LegalZoom Reports Strong Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results
Rhea-AI Summary
LegalZoom (Nasdaq: LZ) reported strong Q4 and full‑year 2025 results with full‑year revenue of $756.0M (up 11% YoY) and full‑year Adjusted EBITDA of $172.2M (23% margin). Subscription revenue was $492.5M (up 13% YoY). The company recorded record operating cash flow of $178.2M and record free cash flow of $147.9M. Cash and equivalents were $203.1M with no debt at year‑end. Management guided to ~8% revenue growth for 2026 at midpoint and raised the share repurchase authorization by $100M.
Positive
- Full‑year revenue of $756.0M (+11% YoY)
- Full‑year subscription revenue $492.5M (+13% YoY)
- Adjusted EBITDA $172.2M and 23% margin
- Record operating cash flow $178.2M (+31% YoY)
- Record free cash flow $147.9M (+48% YoY)
- Board approved $100M increase to share repurchase authorization
Negative
- Full‑year net income fell to $15.4M (down 49% YoY)
- Net income margin compressed to 2%
- Q4 net income declined 53% year‑over‑year
- Q1 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance implies a ~5% year‑over‑year decrease at midpoint
Market Reaction
Following this news, LZ has declined 4.40%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction. Our momentum scanner has triggered 3 alerts so far, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. The stock is currently trading at $6.74. This price movement has removed approximately $58M from the company's valuation.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus (15 min delayed). Upgrade to Silver for real-time data.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
Peers like CMPR, BV, TH, and TRNS show modest gains (0.38–0.66%), while LZ is up 0.79%, but no names appear in momentum scanners, suggesting stock-specific focus rather than a broad sector move.
Previous Earnings Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 05 | Q3 2025 earnings | Positive | +2.6% | Record Q3 revenue, strong subscription growth, raised 2025 revenue guidance. |
| Aug 07 | Q2 2025 earnings | Positive | +31.2% | Q2 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA growth, raised 2025 revenue outlook to 8%. |
| May 07 | Q1 2025 earnings | Positive | +23.6% | Q1 revenue growth, higher Adjusted EBITDA, reiterated 2025 guidance and buybacks. |
| Feb 26 | FY 2024 earnings | Positive | +13.2% | Strong Q4 and FY 2024 results with higher net income and Adjusted EBITDA. |
| Nov 06 | Q3 2024 earnings | Positive | +13.1% | Q3 2024 revenue growth, record net income and Adjusted EBITDA, buybacks increased. |
Past earnings releases tended to be received positively, with revenue growth, margin focus, and guidance updates often followed by upward price moves.
Over the last five earnings reports, LegalZoom has consistently highlighted revenue growth, expanding subscription contributions, and improving profitability. Events on Nov 5, 2025 and Aug 7, 2025 featured raised 2025 growth expectations, while earlier 2025 results emphasized commitment to profitability targets and cash generation. The current 2025 full-year results and 2026 guidance continue this pattern of subscription-led growth and Adjusted EBITDA expansion commentary.
Historical Comparison
In the past five earnings releases, LZ’s average move was 16.74%, typically on subscription-driven growth, guidance changes, and profitability focus. Today’s earnings continue that thematic pattern of emphasizing growth and Adjusted EBITDA expansion.
Earnings updates show a progression from initial 2025 guidance of 5% revenue growth to higher expectations later in 2025, alongside rising Adjusted EBITDA, culminating in full-year 2025 results and a 2026 outlook calling for continued revenue growth and Adjusted EBITDA expansion.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement highlights double-digit full-year revenue growth to $756.0M, expanding subscription contributions, and strong 2025 Adjusted EBITDA of $172.2M alongside record free cash flow of $147.9M. The company also issued 2026 guidance calling for continued revenue and Adjusted EBITDA growth. Investors may focus on the balance between subscription-led expansion, GAAP margin compression, and execution against the 2026 outlook when evaluating longer-term implications.
