Marchex Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call
What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 25 March 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 new, 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.
Key takeaways
- Revenue declined year on year: Q4 revenue was $10.8 million against $11.9 million a year earlier. Full-year revenue was $45.4 million against $48.1 million for 2024. Q4 was also below Q3's $11.5 million. Source
- Q4 Adjusted EBITDA loss, costs excluded: Q4 Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $1.2 million, including $1.6 million of reorganization and resolution costs. Excluding those amounts, the company reported a gain of $0.4 million. Source
- Platform migration reached primary completion: Management said the primary completion of the technology platform migration was reached by year end. About 1,000 customers moved to the new platform, with some revenue dilution. Source
- Combined Archenia products launched: Early combined products include AI-verified outcomes, paid per event, and Conversational AI Agents that drive customer bookings and appointment rates. Source
- Agreement in principle announced in November: Marchex announced an agreement in principle to acquire all of Archenia's stock from its sellers. A Special Committee of independent directors approved entering into it. Source
- Cash declined over the year: Cash and cash equivalents were $9.9 million at December 31, 2025, against $12.8 million a year earlier and $10.3 million at September 30, 2025. Source
- Q1 2026 revenue and EBITDA guidance: For Q1 2026, management anticipates revenue in the range of Q4 2025 levels, reflecting the December 2025 switchover, and Adjusted EBITDA of $500,000 or more. Source
“With this significant infrastructure project behind us, in 2026 we believe that we are well positioned to focus on accelerating our revenue growth and margin expansion.”
Troy Hartless, President of Marchex
Guidance
| Area | Period | Figure | Against last quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue Source | Q1 2026 | in the range of fourth quarter 2025 levels | New |
| Adjusted EBITDA Source | Q1 2026 | $500,000 or more | New |
| Revenue Source | Q2 2026 | sequential increase compared with Q1 2026 | New |
| Adjusted EBITDA Source | Q2 2026 | more than $1 million | New |
| Revenue growth, run rate Source | 2026, compared with 2025 year-end levels | 10% range | Kept |
| Adjusted EBITDA margin Source | 2026 | 10% or more | Kept |
| Combined company revenue run rate Source | Current | approximately $15 million quarterly, or approximately $60 million annualized | Kept |
| Combined company revenue growth Source | 2026 | 15-20% range | Kept |
| Archenia transaction closing Source | June 2026 | June 2026 | Kept |
What changed from last quarter
- New guidance: Q1 2026 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA guidance was added; the Q3 release gave no Q1 2026 figures. Source
- New guidance: Q2 2026 guidance was added, with revenue rising sequentially and Adjusted EBITDA potentially above $1 million. Source
- Ended: The primary phase of the technology platform migration ended, with the final platform switchover in December 2025. Source
- New: Marchex and Archenia set up a collaboration framework and began jointly developing and selling initial products. Source
- New: Archenia engaged RSM US LLP to audit its financial statements, and the Special Committee engaged Craig-Hallum as financial advisor. Source
Results and growth drivers
- Revenue declined year on year: Q4 revenue was $10.8 million against $11.9 million a year earlier. Full-year revenue was $45.4 million against $48.1 million for 2024. Q4 was also below Q3's $11.5 million. Source
- Net loss widened in Q4: Q4 net loss was $2.3 million, or $(0.05) per diluted share, against $1.9 million, or $(0.04). Full-year net loss was $5.2 million, or $(0.12) per diluted share. Source
- Q4 Adjusted EBITDA loss, costs excluded: Q4 Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $1.2 million, including $1.6 million of reorganization and resolution costs. Excluding those amounts, the company reported a gain of $0.4 million. Source
- Full-year Adjusted EBITDA loss: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $0.7 million, against a loss of $0.2 million for 2024. Excluding $2.6 million of reorganization and related costs, the company reported a gain of $1.9 million. Source
Costs and margin path
- Operating expenses fell year on year: Total operating expenses were $13.2 million in Q4, against $13.5 million, and $51.1 million for 2025, against $52.6 million. Product development fell to $9.7 million from $12.4 million. Source
- Acquisition settlement charge added: The statement shows a separate acquisition settlement line of $1.35 million, in both Q4 and the full year, outside the other operating expense lines. Source
- Stock compensation and amortization rose: Stock-based compensation was $2.4 million in 2025, against $1.7 million. Depreciation and amortization was $2.5 million, against $1.9 million. Source
- 2026 margin target of 10%: The company anticipates Adjusted EBITDA margins of 10% or more in 2026, from revenue growth combined with lower overall operating expenses. Source
“Marchex views itself as a meaningful AI beneficiary based on how rapidly it is now able to leverage AI to develop and deploy new products into its customer base”
Marchex Inc., press release
Platform migration and products
