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8X8 Inc.: Q1 FY2027 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2027, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 2 lowered, 8 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew for fifth quarter: Total revenue rose 5% to $190.2 million from $181.4 million, and service revenue rose 5% to $185.3 million. The company described this as its fifth consecutive quarter of year-over-year revenue growth. Source
  • Operating income rose on both bases: GAAP operating income was $4.4 million against $0.6 million a year earlier. Non-GAAP operating income was $18.9 million against $16.3 million. Source
  • Gross margin declined year over year: GAAP gross margin was 61% against 66%, and non-GAAP gross margin was 62% against 68%. On a GAAP basis, other revenue carried a gross loss of 27.8% of that revenue. Source
  • Usage-based offerings expand the market: The CFO said usage-based offerings expand the market and contribute meaningful operating profit and cash flow as they scale. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose: Operating cash flow was $17.0 million, compared with $11.9 million a year earlier, after accounts receivable absorbed $14.4 million in the period. Source
  • Fiscal 2027 revenue ranges moved up: Both fiscal 2027 revenue ranges now sit $18 million higher at each end than the ranges given in May. Source
  • Fiscal 2027 margin ranges moved down: The gross margin range is 2.0 percentage points lower at each end, and the operating margin range is 0.2 points lower at each end. Source

“We are encouraged by the progress we are seeing across the business and remain focused on disciplined execution to drive long-term growth and shareholder value.”

Samuel Wilson, Chief Executive Officer at 8x8, Inc.

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Service revenue SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2027, ending September 30, 2026$180 million to $185 millionNew
Total revenue SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2027, ending September 30, 2026$185 million to $190 millionNew
Non-GAAP gross margin SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2027, ending September 30, 2026approximately 60.5% to 61.5%New
Non-GAAP operating margin SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2027, ending September 30, 2026approximately 8.0% to 9.0%New
Interest expense SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2027, ending September 30, 2026approximately $3.9 millionNew
Cash interest SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2027, ending September 30, 2026approximately $5.9 millionNew
Non-GAAP net income per share, diluted SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2027, ending September 30, 2026$0.07 to $0.08, on approximately 149 million sharesNew
Cash flow from operations SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2027, ending September 30, 2026$9 million to $11 millionNew
Service revenue SourceFiscal year ending March 31, 2027$725 million to $745 millionRaised from $707 million to $727 million
Total revenue SourceFiscal year ending March 31, 2027$745 million to $765 millionRaised from $727 million to $747 million
Non-GAAP gross margin SourceFiscal year ending March 31, 202760.5% to 61.5%Lowered from 62.5% to 63.5%
Non-GAAP operating margin SourceFiscal year ending March 31, 20278.8% to 9.8%Lowered from 9.0% to 10.0%
Non-GAAP net income per share, diluted SourceFiscal year ending March 31, 2027$0.33 to $0.38, on approximately 150 million sharesKept
Cash flow from operations SourceFiscal year ending March 31, 2027$45 million to $52 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Second-quarter ranges were given for the first time. Source
  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2027 service and total revenue ranges were raised. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Fiscal 2027 non-GAAP gross margin and operating margin ranges were lowered. Source
  • Guidance kept: Fiscal 2027 diluted non-GAAP EPS and operating cash flow ranges were kept. Source
  • New: Colleen Martin-Garcia named Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew for fifth quarter: Total revenue rose 5% to $190.2 million from $181.4 million, and service revenue rose 5% to $185.3 million. The company described this as its fifth consecutive quarter of year-over-year revenue growth. Source
  • Operating income rose on both bases: GAAP operating income was $4.4 million against $0.6 million a year earlier. Non-GAAP operating income was $18.9 million against $16.3 million. Source
  • Net loss narrowed, adjusted EBITDA rose: GAAP net loss was $1.2 million, down from $4.3 million. Non-GAAP net income was $13.6 million, up from $10.7 million, and adjusted EBITDA was $23.2 million, or 12.2% of total revenue. Source

Costs, margins and gross margin

  • Gross margin declined year over year: GAAP gross margin was 61% against 66%, and non-GAAP gross margin was 62% against 68%. On a GAAP basis, other revenue carried a gross loss of 27.8% of that revenue. Source
  • Service cost rose to 36.1% of revenue: Non-GAAP cost of service revenue was 36.1% of service revenue, compared with 29.4% a year earlier. Non-GAAP service revenue gross margin was 63.9%. Source
  • Operating expenses declined, sales and marketing fell: Total operating expenses were $112.0 million, against $119.9 million. Sales and marketing was $58.8 million, against $68.2 million, while general and administrative rose to $24.8 million from $23.3 million. Source
  • Severance and transaction costs excluded: Non-GAAP operating profit excluded $3.3 million of severance, transition and contract exit costs, $2.5 million of transaction-related costs, and $4.3 million of stock-based compensation with related payroll taxes. Source

“Our focus remains on growing operating income dollars, generating cash and allocating capital with discipline.”