Key Terms
adjusted ebitda financial
free cash flow financial
non-gaap financial
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Q4 2025 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA exceeds outlook
Introduces strong 2026 guidance
Announces
- Full-year revenue of
$756.0 million up11% year-over-year, reflecting emphasis on subscription initiatives and contributions from the Formation Nation acquisition - Full-year subscription revenue of
$492.5 million up13% year-over-year, driven by focus on higher-value customers and differentiated human-in-the-loop service offerings - Full-year net income of
$15.4 million and net income margin of2% - Full-year Adjusted EBITDA of
$172.2 million and Adjusted EBITDA margin of23% - Record full-year operating cash flow of
$178.2 million , up31% year-over-year, and record free cash flow of$147.9 million , up48% year-over-year $203.1 million of cash and cash equivalents and no debt outstanding as of December 31, 2025
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Feb. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LegalZoom.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: LZ), a leading online platform for legal services, today announced results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2025.
“LegalZoom is built for where the market is going. AI is transforming how legal work starts, which is opening up new markets. We are winning by delivering customers to the finish line with trust, judgment, and execution,” said Jeff Stibel, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LegalZoom. “Our strategy is simple: lead in automation and win the last mile with human-in-the-loop expertise. By serving both new entrepreneurs and established businesses, and supporting them across their full lifecycle, we are expanding our role from a point solution to a long-term partner. We believe this evolution will strengthen our competitive position, deepen customer relationships, and position LegalZoom for sustained growth in the years ahead.”
Noel Watson, LegalZoom’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, added, “We delivered strong results in 2025 with continued subscription momentum, expanding margins, and record free cash flow generation. Building on that performance, we are guiding to approximately
Fourth Quarter 2025 Highlights
- Revenue was
$190.3 million for the quarter, up18% year-over-year.- Transaction revenue was
$59.3 million for the quarter, compared to$53.0 million in the same period in 2024, up12% year-over-year. - Subscription revenue was
$130.9 million for the quarter, compared to$108.7 million in the same period in 2024, up20% year-over-year.
- Transaction revenue was
- Gross margin was
68% for the quarter compared to67% in the same period in 2024. - Net income was
$6.1 million for the quarter, or3% of revenue, compared to$12.9 million , or8% of revenue, in the same period in 2024. - Adjusted EBITDA was
$49.9 million for the quarter, or26% of revenue, compared to$44.2 million , or27% of revenue, in the same period in 2024. - Non-GAAP net income was
$31.1 million for the quarter compared to$32.6 million in the same period in 2024. - Cash and cash equivalents were
$203.1 million as of December 31, 2025 compared to$142.1 million as of December 31, 2024. - Cash flows provided by operating activities were
$34.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 compared to$42.6 million in the same period in 2024. - Free cash flow was
$28.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 compared to$35.9 million in the same period in 2024. - Basic and diluted net income per share was
$0.03 for the quarter compared to a basic and diluted net income per share of$0.07 for the same period in 2024. Basic and diluted Non-GAAP net income per share was$0.18 and$0.17 , respectively, for the quarter in 2025 compared to basic and diluted Non-GAAP net income per share of$0.19 for the same period in 2024.
