our technology and network infrastructure, including our data centers, servers, and third-party cloud and internet providers and our migration to the cloud;
our indebtedness could adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, limit our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry, and prevent us from meeting our obligations;
the failure to realize the expected benefits of our acquisition of Sterling Check Corp.; and control by our Sponsor, "Silver Lake" (Silver Lake Group, L.L.C., together with its affiliates, successors, and assignees) and its interests may conflict with ours or those of our stockholders.
For additional information on these and other factors that could cause First Advantage’s actual results to differ materially from expected results, please see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as such factors may be updated from time to time in our filings with the SEC, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, which is expected to be filed after this press release, which are or will be accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise, except as required by law.
Non-GAAP Financial Information
This press release contains “non-GAAP financial measures” that are financial measures that either exclude or include amounts that are not excluded or included in the most directly comparable measures calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). Specifically, we make use of the non-GAAP financial measures “Adjusted EBITDA,” “Adjusted EBITDA Margin,” “Adjusted Net Income,” “Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share,” and “Adjusted Operating Cash Flow.”
Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Net Income, and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share have been presented in this press release as supplemental measures of financial performance that are not required by or presented in accordance with GAAP because we believe they assist investors and analysts in comparing our operating performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. Management believes these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors in highlighting trends in our operating performance, while other measures can differ significantly depending on long-term strategic decisions regarding capital structure, the tax jurisdictions in which we operate, and capital investments. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Net Income, and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share to supplement GAAP measures of performance in the evaluation of the effectiveness of our business strategies, to make budgeting decisions, to establish discretionary annual incentive compensation, and to compare our performance against that of other peer companies using similar measures. Management supplements GAAP results with non-GAAP financial measures to provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting the business than GAAP results alone.
Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Net Income, and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share are not recognized terms under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income as a measure of financial performance or cash provided by operating activities as a measure of liquidity, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP.
We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, and as further adjusted for loss on extinguishment of debt, share-based compensation, transaction and acquisition-related charges, integration and restructuring charges, and other non-cash charges. We define Adjusted EBITDA Margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by total revenues. We define Adjusted Net Income for a particular period as net income before taxes adjusted for debt-related costs, acquisition-related depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation, transaction and acquisition-related charges, integration and restructuring charges, and other non-cash charges, to which we then apply the related effective tax rate. We define Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share as Adjusted Net Income divided by adjusted weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted.
Additionally, we use Adjusted Operating Cash Flow to review the liquidity of our operations. We define Adjusted Operating Cash Flow as cash flows from operating activities adjusted for cash costs directly associated with the Sterling acquisition and related integration. We believe Adjusted Operating Cash Flow is a useful supplemental financial measure for management and investors in assessing the Company’s ability to pursue business opportunities and investments and to service its debt. Adjusted Operating Cash Flow is not a measure of our liquidity under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities.
For reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures, see the reconciliations included at the end of this press release.
The presentations of these measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because not all companies use identical calculations, the presentations of these measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies and can differ significantly from company to company.
Numerical figures included in the reconciliations have been subject to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, numerical figures shown as totals in various tables may not be arithmetic aggregations of the figures that precede them.
Share Repurchase Program
Stock repurchases may be effected through open market repurchases at prevailing market prices (including through the use of block trades and trading plans intended to qualify under Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), privately-negotiated transactions, through other transactions in accordance with applicable securities laws, or a combination of these methods on such terms and in such amounts as the Company deems appropriate. The Company is not obligated to repurchase any specific number of shares, and the timing, manner, value, and actual number of shares repurchased will depend on a variety of factors, including the Company’s stock price and liquidity requirements, other business considerations, and general market and economic conditions. The Company may discontinue or modify purchases without notice at any time. The Company plans to use its existing cash to fund repurchases made under the share repurchase program. No shares will be purchased from Silver Lake or its affiliates.
About First Advantage
First Advantage (NASDAQ: FA) is a global software and data company. We provide comprehensive, end-to-end identity solutions, criminal background screening, credential verifications, drug and health screening, and continuous risk monitoring. Combining AI-powered proprietary technology platforms with proprietary data, primary source data, and third-party data, we help organizations hire with confidence and manage risk across the entire employee lifecycle. With over 80,000 customers worldwide - including approximately two-thirds of the Fortune 100 - we deliver fast, comprehensive, and reliable solutions for employers, their candidates, and their employees. We conduct more than 200 million screens annually across over 200 countries and territories, supported by our verticalized go-to-market strategy, decades of experience, and proprietary databases containing over 1 billion records. For more information, please visit our website at https://fadv.com/.
