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People Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 raised, 2 lowered, 5 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Digital revenue rose for 11th quarter: People Inc. Digital revenue rose 6% to $289.9 million. Total company revenue was $436.7 million, down 1%, as Print revenue declined. Source
  • Operating loss widened, Adjusted EBITDA rose: The company reported an operating loss of $14.3 million, against $7.5 million a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA was $55.9 million, up 15%. Source
  • Core Sessions fell 22%: Core Sessions were 1,707 million, down 22%. The company attributed the decline mainly to Google AI Overviews on Google search results. Source
  • Digital margin widened to 26%: Digital Adjusted EBITDA margin was 26%, against 23% a year earlier, on revenue growth and expense leverage. Source
  • Free cash flow turned positive: Six-month free cash flow was $36.5 million, against negative $42.6 million a year earlier. Net cash from operating activities was $55.6 million. Source
  • Limited Partner stake sale agreed: The company agreed to sell its Limited Partner stake in a third-party fund for about $189 million in aggregate, with closing expected in Q3. Source
  • Search business ended April 30: Search ceased operations after its Google Services Agreement expired. Search is reported as discontinued operations for Q2 2026 and prior periods. Source

“People Inc. drove its 11th consecutive quarter of Digital growth with Q2 Digital revenue increasing 6% to $290 million”

People Inc., press release

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY 2026$255-$290 millionRaised from $210-$260 million
People Inc. Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY 2026$325-$355 millionRaised from $310-$340 million
Emerging & Other Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY 202610-15 millionRaised from 5-15 million
Corporate Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY 2026(80) millionLowered from (105-95) million
Total operating income SourceFY 2026$15-$80 millionRaised from $10-$80 million
Stock-based compensation expense SourceFY 2026(90-85) millionKept
Depreciation SourceFY 2026(30-25) millionKept
Amortization of intangibles SourceFY 2026(75-70) millionLowered from (80-70) million
Restructuring costs SourceFY 2026(15-10) millionNew
Transaction-related costs SourceFY 2026(10-5) millionNew
Litigation matters SourceFY 2026(20-15) millionNew
Digital revenue and Digital Adjusted EBITDA growth SourceFY 2026mid-to-high single-digitsKept
Corporate annual run-rate operating expense SourceAfter consolidation, completing Q1 2027approximately $45 millionNew
Annual stock-based compensation expense SourceAfter consolidation, completing Q1 2027approximately $30 millionNew
Share repurchase authorization remaining SourceAs of July 31, 202612.5 million sharesRaised from 2.5 million shares (as of May 1, 2026)

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year total Adjusted EBITDA range moved to $255-$290 million from $210-$260 million; the definition was revised in Q2 2026. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year People Inc. Adjusted EBITDA range moved to $325-$355 million from $310-$340 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year Corporate Adjusted EBITDA estimate moved to a cost of $80 million from a range of $95 million to $105 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year total operating income range moved to $15-$80 million from $10-$80 million. Source
  • New guidance: Full-year ranges for restructuring costs, transaction-related costs and litigation matters are now listed as separate line items. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year expectation for Digital revenue and Digital Adjusted EBITDA growth is unchanged at mid-to-high single-digits. Source
  • New: Neil Vogel becomes Chief Executive Officer and Timothy Quinn becomes Chief Financial Officer; Q1 2026 release had said these changes were expected after Q2 earnings. Source
  • New: Company agreed to sell its Limited Partner stake in a third-party fund for about $189 million in aggregate. Source
  • New: The company completed its legal name change from IAC Inc. to People Incorporated and began trading under the ticker PPLI. Source
  • Ended: Search operations ceased after the Google Services Agreement expired; Search is reported as discontinued operations for Q2 2026 and prior periods. Source
  • New: Adjusted EBITDA definition revised to also exclude certain specific items and items affecting comparability; prior periods recast. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Digital revenue rose for 11th quarter: People Inc. Digital revenue rose 6% to $289.9 million. Total company revenue was $436.7 million, down 1%, as Print revenue declined. Source
  • Operating loss widened, Adjusted EBITDA rose: The company reported an operating loss of $14.3 million, against $7.5 million a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA was $55.9 million, up 15%. Source
  • MGM gain lifted net earnings: Net earnings were $506.9 million, including a $721.7 million unrealized gain on the MGM Resorts investment. Diluted EPS was $6.68, against $2.57. Source

Segment results

  • Digital operating income rose 27%: Digital operating income rose 27% to $48.7 million, with Adjusted EBITDA up 18% to $74.5 million on revenue growth and expense leverage. Source
  • Print profit fell on lower revenue: Print operating income fell 58% to $4.5 million. Print Adjusted EBITDA fell 45% to $9.1 million, partly offset by lower operating expenses from cost reductions. Source
  • Emerging & Other revenue grew 26%: Emerging & Other revenue rose 26% to $20.0 million. Operating income was $2.5 million, against a $9.2 million loss in Q2 2025. Source
  • Corporate operating loss increased: Corporate operating loss rose $17.6 million to $50.6 million. Corporate Adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed 4% to $20.3 million. Source

“As stewards of shareholder capital, we do not manage our businesses or optimize results on a quarterly basis and have long believed full year performance is the best indicator of progress along the path toward value creation.”

