Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the full year 2025, Ziff Davis grew revenues by 3.5% and adjusted EBITDA increased slightly, generating almost $290 million in free cash flow [4][16] - In Q4 2025, revenues declined by 1.5% to $406.7 million, and adjusted EBITDA decreased by 5% to $163.2 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 40.1% [15][16] - Fiscal year 2025 total revenue was $1,451.3 million, with adjusted EBITDA of $495.1 million and an adjusted diluted EPS of $6.63, reflecting a slight increase from the previous year [16][25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Tech and Shopping segment experienced an 18% decline in revenues, significantly impacting overall performance, while the other four segments grew over 6% [4][5] - The Health and Wellness segment achieved record revenue and adjusted EBITDA, growing year-over-year revenues by 8.6% [7][8] - Connectivity revenues increased by 11%, driven by strong growth in services like Speedtest and Downdetector [8][9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The gaming and entertainment segment saw a revenue growth of 1.5% in Q4, consistent with its full-year growth rate [6] - The advertising and performance marketing revenue declined by 4.4% in Q4 2025, while subscription and licensing revenue increased by 4% [18][19] - The overall revenue decline associated with the exited games publishing business was approximately $14 million, impacting consolidated revenue growth by about 1% [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on delivering profitable growth and strong free cash flow generation in 2026, with expectations of mid-single-digit revenue decline in the Tech and Shopping segment [11][23] - Ziff Davis plans to continue its active M&A strategy, seeking high-quality brands in high-value categories, leveraging its strong cash flow generation [22][47] - The company is also exploring opportunities in AI content licensing, emphasizing the need for proper compensation frameworks [12][14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged headwinds in the Tech and Shopping segment due to declining web search traffic affecting affiliate commerce revenues [5][32] - The outlook for 2026 includes expectations of low to mid-single-digit revenue growth in Gaming and Entertainment, Health and Wellness, and Cybersecurity and MarTech segments [11][12] - Management expressed confidence in overcoming current challenges in Tech and Shopping, anticipating improvements in the second half of 2026 [11][40] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately 4.8 million shares for nearly $174 million in fiscal year 2025, with an additional 740,000 shares repurchased since January 1, 2026 [21][22] - Ziff Davis closed seven acquisitions in 2025, investing a total of $68.7 million to support its M&A program [22][26] - The company has significant leverage capacity, with gross leverage at 1.8 times trailing 12 months adjusted EBITDA [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: AI search tailwinds in Tech and Shopping - Management noted that lost search traffic can be offset by other engagement sources, but high-intent consumer traffic is harder to replace, particularly in affiliate commerce [31][32] Question: Growth rate expectations for Tech and Shopping - Management believes Tech and Shopping should achieve mid-single-digit growth in the long term, despite current challenges [45][46] Question: M&A opportunities in the current market - Management sees unique opportunities in the digital media space due to compelling valuations and intends to focus on high-quality brands [47][48] Question: Trends in the advertising market - Management indicated that the advertising market is segmented, with Gaming & Entertainment and Health & Wellness showing stable growth, while Tech and Shopping faces challenges [50][51] Question: Impact of AI on Health & Wellness - Management expressed confidence that search dynamics are not a concern for Health & Wellness, as much of the inventory is not search-based [56][57]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the full year 2025, Ziff Davis reported a revenue growth of 3.5% and adjusted EBITDA growth was slight, generating almost $290 million in free cash flow [4][16] - In Q4 2025, revenues declined by 1.5% to $406.7 million, and adjusted EBITDA decreased by 5% to $163.2 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 40.1% [15][16] - Fiscal year 2025 total revenue increased to $1,451.3 million, with adjusted EBITDA rising to $495.1 million, resulting in an adjusted EBITDA margin of 34.1% [16][25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Tech and Shopping segment experienced an 18% revenue decline, significantly impacting overall performance, while the other four segments grew over 6% [4][5] - The Health and Wellness segment achieved record revenue and adjusted EBITDA, growing year-over-year revenues by 8.6% [7][8] - Connectivity revenues increased by 11%, driven by new customers and service adoption [8][9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The CNET Group saw video and social views grow 100% in Q4 and over 80% for the full year 