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Equinix Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 7 raised, 4 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 10% as reported: Revenue was $2.444 billion, up 10% as reported and 8% on a normalized and constant currency basis; recurring revenue was $2,331 million against $2,087 million a year earlier. Source
  • Bookings were the largest first quarter: The company booked $378 million of annualized gross bookings and about $140 million of annualized presales, described as the largest first-quarter annualized gross bookings in its history and a record backlog. Source
  • Hampton lease sits outside Q1: Q1 results exclude the xScale Hampton lease transaction. Adjusting for its timing, Q1 results were above the midpoint of the company's Q1 guidance ranges. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin reached 51%: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 51%, against 48% a year earlier. Cash gross margin was 69%, against 67%. Source
  • Free cash flow was negative: Free cash flow was negative $596 million against negative $116 million a year earlier, after $1,256 million of purchases of property, plant and equipment. Source
  • FFO and AFFO per share rose: Diluted FFO per share was $7.68, against $6.61 a year earlier. Diluted AFFO per share was $10.79, against $9.67. Source

“Our results reflect continued strength across the business. We delivered double-digit recurring revenue growth whilst improving our margins as we capitalise on robust customer demand for our AI, cloud and networking solutions,”

Adaire Fox-Martin, CEO and President, Equinix

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenues SourceFY 2026$10.144 and $10.244 billionRaised from $10.123 and $10.223 billion
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY 2026$5.165 and $5.245 billionRaised from $5.141 and $5.221 billion
Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceFY 202651%Kept
AFFO SourceFY 2026$4.198 and $4.278 billionRaised from $4.158 and $4.238 billion
AFFO per share (diluted) SourceFY 2026$42.31 and $43.11Raised from $41.93 and $42.74
Recurring capital expenditures SourceFY 2026$280 and $300 millionRaised from $270 and $290 million
Non-recurring capital expenditures (excluding xScale-related spend) SourceFY 2026approximately $3.800 billionRaised from $3.385 and $3.865 billion
Total capital expenditures SourceFY 2026approximately $4.100 billion
Expected cash dividends SourceFY 2026~$2,037 millionRaised from ~$2,036 million
Revenues SourceQ2 2026$2.571 and $2.611 billionNew
Adjusted EBITDA SourceQ2 2026$1.349 and $1.389 billionNew
Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceQ2 202652 - 53%New
Recurring capital expenditures SourceQ2 2026$46 and $66 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 guidance raised for revenues, adjusted EBITDA, AFFO and AFFO per share; the revenue raise is $21 million from better-than-expected Q1 operating performance. Source
  • New guidance: First quarterly guidance for the second quarter of 2026 was issued, with revenue expected at $2.571 to $2.611 billion. Source
  • New: Distributed AI Hub launched as a neutral, low-latency on-ramp to AI model companies, GPU clouds, data platforms and security services. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 10% as reported: Revenue was $2.444 billion, up 10% as reported and 8% on a normalized and constant currency basis; recurring revenue was $2,331 million against $2,087 million a year earlier. Source
  • Operating income and net income rose: Income from operations was $577 million against $458 million a year earlier. Net income attributable to common stockholders was $415 million, and diluted EPS was $4.20 against $3.50. Source
  • Bookings were the largest first quarter: The company booked $378 million of annualized gross bookings and about $140 million of annualized presales, described as the largest first-quarter annualized gross bookings in its history and a record backlog. Source
  • Hampton lease sits outside Q1: Q1 results exclude the xScale Hampton lease transaction. Adjusting for its timing, Q1 results were above the midpoint of the company's Q1 guidance ranges. Source

Segments and regions

  • Regional revenue rose in all three: EMEA revenue was $827 million against $743 million and Asia-Pacific $526 million against $481 million. Americas revenue was $1,091 million against $1,001 million a year earlier. Source
  • Regional adjusted EBITDA rose: Adjusted EBITDA was $516 million in Americas, $424 million in EMEA and $305 million in Asia-Pacific, against $443 million, $365 million and $259 million a year earlier. Source
  • Interconnection revenue grew fastest: Interconnection revenue was $446 million against $393 million. Colocation revenue was $1,730 million against $1,545 million, and managed infrastructure was flat at $115 million. Source

“The essential infrastructure we provide is enabling companies to accelerate innovation and enhancing our market position.”

