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Chegg, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue fell 51%, skilling rose 2%: Total net revenues were $51.8 million, down 51% year-over-year. Chegg Skilling revenues were $17.5 million, up 2%. Management said results exceeded its expectations. Source
  • Net loss of $3.0 million: The company reported a net loss of $3.0 million, against $35.7 million a year earlier. Non-GAAP net loss was $2.5 million, against non-GAAP net income of $10.8 million in the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Operating expenses nearly halved: Non-GAAP operating expenses were $32.3 million, against $63.6 million a year earlier. Management attributed the reduction to expense discipline and enhanced use of AI. Source
  • Free cash flow of $6.4 million: Quarter free cash flow was $6.4 million. First-half free cash flow was $9.5 million, after severance payments tied to prior restructuring. Source
  • Cash and investments of $72.3 million: Net cash position was $38.5 million at quarter end, which management said provides flexibility for its priorities. Source
  • Pivot to employability platform: Management said the academic platform, skilling business and language learning are being combined into one employability service. Source
  • Next-generation Chegg soft launch: Management said the next generation of Chegg will automate job search and matching, with coaching on skills, courses and connections. Source

“In Q2 we outperformed our expectations on revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and cash, reflecting our ability to execute against our priorities while investing for future growth”

Dan Rosensweig, CEO and Executive Chairman

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total net revenues Sourcethird quarter 2026$43 million to $44 millionNew
Gross margin Sourcethird quarter 202648% to 49%New
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcethird quarter 2026$1 million to $2 millionNew
Forward net loss and reconciliation items Sourcethird quarter 2026Net loss $(12,800); D&A 12,500; tax provision 600; share-based compensation 1,900; other income, net (700), in thousandsNew
Capital expenditure Sourcefull year 202660% reductionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Third-quarter guidance is given for total net revenues instead of separate revenue guidance, so no separate Chegg Skilling revenue guidance is given. Source
  • New: Management said the Academic Services and Chegg Skilling businesses are becoming increasingly integrated, and that total net revenues and adjusted EBITDA are the measures it views as most meaningful. Source
  • New: Management described the company as becoming an employability business, a new strategic direction in this release. Source
  • New: Next-generation Chegg is set to soft launch in the third quarter. Source
  • New: Six new skilling partners were signed this year, including OpenSesame and Dale Carnegie. Source
  • New: Skills offerings are being expanded into Europe, combining language learning with broader workforce capabilities. Source
  • New: Language offering is being transformed from a language-learning app into a performance platform. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue fell 51%, skilling rose 2%: Total net revenues were $51.8 million, down 51% year-over-year. Chegg Skilling revenues were $17.5 million, up 2%. Management said results exceeded its expectations. Source
  • Net loss of $3.0 million: The company reported a net loss of $3.0 million, against $35.7 million a year earlier. Non-GAAP net loss was $2.5 million, against non-GAAP net income of $10.8 million in the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin of 17%: Adjusted EBITDA was $9.1 million, a 17% margin, compared with $23.1 million in the second quarter of 2025. Source

Segments and products

  • Academic services run for cash: Management said academic services are run to maximize cash generation while distribution partnerships expand, which it expects to contribute more meaningfully later in the year. Source
  • Skills built across four channels: Management said Chegg Skills spans enterprise, institutional, employer and marketplace channels, to create a more diversified foundation for growth. Source
  • Agentic coach for language learners: Management described a new agentic coach that understands each learner’s goals and the context of each interaction, aimed at moments such as client calls and interviews. Source

“The company is leaner, more efficient, and well positioned to generate meaningful free cash flow in 2026”

David Longo, CFO

Costs, margins and AI

  • Operating expenses nearly halved: Non-GAAP operating expenses were $32.3 million, against $63.6 million a year earlier. Management attributed the reduction to expense discipline and enhanced use of AI. Source
  • Gross margin below year-earlier level: Gross margin was 55% and non-GAAP gross margin 57%, against 66% and 68% a year earlier and 60% and 62% in the first quarter. Source
  • Further cost savings being identified: Management said it continues to identify opportunities to reduce the cost structure further across the company. Source
  • AI-first workforce restructuring: Management said the restructured AI-first workforce supports a leaner operating model that can scale faster and return to growth with high margins. Source

Cash and balance sheet

  • Free cash flow of $6.4 million: Quarter free cash flow was $6.4 million. First-half free cash flow was $9.5 million, after severance payments tied to prior restructuring. Source
  • Capital expenditure down 49%: Capital expenditure in the second quarter was $3.7 million. Source
  • Cash and investments of $72.3 million: Net cash position was $38.5 million at quarter end, which management said provides flexibility for its priorities. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Buybacks of $1.7 million: The company repurchased $1.7 million of common stock in the quarter, with $120.7 million remaining under its securities repurchase authorization. Source
  • Repurchases weighed against investment: Management said capital goes to strategic priorities while further share repurchases are also evaluated. Source
  • Balance sheet gives allocation flexibility: Management said the balance sheet and cash generation allow capital to be directed where it expects the greatest long-term value for shareholders. Source

Strategy and employability push

  • Pivot to employability platform: Management said the academic platform, skilling business and language learning are being combined into one employability service. Source
  • Next-generation Chegg soft launch: Management said the next generation of Chegg will automate job search and matching, with coaching on skills, courses and connections. Source
  • Application help and interview prep: Management described help with resumes, cover letters, applications and alumni outreach, followed by company-specific interview prep and targeted skill-building courses. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 August 2026

  • Next-generation Chegg rollout: Rollout across Chegg and Internships.com begins in the third quarter and continues through 2027. Source
  • Partner launches in second half: Launches for the newly signed partners are set to take place over the second half of the year. Source
  • Agentic coach integration early next year: Management plans to integrate the agentic coach into the learner’s workflow early in the next year. Source
  • Convertible debt repayment in Q3: Management expects to fully repay the convertible debt in the third quarter. Source
  • Next quarterly update: Management said it looks forward to updating investors on progress next quarter. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Beta users of next-generation Chegg Sourcemore than 10,000 students

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said AI created headwinds for the company, and it responded by strengthening the balance sheet and rebuilding the cost structure. Source
  • Financial: Free cash flow in the quarter included about $1.5 million of severance payments tied to earlier restructuring. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said second-quarter results exceeded its expectations. Source
  • Not stated: Management expects the expanded distribution partnerships to contribute more meaningfully later this year. Source
  • Not stated: Management expects to keep generating meaningful free cash flow in the second half of the year. 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.