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Cbiz, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 1 lowered, 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 1.3% to $849M: Total revenue was $849 million, up 1.3%. Financial Services revenue rose 2.1%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA and EPS both rose: Adjusted EBITDA was $244 million, up 1.5%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.50, up 7.3%. Source
  • Cross-selling through industry groups: Management cited cross-serve and new logo wins through industry groups, with higher share of wallet and pipeline conversion in key verticals such as Private Equity, Construction and Alternative Investments. Source
  • Gross margin was 26.6% of revenue: Gross margin was $226.0 million, or 26.6% of revenue, against $228.1 million, or 27.2%, a year earlier. Source
  • Share repurchases through April: About 2 million shares were repurchased for about $63 million through end of April. Net leverage decreased 0.5x year over year. Source
  • Operating cash used narrowed: Operating cash used was $25.5 million, against $88.3 million. Free cash flow was negative $28.5 million, against negative $93.4 million. Source
  • Agentic AI platform progressing: Management reported meaningful progress deploying an agentic AI platform aimed at productivity, consistency and quality across operations. Source

“We achieved year-over-year growth in revenue, earnings, and free cash flow, while returning capital to shareholders through highly accretive share repurchases.”

Jerry Grisko, CBIZ President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total revenue Source2026~$2.8B to $2.9BKept
Revenue growth Source2026approximately 2% to 5%Kept
Adjusted EBITDA Source2026~$465M to $475MRaised from ~$450M to $460M
Adjusted diluted EPS Source2026~$4.00 to $4.10Raised from ~$3.75 to $3.85
Free cash flow Source2026~$270M to $290MKept
Free cash flow conversion Source2026approximately 60% of Adjusted EBITDAKept
Effective tax rate Source2026approximately 28.5%Kept
Weighted average fully diluted share count Source2026approximately 60.5 million sharesLowered from approximately 62 million shares
Operational synergies Source2026$12M additional in 2026; greater than $50M cumulatively
Tax and attest hours completed by global resources Source202610% of total tax and attest hours

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EBITDA range raised to ~$465M to $475M from ~$450M to $460M. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted diluted EPS range raised to ~$4.00 to $4.10 from ~$3.75 to $3.85. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Weighted average fully diluted share count lowered to about 60.5 million from about 62 million. Source
  • Guidance kept: Total revenue and free cash flow ranges were kept at the prior levels. Source
  • New: Peter Scavuzzo elevated to Chief Information and Technology Officer, bringing Enterprise IT, Business Transformation and Innovation under one leader. Source
  • New: Spring national brand campaign launched, with nationally televised ads in key markets. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 1.3% to $849M: Total revenue was $849 million, up 1.3%. Financial Services revenue rose 2.1%. Source
  • Net income and GAAP EPS rose: Net income was $162 million, up 31.6%, and GAAP diluted EPS was $2.63, up 37.7%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA and EPS both rose: Adjusted EBITDA was $244 million, up 1.5%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.50, up 7.3%. Source
  • Operating and free cash flow grew: Operating cash flow rose 71.1% and free cash flow rose 69.5% from the prior-year quarter. Source

Segments and regions

  • Financial Services gross margin rose: Financial Services gross margin was $209.6 million, against $204.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • Benefits and Insurance revenue was lower: Benefits and Insurance Services revenue was $108.2 million, against $113.0 million. Its gross margin was $23.0 million, against $27.6 million. Source
  • National Practice folded into Financial Services: National Practice is now combined with Financial Services. Prior-year Financial Services figures were adjusted to match. Source

“Reflecting our solid performance and the impact of the share repurchases, we are increasing our adjusted EPS outlook and reaffirming our other previously communicated targets.”

Jerry Grisko, CBIZ President and Chief Executive Officer

Products and customers

  • Cross-selling through industry groups: Management cited cross-serve and new logo wins through industry groups, with higher share of wallet and pipeline conversion in key verticals such as Private Equity, Construction and Alternative Investments. Source
  • Multi-service engagements expanded: Integrated delivery across practices and geographies supports large engagements, including cross-border tax, transaction advisory and technology-led work. Source
  • Industry group recognition: Team members are recognized as among the most highly regarded leaders in several industry groups. Source

Costs and margins

  • Gross margin was 26.6% of revenue: Gross margin was $226.0 million, or 26.6% of revenue, against $228.1 million, or 27.2%, a year earlier. Source
  • Deferred compensation plan affects margin: Excluding the deferred compensation plan, gross margin was 26.3% of revenue against 26.9% a year earlier. Source
  • Integration costs rose: Integration costs related to acquisitions were $23.9 million, against $15.7 million. Corporate G&A was $29.6 million, or 3.5% of revenue. Source
  • Acquisition gain sits outside adjusted results: A $58.0 million gain from finalizing working capital and purchase price adjustments is in GAAP net income and excluded from adjusted measures. Source

“We believe our strategy and continued execution position CBIZ to drive attractive growth and deliver long-term value for our clients and shareholders.”

Jerry Grisko, CBIZ President and Chief Executive Officer

Receivables and organic growth

  • Receivables rose from year-end: Accounts receivable, net was $769.4 million, up from $556.0 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • DSO rose to 99 days: Days sales outstanding was 99, against 71 at year-end. The release gives 96 for March 31, 2025. Source
  • Organic growth improved through quarter: Management said organic growth improved during the quarter and is higher sequentially than in the fourth quarter. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Share repurchases through April: About 2 million shares were repurchased for about $63 million through end of April. Net leverage decreased 0.5x year over year. Source
  • Operating cash used narrowed: Operating cash used was $25.5 million, against $88.3 million. Free cash flow was negative $28.5 million, against negative $93.4 million. Source
  • Revolver borrowings rose: Revolver borrowings were $239.0 million, against $142.4 million at year-end. Debt to equity was 69.3%, against 75.5%. Source
  • Diluted share count lower: Diluted weighted average common shares were 61.5 million, against 64.1 million a year earlier. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Agentic AI platform progressing: Management reported meaningful progress deploying an agentic AI platform aimed at productivity, consistency and quality across operations. Source
  • Global capabilities expanding capacity: Access to global capabilities is being accelerated to expand capacity and improve efficiency. Source
  • Continued investment in four areas: Management said it remains focused on investing in people, strengthening the brand, deepening industry specialization and enhancing services. Source

People and leadership

  • Senior hires with retention reported: The release reports new senior professional hires and describes retention levels across the business. Source
  • Top Workplace recognition: CBIZ was named a Top Workplace in the nation by USA Today for the sixth consecutive year. Source
  • First busy season as one firm: Management credited team performance in the first busy season as a fully integrated organization. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Team members Sourcemore than 9,500 across 23 major markets

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said it is on track to realize the 2026 synergy target and continues to expect the cumulative figure. Source
  • On track: Management said it is on track for the 2026 target on global resources. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it is reaffirming other previously communicated targets while raising the adjusted EPS range. 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.