2025, reaching 1 billion views [5][6] - Direct-to-consumer revenues from the IGN Store and Humble Bundle reached almost $90 million in 2025, with significant growth in social engagement [7][8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on delivering profitable growth and strong free cash flow generation in 2026, with expectations of mid-single-digit revenue decline in Tech and Shopping for the first half of the year [11][23] - Ziff Davis plans to continue its active M&A strategy, seeking high-quality brands in high-value categories, leveraging its strong cash flow generation [22][47] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged headwinds in the Tech and Shopping segment due to declining web search traffic affecting affiliate commerce revenues, but expressed confidence in offsetting these declines through alternative engagement sources [5][11] - The outlook for 2026 anticipates continued growth in Gaming and Entertainment, Health and Wellness, and Cybersecurity and MarTech segments, with double-digit growth expected in Connectivity [11][12] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately 4.8 million shares for nearly $174 million in fiscal year 2025, with an additional 740,000 shares repurchased in 2026 [21][22] - The exit from the game publishing business is expected to eliminate distractions and volatility in the Tech and Shopping segment [17][18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you expand on AI search tailwinds in Tech and Shopping? - Management noted that lost search traffic can be offset by other engagement sources, but high-intent traffic from search is harder to replace, particularly affecting affiliate commerce [29][31] Question: What is the expected growth rate for Tech and Shopping? - Management believes Tech and Shopping should achieve mid-single-digit growth in the long term, despite current challenges [45][46] Question: What are the trends in the ad market? - The ad market is segmented, with Gaming & Entertainment and Health & Wellness showing stable growth, while Tech and Shopping faces challenges primarily in affiliate commerce [50][51]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the full year 2025, Ziff Davis reported a revenue growth of 3.5% and adjusted EBITDA growth was slight, generating nearly $290 million in free cash flow [4][15] - In Q4 2025, revenues declined by 1.5% to $406.7 million, and adjusted EBITDA decreased by 5% to $163.2 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 40.1% [14][15] - Fiscal year 2025 total revenue increased to $1,451.3 million, with adjusted EBITDA rising to $495.1 million, resulting in an adjusted EBITDA margin of 34.1% [15][25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Tech and Shopping segment experienced an 18% revenue decline, significantly impacting overall performance, while other segments grew over 6% [4][5] - Gaming and Entertainment revenues grew by 1.5% in Q4, consistent with its full-year growth rate [5] - The Health and Wellness segment achieved record revenue and adjusted EBITDA, growing year-over-year revenues by 8.6% [6][7] - Connectivity revenues increased by 11%, driven by new customer acquisitions and service adoption [7][8] - Cybersecurity and MarTech revenues grew by 2.7%, primarily due to strong performance in the cybersecurity vertical [8][9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The CNET Group saw video and social views grow by 100% in Q4 and over 80% for the full year 2025, reaching 1 billion views [5] - Direct-to-consumer revenues from Humble Bundle and IGN Store reached nearly $90 million in 2025 [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on delivering profitable growth and strong free cash flow generation in 2026, with expectations of mid-single-digit revenue decline in Tech and Shopping for the first half of the year [10][23] - Ziff Davis plans to continue its active M&A strategy, having closed 7 acquisitions in 2025 and looking for high-quality brands in high-value categories [22][47] - The company is evaluating potential strategic opportunities to unlock shareholder value, which has led to the decision to defer issuing formal guidance [9][10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged headwinds in the Tech and Shopping segment due to declining web search traffic affecting affiliate commerce revenues, but expressed confidence in offsetting these declines through alternative engagement sources [5][31] - The outlook for 2026 includes expectations of low to mid-single-digit revenue growth in Gaming and Entertainment, Health and Wellness, and Cybersecurity and MarTech, with continued double-digit growth anticipated in Connectivity [10][11] - Management emphasized the importance of maintaining margins despite revenue challenges, with a focus on cost containment and strategic adjustments [41][42] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately 4.8 million shares in 2025, reducing the number of shares outstanding by more than 10% [20][25] - The board of directors increased the stock repurchase authorization by 10 million shares, valid until February 2036 [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: AI