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Legacy Education Inc. (LGCY)·Q4 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q4 2025 revenue rose 40.8% year over year to $17.9M and beat Wall Street consensus by ~6.9% ($17.95M vs. $16.79M*) while diluted EPS of $0.09 missed $0.11* and EBITDA of $2.11M missed $2.26M* .*
- Sequentially, revenue declined from Q3 ($18.6M to $17.9M) and margins compressed (EBITDA margin ~11.8%* vs. 20.4%* in Q3), as educational services and G&A rose to support enrollment and programs .*
- Demand remained healthy: new student starts +15.7% YoY in Q4; FY25 ended with 3,101 students (+41.8% YoY), with approvals for new degree/certificate programs; management tone remained confident on continued growth .
- Liquidity improved: cash and cash equivalents $20.3M at year-end; equity $41.0M, supporting ongoing organic and M&A initiatives ; management highlighted an active acquisition pipeline earlier in the year .
- Catalyst framing: Revenue beat vs. EPS/EBITDA misses and margin compression; continued enrollment momentum and program expansion vs. near-term seasonal pressure discussed by management heading into Q4 .
Note: We did not locate a Q4 2025 earnings call transcript in our database. The company held a call on Sept 25; we used the 8‑K and press materials for Q4 and Q2/Q3 call transcripts for trend context .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Revenue outperformed expectations: $17.95M (+40.8% YoY) and above consensus (~$16.79M*), driven by continued enrollment growth and pricing in certain programs .*
- Enrollment momentum: Q4 new student starts +15.7% YoY; FY25 ended with 3,101 students (+41.8% YoY), underpinning growth into FY26 .
- Strategic progress: approvals for 3 new degree and 2 certificate programs; management emphasized “record enrollment, expanded program offerings, and strong financial performance,” positioning for growth in 2026 . Quote: “With record enrollment, expanded program offerings, and strong financial performance, Legacy Education is well-positioned to continue its growth trajectory in 2026.” – CEO LeeAnn Rohmann .
What Went Wrong
- Sequential softness and margin pressure: revenue fell from $18.58M in Q3 to $17.95M in Q4; EBITDA margin compressed (Q4 ~11.8%* vs. Q3 ~20.4%), reflecting higher instructional staffing, rent/externship fees and G&A (marketing, professional fees, bad debt) .
- Operating costs rose faster than revenue YoY: Q4 G&A up to $6.33M (vs. $3.25M in Q4’24) and educational services $9.45M (vs. $8.55M in Q4’24), contributing to the EPS miss despite higher operating income YoY .
- Non-GAAP dynamics: Adjusted EBITDA of $2.38M was below Q4’24’s $2.79M given much higher prior-year stock comp adjustments; EBITDA of $2.11M missed ~$2.26M* consensus .*
Financial Results
P&L Summary (GAAP and Non-GAAP)
Margins
Q4 2025 vs. Consensus
Values with asterisk (*) retrieved from S&P Global.
KPIs and Balance Sheet
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “With record enrollment, expanded program offerings, and strong financial performance, Legacy Education is well-positioned to continue its growth trajectory in 2026.” – CEO LeeAnn Rohmann .
- Q3 set-up for Q4 seasonality: “Some of those starts that would typically show up in Q4, showed up in Q3 this year... Q4... probably a little less than Q4 of last year.” – CFO Brandon Pope (Q3 call) .
- Strategy reiteration (Q3): priorities are driving enrollment, adding programs in high-demand fields (sterile processing, surgical technician, EMT), optimizing costs, and pursuing accretive acquisitions .
Q&A Highlights
- Program drivers: Q3 upside was led by nursing and imaging; additional nursing and imaging cohorts added (approx. +53 nursing, +20 imaging students) .
- Seasonality and trajectory: Management flagged that start timing boosted Q3 and would temper Q4 vs. prior year; general seasonality expected in Q4 .
- EMT rollout: Approved for HDMC locations; launched at Temecula (12-week, weekend format); expansion pending state/county approvals .
- M&A pipeline: Management “talking to a few” targets, with ongoing evaluation of accretive opportunities .
Note: No Q4 2025 transcript was available in our document set; highlights above reflect the most recent (Q3) Q&A .
Estimates Context
- Q4 2025: Revenue beat ($17.95M vs. $16.79M*), EBITDA miss ($2.11M vs. $2.26M*), and EPS miss ($0.09 vs. $0.11*). Actuals from company filings; consensus from S&P Global .*
- FY 2025: Revenue beat ($64.17M vs. $63.00M*), EBITDA miss ($10.43M vs. $10.96M*), and diluted EPS of $0.59 vs. $0.63*. Actuals from company filings; consensus from S&P Global .*
- Implication: Continued top-line outperformance on enrollment strength, but opex intensity and educational services costs kept profitability slightly below Street expectations.*
Values with asterisk (*) retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Top-line momentum intact: Q4 revenue beat and strong FY25 growth reflect sustained enrollment/pricing tailwinds in allied health programs .
- Profitability softer near-term: Q4 margin compression vs. Q3 tied to higher instructional staffing, rent/externship fees, and G&A; watch for operating leverage as new cohorts ramp .
- Seasonality matters: Management flagged start timing pulling demand into Q3; expect quarterly volatility even with healthy annual trends .
- Balance sheet optionality: $20.3M cash and solid equity base support program additions and M&A to extend growth runway .
- Execution focus: Monitoring cost discipline (marketing/bad debt/pro fees) and integration benefits post-CCMCC to stabilize margins .
- Narrative for the stock: Revenue beats are a positive catalyst; near-term stock reaction may hinge on margin trajectory and visibility into FY26 cost normalization and acquisition cadence .
- Watch list: Additional program approvals/rollouts, progress on EMT expansion, admissions trends, and any quantified guidance introduced in FY26.
Sources:
- Q4 2025 press release and 8‑K (incl. detailed financial tables, non-GAAP reconciliations) .
- Q3 2025 8‑K/press and earnings call transcript .
- Q2 2025 8‑K/press and earnings call transcript .
Values with asterisk (*) retrieved from S&P Global.