Nerdy CEO Buys Another $4.4 Million in Stock, Signaling Unwavering Confidence

ST. LOUIS, MO – January 05, 2026 – In a powerful display of insider confidence, Nerdy Inc. (NYSE: NRDY) Chairman, Founder, and CEO Chuck Cohn has invested another $4.4 million to acquire 3.5 million shares of his company's common stock during the fourth quarter of 2025. This latest series of purchases, executed at an average price of $1.24 per share, brings his total personal investment to a staggering $81.0 million since the online learning platform went public in September 2021.

This substantial financial commitment from the company's founder comes at a critical juncture for Nerdy. While the move sparked a modest 3.8% single-day rise in the stock price, it stands in stark contrast to the company's broader market performance and a prevailing sense of caution among Wall Street analysts. The transactions, detailed in public SEC filings, underscore a founder's profound belief in his company's long-term value, even as it navigates financial headwinds and a competitive ed-tech landscape.

A Bold Bet in a Bearish Market

Chuck Cohn's recent buying spree, conducted between November 19 and December 16, 2025, is particularly noteworthy given the trajectory of Nerdy's stock. After debuting with post-IPO highs exceeding $12 per share in 2021, the stock has since faced significant downward pressure, trading near the $1 mark in recent sessions. Over the past year alone, the stock has seen a decline of more than 32%.

Cohn's decision to purchase shares at an average price of $1.24 suggests a belief that the market is currently undervaluing the company's assets and future potential. This is not an isolated event but the continuation of a consistent pattern. Since taking Nerdy public, Cohn has acquired approximately 51.4 million shares, boosting his total holdings to 91.4 million. For investors, such sustained and significant insider buying is often interpreted as the strongest possible signal that leadership anticipates a positive turn in the company's fortunes.

However, the context of insider activity at Nerdy presents a more complex picture. While the CEO has been aggressively adding to his position, public filings from the latter half of 2025 show that other key executives, including the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Legal Officer, have been selling shares. This divergence in insider behavior highlights the different financial strategies and perspectives within the company's leadership team.

Financials Show Signs of a Strategic Pivot

Nerdy's most recent financial report for the third quarter of 2025 offers clues into both the challenges and the strategic shifts that may be fueling Cohn's optimism. The company reported revenue of $37.0 million, a slight 1% decrease year-over-year, which fell just shy of analyst expectations. The dip was primarily attributed to delays in federal and state funding cycles impacting its institutional business, which provides tutoring services to K-12 schools.

Despite the top-line softness, Nerdy demonstrated significant progress on its path toward profitability. The company posted an adjusted EBITDA loss of $10.2 million, a marked improvement from the $14.0 million loss recorded in the same period of the prior year and better than its own guidance. This was achieved through disciplined cost controls, reduced marketing spend, and operational efficiencies reportedly driven by the company's investment in artificial intelligence.

A key highlight from the report was a substantial 24% increase in Average Revenue Per Member (ARPM) for its consumer-facing Learning Memberships, which reached $374. This indicates a successful strategic pivot toward attracting and retaining higher-value customers, even as the total number of active members saw a decrease. To further bolster its financial position, Nerdy also secured a new $50 million term loan in November 2025, providing enhanced liquidity and flexibility for future operations.

Confidence from the Corner Office, Caution from the Street

The divergence between the CEO's actions and the broader market sentiment is stark. In the wake of its third-quarter earnings report, analysts at both Goldman Sachs and Cantor Fitzgerald maintained their "Neutral" rating on Nerdy but lowered their price targets from $1.50 to $1.00, citing the mixed results and an ongoing platform overhaul. The consensus rating among analysts covering the stock leans toward "Reduce," with an average price target of $1.25.

Institutional investors have also shown a mixed, albeit cautious, stance. In the third quarter of 2025, filings revealed that while 21 institutions increased their holdings, a larger contingent of 66 firms reduced their positions. This sentiment reflects the broader market's uncertainty about the company's ability to translate its strategic initiatives into sustained revenue growth and profitability.

Cohn's consistent multi-million-dollar investments serve as a direct counterpoint to this external skepticism. His actions suggest a long-term perspective that looks beyond short-term stock fluctuations and quarterly performance metrics. It's a bet on the fundamental strength of the business model and its underlying technology.

Investing in an AI-Driven Vision

At its core, Nerdy's mission is to leverage technology, particularly AI, to transform the online learning experience. The company's proprietary platform is designed to connect learners with experts across thousands of subjects, from one-on-one tutoring to large-format classes. The operational efficiencies that helped narrow the company's losses are a direct result of this technology-first approach.

By repeatedly investing his own capital, Cohn is not just buying stock; he is publicly reaffirming his commitment to this long-term vision. The investment signals a deep-seated belief that the company's AI-driven platform will ultimately create superior value and capture a significant share of the evolving education market. This comes at a time when the broader ed-tech sector is increasingly focused on harnessing AI to deliver personalized and effective learning outcomes.

For Nerdy, the path forward involves navigating the complexities of its institutional business while continuing to grow its high-value consumer membership base. Chuck Cohn's $81 million personal stake is a clear and powerful declaration that he believes the company is on the right track, providing a compelling, high-stakes narrative for investors to watch as the firm continues its push toward profitability.