greeksoup/ stock research

Magnite, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 4 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Contribution ex-TAC rose 10%: Contribution ex-TAC was $160.9 million, up 10% year-over-year. Revenue was $164.4 million, up 6%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 16%: Adjusted EBITDA was $42.9 million, up 16% from $36.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • CTV ex-TAC up 30%: CTV Contribution ex-TAC was $82.3 million, up 30% from $63.2 million, and is now above half of total Contribution ex-TAC. Source
  • DV+ ex-TAC declined 5%: DV+ Contribution ex-TAC was $78.6 million, down 5% year-over-year. Source
  • Buyer marketplaces and live sports lift CTV: Management tied CTV growth to buyer marketplaces, ClearLine, live sports and strong SMB trends. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin up 1.4 points: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 26.6% of Contribution ex-TAC, up 1.4 points from 25.2%. Source
  • Convertible notes repurchased for $205M: The company repurchased Convertible Senior Notes for $205.1 million in the quarter. Source
  • GAAP operating cash flow was negative: GAAP net cash used in operating activities was $120.8 million. Management's operating cash flow measure, Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures, was $23.3 million. Source

“Magnite once again exceeded total top and bottom line expectations, with growth paced by CTV at 30%.”

Michael G. Barrett, CEO of Magnite

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total Contribution ex-TAC SourceQ2 2026$177 million to $181 millionNew
Contribution ex-TAC attributable to CTV SourceQ2 2026$90 million to $92 millionNew
Contribution ex-TAC attributable to DV+ SourceQ2 2026$87 million to $89 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA operating expenses SourceQ2 2026$115 million to $117 millionNew
Total Contribution ex-TAC growth SourceFull-year 2026at least 11%Kept
Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceFull-year 2026at least 35.5%Raised from greater than 35%
Free cash flow growth SourceFull-year 2026mid 30% rangeRaised from greater than 30%

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA margin guidance was raised to at least 35.5%, from greater than 35%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 free cash flow growth guidance was raised to the mid 30% range, from greater than 30%. Source
  • New guidance: Second-quarter 2026 expectations were given for total, CTV and DV+ Contribution ex-TAC and for operating expenses. Source
  • New: The company repurchased Convertible Senior Notes for $205.1 million in the first quarter. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Contribution ex-TAC rose 10%: Contribution ex-TAC was $160.9 million, up 10% year-over-year. Revenue was $164.4 million, up 6%. Source
  • Net income positive versus prior loss: Net income was $4.4 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $9.6 million, or $0.07 per share, a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 16%: Adjusted EBITDA was $42.9 million, up 16% from $36.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP earnings per share rose: Non-GAAP earnings per share was $0.13, compared with $0.12 for the first quarter of 2025. Source

Segments and channels

  • CTV ex-TAC up 30%: CTV Contribution ex-TAC was $82.3 million, up 30% from $63.2 million, and is now above half of total Contribution ex-TAC. Source
  • DV+ ex-TAC declined 5%: DV+ Contribution ex-TAC was $78.6 million, down 5% year-over-year. Source
  • Mobile and desktop ex-TAC declined: Mobile Contribution ex-TAC was $55.4 million, down from $58.0 million, and desktop was $23.3 million, down from $24.6 million. Their shares of total were 34% and 15%. Source
  • DV+ readiness for Google remedies: Management said the company remains ready in its DV+ business for pending remedies from the Google trial. Source

“We are starting to see some improvements in key areas of DV+, namely mobile app and commerce media partners.”

Michael G. Barrett, CEO of Magnite

Products, customers and AI

  • Buyer marketplaces and live sports lift CTV: Management tied CTV growth to buyer marketplaces, ClearLine, live sports and strong SMB trends. Source
  • Publisher, agency and DSP momentum: Management described CTV success as broad based and supported by publisher, agency and DSP momentum. Source
  • DV+ mobile app and commerce partners improving: Management said early improvements are visible in key DV+ areas, namely mobile app and commerce media partners. Source
  • AI used across the business: Management said AI is becoming foundational in nearly every area, including agentic buying, creative development, inventory curation and workflow. Source

Costs and expenses

  • Cost of revenue declined: Cost of revenue was $60.4 million, against $62.8 million. Cost of revenue excluding TAC rose to $56.9 million from $52.9 million. Source
  • Technology and G&A costs rose: Technology and development was $25.2 million, up from $22.3 million. General and administrative was $25.0 million, up from $23.9 million. Sales and marketing fell to $46.1 million. Source
  • Stock compensation and D&A lower: Stock-based compensation was $19.7 million, against $21.2 million, and depreciation and amortization was $14.4 million, against $15.6 million. Source

Margins and profitability

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin up 1.4 points: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 26.6% of Contribution ex-TAC, up 1.4 points from 25.2%. Source
  • Gross profit up 12%: Gross profit was $104.0 million, up 12% from $93.0 million. Source
  • Operating income turned positive: Income from operations was $7.7 million, against a $1.4 million loss a year earlier. Net interest expense fell to $4.6 million from $5.2 million. Source

Capital, cash and returns

  • Convertible notes repurchased for $205M: The company repurchased Convertible Senior Notes for $205.1 million in the quarter. Source
  • GAAP operating cash flow was negative: GAAP net cash used in operating activities was $120.8 million. Management's operating cash flow measure, Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures, was $23.3 million. Source
  • Cash fell to $184.6 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $184.6 million at March 31, 2026, down from $553.4 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Buybacks under $200M program: Treasury stock purchases were $14.5 million, and $14.6 million was paid for taxes on net share settlement. The February 2026 authorization runs through February 29, 2028.
  • Capex lower year-over-year: Purchases of property and equipment were $9.4 million, against $14.4 million, and capitalized software development was $3.7 million, against $2.8 million. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Remedies from the Google trial remain pending, and the document gives no timing for them. Management said DV+ is ready for them. Source
  • Regulatory: Litigation expense of $0.6 million in the quarter covered Google Action costs and defense of class action privacy litigation. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Total Contribution ex-TAC of $160.9 million was reported at the high end of the guidance range. Source
  • Met: CTV Contribution ex-TAC of $82.3 million was reported within the guidance range. Source
  • Ahead: DV+ Contribution ex-TAC of $78.6 million was reported above the high end of the guidance range. Source
  • Not stated: Management reaffirmed this full-year growth target. Source
  • Not stated: Management reaffirmed this full-year Adjusted EBITDA growth target. 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.