8-K: Katapult Holdings Reports Strong Q1 2025 Results, Driven by App Marketplace Growth

Sentiment:

Earnings Release


Katapult Holdings, Inc. announced a 15.4% increase in gross originations and a 10.6% increase in revenue for the first quarter of 2025, exceeding expectations and driven by growth in the Katapult app marketplace.

Better than expectedThe first quarter came in stronger than the company's outlook.

Summary

  • Katapult Holdings, Inc. reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.
  • Gross originations increased by 15.4% to $64.2 million.
  • Excluding the home furnishings and mattress category, gross originations grew 51% year-over-year.
  • Total revenue increased by 10.6% to $71.9 million.
  • The company experienced a net loss of $5.7 million, compared to a net loss of $0.6 million in the first quarter of 2024.
  • Adjusted EBITDA was $2.2 million, compared to $5.6 million in the first quarter of 2024.
  • The company ended the quarter with $14.3 million in cash and cash equivalents, including $8.3 million of restricted cash.
  • Write-offs as a percentage of revenue were 9.0%, within the company's long-term target range of 8% to 10%.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The document presents a generally positive outlook, highlighting strong growth in key metrics and reiterating full-year guidance. However, the net loss and decrease in Adjusted EBITDA temper the overall sentiment.

Positives

  • Gross originations increased by 15.4% year-over-year.
  • Total revenue increased by 10.6% year-over-year.
  • The Katapult app marketplace is a significant driver of growth, accounting for approximately 59% of gross originations.
  • Customer satisfaction remains high, with a Net Promoter Score of 66.
  • KPay is experiencing substantial growth, with originations up approximately 57% year-over-year.
  • The company is reiterating its full-year 2025 guidance, expecting at least 20% growth in gross originations and revenue.

Negatives

  • The company reported a net loss of $5.7 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to a net loss of $0.6 million for the first quarter of 2024.
  • Adjusted EBITDA decreased to $2.2 million from $5.6 million in the first quarter of 2024.
  • Total operating expenses increased 17.3% in the first quarter.

Risks

  • The company is navigating a challenging macroeconomic environment, particularly within the home furnishings category.
  • The company's outlook assumes that gross originations for the home furnishings and mattress category do not improve materially from 2024 performance.
  • The company's ability to refinance its indebtedness and continue as a going concern is a risk.
  • The company faces risks related to factors affecting consumer spending, such as employment levels, disposable income, and inflation.
  • The company's concentration of transaction volume with a single merchant partner or type of merchant or industry poses a risk.

Future Outlook

Katapult expects a 25% to 30% year-over-year increase in gross originations and a 17% to 20% year-over-year increase in revenue for the second quarter of 2025. The company reiterates its full-year 2025 guidance, expecting at least 20% growth in gross originations and revenue, and at least $10 million in positive Adjusted EBITDA.

Management Comments

  • Orlando Zayas, CEO of Katapult, stated that 2025 is off to a strong start and the company is well-positioned to achieve its full-year targets.
  • Nancy Walsh, CFO of Katapult, noted that the first quarter came in stronger than the company's outlook and they are successfully growing the top-line without meaningfully increasing the expense base.

Industry Context

Katapult operates in the e-commerce-focused financial technology sector, providing lease-to-own solutions for underserved, non-prime consumers. The company believes that lease-to-own solutions historically benefit when prime credit options become less available.

Comparison to Industry Standards

  • Katapult's growth in gross originations and revenue aligns with the broader trend of increasing adoption of alternative financing solutions in the e-commerce space.
  • Companies like Affirm and Klarna, which offer buy-now-pay-later services, have also experienced significant growth in recent years, indicating a strong demand for flexible payment options.
  • Katapult's focus on the non-prime consumer segment differentiates it from some of its competitors, allowing it to tap into a large and underserved market.

Stakeholder Impact

  • Shareholders can expect continued growth in gross originations and revenue.
  • Consumers will have access to a growing network of merchant partners through the Katapult platform.
  • Merchants can leverage Katapult's platform to reach a broader customer base and drive sales.

Next Steps

  • The company will continue to execute on its consumer and merchant initiatives.
  • Katapult plans to introduce new merchants to the Katapult App Marketplace during 2025.
  • The company will focus on ongoing enhancements to its risk modeling and onboarding high-quality new merchants.

Key Dates

DateDescription
May 15, 2025Date of report and press release regarding financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2025.
March 31, 2025End of the first quarter for which financial results are reported.
May 15, 2025Conference call and webcast to discuss the company's financial results.

Keywords

Katapult, lease-to-own, e-commerce, financial technology, gross originations, revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, KPay, app marketplace, financial results

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