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TKO Group Holdings, Inc.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 59%: Adjusted EBITDA rose $134.0 million to $360.2 million, with gains at WWE, IMG and Corporate and Other, partly offset by a UFC decrease. Source
  • WWE revenue rose on two-night SummerSlam: WWE revenue was $402.1 million, up 23%. The first two-night SummerSlam and Wrestlepalooza, the launch event for the ESPN distribution deal, drove ticket and site-fee revenue. Source
  • IMG revenue fell on Olympics comparison: IMG revenue was $336.7 million, down 59%. The prior-year Paris Olympics revenue at On Location drove the decline, partly offset by new Studio properties and Canelo vs. Crawford commissions. Source
  • Free cash flow reached $398.9 million: Free cash flow rose $247.9 million on higher operating cash flow and lower capital expenditures. Free cash flow conversion was 111% of Adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Accelerated repurchase of $800 million: The ASR was paid on September 16, 2025. Repurchases under the program are being completed within the previously announced $2.0 billion authorization. Source
  • Paramount takes exclusive UFC rights: Paramount, a Skydance Corporation, agreed a seven-year media rights deal in which it becomes the exclusive U.S. home of all UFC events. Source

“TKO delivered solid third quarter financial results, and with UFC and WWE’s sustained momentum, we are once again raising our full-year guidance,”

Ariel Emanuel, Executive Chair and CEO of TKO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Full-year revenue SourceFull year 2025$4.690 billion - $4.720 billionRaised from $4.630 billion - $4.690 billion
Full-year Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2025$1.570 billion - $1.580 billionRaised from $1.540 billion - $1.560 billion
Share repurchases under 10b5-1 plan SourceFollowing completion of the ASR Agreementup to $174 millionNew
Quarterly cash dividend SourceEach quarter, once declared by the boardapproximately $150 million aggregateRaised from approximately $75 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2025 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA targets raised for the second time this year. Source
  • New: Accelerated share repurchase of $800 million was started, with an initial share delivery. Source
  • New: Media rights agreement with Paramount for UFC announced, starting in 2026. Source
  • New: Term loan borrowing closed to fund share repurchases. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue fell 27% year over year: Total revenue was $1.120 billion in the quarter. The decline is measured against a prior-year quarter that included large one-time IMG Olympics revenue. Source
  • Net income rose on lower operating costs: Net income was $106.8 million against $3.4 million a year earlier. Direct operating costs fell $572.0 million, while depreciation and amortization rose $14.2 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 59%: Adjusted EBITDA rose $134.0 million to $360.2 million, with gains at WWE, IMG and Corporate and Other, partly offset by a UFC decrease. Source

Segments and revenue lines

  • UFC revenue fell on one fewer event: UFC revenue was $325.2 million, down 8%. The prior-year quarter included UFC 306 at Sphere, the highest-grossing event in UFC history. Source
  • WWE revenue rose on two-night SummerSlam: WWE revenue was $402.1 million, up 23%. The first two-night SummerSlam and Wrestlepalooza, the launch event for the ESPN distribution deal, drove ticket and site-fee revenue. Source
  • IMG revenue fell on Olympics comparison: IMG revenue was $336.7 million, down 59%. The prior-year Paris Olympics revenue at On Location drove the decline, partly offset by new Studio properties and Canelo vs. Crawford commissions. Source
  • Corporate and Other revenue increased: Corporate and Other revenue was $63.3 million, up 17%. Its loss narrowed to $74.6 million, helped by $32.7 million lower allocated Endeavor corporate costs. Source

“We remain focused on operational execution, including preparing for UFC’s launch with Paramount, further integrating and unlocking synergies with IMG, On Location, and PBR, and maximizing shareholder value.”

