LENDINGTREE REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER 2024 RESULTS
LendingTree (NASDAQ: TREE) reported strong Q4 2024 results exceeding guidance, with consolidated revenue of $261.5 million and GAAP net income of $7.5 million ($0.55 per diluted share). The company achieved variable marketing margin of $86.7 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $32.2 million.
Performance highlights include:
- Insurance segment revenue grew 188% YoY to $171.7 million
- Home segment revenue increased 35% YoY to $34.0 million
- Consumer segment revenue rose 12% YoY to $55.6 million
2025 full-year guidance projects:
- Revenue of $985-$1,025 million (9-14% growth)
- Variable Marketing Margin of $319-$336 million (5-10% growth)
- Adjusted EBITDA of $116-$126 million (11-21% growth)
LendingTree (NASDAQ: TREE) ha riportato risultati solidi per il quarto trimestre del 2024, superando le previsioni, con un fatturato consolidato di 261,5 milioni di dollari e un utile netto GAAP di 7,5 milioni di dollari (0,55 dollari per azione diluita). L'azienda ha raggiunto un margine di marketing variabile di 86,7 milioni di dollari e un EBITDA rettificato di 32,2 milioni di dollari.
I punti salienti delle performance includono:
- Il fatturato del segmento assicurativo è cresciuto del 188% anno su anno, raggiungendo 171,7 milioni di dollari
- Il fatturato del segmento abitazioni è aumentato del 35% anno su anno, raggiungendo 34,0 milioni di dollari
- Il fatturato del segmento consumatori è salito del 12% anno su anno, raggiungendo 55,6 milioni di dollari
Le previsioni per l'intero anno 2025 indicano:
- Un fatturato di 985-1.025 milioni di dollari (crescita del 9-14%)
- Un margine di marketing variabile di 319-336 milioni di dollari (crescita del 5-10%)
- Un EBITDA rettificato di 116-126 milioni di dollari (crescita dell'11-21%)
LendingTree (NASDAQ: TREE) reportó resultados sólidos para el cuarto trimestre de 2024, superando las expectativas, con ingresos consolidados de 261.5 millones de dólares y una ganancia neta GAAP de 7.5 millones de dólares (0.55 dólares por acción diluida). La compañía logró un margen de marketing variable de 86.7 millones de dólares y un EBITDA ajustado de 32.2 millones de dólares.
Los aspectos destacados del rendimiento incluyen:
- Los ingresos del segmento de seguros crecieron un 188% interanual, alcanzando 171.7 millones de dólares
- Los ingresos del segmento de viviendas aumentaron un 35% interanual, alcanzando 34.0 millones de dólares
- Los ingresos del segmento de consumidores subieron un 12% interanual, alcanzando 55.6 millones de dólares
Las proyecciones para todo el año 2025 indican:
- Ingresos de 985-1,025 millones de dólares (crecimiento del 9-14%)
- Margen de marketing variable de 319-336 millones de dólares (crecimiento del 5-10%)
- EBITDA ajustado de 116-126 millones de dólares (crecimiento del 11-21%)
LendingTree (NASDAQ: TREE)는 2024년 4분기 실적을 발표하며 가이던스를 초과 달성했으며, 통합 수익은 2억 6,150만 달러로 GAAP 순이익은 750만 달러 (희석주당 0.55달러)입니다. 이 회사는 8,670만 달러의 변동 마케팅 마진과 3,220만 달러의 조정 EBITDA를 달성했습니다.
성과 하이라이트는 다음과 같습니다:
- 보험 부문 수익이 전년 대비 188% 증가하여 1억 7,170만 달러에 달했습니다.
- 주택 부문 수익이 전년 대비 35% 증가하여 3,400만 달러에 달했습니다.
- 소비자 부문 수익이 전년 대비 12% 증가하여 5,560만 달러에 달했습니다.
