The online brokerage sector continues to witness a significant transformation, exemplified by Robinhood’s remarkable performance over the past year. The company’s stock has nearly tripled in value, impressive investors with astonishing revenue growth, improved margins, and substantial profits.
Since its inception in 2013, Robinhood has disrupted traditional brokerage practices through its commission-free trades and a gamified trading app. The company mainly generates revenue through a model that bundles smaller orders and sells them to high-frequency trading (HFT) firms. This strategy, known as “payment for order flow” (PFOF), alongside earnings from cryptocurrency trading, net interest from uninvested cash, margin loans, and subscription services from its premium Gold tier, forms the backbone of Robinhood’s business model.
The trading landscape saw a surge in new investor participation during the 2020-2021 period, driven by the popularity of meme stocks, cryptocurrencies, and speculative options, fueled by governmental stimulus checks and a palpable fear of missing out among retail investors. However, this growth faced a slowdown in 2022 due to rising interest rates that shifted investor preferences towards more conservative positions. Robinhood managed to rebound in 2023, leveraging new features and expanding its service offerings, even as market conditions improved.
Key financial metrics show the company’s trajectory: revenue soared from $959 million in 2020 to an anticipated $2.95 billion in 2024, with the funded customer base more than doubling from 12.5 million to 25.2 million. The company’s adjusted EBITDA has turned positive in 2023 and is projected to more than double by 2024, with profitability on the GAAP basis expected in the same year.
Recent data underscores Robinhood’s impressive year-to-date performance. In the first nine months of 2025, the company reported a 65% increase in revenue year-over-year, reaching $3.19 billion, while adjusted EBITDA surged by 116% to $1.76 billion. GAAP net income jumped more than 15 times to $169 million, bolstered by the acquisition of TradePMR and organic growth. As of the end of Q3 2025, the number of funded customers increased by 10% year-over-year to 26.8 million, and Gold subscribers saw a remarkable 77% increase to 3.9 million.
Looking forward, analysts predict that Robinhood’s revenue and adjusted EBITDA will rise by 53% and 77%, respectively, for the full year. They forecast continued growth at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17% for revenue and 66% for adjusted EBITDA from 2025 to 2027. This expansion is expected to be supported by the introduction of more traditional banking and wealth management services, as well as AI-driven investment options. Furthermore, the company is venturing into tokenizing U.S. Treasuries, stocks, ETFs, and other investment vehicles on its blockchain, which could facilitate faster and cheaper trading.
As for its stock, Robinhood’s enterprise value of approximately $115.6 billion may seem steep with a valuation of 35 times next year’s adjusted EBITDA. However, the strong growth metrics, coupled with an expanding and committed customer base, might justify this high valuation. Investors anticipating a shift back toward speculative trading as interest rates decline may find it advantageous to invest in Robinhood’s stock ahead of its upcoming earnings report in February.
