The Baldwin Group Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Baldwin Insurance Group (NASDAQ: BWIN) reported strong Q4 and full-year 2024 results, demonstrating significant growth across key metrics. Q4 highlights include:

- Total revenue up 16% to $329.9M with 19% organic growth
- Adjusted EBITDA grew 38% to $63.2M with margin expansion of 310bps to 19.1%
- Net loss of $34.8M ($0.31 per share), but adjusted EPS up 93% to $0.27

Full-year 2024 performance showed:

• Revenue increased 14% to $1.4B with 17% organic growth
• Adjusted EBITDA rose 25% to $312.5M, margin expanded 200bps to 22.5%
• Net loss of $41.1M ($0.39 per share), adjusted EPS grew 34% to $1.50
• Adjusted free cash flow up 97% to $134.9M

The company maintains strong liquidity with $148.1M cash and $588.0M available credit facility.

Positive

• 19% organic revenue growth in Q4 2024
• 93% growth in Q4 adjusted EPS to $0.27
• 310bps Q4 EBITDA margin expansion to 19.1%
• 97% growth in adjusted free cash flow to $134.9M
• Strong liquidity position with $736.1M available

Negative

• Q4 net loss of $34.8M ($0.31 per share)
• Full-year net loss of $41.1M ($0.39 per share)

Insights

Financial Analyst

Baldwin Group's Q4 and full-year 2024 results reveal a company executing exceptionally well in the competitive insurance distribution landscape, with 19% Q4 organic revenue growth and 17% full-year organic growth significantly outpacing industry averages that typically range from 5-10%. This performance demonstrates Baldwin's superior execution in a sector where scale and specialized expertise increasingly drive market share gains.

The stark contrast between GAAP losses ($34.8 million Q4 net loss) and adjusted metrics ($63.2 million Q4 adjusted EBITDA, up 38%) likely stems from substantial acquisition-related expenses, amortization of intangibles, and potential restructuring costs. This pattern is common among rapidly consolidating insurance brokers pursuing inorganic growth alongside organic expansion.

Particularly impressive is Baldwin's margin story - the 310 basis point expansion in Q4 adjusted EBITDA margin (to 19.1%) and 200 basis point improvement for the full year (to 22.5%) demonstrates exceptional operational leverage. This margin expansion, coupled with 93% growth in Q4 adjusted EPS, indicates the company is successfully integrating acquisitions while simultaneously driving organic growth through its existing platform.

The 97% increase in adjusted free cash flow to $134.9 million represents a critical inflection point. CEO Trevor Baldwin's comments about satisfied earn-out obligations signal a transformative moment for the company's capital allocation strategy. With $148.1 million in cash and $588 million in available credit, Baldwin now has approximately $736 million in deployable capital alongside improving free cash flow.

This financial flexibility creates multiple strategic options: accelerated M&A in a fragmented industry, potential initiation of shareholder returns through dividends or buybacks, or increased investments in their proprietary technology platforms that appear to be driving operational efficiencies. The company's investments in technology are particularly noteworthy as they likely contribute to both margin expansion and organic growth by enhancing client acquisition and retention capabilities.

For investors, Baldwin represents an intriguing opportunity within the insurance distribution sector. The company has demonstrated an ability to grow significantly faster than peers while simultaneously expanding margins - a combination that typically commands premium valuations. The anticipated cash flow inflection could serve as a catalyst for either accelerated growth or enhanced shareholder returns, potentially supporting continued strong stock performance despite the current GAAP losses.

Insurance Industry Expert

Baldwin Group's exceptional results showcase a company outperforming across key metrics in the insurance distribution sector. The 19% Q4 organic growth and 17% full-year organic growth substantially exceed industry benchmarks, where even top-tier competitors like Marsh McLennan and Aon typically deliver 5-8% organic growth. This outperformance suggests Baldwin has developed significant competitive advantages in producer recruitment/retention and client acquisition strategies.

The insurance distribution landscape is experiencing a prolonged hard market cycle (elevated premium rates) in several commercial lines, which naturally provides tailwinds for brokers through higher commission income. However, Baldwin's growth dramatically outpaces the underlying premium increases (typically 5-10% depending on line of business), indicating they're winning market share through superior execution rather than merely riding market conditions.

Baldwin's margin expansion story is particularly compelling in an industry where talent costs continue to escalate. The 310 basis point improvement in Q4 adjusted EBITDA margin (to 19.1%) and 200 basis point full-year improvement (to 22.5%) demonstrate exceptional operational leverage. These margins now approach those of industry leaders like Brown & Brown (23-24%), despite Baldwin being in a higher-growth, typically lower-margin phase of its development.

The company's technology investments represent a strategic differentiator in an industry historically slow to digitize. While not explicitly detailed, these likely include client relationship management systems, data analytics capabilities, and policy administration platforms that enhance producer efficiency and enable more sophisticated cross-selling. The margin expansion suggests these investments are yielding productivity improvements that outpace their costs.