search tailwinds in Tech and Shopping - Management noted that lost search traffic can be offset by other engagement sources, but high-intent consumer traffic is harder to replace, particularly in the Tech and Shopping segment [31][32] Question: Growth rate expectations for Tech and Shopping - Management believes Tech and Shopping should achieve mid-single-digit growth in the long term, despite current challenges [45][46] Question: Trends in the ad market - The ad market is segmented, with Gaming & Entertainment and Health & Wellness showing stable growth, while Tech and Shopping faces challenges primarily in affiliate commerce [51][52] Question: Impact of AI on Health & Wellness - Management expressed confidence that search dynamics are not a concern for Health & Wellness, as much of the inventory is not search-based [56][57] Question: M&A opportunities in the current market - Management indicated that while some may hesitate to transact due to AI-related uncertainties, there are still opportunities for acquisitions, particularly for high-quality brands [59][60]

Summary of Ziff Davis Conference Call Company Overview - Ziff Davis is a digital media and internet company with a portfolio of content and ad-supported brands, subscription-supported software brands, and subscription-supported data businesses [4][5] - The company has a history of growth through systematic acquisitions over the past 15 years [4] Financial Performance and Strategic Initiatives - Approximately 60% of Ziff Davis's revenue comes from advertising, with the remainder from subscriptions and licensing [4] - The company is currently exploring value-creating opportunities, including potential divestitures, due to a perceived disconnect between its market valuation and intrinsic value [5][8] - Ziff Davis is trading at roughly three to four times EBITDA, despite having strong growth and margins [7][8] Segment Performance - **Health and Wellness**: This is the largest segment, showing a 13% top-line growth in Q3 and 18% adjusted EBITDA growth. The segment benefits from a robust pharma market and digital commercialization trends [11][12] - **Connectivity**: The Ookla business, which includes Speedtest, is undergoing a reset with new leadership and is expected to return to growth, projecting a low double-digit growth rate for the upcoming year [13][14] - **Cybersecurity and MarTech**: The cybersecurity segment, including Viper and IPVanish, is returning to growth, although it has taken longer than expected [15] - **Tech and Shopping**: This segment experienced a decline in Q3, primarily due to winding down a part of the business, but is expected to stabilize [15][16] - **Gaming and Entertainment**: This segment is characterized by volatility due to game release cycles but remains a strong brand with IGN Entertainment [17] AI and Market Trends - Ziff Davis generates about one-third of its revenue from web traffic, with search-related revenue accounting for mid-teens percentage of total revenue [23] - The company is observing increased search volume driven by AI, but also significant volatility in search rankings, which impacts traditional publishers [24][25] - Ziff Davis is focused on maintaining trust in content quality amidst the rise of AI-generated content [26] Product Development and Innovation - Ziff Davis is integrating AI into its products, such as the Lose It app, which uses visual technology for food logging, enhancing user engagement and retention [28][29] - The company is developing AI-based insight and ad platforms, leveraging audience signals for market research and ad targeting [30][34] Capital Allocation and M&A Strategy - Ziff Davis prioritizes M&A, having closed seven deals in the current year, while also investing heavily in stock buybacks [41][42] - The company is selective in M&A to ensure cash flow generation aligns with risk-reward profiles [41] - Recent investments in connectivity products aim to expand market presence and address customer needs [43][45] Conclusion - Ziff Davis is actively exploring ways to unlock value within its portfolio while maintaining a focus on growth through both organic and inorganic means. The company is optimistic about its segments, particularly health and wellness, and is strategically investing in AI and product development to enhance its market position [38][39][40]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q3 2025 revenues were $363.7 million, reflecting growth of nearly 3% compared to $353.6 million in Q3 2024 [16] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q3 2025 was $124.1 million, a slight decline of less than 1% from $124.7 million in the prior year [17] - Adjusted diluted EPS increased by more than 7% to $1.76 from $1.64 in Q3 2024, driven by share buybacks [17][25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Tech and shopping revenue dropped 2% in Q3, with adjusted EBITDA down 12%, primarily due to the wind down of game publishing activities [8][20] - Health and wellness segment saw a 13% year-over-year revenue growth and 18% adjusted EBITDA growth, marking high watermarks for the division [10] - Cybersecurity and martech revenue grew 2% in Q3, driven by