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Zeta Global Holdings Corp.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 24 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 8 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter revenue rose 25 percent: Fourth-quarter revenue was $394.6 million, up from $314.7 million, and exceeded the midpoint of guidance by $14 million. Source
  • Growth excluding three revenue items: Growth excluding political candidate, LiveIntent and Marigold's Enterprise Business revenue was 28% in the fourth quarter and 27% for 2025. The 2024 comparable periods showed 31% and 30%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin widened: Fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA was $95.1 million, a 24.1% margin against 22.4%. Full-year adjusted EBITDA was $278.7 million, a 21.4% margin against 19.2%. Source
  • Free cash flow up 78% for year: Full-year 2025 free cash flow was $164.7 million, up 78%. Fourth-quarter free cash flow was $55.8 million, a 14.2% margin. Full-year operating cash flow was $198.9 million. Source
  • Full-year 2026 guidance raised: Full-year 2026 revenue, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow guidance were each raised at the midpoint. Positive GAAP net income is now guided for the full year. Source
  • Zeta 2028 targets raised: Zeta 2028 targets for revenue, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow were all raised. The adjusted EBITDA expectation is now at least $573 million. Source

“This consistent performance is not the result of a single product cycle or an easy comparison. It reflects the compounding power of our system”

David A. Steinberg, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Zeta

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefirst quarter 2026$369 million to $371 millionRaised from $362 million midpoint
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefirst quarter 2026$61.2 million to $61.8 million; margin 16.5% to 16.8%Raised from $60.0 million midpoint
Revenue Sourcefull year 2026$1,749 million to $1,762 millionRaised from $1,730 million midpoint
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$389.9 million to $392.1 million; margin 22.1% to 22.4%Raised from $385.4 million midpoint
Free cash flow Sourcefull year 2026$230.7 million to $231.7 million; margin 13.1% to 13.3%Raised from $224.0 million midpoint
Revenue target Source2024 to 2028 (Zeta 2028)at least $2.3 billion; 23% CAGR from 2024 to 2028Raised from $2.1 billion
Adjusted EBITDA expectation SourceZeta 2028at least $573 million; implied margin 25%Raised from $525 million
Free cash flow guidance SourceZeta 2028at least $371 million; implied margin 16%; free cash flow to adjusted EBITDA ratio 65%Raised from at least $340 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: First-quarter 2026 revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance raised at the midpoint. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 revenue, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow guidance raised at the midpoint. Source
  • New guidance: Positive GAAP net income guidance given for full-year 2026. Source
  • Guidance raised: Zeta 2028 revenue, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow targets raised. Source
  • New: Marigold's Enterprise Business acquisition completed and reflected in the revised targets. Source

Quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth-quarter revenue rose 25 percent: Fourth-quarter revenue was $394.6 million, up from $314.7 million, and exceeded the midpoint of guidance by $14 million. Source
  • Full-year revenue reached $1.3 billion: Full-year 2025 revenue was $1,304.7 million, up 30% from $1,005.8 million in 2024. Source
  • Net income positive in fourth quarter: Fourth-quarter GAAP net income was $6.5 million, a 1.7% margin. Full-year 2025 net loss narrowed to $31.5 million from $69.8 million. Source
  • Operating income positive for the year: Income from operations was $17.8 million in the fourth quarter, against $6.9 million a year earlier. Full-year 2025 operating income was $5.4 million, against a $67.9 million loss. Source

Revenue mix and acquisitions

  • LiveIntent and Marigold add revenue: LiveIntent revenue was $22.5 million in the fourth quarter and $82.6 million for 2025. Marigold's Enterprise Business contributed $18.6 million of revenue in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Political candidate revenue not material in 2025: Political candidate revenue was not material in the 2025 periods. It was $21.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $44.4 million for 2024. Source
  • Growth excluding three revenue items: Growth excluding political candidate, LiveIntent and Marigold's Enterprise Business revenue was 28% in the fourth quarter and 27% for 2025. The 2024 comparable periods showed 31% and 30%. Source

“Our results continue to prove that Zeta can deliver durable, predictable and profitable growth at scale,”

Chris Greiner, Zeta’s CFO

Margins and costs

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin widened: Fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA was $95.1 million, a 24.1% margin against 22.4%. Full-year adjusted EBITDA was $278.7 million, a 21.4% margin against 19.2%. Source
  • Cost of revenues rose with revenue: Cost of revenues excluding depreciation and amortization was $159.9 million in the fourth quarter, against $125.9 million. For 2025 it was $513.6 million, against $399.6 million. Source
  • Acquisition costs and restructuring expenses: Acquisition-related expenses were $13.8 million in the fourth quarter and $20.3 million for 2025. Restructuring expenses were $3.2 million for 2025, and other expenses were $16.5 million in the quarter. Source
  • Stock-based compensation lower for year: Stock-based compensation was $177.8 million for 2025, against $195.0 million in 2024. Fourth-quarter stock-based compensation was $43.7 million, against $43.0 million. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Free cash flow up 78% for year: Full-year 2025 free cash flow was $164.7 million, up 78%. Fourth-quarter free cash flow was $55.8 million, a 14.2% margin. Full-year operating cash flow was $198.9 million. Source
  • Year-end cash balance lower: Cash and cash equivalents were $319.8 million at year-end, down from $366.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Receivables rose to $322 million: Accounts receivable were $322.4 million at year-end, up from $235.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Current acquisition liabilities jumped: Current acquisition-related liabilities were $149.0 million at year-end, against $12.7 million a year earlier and $24.9 million at September 30. Source

“We also see 2026 as another year in which total revenue growth can eclipse 30% while simultaneously turning GAAP Net Income positive, a significant milestone for the company.”

Chris Greiner, Zeta’s CFO

Capital and share repurchases

  • Repurchases totaled $121 million: Share repurchases for 2025 were $121.0 million, against $42.2 million for 2024. As of September 30, 2025, $199 million remained under the program.
  • New repurchase program authorized in July: The board authorized a repurchase and withholding program of up to $200 million on July 23, 2025, running through December 31, 2027.

2026 and 2028 guidance

  • Full-year 2026 guidance raised: Full-year 2026 revenue, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow guidance were each raised at the midpoint. Positive GAAP net income is now guided for the full year. Source
  • First-quarter 2026 guidance raised: First-quarter 2026 revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance were raised at the midpoint. Growth is 39% to 40%, or 22% to 23% excluding political candidate and Marigold's Enterprise Business revenue. Source
  • Zeta 2028 targets raised: Zeta 2028 targets for revenue, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow were all raised. The adjusted EBITDA expectation is now at least $573 million. Source

Product and strategy

  • Athena by Zeta as enterprise interface: Management described Athena by Zeta as an interface that lowers the barriers to enterprise-wide adoption of its data and AI. Source
  • Athena launch cited in November: The November release cited Athena by Zeta as the latest launch, an AI conversational agent, alongside the Zeta Live event and One Zeta.
  • Proprietary data as compounding advantage: Management said proprietary data improves with each customer interaction and intelligence sharpens with each decision. Source
  • Positioning as AI disruptor: Management said it believes the approach positions Zeta as the AI disruptor in enterprise marketing software. Source

Coming up, as management said on 24 February 2026

  • Positive GAAP net income guided for 2026: Full-year 2026 guidance is set to include positive GAAP net income. The release gives no figure for it. Source
  • Zeta 2028 plan runs through 2028: Zeta 2028 is the company's next medium-term plan, with targets for business, product and industry leadership. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Super-Scaled Customers Source184, up 36 customers or 24% Y/Y

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said fourth-quarter revenue exceeded the midpoint of the guidance range by $14 million. 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.