Revenue growth has slowed to 7.0% in 2026Q1, while gross margins remain pressured by high fixed costs, contracting to 23.0% from a 26.9% peak in 2025Q3.
| Metric | TTM | Dec'25 | Dec'24 | Dec'23 | Dec'22 | Dec'21 | Dec'20 | Dec'19 | Dec'18 | Dec'17 | Dec'16 | Dec'15 | Dec'14 | Dec'13 | Dec'12 | Dec'11 | Dec'07 | Dec'06 | Dec'05 | Dec'04 | Dec'03 | Dec'02 | Dec'01 | Dec'00 | Dec'99 | Dec'98 |
|---|
| Sales/Revenue | 2.98B | 2.93B | 2.69B | 2.42B | 2.02B | 1.76B | 1.52B | 2.06B | 1.9B | 1.74B | 1.57B | 1.46B | 1.35B | 1.22B | 1.07B | 973.7M | 774.6M | 697.87M | 625.26M | 551.76M | 472.76M | 407.53M | 345.86M | 291.14M | 243.29M | 209.37M |
| Revenue Growth % | 9.16% | 9.22% | 11.07% | 19.69% | 15.11% | 15.85% | -26.52% | 8.35% | 9.32% | 10.9% | 7.64% | 7.79% | 11.01% | 13.8% | 9.99% | 25.7% | 11% | 11.61% | 13.32% | 16.71% | 16% | 17.83% | 18.79% | 19.67% | 16.2% | - |
| Cost of Goods Sold | 2.28B | 2.24B | 2.07B | 1.89B | 1.54B | 1.34B | 1.21B | 1.54B | 1.43B | 1.31B | 1.18B | 1.1B | 1.04B | 937.84M | 825.17M | 766.5M | 617.79M | 559.59M | 509.97M | 459.81M | 400.41M | 347.64M | 295.03M | 248.41M | 208.63M | 180.77M |
| COGS % of Revenue | - | 76.23% | 76.93% | 78.01% | 76.31% | 76.36% | 79.9% | 74.64% | 75.13% | 75.27% | 75.1% | 75.47% | 76.82% | 76.95% | 77.05% | 78.72% | 79.76% | 80.19% | 81.56% | 83.33% | 84.7% | 85.3% | 85.3% | 85.32% | 85.75% | 86.34% |
| Gross Profit | 702.07M | 691.05M | 619.61M | 531.72M | 478.65M | 415.01M | 304.55M | 522.94M | 473.25M | 430.61M | 390.85M | 357.75M | 313.6M | 280.94M | 245.77M | 207.2M | 156.81M | 138.27M | 115.29M | 91.95M | 72.35M | 59.89M | 50.84M | 42.74M | 34.66M | 28.6M |
| Gross Margin % | 23.57% | 23.56% | 23.07% | 21.99% | 23.69% | 23.64% | 20.1% | 25.36% | 24.87% | 24.73% | 24.9% | 24.53% | 23.18% | 23.05% | 22.95% | 21.28% | 20.24% | 19.81% | 18.44% | 16.67% | 15.3% | 14.7% | 14.7% | 14.68% | 14.25% | 13.66% |
| Gross Profit Growth % | - | 11.53% | 16.53% | 11.09% | 15.33% | 36.27% | -41.76% | 10.5% | 9.9% | 10.17% | 9.25% | 14.08% | 11.63% | 14.31% | 18.61% | 32.13% | 13.41% | 19.94% | 25.38% | 27.1% | 20.8% | 17.82% | 18.95% | 23.31% | 21.18% | - |
| Operating Expenses | 383.54M | 376.38M | 372.99M | 360.48M | 321.07M | 285.99M | 251.22M | 255.12M | 234.16M | 225.17M | 193.61M | 176.15M | 166.68M | 171.9M | 150.31M | 120.36M | 83.91M | 66.61M | 54.63M | 45.2M | 37.76M | 33.64M | 30.81M | 26.29M | 21.82M | 27.36M |
| OpEx % of Revenue | - | 12.83% | 13.89% | 14.91% | 15.89% | 16.29% | 16.58% | 12.37% | 12.3% | 12.93% | 12.33% | 12.08% | 12.32% | 14.1% | 14.04% | 12.36% | 10.83% | 9.54% | 8.74% | 8.19% | 7.99% | 8.26% | 8.91% | 9.03% | 8.97% | 13.07% |
| Selling, General & Admin | 381.88M | 376.38M | 354.64M | 327.07M | 289.16M | 256.82M | 219.56M | 221.5M | 201.59M | 188.94M | 163.97M | 148.16M | 137.68M | 141.83M | 123.37M | 92.94M | 72.18M | 63.23M | 52.72M | 44.19M | 37.22M | 33.27M | 28.6M | 24.39M | 20.9M | 18.97M |
| SG&A % of Revenue | - | 12.83% | 13.2% | 13.52% | 14.31% | 14.63% | 14.49% | 10.74% | 10.59% | 10.85% | 10.44% | 10.16% | 10.18% | 11.64% | 11.52% | 9.54% | 9.32% | 9.06% | 8.43% | 8.01% | 7.87% | 8.16% | 8.27% | 8.38% | 8.59% | 9.06% |
| Research & Development | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| R&D % of Revenue | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Operating Expenses | 1000K | 0 | 18.34M | 33.41M | 31.91M | 29.17M | 31.65M | 33.62M | 32.57M | 36.23M | 29.64M | 27.99M | 29M | 30.07M | 26.93M | 27.43M | 11.73M | 3.38M | 1.92M | 1.01M | 548K | 377K | 2.21M | 1.9M | 913K | 8.39M |
