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InterDigital, 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: 5 new, 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue flat, net income down: Revenue was $205.4 million, down 2%. Net income was $75.3 million, down 35%, and diluted EPS was $2.14 against $3.45. Source
  • New agreements lifted results above guidance: Management said results were above the top end of guidance for revenue, adjusted EBITDA and EPS, driven by licensing, research and the patent portfolio. Source
  • Smartphone revenue fell 33%: Smartphone revenue was $123.4 million against $184.0 million. CE, IoT/Auto revenue rose to $81.9 million from $26.3 million. Other revenue was $0.1 million. Source
  • ARR rose 13% year over year: Annualized recurring revenue was $567.2 million, up 13% from $502.9 million. The company defines it as total revenue less catch-up revenue, multiplied by four. Source
  • Operating expenses rose 57%: Operating expenses were $123.2 million, up $44.5 million, mainly from higher revenue share costs tied to the LG TV agreement and higher intellectual property enforcement costs. Source
  • Six new agreements signed in quarter: Agreements included a Xiaomi renewal to a long-term contract and a new LG Electronics license covering TVs and computer displays. Source
  • Capital returns totaled $114.3 million: Return of capital was $114.3 million: $88.0 million of debt reduction, $18.1 million of dividends at $0.70 per share, and $8.2 million of repurchases of less than 0.1 million shares. Source
  • Full-year 2026 guidance reaffirmed: Full-year 2026 ranges reaffirmed: revenue $675 - $775 million, adjusted EBITDA $381 - $477 million, diluted EPS $5.77 - $8.51, non-GAAP EPS $8.74 - $11.84. Source

“With six new agreements in the first quarter, including renewing Xiaomi to a long-term contract, we are off to a strong start in 2026.”

CEO Liren Chen

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceQ2 2026$139 - $143 millionNew
Revenue SourceFull year 2026$675 - $775 millionKept
Adjusted EBITDA SourceQ2 2026$67 - $73 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$381 - $477 millionKept
Diluted EPS SourceQ2 2026$0.80 - $0.97New
Diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026$5.77 - $8.51Kept
Non-GAAP EPS SourceQ2 2026$1.41 - $1.60New
Non-GAAP EPS SourceFull year 2026$8.74 - $11.84Kept
Net income SourceFull year 2026$202 - $298 millionKept
Diluted shares (non-GAAP) SourceQ2 202631.2 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 guidance reaffirmed; the release states the reaffirmation directly. Source
  • New guidance: Initial second-quarter 2026 guidance provided; the prior release gave guidance only for the first quarter. Source
  • New: Six new agreements in the quarter, including a Xiaomi renewal and a new LG Electronics license for TVs and computer displays. Source
  • New: Brazilian court ruling on Transsion: licensing offer found FRAND and an injunction awarded. Source
  • New: Fifth German court injunction against Disney awarded in the quarter. Source
  • New: Company promoted from the S&P SmallCap 600 to the S&P MidCap 400. Source
  • New: The 2027 Notes became convertible in the calendar quarter ending June 30, 2026; the prior release gave March 31, 2026. Source
  • New: Economic conversion price of the Notes stated as $105.55, against $105.67 in the prior release. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue flat, net income down: Revenue was $205.4 million, down 2%. Net income was $75.3 million, down 35%, and diluted EPS was $2.14 against $3.45. Source
  • New agreements lifted results above guidance: Management said results were above the top end of guidance for revenue, adjusted EBITDA and EPS, driven by licensing, research and the patent portfolio. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP EPS fell: Adjusted EBITDA was $111.8 million, down 30%. Non-GAAP EPS was $2.57 against $4.21, down 39%. Source

Revenue by program

  • Smartphone revenue fell 33%: Smartphone revenue was $123.4 million against $184.0 million. CE, IoT/Auto revenue rose to $81.9 million from $26.3 million. Other revenue was $0.1 million. Source
  • Smartphone recurring revenue rose 18%: Smartphone annualized recurring revenue reached $491.8 million, up 18% year over year, within total annualized recurring revenue of $567.2 million. Source

“Over the last five years, we have signed agreements with a cumulative total contract value of $4.7 billion and now have the world's top-three smartphone vendors under license through the end of the decade.”

