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Compass, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 5 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Reported revenue nearly doubled: Revenue was $2.70 billion, up 99% from $1.36 billion, mainly because Anywhere's revenue is included from the close. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reached $61 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $61 million, against $16 million a year earlier. It excludes a $401 million non-cash tax benefit and $183 million of merger and integration expenses. Source
  • Over $250 million actioned by April: Management said more than $250 million of net cost synergies were actioned by April 1, 82 days after the close. Source
  • Separations driven by Anywhere strategy: Management attributed the quarter-over-quarter decline in agent count mainly to an Anywhere strategy to separate non-productive agents. Total separations were 5,041. Source
  • Non-GAAP OPEX rose to $641 million: Non-GAAP operating expenses excluding commissions were $641 million, up from $259 million in Q4 2025 and $236 million in Q1 2025. Source
  • Operating cash flow negative in Q1: Operating cash flow was negative $157 million and free cash flow negative $168 million. Management tied this mainly to the Anywhere transaction and related cash costs. Source

“We achieved strong financial and operational results in our first quarter as a newly combined company.”

Robert Reffkin, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Compass

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceQ2 2026$4.0 billion to $4.2 billionNew
Adjusted EBITDA SourceQ2 2026$310 million to $350 millionNew
Non-GAAP OPEX Sourcefull year 2026$2.70 billion to $2.75 billionNew
Realized cost synergies Source2026$200 millionRaised from $100 million
Realized cost synergies, P&L portion Source2026approximately $130 millionNew
Actioned cost synergies, Year 1 SourceYear 1$300 millionRaised from $250 million
Actioned cost synergies, three-year total Sourcenext three years$500 millionRaised from $400 million
Cost synergies through the P&L, three-year total Sourcenext three yearsapproximately $420 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: The 2026 realized cost synergy target rose from $100 million to $200 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: The Year 1 actioned cost synergy target rose from $250 million to $300 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: The total actioned cost synergy target over three years rose from $400 million to $500 million. Source
  • New guidance: Q2 2026 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA ranges were given. The prior release gave only Q1 ranges. Source
  • New guidance: A full-year 2026 non-GAAP OPEX range was given. Source
  • New guidance: Management stated a full-year 2026 free cash flow expectation. Source
  • New: Segment reporting moved to a new format effective for Q1 2026, with some Anywhere amounts reclassified to conform. Source
  • New: Agent reporting changed from principal agent count to total agent count, with separations shown by GCI band. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Reported revenue nearly doubled: Revenue was $2.70 billion, up 99% from $1.36 billion, mainly because Anywhere's revenue is included from the close. Source
  • Pro forma revenue rose 7%: On a pro forma basis, as if Anywhere had been owned from January 1, 2025, revenue rose 7% to $2.76 billion. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reached $61 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $61 million, against $16 million a year earlier. It excludes a $401 million non-cash tax benefit and $183 million of merger and integration expenses. Source
  • GAAP net income of $22 million: GAAP net income was $22 million, against a $51 million loss a year earlier. The figure includes merger costs, stock compensation, depreciation and amortization, and a tax benefit. Source

Integration and cost synergies

  • Over $250 million actioned by April: Management said more than $250 million of net cost synergies were actioned by April 1, 82 days after the close. Source
  • Integration work described as intense: Management said the team was focused on executing the integration and cost synergy plan throughout the quarter. Source
  • Cost focus tied to debt reduction: Management said it remains focused on OPEX control, cost synergy targets and generating cash flow to reduce the balance sheet's debt. Source

“I’m very pleased with our Q1 2026 results, which reflect our first quarter as a combined company following the close of the Anywhere transaction on January 9, 2026.”

Scott Wahlers, Chief Financial Officer of Compass

Segments and regions

  • Pro forma Brokerage GTV rose 7.3%: Pro forma Brokerage GTV rose 7.3% year-over-year to $98.7 billion. Source
  • Pro forma Franchise GTV rose 4.6%: Pro forma Franchise GTV rose 4.6% year-over-year to $80.7 billion. Source
  • Royalty per side fell on deal mix: Net royalty per side was $440, against $660 a year earlier. Management attributed the decline mainly to Anywhere franchise deals with lower average sales prices than Christie's. Source
  • Title and escrow transactions rose 13%: Pro forma title and escrow transactions rose 13.2% year-over-year to 31,698. Reported transactions were 30,321. Source
  • Segment EBITDA by business line: Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $147 million for Brokerage, $46 million for Franchise and $13 million for Integrated Services, totaling $206 million. Source

Products and customers

  • Compass One share of closed sales: 31.5% of closed home sale transactions went through the Compass One experience, up from 28.4% in Q4 2025 and 17.4% in Q1 2025. Source
  • Make-Me-Sell entries kept growing: Make-me-sell entries reached about 24,700 at quarter end, up from about 22,000 at the end of Q4 2025. Source
  • Reverse prospecting usage grew: More than 10,600 agents used reverse prospecting in Q1 2026. More than 19,700 have used it since launch. Source
  • One-Click T&E attach rate higher: Agents who use One-Click T&E attach title and escrow at about twice the rate of agents who have not used it. Source
  • First attorney-led title rollout: One-Click Title was introduced in the Chicago market, described as the first attorney-led market rollout for Compass. Source