Key Business Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(Unaudited, in thousands except AOV, ARPU and percentages)
| Three Months Ended | % Growth | Year Ended | % Growth | |||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, | (Decline) | December 31, | (Decline) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | YOY | 2025 | 2024 | YOY | |||||||||||||||||
| Total revenue | $ | 190,266 | $ | 161,706 | 18 | % | $ | 756,043 | $ | 681,881 | 11 | % | ||||||||||
| Transaction revenue | $ | 59,319 | $ | 52,959 | 12 | % | $ | 263,582 | $ | 245,692 | 7 | % | ||||||||||
| Subscription revenue | $ | 130,947 | $ | 108,747 | 20 | % | $ | 492,461 | $ | 436,189 | 13 | % | ||||||||||
| Gross Profit | $ | 128,535 | $ | 108,321 | 19 | % | 498,083 | 441,788 | 13 | % | ||||||||||||
| Gross Margin | 68 | % | 67 | % | 1 | % | 66 | % | 65 | % | 2 | % | ||||||||||
| Net Income | $ | 6,058 | $ | 12,854 | (53 | )% | $ | 15,427 | $ | 29,963 | (49 | )% | ||||||||||
| Net income margin | 3 | % | 8 | % | (63 | )% | 2 | % | 4 | % | (50 | )% | ||||||||||
| Net Income per share — basic: | $ | 0.03 | $ | 0.07 | (57 | )% | $ | 0.09 | $ | 0.17 | (47 | )% | ||||||||||
| Net Income per share — diluted: | $ | 0.03 | $ | 0.07 | (57 | )% | $ | 0.08 | $ | 0.16 | (50 | )% | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 34,129 | $ | 42,586 | (20 | )% | 178,197 | 135,639 | 31 | % | ||||||||||||
| Non-GAAP Financial Measures | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-GAAP net income | $ | 31,102 | $ | 32,598 | (5 | )% | $ | 114,249 | $ | 99,451 | 15 | % | ||||||||||
| Non-GAAP net income per share — basic: | $ | 0.18 | $ | 0.19 | (5 | )% | $ | 0.64 | $ | 0.55 | 16 | % | ||||||||||
| Non-GAAP net income per share — diluted: | $ | 0.17 | $ | 0.19 | (11 | )% | $ | 0.62 | $ | 0.54 | 15 | % | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 49,894 | $ | 44,204 | 13 | % | $ | 172,193 | $ | 148,114 | 16 | % | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA margin | 26 | % | 27 | % | (4 | )% | 23 | % | 22 | % | 5 | % | ||||||||||
| Free cash flow | $ | 27,995 | $ | 35,879 | (22 | )% | $ | 147,920 | $ | 99,943 | 48 | % | ||||||||||
| Key Business Metrics | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transaction units | 239 | 241 | (1 | )% | 1,117 | 1,123 | (1 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Business formations | 112 | 96 | 17 | % | 500 | 482 | 4 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Average order value (AOV) | $ | 248 | $ | 220 | 13 | % | $ | 236 | $ | 219 | 8 | % | ||||||||||
| Subscription units at period end | 1,939 | 1,766 | 10 | % | 1,939 | 1,766 | 10 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Average revenue per subscription unit (ARPU) at period end | $ | 266 | $ | 263 | 1 | % | $ | 266 | $ | 263 | 1 | % | ||||||||||
| Certain percentages may not recalculate due to rounding. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial Guidance and Outlook
Our guidance for the first quarter ending March 31, 2026 is as follows:
- Revenue is expected to be in the range of
$200 million to$203 million , or10% year-over-year growth at the midpoint. Our outlook assumes continued execution of our growth initiatives. - Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of
$34 million to$36 million , a5% year-over-year decrease at the midpoint, reflecting a shift in timing of marketing investments to align with peak business formation seasonality.
Our guidance for the full year ending December 31, 2026 is as follows:
- Revenue is expected to be in the range of
$805 million to$825 million , or8% year-over-year growth at the midpoint. Our outlook reflects continued momentum of our growth initiatives including higher-value customer acquisition and an emphasis on differentiated human-in-the-loop service offerings. - Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of
$190 million to$200 million , or13% year-over-year growth at the midpoint, reflecting improved gross margins and disciplined cost management.
Webcast and Conference Call Information
A webcast and conference call to discuss fourth quarter and full year 2025 results is scheduled for today, February 19, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time/1:30 p.m. Pacific time. Those interested in participating in the conference call are invited to register Here.
A live audio webcast of the event will be available on the LegalZoom Investor Relations website: https://investors.legalzoom.com. An archived replay of the webcast also will be available shortly after the live event.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release may be forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “targets,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our quarterly and annual guidance.
The forward-looking statements in this press release are only predictions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the following: our dependence on business formations; our dependence on customers expanding the use of our platform, including converting our transactional customers to subscribers and our subscribers renewing their subscriptions with us; the impact of macroeconomic challenges or uncertainty on our business; our ability to sustain our revenue growth rate and remain profitable in the future; our ability to provide high-quality products and services, customer care and customer experience; our ability to continue to innovate and provide a platform that is useful to our customers and that meets our customers’ expectations; the competitive legal solutions market; our dependence on our brand and reputation; our ability to maintain and expand strategic relationships with third parties; our ability to hire and retain top talent and motivate our employees; our ability to effectively integrate Formation Nation, Inc. into our existing operations; risks and costs associated with complex and evolving laws and regulations; our ability to maintain effective in our internal control over financial reporting; and any factors discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2025 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on November 5, 2025, as well as any factors in our subsequent filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to us as of the date of this press release, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.
