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TKO Group Holdings, 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: 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth quarter revenue and profit rose: Fourth-quarter revenue was $1.038 billion, up $110.2 million, and net income was $0.8 million against a $60.9 million loss. Adjusted EBITDA rose 30% to $281.2 million. Source
  • Full-year revenue down, EBITDA up: Full-year revenue was $4.735 billion, down 3%, while Adjusted EBITDA rose 47% to $1.585 billion. Full-year net income was $546.2 million, compared with a net loss of $245.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year UFC revenue and Adjusted EBITDA: Full-year UFC revenue was $1.502 billion, up 7%, and Adjusted EBITDA was $851.0 million, up 6%, at a 57% margin in both years. Source
  • WWE full-year margin rose to 52%: Full-year WWE revenue was $1.709 billion, up 22%, and Adjusted EBITDA was $896.5 million, up 32%, with a 52% margin against 49%. Source
  • Accelerated WWE amortization lifted D&A: D&A rose $54.0 million in the quarter, principally from accelerated expense on WWE intangible assets tied to a media rights revenue arrangement. Source
  • Full-year free cash flow reached $1.159 billion: Free cash flow was $1.159 billion for the year and $249.4 million in the fourth quarter, with 73% conversion against 43% a year earlier. Source
  • Over $1.3 billion returned in 2025: The company returned more than $1.3 billion to equity holders in 2025 through share repurchases, dividend payments and related distributions. Source
  • Zuffa Boxing launch in January: Management said the Zuffa Boxing launch last month sets up further long-term value creation for the company. Source

“TKO’s 2025 results reflect meaningful momentum across both UFC and WWE,”

Ariel Emanuel, Executive Chair and CEO of TKO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFull year 2026$5.675 billion to $5.775 billionNew
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$2.240 billion to $2.290 billionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: First full-year 2026 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA targets were given; the figures are listed under guidance. Source
  • New: The planned repurchase program is to be funded mainly from incremental debt and cash on hand. Source

Consolidated results and growth drivers

  • Fourth quarter revenue and profit rose: Fourth-quarter revenue was $1.038 billion, up $110.2 million, and net income was $0.8 million against a $60.9 million loss. Adjusted EBITDA rose 30% to $281.2 million. Source
  • Full-year revenue down, EBITDA up: Full-year revenue was $4.735 billion, down 3%, while Adjusted EBITDA rose 47% to $1.585 billion. Full-year net income was $546.2 million, compared with a net loss of $245.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Attributable income and diluted EPS: Net income attributable to TKO Group Holdings was $195.4 million for the year, with diluted EPS of $2.26 on Class A common stock. The fourth quarter showed a diluted loss of $0.08 per share. Source
  • WWE growth driven by media rights fees: WWE fourth-quarter growth came mainly from contractual escalation of media rights fees, notably its Netflix and ESPN distribution agreements. Source

UFC segment results

  • UFC fourth-quarter revenue up 17%: UFC fourth-quarter revenue was $401.4 million, up $57.5 million; partnerships and marketing rose $26.3 million and media rights, production and content rose $24.6 million. Source
  • Full-year UFC revenue and Adjusted EBITDA: Full-year UFC revenue was $1.502 billion, up 7%, and Adjusted EBITDA was $851.0 million, up 6%, at a 57% margin in both years. Source
  • UFC fourth-quarter margin improved: UFC fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA margin was 53%, up from 52% a year earlier. Source

“We intend to initiate the next phase of our capital return program, underpinning our commitment to deliver long-term, sustainable value for shareholders.”

Ariel Emanuel, Executive Chair and CEO of TKO

WWE segment results

  • WWE fourth-quarter revenue and EBITDA rose: WWE fourth-quarter revenue was $359.6 million, up $61.3 million, and Adjusted EBITDA rose 44% to $165.0 million, a 46% margin against 38%. Source
  • Live events fell on timing: Live events and hospitality revenue fell $24.8 million in the quarter on lower site fees from the timing of international premium live events. Source
  • WWE full-year margin rose to 52%: Full-year WWE revenue was $1.709 billion, up 22%, and Adjusted EBITDA was $896.5 million, up 32%, with a 52% margin against 49%. Source

IMG and Corporate and Other

  • IMG revenue fell on Arabian Gulf Cup timing: IMG fourth-quarter revenue was $247.7 million, down 9%, and Adjusted EBITDA was a $3.9 million loss. Studios growth partly offset the decline, and On Location was essentially flat. Source
  • IMG full-year swing to profit: IMG full-year revenue was $1.367 billion, down 31%, and Adjusted EBITDA was $160.0 million, a 12% margin. Source
  • Corporate loss narrowed on cost allocation: Corporate and Other Adjusted EBITDA was a $322.2 million loss for the year, $30.0 million better than 2024, and a $93.1 million loss in the fourth quarter. PBR revenue was essentially flat for the year. Source

