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Costar Group, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 3 lowered, 3 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue up 18% year-over-year: Revenue was $925 million, up from $781 million a year earlier. The company reported its 61st consecutive quarter of double-digit revenue growth. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA more than doubled: Adjusted EBITDA was $184 million, up from $85 million. EBITDA was $157 million against $29 million. Operating cost growth was held to 2%. Source
  • Residential Adjusted EBITDA turned positive: Residential Adjusted EBITDA was $12 million against negative $76 million a year earlier and negative $29 million in the first quarter. Residential revenue was $444 million, up from $335 million. Source
  • Apartments.com Ai sessions and engagement: Apartments.com Ai launched in June. Within weeks users completed more than half a million AI sessions, averaging 20 minutes each, with 3D tour usage up 224% and traffic-to-lead conversion up 256%. Source
  • Net new bookings were $69 million: Net new bookings were $69 million, up 3% from the first quarter. The first quarter had been $67 million, up 20% year-over-year. Source
  • Share repurchases were larger: Six-month repurchases of stock were $587 million against $64 million a year earlier. First-quarter repurchases were $505 million, per the prior release. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA range affirmed: The full-year Adjusted EBITDA range was affirmed. Third-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was guided, with a 21% margin at the midpoint of the range. Source

“The second quarter marked a profitability inflection point for CoStar Group as Adjusted EBITDA more than doubled year-over-year to $184 million.”

Andy Florance, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CoStar Group

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$780 million to $820 millionKept
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcethird quarter 2026$190 million to $210 millionNew
Revenue Sourcefull year 2026$3.715 billion to $3.755 billionLowered from $3.78 billion to $3.82 billion
Revenue Sourcethird quarter 2026$935 million to $945 millionNew
Adjusted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$1.32 to $1.39 based on 405 million sharesKept
Adjusted EPS Sourcethird quarter 2026$0.31 to $0.34 based on 403 million sharesNew
Non-GAAP tax rate Sourcefull year and third quarter 202626%Kept
Diluted EPS (GAAP) Sourcefull year 2026 and third quarter 2026full year $0.54 to $0.61; third quarter $0.13 to $0.16Raised from full year $0.52 to $0.59
Net income (GAAP) Sourcefull year 2026 and third quarter 2026full year $218 million to $247 million; third quarter $51 million to $65 millionRaised from full year $213 million to $241 million
Adjusted Net Income Sourcefull year 2026 and third quarter 2026full year $535 million to $564 million; third quarter $124 million to $139 millionLowered from full year $538 million to $567 million
Stock-based compensation expense Sourcefull year 2026 and third quarter 2026full year $156 million; third quarter $34 millionLowered from full year $164 million
Segment Adjusted EBITDA Sourcethird quarter 2026 and full year 2026Commercial Real Estate: third quarter $162 million to $172 million, full year $670 million to $690 million. Residential Real Estate: third quarter $28 million to $38 million, full year $110 million to $130 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Full-year revenue range was lowered from the range given in the first-quarter release.
  • Guidance raised: Full-year GAAP diluted EPS range was raised from the first-quarter release. Adjusted EPS range is shown next to it in the same table.
  • Guidance kept: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA range was held at the range raised in the first-quarter release.
  • Guidance kept: Full-year Adjusted EPS range was held at $1.32 to $1.39, with the share basis at the time set at 409 million.
  • New guidance: Third-quarter guidance was issued for revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year Adjusted Net Income and stock-based compensation ranges were lowered from the first-quarter release.
  • New: Apartments.com Ai was introduced in June, following the February Homes.com Ai launch. Source
  • New: Four major launches on the core CoStar platform were delivered this quarter, including CoStar's market entry into France. Source
  • Ended: The litigation accrual balance was nil at June 30, 2026, against $99 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • New: The company recorded a purchase of noncontrolling interest of $26 million in the six months. Source

Results and profitability

  • Revenue up 18% year-over-year: Revenue was $925 million, up from $781 million a year earlier. The company reported its 61st consecutive quarter of double-digit revenue growth. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA more than doubled: Adjusted EBITDA was $184 million, up from $85 million. EBITDA was $157 million against $29 million. Operating cost growth was held to 2%. Source
  • Net income rose to $55 million: Net income was $55 million, or $0.14 diluted EPS, against $6 million and $0.01 a year earlier. Adjusted EPS was $0.32, up 88% from $0.17. Source
  • Six-month Adjusted EBITDA more than doubled: Six-month Adjusted EBITDA was $316 million against $151 million. Six-month net income was $58 million against a $9 million loss. Source
  • Settlement item lowered Adjusted EBITDA: Settlements and impairments were a negative $18 million adjustment, lowering Adjusted EBITDA relative to EBITDA. A $9 million interest related to settlements was added back to Adjusted Net Income. Source

Segments and regions

  • Residential Adjusted EBITDA turned positive: Residential Adjusted EBITDA was $12 million against negative $76 million a year earlier and negative $29 million in the first quarter. Residential revenue was $444 million, up from $335 million. Source
  • Commercial revenue grew across brands: Commercial Real Estate revenue was $481 million against $446 million. CoStar revenue was $337 million, LoopNet $87 million, and Other Commercial Real Estate $57 million against $60 million. Source
  • Commercial Adjusted EBITDA rose: Commercial Real Estate Adjusted EBITDA was $172 million against $161 million. Its EBITDA was $162 million against $118 million. Source

“For the first time, our residential segment turned Adjusted EBITDA positive - a $41 million improvement over the first quarter - and we expect to deliver the highest full-year Adjusted EBITDA in our company's history.”