| Operating Income | 317.34M | 314.67M | 246.62M | 171.24M | 157.59M | 129.02M | 53.33M | 267.82M | 239.09M | 205.44M | 197.24M | 181.6M | 146.92M | 109.03M | 95.46M | 86.84M | 72.91M | 71.66M | 60.66M | 46.75M | 34.58M | 26.25M | 20.02M | 16.45M | 12.84M | 1.24M |
| Operating Margin % | 10.65% | 10.73% | 9.18% | 7.08% | 7.8% | 7.35% | 3.52% | 12.99% | 12.56% | 11.8% | 12.56% | 12.45% | 10.86% | 8.95% | 8.91% | 8.92% | 9.41% | 10.27% | 9.7% | 8.47% | 7.32% | 6.44% | 5.79% | 5.65% | 5.28% | 0.59% |
| Operating Income Growth % | - | 27.59% | 44.02% | 8.67% | 22.14% | 141.91% | -80.09% | 12.01% | 16.38% | 4.16% | 8.61% | 23.61% | 34.75% | 14.21% | 9.94% | 19.11% | 1.74% | 18.15% | 29.74% | 35.19% | 31.75% | 31.11% | 21.74% | 28.05% | 938.24% | - |
| EBITDA | 412.1M | 408.07M | 344.54M | 281.92M | 263.73M | 237.85M | 165M | 376.09M | 340.04M | 300.21M | 282.52M | 260.27M | 224.37M | 181.84M | 156.81M | 142.29M | 96.65M | 90.52M | 75.17M | 59.11M | 45.61M | 36.01M | 29.8M | 23.97M | 17.75M | 5.16M |
| EBITDA Margin % | 13.83% | 13.91% | 12.83% | 11.66% | 13.05% | 13.55% | 10.89% | 18.24% | 17.87% | 17.24% | 18% | 17.85% | 16.58% | 14.92% | 14.64% | 14.61% | 12.48% | 12.97% | 12.02% | 10.71% | 9.65% | 8.84% | 8.62% | 8.23% | 7.3% | 2.46% |
| EBITDA Growth % | 14.12% | 18.44% | 22.21% | 6.9% | 10.88% | 44.15% | -56.13% | 10.6% | 13.26% | 6.26% | 8.55% | 16% | 23.39% | 15.96% | 10.21% | 47.22% | 6.77% | 20.43% | 27.16% | 29.6% | 26.67% | 20.83% | 24.33% | 35.01% | 244.09% | - |
| D&A (Non-Cash Add-back) | 94.76M | 93.4M | 97.92M | 110.68M | 106.14M | 108.83M | 111.66M | 108.27M | 100.94M | 94.78M | 85.28M | 78.67M | 77.45M | 72.81M | 61.35M | 55.45M | 23.74M | 18.86M | 14.51M | 12.36M | 11.03M | 9.76M | 9.78M | 7.53M | 4.91M | 3.92M |
| EBIT | 317.34M | 314.67M | 246.62M | 171.24M | 151.67M | 126.45M | 53.33M | 267.82M | 239.09M | 205.44M | 186.12M | 181.6M | 147.02M | 45.44M | 95.62M | 88.5M | 72.91M | 71.66M | 60.66M | 46.75M | 34.58M | 26.25M | 20.02M | 16.45M | 12.84M | 1.24M |
| Net Interest Income | -46.43M | -44.76M | -48.76M | -51.61M | -39.49M | -36.1M | -37.68M | -45.15M | -47.51M | -44.04M | -42.92M | -41.45M | -34.61M | -40.54M | -83.71M | -82.08M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Interest Income | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 152K | 824K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Interest Expense | 46.43M | 44.76M | 48.76M | 51.61M | 39.49M | 36.1M | 37.68M | 45.15M | 47.51M | 44.04M | 42.92M | 41.45M | 34.61M | 40.54M | 83.86M | 82.91M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Income/Expense | -46.43M | -44.76M | -48.76M | -51.61M | -45.4M | -38.67M | -37.68M | -45.15M | -47.51M | -44.04M | -54.04M | -41.45M | -34.61M | -104.22M | -84.91M | -81.25M | -770K | -396K | 1.29M | 343K | 62K | 24K | -85K | -674K | 715K | 1.21M |
| Pretax Income | 270.91M | 269.91M | 197.86M | 119.63M | 112.18M | 90.35M | 15.65M | 222.66M | 191.59M | 161.4M | 143.2M | 140.16M | 112.31M | 4.81M | 11.75M | 5.59M | 72.14M | 71.27M | 61.94M | 47.1M | 34.65M | 26.27M | 19.94M | 15.77M | 13.56M | 2.45M |
| Pretax Margin % | 9.09% | 9.2% | 7.37% | 4.95% | 5.55% | 5.15% | 1.03% | 10.8% | 10.07% | 9.27% | 9.12% | 9.61% | 8.3% | 0.39% | 1.1% | 0.57% | 9.31% | 10.21% | 9.91% | 8.54% | 7.33% | 6.45% | 5.76% | 5.42% | 5.57% | 1.17% |
| Income Tax | 44.1M | 76.79M | 57.67M | 45.41M | 31.54M | 19.89M | -11.34M | 42.28M | 33.61M | 4.44M | 48.44M | 46.23M | 40.28M | -7.53M | 3.24M | 825K | 33M | 29.54M | 25.24M | 19.77M | 14.63M | 10.95M | 8.41M | 6.56M | 5.63M | 1.97M |
