greeksoup/ stock research

NIQ Global Intelligence plc: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 14 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 raised, 6 new, 11 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 11.1% reported, 5.1% organic: Total revenue was $1,072.7 million, up 11.1% as reported and 5.1% in organic constant currency, led by Americas and EMEA. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 19.1%, margin 21.0%: Adjusted EBITDA was $224.8 million, up 19.1%. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 21.0%, up 150 basis points year over year. Source
  • Americas OCC growth 9.3%: Americas revenue was $432.2 million, up 13.6% as reported and 9.3% in organic constant currency. Intelligence grew 11.7% and Activation 21.5% as reported; Adjusted EBITDA margin was 28.3%. Source
  • Restructuring charge rose to $64.9 million: Restructuring, net was $64.9 million, against $4.6 million a year earlier. The charge covers 2026 Program separation costs and accelerated technology investment. Source
  • Free cash flow improved $93.1 million: Free cash flow was $(123.2) million, an improvement of $93.1 million. Higher revenue flowing through to Adjusted EBITDA was the main driver, with lower interest also contributing. Source
  • Shift toward Commerce Intelligence: Management said AI agents are beginning to influence discovery and transactions, and NIQ is moving from measurement toward helping clients win on the agentic shelf. Source

“Q1 was a solid start to 2026, with growth, margin expansion and free cash flow improvement - all while we continued to accelerate our AI investments,”

Jim Peck, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue, as reported SourceQ2 2026$1,103M - $1,107MNew
Revenue, as reported SourceFY 2026$4,466M - $4,479MRaised from $4,439M - $4,452M
Revenue growth, as reported SourceQ2 20266.0% - 6.3%New
Revenue growth, as reported SourceFY 20266.4% - 6.7%Raised from 5.7% - 6.0%
Revenue growth, organic constant currency SourceQ2 20264.9% - 5.2%New
Revenue growth, organic constant currency SourceFY 20265.0% - 5.3%Kept
Adjusted EBITDA, as reported SourceQ2 2026$242M - $246MNew
Adjusted EBITDA, as reported SourceFY 2026$1,050M - $1,067MRaised from $1,043M - $1,060M
Adjusted EBITDA growth, as reported SourceFY 202614% - 16%Kept
Adjusted EBITDA growth, constant currency SourceFY 202613% - 15%Kept
Adjusted EBITDA margin, as reported SourceQ2 202622.0% - 22.2%New
Adjusted EBITDA margin, as reported SourceFY 202623.5% - 23.8%Kept
Adjusted EPS SourceQ2 2026$0.19 - $0.21New
Adjusted EPS SourceFY 2026$0.95 - $0.99Kept
Free cash flow SourceFY 2026$235M - $250MKept
Depreciation and amortization SourceFY 2026$614M - $619MKept
Interest expense, net SourceFY 2026$230M - $235MKept
Income tax expense from continuing operations SourceFY 2026$165M - $170MKept
Capital expenditures, % of revenue SourceFY 20266.5% - 7.0%Kept
Net leverage ratio SourceFY 2026< 3.0xKept
Additional annualized cost savings, 2026 Program Sourceby end of FY 2026$70M - $80MRaised from $55M - $65M
Pre-tax restructuring charges, 2026 Program Source2026 Program$65M - $75MRaised from $50M - $60M

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year reported revenue range raised from $4,439M-$4,452M to $4,466M-$4,479M. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA range raised from $1,043M-$1,060M to $1,050M-$1,067M, and full-year reported revenue growth range raised from 5.7%-6.0% to 6.4%-6.7%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Additional annualized 2026 Program savings raised from $55M-$65M to $70M-$80M. Source
  • Guidance raised: Expected 2026 Program pre-tax restructuring charges raised from $50M-$60M to $65M-$75M. Source
  • New guidance: Second quarter guidance for revenue, growth, Adjusted EBITDA, margin and Adjusted EPS was given; the prior release gave first quarter guidance. Source
  • New: Company said it is extending its role from measurement and analytics toward Commerce Intelligence. Source
  • New: NIQ Commerce Lab launched as the data and measurement layer for AI-driven commerce. Source
  • Ended: Tracey Massey resigned as Chief Operating Officer; award modifications linked to the resignation are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 11.1% reported, 5.1% organic: Total revenue was $1,072.7 million, up 11.1% as reported and 5.1% in organic constant currency, led by Americas and EMEA. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 19.1%, margin 21.0%: Adjusted EBITDA was $224.8 million, up 19.1%. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 21.0%, up 150 basis points year over year. Source
  • Net loss narrowed, adjusted net income positive: Net loss attributable to NIQ was $90.1 million, an improvement of $29.7 million. Adjusted net income was $43.4 million, after a $47.9 million improvement. Source