CEO Liren Chen

Recurring revenue and catch-up

  • ARR rose 13% year over year: Annualized recurring revenue was $567.2 million, up 13% from $502.9 million. The company defines it as total revenue less catch-up revenue, multiplied by four. Source
  • Catch-up revenue declined: Catch-up revenue was $63.6 million, against $84.8 million in the first quarter of 2025. It is included in total revenue of $205.4 million. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Operating expenses rose 57%: Operating expenses were $123.2 million, up $44.5 million, mainly from higher revenue share costs tied to the LG TV agreement and higher intellectual property enforcement costs. Source
  • Licensing expense nearly tripled: Licensing expense was $52.1 million against $17.7 million. Research and portfolio development was $55.8 million against $47.4 million, and G&A was $15.2 million. Source
  • Margins fell from prior-year levels: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 54% against 76%. Net income margin was 37% against 55%, with the income tax provision at $4.5 million against $16.6 million. Source
  • Other income and interest eased: Other income, net was $6.6 million against $10.3 million. Interest expense was $9.1 million against $9.9 million. Source

“This success provides a strong base from which to drive additional growth.”

CEO Liren Chen

Agreements and enforcement

  • Six new agreements signed in quarter: Agreements included a Xiaomi renewal to a long-term contract and a new LG Electronics license covering TVs and computer displays. Source
  • Injunctions against Disney and Transsion: A German court awarded a fifth injunction against Disney. A Brazilian court found the licensing offer FRAND and awarded an injunction against Transsion. Source

Cash, balance sheet and capital returns

  • Operating cash flow turned positive: Net cash provided by operating activities was $16.1 million, against a use of $20.0 million a year earlier. Working capital changes were a $182.0 million outflow. Source
  • Notes conversion settled in Q1: The $80.0 million principal of 2027 Notes converted in December 2025 was paid in cash in Q1. About 0.8 million shares settled the spread, offset by 0.8 million shares from hedge settlement. Source
  • Capital returns totaled $114.3 million: Return of capital was $114.3 million: $88.0 million of debt reduction, $18.1 million of dividends at $0.70 per share, and $8.2 million of repurchases of less than 0.1 million shares. Source
  • Cash and short-term investments declined: Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $1,081.9 million at March 31, 2026, against $1,243.2 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Full-year guidance and Q2 range

  • Full-year 2026 guidance reaffirmed: Full-year 2026 ranges reaffirmed: revenue $675 - $775 million, adjusted EBITDA $381 - $477 million, diluted EPS $5.77 - $8.51, non-GAAP EPS $8.74 - $11.84. Source
  • Second-quarter ranges first given: Q2 2026 ranges: revenue $139 - $143 million, adjusted EBITDA $67 - $73 million, diluted EPS $0.80 - $0.97, non-GAAP EPS $1.41 - $1.60. Source
  • Q2 range excludes unsigned deals: The second-quarter range covers existing licenses only. It excludes new agreements or enforcement results that may be signed or received later in the quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 April 2026

  • Full-year range includes expected deals: The full-year range includes existing licenses plus expected contributions from new agreements and enforcement actions received over the rest of the year. Source
  • Warrants mature from September 2027: 6.0 million warrants tied to the 2027 Warrant Transactions remain outstanding, mature on a net-share basis from September 2027 through April 2028. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Annualized recurring revenue Source$567.2 million
Smartphone ARR Source$491.8 million

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Conversion of the 2027 Notes requires cash payment up to principal, with any excess payable in cash, shares or both at the company's election. Source
  • Financial: Operating expenses rose on revenue share costs for the LG TV agreement, which management tied to the quarter's cost increase. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management ties ARR to progress toward its 2030 targets. The release gives no status against those targets. 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.