2025년 전체 연도 가이던스는 다음과 같습니다:
- 수익 9억 8,500-10억 2,500만 달러 (9-14% 성장)
- 변동 마케팅 마진 3억 1,900-3억 3,600만 달러 (5-10% 성장)
- 조정 EBITDA 1억 1,600-1억 2,600만 달러 (11-21% 성장)
LendingTree (NASDAQ: TREE) a annoncé de solides résultats pour le quatrième trimestre 2024, dépassant les prévisions, avec un chiffre d'affaires consolidé de 261,5 millions de dollars et un bénéfice net GAAP de 7,5 millions de dollars (0,55 dollar par action diluée). L'entreprise a atteint une marge de marketing variable de 86,7 millions de dollars et un EBITDA ajusté de 32,2 millions de dollars.
Les points forts de la performance incluent:
- Le chiffre d'affaires du segment assurance a crû de 188 % d'une année sur l'autre, atteignant 171,7 millions de dollars
- Le chiffre d'affaires du segment habitation a augmenté de 35 % d'une année sur l'autre, atteignant 34,0 millions de dollars
- Le chiffre d'affaires du segment consommateur a augmenté de 12 % d'une année sur l'autre, atteignant 55,6 millions de dollars
Les prévisions pour l'année 2025 indiquent:
- Un chiffre d'affaires de 985 à 1 025 millions de dollars (croissance de 9 à 14 %)
- Marge de marketing variable de 319 à 336 millions de dollars (croissance de 5 à 10 %)
- EBITDA ajusté de 116 à 126 millions de dollars (croissance de 11 à 21 %)
LendingTree (NASDAQ: TREE) hat starke Ergebnisse für das vierte Quartal 2024 gemeldet, die die Prognosen übertroffen haben, mit einem konsolidierten Umsatz von 261,5 Millionen US-Dollar und einem GAAP-Nettoeinkommen von 7,5 Millionen US-Dollar (0,55 US-Dollar pro verwässerter Aktie). Das Unternehmen erzielte eine variable Marketingmarge von 86,7 Millionen US-Dollar und ein bereinigtes EBITDA von 32,2 Millionen US-Dollar.
Die Leistungsmerkmale umfassen:
- Der Umsatz im Versicherungssegment wuchs im Jahresvergleich um 188 % auf 171,7 Millionen US-Dollar
- Der Umsatz im Wohnsegment stieg im Jahresvergleich um 35 % auf 34,0 Millionen US-Dollar
- Der Umsatz im Verbrauchersegment stieg im Jahresvergleich um 12 % auf 55,6 Millionen US-Dollar
Die Prognosen für das gesamte Jahr 2025 lauten:
- Umsatz von 985-1.025 Millionen US-Dollar (Wachstum von 9-14 %)
- Variable Marketingmarge von 319-336 Millionen US-Dollar (Wachstum von 5-10 %)
- Bereinigtes EBITDA von 116-126 Millionen US-Dollar (Wachstum von 11-21 %)
- Revenue growth across all three business segments
- Insurance segment revenue up 188% YoY
- Home segment profit increased 44% YoY
- Net leverage ratio improved from 5.3x to 3.5x
- Projected 9-14% revenue growth for 2025
- Personal loans revenue up 21% YoY
- Small Business revenue increased 45% YoY
- Variable Marketing Margin growth projection (5-10%) lower than revenue growth (9-14%)
- Insurance segment expected to show modest growth in 2025 after record year
Insights
LendingTree's Q4 2024 results demonstrate exceptional financial performance with consolidated revenue of
The standout performer was the Insurance segment, which delivered
LendingTree's balance sheet strength has improved markedly, with net leverage declining from 5.3x at year-end 2023 to 3.5x at year-end 2024. This deleveraging enhances financial flexibility and should lower capital costs, ultimately improving shareholder returns through better free cash flow conversion.