- Platform migration reached primary completion: Management said the primary completion of the technology platform migration was reached by year end. About 1,000 customers moved to the new platform, with some revenue dilution. Source
- Products launched on new platform: Over the past year the company expanded its product capabilities, including a unified user interface, new vertical AI capabilities and other products and features. Source
- Combined Archenia products launched: Early combined products include AI-verified outcomes, paid per event, and Conversational AI Agents that drive customer bookings and appointment rates. Source
Archenia transaction
- Agreement in principle announced in November: Marchex announced an agreement in principle to acquire all of Archenia's stock from its sellers. A Special Committee of independent directors approved entering into it. Source
- Archenia's 2025 revenue estimate: Archenia estimates 2025 revenue above $17 million and Adjusted EBITDA it describes as positive. These figures are based on unaudited results and its own definition of Adjusted EBITDA. Source
- Bundling to widen addressable market: Management believes selling insights, actions and outcomes together would widen the addressable market. It also expects to bundle Archenia's outcome-based solutions with enterprise customers. Source
- Closing needs stockholder approval: Closing requires approval by a majority of disinterested stockholders. The Definitive Agreement requires audited Archenia financial statements and a fairness opinion. Source
Cash and balance sheet
- Cash declined over the year: Cash and cash equivalents were $9.9 million at December 31, 2025, against $12.8 million a year earlier and $10.3 million at September 30, 2025. Source
- Equity and accumulated deficit: Total stockholders' equity was $30.1 million at year end, against $32.6 million, with an accumulated deficit of $331.4 million. Source
- Payables rose to $3.2 million: Accounts payable rose to $3.2 million from $1.3 million. Accrued benefits and payroll and deferred revenue both declined. Source
AI and strategy
- AI cited as efficiency lever: Management said AI is making the business more agile and efficient to operate, alongside its use in developing and deploying new products. Source
- First-party data and vertical expertise: Management cited its first-party data and vertical expertise as key elements in its growth plans. Source
- Pay-Per-Event models gaining ground: Management said AI is accelerating the industry's move to Pay-Per-Event models, which it considers consistent with the combined company's capabilities. Source
Revenue path into 2026
- Q1 2026 revenue and EBITDA guidance: For Q1 2026, management anticipates revenue in the range of Q4 2025 levels, reflecting the December 2025 switchover, and Adjusted EBITDA of $500,000 or more. Source
- Q2 2026 sequential revenue rise: For Q2 2026, revenue is anticipated to rise sequentially from Q1, with Adjusted EBITDA potentially above $1 million. Source
- Launches to drive sequential growth: Management anticipates sequential quarterly revenue increases in 2026, with run rate revenue growth in the 10% range from 2025 year-end levels. Source
Coming up, as management said on 25 March 2026
- Definitive Agreement still to be signed: The AIP contemplates the parties entering into a definitive purchase agreement. The release does not state that one has been signed. Source
- Archenia closing targeted June 2026: Closing is anticipated in June 2026, subject to a Definitive Agreement and disinterested stockholder approval. Source
- Bundled offers to installed base: Management expects selling combined solutions to its installed customer base to be a revenue growth catalyst in 2026 and beyond. Source
- Platform launches to continue: Management said ongoing launches on the new technology platform continue, following the unified user interface and new vertical AI capabilities. Source
Figures management reported
| Figure | Reported |
|---|---|
| Customers migrated to new platform Source | approximately 1,000 |
Risks management discussed
- Operational: Q1 2026 revenue reflects migration dilution from the December 2025 switchover, which reduced revenue run rates entering 2026. Source
- Demand: Management said the combined Archenia-based efforts are early, with initial adoption signs from existing customers in Home Services and Auto Services. Source
- Regulatory: Some Archenia sellers are related parties, which is why a Special Committee of independent directors approved the agreement in principle. Source
- Financial: Management's view of business acceleration into the second half of 2026 depends on the Archenia transaction closing. Source
- Financial: Q4 Adjusted EBITDA includes $1.6 million of reorganization and resolution of historical acquisition-related matter costs. Source
Earlier plans management reported on
- Met: Management said the goal of primary completion of the platform migration by year end was achieved. Source
- Not stated: The Q3 release anticipated sequentially lower Q4 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA. The Q4 release does not state a status against that expectation.
- Not stated: The Q3 release expected revenue growth on a run rate basis in the 10% range from year-end levels during 2026. The Q4 release repeats this expectation.
Other quarters
- Q2 FY2026 earnings call
- Q1 FY2026 earnings call
- Q3 FY2025 results
- Q2 FY2025 results
- Q3 FY2026 earnings call
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.