LOUISVILLE, Ky., Nov. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Creative Realities, Inc. ("Creative Realities," "CRI," or the "Company") (NASDAQ: CREX), a leading provider of digital signage, media and AdTech solutions, today announced its financial results for the fiscal third quarter ended September 30, 2025.

Highlights:

   -- Third quarter revenue of $10.5 million versus $14.4 million in the 
      prior-year period 
 
   -- Gross profit of $4.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 
      2025 versus $6.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 
 
   -- Net loss of $7.8 million for the third quarter of 2025 versus net income 
      of $0.1 million for the prior period 
 
   -- Adjusted EBITDA* of $0.8 million for the third quarter of 2025 versus 
      $2.3 million in the prior-year period 
 
   -- Annual recurring revenue ("ARR") of approximately $12.3 million at the 
      end of the third quarter versus $18.1 million as of September 30, 2024 
 
   -- After the end of the quarter, on November 7, 2025, the Company closed on 
      its acquisition of Cineplex Digital Media ("CDM") for CAD $70 million 
      (USD $42.7 million) in cash; concurrently, CRI added three new members to 
      its Board of Directors 

"While the period was negatively impacted by a $2 million order slipping into the fourth quarter and a $5.7 million non-cash software impairment charge due to the wind down of CRI's engagement with Stellantis, we are excited by what the future holds now with CDM as part of Creative Realities," said Rick Mills, Chief Executive Officer. "This sizable transaction significantly improves our growth trajectory -- not only due to the acquired blue-chip customer base but also the real potential to cross-sell our solutions and benefit from synergies across a wider media network. The combination should start improving bottom line results almost immediately, putting us on a solid foundation for greater returns in fiscal 2026 and beyond. At the same time, we brought three new members onto our Board of Directors, bring the total to seven. The addition of these accomplished individuals -- Dan McGrath, the Chief Operating Officer of Cineplex, along with Tom Ellis and Mike Bosco from North Run Capital LP -- strengthens our board and provides a greater depth of industry experience, just as we start a new growth phase across North America and abroad. We will update shareholders on our integration progress -- and outlook for the coming quarters -- during the earnings call. We're excited by our expanded leadership position in the digital media space and look forward to the future."

*Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. A reconciliation is provided in the tables of this press release.

2025 Third Quarter Financial Results

Sales were $10.5 million for the fiscal 2025 third quarter as compared to $14.4 million in the same period in fiscal 2024. Hardware revenue declined to $4.2 million, versus $5.2 million in the prior-year period, reflecting delivery timing; in addition, there was a significant sports and entertainment installation in 2024 that did not occur in the current fiscal quarter. Service revenue fell to $6.4 million from $9.2 million in fiscal 2024, also primarily due to deployment timing. Managed services revenue, which includes the Company's SaaS (software-as-a-service) subscription services, declined $0.4 million year-over-year largely due to a single customer insourcing a portion of CRI's work. In addition, the period was negatively impacted by a substantial order which slipped into the fourth quarter, affecting both hardware and service revenue.

Consolidated gross profit was $4.8 million for the fiscal 2025 third quarter versus $6.6 million in the prior-year period, and consolidated gross margin was 45.3% versus 45.6% in the fiscal 2024 third quarter. Gross margin on hardware revenue was 30.0% in fiscal 2025 as compared to 24.1% in the prior-year period, reflecting improved product mix. Gross margin on service amounted to 55.3%, versus 57.9% in the fiscal 2024 third quarter, primarily due to a reduction in SaaS subscription services and the Company's prior exit from media sales effective October 1, 2024. The Company ended the 2025 third quarter with ARR of approximately $12.3 million.

Sales and marketing expenses in the third quarter fell to $1.4 million, versus $1.5 million in the prior-year period, while general and administrative expenses rose to $5.0 million versus $3.9 million in fiscal 2024, reflecting an increase in stock-based compensation along with transaction expense related to the acquisition of CDM and related financings, without which expenses fell year-over-year.

The Company posted an operating loss of approximately $7.3 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 -- including a non-cash software impairment charge or $5.7 million related to the wind down of CRI's engagement with Stellantis -- compared to an operating profit of $1.1 million in fiscal 2024. CRI reported a net loss of $7.9 million, or $(0.75) per diluted share, in the quarter ended September 30, 2025 versus net income of $0.1 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, in the prior-year period.

Adjusted EBITDA (defined later in this release) was $0.8 million in the third quarter of 2025 as compared to $2.3 million in the prior-year period.

Balance Sheet

As of September 30, 2025, the Company had cash on hand of approximately $0.3 million, versus $1.0 million at December 31, 2024. The Company had outstanding debt of approximately $22.2 million versus $13.0 million at the start of the fiscal year, reflecting the settlement of the contingent consideration liability. As of the date of this release, after accounting for the payment of the purchase price for the CDM business, and the related financings and transaction expenses, the Company had outstanding debt of approximately $39.9 million.

Conference Call Details

The Company will host a conference call to review the results of the third quarter of 2025, and provide additional commentary about recent performance, on November 12 at 9:00 am Eastern Time, which will include prepared remarks and materials from management, followed by a live Q&A. The call will be hosted by Rick Mills, Chief Executive Officer, and George Sautter, Chief Strategy Officer.

Prior to the call, participants should register at https://bit.ly/CREXearnings2025Q3. Once registered, participants can use the weblink provided in the registration email to participate in the live webcast. An archived edition of the earnings conference call will also be posted on the Company's website later today and will remain available for one year.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

Creative Realities, Inc. prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). In addition to disclosing financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP, the Company discloses information regarding "EBITDA" and "Adjusted EBITDA." CRI defines "EBITDA" as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization of intangibles. CRI defines "Adjusted EBITDA" as EBITDA excluding stock-based compensation, non-recurring transaction expenses related to the CDM acquisition and related financings, fair value adjustments and both cash and non-cash non-recurring gains and charges. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measures of performance defined in accordance with GAAP. However, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are used internally in planning and evaluating the Company's operating performance. Accordingly, management believes that disclosure of these metrics offers investors, bankers and other stakeholders an additional view of the Company's operations that, when coupled with the GAAP results, provides a more complete understanding of the Company's financial results. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income/(loss) or to net cash used in operating activities as measures of operating results or liquidity. Our calculation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies, and the measures exclude financial information that some may consider important in evaluating the Company's performance. A reconciliation of GAAP net income/(loss) to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA is included in the accompanying financial schedules. For further information, please refer to Creative Realities, Inc.'s filings available online at www.sec.gov, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2024 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Creative Realities, Inc.

Creative Realities designs, develops and deploys digital signage-based experiences for enterprise-level networks utilizing its Clarity$(TM)$, ReflectView(TM), and iShowroom(TM) Content Management System $(CMS)$ platforms. The Company is actively providing recurring SaaS and support services across diverse vertical markets, including but not limited to retail, automotive, digital-out-of-home (DOOH) advertising networks, convenience stores, foodservice/QSR, gaming, theater, and stadium venues. In addition, the Company assists clients in utilizing place-based digital media to achieve business objectives such as increased revenue, enhanced customer experiences, and improved productivity. This includes the design, deployment, and day to day management of Retail Media Networks to monetize on-premise foot traffic utilizing its AdLogic(TM) and AdLogic CPM+(TM) programmatic advertising platforms.

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