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Strong Demand Delivers Another Record Quarter for Stride

RESTON, Va., April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stride, Inc. (NYSE: LRN), one of the nation’s most successful technology-based education companies, today announced its results for the third fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2025.

Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Highlights Compared to 2024

  • Revenue of $613.4 million, compared with $520.8 million.
  • Income from operations of $130.8 million, compared with $88.3 million.
  • Net income of $99.3 million, compared with $69.7 million.
  • Diluted net income per share of $2.02, compared with $1.60.
  • Adjusted operating income of $141.7 million, compared with $96.4 million. (1)
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $168.3 million, compared with $120.5 million. (1)

Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Summary Financial Metrics

 Three Months Ended March 31, Change 2025/2024 
 2025 2024 $ % 
 (In thousands, except percentages and per share data) 
Revenues$613,376 $520,837 $92,539 17.8% 
            
Income from operations 130,786  88,313  42,473 48.1% 
Adjusted operating income (1) 141,744  96,410  45,334 47.0% 
            
Net income 99,346  69,687  29,659 42.6% 
Net income per share, diluted 2.02  1.60  0.42 26.3% 
            
EBITDA (1) 159,727  115,297  44,430 38.5% 
Adjusted EBITDA (1) 168,275  120,547  47,728 39.6% 


(1)To supplement our financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), we also present non-GAAP financial measures including adjusted operating income (loss), EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA. Management believes that these additional measures provide useful information to investors relating to our financial performance. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is provided below.


Nine Month Fiscal 2025 Highlights Compared to 2024

  • Revenue of $1,751.7 million, compared with $1,505.9 million.
  • Income from operations of $303.2 million, compared with $175.9 million.
  • Net income of $236.6 million, compared with $141.4 million.
  • Diluted net income per share of $4.95, compared with $3.26.
  • Adjusted operating income of $335.7 million, compared with $206.0 million. (1)
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $412.6 million, compared with $278.7 million. (1)

Nine Month Fiscal 2025 Summary Financial Metrics

 Nine Months Ended March 31, Change 2025/2024 
 2025 2024  $ % 
 (In thousands, except percentages and per share data) 
Revenues$1,751,670 $1,505,886 $245,784 16.3% 
            
Income from operations 303,229  175,922  127,307 72.4% 
Adjusted operating income (1) 335,673  206,044  129,629 62.9% 
            
Net income 236,621  141,401  95,220 67.3% 
Net income per share, diluted 4.95  3.26  1.69 51.8% 
            
EBITDA (1) 387,699  257,386  130,313 50.6% 
Adjusted EBITDA (1) 412,621  278,658  133,963 48.1% 


(1)To supplement our financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), we also present non-GAAP financial measures including adjusted operating income (loss), EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA. Management believes that these additional measures provide useful information to investors relating to our financial performance. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is provided below.


Revenue Data

                       
  Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended     
  March 31, Change 2025 / 2024 March 31, Change 2025 / 2024
  2025 2024 $ % 2025 2024 $ %
  (In thousands, except percentages)
                       
General Education $370,821 $328,894 $41,927  12.7% $1,054,542  942,135 $112,407  11.9%
Career Learning                      
Middle - High School  223,868  167,919  55,949  33.3%  635,832  483,972  151,860  31.4%
Adult  18,687  24,024  (5,337) (22.2%)  61,296  79,779  (18,483) (23.2%)
Total Career Learning  242,555  191,943  50,612  26.4%  697,128  563,751  133,377  23.7%
Total Revenues $613,376 $520,837 $92,539  17.8% $1,751,670  1,505,886 $245,784  16.3%
                       

Enrollment and Revenue Per Enrollment Data

Third quarter enrollments averaged 240.2K, up 21.1% compared to 198.4K enrollments in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024. Of the total average enrollments, 98.7K were Career Learning enrollments, up 33.7% compared to 73.8K Career Learning enrollments in the third quarter of fiscal 2024.

Enrollments only include those students in full service public or private programs where Stride provides a combination of curriculum, technology, and instructional and support services, inclusive of administrative support and may include enrollments for which Stride receives no public funding or revenue. Stride does not report enrollments for our Adult Learning business.

Revenue per enrollment for the third quarter was $2,415, down slightly compared to $2,420 in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024. General Education revenue per enrollment was $2,516, up 0.4%, and Career Learning revenue per enrollment was $2,269, down 0.1%, compared to the third quarter of fiscal year 2024. If the mix of enrollments changes, our revenues will be impacted to the extent the average revenues per enrollments are significantly different.

