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LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.: Q1 FY2027 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2027, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Total revenue grew 10 percent year-over-year: Q1 FY27 total revenue reached $214 million, up from $195 million in Q1 FY26. Subscription revenue grew 8% to $160 million and Marketplace revenue grew 15% to $54 million. Source
  • GAAP operating income more than doubled: GAAP operating income reached $20 million from $7 million in Q1 FY26, with operating margin expanding 6 percentage points to 9%, demonstrating strong operational improvement. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating income increased 41 percent: Non-GAAP operating income grew 41% to $50 million from $36 million, with operating margin expanding to 24% from 19%, reflecting improved operational leverage and cost management. Source
  • Subscription net retention declined significantly: Subscription net retention was 103% in Q1, down from 107% in Q4 FY26, while platform net retention declined to 106% from 108%, signaling moderation in expansion within existing accounts. Source
  • Annualized recurring revenue growth moderated: ARR reached $539 million, up 7% from the prior year, decelerating from the 8% growth rate in Q4 FY26, indicating slowing subscription momentum despite sequential revenue gains. Source
  • Expanded partnerships with major AI platforms: LiveRamp announced new integrations with OpenAI, Databricks, and Adobe to enable AI-driven marketing capabilities, plus a partnership with DoorDash for privacy-centric measurement of advertising impact. Source

“Fiscal 2027 is off to a strong start, with Q1 revenue and operating income ahead of our internal projections. We continue to make good progress with our AI and agentic initiatives with the launch of the LiveRamp Agent Builders Lab and new partnerships with OpenAI, Databricks and Adobe. Finally, our previously announced transaction with Publicis Groupe remains on track to close before the end of calendar 2026.”

Scott Howe, CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Publicis Groupe transaction closing Sourcecalendar 2026before the end of calendar 2026Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance withdrawn: Management will not provide financial guidance for future periods due to the pending Publicis Groupe acquisition, a departure from prior quarterly earnings releases. Source
  • New: Launched LiveRamp Agent Builders Lab program, a new initiative to bring partner-built AI agents into the network to help marketers transform planning, activation and measurement. Source

Revenue Growth and Operating Performance

  • Total revenue grew 10 percent year-over-year: Q1 FY27 total revenue reached $214 million, up from $195 million in Q1 FY26. Subscription revenue grew 8% to $160 million and Marketplace revenue grew 15% to $54 million. Source
  • GAAP operating income more than doubled: GAAP operating income reached $20 million from $7 million in Q1 FY26, with operating margin expanding 6 percentage points to 9%, demonstrating strong operational improvement. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating income increased 41 percent: Non-GAAP operating income grew 41% to $50 million from $36 million, with operating margin expanding to 24% from 19%, reflecting improved operational leverage and cost management. Source

Customer Metrics and Subscription Health

  • Large customer base grew year-over-year: LiveRamp ended Q1 with 132 customers whose annualized subscription revenue exceeded $1 million, compared to 127 in the prior year, though declining sequentially from 133 in Q4 FY26. Source
  • Direct subscription customer growth slowed: Direct subscription customers reached 845, up from 835 in the prior year, but declining from 846 at end of Q4 FY26, indicating modest quarterly customer declines. Source
  • Subscription net retention declined significantly: Subscription net retention was 103% in Q1, down from 107% in Q4 FY26, while platform net retention declined to 106% from 108%, signaling moderation in expansion within existing accounts. Source
  • Annualized recurring revenue growth moderated: ARR reached $539 million, up 7% from the prior year, decelerating from the 8% growth rate in Q4 FY26, indicating slowing subscription momentum despite sequential revenue gains. Source

AI Product Innovation and Partnerships

  • Launched Agent Builders Lab program: Management announced LiveRamp Agent Builders, a program to bring partner-built AI agents into the network and help marketers use AI to transform planning, activation and measurement through autonomous data collaboration. Source
  • Expanded partnerships with major AI platforms: LiveRamp announced new integrations with OpenAI, Databricks, and Adobe to enable AI-driven marketing capabilities, plus a partnership with DoorDash for privacy-centric measurement of advertising impact. Source
  • ChatGPT integration enables conversion tracking: Marketers using ChatGPT ad campaigns can now connect conversion events through LiveRamp's Conversions API Hub to measure campaign effectiveness and optimize performance across any channel. Source

Operating Cash Flow and Capital Allocation

  • Operating cash flow returned to positive: Net cash provided by operating activities was $17 million in Q1 FY27, compared to a $16 million use in Q1 FY26, reflecting a $33 million improvement in cash generation. Source
  • Share repurchase activity significantly reduced: The company repurchased 0.6 million shares for $18 million in Q1 FY27, substantially below the $76 million spent on 2.8 million shares in Q4 FY26, reflecting focus on the pending transaction. Source

Contract Backlog and Revenue Recognition

  • Current remaining performance obligations growth slowed: CRPO reached $482 million, up 7% from the prior year, decelerating from 10% growth in Q4 FY26, indicating moderation in contracted revenue expected to be recognized over the next 12 months. Source
  • Data Marketplace revenue continued to accelerate: Data Marketplace revenue grew 13% year-over-year to $40 million, reflecting solid growth momentum in this higher-margin business segment. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 August 2026

  • Publicis Groupe acquisition closing: Transaction expected to close before end of calendar 2026 subject to customary closing conditions including shareholder approval. Shareholder vote scheduled for August 17, 2026. Source
  • Continued AI platform expansion: Management plans ongoing development of LiveRamp Agent Builders program and expansion of integrations with AI partners to enable agentic transformation for customers and marketers. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Regulatory changes affecting third-party cookies and tracking technology could restrict customer ability to use data on the platform. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: CEO stated transaction remains on track for calendar 2026 closing, consistent with timing provided when deal was announced in May 2026. Source
  • Met: CEO reported Q1 results exceeded the company's internal expectations, demonstrating strong operational performance. 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.