The 2025 guidance projects continued momentum with revenue of
Above Forecast Results Driven by Revenue Growth Across All Three Business Segments
- Consolidated revenue of
$261.5 million - GAAP net income of
$7.5 million $0.55 - Variable marketing margin of
$86.7 million - Adjusted EBITDA of
$32.2 million - Adjusted net income per share of
$1.16
"We are thrilled to report the company's fourth quarter performance was well above the high end of our guidance range, showcasing the strength of our diversification," said Doug Lebda, Chairman and CEO. "Our Insurance business delivered another outstanding quarter with revenue growth of
Scott Peyree, President and COO, commented, "Our business has returned to broad-based growth. The exceptional Q4 performance in Insurance was powered by record revenue along with a four-percentage point sequential increase in segment margin. Our Home and Consumer segments grew revenue
Jason Bengel, CFO, added, "Our financial profile improved materially in 2024 with net leverage ending the year at 3.5x, a decline from 5.3x at year-end 2023. Our forecast anticipates further improvement in our leverage profile this year, which we intend to utilize to lower our cost of capital and improve free cashflow conversion for shareholders. We have also made steady progress managing the fixed costs of the business. Expense discipline is a core focus for the company. We anticipate the forecasted level of operating expense can drive scalable revenue growth going forward."
Fourth Quarter 2024 Business Highlights
- Home segment revenue of
$34.0 million 35% over fourth quarter 2023 and produced segment profit of$11.7 million 44% increase over the same period. - Consumer segment revenue of
$55.6 million 12% over fourth quarter 2023.- Within Consumer, personal loans revenue of
$26.5 million 21% over prior year while Small Business revenue increased45% in the period.
- Within Consumer, personal loans revenue of
- Insurance segment revenue of
$171.7 million 188% from fourth quarter 2023 and translated into segment profit of$48.0 million 90% over the same period.
LendingTree Summary Financial Metrics | |||||||||||
(In millions, except per share amounts) | |||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Y/Y | Three Months Ended | Q/Q | ||||||||
2024 | 2023 | % Change | 2024 | % Change | |||||||
Total revenue | $ 261.5 | $ 134.4 | 95 % | $ 260.8 | — % | ||||||
Income (loss) before income taxes | $ 9.1 | $ 13.1 | (31) % | (57.5) | 116 % | ||||||
Income tax expense | (1.6) | (0.4) | 300 % | (0.5) | 220 % | ||||||
Net income (loss) | $ 7.5 | $ 12.7 | (41) % | $ (58.0) | 113 % | ||||||
Net income (loss) % of revenue | 3 % | 9 % | (22) % | ||||||||
Income (loss) per share | |||||||||||
Basic | $ 0.56 | $ 0.98 | $ (4.34) | ||||||||
Diluted | $ 0.55 | $ 0.98 | $ (4.34) | ||||||||
Variable marketing margin | |||||||||||
Total revenue | $ 261.5 | $ 134.4 | 95 % | $ 260.8 | — % | ||||||
Variable marketing expense (1) (2) | $ (73.8) | 137 % | $ (183.6) | (5) % | |||||||
Variable marketing margin (2) | $ 86.7 | $ 60.6 | 43 % | $ 77.2 | 12 % | ||||||
Variable marketing margin % of revenue (2) | 33 % | 45 % | 30 % | ||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA (2) | $ 32.2 | $ 15.5 | 108 % | $ 26.9 | 20 % | ||||||
Adjusted EBITDA % of revenue (2) | 12 % | 12 % | 10 % | ||||||||
Adjusted net income (2) | $ 15.8 | $ 3.6 | 339 % | $ 10.9 | 45 % | ||||||
Adjusted net income per share (2) | $ 1.16 | $ 0.28 | 314 % | $ 0.80 | 45 % | ||||||
(1) | Represents the portion of selling and marketing expense attributable to variable costs paid for advertising, direct marketing and related expenses. Excludes overhead, fixed costs and personnel-related expenses. |
(2) | Variable marketing expense, variable marketing margin, variable marketing margin % of revenue, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA % of revenue, adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share are non-GAAP measures. Please see "LendingTree's Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures to GAAP" and "LendingTree's Principles of Financial Reporting" below for more information. |