You should read this press release with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, performance and achievements may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise.
About Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release includes non-GAAP financial measures including Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Non-GAAP net income, Non-GAAP net income margin, Non-GAAP net income per share and free cash flow. We use these non-GAAP financial measures to better understand and evaluate our core operating performance. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide management and our investors with useful information about our financial performance and liquidity, enhance the overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects and allow for greater transparency with respect to important measures used by our management for financial and operational decision-making. We also believe that these measures provide an additional tool for investors to use in comparing our core financial performance over multiple periods with other companies in our industry. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute or an alternative to, measures prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.
We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income adjusted to exclude interest expense, interest income, provision for (benefit from) income taxes, depreciation and amortization, other expense (income), net, stock-based compensation and certain non-recurring income and expenses from time to time. We define Adjusted EBITDA margin as Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue.
Adjusted EBITDA is one of the primary performance measures used by our management and our board of directors to understand and evaluate our financial performance and operating trends, including period-to-period comparisons, preparing and approving our annual budget and operational planning. In assessing our performance, we exclude certain expenses that we believe are not comparable period over period or that we believe are not indicative of our underlying operating performance. There are a number of limitations related to the use of Adjusted EBITDA rather than net income, which include that Adjusted EBITDA:
- may be calculated differently by other companies in our industry, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure;
- does not reflect our capital expenditures, future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
- excludes depreciation and amortization and, although these are non-cash expenses, the assets being depreciated may be replaced in the future;
- does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;
- excludes stock-based compensation expense, which has been, and will continue to be, a significant recurring expense for our business and an important part of our compensation strategy; and
- does not reflect certain expenses that we do not consider representative of our underlying operating performance, but that reduce cash available to us.
We define Non-GAAP net income as net income adjusted to exclude amortization of acquired intangible assets, stock-based compensation expense and certain non-recurring income and expenses from time to time, net of related income tax impacts. We define net income margin as net loss as a percentage of revenue. We define Non-GAAP net income margin as Non-GAAP net income as a percentage of revenue. We define Non-GAAP net income per share attributable to common stockholders as Non-GAAP net income divided by basic and diluted weighted-average common stock.
Free cash flow is a liquidity measure used by management in evaluating the cash generated by our operations after purchases of property and equipment including capitalized internal-use software. We believe free cash flow provides useful information to management and investors about the amount of cash generated by our business that can be used for strategic opportunities, including investing in our business and strengthening our balance sheet, once our business needs and obligations are met. The usefulness of free cash flow as an analytical tool has limitations because it excludes certain items that are settled in cash, does not represent residual cash flow available for discretionary expenses, does not reflect our future contractual commitments, and may be calculated differently by other companies in our industry.
We are not providing a reconciliation for our non-GAAP outlook on a forward-looking basis (including the information under “Financial Outlook” above), as we are unable to provide a meaningful calculation or estimation of reconciling items and the information is not available without unreasonable effort. This is due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing or amount of various items that would impact the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measure that have not yet occurred, are out of LegalZoom’s control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted. Forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures provided without the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures may vary materially from the corresponding GAAP financial measures.
The tables in this press release contain more details on the GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures and the related reconciliations between these financial measures.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom is a leading online platform for legal services, transforming how individuals and small businesses navigate the legal system. By combining intuitive technology with access to experienced attorneys—whether through our vast independent attorney network or the LegalZoom-owned law firm—we offer the tools and guidance people need to confidently manage everything from business formation and compliance to estate planning and ongoing legal support.
With over two decades of experience and millions of customers served, LegalZoom helps individuals and small businesses navigate legal needs with confidence. For more information, please visit www.legalzoom.com.