Cash Flow and Capital Allocation

As of March 31, 2025, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $754.6 million, compared with $714.2 million reported at June 30, 2024.

Capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2025 were $15.8 million, compared to $16.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2024, and were comprised of $0.2 million of property and equipment, $10.0 million of capitalized software development and $5.6 million of capitalized curriculum development.

Fiscal Year 2025 Outlook

The Company is raising its revenue and adjusted operating income forecast for the full fiscal year 2025:

  • Revenue in the range of $2.370 billion to $2.385 billion.
  • Capital expenditures in the range of $60 million to $65 million. Note that capital expenditures include the purchase of property and equipment, and capitalized software and curriculum development costs as defined on our Statement of Cash Flows.
  • Effective tax rate of 24% to 26%.
  • Adjusted operating income in the range of $455 million to $465 million. (1)
(1)In addition to providing an outlook for revenue and capital expenditures, adjusted operating income is provided as a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure as management believes that it provides useful information to our investors. A reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is provided below. Please also see Special Note on Forward-Looking Statements below.


Conference Call

The Company will discuss its third quarter fiscal year 2025 financial results during a conference call scheduled for Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. eastern time (ET).

A live webcast of the call will be available at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/598145147. To participate in the live call, investors and analysts should dial (800) 715-9871 (domestic) or +1 (646) 307-1963 (international) and provide the conference ID number 8901384. Please access the website at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call.

A replay of the call will be posted at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/598145147 as soon as it is available.

About Stride Inc.

Stride Inc. (NYSE: LRN) is redefining lifelong learning with innovative, high-quality education solutions. Serving learners in primary, secondary, and postsecondary settings, Stride provides a wide range of services including K-12 education, career learning, professional skills training, and talent development. Stride reaches learners in all 50 states and over 100 countries. Learn more at stridelearning.com.

Investor Contact

Timothy Casey
Vice President, Investor Relations
Stride, Inc.
tcasey@k12.com

Special Note on Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including statements about future Revenue, adjusted operating income, capital expenditures and effective tax rate. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. We have tried, whenever possible, to identify these forward-looking statements using words such as “outlook,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “continues,” “likely,” “may,” “opportunity,” “potential,” “projects,” “will,” “will be,”expects,” “plans,” “intends” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements, whether in the negative or the affirmative. These statements reflect our current beliefs and are based upon information currently available to us. Accordingly, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such statements. These risks, uncertainties, factors and contingencies include, but are not limited to: reduction of per pupil funding amounts at the schools we serve; inability to achieve a sufficient level of new enrollments to sustain our business model; limitations of the enrollment data we present, which may not fully capture trends in the performance of our business; failure to enter into new school contracts or renew existing contracts, in part or in their entirety; failure of the schools we serve or us to comply with our contracts, federal, state and local regulations, resulting in a loss of funding, an obligation to repay funds previously received, or contractual remedies; change in law, governmental policy and/or regulations; governmental investigations that could result in fines, penalties, settlements, or injunctive relief; declines or variations in academic performance outcomes of the students and schools we serve as curriculum standards, testing programs and state accountability metrics evolve; harm to our reputation resulting from poor performance or misconduct by operators or us in any school in our industry and/or in any school in which we operate; legal and regulatory challenges from opponents of virtual public education or for-profit education companies; changes in national and local economic and business conditions and other factors, such as natural disasters, pandemics and outbreaks of contagious diseases and other adverse public health developments; discrepancies in interpretation of legislation by regulatory agencies that may lead to payment or funding disputes; termination of our contracts, or a reduction in the scope of services, with schools; failure to develop the Career Learning business; entry of new competitors with superior technologies and lower prices; unsuccessful integration of mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures; failure to further develop, maintain and enhance our technology, products, services and brands; inadequate recruiting, training and retention of effective teachers and employees; infringement of our intellectual property; disruptions to our Internet-based learning and delivery systems, including, but not limited to, our data storage systems and third-party cloud systems and facilities, resulting from cybersecurity attacks; misuse or unauthorized disclosure of student and personal data; failure to prevent or mitigate a cybersecurity incident that affects our systems; and risks related to artificial intelligence; and other risks and uncertainties associated with our business described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that the expectations will be attained or that any deviation will not be material. All information in this press release is as of today’s date, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the Company’s expectations.