Condensed Financial Statements
First Advantage Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
| December 31, |
|---|
| (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) | 2025 | 2024 |
| ASSETS | | |
| CURRENT ASSETS | | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | $239,998 | $168,688 |
| Restricted cash | 86 | 795 |
| Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $8,084 and $3,832 at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively) | 297,281 | 266,800 |
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 15,323 | 31,041 |
| Income tax receivable | 9,010 | 8,669 |
| Total current assets | 561,698 | 475,993 |
| Property and equipment, net | 250,865 | 307,539 |
| Goodwill | 2,143,604 | 2,124,528 |
| Intangible assets, net | 857,111 | 987,948 |
| Deferred tax asset, net | 4,183 | 5,682 |
| Other assets | 16,341 | 21,203 |
| TOTAL ASSETS | $3,833,802 | $3,922,893 |
| LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | | |
| CURRENT LIABILITIES | | |
| Accounts payable | $109,888 | $120,872 |
| Accrued compensation | 60,537 | 52,805 |
| Accrued liabilities | 49,140 | 44,700 |
| Current portion of long-term debt | - | 21,850 |
| Current portion of operating lease liability | 3,568 | 4,245 |
| Income tax payable | 2,298 | 1,942 |
| Deferred revenues | 5,028 | 4,274 |
| Total current liabilities | 230,459 | 250,688 |
| Long-term debt (net of deferred financing costs of $34,498 and $41,861 at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively) | 2,080,039 | 2,121,289 |
| Deferred tax liability, net | 190,255 | 222,738 |
| Operating lease liability, less current portion | 5,525 | 9,149 |
| Other liabilities | 13,972 | 11,990 |
| Total liabilities | 2,520,250 | 2,615,854 |
| EQUITY | | |
| Common stock - $0.001 par value; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 174,190,461 and 173,171,145 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively | 174 | 173 |
| Additional paid-in-capital | 1,528,315 | 1,504,007 |
| Accumulated deficit | (194,632) | (159,808) |
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (20,305) | (37,333) |
| Total equity | 1,313,552 | 1,307,039 |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | $3,833,802 | $3,922,893 |
First Advantage Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
| Interim Periods | Annual Periods |
|---|
| (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) | Three Months Ended December 31, 2025 | Three Months Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 |
| REVENUES | $420,017 | $307,124 | $1,574,389 | $860,205 |
| OPERATING EXPENSES: | | | | |
| Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization below) | 232,861 | 168,492 | 855,306 | 448,911 |
| Product and technology expense | 23,886 | 24,765 | 101,853 | 63,817 |
| Selling, general, and administrative expense | 55,662 | 138,590 | 236,179 | 263,942 |
| Depreciation and amortization | 62,737 | 55,951 | 248,583 | 145,919 |
| Total operating expenses | 375,146 | 387,798 | 1,441,921 | 922,589 |
| INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS | 44,871 | (80,674) | 132,468 | (62,384) |
| OTHER EXPENSE, NET: | | | | |
| Interest expense, net | 37,261 | 23,734 | 168,667 | 51,848 |
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | 391 | 383 | 1,052 | 383 |
| Total other expense, net | 37,652 | 24,117 | 169,719 | 52,231 |
| INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES | 7,219 | (104,791) | (37,251) | (114,615) |
| Provision (benefit) for income taxes | 3,750 | (4,425) | (2,427) | (4,342) |
| NET INCOME (LOSS) | $3,469 | $(100,366) | $(34,824) | $(110,273) |
| Foreign currency translation income (loss) | 4,141 | (18,636) | 17,028 | (16,176) |
| COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) | $7,610 | $(119,002) | $(17,796) | $(126,449) |
| NET INCOME (LOSS) | $3,469 | $(100,366) | $(34,824) | $(110,273) |
| Basic net income (loss) per share | $0.02 | $(0.62) | $(0.20) | $(0.74) |
| Diluted net income (loss) per share | $0.02 | $(0.62) | $(0.20) | $(0.74) |
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic | 173,637,367 | 162,774,306 | 173,199,004 | 148,582,226 |
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted | 175,071,294 | 162,774,306 | 173,199,004 | 148,582,226 |
First Advantage Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
| December 31, |
|---|
| (in thousands) | 2025 | 2024 |
| CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | | |
| Net loss | $(34,824) | $(110,273) |
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: | | |
| Depreciation and amortization | 248,583 | 145,919 |
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | 1,052 | 383 |
| Amortization of deferred financing costs | 6,311 | 2,619 |