strong performance in consumer VPN and cloud backup [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Connectivity division delivered 2% year-over-year revenue growth, with year-to-date revenues up 7% [11] - Gaming and entertainment revenues were about 4% lower year-over-year, but adjusted EBITDA grew nearly 3% [9] - Advertising and performance marketing revenues grew 5.9% year-over-year, while subscription and licensing revenues grew by 2% [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is evaluating potential opportunities to unlock shareholder value, engaging outside advisors for this purpose [5][6] - There is a focus on maximizing value for shareholders while maintaining a profitable and growing business structure [6][7] - The company aims to continue its acquisition program while also engaging in share buybacks to capitalize on perceived valuation disconnects [15][23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the disconnect between the current market value and intrinsic value is at its widest, prompting a strategic review [31] - The company remains optimistic about its performance despite industry headwinds, particularly in segments like health and wellness [55] - Management anticipates that fiscal year 2025 results will fall within the lower half of the guidance range, with Q4 expected to be the largest revenue quarter [24] Other Important Information - The company has significant cash reserves of $503.4 million and long-term investments of $119.6 million, with a gross leverage of 1.7x trailing 12 months adjusted EBITDA [22] - Year-to-date free cash flow was $261.2 million, indicating strong cash generation capabilities [25] - The company has repurchased over 3.6 million shares since the start of 2025, deploying $109 million in share buybacks [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the thoughts on valuation disconnects? - Management believes the disconnect between current and intrinsic value is at its widest, with interest from strategic and private equity investors [31][32] Question: Are there any properties considered off-limits for divesting? - Management stated that nothing is off the table, but exploring opportunities for select units is likely to be more value-accretive than considering the entire company [38][39] Question: How is the company positioned regarding AI search impacts? - Management indicated that the company is well-positioned and insulated from fluctuations in search traffic, with only 17.5% of revenue exposure coming from search [40] Question: What is the outlook for advertising growth in Q4? - Management expects subscription growth to outpace advertising growth in Q4, with some softness in product launches impacting advertising [58] Question: What are the M&A opportunities in the current market? - Management sees potential for aggressive acquisitions of smaller dislocated properties, balancing share buybacks and acquisitions [65][66] Question: Is there a shift towards targeting different growth profiles in M&A? - Management emphasized a continued focus on cash-on-cash returns and free cash flow, without signaling a change in their acquisition strategy [81][83]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q3 2025 revenues were $363.7 million, reflecting growth of nearly 3% compared to $353.6 million in the prior year period [16] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q3 2025 was $124.1 million, a slight decline of less than 1% from $124.7 million in the prior year [17] - Adjusted diluted EPS increased by more than 7% to $1.76 from $1.64 in Q3 2024, aided by share buybacks [17][25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Tech and shopping revenue dropped 2% in Q3, with adjusted EBITDA down 12%, primarily due to the wind down of game publishing activities [8][20] - Health and wellness segment saw a 13% year-over-year revenue growth and 18% adjusted EBITDA growth, marking high watermarks for the division [10] - Cybersecurity and martech revenue grew 2% in Q3, driven by strong performance in consumer VPN and cloud backup [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Year-to-date revenues in gaming and entertainment were up approximately 2%, with Q3 being Humble Bundle's best quarter of the year [9] - Connectivity division delivered 2% year-over-year revenue growth, with year-to-date revenues up 7% [11] - Advertising and performance marketing grew 5.9% year-over-year, while subscription and licensing revenues grew by 2% [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is evaluating potential opportunities to unlock shareholder value, engaging outside advisors for this purpose [5][6] - The focus remains on maximizing value for shareholders while continuing to operate the current profitable business structure [6] - The company is committed to a disciplined acquisition program and has closed seven acquisitions in the first nine months of 2025 [22][23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the disconnect between the current market value and intrinsic value of the company is at its widest [31] - The company anticipates fiscal year 2025 total revenues and adjusted diluted EPS to be within the lower half