Financial Statements

The financial statements set forth below are not the complete set of Stride, Inc.’s financial statements for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2025 and are presented below without footnotes. Readers are encouraged to obtain and carefully review Stride Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2025, including all financial statements contained therein and the footnotes thereto, filed with the SEC, which may be retrieved from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or from Stride Inc.’s website at www.stridelearning.com.

STRIDE, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 
  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 
  March 31, March 31, 
  2025  2024  2025  2024  
  (In thousands except share and per share data)       
Revenues $613,376  $520,837  $1,751,670  $1,505,886  
Instructional costs and services  364,086   319,508   1,046,670   930,495  
Gross margin  249,290   201,329   705,000   575,391  
Selling, general, and administrative expenses  118,504   113,016   401,771   399,469  
Income from operations  130,786   88,313   303,229   175,922  
Interest expense, net  (2,787)  (2,404)  (7,810)  (6,494) 
Other income, net  7,360   7,678   23,469   19,381  
Income before income taxes and income (loss) from equity method investments  135,359   93,587   318,888   188,809  
Income tax expense  (35,450)  (24,657)  (80,088)  (48,383) 
Income (loss) from equity method investments  (563)  757   (2,179)  975  
Net income attributable to common stockholders $99,346  $69,687  $236,621  $141,401  
Net income attributable to common stockholders per share:             
Basic $2.31  $1.63  $5.50  $3.32  
Diluted $2.02  $1.60  $4.95  $3.26  
Weighted average shares used in computing per share amounts:             
Basic  43,092,682   42,684,561   42,992,727   42,581,869  
Diluted  49,181,728   43,655,841   47,798,923   43,389,903  
              


STRIDE, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 
  March 31, June 30, 
  2025  2024  
     (audited) 
  (In thousands except share and per share data) 
ASSETS       
Current assets       
Cash and cash equivalents $528,547  $500,614  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $34,680 and $31,298  699,817   472,754  
Inventories, net  22,375   36,748  
Prepaid expenses  49,733   29,164  
Marketable securities  195,144   191,672  
Other current assets  17,361   14,494  
Total current assets  1,512,977   1,245,446  
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net  46,011   54,503  
Property and equipment, net  88,490   50,856  
Capitalized software, net  76,932   81,952  
Capitalized curriculum development costs, net  55,860   53,232  
Intangible assets, net  52,759   60,282  
Goodwill  246,676   246,676  
Deferred tax asset  3,363   7,200  
Deposits and other assets  124,876   120,318  
Total assets $2,207,944  $1,920,465  
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY       
Current liabilities       
Accounts payable $40,204  $40,970  
Accrued liabilities  71,185   60,796  
Accrued compensation and benefits  68,959   64,878  
Deferred revenue  32,902   35,742  
Current portion of finance lease liability  44,011   29,146  
Current portion of operating lease liability  12,306   12,748  
Total current liabilities  269,567   244,280  
Long-term finance lease liability  52,763   26,452  
Long-term operating lease liability  36,790   45,192  
Long-term debt  415,913   414,675  
Other long-term liabilities  15,539   13,841  
Total liabilities  790,572   744,440  
Commitments and contingencies       
Stockholders’ equity       
Preferred stock, par value $0.0001; 10,000,000 shares authorized; zero shares issued or outstanding       
Common stock, par value $0.0001; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 48,824,622 and 48,576,164 shares issued; and 43,489,879 and 43,241,421 shares outstanding, respectively  4   4  
Additional paid-in capital  724,767   720,033  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss  (50)  (42) 
Retained earnings  795,133   558,512  
Treasury stock of 5,334,743 shares at cost  (102,482)  (102,482) 
Total stockholders’ equity  1,417,372   1,176,025  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $2,207,944  $1,920,465  
        


