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Universal Technical Institute Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 19 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 19 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year revenue rose 14%: Full-year revenue was $835.6 million, up 14.0%, and the company said it exceeded its increased full-year expectations, driven by average student growth at both divisions. Source
  • Fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA slipped: Fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA was $36.8 million, down 1.4%. Full-year adjusted EBITDA rose 22.9% to $126.5 million, within the updated guidance range of $124 to $128 million. Source
  • Full-year starts rose 10.8%: Total new student starts were 29,793, up 10.8%. UTI starts were 16,339, up 7.9%, and Concorde starts were 13,454, up 14.5%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter operating expenses up 15.9%: Operating expenses were $197.5 million, up 15.9%, while revenue rose 13.3%. Operating expense growth was above revenue growth in the quarter. Source
  • Capex rose to $42.0 million: Fiscal 2025 cash capex was $42.0 million, mainly for program expansions at both divisions, along with curriculum and equipment refresh, facility and IT spending. Source
  • Campus and program targets set: The company now expects to open at least two and up to five campuses a year and launch about 20 new programs a year across UTI and Concorde, pending regulatory approval. Source
  • Growth investments no longer added back: From fiscal 2025, growth investments for program expansion and new campus initiatives are not added back in adjusted EBITDA or adjusted free cash flow, which affects year-over-year comparisons. Source

“Fiscal 2025 was an exceptional year for Universal Technical Institute and a defining start to the second phase of our North Star strategy”

Jerome Grant, CEO of Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
New student starts Sourcefiscal 202631,500 - 33,000New
Revenue Sourcefiscal 2026$905 - 915 millionNew
Net income Sourcefiscal 2026$40 - 45 millionNew
Diluted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$0.71 - 0.80New
Adjusted EBITDA (reported) Sourcefiscal 2026$114 - 119 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA before growth investments Sourcefiscal 2026exceed $150 millionNew
Growth investments in adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $40 millionNew
Adjusted free cash flow Sourcefiscal 2026$20 - 25 millionNew
Cash capital expenditure Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $100 millionNew
New programs Sourceannually, next phaseapproximately 20New
Revenue Sourcefiscal 2029surpass $1.2 billionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal 2029approach $220 millionNew
Net income (reconciliation midpoint) Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $42.5 millionNew
Depreciation and amortization (reconciliation) Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $39.0 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA (reconciliation midpoint) Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $116.5 millionNew
Net cash from operating activities Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $116 millionNew
Adjusted free cash flow (reconciliation midpoint) Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $22.5 millionNew
Stock-based compensation and acquisition costs Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $12.5 million and $3.0 millionNew
Integration-related costs Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $3.5 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fiscal 2026 guidance is given for revenue, net income, diluted EPS, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted free cash flow and new student starts. The prior release gave no fiscal 2026 ranges. Source
  • Ended: The fiscal 2025 guidance ranges concluded, and the company reported that it met or surpassed them. Source
  • New: The company set a target of at least two and up to five new campuses and about 20 new programs annually in the next phase, pending regulatory approval. Source
  • New: Growth investments for program expansion and new campus initiatives are no longer added back in adjusted EBITDA or adjusted free cash flow, starting in fiscal 2025. Source
  • New guidance: Fiscal 2029 targets are given for annual revenue above $1.2 billion and adjusted EBITDA near $220 million. Source

Full-year and fourth-quarter results

  • Full-year revenue rose 14%: Full-year revenue was $835.6 million, up 14.0%, and the company said it exceeded its increased full-year expectations, driven by average student growth at both divisions. Source
  • Full-year net income above guidance: Net income was $63.0 million, up 50.0%, above the high end of the $56 to $60 million guidance range. Basic EPS was $1.16 and diluted EPS was $1.13. Source
  • Fourth-quarter profit held flat: Fourth-quarter net income was $18.8 million, the same as a year earlier. Operating income was $25.0 million, against $26.0 million, while interest expense fell to $0.9 million. Source
  • Fourth-quarter revenue up 13.3%: Fourth-quarter revenue was $222.4 million, up 13.3% from $196.4 million, with average full-time active students up 8.1%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA slipped: Fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA was $36.8 million, down 1.4%. Full-year adjusted EBITDA rose 22.9% to $126.5 million, within the updated guidance range of $124 to $128 million. Source

