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First Advantage Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

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

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 8.6% year over year: Management said the quarter continued momentum from 2025, with revenue growth of 8.6% and exceptional results. Revenues were $385.2 million against $354.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 14.3%: Adjusted EBITDA was $105.3 million, a 27.3% margin, against $92.1 million and a 26.0% margin in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS rose 52.9%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.26, against $0.17 a year earlier. Adjusted Net Income was $45.1 million, up 48.0%. Source
  • Momentum across named verticals: Management said it sees positive momentum in retail and e-commerce, transportation and logistics, and gig economy, which it serves through a verticalized go-to-market approach. Source
  • Cost of services grew faster than revenue: Cost of services was $211.4 million, against $192.6 million a year earlier, excluding depreciation and amortization. Source
  • Operating cash flow more than doubled: Net cash provided by operating activities was $49.4 million, against $19.5 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Repurchases continued after quarter end: After quarter end, the company repurchased another $13.8 million of shares through May 1. Source

“Our sales engine is clearly humming. Our verticalized go-to-market strategy and diversified customer base, with our focus on enterprise customers, have enabled us to consistently outpace broader hiring market trends.”

Scott Staples, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenues SourceFull year 2026$1,625 million - $1,700 millionKept
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$460 million - $485 millionKept
Adjusted Net Income SourceFull year 2026$200 million - $220 millionKept
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share SourceFull year 2026$1.15 - $1.25Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Management reaffirmed all four full year 2026 guidance ranges given on February 26, 2026. Source
  • New: Share repurchases began under the $100 million authorization announced February 26; $19.5 million was repurchased in the quarter. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 8.6% year over year: Management said the quarter continued momentum from 2025, with revenue growth of 8.6% and exceptional results. Revenues were $385.2 million against $354.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net income positive versus prior loss: Net income was $2.2 million, a 0.6% margin, against a $41.2 million loss a year earlier. Diluted EPS was $0.01 against $(0.24). Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 14.3%: Adjusted EBITDA was $105.3 million, a 27.3% margin, against $92.1 million and a 26.0% margin in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS rose 52.9%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.26, against $0.17 a year earlier. Adjusted Net Income was $45.1 million, up 48.0%. Source

Products, customers and verticals

  • Upsell, cross-sell and new logos: Management said it continues to deliver upsell, cross-sell and new logo wins through its innovative solutions. Source
  • Momentum across named verticals: Management said it sees positive momentum in retail and e-commerce, transportation and logistics, and gig economy, which it serves through a verticalized go-to-market approach. Source
  • Digital Identity cited as resonating: The CEO said comprehensive solutions across the employee lifecycle, including Digital Identity, continue to resonate with customers. Source

“We remain focused on accelerating growth while steadily reducing net leverage and advancing toward our long-term financial objectives.”

Steven Marks, Chief Financial Officer

Costs, margins and charges

  • Cost of services grew faster than revenue: Cost of services was $211.4 million, against $192.6 million a year earlier, excluding depreciation and amortization. Source
  • Product, technology and SG&A costs fell: Product and technology expense was $24.6 million against $27.2 million. Selling, general and administrative expense was $53.5 million against $65.6 million. Source
  • Sterling integration charges declined: Integration, restructuring and other charges were $4.6 million; about $1.4 million related to integrating Sterling, against $7.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Acquisition amortization to recur: Acquisition-related depreciation and amortization was $50.9 million. The company said this purchase accounting expense will recur until the related assets are fully amortized. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow more than doubled: Net cash provided by operating activities was $49.4 million, against $19.5 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Cash balance declined from year end: Cash and cash equivalents were $225.9 million at March 31, 2026, against $240.0 million at December 31, 2025. Restricted cash was $0.1 million. Source
  • Long-term debt declined modestly: Long-term debt, net of deferred financing costs, was $2,056.9 million, against $2,080.0 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Net interest expense fell: Interest expense, net, was $29.8 million against $46.6 million a year earlier. A $0.4 million loss on debt extinguishment was recorded. Source
  • Capitalized software spending increased: Capitalized software development costs were $13.2 million and property and equipment purchases were $2.8 million, against $10.6 million and $0.5 million. Source

Share repurchases and debt prepayment

  • Repurchases continued after quarter end: After quarter end, the company repurchased another $13.8 million of shares through May 1. Source
  • Debt prepaid in February and May: The company made voluntary debt prepayments of $25 million on February 27 and another $25 million on May 6. Source
  • Repurchases paired with leverage reduction: Management said it is both repurchasing shares and reducing net leverage under its balanced capital allocation strategy. Source

Strategy and sales engine

  • FA 5.0 growth strategy: The CEO said the company is building on its position through disciplined execution of its FA 5.0 growth strategy. Source
  • AI-enabled products at scale: The CEO said the company uses AI-enabled products and technologies to help customers manage increasingly complex human capital risks. Source
  • Data assets cited as differentiators: The CEO cited proprietary data assets, physical fulfillment networks, compliance expertise, a consultative approach and system integrations as positioning the company. Source

Coming up, as management said on 7 May 2026

  • Net leverage reduction to continue: Management said it expects to keep repurchasing shares and reducing net leverage. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Customer retention rate Source97%
Customers SourceOver 80,000
Annual screens SourceMore than 200 million
Proprietary database records SourceOver 1 billion

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The CFO said the $25 million debt paydown was made voluntarily, as previously announced. 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.