HI
HEALTHEQUITY, INC. (HQY)·Q4 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q4 FY25 revenue was $311.8M, up 19% YoY; GAAP EPS was $0.30 (flat YoY) and non-GAAP EPS was $0.69, while Adjusted EBITDA was $107.8M with margin at 35% . Custodial revenue strength (up 37% YoY) offset service cost headwinds from fraud and card processor consolidation .
- Versus S&P Global consensus, revenue beat ($311.8M vs $305.8M*) and non-GAAP EPS missed ($0.69 vs $0.716*); Adjusted EBITDA was below consensus (company-adjusted basis) as ~$17M excess service costs compressed margins** .
- FY26 guidance introduced: revenue $1.280–$1.305B, GAAP EPS $1.85–$2.01, non-GAAP EPS $3.57–$3.74, Adjusted EBITDA $525–$545M; average HSA cash yield assumption ~3.45% and non-GAAP tax rate 25% .
- Strategic catalysts: record one million new HSAs from sales in FY25, HSA assets up 27% to $32.1B, and launch of the HealthEquity Assist suite (Analyzer, Navigator with TALON, Momentum) to drive enrollment, engagement, and cost-to-serve efficiency .
**Values retrieved from S&P Global.
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Record-scale custodial revenue growth and higher yields: Q4 custodial revenue rose 37% to $144.1M; enhanced rate placements reached 49% of HSA cash with goal of 60% by FY27 .
- Strong HSA and asset growth: HSAs reached 9.9M (+14% YoY) and Total HSA Assets climbed to $32.1B (+27% YoY); invested HSAs grew 23% YoY to 753k .
- New products and AI-enabled service modernization: Assist suite launched; Expedited Claims uses AI across 7,000 clients and ~1M members; new chip-enabled stacked card rolled out, foundation for digital wallet .
What Went Wrong
- Elevated service costs and margin compression: ~$17M excess service costs in Q4 tied to fraud reimbursement and card processor consolidation reduced gross profit and Adjusted EBITDA margin (to 35%) .
- EPS missed consensus: non-GAAP EPS of $0.69 fell short of S&P Global consensus $0.716*, despite revenue strength** .
- Continued near-term cost headwinds: management expects heavier-than-normal service and security costs in H1 FY26 before margins improve in H2 .
**Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Financial Results
Segment revenue breakdown:
Key KPIs:
Estimates vs actuals (S&P Global):
Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Guidance Changes
Subsequent update post-Q4 (Q1 FY26): Revenue $1.285–$1.305B; GAAP net income $173–$188M; non-GAAP net income $320–$335M; Adjusted EBITDA $530–$550M .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “Team Purple finished fiscal ‘25 in strong fashion, with record revenues...allowing us to provide our outlook for an even stronger fiscal ‘26” — Scott Cutler, CEO .
- “Gross profit during the quarter was reduced by approximately $17M of additional service costs incurred to protect members...and to assist members during our card processor consolidation” — James Lucania, CFO .
- “Enhanced rate placements now make up 49% of our HSA cash placements, putting us well on our way toward our goal of 60% by the end of fiscal 2027” — CFO .
- “Assist...designed to help employers...Analyzer...Navigator (with TALON)...Momentum will nudge employees…personalized AI-driven recommendations” — CEO .
- “We expect heavier-than-normal costs in our first two quarters...followed by better margins in the later quarters” — CFO on FY26 cadence .
Q&A Highlights
- Service costs and fraud cadence: ~$17M Q4 excess service costs; CFO expects moderation through FY26 with normalization by H2 as security investments and digital authentication reduce call drivers .
- Guidance sensitivities: Key levers are custodial yield progression (maturities at low legacy rates, enhanced placements) and service modernization; expense growth targeted below revenue growth .
- Assist monetization/partners: Analyzer internally developed; Navigator with TALON; Momentum aims for AI-driven engagement; focus on enrollment/adoption/engagement .
- R&D/tech spend: No material change in % of revenue; re-prioritization to member-first secure mobile experience; continued AI claims automation .
- TAM expansion: HOPE Act and other pathways could expand access; bipartisan momentum noted .
Estimates Context
- Q4 FY25: Revenue beat ($311.8M vs $305.8M*), non-GAAP EPS missed ($0.69 vs $0.716*). EBITDA consensus ($114.1M*) exceeded company Adjusted EBITDA ($107.8M), reflecting ~$17M excess service costs** .
- Prior quarters: Revenue beats in Q2 and Q3; EPS beats vs consensus in Q2 and Q3* .
- FY26: Consensus Primary EPS mean
3.89* sits above company’s non-GAAP EPS guidance midpoint ($3.655), implying potential downward estimate revisions unless margin normalization and yield assumptions materialize. Values retrieved from S&P Global.
**Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Revenue momentum is intact across segments; custodial revenue and enhanced rate mix (49%) underpin earnings power even as service costs weigh near term .
- Margin headwinds from fraud and card migration are characterized as event-driven and expected to ease by H2 FY26, supporting Adjusted EBITDA recovery .
- FY26 guidance triangulates to revenue $1.280–$1.305B and Adjusted EBITDA $525–$545M; average HSA cash yield ~3.45% is a key underpinning .
- Strategic product initiatives (Assist, AI claims, digital wallet) should improve engagement and lower cost-to-serve, a medium-term driver of service margin and EPS quality .
- HSA franchise strength continues: 1M new HSAs from sales, HSAs +14% YoY, HSA Assets +27% — durable volume tailwinds for custodial and interchange lines .
- Legislative catalysts (HOPE Act, modernization) present asymmetric upside to TAM expansion; monitor bipartisan progress and potential rulemaking .
- Near-term trading: Watch for service cost normalization signals and enhanced rate penetration updates; medium term thesis rests on yield mix, digital/AI execution, and legislative tailwinds .