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Health Catalyst, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

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

Key takeaways

  • Full-year revenue and Adjusted EBITDA rose: Full-year 2025 total revenue was $311.1 million, up 1%, and Adjusted EBITDA was $41.4 million, up from $26.1 million in 2024. Source
  • Fourth-quarter revenue declined 6%: Fourth-quarter revenue was $74.7 million against $79.6 million a year earlier. Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $13.8 million against $7.9 million. Source
  • Platform Clients rose to 162: Platform Clients were 162 at December 31, 2025, up from 130 a year earlier. The metric's definition was updated at the start of 2025. Source
  • Gross margin rose to 42.0%: Gross margin was 42.0% in the fourth quarter, against 35.9%. Adjusted gross margin was 53.5%, against 46.6%. Full-year adjusted gross margin was 51.1%, against 48.8%. Source
  • Goodwill and intangibles impaired: Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets was $81.5 million in the fourth quarter and $110.2 million for the year, after fair value tests on both reporting units. Source
  • Bookings expected to exceed 2025: Management said it expects to add a greater level of overall bookings in 2026 than in 2025, building on 2025 bookings achievement.
  • Strategic and operational review underway: Management said an internal strategic and operational review is ongoing alongside the CEO transition, and no full-year 2026 guidance was provided. Source

“We closed 2025 with solid performance across our business, including total revenue of $311.1 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $41.4 million”

Ben Albert, CEO of Health Catalyst

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total revenue Sourcefirst quarter of 2026between $68 and $70 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefirst quarter of 2026between $7 and $8 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: First-quarter 2026 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA ranges were given. No full-year 2026 figures were given in this release. Source
  • New: An internal strategic and operational review is ongoing in connection with a CEO transition. Source
  • Ended: Reporting of Dollar-based Retention Rate is expected to be sunset for 2026 and later years, with new 2026 growth metrics to follow. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Full-year revenue and Adjusted EBITDA rose: Full-year 2025 total revenue was $311.1 million, up 1%, and Adjusted EBITDA was $41.4 million, up from $26.1 million in 2024. Source
  • Fourth-quarter revenue declined 6%: Fourth-quarter revenue was $74.7 million against $79.6 million a year earlier. Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $13.8 million against $7.9 million. Source
  • Net loss widened on impairment charge: Fourth-quarter net loss was $91.0 million, or $1.28 per share. Full-year net loss was $178.0 million, against $69.5 million in 2024. Source

Segments and revenue mix

  • Technology revenue was roughly flat in quarter: Technology revenue was $51.9 million in the fourth quarter, against $51.6 million a year earlier. Full-year technology revenue was $208.3 million, up from $194.9 million. Source
  • Professional services revenue fell: Professional services revenue was $22.8 million in the fourth quarter, down from $28.0 million. Full-year professional services revenue was $102.9 million, down from $111.7 million. Source

“As I continue to assess the business, I see both meaningful opportunities and clear areas where we must improve”

Ben Albert, CEO of Health Catalyst

Products and customers

  • Platform Clients rose to 162: Platform Clients were 162 at December 31, 2025, up from 130 a year earlier. The metric's definition was updated at the start of 2025. Source
  • Dollar-based retention fell to 93%: Dollar-based retention rate, Tech plus TEMS, was 93% for the year, against 102% in 2024. Source
  • Ignite migration continues as planned: Management said it is advancing Ignite migration efforts in line with prior communications, with a more client-centric timeline and approach.

Costs and operating expenses

  • Adjusted operating expenses declined: Adjusted operating expenses were $26.2 million in the fourth quarter, against $29.2 million. For the year they were $117.7 million, or 38% of revenue, against $123.4 million and 40%. Source
  • Restructuring and lease charges excluded: Full-year restructuring costs in operating expenses were $7.1 million, and non-recurring lease-related charges were $6.9 million. Both are excluded from Adjusted Operating Expenses. Source
  • India and AI investment raises early costs: Management said it expects continued investment in India resourcing and AI use in 2026, raising costs early in the year before optimization lowers them.

“My priority is to build on these strengths, address our challenges with clarity and discipline, and move the company forward with a renewed sense of focus and execution”

Ben Albert, CEO of Health Catalyst

Margins and impairment

  • Gross margin rose to 42.0%: Gross margin was 42.0% in the fourth quarter, against 35.9%. Adjusted gross margin was 53.5%, against 46.6%. Full-year adjusted gross margin was 51.1%, against 48.8%. Source
  • Technology and services adjusted margins diverged: Technology adjusted gross margin was 68.2% in the fourth quarter, against 64.6%. Professional services adjusted gross margin was 20.2%, against 13.5%. Source
  • Goodwill and intangibles impaired: Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets was $81.5 million in the fourth quarter and $110.2 million for the year, after fair value tests on both reporting units. Source

Demand and bookings

  • Bookings expected to exceed 2025: Management said it expects to add a greater level of overall bookings in 2026 than in 2025, building on 2025 bookings achievement.
  • Some clients keep DOS platform longer: Management said some organizations prefer to stay on the DOS platform for the near to medium term, which led it to adjust the migration timeline.

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Cash and short-term investments declined: Cash and cash equivalents were $50.8 million and short-term investments $44.9 million at year-end, down from $249.6 million and $142.4 million, after $232.3 million of debt repayment. Source
  • Operating cash flow nearly flat: Net cash provided by operating activities was $0.7 million for 2025, compared with $14.6 million in 2024. Source
  • Share repurchase and share count rose: The company repurchased $5.0 million of common stock in 2025, with none in 2024. Shares outstanding rose to 72.0 million from 64.0 million. Source
  • Software capitalization and acquisitions: Capitalized internal-use software was $19.8 million and acquisitions, net of cash acquired, were $41.1 million in 2025. Source

Strategy, leadership and review

  • Strategic and operational review underway: Management said an internal strategic and operational review is ongoing alongside the CEO transition, and no full-year 2026 guidance was provided. Source
  • Sharper focus on core offerings: Management said it plans to strengthen core offerings and assess rebalancing investment and exiting initiatives to improve client return on investment.
  • Portfolio positioned for consolidation: Management said its organically developed and acquired solutions position it for continued consolidation, with focus on efficiency, cost management, and clinical quality.

Coming up, as management said on 12 March 2026

  • Ignite migration progress by mid-2026: Management said it anticipates continued Ignite migration progress by the end of the first half of 2026.
  • Full-year 2026 guidance not yet given: Management said it is not providing full-year 2026 guidance at this time. No date for providing it was stated. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Platform Clients Source162
Dollar-based Retention Rate (Tech + TEMS) Source93%
Net new Platform Clients32
Organizations relying on offerings Sourcemore than 1,200

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Full-year 2026 guidance is withheld while the strategic and operational review and CEO transition continue. Source
  • Financial: Impairment indicators led to tests showing both reporting units below carrying value at June 30 and December 31, 2025. Source
  • Demand: Some clients prefer to stay on the DOS platform for longer, and management adjusted the migration timeline and approach to reflect this.
  • Operational: Investment in India resourcing and AI is expected to raise costs early in 2026 before optimization lowers the cost structure.

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Revenue was expected to slightly exceed about $310 million. The company reported $311.1 million for 2025.
  • Met: Adjusted EBITDA was expected to be in line with about $41 million. The company reported $41.4 million for 2025.
  • On track: Management said the Ignite migration is advancing in line with prior communications.

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.