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Nerdwallet, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 25 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 13 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 23% in the quarter: Revenue was $225.4 million, up from $183.8 million a year earlier and up 5% from $215.1 million in the third quarter. Full-year revenue was $836.6 million, up 22%. Source
  • Non-GAAP profit measures grew: Non-GAAP operating income was $24.7 million, up 47%, and adjusted EBITDA was $36.7 million, up 19%. Full-year non-GAAP operating income was $96.0 million, up 102%, and adjusted EBITDA was $145.0 million, up 35%. Source
  • Loans and emerging verticals grew fastest: Loans revenue was $42.3 million, up 141%, on personal loans and mortgage loans. Emerging verticals revenue was $52.9 million, up 57%, primarily on banking products. Source
  • Credit cards and SMB revenue declined: Credit cards revenue was $26.5 million, down 24%. SMB products revenue was $22.5 million, down 12%. Management attributed both to continued headwinds in organic search traffic. Source
  • Sales and marketing rose 26%: Sales and marketing expense was $161.7 million, up 26% from $128.5 million a year earlier, and up from $135.3 million in the third quarter. Source
  • Organic search headwinds continue: Management said performance marketing, direct and non-search referral channels offset organic search headwinds, as consumers moved to AI overviews and LLMs. It expects organic search to stay challenged. Source
  • Buyback authorization raised to $225 million: On February 20, 2026, the board approved a $100.0 million increase, bringing the aggregate authorization to $225 million. Repurchases of Class A stock were $70.2 million in 2025, against $80.1 million in 2024. Source
  • Full-year 2026 guidance provided: Management gave 2026 annual ranges for GAAP operating income, non-GAAP operating income and adjusted EBITDA, alongside first-quarter 2026 ranges for revenue and profit measures. Source

“We delivered Q4 revenue of $225 million, up 23% year-over-year, contributing to full-year revenue of $837 million, up 22% year-over-year,”

Tim Chen, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of NerdWallet

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefirst quarter 2026$224-$232 millionNew
GAAP operating income Sourcefirst quarter 2026$22-$27 millionNew
Non-GAAP operating income Sourcefirst quarter 2026$28-$32 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefirst quarter 2026$40-$44 millionNew
Depreciation and amortization (reconciling item) Sourcefirst quarter 2026$9-$10 millionNew
Capitalized internally developed software costs (reconciling item) Sourcefirst quarter 2026$4-$5 million deductionNew
Acquisition-related expenses (reconciling item) Sourcefirst quarter 2026$0-$1 millionNew
GAAP operating income Sourcefull year 2026$72-$89 millionNew
Non-GAAP operating income Sourcefull year 2026$95-$110 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$143-$158 millionNew
Depreciation and amortization (reconciling item) Sourcefull year 2026$37-$41 millionNew
Capitalized internally developed software costs (reconciling item) Sourcefull year 2026$16-$20 million deductionNew
Acquisition-related expenses (reconciling item) Sourcefull year 2026$0-$2 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Guidance ranges for the first quarter of 2026 were given for revenue, GAAP and non-GAAP operating income, and adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 ranges were given for GAAP operating income, non-GAAP operating income and adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • New: Revenue will be presented by user group, Consumer and SMB, starting with the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • New: The board increased the share repurchase authorization by $100.0 million, bringing the aggregate amount to $225 million. Source

Fourth-quarter results and profit

  • Revenue rose 23% in the quarter: Revenue was $225.4 million, up from $183.8 million a year earlier and up 5% from $215.1 million in the third quarter. Full-year revenue was $836.6 million, up 22%. Source
  • Net income fell on prior-year tax benefit: GAAP net income was $14.0 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, down from $38.6 million. The year-earlier quarter included an income tax benefit of $37.9 million; this quarter’s tax provision was $5.9 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP profit measures grew: Non-GAAP operating income was $24.7 million, up 47%, and adjusted EBITDA was $36.7 million, up 19%. Full-year non-GAAP operating income was $96.0 million, up 102%, and adjusted EBITDA was $145.0 million, up 35%. Source
  • Full-year income from operations rose: GAAP income from operations was $19.4 million for the quarter, up from $8.7 million, and $65.2 million for the year, up from $9.4 million. Full-year diluted EPS was $0.64, against $0.38. Source

Revenue by product line

  • Loans and emerging verticals grew fastest: Loans revenue was $42.3 million, up 141%, on personal loans and mortgage loans. Emerging verticals revenue was $52.9 million, up 57%, primarily on banking products. Source
  • Insurance grew on auto products: Insurance revenue was $81.2 million, up 13%, mainly from auto insurance products as carriers expanded budgets. Insurance was up 14% from the third quarter. Source
  • Credit cards and SMB revenue declined: Credit cards revenue was $26.5 million, down 24%. SMB products revenue was $22.5 million, down 12%. Management attributed both to continued headwinds in organic search traffic. Source
  • Growth rates changed from third quarter: Compared with the third quarter, insurance growth rose to 13% from 3%, loans growth rose to 141% from 66%, and emerging verticals growth slowed to 57% from 83%. Source

“Strength in performance marketing, direct, and non-search referral channels more than offset organic search headwinds as consumers turned to AI overviews and LLMs over traditional search.”

