AI
ADT Inc. (ADT)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 2025 delivered solid growth and cash generation: revenue rose 7% to $1.27B, Adjusted EBITDA reached $661M, and Adjusted EPS increased 11% to $0.21; record RMR ($360M) and record-low gross revenue attrition (12.6%) underscored customer retention strength .
- Results beat Street on revenue and EPS; EBITDA was in line: revenue $1.267B vs $1.244B consensus, EPS $0.21 vs $0.19; EBITDA $661M vs $656M consensus (S&P Global) — a modest, broad-based beat driven by ADT+ outright sales and pricing .
- FY25 guidance reiterated: Total Revenue $5.025–$5.225B, Adjusted EBITDA $2.65–$2.75B, Adjusted EPS $0.77–$0.85, and Adjusted FCF (incl swaps) $800–$900M; management flagged tariff uncertainty but expects to manage net exposure within ranges .
- Capital returns and balance sheet actions: $445M returned in Q1 (53M shares repurchased for $397M + $49M dividend); $600M new term loan and partial $500M redemption of 2026 notes; dividend of $0.055/share declared for payment on July 8, 2025 .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Record RMR ($360M annualized $4.3B) and record retention (12.6% gross revenue attrition), highlighting resilient subscription economics and customer satisfaction improvements .
- Strong cash generation: GAAP operating cash flow up 28% to $467M; Adjusted Free Cash Flow (incl swaps) up 105% to $226M, supported by timing, solar exit, and operating improvements .
- ADT+ momentum and mix: installation revenue rose 45% to $184M, aided by customer-owned outright sales at higher average prices; installation revenue per unit ~ $1,500 as ADT sold on value over discounts .
Management quotes:
- “ADT is off to a very solid start in 2025…record recurring monthly revenue balance and customer retention” — Jim DeVries, CEO .
- “First quarter adjusted free cash flow…more than doubled…installation revenue was $184 million, up 45%…improved installation revenue per unit at approximately $1,500” — Jeff Likosar, CFO .
What Went Wrong
- GAAP diluted EPS from continuing ops declined to $0.16 (vs $0.17 LY) driven by an unrealized loss on interest rate swaps; Adjusted EPS rose to $0.21 after adjustments .
- Gross RMR additions fell ~7% YoY, with tighter credit standards in DIY and health channels; management emphasized discipline over volume and no bulk purchases in Q1 .
- Tariff uncertainty could pressure margins mid-year; management plans supplier negotiations, inventory buffers, and potential pricing surcharges to mitigate impact .
Financial Results
Segment Revenue Breakdown
Key KPIs
Actual vs Consensus (S&P Global)
Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Guidance Changes
Quarterly Phasing (Mgmt Commentary)
- Q2 revenue “slightly higher” than Q1 due to more installation revenue; Q2 Adjusted FCF similar to Q1; Q2 Adjusted EBITDA/EPS similar to or slightly lower on timing and initial tariffs .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “With our new and proprietary ADT+ offering now available to customers in all geographies, we are seeing an increasing percentage of our customers select our new ADT+ platform…at an overall higher average price.” — Jim DeVries .
- “Installation revenue was $184 million, up $57 million or 45%…improved installation revenue per unit at approximately $1,500…sell on value and rely less on promotions” — Jeff Likosar .
- “Despite current macroeconomic uncertainty, especially including the effect of tariffs, we are reaffirming the full year guidance ranges…we believe we can manage our net exposure within the ranges we've shared.” — Jeff Likosar .
- “At the end of Q1, 90% of our customer service chats were processed by AI agents…We expect to have 20% of our voice calls completely contained by AI agents by the end of the year.” — Jim DeVries .
Q&A Highlights
- Macro & demand: Business model resilient; lower relocations support retention; limited exposure to new home builds (~5% of gross adds) .
- Tariffs: Exposure uncertain; mitigation levers include supplier negotiations, inventory buffers, sourcing changes (Vietnam/Mexico), and potential customer surcharges; expect to remain within guidance .
- Gross adds: Down ~15k YoY; DIY (-9k) and health (-8k) from tighter credit; Pro Install direct adds +4%; no Q1 bulk; discipline emphasized .
- Payback: Revenue payback uptick due to securitization timing; expected to reverse in Q2 after facility refresh .
- Mix & margins: Monitoring revenue ~+2% for FY; installation carries lower margin and seasonality; guidance unchanged .
Estimates Context
- ADT beat consensus on revenue and EPS; EBITDA in line to slight beat.
- Revenue: $1.267B vs $1.244B; EPS: $0.21 vs $0.19; EBITDA: $659–$661M vs ~$656M. Drivers: outright sales uplift, pricing, retention; swaps impacted GAAP EPS but Adjusted EPS rose .
- Prior quarters also showed beats on revenue/EPS (Q3/Q4), supporting positive estimate momentum.
Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Earnings quality improving: Adjusted EPS up 11% and Adjusted FCF more than doubled; subscription metrics (RMR, attrition) at records indicate resilient cash annuity base .
- ADT+ pivot is accretive to unit economics: higher upfront installation revenue and pricing with ~$1,500 per unit; expect continued mix shift into outright sales and richer configurations .
- Near-term watch: tariff trajectory and Q2 phasing (EBITDA/EPS similar to or slightly lower; FCF similar); management has credible mitigation levers to stay within FY guidance .
- Capital returns likely to continue: $148M repurchase capacity remaining post April buys; dividend maintained at $0.055/share with Q1 declaration for July payment .
- Channel diversification: State Farm and DIY pilots show progress; SMB stable with planned product enhancements; bulk deals remain opportunistic .
- Stock reaction catalysts: sustained estimate beats on revenue/EPS, evidence of tariff mitigation/pricing power, and continued retention/NPS gains should support multiple and cash yield .
- Action: Monitor Q2 installation seasonality, tariff developments, and AI containment progress; positive bias if guidance maintained through mid-year with continued cash conversion .