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Cimpress plc: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 raised, 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • First quarter above $1 billion: Revenue of $1.04 billion was the first quarter above $1 billion in company history, with profit also up year over year. Source
  • Operating income up, net income down: Operating income rose $7.1 million to $88.1 million, while net income fell $12.1 million to $49.5 million, as unrealized currency hedge gains were much lower than a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose five percent: Gross profit growth and $4.1 million of currency benefits lifted adjusted EBITDA to $138.8 million, partly offset by the Jamaica hurricane. Source
  • Vista profit rose on North America: Vista revenue grew 7% reported and 5% organic constant-currency, with North America the main driver of faster growth; segment EBITDA rose $9.8 million. Source
  • National Pen gross margin fell: Tariff-related price and cost increases offset each other at National Pen, and that effect was the main driver of consolidated gross margin compression. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell on working capital: Operating cash flow fell to $164.7 million, partly offset by EBITDA growth, a lower cash tax payment and lower cash interest. Source
  • Manufacturing build-out drives cost benefits: Cross-Cimpress fulfillment is rising, and focused production hubs are expected to bring significant further cost-of-goods benefits. Source

“Cimpress maintained positive momentum in the second quarter of FY2026, achieving our first-ever quarter with revenue above $1 billion, and growing profit year over year.”

Robert S. Keane, Founder, Chairman & CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue growth (reported) SourceFY20267% - 8%Raised from 5% - 6%
Organic constant-currency revenue growth SourceFY20263% - 4%Raised from 2% - 3%
Net income SourceFY2026at least $79 millionRaised from at least $72 million
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY2026at least $460 millionRaised from at least $450 million
Operating cash flow SourceFY2026$313 millionRaised from $310 million
Adjusted free cash flow SourceFY2026approximately $145 millionRaised from approximately $140 million
Net leverage at fiscal year end SourceEnd of FY2026slightly below 3.1xKept
Net leverage SourceExiting FY2027approximately 2.5xKept
Net leverage SourceEnd of three-year period (FY2028)meaningfully below 2.0xKept
FY2028 targets SourceFY2028net income at least $200 million; adjusted EBITDA at least $600 million; about 45% conversion to adjusted free cash flowKept
Annualized efficiency benefits SourceExiting FY2027$70 million to $80 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: FY2026 reported revenue growth raised from 5% to 6% to 7% to 8%; organic constant-currency growth raised from 2% to 3% to 3% to 4%. Source
  • Guidance raised: FY2026 net income raised from at least $72 million to at least $79 million; adjusted EBITDA raised from at least $450 million to at least $460 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: FY2026 operating cash flow raised from $310 million to $313 million; adjusted free cash flow raised from approximately $140 million to approximately $145 million. Source
  • Guidance kept: FY2028 targets for net income, adjusted EBITDA and conversion to adjusted free cash flow were restated as previously disclosed. Source
  • New: Management announced expanded collaboration among the Vista, National Pen and BuildASign businesses. Source
  • New: A PrintBrothers tuck-in acquisition contributed about $18 million of Q2 revenue and $1.3 million of segment EBITDA. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • First quarter above $1 billion: Revenue of $1.04 billion was the first quarter above $1 billion in company history, with profit also up year over year. Source
  • Operating income up, net income down: Operating income rose $7.1 million to $88.1 million, while net income fell $12.1 million to $49.5 million, as unrealized currency hedge gains were much lower than a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose five percent: Gross profit growth and $4.1 million of currency benefits lifted adjusted EBITDA to $138.8 million, partly offset by the Jamaica hurricane. Source
  • Currency and acquisition lifted reported growth: Currency movements and the PrintBrothers tuck-in acquisition added to reported growth, which was above organic constant-currency growth. Source

Segments and regions

  • Vista profit rose on North America: Vista revenue grew 7% reported and 5% organic constant-currency, with North America the main driver of faster growth; segment EBITDA rose $9.8 million. Source
  • Upload and Print growth mostly reported: Organic constant-currency growth was 6% at PrintBrothers and 7% at The Print Group, with cross-Cimpress fulfillment a driver at The Print Group. Source
  • National Pen grew on tariff pricing: National Pen revenue growth came from cross-Cimpress fulfillment, tariff-related pricing, and solid telesales and e-commerce growth. Source
  • All Other Businesses grew on BuildASign: BuildASign grew through external revenue and cross-Cimpress fulfillment, with packaging strength; Printi grew strongly on customer experience and advertising optimization. Source

“We have executed well year to date in FY2026 and we are well positioned to continue to progress against our strategic and financial goals”

