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Zillow Group, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 10 February 2026: press release, letter to shareholders. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 18% in fourth quarter: Revenue was $654 million, up 18% year over year, near the high end of the company's guided range. Full-year revenue reached $2.6 billion, up 16%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin reached 23%: Q4 Adjusted EBITDA was $149 million, down from $165 million in Q3. Margin was 23%, up 260 basis points year over year, on revenue growth and cost management. Source
  • Purchase loan volume up 67%: Mortgages revenue rose 39% to $57 million in Q4, driven by a 67% rise in purchase loan origination volume to $1.5 billion. Source
  • Rentals revenue up 45% in Q4: Rentals revenue rose 45% to $168 million in Q4 and 39% to $630 million for 2025, with multifamily revenue growing 63% in Q4. Source
  • Legal costs weigh on Q1 margin: Management estimates higher year-over-year legal expenses will reduce Q1 2026 Adjusted EBITDA margin by about 200 basis points. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow up 36%: Adjusted free cash flow was $420 million for 2025, up 36%, which management attributed mainly to improved financial results. Q4 was $125 million. Source
  • Q1 For Sale growth in line with Q4: Management expects Q1 For Sale growth in line with or slightly better than Q4's 11%, with Residential growth in the high single digits and Mortgages around 40%. Source
  • Full-year revenue growth mid-teens: For full-year 2026 the company expects mid-teens total revenue growth, with a fixed cost base of about $1 billion growing with inflation. Source

“We delivered strong results in the fourth quarter and throughout 2025, achieving all our reported full-year financial targets, including positive net income, while continuing to gain share in both For Sale and Rentals,”

Zillow Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Wacksman

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
For Sale revenue growth SourceQ1 2026in line with, or slightly better than 11%
Residential revenue growth SourceQ1 2026high single-digit range
Mortgages revenue growth SourceQ1 2026approximately 40%
Rentals revenue growth SourceQ1 2026approximately 40%
Adjusted EBITDA expenses SourceQ1 2026$535 million to $540 million
Legal expense effect on Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceQ1 2026approximately 200 basis points of headwind
Rentals revenue growth Sourcefull year 2026approximately 30%
Fixed cost base Sourcefull year 2026approximately $1 billion, growing with inflation
Share-based compensation Sourcefull year 2026decrease by more than 10%

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: The shareholder letter gives Q1 2026 segment growth rates and an Adjusted EBITDA expense range, which the documents do not compare with earlier figures. Source
  • New guidance: The shareholder letter gives full-year 2026 guidance for total revenue growth, Rentals growth, cost bases and share-based compensation. Source
  • New: Management announced Zillow Pro in Q4, a suite of offerings for agents to manage clients, including those from outside Zillow, in one connected system. Source

Fourth-quarter and full-year results

  • Revenue rose 18% in fourth quarter: Revenue was $654 million, up 18% year over year, near the high end of the company's guided range. Full-year revenue reached $2.6 billion, up 16%. Source
  • Full-year net income turned positive: GAAP net income was $23 million for 2025, against a net loss of $112 million in 2024. Diluted net income per share was $0.09 for 2025, against a loss of $0.48. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin reached 23%: Q4 Adjusted EBITDA was $149 million, down from $165 million in Q3. Margin was 23%, up 260 basis points year over year, on revenue growth and cost management. Source
  • Growth compared with the housing industry: Management said revenue outgrew the residential real estate industry, which grew 3% in Q4 per NAR. Industry purchase mortgage origination was estimated roughly flat year over year. Source

For Sale and Mortgages

  • For Sale revenue up 11% in Q4: For Sale revenue was $475 million in Q4, up 11%. Full-year For Sale revenue was $1.9 billion, up 9%. Source
  • Residential growth from agents and software: Residential revenue rose 8% to $418 million in Q4, benefiting from agent and software offerings and the New Construction marketplace. Full-year Residential revenue rose 7%. Source
  • Purchase loan volume up 67%: Mortgages revenue rose 39% to $57 million in Q4, driven by a 67% rise in purchase loan origination volume to $1.5 billion. Source
  • Enhanced Markets share of connections: In Q4, 44% of connections came through Enhanced Markets, up from 21% a year earlier. Zillow Home Loans has averaged double-digit adoption across these markets. Source
  • Loan officer headcount and productivity: Loan officer productivity rose 11% in 2025 while loan officer headcount grew 40%. Management noted newly added loan officers take time to ramp up. Source

“Our multi-year strategy is designed to perform across market conditions, and the momentum we carried through 2025 has set us up well for 2026.”