Tim Chen, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of NerdWallet

Costs and margins

  • Sales and marketing rose 26%: Sales and marketing expense was $161.7 million, up 26% from $128.5 million a year earlier, and up from $135.3 million in the third quarter. Source
  • Cost of revenue fell 18%: Cost of revenue was $13.6 million, down 18%. Research and development was $16.3 million, up 1%, and general and administrative expense was $14.4 million, up 3%. Source
  • Operating margins above prior-year levels: GAAP operating income margin was 9%, against 5% a year earlier. Non-GAAP operating income margin was 11%, against 9%. For 2025, non-GAAP margin was 11%, against 7%. Source
  • Stock compensation and net margin: Stock-based compensation was $7.0 million in the quarter, down from $8.6 million, and $28.6 million for 2025. Net income margin was 6%, against 21% a year earlier. Source

Demand and search traffic

  • Organic search headwinds continue: Management said performance marketing, direct and non-search referral channels offset organic search headwinds, as consumers moved to AI overviews and LLMs. It expects organic search to stay challenged. Source
  • Personal loans and banking offset declines: Management said growth in personal loans and banking helped offset declines in credit cards and SMB products. Source
  • Sequential revenue changes by product: Revenue rose 5% from the third quarter. Insurance rose 14%, emerging verticals 13% and loans 7%, while credit cards fell 22% and SMB products 5%. Source

“While we expect organic search to remain challenged, our focus remains on building durable consumer relationships and making NerdWallet a no-brainer destination for shopping financial products.”

Tim Chen, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of NerdWallet

Cash, capital and buybacks

  • Operating cash flow was higher: Net cash provided by operating activities was $131.6 million for 2025, against $71.8 million in 2024. Adjusted free cash flow was $117.8 million, against $48.5 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024. Source
  • Buyback authorization raised to $225 million: On February 20, 2026, the board approved a $100.0 million increase, bringing the aggregate authorization to $225 million. Repurchases of Class A stock were $70.2 million in 2025, against $80.1 million in 2024. Source
  • Cash balance at year end: Cash and cash equivalents were $98.3 million at December 31, 2025, up from $66.3 million a year earlier but down from $120.6 million at September 30, 2025. Source
  • Capitalized software spending: Capitalized software development costs were $16.9 million in 2025, against $20.7 million in 2024. Purchases of property and equipment were $1.3 million in 2025. Source

2026 guidance

  • Full-year 2026 guidance provided: Management gave 2026 annual ranges for GAAP operating income, non-GAAP operating income and adjusted EBITDA, alongside first-quarter 2026 ranges for revenue and profit measures. Source
  • Net income not reconciled in forecast: The company did not provide a quantitative reconciliation of forecasted GAAP net income to forecasted adjusted EBITDA, citing income taxes tied to fluctuations in the market price of its stock. Source
  • Acquisition expenses forecast small: Acquisition-related expenses are forecast at $0-$1 million for the first quarter and $0-$2 million for the full year 2026. Source

Reporting change and acquisitions

  • Revenue to be shown by user group: From the first quarter of 2026, revenue will be presented as Consumer and SMB, reflecting how management and the chief operating decision maker evaluate performance. Prior periods will be recast. Source
  • Consumer and SMB revenue history: Consumer revenue was $736.6 million in 2025, $577.8 million in 2024 and $498.2 million in 2023. SMB revenue was $100.0 million, $109.8 million and $101.2 million for the same years. Source
  • Acquisition spending in 2025: Cash paid for business combinations was $13.1 million in 2025, against $0.3 million in 2024. Goodwill rose to $123.5 million from $112.4 million at year end 2024. Source

Coming up, as management said on 25 February 2026

  • Revenue presented by user group: Revenue will be presented as Consumer and SMB from the first quarter of 2026, and prior periods will be recast to match. Source

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited consumers turning to AI overviews and LLMs rather than traditional search as a cause of organic search headwinds. Source
  • Demand: Credit cards revenue declined 24% in the quarter, which management linked to continued headwinds in organic search traffic. Source

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.