| Effective Tax Rate % | 16.28% | 28.45% | 29.15% | 37.96% | 28.12% | 22.01% | -72.45% | 18.99% | 17.54% | 2.75% | 33.83% | 32.98% | 35.86% | -156.58% | 27.6% | 14.77% | 45.75% | 41.46% | 40.75% | 41.97% | 42.23% | 41.69% | 42.18% | 41.59% | 41.53% | 80.63% |
| Net Income | 226.81M | 193.12M | 140.19M | 74.05M | 80.64M | 70.46M | 26.99M | 180.39M | 157.98M | 156.96M | 94.76M | 93.93M | 72.03M | 12.62M | 8.16M | 4.76M | 39.13M | 41.72M | 36.7M | 27.33M | 20.01M | 15.32M | 11.53M | 9.21M | 7.93M | 474K |
| Net Margin % | 7.61% | 6.58% | 5.22% | 3.06% | 3.99% | 4.01% | 1.78% | 8.75% | 8.3% | 9.02% | 6.04% | 6.44% | 5.32% | 1.04% | 0.76% | 0.49% | 5.05% | 5.98% | 5.87% | 4.95% | 4.23% | 3.76% | 3.33% | 3.16% | 3.26% | 0.23% |
| Net Income Growth % | 40.66% | 37.75% | 89.32% | -8.17% | 14.45% | 161.04% | -85.04% | 14.18% | 0.65% | 65.64% | 0.89% | 30.39% | 470.66% | 54.66% | 71.51% | -87.84% | -6.21% | 13.68% | 34.3% | 36.54% | 30.65% | 32.9% | 25.13% | 16.21% | 1572.36% | - |
| Net Income (Continuing) | 226.81M | 193.12M | 140.19M | 74.22M | 80.64M | 70.46M | 26.99M | 180.39M | 157.98M | 156.96M | 94.76M | 93.93M | 72.03M | 12.34M | 8.51M | 4.76M | 39.13M | 41.72M | 36.7M | 27.33M | 20.01M | 15.32M | 11.53M | 9.21M | 7.93M | 474K |
| Discontinued Operations | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Minority Interest | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8.13M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| EPS (Diluted) | 4.15 | 3.36 | 2.40 | 1.28 | 1.37 | 1.15 | 0.45 | 3.05 | 2.68 | 2.59 | 1.55 | 1.50 | 1.07 | 0.20 | 0.13 | 0.10 | 1.45 | 1.52 | 1.29 | 0.98 | 0.75 | 1.18 | 0.90 | 0.74 | 0.63 | 0.04 |
| EPS Growth % | 19.86% | 40% | 87.5% | -6.57% | 19.13% | 155.56% | -85.25% | 13.81% | 3.47% | 67.1% | 3.33% | 40.19% | 435% | 53.85% | 30% | -93.1% | -4.61% | 17.83% | 31.63% | 30.67% | -36.44% | 31.11% | 21.62% | 17.46% | 1475% | - |
| EPS (Basic) | - | 3.39 | 2.42 | 1.28 | 1.38 | 1.16 | 0.45 | 3.10 | 2.73 | 2.65 | 1.59 | 1.53 | 1.09 | 0.20 | 0.13 | 0.10 | 1.50 | 1.58 | 1.35 | 1.03 | 0.79 | 1.24 | 0.95 | 0.77 | 0.66 | 0.04 |
| Diluted Shares Outstanding | 54.7M | 57.42M | 58.47M | 57.93M | 58.49M | 60.87M | 60.31M | 58.95M | 59M | 60.25M | 60.59M | 62.36M | 67.24M | 64.51M | 64.53M | 45.77M | 26.93M | 27.39M | 28.39M | 27.85M | 26.75M | 13.03M | 12.8M | 12.52M | 12.59M | 12.41M |
| Basic Shares Outstanding | 54.34M | 56.95M | 57.93M | 57.72M | 58.34M | 60.31M | 59.53M | 57.84M | 57.81M | 58.87M | 59.23M | 60.84M | 65.61M | 62.66M | 64.53M | 45.34M | 26.04M | 26.34M | 27.12M | 26.51M | 25.47M | 12.38M | 12.19M | 11.89M | 11.95M | 11.17M |
| Dividend Payout Ratio | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Labor cost inflation sensitivity
As indicated by the most recent quarterly filings, BFAM's top-line expansion has decelerated to 7.0% in 2026Q1, down from the double-digit growth observed throughout 2024, suggesting that the post-pandemic recovery in center utilization may be reaching a plateau amidst shifting corporate return-to-office mandates and headcount volatility.
The deceleration in revenue growth appears to reflect a maturation of the post-pandemic recovery cycle. Investors should monitor whether the company can sustain its current growth trajectory without relying on aggressive pricing, given the sensitivity of its corporate client base to broader economic conditions.
