Q3 2025 BuzzFeed Inc Earnings Call

Communications. Please go ahead.

Hi, everyone and welcome to Buzzfeed Inc's third quarter 2025 earnings Conference call I'm Giuliana Clifton VP of communications for Buzzfeed, joining me today are CEO, Jonah Peretti and CFO, Matt Omer.

Before we begin please note that our remarks today will include forward looking statements actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements.

Risks and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are described in our Q3 2025 earnings release and in our filings with the FCC, including her most recent annual report on Form 10-K, and our Q3 2025 quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC.

Any forward looking statements that we make on this call are based on assumptions as of today and we undertake no obligation to update these statements as a result of new information or future events.

During this call we present, both GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin. The use of non-GAAP financial measure allows us to measure the operational strength and performance of our business to establish budgets and to develop operational goals for managing our business.

We believe adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margins are relevant and useful information for investors because they allow investors to view performance in a manner similar to the method used by army spent.

A reconciliation of these GAAP to non-GAAP measures is included in today's earnings press release, which is available now on our Investor Relations website.

I'll turn the call over to Jonathan.

Thank you and good afternoon, everyone Q.

Q3 was a challenging quarter with near term headwinds that impact our results revenue decline driven by softer advertising demand in recent affiliate partner bonuses and tougher comparisons against last year's presidential elections.

But despite the revenue decline, we still expect to deliver positive adjusted EBITDA for the full year with big step up Q4, driven by seasonal strength in commerce and advertise.

This is a direct result of the transformative work, we've done to build a leaner more resilient business model.

Our audience metrics continue to show strength both of these gains remained number one among gen Z and millennials are competitive with.

$10 7 billion hours.

With this audience in Q3 up 25% for Q2.

Our flagship Husky brand also remains the number one brand in our competitive set in Q3.

$37 2 million hours of U S, 5% growing 4% year over year.

Tend the millennial audiences Buzzfeed was up 6% from Q2.

Direct traffic direct visits internal referral app usage now accounts for 63% of Buzzfeed Dot com traffic up from 80 up from 61% in Q2, reinforcing our reduce platform dependency.

Similarly, the huffpost homepage drives exceptional traffic.

Homepage.

Page views and referrals now account for 75% of total health post op profit up from 70% a year ago.

We're also making significant progress on various R&D projects I've been spending more of my time to time in the lab and I'm excited to give a larger updates on our next earnings call on what we've been building.

Operator: Speaker today, Juliana Clifton, Vice President of Communications. Please go ahead.

Speaker #1: With .

Speaker #2: 10.7 million hours of time spent with this audience . Q3 up 25% from Q2 . Our flagship brand also remains the number one brand in our competitive set .

Juliana Clifton: Hi, everyone, and welcome to BuzzFeed's third quarter of 2025 earnings conference call. I'm Juliana Clifton, VP of Communications for BuzzFeed. Joining me today are CEO Jonah Peretti, and CFO Matt Omer. Before we begin, please note that our remarks today will include forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Risks and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are described in our Q3 2025 earnings release and in our filings with the SEC, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our Q3 2025 quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements that we make on this call are based on assumptions as of today, and we undertake no obligation to update these statements as a result of new information or future events.

Now I'll pass to Matt, who will walk you through the Q refinances.

Speaker #2: Q3 generating 37.2 million hours of US time spent growing 4% year over year among Gen Z and millennial audiences . BuzzFeed was up 6% from Q2 .

Thank you Jonah as John mentioned Q3 was a challenging quarter and I want to provide some additional context to the numbers before walking through the details.

Total revenue for the quarter was $46 $3 million down 17% year over year from $55 $6 million. In Q3 2024. This decline was driven by three factors continued softness in Drexel that advertising and content a decline in affiliate bonuses from Oklahoma partners and a difficult year over year comparisons given the elevated engagement and spend during the president's role.

Speaker #2: Direct traffic , direct visits , internal referrals , and app usage now accounts for 63% of Buzzfeed.com traffic , up from 80 , up from 61% in Q2 .

Speaker #2: Reinforcing our reduced platform dependency . Similarly , the HuffPost homepage drives exceptional traffic . Homepage page views and referrals now account for 75% of total HuffPost traffic , up from 70% a year ago .

Cycle in Q3 2024 <unk>.

