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Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 8 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 30% on GAAP basis: Revenue was about $3.3 billion, up 30% on a GAAP basis and 31% on an adjusted basis. Pro Forma revenue rose 6.5%, including recurring revenue growth of 4.8%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 12%: Adjusted EPS was $1.36 per diluted share, up from $1.21. Adjusted net earnings were $705 million, up 10%. Source
  • Free cash flow up 111%: Free cash flow excluding cash transaction taxes on the Worldpay sale was $474 million, up 111% from $224 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin up 176 bps: Adjusted EBITDA rose 36% to about $1.3 billion. Margin reached 39.6%, which the company attributes to the Total Issuing acquisition, favorable mix and cost savings. Source
  • Buybacks and tuck-in M&A paused: Share repurchases and tuck-in M&A are paused to accelerate deleveraging. Resumption follows reaching target gross leverage of 2.8x. Source
  • Full-year guidance reiterated: Management reiterated full-year 2026 ranges for adjusted revenue, EBITDA and EPS growth, free cash flow, and Pro Forma growth. Source

“We delivered a strong start to 2026, with disciplined execution driving margin expansion and robust cash flow generation”

FIS CEO and President Stephanie Ferris

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted revenue growth SourceFY 202630-31%Kept
Adjusted EBITDA growth SourceFY 202634-35%Kept
Adjusted EPS growth SourceFY 20268-10%Kept
Pro Forma revenue growth SourceFY 20265.1-5.7%Kept
Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA growth SourceFY 20267.2-8.4%Kept
Revenue SourceSecond quarter 2026$3,375 - $3,395 million
Adjusted EBITDA SourceSecond quarter 2026$1,395 - $1,415 million
Adjusted EPS SourceSecond quarter 2026$1.45 - $1.49
Gross leverage target SourceUntil target reached2.8x

What changed from last quarter

  • Ended: The 45% non-controlling Worldpay stake was sold on January 9, 2026. Source
  • New: Segments reorganized: Issuer Solutions placed within Banking Solutions, with some business lines moved among segments and prior periods recast. Source
  • New: Share repurchases and tuck-in M&A paused to accelerate deleveraging; the company describes this as consistent with prior communications. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 30% on GAAP basis: Revenue was about $3.3 billion, up 30% on a GAAP basis and 31% on an adjusted basis. Pro Forma revenue rose 6.5%, including recurring revenue growth of 4.8%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 12%: Adjusted EPS was $1.36 per diluted share, up from $1.21. Adjusted net earnings were $705 million, up 10%. Source
  • GAAP EPS reflects Worldpay gain: GAAP diluted EPS was $4.58, against $0.15 a year earlier. The figure includes an estimated net-of-tax gain of $2.2 billion from the Worldpay sale. Source
  • Free cash flow up 111%: Free cash flow excluding cash transaction taxes on the Worldpay sale was $474 million, up 111% from $224 million a year earlier. Source

Segments and regions

  • Banking Solutions revenue up 45%: Banking Solutions revenue was $2.4 billion, up 45% on a GAAP basis and 44% on an adjusted basis. Pro Forma revenue rose 7.7%, with recurring revenue up 5.2%. Source
  • Capital Market Solutions grew 3%: Capital Market Solutions revenue was $823 million, up 5% on a GAAP basis and 3% on an adjusted basis, with recurring revenue up 3.6%. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 51.6%. Source
  • Corporate and Other revenue fell 12%: Corporate and Other revenue was $98 million, down 12%. Its adjusted EBITDA loss was $158 million, including $161 million of corporate expenses. Source
  • North America revenue $2,555 million: North America revenue was $2,555 million, against $1,988 million a year earlier. Revenue from all other markets was $740 million, against $544 million. Source

“The market is strong, banks are investing, and the innovation that is redefining financial services runs through FIS.”

FIS CEO and President Stephanie Ferris

Margins and costs

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin up 176 bps: Adjusted EBITDA rose 36% to about $1.3 billion. Margin reached 39.6%, which the company attributes to the Total Issuing acquisition, favorable mix and cost savings. Source
  • Pro Forma margin up 87 bps: On a Pro Forma basis, adjusted EBITDA rose 9.4% and margin expanded 87 bps to 39.6%, reflecting favorable mix and cost savings. Source
  • Software impairments rose to $104 million: Asset impairments were $104 million against $2 million a year earlier, mainly from abandoned or terminated internally developed software. Acquisition, integration and other costs were $148 million. Source
  • Interest expense more than doubled: Interest expense, net was $197 million, against $80 million a year earlier. The company's note says $19 million of Issuer Solutions financing costs are recorded in this line. Source

Cash flow and debt

  • Operating cash flow $713 million: Operating cash flow was $713 million, up from $457 million. The cash flow reconciliation removes a $2,214 million equity method gain from net earnings. Source
  • Capital spending $261 million: Capital expenditures were $261 million, with $50 million on property and equipment and $211 million on software, against $233 million a year earlier. Source
  • Acquisitions used $7.9 billion cash: Acquisitions, net of cash acquired, used $7,859 million. Borrowings were $35,992 million against repayments of $27,982 million in the quarter. Source
  • Debt totals $21.1 billion: Debt outstanding was $21.1 billion at March 31, 2026, including short-term borrowings of $4,164 million on the balance sheet. Source

“As evidenced by our recent announcements and partnerships, we are positioning ourselves at the forefront of this new era of modern banking.”

FIS CEO and President Stephanie Ferris

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Buybacks and tuck-in M&A paused: Share repurchases and tuck-in M&A are paused to accelerate deleveraging. Resumption follows reaching target gross leverage of 2.8x. Source
  • $262 million returned to holders: The company paid $232 million in dividends and repurchased $30 million of shares in the quarter. Source
  • Dividend growth tied to EPS: Quarterly dividends continue, with dividend per share growth targeted in line with Adjusted EPS growth. Source

Portfolio changes and acquisitions

  • Worldpay stake sold January 9: FIS sold its 45% non-controlling Worldpay stake on January 9, 2026, and recorded the resulting gain within equity method investment earnings. Source
  • Total Issuing Solutions lifts margin: Management cites the acquired high-margin Total Issuing Solutions business as a driver of the adjusted EBITDA margin increase. Source
  • Issuer Solutions moved into Banking: Issuer Solutions now sits within Banking Solutions, and some business lines moved among segments; prior-period segment figures were recast to match. Source
  • Pro Forma includes 8 days: Pro Forma revenue growth and margins include 8 days of contribution from the Total Issuing Solutions acquisition, so reported and Pro Forma figures differ. Source

Full-year guidance and reiteration

  • Full-year guidance reiterated: Management reiterated full-year 2026 ranges for adjusted revenue, EBITDA and EPS growth, free cash flow, and Pro Forma growth. Source
  • Second quarter ranges given: Second quarter 2026 dollar ranges were given for revenue, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS, alongside full-year dollar ranges. Source
  • Free cash flow target reiterated: The free cash flow target of $2.05 to $2.15 billion, or 27-33% growth, was reiterated for 2026. Source

Coming up, as management said on 8 May 2026

  • Buybacks and M&A resume at 2.8x: Share repurchases and tuck-in M&A resume once target gross leverage of 2.8x is achieved. Source
  • Quarterly dividends continue: The company will keep paying quarterly dividends, with dividend per share growth targeted in line with Adjusted EPS growth. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Free cash flow is described as not fully discretionary, because mandatory debt service requirements and other non-discretionary expenditures are not deducted from the measure. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management refers to prior communications on pausing buybacks and tuck-in M&A to accelerate deleveraging. 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.