Contact
Investor Relations
investor@legalzoom.com
| LegalZoom.com, Inc. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands, except par values) | ||||||||
| December 31, | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 203,100 | $ | 142,064 | ||||
| Accounts receivable, net of allowances of | 20,589 | 8,511 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 18,234 | 17,926 | ||||||
| Current assets held for sale | — | 22,722 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 241,923 | 191,223 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 58,045 | 59,788 | ||||||
| Goodwill | 140,705 | 63,318 | ||||||
| Intangible assets, net | 18,152 | 8,653 | ||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | 13,414 | 7,189 | ||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 31,884 | 34,696 | ||||||
| Available-for-sale debt security (amortized cost of | — | 1,377 | ||||||
| Other assets | 7,399 | 7,639 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 511,522 | $ | 373,883 | ||||
| Liabilities and stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 27,167 | $ | 31,150 | ||||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 83,361 | 57,928 | ||||||
| Deferred revenue | 203,653 | 174,643 | ||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | 4,338 | 1,861 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 318,519 | 265,582 | ||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, non-current | 10,025 | 6,018 | ||||||
| Deferred revenue | 277 | 381 | ||||||
| Other liabilities | 10,819 | 8,645 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 339,640 | 280,626 | ||||||
| Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||
| Stockholders’ equity: | ||||||||
| Preferred stock, | — | — | ||||||
| Common stock, | 179 | 175 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 1,305,936 | 1,161,538 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (1,134,414 | ) | (1,069,317 | ) | ||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income | 181 | 861 | ||||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 171,882 | 93,257 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 511,522 | $ | 373,883 | ||||
| LegalZoom.com, Inc. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (In thousands, except per share amounts) | ||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 190,266 | $ | 161,706 | $ | 756,043 | $ | 681,881 | ||||||||
| Cost of revenue | 61,731 | 53,385 | 257,960 | 240,093 | ||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 128,535 | 108,321 | 498,083 | 441,788 | ||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Sales and marketing | 62,952 | 47,514 | 261,745 | 207,684 | ||||||||||||
| Technology and development | 19,499 | 16,650 | 81,941 | 89,584 | ||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 33,466 | 31,046 | 143,758 | 108,939 | ||||||||||||
| Gain on sale of assets held for sale | — | — | (14,337 | ) | — | |||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 115,917 | 95,210 | 473,107 | 406,207 | ||||||||||||
| Income from operations | 12,618 | 13,111 | 24,976 | 35,581 | ||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (795 | ) | (201 | ) | (1,294 | ) | (446 | ) | ||||||||
| Interest income | 1,878 | 1,303 | 7,569 | 7,850 | ||||||||||||
| Other income, net | 290 | (1,747 | ) | 1,187 | 98 | |||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 13,991 | 12,466 | 32,438 | 43,083 | ||||||||||||
| Provision for (benefit from) income taxes | 7,933 | (388 | ) | 17,011 | 13,120 | |||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 6,058 | $ | 12,854 | $ | 15,427 | $ | 29,963 | ||||||||
| Net income per share: | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 0.03 | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.09 | $ | 0.17 | ||||||||
| Diluted | $ | 0.03 | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.08 | $ | 0.16 | ||||||||
| Weighted-average shares used to compute net income per share: | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 177,561 | 173,239 | 178,798 | 180,210 | ||||||||||||
| Diluted | 182,360 | 175,393 | 184,690 | 182,865 | ||||||||||||
| LegalZoom.com, Inc. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (In thousands) | ||||||||
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||
| Net income | $ | 15,427 | $ | 29,963 | ||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 44,123 | 34,927 | ||||||