The anticipated cash flow inflection following satisfaction of earn-out obligations marks a critical transition in Baldwin's evolution. Earn-outs typically represent 15-30% of acquisition prices in insurance brokerage transactions and create significant cash flow drags for acquisitive firms. With these obligations largely fulfilled, Baldwin can redirect capital toward additional acquisitions in a highly fragmented market where over 30,000 independent agencies operate in the U.S. alone.

Baldwin's $736 million in available capital (cash plus revolver capacity) provides substantial dry powder in a sector where typical acquisition multiples range from 8-12x EBITDA for quality targets. This could potentially support $60-90 million in acquired EBITDA, representing a significant growth opportunity beyond their impressive organic expansion.

For investors, Baldwin represents a compelling opportunity within the insurance distribution sector - a business combining the defensive characteristics of recurring revenue (policy renewals typically exceed 90%) with exceptional growth and expanding margins. The anticipated free cash flow inflection could serve as a catalyst for either accelerated M&A or the potential introduction of shareholder returns, both of which would likely be viewed positively by the market.

Investment Strategist

Baldwin Group's Q4 and full-year 2024 results reveal a company hitting its stride in the consolidating insurance distribution sector, with financial metrics that position it among the elite performers in this space. The 19% Q4 organic growth and 17% full-year organic growth dramatically outpace industry benchmarks - for context, larger peers like Brown & Brown and Marsh McLennan typically deliver 5-9% organic growth in strong years. This exceptional growth trajectory suggests Baldwin has developed formidable advantages in producer recruitment, retention, and client acquisition.

The company's margin expansion narrative is equally compelling, with 310 basis points of Q4 adjusted EBITDA margin improvement (to 19.1%) and 200 basis points for the full year (to 22.5%). This places Baldwin's margins in the upper echelon of mid-sized brokers and approaching those of industry leader Brown & Brown (23-24%), despite Baldwin being in a typically lower-margin growth phase. This margin expansion while maintaining industry-leading organic growth demonstrates exceptional operational leverage and execution.

The most significant investment catalyst emerging from these results is the anticipated cash flow inflection point highlighted by CEO Trevor Baldwin. The satisfaction of earn-out obligations - which typically represent 20-30% of acquisition prices in this sector and create substantial cash flow drags - marks a critical transition in Baldwin's financial profile. The 97% increase in adjusted free cash flow to $134.9 million offers early evidence of this shift.

With $148.1 million in cash and $588 million in available credit, Baldwin now possesses approximately $736 million in deployable capital alongside improving free cash flow generation. This creates multiple strategic options: accelerated M&A in a fragmented market (potentially acquiring $60-90 million in EBITDA at prevailing multiples), initiation of shareholder returns, or increased investments in their proprietary technology platforms.

The substantial disconnect between GAAP losses and adjusted metrics primarily reflects acquisition-related amortization, transaction costs, and changes in contingent consideration - non-cash or non-recurring items that mask the underlying earnings power of the business. The 93% growth in Q4 adjusted EPS and 34% full-year growth provide a clearer picture of Baldwin's fundamental performance.

From a valuation perspective, Baldwin's combination of industry-leading organic growth, expanding margins, and improving free cash flow typically commands premium multiples. Insurance brokers generally trade between 12-18x forward EBITDA, with higher-growth, higher-margin businesses warranting the upper end of this range. Given Baldwin's exceptional growth profile and margin trajectory, a premium valuation appears justified despite current GAAP losses.

For investors, Baldwin represents a compelling opportunity within a sector known for recurring revenue streams, high customer retention (typically exceeding 90%), and relative insulation from economic cycles. The anticipated cash flow inflection could serve as a significant catalyst, potentially supporting either accelerated growth through M&A or enhanced shareholder returns - both scenarios that typically drive valuation expansion in this sector.

- Fourth Quarter 2024 Total Revenue Growth of 16%; Organic Revenue Growth⁽¹⁾ of 19% -

- Full Year 2024 Total Revenue Growth of 14%; Organic Revenue Growth of 17% -

- Fourth Quarter 2024 Net Loss of $34.8 Million and Diluted Loss Per Share of $0.31; Adjusted Diluted EPS⁽²⁾ Growth of 93% to $0.27 -

- Fourth Quarter 2024 Adjusted EBITDA⁽³⁾ Growth of 38% and Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA⁽⁴⁾ Growth of 42% Year-Over-Year to $63.2 Million; Adjusted EBITDA Margin⁽³⁾ of 19%, a 310 Basis Point Expansion Compared to the Prior-Year Period -

- Full Year 2024 Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 22.5%, a 200 Basis Point Expansion Compared to 2023 -

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Baldwin Group, the brand name for The Baldwin Insurance Group, Inc. (“Baldwin” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: BWIN), an independent insurance distribution firm delivering tailored insurance solutions to a wide range of personal and commercial clients, today announced its results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024.