Adaire Fox-Martin, CEO and President, Equinix

Products and customers

  • AI drove most large deals: About 60% of the company’s largest deals were AI-related, the same share the company reported for the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • Leading AI providers expanding with Equinix: Eight of the top 10 AI model providers and four of the top five neoclouds are actively expanding with Equinix, according to management. Source
  • Fabric Intelligence added to network: Equinix Fabric Intelligence was introduced to embed AI in the network, reading telemetry in real time and taking action to optimize performance. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin reached 51%: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 51%, against 48% a year earlier. Cash gross margin was 69%, against 67%. Source
  • Cash operating expenses held near prior year: Total cash operating expenses were $434 million, against $461 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $431 million a year earlier. Cash cost of revenues was $765 million against $727 million. Source
  • Impairments and exit charges fell: Impairment charges were $2 million against $63 million in the fourth quarter. Restructuring and other exit charges were $6 million against $16 million, and a $20 million gain on asset sales was recorded. Source

“We are raising our 2026 financial outlook based on the underlying strength of our Q1 performance and disciplined execution by our teams.”

Adaire Fox-Martin, CEO and President, Equinix

Cash flow and debt

  • Free cash flow was negative: Free cash flow was negative $596 million against negative $116 million a year earlier, after $1,256 million of purchases of property, plant and equipment. Source
  • Operating cash flow declined: Net cash provided by operating activities was $717 million against $809 million a year earlier. Other assets and liabilities used $180 million. Source
  • Debt principal rose with new notes: Total debt principal was $22,084 million against $21,417 million at December 31, 2025. Senior notes proceeds were $1,492 million, and $1,876 million of senior notes is now current. Source
  • Interest expense rose: Interest expense was $148 million against $142 million in the fourth quarter and $122 million a year earlier. Total interest and other, net was $(106) million. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Dividends paid rose: Cash dividends paid were $519 million against $468 million a year earlier. No share repurchases are reported in the release. Source
  • Property spending and asset sales: Purchases of property, plant and equipment were $1,256 million against $750 million. Real estate acquisitions were $123 million, and proceeds from asset sales were $258 million. Source
  • Cash balance declined: Cash and cash equivalents were $1,362 million, down from $1,727 million at December 31, 2025. Short-term investments were $1,692 million. Source

Strategy and investment

  • AtNorth acquisition agreed: The company agreed to acquire atNorth from Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, to enhance its position in the Nordics. Management expects the deal to be immediately accretive to AFFO per share. Source
  • Sustainability report published: The 11th annual sustainability report describes investment in energy infrastructure intended not to burden residential ratepayers, alongside gains in energy efficiency. Source

People and headcount

  • Headcount rose across regions: Total headcount was 13,817 at March 31, 2026, against 13,716 at December 31, 2025, with Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific all higher. Source

FFO and AFFO

  • FFO and AFFO per share rose: Diluted FFO per share was $7.68, against $6.61 a year earlier. Diluted AFFO per share was $10.79, against $9.67. Source
  • AFFO grew on operating strength: AFFO was $1,065 million against $947 million a year earlier and $877 million in the fourth quarter. Recurring capital expenditures were $32 million, against $139 million in the fourth quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 April 2026

  • AtNorth accretion on close: Management expects the atNorth acquisition to be immediately accretive to AFFO per share once it closes. The release gives no closing date. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Diluted FFO per share Source$7.68
Diluted AFFO per share Source$10.79
Stabilized assets revenue growth Source9% as reported; 6% constant currency
Real estate acquisitions Source$123 million
Proceeds from asset sales Source$258 million
Total debt principal outstanding Source$22,084 million

Risks management discussed

  • External: Second-quarter revenue guidance includes a $6 million foreign currency benefit compared with Q1 2026 average FX rates, so reported results depend on currency movements. Source
  • Operational: The xScale Hampton lease transaction is not included in Q1 results because of its timing. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management described first-quarter operating performance as better than expected, which raised full-year AFFO guidance by $40 million. Source
  • Not stated: In January the Hampton, Georgia asset was contributed to the xScale joint venture, described as a first step toward deploying $15 billion with JV partners.

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.