Opera Surges Past Guidance on AI and High-Value User Growth

OSLO, Norway – February 02, 2026 – Opera Limited (NASDAQ: OPRA) announced today that it expects to significantly outperform its previously issued financial guidance for the fourth quarter and full-year 2025, fueled by a surge in high-value users and successful monetization strategies centered around e-commerce and AI.

The global browser and AI agent company now anticipates fourth-quarter revenue will climb above $170 million, soaring past its prior forecast of $162 to $165 million. This strong finish pushes the expected full-year 2025 revenue to over $608 million, marking a substantial growth of more than 26%, or approximately $130 million, compared to 2024.

Profitability metrics are also set for an upward revision. Opera projects that its fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA will surpass the high end of its $37.5 to $40.5 million guidance. Consequently, full-year adjusted EBITDA is now projected to exceed $141 million, underscoring a period of robust operational efficiency and financial strength.

"The Opera browser has always been tailored for the most demanding users," said CEO Lin Song in the company's press release. He noted that this strategic focus is paying dividends as more people seek a browser that can serve as an integrated hub for content, services, and AI tools. "Our high-ARPU Western user base increased by approximately 2 million users sequentially from the third to the fourth quarter, providing a powerful tailwind for our monetization engines," Mr. Song concluded.

A Consistent Pattern of Outperformance

This latest announcement is not an isolated event but rather the continuation of a well-established trend for Opera. Throughout 2024 and 2025, the company has consistently set, raised, and ultimately exceeded its own financial targets, building a track record of under-promising and over-delivering that has caught the attention of investors.

CFO Frode Jacobsen highlighted this pattern, stating, "Over the course of 2025, we were able to raise growth expectations with each passing quarter, and we are very pleased to yet again exceed our expected financial results." This reliability has become a hallmark of the company's financial narrative, suggesting strong execution and a deep understanding of its market dynamics. The market reacted positively to the news, with Opera's stock showing significant gains in pre-market trading, reflecting renewed investor confidence in the company's growth trajectory.

This performance is built on a foundation of strong operational execution. For instance, in the fourth quarter of 2024, the company reported a 29% revenue increase, driven by a 38% jump in advertising revenue and 17% growth in search revenue, similarly surpassing its guidance for that period.

The Monetization Machine: Beyond the Browser

The engine driving Opera's impressive financial results is a sophisticated and diversified monetization strategy that extends far beyond traditional browser functions. The key to this success is the company's focus on attracting and retaining a high-ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) audience, particularly in Western markets.

The addition of 2 million of these valuable users in a single quarter provides a significant boost to Opera's revenue streams. These users are more engaged and generate more revenue through the company's primary channels: search and advertising. Opera maintains lucrative partnerships with search giants like Google and Yandex, earning a share of revenue every time a user performs a search. Simultaneously, its Opera Ads platform delivers targeted, high-intent traffic to advertising partners, a segment that has seen accelerated growth.

Mr. Jacobsen pointed to the company's success in capitalizing on new commercial avenues. "Opera entered the fourth quarter at an unprecedented scale, and continued to benefit from both our rapidly expanding e-commerce opportunities and our ability to serve users' queries through both search and other partner promotions," he said. This focus on e-commerce integration allows Opera to capture value from online shopping trends, turning user activity into a significant revenue source.

Carving a Niche with AI and Innovation

In a browser market dominated by giants like Google Chrome, Apple Safari, and Microsoft Edge, Opera has successfully carved out a profitable niche by positioning itself as the browser for power users, gamers, and early adopters of artificial intelligence. Instead of competing on sheer market share, Opera differentiates through unique features and a forward-looking product strategy.

Nowhere is this more evident than in its aggressive integration of AI. While competitors are also adding AI features, Opera has been a first-mover, embedding AI capabilities directly into the browsing experience. Its flagship Opera One browser, along with the specialized Opera GX for gamers, already incorporates AI enhancements powered by models from Google's Gemini. The company reports that its AI-integrated browsers reached over 80 million users in 2025.

A key part of its future strategy is the development of a native AI agent called "Browser Operator," designed to automate complex tasks for users directly within the browser—from filling out forms to purchasing products—all while processing tasks locally to maintain user privacy. This vision transforms the browser from a passive content viewer into an active, intelligent assistant.

The company's focus on niche audiences is also a major strength. The Opera GX gaming browser, for example, has cultivated a dedicated community of over 33 million monthly active users as of late 2024. This user base is not only growing rapidly but is also highly monetizable, with its annualized ARPU seeing significant year-over-year increases.

The Road Ahead: Opportunities and Obstacles

Looking ahead to 2026, Opera's management expresses confidence in its ability to sustain its growth momentum. "As we enter 2026, we are excited about our potential to drive growth through both commercial and product opportunities," stated Mr. Jacobsen. This growth is expected to come from further enhancements to its AI suite, expanding e-commerce partnerships, and strategic initiatives like MiniPay, a stablecoin wallet designed for emerging markets.

However, the company operates in a fiercely competitive and rapidly evolving technological landscape. It faces continuous pressure to innovate and maintain its user base against a backdrop of well-funded competitors. The industry is also subject to increasing regulatory scrutiny concerning data privacy, AI ethics, and advertising practices, which could present future challenges.

Despite these hurdles, Opera has demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt and thrive by focusing on user experience and technological innovation. By translating this focus into consistent financial outperformance, the company has solidified its position as a significant and dynamic player in the web technology space. The full, audited financial results and further commentary from management will be presented to investors and the public during a conference call on the morning of Thursday, February 26, 2026.