FOURTH QUARTER 2024 HIGHLIGHTS

• Total revenue increased 16% year-over-year to $329.9 million

• Organic revenue growth of 19% year-over-year

• GAAP net loss of $34.8 million and GAAP diluted loss per share of $0.31

• Adjusted net income⁽²⁾ of $32.1 million

• Adjusted diluted EPS grew 93% year-over-year to $0.27

• Adjusted EBITDA grew 38% year-over-year to $63.2 million

• Adjusted EBITDA margin of 19.1%, a 310 basis point expansion compared to 16.0% in the prior year

• Pro forma adjusted EBITDA grew 42% year-over-year to $63.2 million

“We saw continued momentum across our business with organic growth of 19% for the fourth quarter, 17% for the full year, and double digits across all three of our segments showcasing the strength of our colleague and client franchise,” said Trevor Baldwin, Chief Executive Officer of The Baldwin Group. “Our continued focus on efficient execution across our business and thoughtful investments in innovative and proprietary technology platforms delivered 200 basis points of adjusted EBITDA margin expansion and adjusted free cash flow growth of 97% alongside our industry leading organic growth profile in 2024. With the vast majority of our earn-out obligations satisfied, we anticipate a meaningful inflection in free cash flow generation and significant growth and flexibility in capital allocation to support continued strength in our financial performance.”

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

As of December 31, 2024, cash and cash equivalents were $148.1 million and the Company had $588.0 million of borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facility.

FULL YEAR 2024 HIGHLIGHTS

• Total revenue increased 14% year-over-year to $1.4 billion

• Organic revenue growth of 17% year-over-year

• GAAP net loss of $41.1 million and GAAP diluted loss per share of $0.39

• Adjusted net income of $176.9 million

• Adjusted diluted EPS grew 34% year-over-year to $1.50

• Adjusted EBITDA grew 25% year-over-year to $312.5 million

• Adjusted EBITDA margin of 22.5%, a 200 basis point expansion compared to 20.5% in the prior year

• Pro forma adjusted EBITDA grew 27% year-over-year to $310.9 million

• Net cash provided by operating activities of $102.2 million

• Adjusted free cash flow⁽⁵⁾ grew 97% year-over-year to $134.9 million

WEBCAST AND CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

Baldwin will host a webcast and conference call to discuss fourth quarter 2024 results today at 5:00 PM ET. A live webcast and a slide presentation of the conference call will be available on Baldwin’s investor relations website at ir.baldwin.com. The dial-in number for the conference call is (877) 451-6152 (toll-free) or (201) 389-0879 (international). Please dial the number 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

A webcast replay of the call will be available at ir.baldwin.com for one year following the call.

ABOUT THE BALDWIN GROUP

The Baldwin Group, the brand name for The Baldwin Insurance Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BWIN) and its affiliates, is an independent insurance distribution firm providing indispensable expertise and insights that strive to give our clients the confidence to pursue their purpose, passion and dreams. As a team of dedicated entrepreneurs and insurance professionals, we have come together to help protect the possible for our clients. We do this by delivering bespoke client solutions, services, and innovation through our comprehensive and tailored approach to risk management, insurance, and employee benefits. We support our clients, colleagues, insurance company partners, and communities through the deployment of vanguard resources and capital to drive our organic and inorganic growth. The Baldwin Group proudly represents over three million clients across the United States and internationally. For more information, please visit www.baldwin.com.

FOOTNOTES

(1)		Organic revenue for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023 used to calculate organic revenue growth for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024 was $274.6 million and $1.18 billion, respectively, which is adjusted to exclude commissions and fees from divestitures that occurred during the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024. Organic revenue and organic revenue growth are non-GAAP measures. Reconciliation of organic revenue and organic revenue growth to commissions and fees, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, is set forth in the reconciliation table accompanying this release.
(2)		Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted EPS are non-GAAP measures. Reconciliation of adjusted net income to net loss attributable to Baldwin and reconciliation of adjusted diluted EPS to diluted loss per share, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, are set forth in the reconciliation table accompanying this release.
(3)		Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin are non-GAAP measures. Reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin to net loss, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, is set forth in the reconciliation table accompanying this release.
(4)		Pro Forma adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure. Reconciliation of Pro Forma adjusted EBITDA to net loss, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, is set forth in the reconciliation table accompanying this release.
(5)		Adjusted free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure. Reconciliation of adjusted free cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, is set forth in the reconciliation table accompanying this release.

NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release may contain various “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which represent Baldwin’s expectations or beliefs concerning future events. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical facts and may include statements that address future operating, financial or business performance or Baldwin’s strategies or expectations. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “projects,” “potential,” “outlook” or “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements.