Segments: UTI and Concorde

  • Both divisions grew fourth-quarter revenue: UTI revenue was $144.6 million, up from $130.5 million, and Concorde revenue was $77.8 million, up from $65.8 million. Corporate reported no revenue. Source
  • Concorde profit rose, UTI profit fell: Fourth-quarter net income was $26.8 million at UTI, down from $28.8 million, and $10.1 million at Concorde, up from $6.8 million. Corporate net loss was $18.2 million, against $16.7 million. Source
  • Full-year segment revenue growth: UTI full-year revenue was $541.8 million, against $486.4 million. Concorde full-year revenue was $293.8 million, against $246.3 million. Source
  • Full-year segment net income: Full-year net income was $89.9 million at UTI, up from $71.6 million, and $36.0 million at Concorde, up from $21.0 million. Corporate net loss was $62.9 million, against $50.7 million. Source

“Fiscal 2025 was another year of outstanding performance and disciplined execution for Universal Technical Institute”

Bruce Schuman, CFO of Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

Enrollment and student starts

  • Full-year starts rose 10.8%: Total new student starts were 29,793, up 10.8%. UTI starts were 16,339, up 7.9%, and Concorde starts were 13,454, up 14.5%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter starts rose 5.4%: Fourth-quarter starts were 12,109, up 5.4%. Concorde starts rose 11.7% to 4,943, while UTI starts rose 1.4% to 7,166. Source
  • Active students up 10.5%: Average full-time active students were 24,618 for the year, up 10.5%, and 25,049 in the fourth quarter. Concorde's full-year average rose 14.5%, and UTI's rose 8.0%. Source

Costs and operating expenses

  • Fourth-quarter operating expenses up 15.9%: Operating expenses were $197.5 million, up 15.9%, while revenue rose 13.3%. Operating expense growth was above revenue growth in the quarter. Source
  • Educational and SG&A costs both rose: Educational services and facilities costs were $112.3 million, up from $99.4 million, and selling, general and administrative costs were $85.2 million, up from $71.0 million. Source
  • Full-year costs tied to new launches: Full-year operating expenses rose 11.6% to $752.1 million, which the company linked to enrollment growth at both divisions and to new campus and program launches. Source

“As we enter fiscal 2026, we are accelerating the next phase of our growth plan.”

Jerome Grant, CEO of Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

Cash, debt and capital spending

  • Operating cash flow rose 13.3%: Net cash provided by operating activities was $97.3 million, up 13.3%. Adjusted free cash flow for the fiscal year was $56.0 million. Source
  • Capex rose to $42.0 million: Fiscal 2025 cash capex was $42.0 million, mainly for program expansions at both divisions, along with curriculum and equipment refresh, facility and IT spending. Source
  • Available liquidity of $254.5 million: Total available liquidity at September 30 was $254.5 million, made up of cash, short-term investments and revolving credit facility availability. Source
  • Total debt of $87.1 million: Total debt at September 30 was $87.1 million, including $20.0 million drawn on the revolving credit facility. Source

Expansion strategy and Phase II

  • Phase II growth plan accelerating: Management said the company, entering fiscal 2026, is accelerating the next phase of its growth plan under the North Star strategy. Source
  • Confidence in Phase II returns: The company said the momentum it has built gives it confidence in delivering outsized returns and expanding its footprint through Phase II and beyond. Source
  • Campus and program targets set: The company now expects to open at least two and up to five campuses a year and launch about 20 new programs a year across UTI and Concorde, pending regulatory approval. Source

Non-GAAP measures and reconciliations

  • Growth investments no longer added back: From fiscal 2025, growth investments for program expansion and new campus initiatives are not added back in adjusted EBITDA or adjusted free cash flow, which affects year-over-year comparisons. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 adjustments are illustrative: The company said the fiscal 2026 reconciliation adjustments are illustrative only and may change during the year, in amount or in the adjustments themselves. Source
  • Acquisition costs depend on deals: Acquisition-related spend in the fiscal 2026 reconciliation is an estimate, fully contingent on whether the company pursues an acquisition this year. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
New student starts, fiscal 2025 Source29,793
Average full-time active students, fiscal 2025 Source24,618
End of period full-time active students Source27,679
New student starts, fourth quarter Source12,109
Average full-time active students, fourth quarter Source25,049

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management said the growth investments will temporarily moderate margins before returns come through as the campuses and programs scale. Source
  • Regulatory: The planned campus openings and program launches are pending regulatory approval. Source
  • Financial: Fiscal 2026 cash capex is assumed at about $100 million, compared with $42.0 million in fiscal 2025, and includes campus launches and program expansions. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The company reported that it met or surpassed each fiscal 2025 guidance range it had set. Source
  • Ahead: Management said the company exceeded every major operational target it set and surpassed its twice-raised revenue guidance range. Source
  • Met: Management said adjusted EBITDA landed within its expected range, even with over $6 million of growth investments. 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.