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Clarivate plc: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 5 lowered, 2 new, 9 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue declined on disposals: Revenues were $587.3 million against $621.4 million a year earlier. The company attributed the decline primarily to inorganic divestitures and disposals, with organic revenue down 1.5%. Source
  • Organic ACV grew 1.5%: Organic ACV rose 1.5% compared with June 30, 2025, which the company linked to progress toward a more subscription-led revenue base. Source
  • Net loss reflects impairment charge: Net loss was $268.6 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, including a $221.7 million non-cash goodwill impairment. Adjusted net income was $123.1 million, or $0.19 per diluted share. Source
  • Transactional revenue fell 30.1%: Transactional revenue was $74.7 million, down 30.1%, with organic transactional revenue down 15.7%. Management linked this to lower activity and customer migrations to subscription offerings. Source
  • Free cash flow lower in both periods: Second-quarter free cash flow was $44.0 million against $50.3 million. First-half free cash flow was $122.9 million against $160.6 million. Source
  • Debt reduced through discounted repurchases: Total debt was $4,251.5 million at June 30, 2026. The company retired $117.6 million of 2028 and 2029 notes at about a 6% discount to par. Source
  • GAAP net loss range widened: Forecast net loss is $(418) to $(353) million, against $(189) to $(124) million previously, reflecting the $222 million impairment line added for 2026. Source

“The Value Creation Plan continues to drive meaningful progress, as we execute against our strategic priorities and strengthen Clarivate’s foundation for organic growth acceleration.”

Matti Shem Tov, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Organic ACV growth SourceFull year 20262.0% to 3.0%Kept
Recurring organic revenue growth SourceFull year 20260.75% to 2.25%Kept
Revenues, including discontinued operations SourceFull year 2026$2.30B to $2.42BKept
Revenues, excluding discontinued operations SourceFull year 2026$1,940 to $2,040 (in millions)New
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$980M to $1.04BKept
Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceFull year 202642.0% to 43.5%Kept
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026$0.70 to $0.80Kept
Adjusted diluted share count SourceFull year 2026approximately 650 millionKept
Free cash flow SourceFull year 2026$365M to $435MKept
Net cash provided by operating activities SourceFull year 2026$610 to $680 (in millions)Lowered from $615 to $685 (in millions)
Capital expenditures SourceFull year 2026$(245) millionLowered from $(250) million
GAAP net income (loss) SourceFull year 2026$(418) to $(353) millionLowered from $(189) to $(124) million
GAAP net income (loss) per share SourceFull year 2026$(0.64) to $(0.54)Lowered from $(0.29) to $(0.19)
Goodwill and intangible asset impairments SourceFull year 2026$222 millionNew
Depreciation and amortization SourceFull year 2026$760 millionLowered from $786 million
Interest expense, net SourceFull year 2026$242 million (low) and $237 million (high)Raised from $238 million (low) and $228 million (high)
Share-based compensation expense SourceFull year 2026$70 millionKept
Restructuring costs SourceFull year 2026$35 millionRaised from $25 million
Transaction related costs SourceFull year 2026$35 millionRaised from $13 million
Provision for income taxes SourceFull year 2026$45 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: GAAP net loss and loss per share forecasts were widened, reflecting the second-quarter goodwill impairment charge. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Operating cash flow forecast range was reduced to $610 to $680 million from $615 to $685 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Restructuring and transaction cost forecasts were increased to $35 million each, from $25 million and $13 million. Source
  • Guidance kept: Organic ACV, recurring organic revenue, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted margin, adjusted diluted EPS and free cash flow ranges were reaffirmed. Source
  • New: LS&H revenues will be reported as discontinued operations starting in the third quarter, and guidance now shows revenues excluding them. Source

Second quarter results and drivers

  • Revenue declined on disposals: Revenues were $587.3 million against $621.4 million a year earlier. The company attributed the decline primarily to inorganic divestitures and disposals, with organic revenue down 1.5%. Source
  • Organic ACV grew 1.5%: Organic ACV rose 1.5% compared with June 30, 2025, which the company linked to progress toward a more subscription-led revenue base. Source
  • Net loss reflects impairment charge: Net loss was $268.6 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, including a $221.7 million non-cash goodwill impairment. Adjusted net income was $123.1 million, or $0.19 per diluted share. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA slightly lower: Adjusted EBITDA was $247.2 million, down from $261.6 million a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 42.1% in both periods. Source
  • First-half organic revenue down slightly: First-half revenue was $1,172.8 million against $1,215.1 million. Organic revenue fell 0.4%, with organic recurring revenue up 0.7%, offset by lower transactional revenue. Source

Segments and revenue by segment

  • Life Sciences and Healthcare fell most: LS&H revenue was $88.7 million, down 11.7%, with organic revenue down 5.2%. The company said subscription revenue declined from product group wind-downs within the segment. Source
  • Academia and Government revenue lower: A&G revenue was $300.3 million, down 5.7%. Disposals reduced revenue by 5.9 points, and organic revenue grew 0.3%. Source
  • Intellectual Property revenue slightly lower: IP revenue was $198.3 million, down 2.1%, with organic revenue down 2.3%. No disposal effect was reported for the segment. Source

“In the first half of 2026, we expanded our profit margin and reduced debt by more than $200 million through strong free cash flow generation and opportunistic debt repurchases.”