| Bad debt expense (recovery) | 705 | 158 |
| Deferred taxes | (31,011) | (31,418) |
| Share-based compensation | 24,456 | 31,762 |
| Loss on foreign currency exchange rates | - | - |
| Loss (gain) on disposal and impairment of long-lived assets | 2,155 | (275) |
| Change in fair value of interest rate swaps | 4,842 | (10,511) |
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | | |
| Accounts receivable | (29,672) | 20,775 |
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | 12,396 | (1,908) |
| Accounts payable | (16,020) | (25,450) |
| Accrued compensation and accrued liabilities | 6,380 | 7,176 |
| Deferred revenues | 735 | 762 |
| Operating lease liabilities | (35) | (883) |
| Other liabilities | (1,265) | (961) |
| Income taxes receivable and payable, net | 338 | 321 |
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 195,126 | 28,196 |
| CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES | | |
| Capitalized software development costs | (47,619) | (30,545) |
| Purchases of property and equipment | (6,633) | (1,720) |
| Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired | - | (1,619,812) |
| Other investing activities | 122 | 89 |
| Net cash used in investing activities | (54,130) | (1,651,988) |
| CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | | |
| Repayments of Amended First Lien Credit Facility | (70,463) | (59,200) |
| Proceeds from issuance of common stock under share-based compensation plans | 3,751 | 14,653 |
| Net settlement of share-based compensation plan awards | (3,912) | (14,305) |
| Cash dividends paid | (133) | (255) |
| Borrowings from First Lien Credit Facility | - | 1,679,093 |
| Payments of debt issuance costs | - | (38,212) |
| Payments on deferred purchase agreements | - | (703) |
| Payments on finance lease obligations | - | (6) |
| Share repurchases | - | - |
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | (70,757) | 1,581,065 |
| Effect of exchange rate on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | 362 | (1,702) |
| Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | 70,601 | (44,429) |
| Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period | 169,483 | 213,912 |
| Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period | $240,084 | $169,483 |
| SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION: | | |
| Cash paid for interest | $161,803 | $65,767 |
| NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | | |
| Property and equipment acquired on account | $3,094 | $539 |
| Non-cash property and equipment additions | $ - | $540 |
Reconciliation of Consolidated Non-GAAP Financial Measures
| Interim Periods | Annual Periods |
|---|
| (in thousands) | Three Months Ended December 31, 2025 | Three Months Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 |
| Net income (loss) | $3,469 | $(100,366) | $(34,824) | $(110,273) |
| Interest expense, net | 37,261 | 23,734 | 168,667 | 51,848 |
| Provision (benefit) for income taxes | 3,750 | (4,425) | (2,427) | (4,342) |
| Depreciation and amortization | 62,737 | 55,951 | 248,583 | 145,919 |
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | 391 | 383 | 1,052 | 383 |
| Share-based compensation | 5,026 | 12,459 | 24,456 | 31,762 |
| Transaction and acquisition-related charges | 770 | 93,151 | 8,741 | 128,234 |
| Integration, restructuring, and other charges | 3,433 | 2,050 | 27,147 | 5,771 |
| Adjusted EBITDA | $116,837 | $82,937 | $441,395 | $249,302 |
| Revenues | 420,017 | 307,124 | 1,574,389 | 860,205 |
| Net income (loss) margin | 0.8% | (32.7)% | (2.2)% | (12.8)% |
| Adjusted EBITDA Margin | 27.8% | 27.0% | 28.0% | 29.0% |
(a) Share-based compensation for the three months ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, includes approximately $1.5 million and $3.5 million, respectively, of incrementally recognized expense associated with the May 2023 modification of the vesting terms of outstanding unvested and unearned performance-based options, restricted stock units, and restricted stock awards. Share-based compensation for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, includes approximately $7.1 million and $13.1 million, respectively, of incrementally recognized expense associated with the May 2023 modification of the vesting terms of outstanding unvested and unearned performance-based options, restricted stock units, and restricted stock awards. Share-based compensation for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024 also includes approximately $2.1 million and $4.2 million, respectively, of incrementally recognized expense associated with the retirements of the Company's former Chief Financial Officer and former President, Americas.