Despite these revenue headwinds we've maintained our focus on cost discipline and operational efficiency adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was 753000 compared to $8 1 million in Q3 2024, while this represents a significant decline. It is important to note that we remain adjusted EBITDA positive. Despite the decline a testament to the lean operating structure, we built no.

Speaker #2: We're also making significant progress on various R&D projects . I've been spending more of my time time in the lab , and I'm excited to give a larger update on the next earnings call on what we've been building with the team .

Juliana Clifton: During this call, we present both GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margins. The use of non-GAAP financial measures allows us to measure the operational strength and performance of our business, to establish budgets, and to develop operational goals for managing our business. We believe adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margins are relevant and useful information for investors because they allow investors to view performance in a manner similar to the method used by our management. A reconciliation of these GAAP to non-GAAP measures is included in today's earnings press release, which is available now on our investor relations website. I'll turn the call over to Jonah now.

Let me walk through the revenue categories in more detail.

Speaker #2: Now , I'll pass to Matt , who will walk you through the Q3 financials .

Advertising revenues totaled $22 2 million compared to $24 8 million in Q3, 'twenty 'twenty four down 11% directly to advertising declined to $5 $1 million driven by continued market softness in this category.

Speaker #3: Thank you . Jonah . As Jonah mentioned , Q3 was a challenging quarter , and I want to provide some additional context to the numbers before walking through the details .

Speaker #3: Total revenue for the quarter was $46.3 million , down 17% year over year from $55.6 million in Q3 2020 . For . This decline was driven by three factors .

Content revenue totaled $7 2 million compared to $10 $7 million in Q3, 24, a decline of 33%.

<unk> will contact fell by $2 $6 million at $5 $9 million, reflecting muted demand for brand content branded content partnerships.

Speaker #3: Continued softness in direct sold advertising and content , a decline in affiliate bonuses from commerce partners , and a difficult year over year comparisons given the elevated engagement in spin during the presidential election cycle in Q3 2024 .

Studio revenue declined modestly to $1 $3 million and it's worth noting that in Q3 2024 included a nonrecurring data license deal, which makes the year over year comparison, particularly difficult and.

Speaker #3: Despite these revenue , we've maintained our focus on cost , discipline and operational efficiency . Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was 753,000 , compared to 8.1 million in Q3 2020 .

Jonah Peretti: Thank you, and good afternoon, everyone. Q3 was a challenging quarter with near-term headwinds that impacted our results: revenue decline driven by softer advertising demand, a decrease in affiliate partner bonuses, and tougher comparisons against last year's presidential election cycle. Despite a revenue decline, we still expect to deliver positive adjusted EBITDA for the full year, with a step-up in Q4 driven by seasonal strength in commerce and advertising. This is a direct result of the transformative work we've done to build a leaner, more resilient business model. Our audience metrics continue to show strength. BuzzFeed remained number one among Gen Z and millennials in our competitive set, with 10.7 million hours of time spent with this audience in Q3, up 25% from Q2. Our flagship BuzzFeed brand also remains the number one brand in our competitive set in Q3, generating 37.2 million hours of US.

<unk> revenue will continue to vary quarter to quarter based on project timing and delivery schedules, but we remain confident in our long term strategy long term trajectory of this business as we build out our IP portfolio.

Speaker #3: Four . While this represents a significant decline , it's important to note that we remained adjusted EBITDA positive despite the decline , a testament to the lean operating structure we built .

Commerce and other revenues totaled $17 million compared to $20 $1 million in Q3, 24, a decline of 15%.

Speaker #3: Now , let me walk through the revenue categories in more detail . Advertising revenues totaled $22.2 million , compared to $24.8 million in Q3 2020 .

Organic affiliate Commerce declined by $2 $8 million to $16 8 million. This was primarily driven by decline in supplemental bonuses from affiliate partners, including Amazon as they continue to refine the commission methodologies. It's worth noting however that year to date organic affiliate revenue was essentially flat year over year.

Speaker #3: Four , down 11% . Directed advertising declined to $5.1 million , driven by continued market softness in this category . Content revenue totaled $7.2 million , compared to $10.7 million in Q3 24 , a decline of 33% .

On the audience engagement side.

Tony was time spent across our properties was $68 5 million hours compared to $80 3 million hours. In Q3 24. This decline was largely expected as Q3 'twenty four benefited significantly from elevated news consumption during the presidential election cycle.

