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GoDaddy Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 6% on both bases: Revenue was $1,266.9 million, up 6.1% from $1,194.3 million, stated as 6% on reported and constant currency bases. Source
  • Operating income rose 26%: Operating income was $310.5 million, up 25.6%, with a 24.5% margin against 20.7% a year earlier. Source
  • A&C revenue grew 12%: A&C revenue was $498.2 million, up 11.6% from $446.4 million; segment EBITDA was $225.2 million, a 45.2% margin against 44.1%. Source
  • Airo AI Builder gained early uptake: Airo AI Builder showed early adoption and monetization, reaching a multi-million dollar annualized bookings run rate within weeks of its beta launch. Source
  • NEBITDA margin rose 210 basis points: NEBITDA was $413.5 million, up 13.5%, a 32.6% margin against 30.5%, on the company's non-GAAP definition. Source
  • Bookings rose 2% in constant currency: Total bookings were $1.5 billion, up 3% on a reported basis and 2% on a constant currency basis; bookings exclude refunds. Source
  • Free cash flow rose 15%: Free cash flow was $473.6 million, up 15.1% from $411.3 million; operating cash flow was $471.5 million, up 16.5%. Source
  • Buybacks of $279.7 million: The company repurchased 3.0 million shares for an aggregate $279.7 million in the quarter; repurchases in the cash flow statement were $280.5 million. Source

“GoDaddy is moving quickly to lead in this next phase of AI-driven innovation, focusing on helping entrepreneurs turn ideas into real businesses faster and more easily,”

GoDaddy CEO Aman Bhutani

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total revenue Sourcesecond quarter 2026$1.285 billion to $1.305 billionNew
Total revenue Sourcefull year 2026$5.195 billion to $5.275 billionKept
Applications and Commerce revenue growth Sourcesecond quarter and full year 2026low double-digitsNew
Core Platform revenue growth Sourcesecond quarter and full year 2026low single-digitsNew
NEBITDA margin Sourcesecond quarter 2026approximately 33%New
NEBITDA margin Sourcefull year 2026over 33%Kept
Free cash flow Sourcefull year 2026approximately $1.8 billionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Second quarter 2026 revenue range of $1.285 billion to $1.305 billion was given for the first time in this release. Source
  • New guidance: Second quarter 2026 NEBITDA margin of approximately 33% was given for the first time in this release. Source
  • New guidance: Segment growth expectations for the second quarter and full year, A&C low double-digits and Core low single-digits, were given in this release. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 revenue range of $5.195 billion to $5.275 billion was reaffirmed, unchanged from the prior release. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 NEBITDA margin target of over 33% was reaffirmed, unchanged from the prior release. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 free cash flow target of approximately $1.8 billion was reaffirmed, unchanged from the prior release. Source
  • New: In April the company announced partnerships with LegalZoom and Cloudflare to advance Agent Name Service, which was not in the prior release. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 6% on both bases: Revenue was $1,266.9 million, up 6.1% from $1,194.3 million, stated as 6% on reported and constant currency bases. Source
  • Operating income rose 26%: Operating income was $310.5 million, up 25.6%, with a 24.5% margin against 20.7% a year earlier. Source
  • Net income down on prior tax benefit: Net income was $214.6 million, down 2.2%. The prior-year figure included a one-time $34.6 million non-cash income tax benefit; the provision for income taxes was $67.3 million. Source
  • Diluted EPS reached $1.60: Diluted EPS was $1.60 against $1.51, on 134.3 million diluted weighted-average shares against 145.2 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • A&C revenue grew 12%: A&C revenue was $498.2 million, up 11.6% from $446.4 million; segment EBITDA was $225.2 million, a 45.2% margin against 44.1%. Source
  • Core revenue grew 3%: Core revenue was $768.7 million, up 2.8% from $747.9 million; segment EBITDA was $253.5 million, a 33.0% margin against 31.5%. Source
  • International revenue rose 7%: International revenue was $415.9 million, up 7.0% from $388.8 million. Source

“Our first quarter results highlight the durability of our model,”

GoDaddy CFO Mark McCaffrey

Products, partners and customers

  • Airo AI Builder gained early uptake: Airo AI Builder showed early adoption and monetization, reaching a multi-million dollar annualized bookings run rate within weeks of its beta launch. Source
  • ANS agents reach thousands: Non-GoDaddy agents in Agent Name Service now number in the thousands, according to the release. Source
  • Customer base grew by 13 thousand: Total customers reached 20.4 million, up 13 thousand since December 31, 2025; ARPU was $246 against $225. Source

Costs, margins and profit

  • NEBITDA margin rose 210 basis points: NEBITDA was $413.5 million, up 13.5%, a 32.6% margin against 30.5%, on the company's non-GAAP definition. Source
  • Cost of revenue increased: Cost of revenue was $459.1 million against $440.5 million; technology and development was $213.2 million against $205.3 million. Source
  • Marketing and G&A spending fell: Marketing and advertising was $92.3 million against $100.1 million; general and administrative was $91.0 million against $97.1 million. Source
  • Depreciation and amortization declined: Depreciation and amortization was $24.2 million against $30.8 million; total costs and operating expenses were $956.4 million against $947.0 million. Source

“At the same time, our strong balance sheet provides the flexibility to invest in the business while maintaining our margin commitments and supporting long-term shareholder value.”

GoDaddy CFO Mark McCaffrey

Demand, bookings and recurring revenue

  • Bookings rose 2% in constant currency: Total bookings were $1.5 billion, up 3% on a reported basis and 2% on a constant currency basis; bookings exclude refunds. Source
  • Recurring revenue rose 5.8%: Annualized recurring revenue was $4,288.4 million, up 5.8%; the prior release reported $4,336.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • Deferred revenue balances increased: Current deferred revenue was $2,486.5 million against $2,384.2 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow rose 15%: Free cash flow was $473.6 million, up 15.1% from $411.3 million; operating cash flow was $471.5 million, up 16.5%. Source
  • Buybacks of $279.7 million: The company repurchased 3.0 million shares for an aggregate $279.7 million in the quarter; repurchases in the cash flow statement were $280.5 million. Source
  • Net debt stood at $2.6 billion: At March 31, 2026, cash was $1.3 billion, total debt $3.8 billion and net debt $2.6 billion, against net debt of $2.7 billion at year-end 2025. Source
  • Capital expenditures stayed small: Purchases of property and equipment were $4.6 million against $3.6 million in the prior-year quarter. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Annualized recurring revenue Source$4,288.4 million, up 5.8% year-over-year
Total customers Source20.4 million, up 13 thousand since December 31, 2025
Average revenue per user (ARPU) Source$246, up 9.3% year-over-year
Total bookings Source$1,455.3 million, up 2.7% year-over-year

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The CFO said the balance sheet allows investment in the business while margin commitments are maintained. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release set first-quarter 2026 revenue at $1.250 billion to $1.270 billion; reported revenue was $1,266.9 million.
  • Not stated: The prior release expected first-quarter 2026 NEBITDA margin of approximately 32%; reported margin was 32.6%.

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.