Factors that could cause actual results or performance to differ from the expectations expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those described under the caption “Risk Factors” in Baldwin’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and in Baldwin’s other filings with the SEC, which are available free of charge on the SEC's website at: www.sec.gov, including those risks and other factors relevant to the business, financial condition and results of operations of Baldwin. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated. All forward-looking statements and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Baldwin or to persons acting on behalf of Baldwin are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to these risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Baldwin does not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable law.

THE BALDWIN INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss
	For the Three Months Ended December 31,								For the Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands, except share and per share data)		2024				2023				2024				2023
Revenues:
Commissions and fees	$	326,707			$	282,522			$	1,377,116			$	1,211,828
Investment income		3,185				2,126				11,921				6,727
Total revenues		329,892				284,648				1,389,037				1,218,555
Operating expenses:
Commissions, employee compensation and benefits		278,452				234,695				1,032,048				911,354
Other operating expenses		51,168				49,013				192,366				190,267
Amortization expense		26,396				23,199				102,730				92,704
Change in fair value of contingent consideration		(22,225	)			6,018				(4,949	)			61,083
Depreciation expense		1,575				1,448				6,194				5,698
Total operating expenses		335,366				314,373				1,328,389				1,261,106
Operating income (loss)		(5,474	)			(29,725	)			60,648				(42,551	)
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net		(29,441	)			(31,865	)			(123,644	)			(119,465	)
Gain on divestitures		—				—				38,953				—
Loss on extinguishment and modification of debt		(45	)			—				(15,113	)			—
Other expense, net		(299	)			(525	)			(194	)			(718	)
Total other expense		(29,785	)			(32,390	)			(99,998	)			(120,183	)
Loss before income taxes		(35,259	)			(62,115	)			(39,350	)			(162,734	)
Income tax expense (benefit)		(420	)			381				1,731				1,285
Net loss		(34,839	)			(62,496	)			(41,081	)			(164,019	)
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		(14,677	)			(28,013	)			(16,563	)			(73,878	)
Net loss attributable to Baldwin	$	(20,162	)		$	(34,483	)		$	(24,518	)		$	(90,141	)
Comprehensive loss	$	(34,839	)		$	(62,496	)		$	(41,081	)		$	(164,019	)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		(14,677	)			(28,013	)			(16,563	)			(73,878	)
Comprehensive loss attributable to Baldwin		(20,162	)			(34,483	)			(24,518	)			(90,141	)
Basic and diluted loss per share	$	(0.31	)		$	(0.56	)		$	(0.39	)		$	(1.50	)
Basic and diluted weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding		64,797,246				61,153,612				63,455,148				60,134,776

THE BALDWIN INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
		December 31,
(in thousands, except share and per share data)			2024				2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	148,120			$	116,209
Restricted cash			164,649				104,824
Premiums, commissions and fees receivable, net			702,096				627,791
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			11,625				12,730
Assets held for sale			—				64,351
Total current assets			1,026,490				925,905
Property and equipment, net			21,972				22,713
Right-of-use assets			72,367				85,473
Other assets			48,041				38,134
Intangible assets, net			953,492				1,017,343
Goodwill			1,412,369				1,412,369
Total assets		$	3,534,731			$	3,501,937
Liabilities, Mezzanine Equity and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Premiums payable to insurance companies		$	641,267			$	555,569
Producer commissions payable			73,126				64,304
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities			160,631				144,934
Related party notes payable			5,635				1,525
Colleague earnout incentives			32,826				8,020
Current portion of contingent earnout liabilities			142,949				215,157
Liabilities held for sale			—				43,931
Total current liabilities			1,056,434				1,033,440
Revolving line of credit			—				341,000
Long-term debt, less current portion			1,398,054				968,183
Contingent earnout liabilities, less current portion			2,610				61,310
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion			68,775				78,999
Other liabilities			61				123
Total liabilities			2,525,934				2,483,055
Commitments and contingencies
Mezzanine equity:
Redeemable noncontrolling interest			453				394
Stockholders’ equity:
Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 300,000,000 shares authorized; 67,979,419 and 64,133,950 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively			680				641
Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 49,552,686 and 52,422,494 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively			5				5
Additional paid-in capital			793,954				746,671
Accumulated deficit			(211,423	)			(186,905	)
Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Baldwin			583,216				560,412
Noncontrolling interest			425,128				458,076
Total stockholders’ equity			1,008,344				1,018,488
Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and stockholders’ equity		$	3,534,731			$	3,501,937