Robert S. Keane, Founder, Chairman & CEO

Products and customers

  • Elevated products drove Vista growth: Promotional products, apparel and gifts, and packaging and labels each grew at double-digit rates, while business cards and stationery declined 1%. Source
  • VistaPrint gross profit per customer up: VistaPrint variable gross profit per customer at reported rates rose 9% from $69.57 a year earlier, which management links to serving higher-value customers. Source
  • Order volume drove PrintBrothers: Growth in customer and order counts was the stated driver of PrintBrothers revenue growth in the quarter. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross profit up despite tariff costs: Gross profit grew 8%, partly offset by $1.5 million of North America production start-up costs and $1.0 million of tariffs net of price increases. Source
  • National Pen gross margin fell: Tariff-related price and cost increases offset each other at National Pen, and that effect was the main driver of consolidated gross margin compression. Source
  • Advertising share of revenue eased: Consolidated advertising was 13.8% of revenue, down from the prior-year level. Source
  • Central costs rose, duty benefit noted: Central and corporate costs excluding unallocated share-based compensation rose $2.8 million on volume costs and compensation; a prior-year duty expense did not recur. Source

“Achieving our FY2028 outlook will generate strong per-share free cash flow growth and significantly reduce our net leverage ratio.”

Robert S. Keane, Founder, Chairman & CEO

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Operating cash flow fell on working capital: Operating cash flow fell to $164.7 million, partly offset by EBITDA growth, a lower cash tax payment and lower cash interest. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow declined: Adjusted free cash flow declined $9.2 million to $124.3 million, reflecting the lower operating cash flow. Source
  • Share repurchases and withholding taxes: The company repurchased 369,711 shares, and paid $3.6 million of withholding taxes on equity awards covering 54,444 shares. Source
  • Leverage below 3.0x, liquidity intact: Net leverage was just below 3.0 times trailing-twelve-month EBITDA at December 31, 2025, down from the prior quarter, with an undrawn $250 million revolver. Source
  • Heavy capital spending year: Management described FY2026 as a significant capital expenditure year to expand product offerings and production hubs. Source

Strategy and efficiency plan

  • Manufacturing build-out drives cost benefits: Cross-Cimpress fulfillment is rising, and focused production hubs are expected to bring significant further cost-of-goods benefits. Source
  • Three brands share capabilities: The collaboration is expected to share product development, sourcing, marketing, telesales and manufacturing while keeping brands separate. Source
  • Tuck-in M&A pipeline described: Management said the company has a pipeline of tuck-in acquisitions and partnerships it believes can help results in future years. Source
  • Shared software cuts duplicate costs: Shared software services are expanding to remove duplicate costs, now that businesses have modernized their technology stacks. Source
  • Growing confidence in FY2028 targets: Management said it is increasingly confident in its previously disclosed FY2028 financial targets, for reasons it discusses in the letter. Source

Operational events and tariffs

  • Jamaica hurricane hit Vista profit: The hurricane reduced Vista segment profit by about $2 million because the Montego Bay site supports North American customer care; part may be recovered. Source
  • National Pen shipping costs and tariffs: National Pen segment EBITDA rose $2.2 million, though tariffs and temporary higher shipping costs partly offset advertising efficiency gains. Source

Coming up, as management said on 28 January 2026

  • Tariff impact expected to ease: Management expects the tariff impact on gross profit to lessen in future quarters as supply chain remediation ramps. Source
  • Efficiency benefits exiting FY2027: Management plans to generate annualized efficiency benefits exiting FY2027, beyond organic growth. Source
  • Possible insurance recovery: Part of the hurricane cost may be recovered through insurance in future periods. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
VistaPrint variable gross profit per customer (reported currency rates) Source$75.90

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Trade policy and tariffs are cited as risks that the FY2026 guidance incorporates. Source
  • Operational: Start-up costs from expanding North America production weighed on gross profit in the quarter. Source
  • Operational: The Jamaica hurricane in late October reduced adjusted EBITDA; part of the cost may be recovered through insurance. Source
  • Operational: Temporary higher shipping costs weighed on National Pen segment profit. Source
  • Financial: Net income fell because unrealized gains on currency hedges were much lower than a year earlier. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the company delivered the year-over-year adjusted EBITDA growth anticipated in its full-year guidance. Source
  • Ahead: Management said revenue growth continued to outpace the annual revenue growth guidance, as it did in Q1. Source
  • On track: Management said manufacturing investments are proceeding as planned, with the production hub build-out continuing. Source
  • Not stated: Management continues to expect year-end FY2026 net leverage slightly below the 3.1x FY2025 level. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it remains confident in its ability to deliver the FY2028 targets. Source
  • Not stated: The company continues to contest a one-time prior-year duty expense of $2.9 million. 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.