Speaker #3: Drexel content fell by $2.6 million at $5.9 million , reflecting muted demand for brand content , branded content partnerships . Studio revenue declined modestly to $1.3 million , and it's worth noting that in Q3 2024 included a non-recurring data license deal , which makes the year over year comparison particularly difficult .

On a sequential basis time spent was relatively stable compared to Q2 2025, as we continue to see strong engagement metrics among our most loyal users.

Jonah Peretti: Time spent, growing 4% year over year. Among Gen Z and millennial audiences, BuzzFeed was up 6% from Q2. Direct traffic, direct visits, internal referrals, and app usage now account for 63% of BuzzFeed.com traffic, up from 61% in Q2, reinforcing our reduced platform dependency. Similarly, the HuffPost homepage drives exceptional traffic. Homepage page views and referrals now account for 75% of total HuffPost.com traffic, up from 70% a year ago. We're also making significant progress on various R&D projects. I've been spending more of my time in the lab, and I'm excited to give a larger update on the next earnings call on what we've been building with the team. Now I'll pass to Matt, who will walk you through the Q3 financials.

Speaker #3: Studio revenue will continue to vary quarter to quarter based on project timing and delivery schedules , but we remain confident in the long term strategy , long term trajectory of this business as we build out our IP portfolio , commerce and other revenues totaled $17 million , compared to $20.1 million in Q3 24 , a decline of 15% .

Looking at the first nine months of 2005 total revenues reached $128 7 million compared to $133 $7 million in the first nine months of 2004 the decline of 4%.

Net loss from continuing operations was $30 5 million compared to $29 8 million in the same period last year.

Speaker #3: Organic affiliate commerce declined by $2.8 million to $16.8 million . This was primarily driven by a decline in supplemental bonuses from affiliate partners , including Amazon , as they continue to refine their commission methodologies .

And adjusted EBITDA losses improved to $3 2 million compared to losses of $5 $5 million in the first nine months of 'twenty 'twenty four an improvement of 42%.

Speaker #3: It's worth noting , however , that year to date , organic affiliate revenue is essentially flat year over year on the audience engagement side .

Year to date performance reflects the ongoing transformation of our revenue mix with growing and program growth in programmatic advertising and studio revenue, partially offset by declines in direct store categories.

Speaker #3: Total US time spent across our properties was 68.5 million hours , compared to 80.3 million hours in Q3 24 . This decline was largely expected as Q3 24 benefited significantly from elevated news consumption during the presidential election cycle .

Looking ahead, we are reducing our full year 'twenty guidance by approximately $10 million to reflect the softness in Q3 and a cautious approach to Q4 2004 results. We now expect revenue in the range of $185 million to $195 million and now expect adjusted EBITDA in the range of breakeven to $10 million.

Speaker #3: On a sequential basis , time spent was relatively stable compared to Q2 2025 . As we continue to see strong engagement metrics among our most loyal users .

Matt Omer: Thank you, Jonah. As Jonah mentioned, Q3 was a challenging quarter, and I want to provide some additional context to the numbers before walking through the details. Total revenue for the quarter was $46.3 million, down 17% year over year from $55.6 million in Q3 2024. This decline was driven by three factors: continued softness in direct-sold advertising and content, a decline in affiliate bonuses from our commerce partners, and difficult year-over-year comparisons given the elevated engagement and spend during the presidential election cycle in Q3 2024. Despite these revenue headwinds, we've maintained our focus on cost discipline and operational efficiency. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $753,000, compared to $8.1 million in Q3 2024. While this represents a significant decline, it's important to note that we remained adjusted EBITDA positive despite the decline, a testament to the lean operating structure we've built.

This revised outlook reflects the near term challenges in advertising and commerce as well as the Lumpiness in studio project timing.

Speaker #3: Looking at the first nine months of 2025 , total revenues reached $128.7 million , compared to $133.7 million in the first nine months of 2024 , a decline of 4% .

However, we remain committed to improving net income from continuing operations and achieving adjusted EBITDA profitability for the full year and we continue to believe that our strategic focus on owned distribution scalable revenue streams and new innovative innovation on initiatives position us well for long term value creation.

Speaker #3: Net loss from continuing operations was 30.5 million , compared to $29.8 million in the same period last year , and EBITDA losses improved to $3.2 million , compared to losses of $5.5 million in the first nine months of 2024 , an improvement of 42% .