Jonathan Collins, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Subscription, re-occurring and transactional revenue

  • Subscription revenue nearly flat: Subscription revenue was $403.3 million, down 0.6%. Organic subscription revenue grew 0.7%, which the company attributed to new sales and price increases. Source
  • Transactional revenue fell 30.1%: Transactional revenue was $74.7 million, down 30.1%, with organic transactional revenue down 15.7%. Management linked this to lower activity and customer migrations to subscription offerings. Source
  • Re-occurring revenue up on currency: Re-occurring revenue rose 0.4% to $109.3 million. The increase was primarily due to a foreign exchange benefit. Source
  • Recurring revenue organic growth 0.5%: Recurring revenues, subscription plus re-occurring, were $512.6 million and grew 0.5% organically. Source

Costs and margins

  • Cost of revenues declined: Cost of revenues was $185.5 million against $203.6 million a year earlier. SG&A was $181.6 million against $181.1 million. Source
  • Other operating expense dropped: Other operating expense, net was $0.9 million in the quarter, against $29.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Restructuring costs for Value Creation Plan: Restructuring costs were $12.1 million against $9.3 million. The company expects 2026 restructuring costs associated with the Value Creation Plan. Source
  • Half-year adjusted margin higher: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 42.1% in both quarters. For the first half it was 41.6%, against 40.7% a year earlier. Source

Cash flow, debt and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow lower in both periods: Second-quarter free cash flow was $44.0 million against $50.3 million. First-half free cash flow was $122.9 million against $160.6 million. Source
  • Debt reduced through discounted repurchases: Total debt was $4,251.5 million at June 30, 2026. The company retired $117.6 million of 2028 and 2029 notes at about a 6% discount to par. Source
  • Cash balance lower than year-end: Cash and equivalents were $217.7 million at June 30, 2026, down $111.5 million from December 31, 2025. Source
  • Share repurchases smaller year on year: Repurchases of ordinary shares were $18.1 million in the first half, against $99.5 million in the prior-year period. Source
  • Operating cash flow lower: Operating cash flow was $98.7 million in the quarter, against $116.3 million. First-half operating cash flow was $233.4 million, against $287.5 million. Source

Strategy and portfolio focus

  • Life Sciences divestiture sharpens focus: The release headline describes the previously announced LS&H divestiture as sharpening focus and enhancing the financial profile alongside the Value Creation Plan. Source
  • AI roadmap advanced in quarter: The CEO said the company advanced its AI innovation roadmap, maintained disciplined cost management and strengthened the balance sheet through deleveraging during the quarter. Source
  • Value Creation Plan launched early 2025: In the first-quarter release, management described progress against the Value Creation Plan launched in early 2025, covering simplification, commercial effectiveness and innovation.

Full-year 2026 guidance

  • Full-year targets reaffirmed: Organic ACV growth, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted margin, adjusted diluted EPS and free cash flow ranges were kept from the first-quarter release. Source
  • GAAP net loss range widened: Forecast net loss is $(418) to $(353) million, against $(189) to $(124) million previously, reflecting the $222 million impairment line added for 2026. Source
  • Revenue excluding discontinued operations shown: Revenues excluding discontinued operations are forecast at $1,940 to $2,040 million, after removing $360 to $380 million of discontinued revenue from the $2.30B to $2.42B range. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 July 2026

  • Discontinued operations reporting from Q3: LS&H revenues will begin to be reported as discontinued operations in the third quarter, and guidance shows revenues excluding them. Source
  • Full-year assumptions exclude further deals: The reaffirmed 2026 figures assume no further acquisitions or divestitures, and no unanticipated events. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Organic ACV growth Source1.5%
Total ACV growth Source3.1%
Subscription revenues Source$403.3 million
Recurring revenues Source$512.6 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Transactional activity fell across all segments, partly because customers moved to subscription offerings, reducing transactional revenue. Source
  • Financial: A $221.7 million non-cash goodwill impairment drove the second-quarter net loss and widened the full-year GAAP loss forecast. Source
  • Financial: Operating cash flow and free cash flow were both below prior-year levels in the quarter and in the first half. Source
  • Operational: Product group wind-downs within A&G reduced transactional revenue during the quarter. Source
  • External: Foreign exchange movements contributed to total ACV growth of 3.1%, alongside product pricing. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: First-quarter release described progress against the Value Creation Plan launched in early 2025.
  • Not stated: First-quarter release said debt was retired from free cash flow and excess cash on hand; second-quarter release reports first-half debt reduction above $200 million.

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.