“2025 was a milestone year, underscoring the durability of our premium IP through record-setting live events and transformational global partnerships,”

Mark Shapiro, President and COO of TKO

Costs and margins

  • Fourth-quarter costs rose: Fourth-quarter direct operating costs were $419.5 million, SG&A $405.2 million and D&A $156.0 million, against $415.4 million, $355.4 million and $102.0 million a year earlier. Source
  • Accelerated WWE amortization lifted D&A: D&A rose $54.0 million in the quarter, principally from accelerated expense on WWE intangible assets tied to a media rights revenue arrangement. Source
  • Full-year costs fell with Olympics: Full-year direct operating costs fell $720.7 million and SG&A fell $259.5 million; D&A rose $27.1 million. Source

Cash flow, debt and prepayments

  • Operating cash flow rose sharply: Fourth-quarter operating cash flow was $309.9 million, against $56.1 million, helped by better operating performance and working capital timing. Full-year operating cash flow was $1.286 billion. Source
  • Full-year free cash flow reached $1.159 billion: Free cash flow was $1.159 billion for the year and $249.4 million in the fourth quarter, with 73% conversion against 43% a year earlier. Source
  • Cash and gross debt at year-end: Gross debt was $3.783 billion at December 31, 2025, against cash and cash equivalents of $831.1 million. Source
  • World Cup prepayments held in escrow: Operating cash flow included $43.0 million of net prepayments held in escrow for FIFA World Cup 26 in the fourth quarter and $296.6 million for the year. Source

Capital returns and repurchases

  • Over $1.3 billion returned in 2025: The company returned more than $1.3 billion to equity holders in 2025 through share repurchases, dividend payments and related distributions. Source
  • $800 million accelerated repurchase completed: The $800 million accelerated share repurchase was announced complete on November 18, 2025, covering 4,215,390 shares. Source
  • Share buybacks in early 2026: The company repurchased 182,016 shares for about $37.1 million from January 1 to February 24, 2026, after 210,805 shares for $40.7 million in the fourth quarter. Source
  • About $1.096 billion authorization remained: About $1.096 billion remained under the $2.0 billion repurchase program announced in October 2024, as of February 24, 2026. Source
  • Quarterly dividend raised to $0.78: The quarterly dividend paid December 30, 2025 totaled about $150 million, or $0.78 per share, up from $0.76 in the September quarter. Source

Zuffa Boxing and acquired businesses

  • Zuffa Boxing launch in January: Management said the Zuffa Boxing launch last month sets up further long-term value creation for the company. Source
  • Three reportable segments after acquisition: IMG and On Location now report in the IMG segment, and PBR sits in Corporate and Other, following the February 28, 2025 closing. Source
  • IMG cost reduction after acquisition: Management attributes part of the IMG expense decline to cost reduction initiatives tied to the Acquired Businesses. Source

Legal and other charges

  • Litigation costs fell from 2024 level: Certain legal costs were $60.5 million for 2025 and $401.1 million for 2024; the 2024 figure included the $375.0 million UFC antitrust settlement. Q4 costs were $25.1 million, against $5.3 million. Source
  • IMG impairment on unused assets: The company recorded $3.6 million of impairment charges in IMG for 2025, mainly writing off assets no longer in use. Source
  • Debt amendment costs in both years: The company incurred costs to amend its existing debt facilities in both years; debt transaction costs were $8.7 million in 2025. Source

Coming up, as management said on 25 February 2026

  • Share repurchase launch in March: Repurchase transactions under the planned program are expected to start in March 2026. Source
  • 10b5-1 repurchase plan expires: The company's 10b5-1 repurchase plan expires on February 26, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Live events organized each year Sourcemore than 500
Fans attracted Sourcemore than three million

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Litigation costs include UFC antitrust matters, WWE stockholder litigation and personal payments by Vincent K. McMahon to counterparties. Source
  • Operational: UFC direct operating costs rose in the quarter on marketing, production and event costs, partly offset by lower athlete costs. Source
  • Operational: WWE direct operating costs rose on higher talent costs, partly offset by lower production costs. Source
  • External: The start of the planned repurchase depends on market conditions and customary closing conditions. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said repurchases under the 10b5-1 plan began immediately when the ASR completed. Source
  • Not stated: Full-year 2025 targets were raised in the prior quarter's release; this release reports full-year results.

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.