“By fully realizing these cost synergies, we believe Compass will be able to achieve durable profitability and lower our financial leverage in a flat housing market”

Robert Reffkin, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Compass

Agents and retention

  • Agent count after Anywhere separations: Total Brokerage agents were 84,187 at quarter end. Pro forma, the count was 85,724 at Q4 2025, with 3,503 gross agent additions in the quarter. Source
  • Pro forma retention held at 94%: Pro forma agent retention was 94% in Q1 2026, flat from Q4 2025. Source
  • Separations driven by Anywhere strategy: Management attributed the quarter-over-quarter decline in agent count mainly to an Anywhere strategy to separate non-productive agents. Total separations were 5,041. Source
  • Most separated agents had little GCI: 56% of Q1 separations had $0 GCI over the last twelve months, and 77% had $20K or less. Source
  • Retention excluding low-GCI agents: Excluding $0 GCI agents, retention was 97%. Excluding agents with $20K or less in GCI, retention was over 98%. Source

Costs and charges

  • Non-GAAP OPEX rose to $641 million: Non-GAAP operating expenses excluding commissions were $641 million, up from $259 million in Q4 2025 and $236 million in Q1 2025. Source
  • Pro forma commissions lower than Q4: Pro forma commissions and other related expenses were $2,038 million in Q1 2026, down from $2,340 million in Q4 2025. Source
  • Merger costs were $183 million: Anywhere merger transaction and integration expenses of $183 million covered legal, banking, severance and integration costs. Source

Margins and pricing

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 2.3%: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 2.3%, against 1.2% a year earlier. GAAP net income margin was 0.8%, against negative 3.8%. Source
  • Diluted EPS of $0.03: Diluted net income per share was $0.03, against a loss of $0.09 a year earlier. Source
  • Title and escrow revenue per deal up 1%: Pro forma average revenue per title and escrow transaction was $3,514, up 1% year-over-year. Source

Demand and transaction mix

  • Market GTV rose 1.5%: GTV for the entire U.S. residential market rose 1.5% over the same period. Source
  • Pro forma refinance transactions doubled: Pro forma refinance title and escrow transactions rose 100% year-over-year to 5,527. Source
  • Purchase title transactions up 4%: Pro forma purchase title and escrow transactions rose 4% year-over-year to 26,171. Source
  • Franchise transactions roughly flat: Pro forma franchise transactions rose 0.1% year-over-year to 143,406. Source

Capital, cash and debt

  • Operating cash flow negative in Q1: Operating cash flow was negative $157 million and free cash flow negative $168 million. Management tied this mainly to the Anywhere transaction and related cash costs. Source
  • Cash ended quarter at $484 million: Cash was $484 million at quarter end, and the revolver had no balance. Source
  • Long-term debt at $3.14 billion: Total long-term debt was $3.14 billion at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Convertible notes and capped call: The company recorded $977 million of net proceeds from convertible notes and paid $97 million for a capped call on them. Source
  • Anywhere notes upgraded by agencies: Both rating agencies upgraded the Anywhere notes that Compass assumed, concurrently with initiating Compass ratings. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 May 2026

  • Home Platform to Anywhere brokerage agents: The platform will be branded Home Platform and is expected to be available to Anywhere brokerage agents in Q3 2026. Source
  • Platform rollout to Anywhere franchisees: Management plans to roll the platform out to the Anywhere franchise network in Q1 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Brokerage GTV Source$97.3 billion reported; $98.7 billion pro forma
Brokerage transactions Source99,504 reported; 101,147 pro forma
Total Brokerage agents Source84,187
Franchise GTV Source$76.9 billion reported; $80.7 billion pro forma
Franchise transactions Source137,347 reported; 143,406 pro forma
Net royalty rate per side Source$440 reported; $438 pro forma
Title and escrow transactions Source30,321 reported; 31,698 pro forma
Compass One share of closed home sales Source31.5%

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Agent count fell in the quarter, which management attributed mainly to Anywhere separating non-productive agents. Source
  • Financial: Operating and free cash flow were both negative in the quarter, which management linked to the Anywhere transaction and related cash costs. Source
  • Financial: Total long-term debt stands at $3.14 billion, and management said it aims to lower leverage. Source
  • Demand: Management described the housing market as flat and tied its leverage goal to cost synergy realization in that setting. Source
  • Regulatory: A $7 million litigation charge was recorded in Q1 2026 for the Antitrust Lawsuits. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said revenue came in above the mid-point of the Q1 2026 revenue guide. Source
  • Ahead: Management said Adjusted EBITDA came in above the high end of the Q1 2026 guidance range. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it continued to outperform the industry on pro forma Brokerage transactions in Q1. 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.