People Inc., press release

Products and revenue lines

  • Licensing revenue rose 23%: Licensing and other revenue rose 23% to $47.0 million, from Apple News+ and syndication partners and the Meta content partnership signed in Q4 2025. Source
  • Performance marketing revenue rose 13%: Performance marketing revenue rose 13% to $68.8 million. Affiliate commerce grew 11%, primarily on higher transaction volumes. Source
  • Advertising revenue was flat: Advertising revenue was $174.2 million, flat year over year. Open programmatic revenue rose on higher rates, partly offset by lower impression volumes. Source
  • Vivian Health revenue rose 12%: Vivian Health revenue rose 12% to $11.5 million, driven by higher subscription and usage revenue, including an AI Assistant subscription launched in Q4 2025. Source

Traffic and advertiser demand

  • Core Sessions fell 22%: Core Sessions were 1,707 million, down 22%. The company attributed the decline mainly to Google AI Overviews on Google search results. Source
  • Total Sessions fell 23%: Total Sessions were 1,891 million, down 23% from 2,444 million in Q2 2025. Source
  • Premium programmatic volume declined: Premium advertising revenue fell on lower premium programmatic volume, partly offset by direct-sold growth in health, pharmaceuticals and other categories. Source
  • Non-session revenue rose 16%: Non-session-based Digital revenue rose 16% to $125.4 million, with D/Cipher+ and the Feedfeed acquisition contributing. Source

“The Company’s consolidation of its corporate functions with People Inc. remains on track”

People Inc., press release

Costs, margins and charges

  • Digital margin widened to 26%: Digital Adjusted EBITDA margin was 26%, against 23% a year earlier, on revenue growth and expense leverage. Source
  • Legal accrual hit Digital operating income: Digital operating income included a $3.3 million accrual for a legal matter. Other corporate costs included $3.7 million of Google antitrust litigation costs. Source
  • Corporate severance and transaction costs: Corporate recorded $1.0 million of severance and $0.7 million of transaction-related costs. The restructuring costs relate to a reduction in force. Source
  • Stock-based compensation rose sharply: Corporate stock-based compensation rose $18.4 million on award acceleration and modification tied to the consolidation. Total Q2 stock-based compensation was $35.0 million. Source

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow turned positive: Six-month free cash flow was $36.5 million, against negative $42.6 million a year earlier. Net cash from operating activities was $55.6 million. Source
  • Cash held mostly at People Inc.: Cash and equivalents totaled $1.1 billion, of which $330 million was held at People Inc. Long-term debt of $1.4 billion is an obligation of People Inc. Source
  • Leverage remained below covenant threshold: The credit-agreement net consolidated leverage ratio stayed below 4.0x. Weighted average maturity was 5.5 years and weighted average borrowing cost was 7.0%. Source
  • Buyback authorization replenished: The board approved an additional 10 million shares on June 16, 2026. Remaining authorization was 12.5 million shares at July 31, against 2.5 million at May 1. Source
  • Limited Partner stake sale agreed: The company agreed to sell its Limited Partner stake in a third-party fund for about $189 million in aggregate, with closing expected in Q3. Source
  • MGM stake valued at $3.0 billion: The MGM stake of 66.8 million shares was bought for $1.3 billion and valued at $3.0 billion at July 31, 2026. Changes in its share price run through earnings. Source

Strategy and corporate consolidation

  • Corporate functions folding into People Inc.: The company is consolidating its corporate functions with People Inc. after narrowing its focus to People Inc. and its MGM investment. Source
  • Search business ended April 30: Search ceased operations after its Google Services Agreement expired. Search is reported as discontinued operations for Q2 2026 and prior periods. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA definition broadened: From Q2 2026, Adjusted EBITDA also excludes certain specific items, including restructuring, lease gains and losses, transaction costs and litigation. Prior periods are recast. Source

Leadership transition

  • Former IAC officers move to advisory roles: Christopher Halpin and Kendall Handler, both former IAC officers, will move to advisor roles through March 2027. Source
  • Diller stays on as Chairman: Barry Diller continues as Chairman and Senior Executive after the leadership transition takes effect. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 August 2026

  • Limited Partner stake sale closing: The company expects the sale of its Limited Partner stake in a third-party fund to close in Q3 2026. Source
  • New CEO and CFO take office: Neil Vogel becomes Chief Executive Officer and Timothy Quinn becomes Chief Financial Officer on August 5, 2026. Source
  • Former officers advise through March 2027: Christopher Halpin and Kendall Handler move to advisor roles, with the advisory period running through March 2027. Source
  • Corporate consolidation completes Q1 2027: The consolidation of corporate functions with People Inc. is expected to complete in Q1 2027, after which run-rate figures apply. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Vivian Health revenue (subscription and usage) Source$11.5 million, up 12%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Print revenue fell 16% as the company optimized its portfolio and audience and advertising spend moved from print to digital. Source
  • External: Core Sessions fell 22%, which the company attributed mainly to Google AI Overviews changing how Google search results appear. Source
  • Financial: Net earnings and diluted EPS move with MGM's share price through unrealized gains and losses, which the company says can be very volatile. Source
  • Demand: Premium advertising revenue declined on lower premium programmatic volume, partly offset by direct-sold growth in several categories. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Q1 2026 release expected $40 million of annual run-rate operating expense savings; Q2 2026 release says the consolidation remains on track.
  • Met: Q1 2026 release said the name change and PPLI ticker were expected by Q2 earnings; Q2 release states the change was completed June 4, 2026.
  • Not stated: Q1 2026 release estimated $48 million of stock-based compensation expense for the consolidation; Q2 2026 release keeps the $48 million estimate in its full-year range.
  • Not stated: Q1 2026 release said Vogel was expected to become CEO and Quinn CFO after Q2 earnings; Q2 release sets the effective date as August 5, 2026.

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.