StubHub Holdings, Inc. (STUB)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Revenue beat, EPS miss driven by non-cash IPO charge: Q3 revenue was $468.1M, up 8% y/y and above consensus, while GAAP diluted EPS was -$4.27 vs a smaller loss expected due to a one-time $1.4B stock-based comp expense recognized upon IPO completion . Q3 revenue consensus was ~$451.4M* and EPS consensus was -$3.08*, implying a ~3.7% revenue beat and a GAAP EPS miss entirely explained by IPO-related non-cash SBC .
- Marketplace momentum with deliberate take-rate investment: GMS grew 11% y/y to $2.43B (24% ex-Taylor Swift) with revenue equal to 19% of GMS; management intentionally reduced take rates (vs ~20% prior year) to accelerate share gains, with adjusted EBITDA up 21% to $67.5M (14% margin) .
- Balance sheet materially strengthened post-IPO: ~$1.0B raised across IPO/Series O; $750M of USD term loan repaid; cash $1.39B; net leverage fell to 3.9x TTM Adjusted EBITDA; hedges fix loan rates at ~5.8% through Feb 2027; annual debt service cut to ~$99M (-43%) .
- Strategic catalysts: multi-year MLB partnership to distribute primary tickets via Direct Issuance beginning 2026 and planned Q4 launch of sponsored listings to open an advertising revenue stream; both are positioned as long-term value drivers .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Market share expansion with product leverage: “Q3 was both our largest relative market share quarter to date and the largest quarter of new seller adoption for Reach Pro,” driving durable seller stickiness and data advantages .
- Robust core growth despite regulatory headwinds: GMS +11% y/y to $2.43B and +24% ex-Taylor Swift; revenue +8% y/y to $468.1M with adjusted EBITDA +21% to $67.5M and margin +100 bps to 14% .
- Balance sheet de-risking: ~$1.0B gross proceeds (IPO + preferred) and $750M debt repayment lowered net leverage to 3.9x; hedged interest to 5.8% and cut annual debt service to $99M, enhancing FCF potential .
What Went Wrong
- GAAP optics: A one-time, non-cash $1.4B SBC expense tied to IPO triggered a GAAP net loss of $1.29B and GAAP EPS of -$4.27, overshadowing adjusted performance in headline numbers .
- Take-rate compression and inventory revenue decline: Revenue-as-%-of-GMS fell to ~19% (from ~20% y/y) due to deliberate take-rate reductions; inventory revenue declined as the company phased out minimum guarantees for Direct Issuance sellers .
- Near-term uncertainty and legal overhang: No Q4/FY guidance; management will provide FY26 outlook with Q4 results; a plaintiff firm announced an “investigation” post-print, adding a minor near-term headline risk .
Financial Results
P&L vs Prior Year and Consensus
Notes: The GAAP loss reflects a one-time, non-cash $1.4B stock-based compensation charge at IPO . Values with asterisks are from S&P Global consensus.
Operating Expense Mix (Adjusted)
Sequential Trends (last 4 quarters) — Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow
TTM Adjusted EBITDA at Q3 2025: $274.1M . TTM FCF: $5.6M (includes timing/interest impacts) .
Cash, Leverage and Liquidity (as of 9/30/25 unless noted)
- Cash & Cash Equivalents: $1,392M
- Total Debt (principal): ~$1.69B; Net Leverage: 3.9x TTM Adj. EBITDA
- Interest rate hedged to ~5.8% through Feb 2027; annual debt service now ~$99M (-43% y/y)
- Revolver capacity raised to $565M
KPIs
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “Q3 was both our largest relative market share quarter to date and the largest quarter of new seller adoption for Reach Pro.” — Eric Baker, CEO .
- “Revenue…declining slightly to 19% of GMS…compared to 20% in the prior year period” as part of deliberate share strategy — Connie James, CFO .
- “Our GAAP results…include a non-recurring, non-cash expense of $1.4 billion related to stock-based compensation granted prior to our IPO.” — Connie James .
- “We reduced our total debt by approximately 30%…retiring $750 million…ended the quarter with $1.4 billion of cash…net debt to TTM adjusted EBITDA was 3.9x.” — Connie James .
- “Sponsored listings…will be rolling out second half of Q4.” — Eric Baker .
- “All-in pricing is a 10% headwind…we’ll lap it in May of 2026.” — Eric Baker .
Q&A Highlights
- ROI on share investments and DI: Management reiterated long-term focus; share gains are durable with POS “Reach Pro” adoption reinforcing marketplace advantages .
- Advertising ramp: Sponsored listings to begin in 2H Q4 with seamless Reach Pro integration; Booking.com validates post-purchase monetization .
- DI economics and take rates: Take rates are the same for Direct Issuance as secondary; phasing out minimum guarantees aligns with scalable marketplace economics .
- All-in pricing and demand: ~10% one-year headwind; demand for live events remains robust; timing shifts in onsales can move between quarters .
- International growth and 2026 setup: Asia/LatAm strength; tours getting more global; FY26 guidance to be provided with Q4/FY results .
Estimates Context
- Q3 2025 vs consensus: Revenue $468.1M vs $451.4M* (beat ~3.7%); GAAP EPS -$4.27 vs -$3.08* (miss due to one-time IPO SBC) .
- Forward consensus snapshots:
- Q4 2025: Revenue ~$491.5M*, EPS -$0.01*
- FY 2025: Revenue ~$1.789B*, EPS -$4.95*
- FY 2026: Revenue ~$2.644B*, EPS $1.23*
Values with asterisks are retrieved from S&P Global.
Note: SPGI “EBITDA Consensus Mean” is not directly comparable to the company’s Adjusted EBITDA (which excludes SBC and other items). Company-reported Adjusted EBITDA in Q3 2025 was $67.5M (14% margin) . Values with asterisks are retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Core beat on revenue with clear explanation for GAAP EPS miss: The miss stems from non-recurring IPO SBC; adjusted trends remain positive with EBITDA/margins expanding y/y .
- Strategy is working: Management is trading take rate for durable share gains, amplified by Reach Pro adoption and stronger seller integration .
- New monetization vectors: Sponsored listings (Q4 launch) and DI open the door to incremental, high-margin revenue streams over time .
- Deleveraging accelerates equity story: Lower debt service and hedged rates materially enhance 2026 cash flow potential and optionality .
- Regulatory headwind is finite: All-in pricing creates a ~10% one-year drag, laps by May 2026; management views it as a longer-term consumer positive .
- Watchlist risks/catalysts: No near-term guidance; Q4 onsale timing uncertainty; legal “investigation” headline; MLB DI ramp; World Cup demand setup for 2026 .
- Trading frame: Focus on DI wins, sponsored listings adoption, take-rate trajectory, and ongoing debt reduction as the primary stock drivers into FY26 .
Additional context: Prior two quarters’ standalone earnings materials were not publicly available (pre-IPO). Sequential trends above use company-provided quarterly reconciliation tables for Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow .