STOCK TITAN

Product Innovation and Services Growth Drove Yelp’s First Quarter 2025 Results

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

Net Revenue increased by 8% year over year to $359 million

Net Income increased by 72% year over year to $24 million, reflecting a 7% margin

Adjusted EBITDA grew 32% year over year to $85 million, reflecting a 24% margin1

Updates 2025 Net Revenue outlook to the range of $1.465 billion to $1.485 billion; and Adjusted EBITDA2 outlook to the range of $345 million to $365 million

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Yelp Inc. (NYSE: YELP), the trusted platform that connects people with great local businesses, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 in the Q1 2025 Shareholder Letter available on its Investor Relations website at yelp-ir.com.

“Our first quarter results demonstrate the strength of our services business and the progress we’ve made against our product roadmap,” said Jeremy Stoppelman, Yelp’s co-founder and chief executive officer. “Services revenue increased by 14% year over year in the first quarter, achieving the 16th consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, and we continued to see momentum in our product-led strategy. We recently rolled out 15 new features and updates to enhance the consumer experience and help businesses manage their operations more efficiently. Looking ahead, we’re excited about the lineup of AI advancements on our roadmap that will further transform the Yelp experience and streamline operations for local businesses. We believe that these efforts will unlock new opportunities for growth and enable us to deliver long-term value to our shareholders.”

“We exceeded our expectations in the first quarter, delivering 8% year-over-year revenue growth and strong profitability,” said David Schwarzbach, Yelp’s chief financial officer. “Adjusted EBITDA increased by 32% year over year to $85 million, $15 million above the high end of our outlook range and representing a four percentage point year-over-year improvement in our adjusted EBITDA margin. We believe our consistent execution and disciplined expense management position us well to navigate a complex environment and deliver long-term, profitable growth.”

Quarterly Conference Call

Yelp will host a live Q&A session today at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time to discuss its first quarter financial results and outlook for the second quarter and full year 2025. The webcast of the Q&A can be accessed on the Yelp Investor Relations website at yelp-ir.com. A replay of the webcast will be available at the same website.

About Yelp

Yelp Inc. (yelp.com) is a community-driven platform that connects people with great local businesses. Millions of people rely on Yelp for useful and trusted local business information, reviews and photos to help inform their spending decisions. As a one-stop local platform, Yelp helps consumers easily discover, connect and transact with businesses across a broad range of categories by making it easy to request a quote for a service, book a table at a restaurant, and more. Yelp was founded in San Francisco in 2004.

Yelp intends to make future announcements of material financial and other information through its Investor Relations website. Yelp will also, from time to time, disclose this information through press releases, filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, conference calls, or webcasts, as required by applicable law.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, Yelp’s future performance, including its expected financial results for 2025, its ability to drive shareholder value over the long term and its ability to deliver long-term profitable growth, that are based on its current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties.

Yelp’s actual results could differ materially from those predicted or implied and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to:

  • macroeconomic uncertainty — including related to inflation, interest rates, tariffs, labor and supply chain issues, as well as severe weather events and the prevalence of seasonal respiratory illnesses — and its effect on consumer behavior, user activity and advertiser spending;
  • Yelp’s ability to maintain and expand its base of advertisers, particularly if advertiser turnover substantially worsens and/or consumer demand significantly degrades;
  • Yelp’s ability to drive continued growth through its strategic initiatives;
  • Yelp’s ability to continue to operate effectively with a primarily remote work force and attract and retain key talent;
  • Yelp’s limited operating history in an evolving industry; and
  • Yelp’s ability to generate and maintain sufficient high-quality content from its users.

Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences also include, but are not limited to, those factors that could affect Yelp’s business, operating results and stock price included under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Yelp’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q at yelp-ir.com or the SEC’s website at sec.gov.

____________________

1 See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for definitions of adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin, as well as reconciliations of adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) and adjusted EBITDA margin to net income (loss) margin, the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”).

 

2 Yelp has not reconciled its adjusted EBITDA outlook to GAAP net income (loss) because it does not provide an outlook for GAAP net income (loss) due to the uncertainty and potential variability of other income, net and provision for (benefit from) income taxes, which are reconciling items between adjusted EBITDA and GAAP net income (loss). Because Yelp cannot reasonably predict such items, a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure outlook to the corresponding GAAP measure is not available without unreasonable effort. We caution, however, that such items could have a significant impact on the calculation of GAAP net income (loss). For more information regarding the non-GAAP financial measures discussed in this release, please see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

YELP INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

March 31,
2025

 

December 31,
2024

Assets

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

222,028

 

 

$

217,325

 

Short-term marketable securities

 

102,384

 

 

 

100,581

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

158,178

 

 

 

155,325

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

45,121

 

 

 

43,648

 

Total current assets

 

527,711

 

 

 

516,879

 

Property, equipment and software, net

 

79,238

 

 

 

75,669

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

 

20,848

 

 

 

24,112

 

Goodwill

 

133,809

 

 

 

130,980

 

Intangibles, net

 

56,395

 

 

 

58,787

 

Other non-current assets

 

167,202

 

 

 

177,140

 

Total assets

$

985,203

 

 

$

983,567

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

$

163,640

 

 

$

131,322

 

Operating lease liabilities — current

 

13,107

 

 

 

20,679

 

Deferred revenue

 

5,647

 

 

 

2,973

 

Total current liabilities

 

182,394

 

 

 

154,974

 

Operating lease liabilities — long-term

 

20,403

 

 

 

22,470

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

54,388

 

 

 

62,154

 

Total liabilities

 

257,185

 

 

 

239,598

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

Common stock

 

 

 

 

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

1,923,554

 

 

 

1,903,598

 

Treasury stock

 

(1,580

)

 

 

(3,909

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(12,864

)

 

 

(15,431

)

Accumulated deficit

 

(1,181,092

)

 

 

(1,140,289

)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

728,018

 

 

 

743,969

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

985,203

 

 

$

983,567

 

YELP INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

2025

 

2024

Net revenue

$

358,534

 

$

332,752

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

Cost of revenue(1)

 

34,828

 

 

27,355

Sales and marketing(1)

 

146,284

 

 

147,791

Product development(1)

 

83,905

 

 

91,227

General and administrative(1)

 

51,707

 

 

45,232

Depreciation and amortization

 

12,350

 

 

9,930

Total costs and expenses

 

329,074

 

 

321,535

Income from operations

 

29,460

 

 

11,217

Other income, net

 

5,771

 

 

7,724

Income before income taxes

 

35,231

 

 

18,941

Provision for income taxes

 

10,840

 

 

4,787

Net income attributable to common stockholders

$

24,391

 

$

14,154

 

 

 

 

Net income per share attributable to common stockholders

 

 

 

Basic

$

0.37

 

$

0.21

Diluted

$

0.36

 

$

0.20

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares used to compute net income per share attributable to common stockholders

 

 

 

Basic

 

65,261

 

 

68,559

Diluted

 

67,324

 

 

72,247

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes stock-based compensation expense as follows:

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

2025

 

2024

Cost of revenue

$

1,171

 

$

1,401

Sales and marketing

 

7,639

 

 

8,699

Product development

 

19,409

 

 

23,653

General and administrative

 

9,250

 

 

8,957

Total stock-based compensation

$

37,469

 

$

42,710

YELP INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

2025

 

 

 

2024

 

Operating Activities

 

 

 

Net income

$

24,391

 

 

$

14,154

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

12,350

 

 

 

9,930

 

Provision for credit losses

 

10,559

 

 

 

11,645

 

Stock-based compensation

 

37,469

 

 

 

42,710

 

Amortization of right-of-use assets

 

3,440

 

 

 

3,861

 

Deferred income taxes

 

3,287

 

 

 

(1,976

)

Amortization of deferred contract cost

 

6,013

 

 

 

6,151

 

Other adjustments, net

 

1,252

 

 

 

161

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

(13,998

)

 

 

(13,183

)

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

(617

)

 

 

(5,056

)

Operating lease liabilities

 

(9,902

)

 

 

(9,713

)

Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities

 

23,751

 

 

 

14,171

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

97,995

 

 

 

72,855

 

 

 

 

 

Investing Activities

 

 

 

Purchases of marketable securities — available-for-sale

 

(15,134

)

 

 

(22,419

)

Sales and maturities of marketable securities — available-for-sale

 

13,610

 

 

 

25,395

 

Purchases of other investments

 

 

 

 

(2,500

)

Purchases of property, equipment and software

 

(10,531

)

 

 

(6,987

)

Other investing activities

 

52

 

 

 

109

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(12,003

)

 

 

(6,402

)

 

 

 

 

Financing Activities

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of common stock for employee stock-based plans

 

273

 

 

 

548

 

Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of equity awards

 

(19,486

)

 

 

(21,882

)

Repurchases of common stock

 

(62,500

)

 

 

(62,500

)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(81,713

)

 

 

(83,834

)

 

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

652

 

 

 

(485

)

 

 

 

 

Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

4,931

 

 

 

(17,866

)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash — Beginning of period

 

217,682

 

 

 

314,002

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash — End of period

$

222,613

 

 

$

296,136

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release and statements made during the above referenced webcast may include information relating to Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin and Free cash flow, each of which the Securities and Exchange Commission has defined as a “non-GAAP financial measure.”

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss), adjusted to exclude: provision for (benefit from) income taxes; other income, net; depreciation and amortization; stock-based compensation expense; and, in certain periods, certain other income and expense items, such as expenses related to acquired indemnification obligations, acquisition and integration costs and fees related to shareholder activism, and other items that we deem not to be indicative of our ongoing operating performance. We define Adjusted EBITDA margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by net revenue. We define Free cash flow as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, less cash used for purchases of property, equipment and software.

Adjusted EBITDA and Free cash flow, which are not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles, have limitations as analytical tools and you should not consider them in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of Yelp’s financial results as reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). In particular, Adjusted EBITDA and Free cash flow should not be viewed as substitutes for, or superior to, net income (loss) or net cash provided by (used in) operating activities prepared in accordance with GAAP as measures of profitability or liquidity. Some of these limitations are:

  • although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized may have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect all cash capital expenditure requirements for such replacements or for new capital expenditure requirements;
  • Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, Yelp’s working capital needs;
  • Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the impact of the recording or release of valuation allowances or tax payments that may represent a reduction in cash available to Yelp;
  • Adjusted EBITDA does not consider the potentially dilutive impact of equity-based compensation;
  • Adjusted EBITDA does not take into account certain income and expense items, such as expenses related to acquired indemnification obligations, acquisition and integration costs and fees related to shareholder activism, or other costs that management determines are not indicative of ongoing operating performance;
  • Free cash flow does not represent the total residual cash flow available for discretionary purposes because it does not reflect our contractual commitments or obligations; and
  • other companies, including those in Yelp’s industry, may calculate Adjusted EBITDA and Free cash flow differently, which reduces their usefulness as comparative measures.

Because of these limitations, you should consider Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin and Free cash flow alongside other financial performance measures, including net income (loss), net cash provided by (used in) operating activities and Yelp’s other GAAP results.

The following is a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA, as well as the calculation of net income margin and Adjusted EBITDA margin, for each of the periods indicated (in thousands, except percentages; unaudited):

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

2025

 

 

 

2024

 

Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA:

 

 

 

Net income

$

24,391

 

 

$

14,154

 

Provision for income taxes

 

10,840

 

 

 

4,787

 

Other income, net

 

(5,771

)

 

 

(7,724

)

Depreciation and amortization

 

12,350

 

 

 

9,930

 

Stock-based compensation

 

37,469

 

 

 

42,710

 

Expenses related to acquired indemnification obligation(1)(2)

 

5,126

 

 

 

 

Acquisition and integration costs(1)

 

539

 

 

 

 

Fees related to shareholder activism(1)

 

 

 

 

599

 

Adjusted EBITDA

$

84,944

 

 

$

64,456

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenue

$

358,534

 

 

$

332,752

 

Net income margin

 

7

%

 

 

4

%

Adjusted EBITDA margin

 

24

%

 

 

19

%

(1)

Recorded within general and administrative expenses on our condensed consolidated statements of operations.

(2)

Represents expenses recorded in connection with an indemnification obligation assumed in the RepairPal acquisition, which we do not consider to be part of our ongoing operations. We expect to be indemnified for such expenses and will also exclude any such amounts from adjusted EBITDA.

The following is a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to Free cash flow for each of the periods indicated (in thousands; unaudited):

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

2025

 

 

 

2024

 

Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow:

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

$

97,995

 

 

$

72,855

 

Purchases of property, equipment and software

 

(10,531

)

 

 

(6,987

)

Free cash flow

$

87,464

 

 

$

65,868

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

$

(12,003

)

 

$

(6,402

)

 

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

$

(81,713

)

 

$

(83,834

)

 

Investor Relations Contact:

Kate Krieger

ir@yelp.com

Press Contact:

Amber Albrecht

press@yelp.com

Source: Yelp Inc.

Yelp Inc

NYSE:YELP

YELP Rankings

YELP Latest News

YELP Stock Data

2.27B
61.06M
5.05%
99.54%
6.19%
Internet Content & Information
Services-personal Services
Link
United States
SAN FRANCISCO