STOCK TITAN

Direct Digital Holdings Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Impact
(High)
Rhea-AI Sentiment
(Neutral)
Tags

Direct Digital Holdings (Nasdaq: DRCT) reported Q4 and full‑year 2025 results. Q4 revenue was $8.4M, down 7% year‑over‑year; buy‑side revenue rose 28% to $8.2M. Full‑year revenue declined 44% to $34.7M while buy‑side grew 10% to $29.4M. The company cut operating expenses and completed a 55‑for‑1 reverse split to regain Nasdaq compliance.

Cash was $0.7M at year‑end; adjusted EBITDA and net losses widened for FY 2025. Management announced a strategic pivot toward buy‑side growth and launched an AI programmatic product, Ignition+.

Loading...
Loading translation...

Positive

  • Buy‑side revenue +28% in Q4 2025
  • Buy‑side revenue +10% in FY 2025
  • Operating expenses down 18% in FY 2025
  • Completed 55‑for‑1 reverse stock split to regain Nasdaq compliance

Negative

  • Consolidated revenue -44% in FY 2025 to $34.7M
  • Sell‑side revenue -85% in FY 2025 to $5.3M
  • Net loss widened to ($27.7M) in FY 2025
  • Cash and equivalents $0.7M as of Dec 31, 2025

Key Figures

Q4 2025 revenue: $8.4M Q4 2025 buy-side revenue: $8.2M Q4 2025 sell-side revenue: $0.2M +5 more
8 metrics
Q4 2025 revenue $8.4M Quarterly revenue, down 7% vs Q4 2024 ($9.1M)
Q4 2025 buy-side revenue $8.2M Up 28% vs Q4 2024 ($6.4M)
Q4 2025 sell-side revenue $0.2M Down from $2.7M in Q4 2024
FY 2025 revenue $34.7M Full-year revenue, down 44% vs 2024 ($62.3M)
FY 2025 buy-side revenue $29.4M Up 10% vs 2024 ($26.6M)
FY 2025 sell-side revenue $5.3M Down 85% vs 2024 ($35.7M)
Cash & equivalents $0.7M Balance at 12/31/2025 vs $1.4M at 12/31/2024
Series A preferred issued $35M $25M in Q3 2025 plus $10M in Q4 2025

Market Reality Check

Price: $0.8100 Vol: Volume 65,390 is below th...
normal vol
$0.8100 Last Close
Volume Volume 65,390 is below the 20-day average of 91,355 (relative volume 0.72x). normal
Technical Shares at $0.81 are trading well below the 200-day MA of $14.12, and 98.8% under the 52-week high of $67.65.

Peers on Argus

DRCT was up 4.9% pre-earnings while peers were mixed: KRKR down 4.90%, STFS up 2...
1 Up 2 Down

DRCT was up 4.9% pre-earnings while peers were mixed: KRKR down 4.90%, STFS up 2.57%, and ABLV down 1.18%. This mix points more to stock-specific dynamics around DRCT’s fundamentals than a clean sector-wide move.

Previous Earnings Reports

5 past events · Latest: Nov 06 (Negative)
Same Type Pattern 5 events
Date Event Sentiment Move Catalyst
Nov 06 Q3 2025 earnings Negative -34.6% Q3 2025 revenue decline, ongoing losses and liquidity-focused capital actions.
Aug 05 Q2 2025 earnings Negative -18.6% Q2 2025 revenue down 54% YoY despite sequential improvement and cost cuts.
May 06 Q1 2025 earnings Negative -21.6% Q1 2025 revenue down 63% YoY with sharp sell-side contraction.
Mar 27 FY 2024 results Negative -45.1% FY 2024 revenue down 60% and larger net loss vs 2023 on sell-side shock.
Nov 12 Q3 2024 earnings Negative -29.2% Q3 2024 revenue down 85% amid disinformation-driven customer disruption.
Pattern Detected

Earnings releases have consistently triggered sharp negative moves, with an average 24h reaction of about -29.81% across the last five earnings events.