| Amortization of debt issuance costs | 210 | 227 | ||||||
| Amortization of right-of-use assets | 3,287 | 2,132 | ||||||
| Stock-based compensation | 113,708 | 71,510 | ||||||
| Gain on sale of assets held for sale | (14,337 | ) | — | |||||
| Change in fair value of other equity security | (302 | ) | — | |||||
| Gain on sale of available-for-sale debt security | (758 | ) | — | |||||
| Deferred income taxes | 6,634 | (4,552 | ) | |||||
| Unrealized foreign exchange loss | 75 | 648 | ||||||
| Non-cash interest expense | 548 | — | ||||||
| Other | 293 | — | ||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of business combinations: | ||||||||
| Accounts receivable | (11,802 | ) | 3,227 | |||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (252 | ) | (2,775 | ) | ||||
| Other assets | 926 | 707 | ||||||
| Accounts payable | (3,657 | ) | (817 | ) | ||||
| Accrued expenses and other liabilities | 7,147 | (4,156 | ) | |||||
| Operating lease liabilities | (2,647 | ) | (1,942 | ) | ||||
| Income tax payable | 255 | (44 | ) | |||||
| Deferred revenue | 19,319 | 6,584 | ||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 178,197 | 135,639 | ||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities | ||||||||
| Acquisitions, net of cash acquired | (48,468 | ) | — | |||||
| Purchase of property and equipment | (30,277 | ) | (35,696 | ) | ||||
| Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale debt security | 1,617 | — | ||||||
| Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale | 37,051 | — | ||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (40,077 | ) | (35,696 | ) | ||||
| Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||||
| Repayment of finance lease obligations | (2 | ) | (25 | ) | ||||
| Payment of debt issuance costs | (841 | ) | — | |||||
| Repurchase of common stock | (80,532 | ) | (165,014 | ) | ||||
| Payment of share repurchase excise taxes and repurchase costs | (1,264 | ) | (169 | ) | ||||
| Shares surrendered for settlement of minimum statutory tax withholding | (40,387 | ) | (20,491 | ) | ||||
| Proceeds from issuance of stock under employee stock plans | 45,770 | 2,414 | ||||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (77,256 | ) | (183,285 | ) | ||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | 172 | (313 | ) | |||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 61,036 | (83,655 | ) | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning of the period | 142,064 | 225,719 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, at end of the period | $ | 203,100 | $ | 142,064 | ||||
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin
The following table presents a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA for each of the periods indicated (unaudited):
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except percentages) | ||||||||||||||||
| Reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA | ||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 6,058 | $ | 12,854 | $ | 15,427 | $ | 29,963 | ||||||||
| Interest expense | 795 | 201 | 1,294 | 446 | ||||||||||||
| Interest income | (1,878 | ) | (1,303 | ) | (7,569 | ) | (7,850 | ) | ||||||||
| Provision for (benefit from) income taxes | 7,933 | (388 | ) | 17,011 | 13,120 | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 11,005 | 9,636 | 44,123 | 34,927 | ||||||||||||
| Other (income) expense, net | (290 | ) | 1,747 | (1,187 | ) | (98 | ) | |||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | 24,945 | 22,024 | 113,708 | 71,510 | ||||||||||||
| Acquisition and related expenses(1) | 1,326 | — | 2,869 | — | ||||||||||||
| Gain on sale of assets held for sale | — | — | (14,337 | ) | — | |||||||||||
| Restructuring costs(2) | — | (567 | ) | 854 | 6,096 | |||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 49,894 | $ | 44,204 | $ | 172,193 | $ | 148,114 | ||||||||
| Net income margin | 3 | % | 8 | % | 2 | % | 4 | % | ||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA margin | 26 | % | 27 | % | 23 | % | 22 | % | ||||||||
(1) For 2025, acquisition and related expenses are primarily related to our acquisition of Formation Nation. Additional costs incurred are related to the evaluation and pursuit of strategic transactions.
(2) For 2025 and 2024, restructuring costs are related to the reduction of our U.S. headcount.