THE BALDWIN INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
		For the Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands)			2024				2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss		$	(41,081	)		$	(164,019	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			108,924				98,402
Change in fair value of contingent consideration			(4,949	)			61,083
Share-based compensation expense			65,503				60,008
Payment of contingent earnout consideration in excess of purchase price accrual			(23,395	)			(24,326	)
Gain on divestitures			(38,953	)			—
Loss on extinguishment of debt			1,034				—
Amortization of deferred financing costs			5,841				5,129
Loss on interest rate caps			244				1,670
Other loss			665				361
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions and divestitures:
Premiums, commissions and fees receivable, net			(73,762	)			(132,269	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			(7,213	)			(6,849	)
Right-of-use assets			16,703				17,963
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities			81,561				132,655
Colleague earnout incentives			24,806				8,020
Operating lease liabilities			(13,777	)			(13,184	)
Net cash provided by operating activities			102,151				44,644
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from divestitures, net of cash transferred			56,977				3,259
Capital expenditures			(41,049	)			(21,376	)
Cash consideration paid for asset acquisitions			(268	)			(2,118	)
Investments in and loans to business ventures			(3,861	)			(1,687	)
Proceeds from repayment of loans to business ventures			1,500				—
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			13,299				(21,922	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of contingent earnout consideration up to amount of purchase price accrual			(98,678	)			(27,949	)
Proceeds from revolving line of credit			106,000				111,000
Payments on revolving line of credit			(447,000	)			(275,000	)
Proceeds from refinancing of long-term debt			1,440,000				170,000
Payments relating to extinguishment and modification of long-term debt			(996,177	)			—
Payments on long-term debt			(6,761	)			(9,376	)
Payments of deferred financing costs			(17,988	)			(4,998	)
Proceeds from the settlement of interest rate caps			2,300				10,918
Tax distributions to Baldwin Holdings' LLC Members			(11,076	)			(482	)
Proceeds from repayment of stockholder notes receivable			—				42
Distributions to variable interest entities			(264	)			(385	)
Net cash used in financing activities			(29,644	)			(26,230	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash			85,806				(3,508	)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year			226,963				230,471
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year		$	312,769			$	226,963

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, organic revenue, organic revenue growth, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share (“EPS”), pro forma revenue, pro forma adjusted EBITDA, pro forma adjusted EBITDA margin and adjusted net cash provided by operating activities (“adjusted free cash flow”) are not measures of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered substitutes for GAAP measures, including commissions and fees (for organic revenue and organic revenue growth), revenues (for pro forma revenue), net income (loss) (for adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, pro forma adjusted EBITDA and pro forma adjusted EBITDA margin), net income (loss) attributable to Baldwin (for adjusted net income), diluted earnings (loss) per share (for adjusted diluted EPS) or net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (for adjusted free cash flow), which we consider to be the most directly comparable GAAP measures. These non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools, and when assessing our operating performance, you should not consider these non-GAAP financial measures in isolation or as substitutes for commissions and fees, revenues, net income (loss), net income (loss) attributable to Baldwin, diluted earnings (loss) per share, net cash provided by (used in) operating activities or other consolidated income statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Other companies in our industry may define or calculate these non-GAAP financial measures differently than we do, and accordingly, these measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

We define adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, change in fair value of contingent consideration and certain items of income and expense, including share-based compensation expense, transaction-related partnership and integration expenses, severance, and certain non-recurring items, including those related to raising capital. We believe that adjusted EBITDA is an appropriate measure of operating performance because it eliminates the impact of income and expenses that do not relate to business performance, and that the presentation of this measure enhances an investor’s understanding of our financial performance.

Adjusted EBITDA margin is adjusted EBITDA divided by total revenues. Adjusted EBITDA margin is a key metric used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. We believe that adjusted EBITDA margin is an appropriate measure of operating performance because it eliminates the impact of income and expenses that do not relate to business performance, and that the presentation of this measure enhances an investor’s understanding of our financial performance. We believe that adjusted EBITDA margin is helpful in measuring profitability of operations on a consolidated level.

Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin have important limitations as analytical tools. For example, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin:

• do not reflect any cash capital expenditure requirements for the assets being depreciated and amortized that may have to be replaced in the future;

• do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;

• do not reflect the impact of certain cash charges resulting from matters we consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations;

• do not reflect the interest expense or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our debt;

• do not reflect share-based compensation expense and other non-cash charges; and

• exclude certain tax payments that may represent a reduction in cash available to us.

We calculate organic revenue based on commissions and fees for the relevant period by excluding (i) the first twelve months of commissions and fees generated from new partners and (ii) commissions and fees from divestitures. Organic revenue growth is the change in organic revenue period-to-period, with prior period results adjusted to (i) include commissions and fees that were excluded from organic revenue in the prior period because the relevant partners had not yet reached the twelve-month owned mark, but which have reached the twelve-month owned mark in the current period, and (ii) exclude commissions and fees related to divestitures from organic revenue. For example, revenues from a partner acquired on June 1, 2023 are excluded from organic revenue for 2023. However, after June 1, 2024, results from June 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023 for such partners are compared to results from June 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024 for purposes of calculating organic revenue growth in 2024. Organic revenue growth is a key metric used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. We believe that organic revenue and organic revenue growth are appropriate measures of operating performance as they allow investors to measure, analyze and compare growth in a meaningful and consistent manner.