Segments and regions

  • Americas OCC growth 9.3%: Americas revenue was $432.2 million, up 13.6% as reported and 9.3% in organic constant currency. Intelligence grew 11.7% and Activation 21.5% as reported; Adjusted EBITDA margin was 28.3%. Source
  • EMEA revenue up 13.2%, OCC 4.6%: EMEA revenue was $487.3 million, up 13.2% as reported and 4.6% in organic constant currency. Adjusted EBITDA rose 24.0% to $155.2 million, a 31.8% margin. Source
  • APAC revenue down, margin up: APAC revenue was $153.2 million, down 1.0% as reported and 3.6% in organic constant currency. APAC Adjusted EBITDA margin rose 230 basis points to 22.7%. Source

“Q1 was another solid quarter of delivering on our commitments”

Mike Burwell, Chief Financial Officer

Products and customers

  • Intelligence and Activation both grew in OCC: Intelligence revenue was $884.0 million, up 10.9% as reported and 5.1% in OCC. Activation revenue was $188.7 million, up 12.0% as reported and 5.3% in OCC. Source
  • Marketing Mix extended to three verticals: Marketing Mix expanded into automotive, telecom and retail. Precision Solutions launched, and the Marketing Effectiveness Platform entered beta. Source
  • Reckitt and Ulta Beauty adoption: Reckitt reported 65% faster consumer research and 50% lower costs using BASES AI Screener. Ulta Beauty selected the company as primary beauty insights panel provider. Source

Costs and restructuring

  • Restructuring charge rose to $64.9 million: Restructuring, net was $64.9 million, against $4.6 million a year earlier. The charge covers 2026 Program separation costs and accelerated technology investment. Source
  • Program targets selling and overhead costs: The 2026 Program is aimed at selling, general and administrative costs. Reported SG&A was $396.1 million, against $371.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • Automation and AI cut operating costs: Management cited automation savings in operating expense and capital expenditure, plus a Beauty coding system and an SMB AI agent for seller administration. Source

“Our OCC revenue growth accelerated in April versus Q1, and our Q2 and reaffirmed full year 2026 guidance balances this performance and what we see as healthy underlying demand trends”

Mike Burwell, Chief Financial Officer

Margins, earnings and cash flow

  • Free cash flow improved $93.1 million: Free cash flow was $(123.2) million, an improvement of $93.1 million. Higher revenue flowing through to Adjusted EBITDA was the main driver, with lower interest also contributing. Source
  • Operating cash use narrowed $90.0 million: Net cash used in operating activities was $63.6 million. Net working capital and lower interest expense helped, partly offset by higher restructuring expense. Source
  • Corporate costs up on segment growth: Corporate expenses not allocated to segments were $87.7 million, against $76.3 million. Total segment Adjusted EBITDA was $312.5 million. Source

Capital, debt and interest

  • Liquidity of $1.1 billion: Cash and cash equivalents were $362.3 million, and $747.5 million was available under the Revolver, for total available liquidity of $1,109.8 million. Source
  • Capital expenditure lower as share of revenue: Cash paid for capital expenditures was $59.6 million, or 5.6% of revenue, against $62.7 million, or 6.5%, a year earlier. Source
  • Weighted average interest rate 5.0%: Average unhedged rate was 4.8% and hedged rate was 5.5%, giving a total weighted average rate of 5.0% at quarter end. Source

Strategy and AI investment

  • Shift toward Commerce Intelligence: Management said AI agents are beginning to influence discovery and transactions, and NIQ is moving from measurement toward helping clients win on the agentic shelf. Source
  • Arthur Analyst rolled out to Discover clients: Arthur Analyst, an agentic AI feature, was rolled out to all Discover clients across account performance, pricing, distribution and shopper analysis use cases. Source
  • Usage-based monetization being tested: Arthur Chat moved to beta for U.S. small and medium-sized business clients. The company continued testing usage-based monetization models for incremental revenue. Source

Coming up, as management said on 14 May 2026

  • Balance-of-2026 priorities set: Management plans to drive revenue growth, expand margins and free cash flow, reduce leverage, and build AI-powered profitable growth opportunities for later years. Source
  • 2026 Program execution expected in first half: Execution of the 2026 Program is expected to occur mainly in the first half of 2026, subject to local laws and consultation requirements. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Annualized Intelligence Subscription revenue Source$2,933.6 million, up 5.9%
Net Dollar Retention Source104%
Gross Dollar Retention Source99%
Seven-figure client wins Source17
Full View Measurement clients Source209
ECommerce revenue growth Source33%

Risks management discussed

  • External: Guidance rests on assumptions that may change, many of which are beyond the company's control. Source
  • Demand: APAC was the only segment with negative organic constant currency growth this quarter, at (3.6)%. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: First quarter results exceeded the revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS guidance given in the prior release. Source
  • Met: Management said the company delivered annualized Intelligence Subscription growth above 5.5% for a ninth straight quarter. Source
  • Not stated: The release heading describes full-year guidance as reaffirmed, though the revenue and Adjusted EBITDA ranges in the table are higher than the prior release. 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.