CoStar Group (NasdaqGS:CSGP) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 24, 2026 05:00 PM ET Speaker9in a listen-only mode. Please be advised that today's conference is being recorded. After the speaker's presentation, there will be a question-and-answer session. To ask a question, please press star one one on your telephone and wait for your name to be announced. To withdraw your question, please press star one one again. I would now like to hand the conference over to your speaker today, Rich Simonelli, Head of Inves ...

Arlington, Virginia-based CoStar Group, Inc. (CSGP) provides information, analytics, and online marketplace services in the United States and internationally. Valued at a market cap. of $19.1 billion, CSGP offers a wide range of digital services, including a leasing marketplace, a selling marketplace, sales-comparable information, decision support, contact management, tenant information, and more. Shares of CoStar Group have lagged behind the broader market over the past 52 weeks. CSGP stock has declined ...

Core Insights - U.S. office vacancy projections remain stable, with a forecasted rate of 14.1% through the end of 2026, indicating a steady outlook for the sector [1] Group 1: Vacancy Projections - The near-term U.S. office outlook anticipates stable vacancy rates at 14.1% until the end of 2026 [1] - A cyclical peak in office vacancy is expected in mid-2025, followed by a slight decrease by the end of that year [1] - After 2026, a gradual decline in vacancy rates is anticipated, suggesting a potential recovery in the office market [1]

Core Viewpoint - Third Point LLC expresses significant concerns regarding CoStar Group's governance, management incentives, and capital allocation strategies, particularly criticizing CEO Andy Florance's handling of the residential real estate (RRE) segment, which has led to substantial shareholder losses and poor stock performance [1][3][12]. Governance and Management Issues - Third Point highlights a lack of effective board oversight and accountability, suggesting that the board has failed to manage CEO Florance's performance, resulting in excessive compensation despite poor results [13]. - The firm emphasizes the need for a majority of the board to be replaced with more qualified directors and for management compensation to be more closely tied to total shareholder return [20]. Capital Allocation and Financial Performance - CoStar has reportedly invested approximately $5 billion in its RRE segment over the past five years, with minimal returns, generating only $60 million in revenue for 2024 and an expected $80 million for 2025 [7][8]. - The company's RRE strategy has been described as a multi-year failure, with management's projections for revenue and EBITDA margins repeatedly missed, leading to a significant decline in shareholder value [6][9][11]. Stock Performance - CoStar's stock has underperformed significantly, declining by 27% over the past five years, in stark contrast to the S&P 500's total return of 94% during the same period [12]. - The company's adjusted EBITDA is projected to be depressed by more than 65% in 2025 due to ongoing losses in the RRE business, despite growth in its core commercial real estate (CRE) segment [11]. Core Business Potential - Despite the challenges in the RRE segment, Third Point believes that CoStar's core CRE business has substantial growth potential, with opportunities for double-digit revenue growth and significant margin expansion [14][15]. - The firm argues that the core CRE business can achieve over 50% EBITDA margins in the medium term and sustain further growth, positioning it as a valuable long-term investment [16][18]. Immediate Actions Required - Third Point calls for immediate actions to restore governance credibility and protect shareholder value, including eliminating losses from the RRE segment and refocusing on the core CRE business [19][20].

Investment management company Vulcan Value Partners recently released its fourth-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. All the strategies of Vulcan Value Partners delivered positive results in the year. The Large Cap Composite (Net) returned -1.5% in Q4 and 7.9% YTD, the Small Cap Composite (Net) gained 3.2% in Q4 and 9.5% YTD, The Focus Composite (Net) retuned 0.1% in Q4 and 7.1% YTD, Focus Plus Composite (Net) returned 0.1% in Q4 and 6.2% YTD and the All-Cap Composite ...

CoStar Group FY Conference Summary Company Overview - **Company**: CoStar Group (NasdaqGS: CSGP) - **Date of Conference**: November 20, 2025 - **Key Speakers**: Chris Lown (CFO), Rich (Head of Investor Relations) Industry Insights Apartments Market - **Growth**: The apartments business has experienced 13 consecutive quarters of double-digit revenue growth, with a revenue increase from over $50 million to over $1.2 billion since acquisition over 10 years ago [5][6][7] - **Market Position**: CoStar is the market leader, significantly larger than its closest competitor, with a total addressable market (TAM) exceeding $9 billion [7][8] - **Technology Integration**: The introduction of Matterport Plus has enhanced customer experience, allowing virtual tours that lead to lower bounce rates and higher engagement [6][8][35] - **Sales Strategy**: A renewed focus on expanding the sales force by approximately 20% to better capture market opportunities [14][16] Competitive Landscape - **Market Dynamics**: CoStar faces competition primarily from Zillow and a few smaller players, but believes there is ample opportunity for growth due to low market penetration (15%-20%) [12][21] - **Differentiation**: CoStar emphasizes its technological edge and superior consumer experience as key differentiators in the market [12][13][21] AI and Technology - **AI Integration**: CoStar views AI as a transformative force in the industry, enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency [12][28][49] - **Data Utilization**: The company has over 2.4 trillion records, primarily proprietary, which provides a competitive advantage in data organization and analysis [46][47] Financial Performance - **Revenue Growth**: The apartments segment has shown consistent growth, with a focus on expanding into smaller property markets [5][21] - **Sales Efficiency**: The sales team is described as highly efficient, utilizing a metrics-focused approach to drive performance [19] Matterport Technology - **Adoption Rates**: 90% of users click on listings with Matterport, indicating its effectiveness in driving engagement [40][76] - **B2B Strategy**: CoStar is shifting its focus to a B2B model for Matterport, targeting larger clients rather than individual photographers [42] Homes Market - **Unique Positioning**: CoStar differentiates itself by focusing on helping listing agents and home sellers, rather than competing directly with buyer-focused platforms [52][53] - **Subscriber Growth**: The platform has over 26,000 subscribers and 130,000 paid listings, establishing itself as a market leader [56] Capital Allocation - **Buyback Program**: CoStar has accelerated its $500 million buyback program, indicating a strategic shift in capital allocation [78][79] Conclusion CoStar Group is positioned as a leader in the real estate technology space, with a strong focus on technology integration, market expansion, and capital efficiency. The company is leveraging AI and proprietary data to enhance its offerings and drive growth across its various platforms.

Group 1 - The core viewpoint is a positive outlook on CoStar Group (NASDAQ: CSGP) with a buy rating due to strong commercial revenue growth and robust engagement on Homes.com [1] - The company is expected to benefit from a long-term growth story, emphasizing the importance of fundamental analysis and identifying undervalued companies [1] - The investment strategy focuses on value investing principles, aiming to purchase quality companies at a discount to their intrinsic value for long-term holding [1]