- **Revenue Resilience**: 3.8% YoY growth with 9% upsell/cross-sell contribution, despite base growth at -1.8%.
- **AI-Driven Innovation**: Digital Identity solutions achieved 9% Q3 growth, combating identity fraud risks.
- **Sterling Synergy Success**: $52 million of $65-80 million target realized, with 97% customer retention post-integration.
- **Financial Strength**: 29% EBITDA margin, $81 million free cash flow, and 4.2x net leverage (target 2-3x by 2026).
- **Market Outlook**: Consistent hiring volumes in transportation/logistics, with 17 enterprise bookings in Q3.

**【CEO Summary Section】**
- **Revenue Growth**: Q3 revenue grew 3.8% year-over-year, driven by upsell, cross-sell, and new logo wins. Base growth remained negative at -1.8%, but sequential improvement was noted.
- **AI Strategy**: Emphasized proactive approach to AI, including Digital Identity solutions to combat identity fraud. Customer retention improved to 97%, with 17 enterprise bookings in Q3.
- **Sterling Integration**: Achieved $52 million in synergies (vs. $50 million target), with $12 million realized in Q3. Integration progress ahead of schedule, including seamless customer experience and operational efficiency gains.
- **Market Resilience**: Despite macro uncertainty, consistent hiring volumes in key verticals (e.g., transportation, retail). Health care sector faced funding challenges but showed long-term growth potential.

**【CFO Financial Commentary】**
- **Financial Performance**: Adjusted EBITDA of $118.5 million (29% margin), up 130bps YoY. Free cash flow of $81 million (78% YoY growth). Net leverage improved to 4.2x, with target of 2-3x by 2026.
- **Synergy Realization**: $52 million of $65-80 million target achieved, with $30 million in-year realization. EPS accretion from lower interest costs and debt paydown ($70 million YTD).
- **Guidance Update**: Narrowed 2025 full-year guidance to $1.535-1.570 billion in revenue, with adjusted EBITDA margins expanding 100bps YoY.

**【Q&A Highlights】**
- **AI Impact**: Customers view AI as a recruiting tool, not a threat to background screening. Digital Identity solutions (e.g., fraud detection) drove 9% Q3 upsell/cross-sell growth.
- **International Growth**: U.K. and APAC markets outperformed, with 11% international revenue growth. Australia and Singapore saw new logo wins.
- **Health Care Challenges**: Medicare/Medicaid funding delays impacted nonprofit hospital networks, but health care staffing companies offset losses.
- **Sterling Synergies**: Single back-end automation reduced turnaround times, with 97% customer retention post-acquisition.


First Advantage Corporation (FA) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

Revenue

Sales and Services Revenue

Financing Services Revenue

Other Revenue

Cost of Revenue

Cost of Goods and Services

Cost of Financing Services

Other Cost

Gross Profit

Other Operating Income

Operating Expenses

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling and Marketing Expenses

General and Administrative Expenses

Research and Development Expenses

Loss on Bad Debts

Loss on Impairment of Other Assets

Loss on Disposal of Assets

Other Operating Expenses

Operating Income

Non-Operating Income (Loss)

Income (Loss) from Affiliates

Income (Loss) from Associates

Income (Loss) from Joint ventures

Gain (Loss) on Other Investment

Gain (Loss) on Change in Fair Value

Gain (Loss) on Foreign Currency Exchange

Other Non-Operating Income (Loss)

Net Interest Expense

Interest Expense

Interest Income

Pretax Income From Continuing Operations

Income Tax Expense

Current Income Tax

Deferred Income Tax

Income Tax Adjustments

Net Income from Continuing Operations

Income from Discontinued Operations

Other Items Before Net Income

Net Income

Net Income Attributable to Minority Interests

Net Income Attributable to Owners of the Company

Preferred Stock Dividends

Other Adjustments

Net Income Attributable to Common Stockholders

Other Comprehensive Income

Total Comprehensive Income

Total Comprehensive Income Attributable to Minority Interests

Total Comprehensive Income Attributable to Owners of the Company

Basic EPS

Basic EPS from Continuing Operations

Basic EPS from Discontinued Operations

Diluted EPS

Diluted EPS from Continuing Operations

Diluted EPS from Discontinued Operations

FA

FA fundamentals

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