STRIDE, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 
  Nine Months Ended 
  March 31, 
  2025  2024  
  (In thousands) 
Cash flows from operating activities       
Net income $236,621  $141,401  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:       
Depreciation and amortization expense  84,470   81,464  
Stock-based compensation expense  24,922   21,272  
Deferred income taxes  5,655   (4,629) 
Provision for credit losses  13,357   18,895  
Amortization of fees on debt  1,238   1,236  
Noncash operating lease expense  9,230   11,055  
Other  1,712   1,444  
Changes in assets and liabilities:       
Accounts receivable  (240,429)  (133,144) 
Inventories, prepaid expenses, deposits and other current and long-term assets  (3,643)  (2,763) 
Accounts payable  (528)  (11,585) 
Accrued liabilities  8,463   (9,875) 
Accrued compensation and benefits  4,149   4,834  
Operating lease liability  (9,583)  (11,695) 
Deferred revenue and other liabilities  (1,142)  (1,315) 
Net cash provided by operating activities  134,492   106,595  
Cash flows from investing activities       
Purchase of property and equipment  (1,350)  (1,500) 
Capitalized software development costs  (28,605)  (30,130) 
Capitalized curriculum development costs  (15,451)  (13,534) 
Other acquisitions, loans and investments, net of distributions  (1,681)  (693) 
Proceeds from the maturity of marketable securities  221,530   107,020  
Purchases of marketable securities  (227,786)  (162,179) 
Net cash used in investing activities  (53,343)  (101,016) 
Cash flows from financing activities       
Repayments on finance lease obligations  (29,957)  (32,212) 
Repurchase of restricted stock for income tax withholding  (20,672)  (7,597) 
Net cash used in financing activities  (50,629)  (39,809) 
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash  30,520   (34,230) 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period  500,614   410,807  
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period $531,134  $376,577  
        
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash to balance sheet as of March 31st:       
Cash and cash equivalents $528,547  $376,577  
Other current assets (restricted cash)  476     
Deposits and other assets (restricted cash)  2,111     
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $531,134  $376,577  
        

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement our financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, we have presented adjusted operating income (loss), EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA, which are not presented in accordance with GAAP.

  • Adjusted operating income (loss) is defined as income (loss) from operations as adjusted for stock-based compensation and the amortization of intangible assets.
  • EBITDA is defined as income (loss) from operations as adjusted for depreciation and amortization.
  • Adjusted EBITDA is defined as income (loss) from operations as adjusted for stock-based compensation and depreciation and amortization.
  • Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted operating income (loss) exclude stock-based compensation, which consists of expenses for stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and performance stock units.

Management believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information to investors relating to our financial performance. Adjusted operating income (loss) and Adjusted EBITDA remove stock-based compensation, which is a non-cash charge that varies based on market volatility and the terms and conditions of the awards. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA remove depreciation and amortization, which can vary depending upon accounting methods and the book value of assets. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide a measure of corporate performance exclusive of capital structure and the method by which assets were acquired.

Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures:

  • as additional measures of operating performance because they assist us in comparing our performance on a consistent basis; and
  • in presentations to the members of our Board of Directors to enable our Board to review the same measures used by management to compare our current operating results with corresponding prior periods.

Other companies may define these non-GAAP financial measures differently and, as a result, our use of these non-GAAP financial measures may not be directly comparable to similar non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Although we use these non-GAAP financial measures to assess the performance of our business, the use of non-GAAP financial measures is limited as they include and/or do not include certain items not included and/or included in the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, revenues, income (loss) from operations, net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share or other related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be a measure of liquidity. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these non-GAAP financial measures.

A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is provided below.

Third Quarter and First Nine Months of Fiscal Year 2025

Reconciliation of Income from Operations to Adjusted Operating Income

 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 
 March 31, March 31, 
  2025  2024  2025  2024 
 (In thousands)     
Income from operations$130,786 $88,313 $303,229 $175,922 
Amortization of intangible assets 2,410  2,847  7,522  8,850 
Stock-based compensation expense 8,548  5,250  24,922  21,272 
Adjusted operating income 141,744  96,410  335,673  206,044 
         

Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

 Three Months Ended
March 31,
 Nine Months Ended
March 31,
  2025   2024   2025   2024 
 (In thousands)
Net income$99,346  $69,687  $236,621  $141,401 
Interest expense, net 2,787   2,404   7,810   6,494 
Other income, net (7,360)  (7,678)  (23,469)  (19,381)
Income tax expense 35,450   24,657   80,088   48,383 
(Income) loss from equity method investments 563   (757)  2,179   (975)
Depreciation and amortization 28,941   26,984   84,470   81,464 
EBITDA 159,727   115,297   387,699   257,386 
Stock-based compensation expense 8,548   5,250   24,922   21,272��
Adjusted EBITDA$168,275  $120,547  $412,621  $278,658 
        

Fiscal Year 2025 Outlook

Reconciliation of Income from Operations to Adjusted Operating Income (unaudited)

 Year Ended
June 30, 2025
 Low High
 (In millions)
Income from operations$411.2 $417.7
Stock-based compensation expense 34.0  37.0
Amortization of intangible assets 9.8  10.3
Adjusted operating income$455.0 $465.0