CoStar Group (CSGP) FY 2025 Annual General Meeting June 26, 2025 10:00 AM ET Speaker0 Chris Lown, chief financial officer of CoStar Group Inc, and I will be acting as chair of the meeting today. It is a pleasure to welcome you to the company's twenty twenty five annual meeting of stockholders. It is 10AM, and the meeting is now called to order. We have Rory Serrano from Ernst and Young, the company's independent registered public accounting firm, who will be available to answer questions during the q and a ...

Core Viewpoint - CoStar Group (CSGP) has seen a slight increase of 0.1% in its share price over the past month, underperforming the S&P 500, raising questions about its future performance leading up to the next earnings release [1]. Group 1: Earnings and Estimates - The consensus estimate for CoStar has shifted downward by 55.88% over the past month, indicating a negative trend in earnings expectations [2]. - The stock has received a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting an expectation of in-line returns in the coming months [4]. Group 2: VGM Scores - CoStar has an average Growth Score of C, but it is significantly lagging in Momentum Score with an F, and also received an F for Value, placing it in the lowest quintile for this investment strategy [3]. - The overall aggregate VGM Score for CoStar is F, which is critical for investors not focused on a single strategy [3]. Group 3: Industry Performance - CoStar is part of the Zacks Computers - IT Services industry, where Infosys (INFY) has gained 4.3% over the past month, reporting revenues of $4.73 billion, a year-over-year increase of 3.6% [5]. - Infosys is expected to post earnings of $0.19 per share for the current quarter, reflecting a year-over-year change of 5.6%, with its Zacks Consensus Estimate remaining unchanged [6].

Core Viewpoint - CoStar Group (CSGP) is expected to experience growth acceleration back to high teens, indicating a positive outlook for the company's performance in the near future [1]. Company Analysis - The investment thesis for CoStar Group is based on the belief that its growth trajectory remains strong and is on track to improve significantly [1]. - The investment strategy focuses on identifying undervalued companies with long-term growth potential, emphasizing the importance of buying quality companies at a discount to their intrinsic value [1].

Revenue Performance - CoStar Group's subscription-based services generated approximately 96% of total revenues for both the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 [180]. - Total revenues increased by $76 million, or 12%, to $732 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024 [192]. - North America revenues increased by $74 million, or 12%, to $697 million, while International revenues saw a slight increase of $2 million, or 5% [199]. - Homes.com revenues increased for the three months ended March 31, 2025, driven by an increase in the number of memberships [176]. - Other revenues increased for the three months ended March 31, 2025, primarily due to the Matterport Acquisition [178]. Subscription Services - Annualized net new bookings of subscription-based services decreased from $86 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 to $56 million for the same period in 2025 [180]. - Contract renewal rates for existing subscription-based services remained stable at approximately 89% for both the trailing 12 months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 [181]. Growth Rates - CoStar's revenue growth rate for the three months ended March 31, 2025 decelerated compared to the same period in 2024 due to a lack of benefit from converting legacy STR customers [172]. - Information Services revenue growth rate accelerated for the three months ended March 31, 2025, primarily due to the Visual Lease Acquisition [173]. - Multifamily revenue growth rate moderated for the three months ended March 31, 2025, impacted by the pivot of the Apartments.com sales force to support Homes.com [174]. - LoopNet's revenue growth rate decelerated for the three months ended March 31, 2025, primarily due to lower inflation-based price increases [175]. Profitability and Expenses - Gross profit increased by $64 million, or 12%, to $579 million, with the gross profit margin improving from 78% to 79% [193]. - Selling and marketing expenses (excluding customer base amortization) increased by $3 million, or 1%, to $369 million, while as a percentage of revenues, it decreased from 56% to 50% [193]. - General and administrative expenses rose by $43 million, or 43%, to $141 million, with customer base amortization expense increasing by $6 million, or 56% [193]. - Interest income, net decreased by $18 million, or 31%, to $39 million, primarily due to a decrease in cash and cash equivalents [194]. - Income tax expense increased by $3 million, or 69%, to $8 million, with an effective tax rate of (120.9)% of loss before income taxes [195]. Cash Flow and Investments - Net cash provided by operating activities for Q1 2025 was $53 million, a decrease of $86 million compared to $140 million in Q1 2024, primarily due to a decrease in working capital [211]. - Net cash used in investing activities for Q1 2025 was $911 million, compared to $380 million in Q1 2024, driven by the Matterport Acquisition [212]. - The company repurchased 240,000 shares for $18.5 million in Q1 2025 and anticipates repurchasing at least $150 million in total for 2025 [208]. - As of March 31, 2025, the balance of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash was $3.8 billion, down from $4.7 billion as of December 31, 2024, primarily due to $911 million used in investing activities [210]. Future Plans and Acquisitions - CoStar Group plans to continue investing in Homes.com and integrating Matterport's technology to enhance user experience and operational efficiency [183]. - The company expects to spend an additional $360 million on the Richmond campus expansion, with $266 million anticipated to be paid in 2025 [202]. - The company acquired approximately 17% of Domain's ordinary shares for $452 million AUD ($285 million) and plans to spend $2.4 billion AUD ($1.5 billion) to acquire the remaining shares [204]. - The estimated value of tax incentives related to the campus expansion is between $275 million and $285 million, contingent on meeting job creation and capital expenditure targets [203]. Market and Economic Factors - Approximately 5% of revenues for Q1 2025 were denominated in foreign currencies, with a potential revenue impact of $4 million from a 10% fluctuation in the U.S. dollar exchange rate [222]. - The investment in Domain is subject to market price volatility, with a potential $28 million increase or decrease in value from a 10% change in share price [223]. - The company believes its intangible assets will be recoverable, but economic changes could affect this assessment [226]. Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Goodwill and intangible assets amounted to approximately $4.6 billion as of March 31, 2025 [226].

Core Insights - CoStar Group (CSGP) reported non-GAAP earnings of 14 cents per share in Q1 2025, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 27.27% and showing a 40% increase year over year from 10 cents per share in the same quarter last year [1] - Revenues reached $732.2 million, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.78% and reflecting an 11.5% year-over-year growth, marking the 56th consecutive quarter of double-digit revenue growth [2] - The Matterport acquisition contributed $15.9 million in revenues during Q1 2025, enhancing overall performance [2] Revenue Breakdown - CoStar's revenues from its primary segment accounted for 36.2% of total revenues, amounting to $265.1 million, which beat the consensus estimate by 0.11% and increased 5.9% year over year [3] - Apartments.com generated $282 million in revenues, an 11% year-over-year increase, with 38 million average monthly unique visitors [4] - Multifamily revenues totaled $282.5 million, a 10.9% year-over-year increase, although it missed the consensus estimate by 0.34% [5] - LoopNet's revenues were $72.8 million, up 5.4% year over year but missed the consensus mark by 0.78% [5] - Other marketplace revenues reached $44.8 million, exceeding the consensus mark by 51.61% and increasing 46.4% year over year [6] Operating Performance - Selling and marketing expenses rose 0.8% year over year to $368.9 million, constituting 50.4% of revenues, down from 55.8% in the previous year [7] - Adjusted EBITDA was reported at $66 million, significantly up from $12 million in the year-ago quarter, with an adjusted EBITDA margin expansion of 710 basis points to 9% [9] Financial Position - As of March 31, 2025, CoStar had cash and cash equivalents of $3.68 billion, down from $4.68 billion as of December 31, 2024 [10] - Long-term debt stood at $992.2 million, slightly up from $991.9 million at the end of the previous year [10] Guidance - For Q2 2025, CoStar expects revenues between $770 million and $775 million, indicating a year-over-year growth of 14% at the mid-point [11] - For the full year 2025, revenues are projected to be between $3.115 billion and $3.155 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 15% at the mid-point [11][12]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q1 2025 revenue was $732 million, a 12% increase year over year, marking the 56th consecutive quarter of double-digit revenue growth [4][5] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2025 was $66 million, representing a 429% increase over Q1 2024, with a profit margin of 43% in commercial real estate and information marketplace businesses [5][63] - Company net new bookings were $56 million in Q1 2025, up 6% sequentially from Q4 2024 [5][70] - The company reported a net loss of $15 million primarily due to one-time costs from the Matterport acquisition [69] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - CoStar revenue grew 6% year over year, with net new bookings at their highest level since Q3 2023 [6][64] - Apartments.com revenue increased by 11% year over year, with a significant rise in quality interactions and new community additions [18][65] - LoopNet revenue grew 5% in Q1 2025, with expectations for revenue growth to accelerate throughout the year [66] - STR's integration into CoStar contributed to its best quarter ever for net new bookings, up 17% year over year [6] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The commercial real estate environment remains challenging, with historic high vacancy rates around 16% and real asking rents at a 30-year low [8][9] - In retail, real asking rents are at ten-year lows, but signs of improvement are emerging as vacancy rates begin to fall [10] - The international business achieved over $5 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) in Q1 2025, representing 56% year-over-year