Recent Company History

Over the past five earnings cycles, Direct Digital has reported steep revenue declines driven by sell-side weakness, partially offset by steadier buy-side growth and cost reductions. 2024 saw revenue fall from $157.1M to $62.3M, and 2025 quarters continued that downtrend with persistent net losses and Adjusted EBITDA losses. Management repeatedly highlighted restructuring, equity facilities and preferred issuances to support liquidity. Today’s Q4/FY 2025 update extends this narrative, with buy-side growth but a structurally smaller, pressured business and continued losses.

Historical Comparison

-29.8% avg move · Past five earnings reports averaged a -29.81% next-day move, typically reacting sharply to large rev...
earnings
-29.8%
Average Historical Move earnings

Past five earnings reports averaged a -29.81% next-day move, typically reacting sharply to large revenue declines and persistent losses.

Earnings since late 2024 show a structurally smaller company: revenue falling from $157.1M in 2023 to $62.3M in 2024 and then pressured further in 2025, with management shifting emphasis toward buy-side growth and cost control while sell-side volumes remain depressed.

Regulatory & Risk Context

Active S-3 Shelf · $400,000,000
Shelf Active
Active S-3 Shelf Registration 2026-02-10
$400,000,000 registered capacity

An effective S-3 shelf filed on 2026-02-10 allows DRCT to issue up to $400,000,000 of various securities over time. With at least one 424B3 usage, this provides a flexible structure for future capital raises, subject to baby shelf limits tied to its $7.44M float.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights a business in transition: Q4 2025 revenue fell to $8.4M and full-year r...
Analysis

This announcement highlights a business in transition: Q4 2025 revenue fell to $8.4M and full-year revenue to $34.7M, yet buy-side advertising grew, reaching $8.2M in Q4 and $29.4M for 2025. Management is pivoting toward buy-side and launching Ignition+ while cutting expenses, but cash of only $0.7M, ongoing losses and reliance on preferred stock and a $400M shelf mean investors should closely watch liquidity, capital-raising activity and execution on the new focus.

Key Terms

adjusted ebitda, series a convertible preferred stock, reverse stock split
3 terms
adjusted ebitda financial
"Adjusted EBITDA[1] loss was ($3.6 million) in the fourth quarter of 2025"
Adjusted EBITDA is a way companies measure how much money they make from their core operations, like running a business, by removing certain costs or income that aren’t part of regular business activities. It helps investors see how well a company is doing without distractions from unusual expenses or gains, making it easier to compare companies or track performance over time.
series a convertible preferred stock financial
"issuance of $25 million of a new series of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock"
Series A convertible preferred stock is a class of shares sold in an early funding round that gives investors a mix of protection and upside: it pays a priority claim over common shares if the company is sold or closes, but can be converted into ordinary shares to share in future growth. Think of it like a hybrid between a safer stake and a ticket to ownership; it matters to investors because it affects who controls the company, how future gains are split, and how much their investment is protected from downside.
reverse stock split financial
"implemented a 55-to-1 reverse stock split of all classes of its common stock"
A reverse stock split is when a company reduces the number of its shares outstanding, making each share more valuable. For example, if you own 100 shares worth $1 each, a 1-for-10 reverse split would turn your 100 shares into 10 shares worth $10 each. Companies often do this to boost their stock price and appear more stable to investors.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Fourth Quarter 2025 Buy-side Revenue Increased 28%

Fourth Quarter 2025 Consolidated Revenue Decreased 7%

Reduced Operating Expenses by 12% in Q4 2025 Compared to Q4 2024 and by 18% in FY 2025 Compared to FY 2024

HOUSTON, March 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Direct Digital Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: DRCT) ("Direct Digital Holdings" or the "Company"), a leading advertising and marketing technology platform operating through its companies Orange 142, LLC ("Orange 142") and Colossus Media, LLC ("Colossus SSP"), today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025.

Mark D. Walker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We're encouraged by our ability to drive double digit growth in the buy-side of our business, driven primarily by new customers and increased demand we're seeing from new verticals. As we move through 2026, we are strategically shifting our focus on driving digital marketing spend among buy-side and new enterprise customers. To that end, in March of 2026 we launched Ignition+, an AI-enabled programmatic media solution providing enhanced accessibility for large enterprise clients in the buy-side network, while also prioritizing transparency, efficiency, and cost reduction through AI-driven optimization, insights and curation. In connection with this strategic shift, we are currently aggregating our operations to streamline our operating structure and enable us to more efficiently go to market and drive value creation for our shareholders."