As we head into Q4, we're focused on executing against our seasonal strengths, particularly in affiliate commerce during key shopping windows like Black Black Friday, and cyber Monday, while continuing to invest in the foundations for future growth.

Speaker #3: This year to date performance reflects the ongoing transformation of our revenue mix with growing growth in programmatic , advertising and studio revenue , partially offset declines in direct sold categories .

Thank you for joining us today.

Hand, the call back to the operator now.

Thank you for your participation in today's conference. This concludes the program you may now disconnect.

Speaker #3: Looking ahead , we are reducing our full year 25 guidance by approximately $10 million to reflect the softness in Q3 and our cautious approach to Q4 2024 results .

Matt Omer: Now let me walk through the revenue categories in more detail. Advertising revenues totaled $22.2 million, compared to $24.8 million in Q3 2024, down 11%. Direct-sold advertising declined to $5.1 million, driven by continued market softness in this category. Content revenue totaled $7.2 million, compared to $10.7 million in Q3 2024, a decline of 33%. Direct-sold content fell by $2.6 million to $5.9 million, reflecting muted demand for branded content partnerships. Studio revenue declined modestly to $1.3 million. It is worth noting that in Q3 2024, it included a non-recurring data license deal, which makes the year-over-year comparison particularly difficult. Studio revenue will continue to vary quarter to quarter based on project timing and delivery schedules, but we remain confident in the long-term trajectory of this business as we build out our IP portfolio.

Speaker #3: We now expect revenue in the range of 185 to $195 million , and now expect adjusted EBITDA in the range of break even to $10 million .

Speaker #3: This revised outlook reflects the near-term challenges in advertising and commerce , as well as the lumpiness in the studio project timing . However , we remain committed to improving net income from continuing operations and achieving adjusted EBITDA profitability for the full year , and we continue to believe that our strategic focus on owned distribution , scalable revenue streams and new innovative innovation on initiatives position us well for long term value creation .

Speaker #3: As we head into Q4 , we're focused on executing against our seasonal strengths , particularly in affiliate commerce . During key shopping windows like Black Friday and Cyber Monday .

Speaker #3: While continuing to invest in the foundations for future growth . Thank you for joining us today . I'll hand the call back to the operator now .

Speaker #4: Thank you for your participation in today's conference . This concludes the program . You may now disconnect .

Matt Omer: Commerce and other revenues totaled $17 million, compared to $20.1 million in Q3 2024, a decline of 15%. Organic affiliate commerce declined by $2.8 million to $16.8 million. This was primarily driven by a decline in supplemental bonuses from affiliate partners, including Amazon, as they continue to refine their commission methodologies. It's worth noting, however, that year-to-date organic affiliate revenue is essentially flat year over year. On the audience engagement side, total US time spent across our properties was 68.5 million hours, compared to 80.3 million hours in Q3 2024. This decline was largely expected as Q3 2024 benefited significantly from elevated news consumption during the presidential election cycle. On a sequential basis, time spent was relatively stable compared to Q2 2025, as we continue to see strong engagement metrics among our most loyal users.

Matt Omer: Looking at the first nine months of 2025, total revenues reached $128.7 million, compared to $133.7 million in the first nine months of 2024, a decline of 4%. Net loss from continuing operations was $30.5 million, compared to $29.8 million in the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA losses improved to $3.2 million compared to losses of $5.5 million in the first nine months of 2024, an improvement of 42%. This year-to-date performance reflects the ongoing transformation of our revenue mix, with growth in programmatic advertising and studio revenue, partially offset by declines in direct-sold categories. Looking ahead, we are reducing our full-year 2025 guidance by approximately $10 million to reflect the softness in Q3 and our cautious approach to Q4, 2024 results. We now expect revenue in the range of $185 to $195 million, and now expect adjusted EBITDA in the range of break-even to $10 million.

Matt Omer: This revised outlook reflects the near-term challenges in advertising and commerce, as well as the lumpiness in studio project timing. However, we remain committed to improving net income from continuing operations and achieving adjusted EBITDA profitability for the full year. We continue to believe that our strategic focus on owned distribution, scalable revenue streams, and new innovation on initiatives position us well for long-term value creation. As we head into Q4, we're focused on executing against our seasonal strengths, particularly in affiliate commerce during key shopping windows like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, while continuing to invest in the foundations for future growth. Thank you for joining us today. I'll hand the call back to the operator now.

Operator: Thank you for your participation in today's conference. This concludes the program. You may now disconnect.