Taboola.com(US:TBLA)2026-02-25 14:30Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2025, ex-TAC Gross Profit reached $714 million, up 7% year-over-year, and Adjusted EBITDA grew 7% to $260 million [5][18] - Free cash flow generated was $163 million, up 10% year-over-year, representing approximately 76% conversion from Adjusted EBITDA [6][20] - Revenues in Q4 grew 6% to $522.3 million, and for the full year, increased 8% to $1.91 billion [15][18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Scaled advertisers grew 6% in 2025, with an average revenue per scaled advertiser up 2% [6][16] - In Q4, there was a 3% increase in the number of scaled advertisers and a 2% increase in average revenue per scaled advertiser [16] - Personal finance revenue generated in 2025 was $120 million within a $15 billion U.S. market, capturing only 1%-10% of advertisers' total spend [9][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported strong growth in the rest of the world, with revenue from this segment growing about 10% in Q4, indicating faster growth compared to the U.S. market [86] - The exposure to search traffic remains in the single digits, with about 1/3 of supply coming from in-app usage [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on three priorities: investing in technology to advance the Realize platform, restructuring the sales organization around ideal customer profiles, and enhancing brand perception [7][9] - The strategy aims to position Taboola as a leading performance advertising company outside of search and social, leveraging proprietary data and distribution [11][13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving double-digit growth in the long term, with 2025 performance indicating progress in the right direction [6][13] - The company anticipates continued investment in technology and brand perception to attract new advertisers and deepen existing relationships [9][10] Other Important Information - The company repurchased 77 million shares for a total of $254 million in 2025, reducing the share count by roughly 18% [4][22] - The company ended the fourth quarter with a net cash balance of $18.6 million and cash and cash equivalents totaling $120.9 million [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Variance in revenues versus guidance - Management explained that the variance was due to a revenue mix, with more business in higher-margin areas and less in lower-margin segments [28][31] Question: Disconnect between growth in non-scaled advertisers and revenue guidance - Management indicated that the guidance reflects current performance from Realize, with conservative estimates based on existing trends [36][38] Question: Incremental investments in Realize and growth from existing versus new advertisers - Management highlighted that growth is expected from both existing advertisers increasing budgets and new advertisers being onboarded [51][52] Question: Impact of generative AI on traffic and advertising - Management noted that trusted publishers will continue to thrive, and AI adoption by these publishers could enhance revenue opportunities [60][61] Question: Factors influencing Adjusted EBITDA guidance for Q1 - Management mentioned foreign exchange headwinds and increased marketing expenses as key factors affecting EBITDA in the first quarter [94][96]