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Alight, Inc. / Delaware: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue fell 3.2% to $511M: Revenue was $511 million against $528 million a year earlier. The company attributed the decline to lower net commercial activity, partly offset by higher project revenue. Source
  • Net loss narrowed on prior-year impairment: Net loss was $10 million against $1,073 million a year earlier, when a $983 million non-cash goodwill impairment was recorded. Loss before income tax was $19 million against $1,076 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell to $92M: Adjusted EBITDA was $92 million, an 18.0% margin, against $127 million and 24.1% a year earlier. Six-month adjusted EBITDA was $196 million against $245 million. Source
  • Gross margin fell to 27.8%: Gross profit was $142 million, or 27.8% of revenue, against $176 million, or 33.3%, a year earlier. The company attributed the decrease mainly to lower revenues. Source
  • Operating cash flow $152M for six months: Six-month cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $152 million against $159 million. Capital expenditures were $51 million against $57 million. Source

“Our second quarter results once again exceeded expectations for both total revenue and adjusted EBITDA and our business remained highly cash generative.”

Rohit Verma, Chief Executive Officer of Alight

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcethird quarter 2026$469 million to $479 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcethird quarter 2026$55 million to $61 millionNew
Revenue Sourcefull year 2026$2,078 million to $2,098 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$400 million to $415 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Third-quarter 2026 revenue and adjusted EBITDA ranges appear in this release; the prior release gave only second-quarter ranges. Source
  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 revenue and adjusted EBITDA ranges appear in this release for the first time in the documents provided. Source
  • New: A 1-for-20 reverse stock split of the Class A, Class B and Class V common stock took effect June 30, 2026. Source
  • New: The company reported completing the insourcing of critical client service functions that had been outsourced. Source

Second-quarter results

  • Revenue fell 3.2% to $511M: Revenue was $511 million against $528 million a year earlier. The company attributed the decline to lower net commercial activity, partly offset by higher project revenue. Source
  • Net loss narrowed on prior-year impairment: Net loss was $10 million against $1,073 million a year earlier, when a $983 million non-cash goodwill impairment was recorded. Loss before income tax was $19 million against $1,076 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell to $92M: Adjusted EBITDA was $92 million, an 18.0% margin, against $127 million and 24.1% a year earlier. Six-month adjusted EBITDA was $196 million against $245 million. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS $0.91: Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.91 against $2.09. Diluted loss per share was $0.38 against $40.61 a year earlier, with figures restated for the reverse split. Source

Recurring and project revenue

  • Recurring revenue fell to $471M: Recurring revenue was $471 million against $492 million a year earlier. Six-month recurring revenue was $969 million against $1,012 million. Source
  • Project revenue rose to $40M: Project revenue was $40 million against $36 million a year earlier. The company described the increase as partly offsetting lower net commercial activity. Source
  • Recurring share slipped from 93.3%: Recurring revenues were 92.2% of total revenue in the second quarter, against 93.3% in the first quarter as reported in the prior release. Source

“Our investment focus remained on leveraging AI to further improve user experience and service excellence, which we believe will ultimately drive client retention and growth.”

Rohit Verma, Chief Executive Officer of Alight

Costs, gross profit and margins

  • Gross margin fell to 27.8%: Gross profit was $142 million, or 27.8% of revenue, against $176 million, or 33.3%, a year earlier. The company attributed the decrease mainly to lower revenues. Source
  • Adjusted gross margin 34.4%: Adjusted gross margin was 34.4% against 38.8% a year earlier. Six-month adjusted gross margin was 34.9% against 37.6%. Source
  • Selling and administrative costs down $21M: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $109 million against $130 million a year earlier. The release attributes the decrease mainly to lower severance and other restructuring costs. Source

Client engagement and modernization

  • Early client engagement results: Management said it is encouraged by early results from enhanced customer engagement and account management, which it believes will support stronger retention. Source
  • Modernization gaining market traction: During the quarter the company reported significant market traction on the modernization initiatives it has underway. Source
  • Management ranks being strengthened: The company said it continued strengthening its management ranks during the quarter. Source

Cash flow and liquidity

  • Operating cash flow $152M for six months: Six-month cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $152 million against $159 million. Capital expenditures were $51 million against $57 million. Source
  • Free cash flow $101M for six months: Six-month free cash flow was $101 million against $102 million, calculated as operating cash flow net of capital expenditures. Source
  • Debt and net debt at quarter-end: At June 30, 2026, cash was $215 million, total debt was $1,996 million and total debt net of cash was $1,781 million. Source
  • Capital expenditures lower: Capital expenditures for the six months were $51 million against $57 million a year earlier. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Tax receivable payments rose: Payments on tax receivable agreements were $136 million for the six months against $100 million a year earlier. Source
  • Dividends sharply lower: Dividend payments were $1 million for the six months against $43 million a year earlier. Source
  • No share repurchases in six months: The repurchase of shares line shows no amount for the six months, against $40 million a year earlier. Source
  • Share counts restated for reverse split: The 1-for-20 reverse split effective June 30, 2026 is reflected retroactively in all share and per-share amounts for the periods presented. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 August 2026

  • Strategy continues with liquidity support: Management said liquidity remains strong to support continued implementation of its long-term strategy. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management expects the back half of 2026 to be affected by 2025 commercial execution and by seasonally higher expenses in the third quarter. Source
  • Financial: Interest expense rose $2 million, which the company attributed to higher interest expense net of swaps. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The company said it completed insourcing of critical client service functions that had been outsourced. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.