Keith Smith, President, commented, "Our strategic pivot allows us to center our resources to enhance Direct Digital's buyside presence and drive continued success winning new customers and capturing market share. We look forward to executing on our refocused business model."

Fourth Quarter 2025 Highlights

  • Buy-side advertising segment served about 195 customers in the fourth of 2025.
  • Buy-side advertising revenue for the fourth quarter of 2025 included $1.7 million from customers in new verticals, reflecting the Company's ongoing expansion efforts.
  • Processed approximately 85 billion average monthly impressions through the sell-side advertising segment.
  • Executing on strategic pivot and reallocating resources to more streamlined and profitable business model focused on buy-side growth.

Fourth Quarter 2025 Financial Results

  • Revenue of $8.4 million decreased 7% compared to $9.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.
  • Buy-side advertising segment revenue of $8.2 million increased 28% compared to $6.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.
  • Sell-side advertising segment revenue of $0.2 million decreased as compared to $2.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, primarily related to a decrease in impression inventory when compared to the fourth quarter of 2024.
  • Gross profit was $2.3 million, or 27% of revenue, compared to $2.9 million, or 32% of revenue, in the fourth quarter of 2024.
  • Operating expenses of $6.7 million decreased 12% compared to $7.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.
  • Operating loss was ($4.5 million), compared to ($4.7 million) in the fourth quarter of 2024.
  • Net loss was ($12.6 million) compared to net loss of ($6.6 million) in the fourth quarter of 2024
  • Adjusted EBITDA[1] loss was ($3.6 million) in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to a loss of ($3.4 million) in the fourth quarter of 2024.
  • As of December 31, 2025, the Company held cash and cash equivalents of $0.7 million compared to $1.4 million as of December 31, 2024.

Full Year 2025 Financial Results

  • Revenue of $34.7 million decreased 44% compared to $62.3 million in full year 2024.
  • Buy-side advertising segment revenue of $29.4 million increased 10% compared to $26.6 million in full year 2024.
  • Sell-side advertising segment revenue of $5.3 million decreased 85% compared to $35.7 million in full year 2024, primarily related to a decrease in impression inventory when compared to the prior year period.
  • Gross profit was $10.4 million, or 30% of revenue, compared to $17.4 million, or 28% of revenue, in full year 2024.
  • Operating expenses of $25.2 million decreased $5.4 million, or 18%, compared to $30.6 million in full year 2024.
  • Operating loss was ($14.8 million), compared to operating loss of ($13.2 million) in full year 2024.
  • Net loss was ($27.7 million) compared to net loss of ($19.9 million) in full year 2024.
  • Adjusted EBITDA[1] loss was ($11.1 million) in full year 2025 compared to a loss of ($9.3 million) in full year 2024.

Direct Digital Holdings took several steps throughout 2025 to strengthen its balance sheet and enhance its capital structure and access to capital.

In the third quarter of 2025, the Company announced the issuance of $25 million of a new series of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, at a premium conversion price of $2.50 per share of Class A Common Stock.  The investment was made through the conversion of a portion of existing debt into the new class of perpetual convertible preferred stock. The preferred stock is redeemable in whole or in part at the Company's direction, votes on an as-converted basis with the Class A common stock, and carries a 10% cumulative annual dividend payable if, as and when declared by the Company's board of directors.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, the Company issued an additional $10 million of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. At the end of October 2025, the Company expanded its Equity Reserve Facility by 50 million shares, approved by stockholders, to a total facility amount of $100 million. The Company raised $7.3 million through the Equity Reserve Facility in the twelve months ended December 31, 2025.

Subsequent to the fourth quarter of 2025, the Company implemented a 55-to-1 reverse stock split of all classes of its common stock. The reverse stock split was approved by Direct Digital Holdings' Board of Directors and subsequently by its stockholders on December 30, 2025, allowing the Company to regain compliance with the Nasdaq minimum bid price and maintain its Nasdaq listing. This listing is a key asset and provides heightened visibility among institutional investors, which is foundational to the Company's go forward strategy to build and maintain a strengthened investor base.

