The company told Business Insider that the results were leaked due to an error by PR Newswire, the vendor responsible for distribution.
The business reviews and ratings website had been scheduled to report after the closing bell.
It is unusual for large companies to release earnings results during the trading session, or ahead of when they had planned.
Yelp announced that its chief financial officer Rob Krolik will be stepping down.
The search for a new CFO will start immediately, and Krolik will stay on until December 15 or until someone is hired - whichever comes first.
The company swung to a net loss of $22.2 million, or $0.29 per share in the fourth quarter, and earned net revenues of $153.7 million, ahead of the estimate for $152.4 million according to Bloomberg.
It posted adjusted earnings per share of $0.11 ($0.12 expected).
The stock fell by as much as 10% during the trading session and shares were halted for volatility. They continued to fluctuate after trading resumed, and plunged by up to 11%.
"In 2016, our priorities are to continue to build our core local advertising business, further increase engagement and awareness and grow transactions," CEO Jeremy Stoppelman said in the earnings statement.
The company forecast a 26% leap in earnings to between $685 million and $700 million this year compared to 2015.