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Frontdoor, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 26 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 13 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year revenue rose 14%: Full-year 2025 revenue was $2.093 billion, up 14%, and organic revenue growth was 3.7%. Source
  • Non-warranty revenue up 66%: Non-warranty and other revenue reached $193 million, up 66%, from the new HVAC and Moen programs and New Home Builder Warranty revenue. Source
  • Gross margin up 150 basis points: Full-year gross profit margin expanded 150 basis points to 55%. Fourth-quarter gross profit margin was 49%. Source
  • Free cash flow up 69%: Free cash flow was $390 million, up 69%, after $26 million of property additions. Source
  • Repurchases of $280 million: Financing outflows of $302 million were mainly $280 million of share repurchases, excluding taxes and fees, and $29 million of scheduled debt payments. Source
  • 2026 revenue range set: Revenue is expected at $2.155 billion to $2.195 billion, a 3% to 5% increase over 2025, with price up about 2% to 3% and volume up about 1% to 2%. Source
  • 2026 Adjusted EBITDA range set: Adjusted EBITDA is expected at $565 million to $580 million, an approximately 26% margin. Gross profit margin is expected at 54% to 55%. Source
  • Long-term margin target raised: The long-term Adjusted EBITDA margin target was increased to the mid 20% range; the documents do not give the prior figure. Source

“2025 was an exceptional year, marked by strong execution against our strategic objectives and record-breaking financial performance”

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bill Cobb

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFull-year 2026$2.155 billion to $2.195 billionNew
Realized price SourceFull-year 2026approximately 2% to 3%New
Volume SourceFull-year 2026approximately 1% to 2%New
Non-warranty and other revenue SourceFull-year 2026$220 million to $240 millionNew
Home warranty member count SourceFull-year 2026turn positive; approximately 5% increase in first-year member countNew
Gross profit margin SourceFull-year 202654% to 55%New
SG&A SourceFull-year 2026$660 million to $680 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull-year 2026$565 million to $580 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceFull-year 2026approximately 26%New
Capital expenditures SourceFull-year 2026approximately $30 million to $35 millionNew
Annual effective tax rate SourceFull-year 2026approximately 25%New
Revenue SourceFirst quarter 2026$440 million to $445 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFirst quarter 2026$95 million to $105 millionNew
Long-term Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceLong termmid 20% rangeRaised

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, gross margin, SG&A and first-quarter 2026 ranges were given in this release. Source
  • Guidance raised: Long-term Adjusted EBITDA margin target was increased to the mid 20% range. Source
  • Ended: The November full-year 2025 ranges of $2.075 billion to $2.085 billion revenue and $545 million to $550 million Adjusted EBITDA were replaced by reported results: revenue $2.093 billion, Adjusted EBITDA $553 million. Source
  • Ended: The November fourth-quarter 2025 ranges were replaced by reported fourth-quarter results of $433 million revenue and $59 million Adjusted EBITDA. Source

Full-year and fourth-quarter results

  • Full-year revenue rose 14%: Full-year 2025 revenue was $2.093 billion, up 14%, and organic revenue growth was 3.7%. Source
  • Net income and EPS both rose: Net income was $255 million, up 9%, and diluted EPS was $3.42, up 14%. Adjusted EBITDA rose 25% to $553 million. Source
  • Fourth-quarter net income was $1 million: Fourth-quarter revenue rose 13% to $433 million. Net income was $1 million and Adjusted EBITDA was $59 million. Source
  • Revenue conversion lifted Adjusted EBITDA: The full-year Adjusted EBITDA bridge attributes $164 million to higher revenue conversion. Source

Revenue by customer channel

  • Non-warranty revenue up 66%: Non-warranty and other revenue reached $193 million, up 66%, from the new HVAC and Moen programs and New Home Builder Warranty revenue. Source
  • Renewal revenue up 10%: Renewal revenue was $1,587 million, up 10%, mainly from the 2-10 acquisition and higher price, partly offset by lower organic volumes. Source
  • Direct-to-consumer revenue up 4%: Direct-to-consumer first-year revenue was $172 million, up 4%, from the 2-10 acquisition and higher organic volume, partly offset by lower price. Source
  • Real estate revenue up 13%: Real estate first-year revenue was $141 million, up 13%, due to the 2-10 acquisition. Fourth-quarter real estate revenue rose 5%. Source