Diana Diaz, Chief Financial Officer, commented, "We took several steps in the fourth quarter of 2025 and throughout the year to strengthen our balance sheet and enhance our access to capital, successfully returning Direct Digital Holdings to Nasdaq compliance. Revenue growth on the buy-side of our business in 2025 was encouraging, and with the support of our strategic pivot to a more efficient model, we believe that we are well positioned to deliver improved results in 2026."

Conference Call and Webcast Details

Direct Digital Holdings will host a conference call on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the Company's fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results. The live webcast and replay can be accessed at https://ir.directdigitalholdings.com/news-events/ir-calendar. Please access the website at least fifteen minutes prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software. For those who cannot access the webcast, a replay will be available at https://ir.directdigitalholdings.com/.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws that are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties. We use words such as "could," "would," "may," "might," "will," "expect," "likely," "believe," "continue," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "project" and other similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements, but not all forward-looking statements include these words. All of our forward-looking statements involve estimates and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, any such statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the information described under the caption "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (the "Form 10-K") and subsequent periodic and or current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on assumptions that we have made in light of our industry experience and our perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. As you read and consider this press release, you should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. They involve risks, uncertainties (many of which are beyond our control) and assumptions.

Although we believe that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could affect our actual operating and financial performance and cause our performance to differ materially from the performance expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. We believe these factors include, but are not limited to, the following: the ability to realize the benefits of our strategic shift to focusing on driving digital marketing spend among buy-side and new enterprise customers; the restrictions and covenants imposed upon us by our credit facilities; the substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, which may hinder our ability to obtain future financing; our ability to secure additional financing to meet our capital needs; our ability to maintain compliance with the listing standards of the Nasdaq Capital Market; any significant fluctuations caused by our high customer concentration; risks related to non-payment by our clients; reputational and other harms caused by our failure to detect advertising fraud; operational and performance issues with our platform, whether real or perceived, including a failure to respond to technological changes or to upgrade our technology systems; restrictions on the use of third-party "cookies," mobile device IDs or other tracking technologies, which could diminish our platform's effectiveness; unfavorable publicity and negative public perception about our industry, particularly concerns regarding data privacy and security relating to our industry's technology and practices, and any perceived failure to comply with laws and industry self-regulation; our failure to manage our growth effectively; the difficulty in identifying and integrating any future acquisitions or strategic investments; any changes or developments in legislative, judicial, regulatory or cultural environments related to information collection, use and processing; challenges related to our buy-side clients that are destination marketing organizations and that operate as public/private partnerships; any strain on our resources or diversion of our management's attention as a result of being a public company; the intense competition of the digital advertising industry and our ability to effectively compete against current and future competitors; any significant inadvertent disclosure or breach of confidential and/or personal information we hold, or of the security of our or our customers', suppliers' or other partners' computer systems; as a holding company, we depend on distributions from Direct Digital Holdings, LLC ("DDH LLC") to pay our taxes, expenses (including payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement) and any amount of any dividends we may pay to the holders of our common stock; any failure by us to maintain or implement effective internal controls or to detect fraud; and other factors and assumptions discussed in our Form 10-K and subsequent periodic and current reports we may file with the SEC.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any of these assumptions prove to be incorrect, our actual operating and financial performance may vary in material respects from the performance projected in these forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances, and we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. New factors that could cause our business not to develop as we expect emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. Further, we cannot assess the impact of each currently known or new factor on our results of operations or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. 

About Direct Digital Holdings

Direct Digital Holdings (Nasdaq: DRCT) combines cutting-edge sell-side and buy-side advertising solutions, providing data-driven digital media strategies that enhance reach and performance for brands, agencies, and publishers of all sizes. Our sell-side platform, Colossus SSP, offers curated access to premium, growth-oriented media properties throughout the digital ecosystem. On the buy-side, Orange 142 delivers customized, audience-focused digital marketing and advertising solutions that enable mid-market and enterprise companies to achieve measurable results across a range of platforms, including programmatic, search, social, CTV, and influencer marketing. With extensive expertise in high-growth sectors such as Energy, Healthcare, Travel & Tourism, and Financial Services, our teams deliver performance strategies that connect brands with their ideal audiences.

