CI
Compass, Inc. (COMP)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Record Q3 results: revenue $1.846B (+23.6% YoY, at high end of guide), Adjusted EBITDA $93.6M (+80% YoY), and free cash flow $73.6M, driven by stronger transactions (+21.5% YoY), improved commission economics and contribution from Christie's; GAAP net loss was $(4.6)M due to $59.6M SBC and $7.5M merger costs . Versus S&P Global consensus, revenue beat ($1.846B vs $1.790B*) and Primary EPS beat (+$0.11 vs −$0.02*) for Q3 2025. Values retrieved from S&P Global.
- Guidance: Q4 revenue $1.590–$1.690B and Adjusted EBITDA $35–$49M; FY25 non‑GAAP OPEX cut to $1.000–$1.005B (from $1.010–$1.020B) and FCF positive affirmed .
- Strategic: Management raised merger synergy commitment for Anywhere Real Estate to >$300M net cost synergies (11% of combined non‑GAAP OPEX), with $150M in year one post‑close; integration blueprint leverages recent Christie's results in T&E attach and mortgage JV profitability .
- Operating momentum: 851 gross principal agents added (record), quarterly market share 5.63% (+83 bps YoY), GTV $70.7B (+22.5% YoY), and platform use at 22 average weekly sessions per agent; organic transactions +6.6% vs market +2% .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Record Q3 across revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin and FCF. CEO: “Compass delivered the strongest Q3 results in our history… including Revenue, Adjusted EBITDA… Free Cash Flow” . CFO: “We delivered $1.85 billion in revenue… and Adjusted EBITDA of $93.6 million” . Q3 FCF $73.6M vs $32.8M LY .
- Share gains and volume outperformance: total transactions +21.5% (market +2%), organic +6.6%; market share up 83 bps YoY to 5.63% . “For 18 consecutive quarters… Compass has outperformed the market on an organic basis” .
- Ancillary flywheel and operating discipline: most profitable quarter for mortgage JV (equity in income +$3M), improved commission rate from Christie's mix, and continued non‑GAAP OPEX control (Q3 non‑GAAP OPEX ex‑merger costs $252M, relatively flat QoQ) . CFO: commissions as % revenue improved 73 bps YoY to 81.44% aided by Christie's margin profile .
What Went Wrong
- GAAP profitability remained negative: Q3 GAAP net loss $(4.6)M vs $(1.7)M LY, impacted by $59.6M SBC and $7.5M merger transaction costs; excluding merger costs, GAAP net income would have been $2.9M .
- Non‑GAAP OPEX up YoY due to M&A: total non‑GAAP OPEX $252M vs $215M LY, reflecting Christie's and other 2025 acquisitions; organically up ~3.5% YoY despite discipline .
- Ongoing legal and integration costs: new P&L line for “Anywhere Merger Transaction and Integration Expenses” began in Q3; management expects further transaction/integration spend and notes continuing legal expenses into 2026 .
Financial Results
Results by Quarter (oldest → newest)
Notes: Margins for Q3’24–Q2’25 are calculated from reported revenue and Adjusted EBITDA with cited inputs.
Q3 2025 Actual vs S&P Global Consensus
Values retrieved from S&P Global. Note: Company reports Adjusted EBITDA of $93.6M (non‑GAAP), which differs from S&P’s EBITDA definition .
Key KPIs and Operating Metrics
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO Robert Reffkin: “Compass delivered the strongest Q3 results in our history, marked by several quarterly records including Revenue, Adjusted EBITDA… Free Cash Flow” . “For 18 consecutive quarters… Compass has outperformed the market on an organic basis” .
- CFO Scott Wahlers: “We delivered $1.85 billion in revenue… and Adjusted EBITDA of $93.6 million… Free Cash Flow growing 124% year‑over‑year to $73.6 million… finished Q3 with… $170.3 million in cash and… no balance outstanding on our revolver” .
- CEO on synergies: “I am personally committing today that we will deliver more than $300 million in net cost synergies… $150 million… in the first year post‑close” .
Q&A Highlights
- Incremental $50–$75M EBITDA initiative: Embedded in lowered OPEX run‑rate and flows into 2026 baseline; at least $50M realized in 2026 remains on track .
- Christie's ancillary uplift: ~1000 bps title attach increase from aligning agents, integrating offices/tech, and shared incentives—blueprint for Anywhere integration .
- Agent recruiting: Raised gross add “new normal” to 700–800 per quarter, driven by platform/AI vision and brand momentum .
- Organic growth drivers: Q3 strength centered in September; inorganic growth driven primarily by Christie's .
- OPEX/legal cadence: Non‑merger legal costs included in OPEX and may continue into 2026; firm‑wide efficiency programs (offshoring, Six Sigma, AI) continue .
Estimates Context
- Revenue beat: $1.846B actual vs $1.790B* consensus for Q3 2025. Values retrieved from S&P Global.
- EPS beat: Primary EPS +$0.11* vs −$0.02* consensus; note company reports GAAP diluted EPS of $(0.01) in Q3, whereas S&P’s “Primary EPS” is a normalized measure and may differ from GAAP . Values retrieved from S&P Global.
- EBITDA definitions: S&P Global EBITDA actual $31.7M* vs consensus $69.4M* contrasts with company’s Adjusted EBITDA $93.6M (non‑GAAP) . The company excludes SBC, merger and other items in Adjusted EBITDA; this definitional gap explains the apparent divergence. Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Strong print with clean top‑line and cash flow: revenue at the high end, Adjusted EBITDA above guide, and record Q3 FCF—all while gaining share and growing agents .
- Guidance conservative on Q4 earnings power: seasonally lower Q4 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA, but ongoing OPEX reductions support 2026 profitability trajectory .
- Accretive ancillary flywheel: T&E and mortgage JV profitability improving; Christie's integration suggests upside from ancillary attach at scale post‑Anywhere .
- Synergy catalyst: CEO’s >$300M net synergy commitment raises medium‑term FCF and deleveraging potential post‑close; tuck‑ins paused to focus on integration .
- AI as a competitive moat: Near‑term launch of Compass AI 2.0 and platform adoption may enhance agent productivity and retention; management cites emergent AI‑driven lead flows to experienced agents .
- Watch items: Continued SBC and merger/integration costs weighing on GAAP EPS; legal expense overhang may extend into 2026 .
- Trading setup: Revenue and EPS beats vs consensus*, synergy raise, and FY OPEX cut are positive catalysts; investors should monitor regulatory progress on the Anywhere merger and Q4 execution amid seasonality. Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Citations
- Q3 2025 press release and financials:
- Q3 2025 Form 8‑K & exhibits:
- Q3 2025 earnings call transcript:
- Q2 2025 press release:
- Q1 2025 press release:
- Anywhere merger press release (Q3 2025 relevant):
- S&P Global estimates (consensus/actuals for Q3 2025): Revenue, EPS, EBITDA, targets, and counts retrieved via GetEstimates*. Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Footnote on S&P Global data: Asterisked values in the “Actual vs Consensus” table and estimate comparisons reflect S&P Global metrics and may differ from company‑reported non‑GAAP definitions. Values retrieved from S&P Global.