“Looking ahead, we are extremely pleased about re-igniting member growth”

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bill Cobb

Costs and Adjusted EBITDA bridge

  • Claims costs flat excluding revenue effect: Full-year contract claims costs were relatively flat excluding revenue-related claims, as fewer service requests per customer, including $7 million of favorable weather, offset cost inflation. Source
  • Claims cost development favorable: Favorable claims cost development was $7 million for 2025, against $5 million of favorable development in 2024. Source
  • Acquisition drove cost and interest changes: Interest expense rose to $79 million from $40 million, and depreciation and amortization rose to $89 million from $39 million. Source

Gross margin and pricing

  • Gross margin up 150 basis points: Full-year gross profit margin expanded 150 basis points to 55%. Fourth-quarter gross profit margin was 49%. Source
  • Price contributed 3% of growth: Full-year revenue growth included 11% from higher volume and 3% from higher price. Fourth-quarter revenue growth included 4% from higher price. Source

Members and retention

  • Member count flat year over year: Home warranties were 2.11 million at year end, against 2.12 million a year earlier. Renewals were 1.58 million, against 1.60 million. Source
  • Retention rate eased to 79.2%: Customer retention rate was 79.2% at year end, against 79.9% a year earlier. Source
  • First-year direct-to-consumer members rose: First-year direct-to-consumer members were 0.32 million, against 0.31 million, while first-year real estate members held at 0.21 million. Source

Operating and free cash flow

  • Operating cash flow up 54%: Net cash from operating activities was $416 million, up from $270 million, including $386 million from earnings adjusted for non-cash charges and $30 million from working capital. Source
  • Free cash flow up 69%: Free cash flow was $390 million, up 69%, after $26 million of property additions. Source
  • Year-end cash of $566 million: Cash at December 31, 2025 was $566 million, of which $151 million was restricted net assets and $414 million was unrestricted cash. Source

Share repurchases and shareholder returns

  • Repurchases of $280 million: Financing outflows of $302 million were mainly $280 million of share repurchases, excluding taxes and fees, and $29 million of scheduled debt payments. Source
  • Shares outstanding declined: Shares outstanding were 70,958,215 at December 31, 2025, against 75,314,243 a year earlier, and treasury stock rose to 17,522,345 shares. Source

2026 guidance and long-term margin target

  • 2026 revenue range set: Revenue is expected at $2.155 billion to $2.195 billion, a 3% to 5% increase over 2025, with price up about 2% to 3% and volume up about 1% to 2%. Source
  • 2026 Adjusted EBITDA range set: Adjusted EBITDA is expected at $565 million to $580 million, an approximately 26% margin. Gross profit margin is expected at 54% to 55%. Source
  • Long-term margin target raised: The long-term Adjusted EBITDA margin target was increased to the mid 20% range; the documents do not give the prior figure. Source
  • Member count expected to turn positive: Home warranty member count is expected to turn positive in 2026, driven by about 5% growth in first-year members. Source

Coming up, as management said on 26 February 2026

  • Share repurchases to continue: Management said it is using cash flows to repurchase shares and drive long-term value creation; no dollar amount was given. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Home warranties (million) Source2.11 at December 31, 2025, against 2.12
Renewals (million) Source1.58, against 1.60
First-year direct-to-consumer (million) Source0.32, against 0.31
First-year real estate (million) Source0.21, against 0.21
Customer retention rate Source79.2%, against 79.9%
Service requests handled Sourceapproximately 3.8 million
Service contractors Sourceapproximately 17,000

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Fourth-quarter direct-to-consumer revenue fell 6% on lower price from promotions aimed at new home warranty member growth. Source
  • Operational: Fourth-quarter contract claims costs rose on low-single digit cost inflation and a higher number of service requests per customer. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said 2-10 synergies were realized ahead of expectations. Source
  • Not stated: The November release said the company was on track; the February release reports 7% of shares repurchased, with no status stated.
  • Not stated: The November release gave fourth-quarter ranges; the February release reports revenue of $433 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $59 million.

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.