At Direct Digital Holdings, we prioritize personal relationships by humanizing technology, ensuring each client receives dedicated support and tailored digital marketing solutions regardless of company size. This empowers everyone to thrive by generating billions of monthly impressions across display, CTV, in-app, and emerging media channels through advanced targeting, comprehensive data insights, and cross-platform activation. DDH is "Digital advertising built for everyone."

 

DIRECT DIGITAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share and par value amounts)



December 31,


2025


2024

ASSETS




CURRENT ASSETS




Cash and cash equivalents

$               728


$            1,445

Accounts receivable, net of provision for credit losses of $944 and $978

3,126


4,973

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

890


2,117

Total current assets

4,744


8,535





Property, equipment and software, net

166


341

Goodwill

6,520


6,520

Intangible assets, net

7,852


9,730

Operating lease right-of-use assets

702


832

Other long-term assets

172


48

Total assets

$          20,156


$          26,006





LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT




CURRENT LIABILITIES




Accounts payable

$            7,820


$            7,657

Accrued liabilities

2,164


1,257

Accrued liabilities - related party

3,663


Liability related to tax receivable agreement, current portion

41


41

Current maturities of long-term debt


3,700

Current maturities of long-term debt - related party

12,003


Deferred revenues

513


507

Operating lease liabilities, current portion

221


188

Total current liabilities

26,425


13,350





Long-term debt, net of current portion, deferred financing cost and debt discount

146


31,603

Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion

608


783

Total liabilities

27,179


45,736





COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES








STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT




Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share, 10,000,000 shares authorized, 27,077 and 0 shares issued and outstanding, respectively


Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, 760,000,000 and 160,000,000 shares authorized, respectively, 1,324,307 and 99,100 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

1


Class B Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, 20,000,000 shares authorized, 168,645 and 197,600 shares issued and outstanding


Additional paid-in capital

25,811


3,786

Accumulated deficit

(27,720)


(8,774)

Noncontrolling interest

(5,115)


(14,742)

Total stockholders' deficit

(7,023)


(19,730)

Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit

$          20,156


$          26,006

 

DIRECT DIGITAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per-share data)



(Unaudited)




For the Three Months Ended December 31,


For the Year Ended December 31,


2025


2024


2025


2024

Revenues








Sell-side advertising

$                             182


$                          2,659


$                    5,335


$                  35,660

Buy-side advertising

8,226


6,424


29,359


26,628

Total revenues

8,408


9,083


34,694


62,288









Cost of revenues








Sell-side advertising

1,103


3,393


8,049


34,063

Buy-side advertising

5,055


2,743


16,226


10,834

Total cost of revenues

6,158


6,136


24,275


44,897

Gross profit

2,250


2,947


10,419


17,391









Operating expenses








Compensation, taxes and benefits

3,585


4,186


14,512


16,402

General and administrative

3,160


3,465


10,662


14,222

Total operating expenses

6,745


7,651


25,174


30,624

Loss from operations

(4,495)


(4,704)


(14,755)


(13,233)









Other income (expense)








Other income

16


9


77


199

Expenses and commitment shares for Equity Reserve Facility


(532)


(198)


(532)

Loss on settlement of accounts payable

(267)



(267)


Loss on debt extinguishment

(3,769)



(3,769)


Loss on Exit Fee

(3,608)



(3,608)


Derecognition of tax receivable agreement liability




5,201

Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing cost and debt discount (premium), net

(464)


(1,342)


(5,203)


(5,410)

Total other expense, net

(8,092)


(1,865)


(12,968)


(542)









Loss before income taxes

(12,587)


(6,569)


(27,723)


(13,775)

Income tax expense




6,132

Net loss

(12,587)


(6,569)


(27,723)


(19,907)









Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

(925)


(4,388)


(8,777)


(13,671)

Net loss attributable to Direct Digital Holdings, Inc.

