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Stagwell Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 10 March 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year net revenue rose 6%: Full-year net revenue was $2,428 million, up 6%, and $2,282 million excluding Advocacy, up 9%. Full-year revenue was $2,909 million, up 2%. Source
  • Q4 adjusted EBITDA margin reached 20%: Full-year adjusted EBITDA was $422 million, up 1%, a 17% margin on net revenue. Q4 adjusted EBITDA was $129 million, up 3%, a 20% margin on net revenue. Source
  • Advocacy-excluded EBITDA grew 16%: Adjusted EBITDA excluding Advocacy rose 16% to $377 million for the year, while total adjusted EBITDA rose 1% to $422 million. Source
  • Marketing Cloud revenue more than tripled: The Marketing Cloud net revenue was $106.5 million for the year, up 230.0%, of which 34.3% was organic. Q4 net revenue was $27.7 million, up 111.2%. Source
  • Q4 net new business reached $106 million: Net new business was $106 million in Q4, and last-twelve-month net new business was $476 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow more than doubled: Net cash provided by operating activities was $291 million for the year versus $143 million, an increase of $148 million. Source
  • Free cash flow more than doubled: Free cash flow was $187 million for the year, more than double the prior year, under the release's definition of operating cash flow less normalized capital expenditures and capitalized software. Source
  • Strategic pivot toward AI services: Management said the company increased its strategic pivot toward AI applications and services during 2025, building a foundation for 2026. Source

“With accelerating growth ex-advocacy, record net new business, expanding margins and doubled free cash flow, our FY25 results prove our strategy is working,”

Mark Penn, Stagwell’s Chairman and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total net revenue growth Source20268% to 12%New
Adjusted EBITDA Source2026$475 million to $525 millionNew
Free cash flow conversion Source202650% to 60%New
Adjusted EPS Source2026$0.98 - $1.12New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: 2026 guidance was issued for total net revenue growth, adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow conversion and adjusted EPS. The prior release had given 2025 guidance. Source
  • New: The Board extended the stock repurchase program and increased it by $350.0 million to $725.0 million aggregate, leaving about $400.0 million available. Source

Full-year results and growth

  • Full-year net revenue rose 6%: Full-year net revenue was $2,428 million, up 6%, and $2,282 million excluding Advocacy, up 9%. Full-year revenue was $2,909 million, up 2%. Source
  • Q4 revenue excluding Advocacy up 12%: Q4 revenue was $807 million, up 2%; excluding Advocacy it was $742 million, up 12%. Q4 net revenue was $651 million, up 3%, and $609 million excluding Advocacy, up 8%. Source
  • Net income to common shareholders rose: Net income attributable to Stagwell Inc. common shareholders was $29 million for the year versus $2 million, and diluted EPS was $0.08 versus $0.02. Q4 was $13 million versus $3 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 5%: Full-year adjusted diluted EPS was $0.83 versus $0.79, up 5%. Q4 adjusted EPS was $0.30 versus $0.25. Source

Profit, costs and margins

  • Q4 adjusted EBITDA margin reached 20%: Full-year adjusted EBITDA was $422 million, up 1%, a 17% margin on net revenue. Q4 adjusted EBITDA was $129 million, up 3%, a 20% margin on net revenue. Source
  • Advocacy-excluded EBITDA grew 16%: Adjusted EBITDA excluding Advocacy rose 16% to $377 million for the year, while total adjusted EBITDA rose 1% to $422 million. Source
  • Office and general expenses rose: Office and general expenses were $732.3 million for the year versus $711.8 million. Cost of services was $1,846.0 million versus $1,843.0 million. Source
  • Tax, interest and amortization rose: Income tax expense was $38.3 million for the year versus $13.2 million. Interest expense, net was $96.4 million versus $92.3 million; depreciation and amortization was $171.2 million versus $151.7 million. Source

“We see great opportunity in 2026 to capitalize on an industry distracted by restructurings and mergers, and bolster our position as a winner in the age of AI.”

Mark Penn, Stagwell’s Chairman and CEO

Segments and regions

  • Digital Transformation and Marketing Services grew: Digital Transformation net revenue rose 13% for the year to $367.2 million, with 9.2% organic growth. Marketing Services rose 6% to $959.7 million, with 4.6% organic growth. Source
  • Marketing Cloud revenue more than tripled: The Marketing Cloud net revenue was $106.5 million for the year, up 230.0%, of which 34.3% was organic. Q4 net revenue was $27.7 million, up 111.2%. Source
  • Communications revenue declined: Communications net revenue was $393.4 million for the year, down 9.7%, with organic decline of 16.5%. Q4 net revenue was $108.3 million, down 17.8%. Source
  • Media and Commerce grew in Q4: Media & Commerce net revenue rose 10.2% in Q4 to $178.2 million, with 7.1% organic growth. For the year it rose 1.4% to $610.0 million, with organic decline of 0.1%. Source
  • Marketing Services Q4 up 2%: Marketing Services net revenue rose 1.9% in Q4 to $244.8 million, with 0.5% organic growth. Digital Transformation rose 9.0% in Q4 to $92.2 million, with 2.8% organic growth. Source

Demand and net new business

  • Q4 net new business reached $106 million: Net new business was $106 million in Q4, and last-twelve-month net new business was $476 million. Source
  • Q3 comparison in prior release: The Q3 release reported $122 million of net new business in the third quarter and $472 million over the last twelve months. The last-twelve-month figure rose by $4 million in Q4.
  • Net new business definition: The company defines net new business as annualized revenue for new wins less annualized revenue for losses in the period. Source

“2025 marked an inflection year for Stagwell, with clear momentum in the underlying business and improving efficiency contributing to strong year-over-year net revenue, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS growth.”

Ryan Greene, Chief Financial Officer

Cash flow, capital and returns

  • Operating cash flow more than doubled: Net cash provided by operating activities was $291 million for the year versus $143 million, an increase of $148 million. Source
  • Free cash flow more than doubled: Free cash flow was $187 million for the year, more than double the prior year, under the release's definition of operating cash flow less normalized capital expenditures and capitalized software. Source
  • Capital spending and software rose: Capitalized software was $67.5 million versus $35.1 million, and capital expenditures were $43.7 million versus $18.9 million for the year. Source
  • Share repurchases rose in 2025: Shares repurchased and cancelled totaled $134.3 million for the year versus $108.2 million. Distributions to noncontrolling interests fell to $9.7 million from $26.7 million. Source
  • Debt and cash balances changed: Long-term debt was $1,326.0 million at December 31, 2025, versus $1,353.6 million; cash and equivalents were $104.5 million versus $131.3 million. Source

Strategy, acquisitions and AI

  • Strategic pivot toward AI services: Management said the company increased its strategic pivot toward AI applications and services during 2025, building a foundation for 2026. Source
  • Acquisitions added to net revenue: Net acquisitions added $120.5 million to full-year net revenue, foreign currency $8.0 million and organic change $2.6 million, for a total change of $131.0 million. Source
  • Bargain purchase gain and disposal: The company recorded a $9.9 million bargain purchase gain and a $2.2 million loss on sale of business in 2025. Proceeds from sale of business were $10.9 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 10 March 2026

  • Capital allocation to be aggressive: The CFO said the company expects another strong year in 2026 and will be aggressive in capital allocation to drive shareholder value. Source

In management's words

“Proactive cash management meant we more than doubled our free cash flow in 2025.”

Ryan Greene, Chief Financial Officer

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net new business, Q4 Source$106 million
Net new business, last twelve months Source$476 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.