We define adjusted net income as net income (loss) attributable to Baldwin adjusted for depreciation, amortization, change in fair value of contingent consideration and certain items of income and expense, including share-based compensation expense, transaction-related partnership and integration expenses, severance, and certain non-recurring costs that, in the opinion of management, significantly affect the period-over-period assessment of operating results, and the related tax effect of those adjustments. We believe that adjusted net income is an appropriate measure of operating performance because it eliminates the impact of income and expenses that do not relate to business performance.

Adjusted diluted EPS measures our per share earnings excluding certain expenses as discussed above and assuming all shares of Class B common stock were exchanged for Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. Adjusted diluted EPS is calculated as adjusted net income divided by adjusted diluted weighted-average shares outstanding. We believe adjusted diluted EPS is useful to investors because it enables them to better evaluate per share operating performance across reporting periods.

The pro forma information presented herein removes the effects of 2024 divestitures for all periods in 2024 and 2023 as if the divestitures had occurred on January 1, 2024 and January 1, 2023, respectively. Pro forma revenue reflects GAAP revenues less revenue derived from business divestitures that occurred during 2024.

Pro forma net income (loss) reflects GAAP net income (loss) less net income or loss derived from business divestitures that occurred during 2024, including the gain on divestitures. We define pro forma adjusted EBITDA as pro forma net income (loss) before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, change in fair value of contingent consideration and certain items of income and expense, including share-based compensation expense, transaction-related partnership and integration expenses, severance, and certain non-recurring costs, including those related to raising capital, after removing the effect of divestitures that occurred during 2024. We believe that pro forma adjusted EBITDA is an appropriate measure of operating performance because it eliminates the impact of income and expenses that do not relate to ongoing business performance, and that the presentation of this measure enhances an investor’s understanding of our financial performance.

Pro forma adjusted EBITDA margin is pro forma adjusted EBITDA divided by pro forma revenue. Pro forma adjusted EBITDA margin is a key metric used by management and our board of directors to assess our ongoing business performance. We believe that pro forma adjusted EBITDA margin is an appropriate measure of operating performance because it eliminates the impact of expenses that do not relate to ongoing business performance, and that the presentation of this measure enhances an investor’s understanding of our financial performance. We believe that pro forma adjusted EBITDA margin is helpful in measuring profitability of operations on a consolidated level.

We calculate adjusted free cash flow because we hold fiduciary cash designated for our insurance company partners on behalf of our clients and incur substantial earnout liabilities in conjunction with our partnership strategy. Adjusted free cash flow is calculated as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities excluding the impact of: (i) the change in premiums, commissions and fees receivable, net; (ii) the change in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities; (iii) the payment of contingent earnout consideration in excess of purchase price accrual; and (iv) the payment of colleague earnout incentives. We believe that adjusted free cash flow is an important measure of our ability to generate cash from our business operations.

Reconciliation of guidance regarding adjusted EBITDA, organic revenue growth, adjusted diluted EPS and adjusted free cash flow to the most directly comparable GAAP measures is not available without unreasonable efforts on a forward-looking basis due to the high variability, complexity, and low visibility with respect to commissions and fees, net income (loss), diluted earnings (loss) per share, net cash provided by (used in) operating activities or other consolidated income statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company is currently unable to predict with a reasonable degree of certainty the type and extent of items that would be expected to impact these GAAP financial measures for these periods. The unavailable information could have a significant impact on the non-GAAP measures.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin

The following table reconciles adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin to net loss, which we consider to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure:

		For the Three Months Ended December 31,								For the Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands, except percentages)		2024				2023				2024				2023
Revenues		$	329,892			$	284,648			$	1,389,037			$	1,218,555
Net loss		$	(34,839	)		$	(62,496	)		$	(41,081	)		$	(164,019	)
Adjustments to net loss:
Interest expense, net			29,441				31,865				123,644				119,465
Amortization expense			26,396				23,199				102,730				92,704
Share-based compensation			18,739				9,585				65,503				56,222
Colleague earnout incentives			31,211				8,020				41,917				8,020
Gain on divestitures			—				—				(38,953	)			—
Loss on extinguishment and modification of debt			45				—				15,113				—
Transaction-related partnership and integration expenses			1,459				2,721				10,501				20,728
Income and other taxes(1)			3,884				381				7,184				1,285
Depreciation expense			1,575				1,448				6,194				5,698
Severance			2,202				15,141				5,756				18,514
Change in fair value of contingent consideration			(22,225	)			6,018				(4,949	)			61,083
Loss on interest rate caps			—				1,181				244				1,670
Other(2)			5,272				8,545				18,682				28,834
Adjusted EBITDA		$	63,160			$	45,608			$	312,485			$	250,204
Net loss margin			(11	)%			(22	)%			(3	)%			(13	)%
Adjusted EBITDA margin			19.1	%			16.0	%			22.5	%			20.5	%
__________