$                      (11,662)


$                        (2,181)


$                (18,946)


$                  (6,236)









Net loss per common share attributable to Direct Digital Holdings, Inc.:








Basic

$                        (22.00)


$                        (29.88)


$                  (75.79)


$                  (91.26)

Diluted

$                        (22.00)


$                        (29.88)


$                  (75.79)


$                  (91.26)









Weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding:








Basic

691


73


308


68

Diluted

691


73


308


68

 

DIRECT DIGITAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)



For the Year Ended December 31,


2025

2024

Cash Flows Used In Operating Activities:



Net loss

$                      (27,723)

$                      (19,907)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:



Amortization of deferred financing cost and debt discount (premium), net

3,162

1,092

Amortization of intangible assets

1,879

1,954

Reduction in carrying amount of right-of-use assets

182

156

Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and software

262

275

Stock-based compensation

1,470

1,552

Deferred income taxes

6,132

Derecognition of tax receivable agreement liability

(5,201)

Loss on debt extinguishment

3,769

Loss on Exit Fee

3,608

Loss on settlement of accounts payable

267

Interest paid in kind

1,100

Commitment shares and expenses for Equity Reserve Facility

532

Provision for credit losses/bad debt expense

6

619

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:



Accounts receivable

1,841

31,615

Prepaid expenses and other assets

(27)

(60)

Accounts payable

911

(26,269)

Accrued liabilities and TRA payable

638

(1,103)

Income taxes payable

,                       (65)

(34)

Deferred revenues

6

126

Operating lease liability

(193)

(127)

Net cash used in operating activities

(8,907)

(8,648)




Cash Flows Used In Investing Activities:



Cash paid for capitalized software and property and equipment

(87)

(17)

Net cash used in investing activities

(87)

(17)




Cash Flows Provided by Financing Activities:



Proceeds from note payable

3,804

4,000

Payments on term loan

(373)

Proceeds from lines of credit

6,700

Payments on lines of credit

(3,700)

(6,000)

Payment of expenses for Equity Reserve Facility

(198)

(382)

Payment of deferred financing costs

(26)

Proceeds from issuance of Class A Common Stock

8,688

1,646

Payments on financed insurance premiums

(317)

Payment of tax related to shares withheld upon vesting

(878)

Proceeds from options exercised

92

Proceeds from warrants exercised

215

Net cash provided by financing activities

8,277

4,994




Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(717)

(3,671)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of the period

1,445

5,116

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of the period

$                             728

$                          1,445




Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:



Cash paid for taxes

$                                 3

$                             388

Cash paid for interest

$                             835

$                          4,300




Non-cash Activities:



Conversion of term loan into preferred stock net of premium

$                        30,748

$                               —

Accrued term loan amendment closing fees

$                               —

$                          3,000

Settlement of accounts payable through issuance of common stock

$                             941

$                               —

Financed insurance premiums

$                             291

$                             129

Non-cash funding of debt issuance costs

$                               63

$                               —

Accrued dividends

$                               55

$                               —

Funding of interest reserve through debt

$                               —

$                          2,000

Common stock issued for subscription receivable

$                               —

$                          1,362

Issuance of stock in lieu of cash bonus, net of tax withholdings

$                               —

$                             906

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

In addition to our results determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), including, in particular operating income, net cash provided by operating activities, and net income, we believe that earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, as adjusted for stock-based compensation, expenses and commitment shares for the Equity Reserve Facility, losses on debt extinguishment, Exit Fee, settlement of accounts payable and derecognition of tax receivable agreement liability ("Adjusted EBITDA"), a non-GAAP measure, is useful in evaluating our operating performance. The most directly comparable GAAP measure to Adjusted EBITDA is net income. The following table (in thousands) presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss for each of the periods presented (unaudited):


Three Months Ended
December 31,


Year Ended
December 31,


2025


2024


2025


2024

Net loss

$         (12,587)


$            (6,569)


$        (27,723)


$        (19,907)

Add back (deduct):








Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing cost and debt discount (premium), net