(b) Represents charges incurred related to acquisitions and similar transactions, primarily consisting of change in control-related costs, professional service fees, and other third-party costs. Transaction and acquisition related charges for the three months ended December 31, 2025 include approximately $0.5 million of expense associated with the Sterling Acquisition. Transaction and acquisition related charges for the three months ended December 31, 2024 include approximately $92.3 million of expense associated with the acquisition of Sterling, primarily consisting of $41.2 million of compensation expense attributable to converted Sterling equity awards, of which $38.9 million related to accelerated vesting for employees terminated after the acquisition, $16.5 million in debt refinancing costs, $12.4 million of legal, regulatory, integration, and diligence professional service fees, $10.7 million in post-combination restructuring expenses, $9.5 million in success-based banking fees, and $2.0 million of other one-time transaction charges. Transaction and acquisition related charges for the year ended December 31, 2025 include approximately $8.0 million of expense associated with the Sterling Acquisition, primarily consisting of $7.7 million of compensation expense attributable to converted Sterling equity awards. Transaction and acquisition related charges for the year ended December 31, 2024 include approximately $125.7 million of expense associated with the Sterling Acquisition, primarily consisting of $41.2 million of compensation expense attributable to converted Sterling equity awards, of which $38.9 million related to accelerated vesting for employees terminated after the acquisition, $45.8 million of legal, regulatory, integration, and diligence professional service fees, $16.5 million in debt refinancing costs, $10.7 million in post-combination restructuring expenses, $9.5 million in success-based banking fees, and $2.0 million of other one-time transaction charges. The years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 also include insurance costs related to the Company's initial public offering.
(c) Represents charges from organizational restructuring and integration activities, non-cash, and other charges primarily related to nonrecurring legal exposures, foreign currency (gains) losses, impairment of capitalized software, (gains) losses on the sale of assets, and other non-recurring items. Integration, restructuring, and other charges for the three months ended December 31, 2025 include approximately $2.7 million of expense associated with the integration of Sterling. Integration, restructuring, and other charges for the year ended December 31, 2025 include approximately $18.1 million of expense associated with the integration of Sterling, $1.5 million of expenses related to debt refinancing activities, as well as capitalized software impairment charges of approximately $1.2 million.
Reconciliation of Consolidated Non-GAAP Financial Measures (continued)
| Interim Periods | Annual Periods |
|---|
| (in thousands) | Three Months Ended December 31, 2025 | Three Months Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 |
| Net income (loss) | $3,469 | $(100,366) | $(34,824) | $(110,273) |
| Provision (benefit) for income taxes | 3,750 | (4,425) | (2,427) | (4,342) |
| Income (loss) before provision for income taxes | 7,219 | (104,791) | (37,251) | (114,615) |
| Debt-related costs | 2,091 | (6,232) | 16,718 | 549 |
| Acquisition-related depreciation and amortization | 52,238 | 45,079 | 204,678 | 112,966 |
| Share-based compensation | 5,026 | 12,459 | 24,456 | 31,762 |
| Transaction and acquisition-related charges | 770 | 93,151 | 8,741 | 128,234 |
| Integration, restructuring, and other charges | 3,433 | 2,050 | 27,147 | 5,771 |
| Adjusted Net Income before income tax effect | 70,777 | 41,716 | 244,489 | 164,667 |
| Less: Adjusted income taxes | 18,860 | 11,531 | 62,809 | 40,953 |
| Adjusted Net Income | $51,917 | $30,185 | $181,680 | $123,714 |
| Interim Periods | Annual Periods |
|---|
| Three Months Ended December 31, 2025 | Three Months Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 |
|---|
| Diluted net income (loss) per share (GAAP) | $0.02 | $(0.62) | $(0.20) | $(0.74) |
| Adjusted Net Income adjustments per share | | | | |
| Provision (benefit) for income taxes | 0.02 | (0.03) | (0.01) | (0.03) |
| Debt-related costs | 0.01 | (0.04) | 0.10 | 0.00 |
| Acquisition-related depreciation and amortization | 0.30 | 0.27 | 1.17 | 0.75 |
| Share-based compensation | 0.03 | 0.08 | 0.14 | 0.21 |
| Transaction and acquisition-related charges | 0.00 | 0.56 | 0.05 | 0.85 |
| Integration, restructuring, and other charges | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.16 | 0.05 |
| Adjusted income taxes | (0.11) | (0.07) | (0.36) | (0.27) |
| Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share (Non-GAAP) | $0.30 | $0.18 | $1.04 | $0.82 |
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding used in computation of Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share: |
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted (GAAP) | 175,071,294 | 162,774,306 | 173,199,004 | 148,582,226 |
| Options and restricted stock not included in weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted (GAAP) (using treasury stock method) | - | 3,178,548 | 1,956,781 | 2,606,405 |
| Adjusted weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted (Non-GAAP) | 175,071,294 | 165,952,854 | 175,155,785 | 151,188,631 |
(a) Represents the loss on extinguishment and non-cash interest expense related to the amortization of debt issuance costs for the 2021 February and 2024 October refinancing of the Company’s First Lien Credit Facility. This adjustment also includes the impact of the change in fair value of interest rate swaps, which represents the difference between the fair value gains or losses and actual cash payments and receipts on the interest rate swaps.
