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Cushman & Wakefield Ltd.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 May 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The company recorded a non-cash servicing liability of $11.8 million tied to amending its revolving accounts receivables securitization program in March 2026. Source
  • New: The company recorded a non-cash settlement loss of $16.6 million on a pension buy-out arrangement in the United Kingdom. Source

Results and profit measures

  • Revenue rose 11%: Total revenue of $2,535.8 million rose $251.2 million, or 11% (9% in local currency), from $2,284.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net loss against prior-year profit: Net loss was $12.6 million versus net income of $1.9 million a year earlier, a $14.5 million decline. Diluted loss per share was $0.05, compared with diluted earnings per share of $0.01. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 16%: Adjusted EBITDA was $111.3 million, up $15.1 million or 16% (15% in local currency) from the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 67%: Adjusted diluted earnings per share was $0.15, against $0.09 a year earlier. Adjusted net income was $34.7 million, up 69%. Source

Segments and regions

  • Americas revenue and profit grew: Americas revenue was $1,829.0 million, up 8%. Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $96.3 million, up 24% from $77.6 million. Americas capital markets revenue rose 22%. Source
  • EMEA revenue up 32%: EMEA revenue was $270.1 million, up 32% (21% in local currency). Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $8.8 million, compared with $3.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • APAC Adjusted EBITDA fell 58%: APAC revenue was $436.7 million, up 12% (8% in local currency), while segment Adjusted EBITDA fell to $6.2 million from $14.9 million. Source

“We reported the highest first quarter revenue in company history, with continued momentum across all of our service lines.”

Michelle MacKay, Chief Executive Officer of Cushman & Wakefield

Service lines and growth

  • Services revenue up 9%: Services revenue was $1,742.7 million, up 9% (7% in local currency), with momentum reported across all segments. Source
  • Facilities management drove Services growth: Facilities management revenue rose about $78.0 million, including the expansion of existing client mandates. Source
  • Project management up in EMEA and APAC: Project management revenue increased about $26.0 million in EMEA and about $14.0 million in APAC. Source
  • Leasing revenue up 19%: Leasing revenue was $497.7 million, up 19% (17% in local currency), driven by the Americas across all deal sizes, with office and industrial leasing, including data centers. Source
  • Capital markets double-digit streak continued: Capital markets revenue was $181.6 million, up 15% (14% in local currency), the sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. Source
  • Valuation and other revenue up 9%: Valuation and other revenue was $113.8 million, up 9% (4% in local currency). Source

Costs and margins

  • Cost of services up 11%: Total costs of services reached $2,115.1 million, up 11%. Gross contract costs rose $110.0 million, mainly reimbursed client-dedicated labor and third-party consumables and subcontractor costs. Source
  • Employment costs drove cost growth: Cost of services provided to clients rose $104.8 million, mainly from employment costs of about $93.0 million, including higher brokerage commissions and higher salaries. Source
  • Overhead up on salaries and technology: Operating, administrative and other expenses were $336.7 million, up 10%, with employment costs up about $15.0 million, higher technology costs and cost inflation. Source
  • No restructuring charges this quarter: No restructuring, impairment or related charges were recorded, compared with $6.5 million of real estate impairment in the first quarter of 2025. Source

“Our strategy is delivering results and we are focused on generating durable, long-term growth for our shareholders.”

Michelle MacKay, Chief Executive Officer of Cushman & Wakefield

Non-operating items and taxes

  • Equity-method result turned to loss: Equity method investments produced a $4.1 million loss, against $11.1 million of earnings, mainly from lower Greystone JV earnings tied to the mix of mortgage origination volumes. Source
  • Greystone loan-loss provision recorded: The Greystone JV booked an $8.6 million non-cash loan-loss provision, of which the company recorded $3.4 million at its 40% interest. Onewo JV earnings fell $3.5 million on higher credit-loss provisions. Source
  • Tax provision flat on pre-tax loss: The tax provision was $3.0 million on a $9.6 million pre-tax loss, roughly flat year on year, as higher withholding taxes and interest accruals offset lower earnings. Source
  • Other expense of $15.0 million: Other expense, net was $15.0 million, compared with other income, net of $0.9 million a year earlier. Source

Cash flow and liquidity

  • Operating cash outflow widened: Net cash used in operating activities was $243.5 million, against $162.0 million a year earlier. After $12.2 million of capital expenditure, free cash flow was negative $255.7 million. Source
  • Liquidity stood at $1.6 billion: Liquidity was $1.6 billion, made up of $1.0 billion of undrawn revolver availability and $0.6 billion of cash and cash equivalents. Source
  • Employee tax share repurchases rose: Shares repurchased to pay employee taxes on stock awards were $22.2 million, against $10.2 million a year earlier. Source

Capital structure and debt

  • Net debt stood at $2.1 billion: Net debt was $2.1 billion, from outstanding term loans of $1.7 billion and senior secured notes of $1.0 billion, net of $0.6 billion of cash. Source
  • Interest expense declined 6%: Interest expense, net of interest income, was $49.2 million, down 6% from $52.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • Shares outstanding increased: Shares issued and outstanding were 234,287,353 at March 31, 2026, compared with 231,699,585 at December 31, 2025. Source

Strategy and leadership

  • Execution toward Investor Day targets: Management said it continues to execute toward the long-term targets introduced at its 2025 Investor Day in December. Source
  • Operating leverage cited for EPS growth: Management cited operating leverage from scaling the platform and capital structure improvements as drivers of the 67% Adjusted EPS growth. Source
  • Integrated multi-service client demand: Management said clients increasingly turn to integrated, multi-service partners, and the company is capturing that demand. Source
  • Investment in capital markets hiring: Management linked Capital markets momentum to ongoing investments in hiring top talent and strengthening the platform. Source

Coming up, as management said on 7 May 2026

  • Partial redemption of 2028 notes: The company will redeem $100.0 million of its 6.750% senior secured notes due May 2028 at 100% of principal plus accrued interest, with completion on May 15, 2026. Source
  • Servicing liability amortizes through 2029: The servicing liability accrued on the A/R Securitization amendment amortizes through March 2029, with related fees also reflected. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Greystone JV loan-loss provisions could change materially with changes in expectations and forecasts. Source
  • Demand: A shift in the mix of mortgage origination volumes reduced the value of mortgage servicing rights and Greystone JV earnings. Source
  • Operational: Cost inflation is cited among the drivers of the net income decline. Source
  • Regulatory: Higher withholding taxes and interest accruals on uncertain tax positions raised discrete tax costs in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it continues to execute toward these targets; no status against them was given. 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.