(1)		Other taxes in 2024 include the Tax Receivable Agreement expense and other operating tax expense, such as state taxes, under GAAP.
(2)		Other addbacks to adjusted EBITDA include certain income and expenses that are considered to be non-recurring or non-operational, including certain recruiting costs, professional fees, litigation costs and bonuses.

Organic Revenue and Organic Revenue Growth

The following table reconciles organic revenue and organic revenue growth to commissions and fees, which we consider to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure:

		For the Three Months Ended December 31,								For the Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands, except percentages)			2024				2023				2024				2023
Commissions and fees		$	326,707			$	282,522			$	1,377,116			$	1,211,828
Partnership commissions and fees(1)			—				—				—				(44,696	)
Organic revenue		$	326,707			$	282,522			$	1,377,116			$	1,167,132
Organic revenue growth(2)		$	52,078			$	36,742			$	196,922			$	187,213
Organic revenue growth %(2)			19	%			15	%			17	%			19	%
__________

(1)		Includes the first twelve months of such commissions and fees generated from newly acquired partners.
(2)		Organic revenue for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023 used to calculate organic revenue growth for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024 was $274.6 million and $1.18 billion, respectively, which is adjusted to exclude commissions and fees from divestitures that occurred during 2024.

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS

The following table reconciles adjusted net income to net loss attributable to Baldwin and reconciles adjusted diluted EPS to diluted loss per share, which we consider to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures:

		For the Three Months Ended December 31,								For the Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands, except per share data)			2024				2023				2024				2023
Net loss attributable to Baldwin		$	(20,162	)		$	(34,483	)		$	(24,518	)		$	(90,141	)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests			(14,677	)			(28,013	)			(16,563	)			(73,878	)
Amortization expense			26,396				23,199				102,730				92,704
Share-based compensation			18,739				9,585				65,503				56,222
Colleague earnout incentives			31,211				8,020				41,917				8,020
Gain on divestitures			—				—				(38,953	)			—
Loss on extinguishment and modification of debt			45				—				15,113				—
Transaction-related partnership and integration expenses			1,459				2,721				10,501				20,728
Income tax expense			4,386				—				6,537				—
Depreciation			1,575				1,448				6,194				5,698
Amortization of deferred financing costs			1,422				1,552				5,841				5,129
Severance			2,202				15,141				5,756				18,514
Change in fair value of contingent consideration			(22,225	)			6,018				(4,949	)			61,083
Loss on interest rate caps, net of cash settlements			—				4,206				2,544				12,588
Other(1)			5,272				8,545				18,682				28,834
Adjusted pre-tax income			35,643				17,939				196,335				145,501
Adjusted income taxes(2)			3,528				1,776				19,437				14,405
Adjusted net income		$	32,115			$	16,163			$	176,898			$	131,096
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding - diluted			64,797				61,154				63,455				60,135
Dilutive weighted-average shares of Class A common stock			3,699				3,709				3,598				3,874
Exchange of Class B common stock(3)			49,888				52,434				50,896				53,132
Adjusted diluted weighted-average shares outstanding			118,384				117,297				117,949				117,141
Diluted loss per share		$	(0.31	)		$	(0.56	)		$	(0.39	)		$	(1.50	)
Effect of exchange of Class B common stock and net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests per share			0.02				0.03				0.04				0.10
Other adjustments to loss per share			0.59				0.69				2.01				2.64
Adjusted income taxes per share			(0.03	)			(0.02	)			(0.16	)			(0.12	)
Adjusted diluted EPS		$	0.27			$	0.14			$	1.50			$	1.12
___________

(1)		Other addbacks to adjusted net income include certain income and expenses that are considered to be non-recurring or non-operational, including certain recruiting costs, professional fees, litigation costs and bonuses.
(2)		Represents corporate income taxes at assumed effective tax rate of 9.9% applied to adjusted pre-tax income.
(3)		Assumes the full exchange of Class B common stock for Class A common stock pursuant to the Amended LLC Agreement.

Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA and Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA Margin

The following table reconciles pro forma revenue to revenues and reconciles pro forma adjusted EBITDA and pro forma adjusted EBITDA margin to net loss, which we consider to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures:

		For the Three Months Ended December 31,								For the Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands, except percentages)		2024				2023				2024				2023
Revenues		$	329,892			$	284,648			$	1,389,037			$	1,218,555
Less revenues from 2024 divestitures(1)			—				(8,031	)			(6,260	)			(35,161	)
Pro forma revenue		$	329,892			$	276,617			$	1,382,777			$	1,183,394
Net loss		$	(34,839	)		$	(62,496	)		$	(41,081	)		$	(164,019	)
Less net income from 2024 divestitures(2)			—				(422	)			(39,264	)			(3,616	)
Pro forma net loss			(34,839	)			(62,918	)			(80,345	)			(167,635	)
Adjustments to pro forma net loss:
Interest expense, net			29,441				31,865				123,644				119,465
Amortization expense			26,396				22,723				102,730				90,800
Share-based compensation			18,739				9,585				65,503				56,222
Colleague earnout incentives			31,211				8,020				41,917				8,020
Loss on extinguishment and modification of debt			45				—				15,113				—
Transaction-related partnership and integration expenses			1,459				2,721				9,451				20,728
Income and other taxes			3,884				381				7,184				1,285
Depreciation expense			1,575				1,439				6,194				5,653
Severance			2,202				15,132				5,729				18,262
Change in fair value of contingent consideration			(22,225	)			6,018				(4,949	)			61,061
Loss on interest rate caps			—				1,181				244				1,670
Other(3)			5,272				8,181				18,473				28,464
Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA		$	63,160			$	44,328			$	310,888			$	243,995
Net loss margin			(11	)%			(22	)%			(3	)%			(13	)%
Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA Margin			19	%			16	%			22	%			21	%
___________

(1)		The adjustments exclude revenue from 2024 divestitures for quarter-to-date and year-to-date periods in 2024 and 2023 as if the divestitures had occurred on January 1, 2024 and January 1, 2023, respectively.
(2)		The adjustments exclude net income from 2024 divestitures, including the gain on divestitures, for quarter-to-date and year-to-date periods in 2024 and 2023 as if the divestitures had occurred on January 1, 2024 and January 1, 2023, respectively.
(3)		Other addbacks to pro forma adjusted EBITDA include certain expenses that are considered to be non-recurring or non-operational, including certain recruiting costs, professional fees, litigation costs and bonuses.

Adjusted Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities (“Adjusted Free Cash Flow”)

The following table reconciles adjusted free cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities, which we consider to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure:

		For the Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands)			2024				2023
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	102,151			$	44,644
Adjustments to net cash provided by operating activities:
Change in premiums, commissions and fees receivable, net			73,762				132,269
Change in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities(1)			(81,561	)			(132,655	)
Payment of contingent earnout consideration in excess of purchase price accrual			23,395				24,326
Payment of colleague earnout incentives			17,112				—
Adjusted free cash flow(2)		$	134,859			$	68,584
___________

(1)		Change in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2023 has been recast to conform to current year presentation, which excludes the effect of the change in colleague earnout incentives.
(2)		Without the impact of one-time, third-party refinancing costs of $14.0 million incurred during 2024, adjusted free cash flow would have expanded 117% year-over-year to $148.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024.

COMMONLY USED DEFINED TERMS

The following terms have the following meanings throughout this press release unless the context indicates or requires otherwise:

Amended LLC Agreement		Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of The Baldwin Insurance Group Holdings, LLC, as amended
clients		Our insureds
colleagues		Our employees
GAAP		Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
insurance Company partners		Insurance companies with which we have a contractual relationship
partners		Companies that we have acquired, or in the case of asset acquisitions, the producers
partnerships		Strategic acquisitions made by the Company
SEC		U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

 

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INVESTOR RELATIONS

Bonnie Bishop, Executive Director, Investor Relations

The Baldwin Group

(813) 259-8032 | IR@baldwin.com

MEDIA RELATIONS

Anna R. Rozenich, Senior Director - Enterprise Communications

The Baldwin Group

(630) 561-5907 | anna.rozenich@baldwin.com

Source: The Baldwin Group

FAQ

What was Baldwin Insurance Group's (BWIN) Q4 2024 revenue growth?

BWIN's Q4 2024 total revenue grew 16% year-over-year to $329.9M, with organic revenue growth of 19%.

How much did BWIN's adjusted EBITDA grow in Q4 2024?

BWIN's Q4 2024 adjusted EBITDA grew 38% year-over-year to $63.2M, with margins expanding 310 basis points to 19.1%.

What was BWIN's full-year 2024 financial performance?

BWIN achieved 14% revenue growth to $1.4B, 17% organic growth, and 25% adjusted EBITDA growth to $312.5M in 2024.

How much free cash flow did BWIN generate in 2024?

BWIN's adjusted free cash flow grew 97% year-over-year to $134.9M in 2024.

What is BWIN's current liquidity position as of December 2024?

BWIN had $148.1M in cash and cash equivalents, plus $588.0M available under its revolving credit facility.