growth [5] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on enhancing its product offerings and integrating various brands to create a comprehensive solution for clients [13][14] - A new marketing strategy for LoopNet aims to increase the number of paid properties on the platform, enhancing consumer choice [12] - The company plans to expand its sales force by 23% in 2025 to capitalize on market opportunities, particularly in the multifamily sector [19][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about returning to double-digit growth as market conditions improve over the next few years [11] - The company anticipates slight headwinds from government contract cancellations but expects revenue growth to remain stable [64][72] - The integration of Matterport is expected to enhance the company's offerings and drive future growth [63][68] Other Important Information - The company repurchased 240,000 shares for $18.5 million and plans to repurchase a total of $150 million in shares in 2025 [71] - The company is in the process of acquiring Domain Group, which could significantly enhance its market position in Australia [71][54] Q&A Session Summary Question: Comments on the delayed market listing exemption and Zillow's reaction - Management noted overwhelmingly negative feedback from agents regarding Zillow's actions, indicating a potential opportunity for the company [76][77] Question: Nonresidential EBITDA margin in Q1 and outlook for residential spending - The commercial margin was reported at 43% for Q1, with no changes to the residential spending outlook [78][79] Question: Integration and monetization of Matterport - Management discussed plans for integrating Matterport into the CoStar platform and its potential for monetization [82]

Core Insights - CoStar Group reported revenue of $732.2 million for the quarter ended March 2025, reflecting an 11.6% increase year-over-year and exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $719.37 million by 1.78% [1] - The company's EPS was $0.14, up from $0.10 in the same quarter last year, representing a surprise of 27.27% compared to the consensus estimate of $0.11 [1] Revenue Breakdown - CoStar's revenue from its core business was $265.10 million, slightly above the average estimate of $264.81 million, marking a year-over-year increase of 5.9% [4] - Information Services generated $39.80 million, exceeding the estimated $36.30 million, with a year-over-year growth of 20.6% [4] - Other Marketplaces reported $44.80 million, significantly higher than the estimated $29.55 million, showing a year-over-year increase of 46.4% [4] - LoopNet's revenue was $72.80 million, slightly below the estimate of $73.38 million, with a year-over-year growth of 5.4% [4] - Residential revenue reached $27.20 million, below the estimate of $28.70 million, but still reflecting a substantial year-over-year increase of 46.2% [4] - Multifamily revenue was $282.50 million, close to the estimate of $283.47 million, with a year-over-year growth of 10.9% [4] Stock Performance - CoStar's shares have returned 3.2% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite, which declined by 0.8% [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Group 1: Earnings Performance - CoStar Group reported quarterly earnings of $0.14 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.11 per share, and up from $0.10 per share a year ago [1] - The earnings surprise for the quarter was 27.27%, following a previous quarter where actual earnings of $0.26 per share surpassed expectations of $0.22 per share by 18.18% [2] - Over the last four quarters, CoStar has consistently surpassed consensus EPS estimates [2] Group 2: Revenue Performance - CoStar's revenues for the quarter ended March 2025 were $732.2 million, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.78% and up from $656.4 million year-over-year [3] - The company has exceeded consensus revenue estimates three times in the last four quarters [3] Group 3: Stock Performance and Outlook - CoStar shares have increased approximately 14.2% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with a -6% decline in the S&P 500 [4] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.16 on revenues of $747.83 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $0.93 on revenues of $3.04 billion [8] Group 4: Industry Context - The Computers - IT Services industry, to which CoStar belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 44% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating potential challenges ahead [9] - The performance of CoStar's stock may be influenced by the overall outlook for the industry [9]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q1 2025 revenue reached $732 million, a 12% year-over-year increase, marking the 56th consecutive quarter of double-digit revenue growth [5][63] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2025 was $66 million, representing a 429% increase compared to Q1 2024, with a profit margin of 9% [5][63] - Company net new bookings were $56 million in Q1 2025, up 6% sequentially from Q4 2024 [6][71] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - CoStar revenue grew 6% year-over-year to $265 million in Q1 2025, with annualized net new bookings increasing by 68% year-over-year [7][64] - Apartments.com revenue increased by 11% year-over-year to $282 million, with significant growth in quality interactions and new community additions [19][65] - LoopNet revenue grew 5% in Q1 2025, with expectations for revenue growth to accelerate throughout the year [67] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The commercial real estate environment remains challenging, with a historic high vacancy rate of about 16% and real asking rents at a 30-year low [9][10] - In retail, vacancy rates are beginning to fall, indicating signs of improvement in the market [11] - The international business achieved over $5 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) in Q1 2025, representing 56% year-over-year growth [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on integrating its various brands and enhancing product offerings to create a comprehensive solution for clients [15][16] - A new marketing strategy for LoopNet aims to increase the number of paid properties on the platform, enhancing consumer choice [13] - The company plans to expand its sales force by 23% in 2025 to capitalize on market opportunities [20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about returning to double-digit growth as market conditions improve over the next few years [12] - The company anticipates slight headwinds from government contract cancellations but maintains a revenue growth outlook of 6% to 7% for the full year [64][73] - The integration of Matterport is expected to enhance the company's offerings and contribute to future growth [55][69] Other Important Information - The company repurchased 240,000 shares for $18.5 million in Q1 2025 and plans to repurchase a total of $150 million in shares throughout the year [72] - The company has made a nonbinding offer to acquire Domain Group, which could significantly enhance its market position in Australia [72][54] Q&A Session Summary Question: Comments on the delayed market listing exemption and Zillow's reaction - Management noted overwhelmingly negative feedback from agents regarding Zillow's new rules, indicating a potential opportunity for the company [76][77] Question: Nonresidential EBITDA margin in Q1 and outlook for residential spending - The commercial margin was reported at 43% for Q1, with no changes to the residential spending outlook [78][80]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q1 2025 revenue reached $732 million, a 12% year-over-year increase, marking the 56th consecutive quarter of double-digit revenue growth [5][63] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2025 was $66 million, representing a 429% increase compared to Q1 2024, with a profit margin of 9% [6][63] - Company net new bookings were $56 million in Q1 2025, up 6% sequentially from Q4 2024 [6][71] - The company reported a net loss of $15 million primarily due to one-time costs from the Matterport acquisition [70] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - CoStar revenue grew 6% year-over-year in Q1 2025, with net new bookings at their highest level since Q3 2023 [7][64] - Apartments.com revenue increased by 11% year-over-year, with significant growth in the number of listed properties [19][65] - LoopNet revenue grew 5% in Q1 2025, with expectations for revenue growth to accelerate throughout the year [67] - STR's integration into CoStar contributed to its best quarter ever for net new bookings, up 17% year-over-year [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The commercial real estate environment remains challenging, with historic high vacancy rates around 16% and real asking rents at a 30-year low [9][10] - In retail, real asking rents are at ten-year lows, but signs of improvement are emerging as vacancy rates begin to fall [11] - The company expects market conditions to improve over the next few years, shifting from headwinds to tailwinds [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on integrating its various brands and enhancing product offerings to create a comprehensive solution for clients [15][16] - A new marketing strategy for LoopNet aims to increase the number of paid properties on the platform, enhancing consumer choice [13] - The company is expanding its sales force to capitalize on growth opportunities, particularly in the Apartments.com segment [20][21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the current commercial real estate environment is one of the worst in decades, but they anticipate a return to double-digit growth as conditions improve [9][12] - The company is maintaining its revenue growth guidance of 6% to 7% for the full year 2025, despite some expected headwinds from government contract cancellations [64][73] - Management expressed confidence in the Homes.com brand, which has seen significant growth in unaided brand awareness and traffic [70][31] Other Important Information - The company repurchased 240,000 shares for $18.5 million in Q1 2025 and plans to repurchase a total of $150 million in shares throughout the year [72] - The company made a nonbinding offer to acquire Domain Group, a significant player in the Australian real estate market [72][54] Q&A Session Summary Question: Comments on the delayed market listing exemption discussed by the NAR and Zillow's reaction - Management reported overwhelmingly negative feedback from agents regarding Zillow's new rules, indicating a potential opportunity for the company [76][77] Question: Nonresidential EBITDA margin in Q1 and outlook for residential spending in 2025 - The commercial margin was reported at 43% for Q1, with no changes to the budget for Homes.com [78][80]