464


1,342


5,203


5,410

Amortization of intangible assets

414


489


1,879


1,954

Stock-based compensation

391


741


1,470


1,552

Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and software

47


70


262


275

Loss on debt extinguishment

3,769



3,769


Loss on Exit Fee

3,608



3,608


Loss on settlement of accounts payable

267



267


Expenses and commitment shares for Equity Reserve Facility


532


198


532

Income tax expense




6,132

Derecognition of tax receivable agreement liability




(5,201)

Adjusted EBITDA

$           (3,627)


$            (3,395)


$        (11,067)


$          (9,253)

In addition to operating income and net income, we use Adjusted EBITDA as a measure of operational efficiency. We believe that this non-GAAP financial measure is useful to investors for period-to-period comparisons of our business and in understanding and evaluating our operating results for the following reasons:

  • Adjusted EBITDA is widely used by investors and securities analysts to measure a company's operating performance without regard to items such as depreciation and amortization, interest expense, provision for income taxes, stock-based compensation and certain items such as acquisition transaction costs, losses from financing activities (including debt extinguishment and Exit Fee) and costs for the Equity Reserve Facility that can vary substantially from company to company depending upon their financing, capital structures and the method by which assets were acquired;
  • Our management uses Adjusted EBITDA in conjunction with GAAP financial measures for planning purposes, including the preparation of our annual operating budget, as a measure of operating performance and the effectiveness of our business strategies and in communications with our board of directors concerning our financial performance; and
  • Adjusted EBITDA provides consistency and comparability with our past financial performance, facilitates period-to-period comparisons of operations, and also facilitates comparisons with other peer companies, many of which use similar non-GAAP financial measures to supplement their GAAP results.

Our use of this non-GAAP financial measure has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our financial results as reported under GAAP.

Contacts:

Investors:
IMS Investor Relations
Walter Frank/Jennifer Belodeau
(203) 972-9200
investors@directdigitalholdings.com

 

1 "Adjusted EBITDA" is a non-GAAP financial measure. The section titled "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below describes our usage of non-GAAP financial measures and provides reconciliations between historical GAAP and non-GAAP information contained in this press release.

Direct Digital Holdings Logo (PRNewsfoto/Direct Digital Holdings)

 

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/direct-digital-holdings-reports-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2025-financial-results-302730708.html

SOURCE Direct Digital Holdings

FAQ

What drove Direct Digital Holdings (DRCT) Q4 2025 buy‑side revenue growth?

Buy‑side revenue growth was driven by new customers and new verticals, increasing 28% in Q4 2025. According to the company, expansion into new verticals contributed $1.7 million in Q4 and stronger enterprise demand supported continued buy‑side momentum.

How did Direct Digital Holdings (DRCT) restore Nasdaq compliance in 2025?

The company implemented a 55‑for‑1 reverse stock split approved Dec 30, 2025 to regain Nasdaq compliance. According to the company, this action restored the minimum bid price and preserved its Nasdaq listing to maintain institutional visibility.

What were Direct Digital Holdings (DRCT) full‑year 2025 revenue and net loss figures?

Full‑year 2025 revenue was $34.7 million and net loss was ($27.7 million). According to the company, revenue fell 44% year‑over‑year while buy‑side revenue rose 10% to $29.4 million, with sell‑side declines driving the overall drop.

What balance sheet and capital actions did Direct Digital Holdings (DRCT) take in 2025?

The company issued $35M of Series A convertible preferred stock and expanded an equity reserve to 100M shares. According to the company, these moves plus $7.3M raised under the facility strengthened capital access and enhanced liquidity options.

What is Ignition+ and how does it factor into Direct Digital Holdings (DRCT) strategy?

Ignition+ is an AI‑enabled programmatic media solution launched in March 2026 to target enterprise buy‑side clients. According to the company, it aims to improve transparency, efficiency and cost reduction while supporting the strategic pivot toward buy‑side growth.
Direct Digital Holdings, Inc.

NASDAQ:DRCT

View DRCT Stock Overview

DRCT Rankings

DRCT Latest News

DRCT Latest SEC Filings

DRCT Stock Data

2.01M
1.99M
Advertising Agencies
Services-advertising
Link
United States
HOUSTON