LendingTree Segment Results | |||||||||||
(In millions) | |||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Y/Y | Three Months Ended | Q/Q | ||||||||
2024 | 2023 | % Change | 2024 | % Change | |||||||
Home (1) | |||||||||||
Revenue | $ 34.0 | $ 25.1 | 35 % | $ 32.2 | 6 % | ||||||
Segment profit | $ 11.7 | $ 8.1 | 44 % | $ 9.3 | 26 % | ||||||
Segment profit % of revenue | 34 % | 32 % | 29 % | ||||||||
Consumer (2) | |||||||||||
Revenue | $ 55.6 | $ 49.5 | 12 % | $ 59.5 | (7) % | ||||||
Segment profit | $ 28.2 | $ 28.9 | (2) % | $ 28.0 | 1 % | ||||||
Segment profit % of revenue | 51 % | 58 % | 47 % | ||||||||
Insurance (3) | |||||||||||
Revenue | $ 171.7 | $ 59.6 | 188 % | $ 169.1 | 2 % | ||||||
Segment profit | $ 48.0 | $ 25.2 | 90 % | $ 41.4 | 16 % | ||||||
Segment profit % of revenue | 28 % | 42 % | 24 % | ||||||||
Other (4) | |||||||||||
Revenue | $ 0.2 | $ 0.1 | 100 % | $ — | — % | ||||||
(Loss) profit | $ — | $ (0.1) | (100) % | $ — | — % | ||||||
Total revenue | $ 261.5 | $ 134.4 | 95 % | $ 260.8 | — % | ||||||
Total segment profit | $ 87.9 | $ 62.2 | 41 % | $ 78.6 | 12 % | ||||||
Brand marketing expense (5) | $ (1.2) | $ (1.6) | (25) % | $ (1.4) | (14) % | ||||||
Variable marketing margin | $ 86.7 | $ 60.6 | 43 % | $ 77.2 | 12 % | ||||||
Variable marketing margin % of revenue | 33 % | 45 % | 30 % | ||||||||
(1) | The Home segment includes the following products: purchase mortgage, refinance mortgage, and home equity loans. |
(2) | The Consumer segment includes the following products: credit cards, personal loans, small business loans, student loans, auto loans, deposit accounts, and debt settlement. |
(3) | The Insurance segment consists of insurance quote products and sales of insurance policies. |
(4) | The Other category includes marketing revenue and related expenses not allocated to a specific segment. |
(5) | Brand marketing expense represents the portion of selling and marketing expense attributable to variable costs paid for advertising, direct marketing and related expenses that are not assignable to the segments' products. This measure excludes overhead, fixed costs and personnel-related expenses. |
Financial Outlook
Today we are issuing our outlook for the first-quarter and full-year 2025.
For first-quarter 2025:
- Revenue:
$241 $248 million - Variable Marketing Margin:
$75 $79 million - Adjusted EBITDA:
$25 $27 million
For full-year 2025:
- Revenue is anticipated to be in the range of
$985 $1,025 million 9% to14% compared to 2024. - Variable Marketing Margin is expected to be in the range of
$319 $336 million 5% to10% over last year. - Adjusted EBITDA is anticipated to be in the range of
$116 $126 million 11% to21% from 2024.
Our full-year 2025 outlook assumes double-digit revenue growth in both the Home and Consumer segments, with more modest Insurance segment growth following a record year.
LendingTree is not able to provide a reconciliation of projected variable marketing margin or adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable expected GAAP results due to the unknown effect, timing and potential significance of the effects of legal matters and tax considerations. Expenses associated with legal matters and tax consequences have in the past, and may in the future, significantly affect GAAP results in a particular period.
Quarterly Conference Call
A conference call to discuss LendingTree's fourth-quarter 2024 financial results will be webcast live today, March 5, 2025 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). The live webcast is open to the public and will be available on LendingTree's investor relations website at investors.lendingtree.com. Following completion of the call, a recorded replay of the webcast will be available on LendingTree's investor relations website.
LENDINGTREE'S RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES TO GAAP
Variable Marketing Expense
Below is a reconciliation of selling and marketing expense, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to variable marketing expense. See "Lending Tree's Principles of Financial Reporting" for further discussion of the Company's use of this non-GAAP measure.
Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | |||||
December 31, | September 30, | December 31, | December 31, | December 31, | ||
(in thousands) | ||||||
Selling and marketing expense | $ 185,858 | $ 193,542 | $ 83,168 | $ 635,963 | $ 433,588 | |
Non-variable selling and marketing expense (1) | (11,084) | (9,976) | (9,407) | (40,055) | (42,031) | |
Variable marketing expense | $ 174,774 | $ 183,566 | $ 73,761 | $ 595,908 | $ 391,557 | |
(1) | Represents the portion of selling and marketing expense not attributable to variable costs paid for advertising, direct marketing and related expenses. Includes overhead, fixed costs and personnel-related expenses. |
LENDINGTREE'S RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES TO GAAP
Variable Marketing Margin
Below is a reconciliation of net income (loss), the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to variable marketing margin and net income (loss) % of revenue to variable marketing margin % of revenue. See "LendingTree's Principles of Financial Reporting" for further discussion of the Company's use of these non-GAAP measures.
Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | |||||
December 31, | September 30, | December 31, | December 31, | December 31, | ||
(in thousands, except percentages) | ||||||
Net income (loss) | $ 7,506 | $ 12,719 | $ (122,404) | |||
Net income (loss) % of revenue | 3 % | (22) % | 9 % | (5) % | (18) % | |
Adjustments to reconcile to variable marketing margin: | ||||||
Cost of revenue | 9,744 | 9,372 | 8,126 | 36,072 | 38,758 | |
Non-variable selling and marketing expense (1) | 11,084 | 9,976 | 9,407 | 40,055 | 42,031 | |
General and administrative expense | 29,111 | 26,680 | 25,477 | 108,705 | 117,700 | |
Product development | 12,937 | 11,190 | 11,101 | 46,358 | 47,197 | |
Depreciation | 4,448 | 4,584 | 4,831 | 18,300 | 19,070 | |
Amortization of intangibles | 1,467 | 1,466 | 1,682 | 5,889 | 7,694 | |
Goodwill impairment | — | — | — | — | 38,600 | |
Restructuring and severance | 10 | 273 | 151 | 508 | 10,118 | |
Litigation settlements and contingencies | 6 | 3,762 | 38 | 3,797 | 388 | |
Interest expense (income), net | 9,950 | 10,060 | (10,693) | 27,849 | (21,685) | |
Other (income) expense | (1,143) | 57,391 | (2,644) | 54,162 | 105,993 | |
Income tax expense (benefit) | 1,628 | 447 | 397 | 4,320 | (2,515) | |
Variable marketing margin | $ 86,748 | $ 77,223 | $ 60,592 | |||
Variable marketing margin % of revenue | 33 % | 30 % | 45 % | 34 % | 42 % | |
(1) | Represents the portion of selling and marketing expense not attributable to variable costs paid for advertising, direct marketing and related expenses. Includes overhead, fixed costs and personnel-related expenses. |
LENDINGTREE'S RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES TO GAAP
Adjusted EBITDA
Below is a reconciliation of net income (loss), the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to adjusted EBITDA and net income (loss) % of revenue to adjusted EBITDA % of revenue. See "LendingTree's Principles of Financial Reporting" for further discussion of the Company's use of these non-GAAP measures.
Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | |||||
December 31, | September 30, | December 31, | December 31, | December 31, | ||
(in thousands, except percentages) | ||||||
Net income (loss) | $ 7,506 | $ 12,719 | $ (122,404) | |||
Net income (loss) % of revenue | 3 % | (22) % | 9 % | (5) % | (18) % | |
Adjustments to reconcile to adjusted EBITDA: | ||||||
Amortization of intangibles | 1,467 | 1,466 | 1,682 | 5,889 | 7,694 | |
Depreciation | 4,448 | 4,584 | 4,831 | 18,300 | 19,070 | |
Restructuring and severance | 10 | 273 | 151 | 508 | 10,118 | |
Loss on impairments and disposal of assets | 1,797 | 6 | 182 | 2,584 | 5,437 | |
Loss on impairment of investments | — | 58,376 | — | 58,376 | 114,504 | |
Goodwill impairment | — | — | — | — | 38,600 | |
Non-cash compensation | 6,494 | 6,859 | 8,177 | 28,579 | 37,176 | |
Acquisition expense | — | — | — | — | (5) | |
Litigation settlements and contingencies | 6 | 3,762 | 38 | 3,797 | 388 | |
Interest expense (income), net | 9,950 | 10,060 | (10,693) | 27,849 | (21,685) | |
Dividend income | (1,144) | (982) | (2,021) | (4,385) | (7,888) | |
Income tax expense (benefit) | 1,628 | 447 | 397 | 4,320 | (2,515) | |
Adjusted EBITDA | $ 32,162 | $ 26,873 | $ 15,463 | $ 78,490 | ||
Adjusted EBITDA % of revenue | 12 % | 10 % | 12 % | 12 % | 12 % | |
LENDINGTREE'S RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES TO GAAP
Adjusted Net Income
Below is a reconciliation of net income (loss), the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to adjusted net income and net income (loss) per diluted share to adjusted net income per share. See "LendingTree's Principles of Financial Reporting" for further discussion of the Company's use of these non-GAAP measures.
Three Months Ended | Twelve Months Ended | |||||
December 31, | September 30, | December 31, | December 31, | December 31, | ||
(in thousands, except per share amounts) | ||||||
Net income (loss) | $ 7,506 | $ (57,978) | $ 12,719 | $ (41,704) | $ (122,404) | |
Adjustments to reconcile to adjusted net income: | ||||||
Restructuring and severance | 10 | 273 | 151 | 508 | 10,118 | |
Goodwill impairment | — | — | — | — | 38,600 | |
Loss on impairments and disposal of assets | 1,797 | 6 | 182 | 2,584 | 5,437 | |
Loss on impairment of investments | — | 58,376 | — | 58,376 | 114,504 | |
Non-cash compensation | 6,494 | 6,859 | 8,177 | 28,579 | 37,176 | |
Acquisition expense | — | — | — | — | (5) | |
Litigation settlements and contingencies | 6 | 3,762 | 38 | 3,797 | 388 | |
Gain on extinguishment of debt | — | (416) | (17,665) | (9,035) | (48,562) | |
Income tax benefit from adjusted items | — | — | — | — | (5,764) | |
Adjusted net income | $ 15,813 | $ 10,882 | $ 3,602 | $ 43,105 | $ 29,488 | |
Interest on convertible notes, net of tax | — | — | — | 1,871 | — | |
Adjusted net income attributable to shareholders | $ 15,813 | $ 10,882 | $ 3,602 | $ 44,976 | $ 29,488 | |
Net income (loss) per diluted share | $ 0.55 | $ (4.34) | $ 0.98 | $ (3.14) | $ (9.46) | |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to adjusted net income | 0.61 | 5.16 | (0.70) | 6.39 | 11.74 | |
Adjustments to reconcile effect of dilutive securities | — | (0.02) | — | (0.06) | — | |
Adjusted net income per share | $ 1.16 | $ 0.80 | $ 0.28 | $ 3.19 | $ 2.28 | |
Adjusted weighted average diluted shares outstanding | 13,591 | 13,555 | 13,020 | 14,121 | 12,957 | |
Effect of dilutive securities | — | 206 | — | 235 | 16 | |
Effect of dilutive convertible notes | — | — | — | 617 | — | |
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding | 13,591 | 13,349 | 13,020 | 13,269 | 12,941 | |
Effect of dilutive securities | 224 | — | 12 | — | — | |
Weighted average basic shares outstanding | 13,367 | 13,349 | 13,008 | 13,269 | 12,941 | |
LENDINGTREE'S PRINCIPLES OF FINANCIAL REPORTING
LendingTree reports the following non-GAAP measures as supplemental to GAAP:
- Variable marketing expense
- Variable marketing margin
- Variable marketing margin % of revenue
- Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization, as adjusted for certain items discussed below ("Adjusted EBITDA")
- Adjusted EBITDA % of revenue
- Adjusted net income
- Adjusted net income per share
Variable marketing expense, variable marketing margin and variable marketing margin % of revenue are related measures of the effectiveness of the Company's marketing efforts. Variable marketing expense represents the portion of selling and marketing expense attributable to variable costs paid for advertising, direct marketing, and related expenses, and excludes overhead, fixed costs, and personnel-related expenses. Variable marketing margin is a measure of the efficiency of the Company's operating model, measuring revenue after subtracting variable marketing expense. The Company's operating model is highly sensitive to the amount and efficiency of variable marketing expenditures, and the Company's proprietary systems are able to make rapidly changing decisions concerning the deployment of variable marketing expenditures (primarily but not exclusively online and mobile advertising placement) based on proprietary and sophisticated analytics.
Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA % of revenue are primary metrics by which LendingTree evaluates the operating performance of its businesses, on which its marketing expenditures and internal budgets are based and, in the case of adjusted EBITDA, by which management and many employees are compensated in most years.
Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share supplement GAAP net income and GAAP net income per diluted share by enabling investors to make period to period comparisons of those components of the most directly comparable GAAP measures that management believes better reflect the underlying financial performance of the Company's business operations during particular financial reporting periods. Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share exclude certain amounts, such as non-cash compensation, non-cash asset impairment charges, gain/loss on disposal of assets, gain/loss on investments, restructuring and severance, litigation settlements and contingencies, acquisition and disposition income or expenses including with respect to changes in fair value of contingent consideration, gain/loss on extinguishment of debt, contributions to the LendingTree Foundation, one-time items which are recognized and recorded under GAAP in particular periods but which might be viewed as not necessarily coinciding with the underlying business operations for the periods in which they are so recognized and recorded, the effects to income taxes of the aforementioned adjustments, any excess tax benefit or expense associated with stock-based compensation recorded in net income in conjunction with FASB pronouncement ASU 2016-09, and income tax (benefit) expense from a full valuation allowance. LendingTree believes that adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share are useful financial indicators that provide a different view of the financial performance of the Company than adjusted EBITDA (the primary metric by which LendingTree evaluates the operating performance of its businesses) and the GAAP measures of net income and GAAP net income per diluted share.
These non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for or superior to GAAP results. LendingTree provides and encourages investors to examine the reconciling adjustments between the GAAP and non-GAAP measures set forth above.
Definition of LendingTree's Non-GAAP Measures
Variable marketing margin is defined as revenue less variable marketing expense. Variable marketing expense is defined as the expense attributable to variable costs paid for advertising, direct marketing and related expenses, and excluding overhead, fixed costs and personnel-related expenses. The majority of these variable advertising costs are expressly intended to drive traffic to our websites and these variable advertising costs are included in selling and marketing expense on the Company's consolidated statements of operations and consolidated income.
EBITDA is defined as net income excluding interest, income taxes, amortization of intangibles and depreciation.
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA excluding (1) non-cash compensation expense, (2) non-cash impairment charges, (3) gain/loss on disposal of assets, (4) gain/loss on investments, (5) restructuring and severance expenses, (6) litigation settlements and contingencies, (7) acquisitions and dispositions income or expense (including with respect to changes in fair value of contingent consideration), (8) contributions to the LendingTree Foundation,(9) dividend income, and (10) one-time items.
Adjusted net income is defined as net income (loss) excluding (1) non-cash compensation expense, (2) non-cash impairment charges, (3) gain/loss on disposal of assets, (4) gain/loss on investments, (5) restructuring and severance expenses, (6) litigation settlements and contingencies, (7) acquisitions and dispositions income or expense (including with respect to changes in fair value of contingent consideration), (8) gain/loss on extinguishment of debt, (9) contributions to the LendingTree Foundation, (10) one-time items, (11) the effects to income taxes of the aforementioned adjustments, (12) any excess tax benefit or expense associated with stock-based compensation recorded in net income in conjunction with FASB pronouncement ASU 2016-09, and (13) income tax (benefit) expense from a full valuation allowance.