Based on reported financial statements, BFAM's gross margin fluctuated significantly, dropping to 23.0% in 2026Q1 from a peak of 26.9% in 2025Q3, highlighting the inherent difficulty in managing high-fixed-cost facility leases and specialized labor requirements during periods of inconsistent center occupancy and seasonal enrollment shifts.
The margin compression observed in recent quarters suggests that the company's operating model remains highly sensitive to labor-to-child ratios. The inability to fully insulate gross margins from these fixed costs implies that profitability is heavily dependent on achieving optimal utilization levels across the center portfolio.
According to the income statement data, operating income scaled to $64.9M in 2026Q1, yet the operating margin of 9.1% remains pressured by persistent SG&A expenses, which have shown limited efficiency gains despite the company's ongoing efforts to pivot toward asset-light educational advisory and workforce solutions.
The lack of significant operating leverage suggests that SG&A costs are growing in tandem with revenue, potentially limiting the company's ability to expand margins through scale. This warrants further investigation into whether the advisory segment can eventually provide the operating leverage that the capital-intensive center-based model currently lacks.
As reported in recent filings, BFAM's net income remains subject to quarterly volatility, with stock-based compensation expenses of $7.4M in 2026Q1 acting as a consistent drag on reported earnings, which may obscure the underlying cash-generating capability of the core child care and advisory business segments.
The recurring nature of stock-based compensation suggests that investors should focus on adjusted earnings metrics to gauge true operational performance. The significant variance in net income margins, ranging from 0.9% to 10.1% over the last ten quarters, indicates that non-operating items and tax fluctuations may be distorting bottom-line results.
Based on an analysis of the provided figures, the primary risk to the investment thesis is the potential for structural margin compression, as labor market tightness and rising facility costs may continue to outpace the company's ability to implement tuition increases across its enterprise-contracted center network.
Short-term margin volatility suggests that the company's pricing power may be more limited than the premium valuation implies. If labor costs continue to rise, the company may struggle to maintain its current profitability levels, potentially leading to a re-evaluation of its growth-oriented valuation multiple.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying BFAM stock.
For fiscal year 2025, Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (BFAM) reported total revenue of $2.93B. This represents a 1301.1% increase compared to $209.4M in 1998.
Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (BFAM) is profitable, generating $193.1M in net income for the fiscal year ending 2025 with a net profit margin of 6.6%.
Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (BFAM) reported an operating income of $314.7M, resulting in an operating profit margin of 10.7%. This margin reflects the operational efficiency of the business before interest and taxes.
Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (BFAM) generated $691.0M in gross profit for the year, representing a gross profit margin of 23.6%. This demonstrates the company's core pricing power and production efficiency.