Non-GAAP Net Income, Non-GAAP Net Income Margin and diluted Non-GAAP Net Income Per Share
The following table presents a reconciliation of net income to Non-GAAP net income for each of the periods indicated (unaudited):
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except per share amounts) | ||||||||||||||||
| Reconciliation of Net income to Non-GAAP Net income | ||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 6,058 | $ | 12,854 | $ | 15,427 | $ | 29,963 | ||||||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets | 1,610 | 1,266 | 7,801 | 5,082 | ||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | 24,945 | 22,024 | 113,708 | 71,510 | ||||||||||||
| Acquisition-related expenses(1) | 1,326 | — | 2,869 | — | ||||||||||||
| Restructuring expenses(2) | — | (567 | ) | 854 | 6,096 | |||||||||||
| Gain on sale of assets held for sale | — | — | (14,337 | ) | — | |||||||||||
| Income tax effects(3) | (2,837 | ) | (2,979 | ) | (12,073 | ) | (13,200 | ) | ||||||||
| Non-GAAP net income | 31,102 | 32,598 | 114,249 | 99,451 | ||||||||||||
| Net income margin | 3 | % | 8 | % | 2 | % | 4 | % | ||||||||
| Non-GAAP net income margin | 16 | % | 20 | % | 15 | % | 15 | % | ||||||||
| Net income per share—basic | $ | 0.03 | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.09 | $ | 0.17 | ||||||||
| Net income per share— diluted | $ | 0.03 | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.08 | $ | 0.16 | ||||||||
| Non-GAAP net income per share—basic | $ | 0.18 | $ | 0.19 | $ | 0.64 | $ | 0.55 | ||||||||
| Non-GAAP net income per share—diluted | $ | 0.17 | $ | 0.19 | $ | 0.62 | $ | 0.54 | ||||||||
| Weighted-average shares used to compute net income per share—basic | 177,561 | 173,239 | 178,798 | 180,210 | ||||||||||||
| Weighted-average shares used to compute net income per share—diluted | 182,360 | 175,393 | 184,690 | 182,865 | ||||||||||||
| Weighted-average shares used to compute Non-GAAP net income per share—basic | 177,561 | 173,239 | 178,798 | 180,210 | ||||||||||||
| Weighted-average shares used to compute Non-GAAP net income per share—diluted | 182,360 | 175,393 | 184,690 | 182,865 | ||||||||||||
(1) For 2025, acquisition and related expenses are primarily related to our acquisition of Formation Nation. Additional costs incurred are related to the evaluation and pursuit of strategic transactions.
(2) For 2025 and 2024, restructuring costs are related to the reduction of our U.S. headcount.
(3) The estimated income tax effect of the non-GAAP pre-tax adjustments is determined by applying the statutory rate of the originating jurisdiction, if applicable.
The following table shows the computation of basic and diluted Non-GAAP net income per share (unaudited):
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except per share amounts) | ||||||||||||||||
| Non-GAAP net income and Non-GAAP net income per share: | ||||||||||||||||
| Non-GAAP net income | $ | 31,102 | $ | 32,598 | $ | 114,249 | $ | 99,451 | ||||||||
| Reconciliation of denominator for net income per share to Non-GAAP net income per share: | ||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average shares used to compute net income per share—basic: | 177,561 | 173,239 | 178,798 | 180,210 | ||||||||||||
| Effect of potentially dilutive securities: | ||||||||||||||||
| Stock options | 86 | 59 | 53 | 754 | ||||||||||||
| Restricted stock units | 4,690 | 2,092 | 5,808 | 1,893 | ||||||||||||
| Employee stock purchase plan | 23 | 3 | 31 | 8 | ||||||||||||
| Weighted-average common stock used in computing Non-GAAP net income per share—diluted | 182,360 | 175,393 | 184,690 | 182,865 | ||||||||||||
| Non-GAAP net income per share—basic | $ | 0.18 | $ | 0.19 | $ | 0.64 | $ | 0.55 | ||||||||
| Non-GAAP net income per share—diluted | $ | 0.17 | $ | 0.19 | $ | 0.62 | $ | 0.54 | ||||||||
Free Cash Flow
The following table presents a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow (unaudited):
| Three Months Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow | ||||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 34,129 | 42,586 | 178,197 | 135,639 | ||||||||||||
| Purchase of property and equipment | (6,134 | ) | (6,707 | ) | (30,277 | ) | (35,696 | ) | ||||||||
| Total free cash flow | $ | 27,995 | $ | 35,879 | $ | 147,920 | $ | 99,943 | ||||||||
FAQ
What were LegalZoom's full‑year 2025 revenue and subscription revenue (LZ)?
How much cash did LegalZoom (LZ) hold and did it have debt at December 31, 2025?
What buyback action did LegalZoom (LZ) announce on February 19, 2026?
What guidance did LegalZoom (LZ) give for full‑year 2026 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA?
How did LegalZoom's cash flow and free cash flow perform in 2025 (LZ)?
Why did LegalZoom forecast lower Q1 2026 Adjusted EBITDA compared to Q1 2025 (LZ)?