Adjusted net income per share is defined as adjusted net income divided by the adjusted weighted average diluted shares outstanding. For periods which the Company reports GAAP loss, the effects of potentially dilutive securities are excluded from the calculation of net loss per diluted share because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive. In periods where the Company reports GAAP loss but reports positive non-GAAP adjusted net income, the effects of potentially dilutive securities are included in the denominator for calculating adjusted net income per share if their inclusion would be dilutive.
LendingTree endeavors to compensate for the limitations of these non-GAAP measures by also providing the comparable GAAP measures with equal or greater prominence and descriptions of the reconciling items, including quantifying such items, to derive the non-GAAP measures. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.
One-Time Items
Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income are adjusted for one-time items, if applicable. Items are considered one-time in nature if they are non-recurring, infrequent or unusual, and have not occurred in the past two years or are not expected to recur in the next two years, in accordance with SEC rules. For the periods presented in this report, there are no adjustments for one-time items.
Non-Cash Expenses That Are Excluded From LendingTree's Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income
Non-cash compensation expense consists principally of expense associated with the grants of restricted stock, restricted stock units and stock options. These expenses are not paid in cash and LendingTree includes the related shares in its calculations of fully diluted shares outstanding. Upon settlement of restricted stock units, exercise of certain stock options or vesting of restricted stock awards, the awards may be settled on a net basis, with LendingTree remitting the required tax withholding amounts from its current funds. Cash expenditures for employer payroll taxes on non-cash compensation are included within adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income.
Amortization of intangibles are non-cash expenses relating primarily to acquisitions. At the time of an acquisition, the intangible assets of the acquired company, such as purchase agreements, technology and customer relationships, are valued and amortized over their estimated lives. Amortization of intangibles are only excluded from adjusted EBITDA.
Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
The matters contained in the discussion above may be considered to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations or anticipations of LendingTree and members of our management team. Factors currently known to management that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the following: adverse conditions in the primary and secondary mortgage markets and in the economy, particularly interest rates and inflation; default rates on loans, particularly unsecured loans; demand by investors for unsecured personal loans; the effect of such demand on interest rates for personal loans and consumer demand for personal loans; seasonality of results; potential liabilities to secondary market purchasers; changes in the Company's relationships with network partners, including dependence on certain key network partners; breaches of network security or the misappropriation or misuse of personal consumer information; failure to provide competitive service; failure to maintain brand recognition; ability to attract and retain consumers in a cost-effective manner; the effects of potential acquisitions of other businesses, including the ability to integrate them successfully with LendingTree's existing operations; accounting rules related to excess tax benefits or expenses on stock-based compensation that could materially affect earnings in future periods; ability to develop new products and services and enhance existing ones; competition; effects of changing laws, rules or regulations on our business model; allegations of failure to comply with existing or changing laws, rules or regulations, or to obtain and maintain required licenses; failure of network partners or other affiliated parties to comply with regulatory requirements; failure to maintain the integrity of systems and infrastructure; liabilities as a result of privacy regulations; failure to adequately protect intellectual property rights or allegations of infringement of intellectual property rights; and changes in management. These and additional factors to be considered are set forth under "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2023, in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2024, and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. LendingTree undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results or expectations.
About LendingTree, Inc.
LendingTree, Inc. is the parent of LendingTree, LLC and several companies owned by LendingTree, LLC (collectively, "LendingTree" or the "Company").
LendingTree is one of the nation's largest, most experienced online financial platforms, created to give consumers the power to win financially. LendingTree provides customers with access to the best offers on loans, credit cards, insurance and more through its network of approximately 430 financial partners. Since its founding, LendingTree has helped millions of customers obtain financing, save money, and improve their financial and credit health in their personal journeys. With a portfolio of innovative products and tools and personalized financial recommendations, LendingTree helps customers achieve everyday financial wins.
LendingTree, Inc. is headquartered in
Investor Relations:
investors@lendingtree.com
Media Relations:
press@lendingtree.com
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SOURCE LendingTree, Inc.
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