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Certara, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 11 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 lowered, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 1% to $106.9 million: Total revenue was $106.9 million, up 1% from $106.0 million a year earlier, on a reported basis. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA declined 9%: Adjusted EBITDA was $31.7 million, down 9% from $34.8 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted EPS guidance lowered: Adjusted diluted EPS guidance is $0.35 to $0.41, down from $0.44 to $0.48. The fully diluted share range is 157 million to 159 million, down from 160 million to 162 million. Source
  • Medical writing unit sold to Veristat: The company completed the sale of its global medical writing and related regulatory services business to Veristat, LLC on May 8, 2026, for $85.0 million in cash. Source
  • Software bookings up 20%: Software bookings were $48.7 million, up 20%, which management attributed to customer demand across the platform. Source
  • Operating expenses rose $12.7 million: Operating expenses were $69.6 million, up from $56.9 million, led by a $7.4 million rise in contingent consideration expense and a $2.8 million rise in employee costs. Source
  • Two growth areas and AI program: Management is reorganizing around two focused growth areas, which the release does not name, and accelerating an enterprise-wide AI program. Source

“Together, these actions strengthen our ability to transform drug development and deliver greater value to our customers and shareholders.”

Jon Resnick, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFull year 2026$395 million - $405 million
Revenue growth excluding Regulatory and Medical Writing SourceFull year 20260% - 4%Kept
Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceFull year 2026approximately 30% - 32%Kept
Adjusted diluted earnings per share SourceFull year 2026$0.35 - $0.41Lowered from $0.44 - $0.48
Fully diluted shares SourceFull year 2026157 million - 159 millionLowered from 160 million - 162 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted diluted EPS guidance moved to $0.35 to $0.41 from $0.44 to $0.48. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Fully diluted share count guidance moved to 157 million to 159 million from 160 million to 162 million. Source
  • Ended: The Regulatory and Medical Writing business was divested when the company completed the sale on May 8, 2026. Source
  • New: Management is reorganizing around two focused growth areas, which the release does not name, and accelerating an enterprise-wide AI program. Source
  • New: Jon Resnick became Chief Executive Officer and a board member effective January 1, 2026.

Quarter results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 1% to $106.9 million: Total revenue was $106.9 million, up 1% from $106.0 million a year earlier, on a reported basis. Source
  • Software came in above plan: Management said the software line came in above plan across key metrics, while the services line was mixed. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell to $0.09: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.09, against $0.14 a year earlier. Adjusted net income was $14.5 million, against $22.2 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA declined 9%: Adjusted EBITDA was $31.7 million, down 9% from $34.8 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source

Full-year 2026 guidance update

  • Revenue guidance now includes divested unit: Full-year 2026 revenue is guided to $395 million to $405 million, including about $18 million from the Regulatory and Medical Writing business. Source
  • Adjusted EPS guidance lowered: Adjusted diluted EPS guidance is $0.35 to $0.41, down from $0.44 to $0.48. The fully diluted share range is 157 million to 159 million, down from 160 million to 162 million. Source
  • Margin and ex-divestiture growth held: Adjusted EBITDA margin guidance stays at about 30% to 32%, including the divested business. Growth excluding that business stays at 0% to 4%. Source

“Services performance was mixed, reflecting execution and go-to-market challenges that we expect to resolve during the second half of the year,”

John Gallagher, Chief Financial Officer

Divestiture of medical writing business

  • Medical writing unit sold to Veristat: The company completed the sale of its global medical writing and related regulatory services business to Veristat, LLC on May 8, 2026, for $85.0 million in cash. Source
  • Proceeds for general corporate use: Management said net proceeds are expected to fund general corporate purposes, including ongoing operations. Source
  • Guidance reflects Q2 divestiture impact: The updated 2026 guidance reflects the divestiture's impact during the second quarter, with growth excluding the divested business at 0% to 4%. Source

Software and services revenue

  • Software revenue up 7%: Software revenue was $49.7 million, up 7% from $46.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Services revenue down 4%: Services revenue was $57.2 million, down 4% from $59.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Software and services mix near even: After the divestiture, management expects the software and services revenue mix to be roughly equal. Source

Bookings and demand

  • Total bookings down 2%: Total bookings were $115.3 million, down 2% from $118.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Software bookings up 20%: Software bookings were $48.7 million, up 20%, which management attributed to customer demand across the platform. Source
  • Services bookings down 14%: Services bookings were $66.6 million, down 14%, mainly from the timing of contract recognition and execution. Source

Costs, margins and net loss

  • Operating expenses rose $12.7 million: Operating expenses were $69.6 million, up from $56.9 million, led by a $7.4 million rise in contingent consideration expense and a $2.8 million rise in employee costs. Source
  • Lease abandonment expense rose: Lease abandonment expense rose $0.8 million, because the prior year included a non-recurring gain that reduced expenses. Source
  • Cost of revenues flat year over year: Cost of revenues was $41.6 million, against $41.5 million a year earlier, and management said cost levels were consistent with the prior year. Source
  • Net loss versus prior-year profit: The company reported a net loss of $8.8 million and diluted loss per share of $0.06, against net income of $4.7 million and diluted EPS of $0.03. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Cash fell to $149.5 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $149.5 million at March 31, 2026, down from $189.4 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Operating cash flow $11.7 million: Net cash provided by operating activities was $11.7 million, against $17.4 million a year earlier. Capital expenditures were $0.6 million. Source
  • $40.0 million spent on buybacks: The company spent $40.0 million under its common stock repurchase program, and treasury stock at cost rose to $107.1 million. Source
  • Shares outstanding fell to 153.3 million: Shares outstanding were 153,325,078 at March 31, 2026, against 159,139,562 at December 31, 2025. Source

Strategy, AI and leadership

  • Two growth areas and AI program: Management is reorganizing around two focused growth areas, which the release does not name, and accelerating an enterprise-wide AI program. Source
  • Jon Resnick became CEO January 2026: Jon Resnick became Chief Executive Officer and a board member effective January 1, 2026, and the current release refers to his first quarter at the company.
  • Divestiture to sharpen execution: Management described the divestiture, reorganization and AI program as steps to sharpen execution and position the company for long-term growth. Source

Coming up, as management said on 11 May 2026

  • Escrow release on closing covenants: The additional $15.0 million placed in escrow is to be released to the company once certain post-closing covenants are satisfied. Source
  • Earn-out on medical writing results: Up to $35.0 million of additional consideration is an earn-out tied to the business's financial performance for a specified period after closing. Source
  • Services fixes expected in second half: Management expects the services execution and go-to-market challenges to resolve during the second half of 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Customers Sourcemore than 2,600 biopharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and regulatory agencies across 70 countries

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Services results were mixed, with management citing execution and go-to-market challenges that it expects to resolve in the second half. Source
  • Financial: Management said acquisition, financing and equity compensation costs are hard to predict, so GAAP results may be significantly affected. Guidance is not reconciled to GAAP. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release said initiatives over 2026 would drive improving revenue growth through the year. The current release does not state progress against this.
  • Ahead: Management said software came in above plan across key metrics in the quarter. 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.