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iHeartMedia, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 10 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 1 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 4.7%: Consolidated revenue was $977.2 million, up 4.7%. Excluding political revenue, it rose 3.5%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 2.9%: Adjusted EBITDA was $151.5 million against $156.1 million a year earlier. GAAP operating income was $35.5 million, against $35.4 million. Source
  • Multiplatform revenue declined: Multiplatform Group revenue fell 1.6% to $535.7 million. Excluding political revenue, it fell 2.8%. Source
  • Podcast revenue grew 20.7%: Podcast revenue reached $162.1 million, up $27.8 million, on higher advertiser demand for podcasting. Source
  • SG&A rose 11.8% on barter: SG&A rose $48.5 million, or 11.8%, mainly on non-cash trade and barter expense from marketing initiatives and higher cash-settled share-based compensation tied to the stock price. Source
  • Free cash flow was $46.0 million: Cash from operations was $64.9 million, less $18.9 million of capital expenditures, for free cash flow of $46.0 million, against negative $13.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Q3 Adjusted EBITDA range set: Third-quarter Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be approximately $180 million to $220 million. Management said a GAAP reconciliation of this forecast cannot be provided without unreasonable efforts. Source
  • Video podcast marketplace expansion: Management described a new video podcast marketplace built on broadcast radio assets, extending to streaming video services, which it announced that day. Source

“We’re pleased with our second quarter results, generating Adjusted EBITDA of $152 million, slightly above the midpoint of our previously provided guidance range.”

Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, Inc.

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA Sourcethird quarter of 2026approximately $180 million to $220 millionNew
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026approximately $800 millionKept
Free cash flow Sourcefull year 2026approximately $200 millionKept
Cost savings Sourcein-year 2026$125 millionRaised from $100 million
Programmatic revenue Sourcefull year 2026approximately $200 million, up approximately 50%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: In-year 2026 cost savings rose from $100 million, as announced in the first-quarter release, to $125 million. Source
  • New guidance: Third-quarter revenue and Adjusted EBITDA guidance was provided for the first time in this release. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $800 million and free cash flow of approximately $200 million were kept. Source
  • New: Management announced a video podcast marketplace, including distribution on streaming video services Netflix and Hulu. Source
  • New: The ABL facility maturity was extended from May 17, 2027 to January 30, 2029, and the company reported the extension closed on August 7, 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 4.7%: Consolidated revenue was $977.2 million, up 4.7%. Excluding political revenue, it rose 3.5%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 2.9%: Adjusted EBITDA was $151.5 million against $156.1 million a year earlier. GAAP operating income was $35.5 million, against $35.4 million. Source
  • Political advertising added to revenue: Political revenue rose in the quarter, which management linked to 2026 being a midterm election year. Source

Segments and regions

  • Multiplatform revenue declined: Multiplatform Group revenue fell 1.6% to $535.7 million. Excluding political revenue, it fell 2.8%. Source
  • Multiplatform margin compressed: Multiplatform Adjusted EBITDA was $58.6 million, down 39.2%, with margin at 10.9% against 17.7% a year earlier. Source
  • Digital Audio revenue grew 12.4%: Digital Audio Group revenue reached $364.1 million, with Adjusted EBITDA of $123.2 million and a 33.8% margin. Source
  • Audio & Media Services margin rose: Audio & Media Services revenue rose 18.8% to $80.5 million, with segment margin at 45.6% against 35.0%. Source

“In this quarter we generated $46 million of Free Cash Flow, and this strong performance gives us additional confidence in the second half of the year.”

Rich Bressler, President and COO of iHeartMedia, Inc.

Products and customers

  • Podcast revenue grew 20.7%: Podcast revenue reached $162.1 million, up $27.8 million, on higher advertiser demand for podcasting. Source
  • Digital ex-podcast revenue rose: Digital revenue excluding podcast rose $12.5 million, or 6.6%, to $202.0 million, on digital advertising demand and non-cash trade and barter revenue. Source
  • Digital Audio led Multiplatform on EBITDA: Management said Digital Audio Group Adjusted EBITDA has been larger than Multiplatform Group Adjusted EBITDA for six consecutive quarters, and described the company as the number one podcast publisher. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Direct costs rose 2.4%: Direct operating expenses rose $9.4 million, mainly on higher variable content and third-party digital costs tied to digital revenue. Source
  • SG&A rose 11.8% on barter: SG&A rose $48.5 million, or 11.8%, mainly on non-cash trade and barter expense from marketing initiatives and higher cash-settled share-based compensation tied to the stock price. Source
  • Modernization savings offset costs: Employee compensation fell as a result of modernization initiatives, partly offsetting cost increases. Source

Demand and advertiser activity

  • Sponsorship and events fell: Sponsorship and Events revenue decreased $6.0 million, or 16.3%, in the quarter. Source
  • Networks revenue declined: Networks revenue decreased $4.1 million, or 3.8%, in the quarter. Source
  • Digital and podcast ad demand: Management attributed Digital Audio revenue growth to continuing increases in advertiser demand for digital and podcast advertising. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Free cash flow was $46.0 million: Cash from operations was $64.9 million, less $18.9 million of capital expenditures, for free cash flow of $46.0 million, against negative $13.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Operating cash helped by receivables: Management said the increase in operating cash flow was primarily driven by the timing of receivable collections in the quarter. Source
  • Liquidity and ABL borrowings: Cash was $174.4 million and total available liquidity $457.2 million, which reflects $125.0 million of ABL borrowings. Total debt was $5,043.0 million and Net Debt $4,651.3 million. Source

Forward guidance and cost savings

  • Q3 revenue to rise mid-single digits: Consolidated revenue for the third quarter is expected to increase mid-single digits. Source
  • Q3 Adjusted EBITDA range set: Third-quarter Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be approximately $180 million to $220 million. Management said a GAAP reconciliation of this forecast cannot be provided without unreasonable efforts. Source
  • Cost savings raised to $125 million: In-year 2026 cost savings are now $125 million, compared with $100 million previously announced. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Digital asset build continues: Management said the company's work building digital assets continues to pay off. Source
  • Video podcast marketplace expansion: Management described a new video podcast marketplace built on broadcast radio assets, extending to streaming video services, which it announced that day. Source
  • Marketing initiatives drive trade and barter: Management attributed part of revenue and expense growth to strategic marketing initiatives that generate non-cash trade and barter revenue and expense. Source

Coming up, as management said on 10 August 2026

  • Q3 guidance period: The company provided forecasted consolidated revenue and Adjusted EBITDA guidance for the quarter ending September 30, 2026. Source
  • Video podcast marketplace growth: Management described the new video podcast marketplace as an incremental growth area for the company, including on streaming video services. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Capital expenditure Source$18.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2026, compared with $20.0 million a year earlier

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management attributed declines in broadcast, networks and sponsorship revenue to advertiser uncertainty about consumer spending. Source
  • Operational: Multiplatform operating expenses rose 6.4%, driven mainly by higher trade and barter expenses from strategic marketing initiatives. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said second-quarter consolidated revenue was above its guidance. Source
  • Ahead: Management said second-quarter Digital Audio Group revenue was above its guidance. 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.