Andy Florance, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CoStar Group

Products and customers

  • Apartments.com Ai sessions and engagement: Apartments.com Ai launched in June. Within weeks users completed more than half a million AI sessions, averaging 20 minutes each, with 3D tour usage up 224% and traffic-to-lead conversion up 256%. Source
  • Homes.com and Rent Benchmark launches: Homes.com Ai launched in February. CoStar Rent Benchmark, built from four million AI-abstracted lease agreements, was one of four major core-platform launches this quarter. Source
  • Average monthly visitors at 118 million: Average monthly unique visitors across the company's websites were 118 million in the second quarter of 2026, against 131 million in the first quarter. Source

Costs and margins

  • Operating expenses rose 2%: Total operating expenses were $652 million against $640 million. Selling and marketing was flat at $395 million; software development rose to $107 million from $96 million; G&A fell to $114 million from $122 million. Source
  • Income from operations turned positive: Income from operations was $76 million against a $27 million loss. Gross profit was $728 million, up from $613 million. Source
  • Net interest swung to expense: Net interest was a $2 million expense, against $33 million of income a year earlier. The release does not give a reason for the change. Source

“We accomplished all of this while reducing our projected expense base by roughly $100 million versus our original guidance, giving us a head start on our 2028 and 2030 Adjusted EBITDA targets.”

Andy Florance, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CoStar Group

Demand and bookings

  • Net new bookings were $69 million: Net new bookings were $69 million, up 3% from the first quarter. The first quarter had been $67 million, up 20% year-over-year. Source
  • Deferred revenue increased: Deferred revenue was $233 million at June 30 against $205 million at December 31. Current liabilities totaled $747 million against $746 million. Source
  • Receivables and credit allowance rose: Accounts receivable, net, was $253 million against $234 million at December 31. The allowance for credit losses rose to $36 million from $29 million. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow rose: Net cash provided by operating activities was $267 million for the six months, against $200 million a year earlier. Source
  • Share repurchases were larger: Six-month repurchases of stock were $587 million against $64 million a year earlier. First-quarter repurchases were $505 million, per the prior release. Source
  • Cash balance declined: Cash and cash equivalents were $1,266 million at June 30, down from $1,633 million at December 31. Source
  • Weighted diluted shares fell: Weighted-average diluted shares were 404.4 million for the quarter, against 424.3 million a year earlier. Source

Guidance for 2026 and third quarter

  • Full-year revenue range revised lower: The full-year revenue range was revised lower, and a third-quarter revenue range was issued. Third-quarter revenue is guided at about 13% growth at the midpoint. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA range affirmed: The full-year Adjusted EBITDA range was affirmed. Third-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was guided, with a 21% margin at the midpoint of the range. Source
  • Adjusted EPS range reaffirmed: The full-year Adjusted EPS range was reaffirmed on 405 million diluted shares, against 409 million previously. A 26% non-GAAP tax rate is assumed. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Head start on 2028 and 2030 targets: Management said the cost reduction gave a head start on the 2028 and 2030 Adjusted EBITDA targets. The projected expense base was reduced by roughly $100 million versus original guidance. Source
  • AI roadmap extends across products: The AI product roadmap extends across CoStar, LoopNet and the international businesses, following the Homes.com and Apartments.com launches. Source
  • Four launches and France entry: Four major launches on the core CoStar platform were delivered this quarter, including the company's market entry into France. Source

Coming up, as management said on 28 July 2026

  • Next guidance update at next results: The company does not intend to update forward-looking statements until its next quarterly results announcement. Source
  • AI roadmap extends across products: Management said the product roadmap extends the AI capabilities across CoStar, LoopNet and the international businesses. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net new bookings Source$69 million, up 3% from Q1 2026
Average monthly unique visitors Source118 million in the second quarter of 2026
Apartments.com Ai AI sessions Sourcemore than half a million within weeks of the June launch
Apartments.com Ai average session length Source20 minutes per session

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management affirmed the full-year Adjusted EBITDA range given earlier in the year. Source
  • Ahead: Management said the expense actions gave a head start on its 2028 and 2030 Adjusted EBITDA targets. Source
  • Not stated: Management said the projected expense base was reduced by roughly $100 million against the original guidance. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it expects the highest full-year Adjusted EBITDA in company history. 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.