Ariel Emanuel, Executive Chair and CEO of TKO

Products, partners and media fees

  • WWE partner fees rose on renewals: WWE partnerships and marketing revenue rose $18.2 million, to $39.9 million, on new partners and higher renewal fees. Source
  • WWE media fees rose on extra nights: WWE media rights, production and content revenue rose $21.5 million on higher rights fees for premium live events, reflecting two additional nights of programming. Source
  • UFC partner fees offset by prior sale: UFC partnerships and marketing revenue fell $3.2 million. The prior-year quarter included the first ever title partner sale at UFC 306. Source

Costs and margins

  • Consolidated margin rose to 32%: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 32%, against 15% a year earlier. The nine-month margin was 35%. Source
  • UFC margin eased to 51%: UFC direct costs fell on venue, card and territory mix. SG&A rose on higher personnel and travel costs. Source
  • WWE margin eased to 52%: WWE direct operating costs rose on talent, production and marketing, and SG&A rose on travel. Margin was 54% a year earlier. Source
  • IMG margin turned positive: IMG margin was 18%, against a loss-making (7%) a year earlier. Costs fell on Olympics timing and cost reduction initiatives tied to the Acquired Businesses. Source

Demand and media contracts

  • Management cited UFC and WWE momentum: Management tied the decision to raise full-year guidance to sustained momentum at UFC and WWE during the quarter. Source
  • ESPN deal for WWE events: The five-year ESPN agreement for WWE premium live events in the U.S. began in September, with an average annual value of $325 million. Source
  • Paramount payments weighted to later years: The Paramount UFC agreement has an average annual value of $1.1 billion. Its payment schedule is weighted toward the back end of the seven-year deal. Source

Cash, capital and returns

  • Operating cash flow rose on timing: Operating cash flow reflected higher net income and the timing of working capital. Source
  • Free cash flow reached $398.9 million: Free cash flow rose $247.9 million on higher operating cash flow and lower capital expenditures. Free cash flow conversion was 111% of Adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Accelerated repurchase of $800 million: The ASR was paid on September 16, 2025. Repurchases under the program are being completed within the previously announced $2.0 billion authorization. Source
  • Term loan funds the repurchases: Share repurchases are funded with proceeds from a $1.0 billion first lien term loan that closed on September 15, 2025. Source
  • Cash and gross debt at quarter end: Cash and cash equivalents were $861.4 million at September 30, 2025. Gross debt was $3.759 billion at the same date. Source

Strategy, leadership and deals

  • Paramount takes exclusive UFC rights: Paramount, a Skydance Corporation, agreed a seven-year media rights deal in which it becomes the exclusive U.S. home of all UFC events. Source
  • Acquired Businesses valued at $3.25 billion: IMG, On Location and PBR were acquired from Endeavor on February 28, 2025 in an equity transaction. Results are presented as a common control merger. Source
  • Integration and synergies remain a focus: The CEO listed integrating and unlocking synergies with IMG, On Location and PBR among the company's current priorities. Source
  • Execution priorities named for the quarter: The CEO said priorities were operational execution, the UFC launch with Paramount, integration, and maximizing shareholder value. Source
  • Prior-quarter priorities set by president: In August the President and COO named the next UFC domestic media rights deal, integration of the Acquired Businesses and capital returns as second-half priorities.

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2025

  • ASR completion expected early December: Transactions under the ASR Agreement are expected to finish in early December 2025. Source
  • 10b5-1 buybacks start after ASR: Repurchases under the 10b5-1 plan are to begin immediately once the ASR transactions are completed. Source
  • Paramount UFC launch preparation: Management is preparing for the UFC launch with Paramount, under an agreement that begins in 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Households reached Source1 billion households across 210 countries and territories
Live events organized each year Sourcemore than 500
Fans attracted Sourcemore than three million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: UFC had one fewer numbered event than in the prior-year quarter, reducing live events and ticket revenue. Source
  • Operational: Integration of IMG, On Location and PBR and the capture of synergies remain ongoing work for management. Source
  • Regulatory: Certain legal costs were $19.2 million in the quarter, covering UFC antitrust and WWE stockholder litigation and related personal payments. Source
  • Financial: Paramount payments are weighted toward later years of the deal, so near-term receipts follow that schedule. Source
  • Operational: WWE direct operating costs rose on talent, production and marketing, which lowered its margin. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The seven-year agreement is stated to begin in 2026 with an average annual value of $1.1 billion. Source
  • Not stated: Current repurchases are being completed under the previously announced authorization, which was expected to commence in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Not stated: The full-year guidance raise was based on performance through the first nine months and expected results for the rest of the year. Source
  • Not stated: Management intends to fund quarterly dividends with cash flow from operations and/or cash on hand. 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.