(b) Represents the depreciation and amortization expense related to incremental intangible and developed technology assets recorded due to the application of ASC 805, Business Combinations. As a result, the purchase accounting related depreciation and amortization expense will recur in future periods until the related assets are fully depreciated or amortized, and the related purchase accounting assets may contribute to revenue generation.
(c) Share-based compensation for the three months ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, includes approximately $1.5 million and $3.5 million, respectively, of incrementally recognized expense associated with the May 2023 modification of the vesting terms of outstanding unvested and unearned performance-based options, restricted stock units, and restricted stock awards. Share-based compensation for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, includes approximately $7.1 million and $13.1 million, respectively, of incrementally recognized expense associated with the May 2023 modification of the vesting terms of outstanding unvested and unearned performance-based options, restricted stock units, and restricted stock awards. Share-based compensation for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024 also includes approximately $2.1 million and $4.2 million, respectively, of incrementally recognized expense associated with the retirements of the Company's former Chief Financial Officer and former President, Americas.
(d) Represents charges incurred related to acquisitions and similar transactions, primarily consisting of change in control-related costs, professional service fees, and other third-party costs. Transaction and acquisition related charges for the three months ended December 31, 2025 include approximately $0.5 million of expense associated with the Sterling Acquisition. Transaction and acquisition related charges for the three months ended December 31, 2024 include approximately $92.3 million of expense associated with the acquisition of Sterling, primarily consisting of $41.2 million of compensation expense attributable to converted Sterling equity awards, of which $38.9 million related to accelerated vesting for employees terminated after the acquisition, $16.5 million in debt refinancing costs, $12.4 million of legal, regulatory, integration, and diligence professional service fees, $10.7 million in post-combination restructuring expenses, $9.5 million in success-based banking fees, and $2.0 million of other one-time transaction charges. Transaction and acquisition related charges for the year ended December 31, 2025 include approximately $8.0 million of expense associated with the Sterling Acquisition, primarily consisting of $7.7 million of compensation expense attributable to converted Sterling equity awards. Transaction and acquisition related charges for the year ended December 31, 2024 include approximately $125.7 million of expense associated with the Sterling Acquisition, primarily consisting of $41.2 million of compensation expense attributable to converted Sterling equity awards, of which $38.9 million related to accelerated vesting for employees terminated after the acquisition, $45.8 million of legal, regulatory, integration, and diligence professional service fees, $16.5 million in debt refinancing costs, $10.7 million in post-combination restructuring expenses, $9.5 million in success-based banking fees, and $2.0 million of other one-time transaction charges. The years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 also include insurance costs related to the Company's initial public offering.
(e) Represents charges from organizational restructuring and integration activities, non-cash, and other charges primarily related to nonrecurring legal exposures, foreign currency (gains) losses, impairment of capitalized software, (gains) losses on the sale of assets, and other non-recurring items. Integration, restructuring, and other charges for the three months ended December 31, 2025 include approximately $2.7 million of expense associated with the integration of Sterling. Integration, restructuring, and other charges for the year ended December 31, 2025 include approximately $18.1 million of expense associated with the integration of Sterling, $1.5 million of expenses related to debt refinancing activities, as well as capitalized software impairment charges of approximately $1.2 million.
(f) Effective tax rates of approximately 26.6% and 27.6% have been used to compute Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share for the three months ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Effective tax rates of approximately 25.7% and 24.9%, have been used to compute Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. As of December 31, 2025, we had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $15.1 million for federal income tax purposes available to reduce future income subject to income taxes. The federal net operating loss carryforward is subject to annual limitation under IRC Section 382, which affects the timing of when these attributes can be used. As a result, the amount of actual cash taxes we may pay for federal income taxes differs significantly from the effective income tax rate computed in accordance with GAAP and from the normalized rate shown above.
| Interim Periods | Annual Periods |
|---|
| (in thousands) | Three Months Ended December 31, 2025 | Three Months Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 |
| Cash flows from operating activities, as reported (GAAP) | $65,941 | $(85,666) | $195,126 | $28,196 |
| Cost paid related to the Sterling acquisition and integration | 4,419 | 125,107 | 36,749 | 136,311 |
| Adjusted Operating Cash Flow | $70,360 | $39,441 | $231,875 | $164,507 |
Contacts
Stephanie Gorman
Vice President, Investor Relations
Investors@fadv.com
(678) 868-4151