Zillow Group, Inc., letter to shareholders

Rentals growth and multifamily

  • Rentals revenue up 45% in Q4: Rentals revenue rose 45% to $168 million in Q4 and 39% to $630 million for 2025, with multifamily revenue growing 63% in Q4. Source
  • Multifamily revenue up 58% for year: Multifamily revenue was the main driver of full-year Rentals growth, rising 58% in 2025. Source
  • Multifamily advertisers reached 72,000: Multifamily properties advertising on Zillow reached 72,000 at year end, up 22,000 properties or 44% from the start of 2025. Source
  • Rental listing share rose to 63%: Management estimated Zillow's share of rental listings at 63% in 2025, up from 54% in 2024. Rentals revenue has grown an average of 32% a year since 2022. Source

Traffic, audience and products

  • Traffic up 8% to 221 million: Average monthly unique users were 221 million in Q4, up 8% year over year, and visits rose 2% to 2.1 billion. The Q3 release gave 250 million unique users. Source
  • Showcase on 3.7% of new listings: Zillow Showcase appeared on 3.7% of new listings in Q4, up from 1.7% a year earlier. Management said it sees significant room to expand from here. Source
  • Zillow Pro announced in Q4: Zillow Pro was announced in Q4 as a suite that lets agents manage all clients in one connected system, and is in beta testing. Source
  • BuyAbility users reached 3.6 million: BuyAbility, a Zillow Home Loans affordability tool, has 3.6 million enrolled users, up from 2.9 million at the end of Q3. Source

“Consumers want an easier, more transparent way to rent, buy, sell, and finance their homes.”

Zillow Group, Inc., letter to shareholders

Costs, legal expenses and margins

  • Operating costs and cost of revenue $665M: Select operating expenses and cost of revenue totaled $665 million in Q4, down 2% sequentially and up 7% year over year. Source
  • Cost of revenue up on lead costs: Cost of revenue rose $44 million year over year, mainly on lead acquisition costs tied to the Redfin rentals syndication agreement and higher ad-serving costs. Management said lead costs were within its expectations. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA expenses up 14%: Adjusted EBITDA expenses were $505 million in Q4, down 1% sequentially and up 14% year over year. Source
  • Legal costs weigh on Q1 margin: Management estimates higher year-over-year legal expenses will reduce Q1 2026 Adjusted EBITDA margin by about 200 basis points. Source

Cash flow and share repurchases

  • Adjusted free cash flow up 36%: Adjusted free cash flow was $420 million for 2025, up 36%, which management attributed mainly to improved financial results. Q4 was $125 million. Source
  • Cash and investments down to $1.3 billion: Cash and investments ended Q4 at $1.3 billion, down from $1.4 billion at the end of Q3. Source
  • Buybacks offset share-based compensation: The company repurchased 3.4 million shares for $232 million in Q4. Management said 2025 repurchases of $670 million more than offset share-based compensation, cutting share count by 2 million, with $711 million still authorized. Source

Guidance for 2026

  • Q1 For Sale growth in line with Q4: Management expects Q1 For Sale growth in line with or slightly better than Q4's 11%, with Residential growth in the high single digits and Mortgages around 40%. Source
  • Q1 Rentals growth near 40%: Rentals revenue is expected to grow about 40% in Q1, driven by multifamily. Full-year 2026 Rentals growth is expected at about 30%. Source
  • Q1 expense range set: Q1 2026 Adjusted EBITDA expenses are expected between $535 million and $540 million, above Q4 levels on seasonal and investment costs. Source
  • Full-year revenue growth mid-teens: For full-year 2026 the company expects mid-teens total revenue growth, with a fixed cost base of about $1 billion growing with inflation. Source

Strategy and AI-enabled platform

  • Integrated transaction strategy: Management said its products facilitate the entire transaction and serve buyers, sellers, agents, loan officers, renters and property managers. Source
  • AI-powered residential real estate push: Management said it sees significant room to lead residential real estate into an AI-powered future, citing the category's regulation and local nature. Source
  • Agent software reach across transactions: Agents using at least one Zillow product are estimated to touch about 80% of residential transactions. ShowingTime enables 90% of tours of homes for sale. Source
  • Rentals path to billion-dollar revenue: Management said it is coupling Rentals revenue growth with investment and sees a clear path to a billion-dollar-plus annual revenue level. Source

Coming up, as management said on 10 February 2026

  • Zillow Pro nationwide rollout: Zillow Pro is in beta testing and is planned to expand nationwide over the second half of 2026. Source
  • Q1 cost step-up drivers: Q1 Adjusted EBITDA expenses are expected to rise from Q4 on seasonal payroll taxes, Redfin-related lead costs, and variable costs for rentals salespeople and loan officers. Source
  • Variable costs timing through 2026: Variable costs are expected to grow ahead of revenue in the first half of 2026, then trend toward revenue growth in the second half. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Average monthly unique users, Q4 2025 Source221 million
Visits, Q4 2025 Source2.1 billion
Average monthly active rental listings, Q4 2025 Source2.5 million
Multifamily properties advertising, end of 2025 Source72,000
Purchase loan origination volume, Q4 2025 Source$1.5 billion
Purchase loan origination volume, full-year 2025 Source$4.7 billion
BuyAbility users enrolled, to date Source3.6 million
Zillow Showcase share of new listings, Q4 2025 Source3.7%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said its Q1 2026 expectations assume challenging housing market conditions continue through the quarter. Source
  • Regulatory: Management said it is confident in its positions on legal matters that have recently been in the headlines, and does not expect a material impact. Source
  • Operational: Management cited increased variable costs from hiring rentals salespeople and loan officers as it invests for growth. Source
  • Financial: Operating cash flow fell 14% in 2025, as growth in mortgage loans held for sale tied to purchase origination volume reduced operating cash. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the company achieved all its reported full-year 2025 financial targets, including positive net income. 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.