Kevin Kraus, Chief Financial Officer at 8x8, Inc.

Products and platform launches

  • Pulse, Resolve and AI Routing added: Three capabilities were listed as available now for select customers: 8x8 Pulse for indexing interactions, 8x8 Resolve for incident alerts to frontline workforces, and 8x8 AI Routing for expert matching. Source
  • AI Studio gained models and connectors: AI Studio now supports multiple AI models and voice-powered agent building, with one-click connectors to third-party business applications, so teams can deploy agents without extra vendors. Source
  • App Store and Synthflow integration: A new 8x8 App Store offers self-serve capability extensions, and a native Synthflow integration extends AI voice capabilities for joint customers within the existing platform. Source
  • Workforce tools added at no cost: Automated quality evaluations and enhanced forecasting and scheduling in 8x8 Workforce Management were made available to existing Contact Center customers at no additional cost. Source

Strategy, usage mix and demand

  • Unified platform described as strategy: The CEO said the strategy has been to build a unified platform combining communications, customer engagement and AI, making outcomes easier for customers to reach. Source
  • Usage-based offerings expand the market: The CFO said usage-based offerings expand the market and contribute meaningful operating profit and cash flow as they scale. Source
  • Demand centered on practical AI use: Management said organizations want practical ways to use AI to improve customer experiences and employee productivity without adding complexity. Source

“As customers increasingly adopt our usage-based communications and AI solutions, revenue mix will continue to evolve.”

Kevin Kraus, Chief Financial Officer at 8x8, Inc.

Cash flow, debt and capital returns

  • Operating cash flow rose: Operating cash flow was $17.0 million, compared with $11.9 million a year earlier, after accounts receivable absorbed $14.4 million in the period. Source
  • Term loan paid down $14.5 million: Total debt principal was $309.4 million at June 30, 2026, against $323.9 million at fiscal year end, after the first quarter payment. Source
  • Cash balance eased after loan payment: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $92.3 million, against $95.0 million at the end of fiscal 2026, after the term loan payment. Source
  • No share repurchases this quarter: No common stock was repurchased in the first quarter, against $1.8 million in the same period of fiscal 2026. Source

Fiscal 2027 guidance

  • Fiscal 2027 revenue ranges moved up: Both fiscal 2027 revenue ranges now sit $18 million higher at each end than the ranges given in May. Source
  • Fiscal 2027 margin ranges moved down: The gross margin range is 2.0 percentage points lower at each end, and the operating margin range is 0.2 points lower at each end. Source
  • Second-quarter margin range below first quarter: The second-quarter non-GAAP operating margin range of 8.0% to 9.0% compares with 9.9% reported for the first quarter. Source
  • Forward non-GAAP measures not reconciled: Forward non-GAAP margins and EPS are not reconciled to GAAP because excluded items such as stock-based compensation and acquisition-related events are hard to forecast. Source

Industry recognition

  • Gartner Magic Quadrant listing: The release lists recognition in the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications as a Service. Source
  • Retail and UK awards received: The release lists a Retail Systems 2026 award in the contact centre and digital service innovation category, and Comms Council UK recognition as Best Communications Provider Enterprise. Source
  • Metrigy CCaaS leader designation: The release also lists a Leader designation in the Metrigy CCaaS MetriRank 2026. Source

People and leadership

  • Accounting chief covers three regions: The new chief accounting officer oversees financial close and reporting, revenue, payroll and equity, and treasury across the U.S., EMEA and APAC regions. Source
  • CEO and CFO spoke for management: Samuel Wilson and Kevin Kraus gave management commentary in the release, the CEO on strategy and the CFO on the financial model and revenue mix. Source
  • Only one leadership update reported: The release lists one leadership update, the appointment of a chief accounting officer. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 August 2026

  • Second quarter ends September 30: Guidance covers the quarter ending September 30, 2026, the next reporting period referenced in the release. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said the first quarter exceeded its own guidance on these measures. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it continues to execute against a financial model designed to support long-term value creation. Source
  • Not stated: In May the company said it was actively working to expand gross margins within the usage-based portfolio.

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.