of its guidance range [24] - Management expressed optimism about the performance of various segments despite broader industry headwinds [56] Other Important Information - The company has significant cash reserves of $503.4 million and long-term investments of $119.6 million, with a gross leverage of 1.7 times trailing 12 months adjusted EBITDA [22] - Free cash flow for Q3 2025 was $108.2 million, 35% higher than the prior year period [25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on valuation disconnect - Management acknowledged the valuation disconnect and noted that the recent segment-level reporting has attracted interest from strategic and private equity investors [30][32] Question: Strategic review and potential divestitures - Management stated that no specific properties are off-limits and that they are open to exploring opportunities for select units [38][39] Question: Impact of AI reviews on traffic - Management indicated that the company is well-positioned against fluctuations in search traffic, with only 17.5% of total revenue being web traffic dependent [40] Question: M&A opportunities and market dynamics - Management expressed interest in acquiring smaller dislocated properties and emphasized the balance between share buybacks and acquisitions [65] Question: Future growth and business model considerations - Management confirmed a preference for acquiring leadership brands and emphasized the importance of cash-on-cash returns in their investment strategy [81][82]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3 2025, revenues increased to $363.7 million, up nearly 3% from $353.6 million in the prior year [16] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q3 2025 was $124.1 million, a slight decline of less than 1% from $124.7 million year-over-year [17] - Adjusted diluted EPS rose by more than 7% to $1.76 from $1.64 in Q3 2024, aided by share buybacks that reduced the weighted average diluted shares by 7.5% [17][25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Tech and shopping revenue fell by 2% in Q3, with adjusted EBITDA down 12%, primarily due to the wind down of game publishing activities [8][19] - Health and wellness segment saw a 13% year-over-year revenue growth and 18% adjusted EBITDA growth, marking high watermarks for the division [10] - Cybersecurity and martech revenue grew by 2% in Q3, driven by strong performance in consumer VPN and cloud backup [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The connectivity division achieved 2% year-over-year revenue growth, with year-to-date revenues up 7% [11] - Gaming and entertainment revenues were approximately 4% lower year-over-year, but adjusted EBITDA grew nearly 3% [9] - Advertising and performance marketing revenues grew by 5.9% year-over-year, while subscription and licensing revenues increased by 2% [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is evaluating potential opportunities to unlock shareholder value, having engaged outside advisors for this purpose [4][5] - There is a focus on maximizing value for shareholders while maintaining a profitable and growing business structure [5][26] - The company is committed to a disciplined acquisition strategy, having closed seven acquisitions in the first nine months of 2025 [22][23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the disconnect between the current market value and intrinsic value of the company is at its widest [29] - The company anticipates fiscal year 2025 total revenues and adjusted diluted EPS to be within the lower half of its guidance range [24] - Management expressed optimism about the performance of various segments despite broader industry headwinds [39] Other Important Information - The company has significant cash reserves of $503.4 million and long-term investments of $119.6 million, with a gross leverage of 1.7 times trailing 12 months adjusted EBITDA [22] - Free cash flow for Q3 2025 was $108.2 million, representing a 35% increase year-over-year [25] - The company plans to continue its stock repurchase program, having repurchased 3 million shares year-to-date [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on valuation disconnect - Management acknowledged the valuation disconnect and noted that the recent segment-level disclosures have attracted interest from strategic and private equity investors [28][29] Question: Strategic review and potential divestitures - Management stated that no specific properties are off-limits for divestiture, but exploring opportunities for select units is likely to be more value-accretive [31] Question: Impact of AI on traffic and revenue - Management indicated that the company is well-positioned against fluctuations in search traffic, with only 35% of total revenue dependent on web traffic [32] Question: Future M&A opportunities - Management expressed optimism about acquiring smaller properties that may not have weathered recent market changes as well as continuing to buy back shares [44][45] Question: Philosophical shift in acquisitions - Management clarified that the focus remains on cash-on-cash returns and that there is no change in the overall approach to acquisitions [51]