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RB Global Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

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

Key takeaways

  • GTV rose 13% across all sectors: GTV reached $4.3 billion, up 13%, with growth in all sectors and contributions from the J.M. Wood and Smith Broughton acquisitions. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 11%: Adjusted EBITDA increased 11% to $362.7 million, with GTV growth and inventory returns as drivers, partly offset by operating expenses and take rate. Source
  • CC&T GTV rose 27%: CC&T GTV reached $1,622.0 million, up 27%, driven by a higher average price per lot sold from improved mix and higher volumes. Source
  • Inventory sales revenue rose 32%: Inventory sales revenue rose 32% to $336.9 million, partly from J.M. Wood; excluding it, growth came from CC&T, partly offset by Automotive. Source
  • Take rate fell 160 basis points: The service revenue take rate fell to 20.7% from 22.3%, citing a larger share of higher-price lots, acquired businesses and divestments. Source
  • GTV growth guidance raised: Full-year 2026 GTV growth guidance is now 6% to 9%, up from 5% to 8%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA guidance raised: Full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance is $1,485 to $1,545 million, up from $1,470 to $1,530 million. Source

“We delivered broad-based GTV growth across all our sectors, underscoring the strength of our growth strategy, the commitment of our teammates, and the value we deliver as trusted partners to our customers”

Jim Kessler, CEO of RB Global

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$1,485 to $1,545Raised from $1,470 to $1,530
Full year tax rate (GAAP and adjusted) SourceFull year 202623% to 25%Kept
Capital expenditures SourceFull year 2026$350 to $400Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: GTV growth guidance for 2026 was raised to 6% to 9% from 5% to 8%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EBITDA guidance for 2026 was raised to $1,485 to $1,545 million from $1,470 to $1,530 million. Source
  • New: The company acquired Blackmon Auctions on April 13, 2026, a South Central U.S. auction provider. Source
  • New: The pending BigIron Auction Company acquisition received early termination of the HSR waiting period on April 21, 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • GTV rose 13% across all sectors: GTV reached $4.3 billion, up 13%, with growth in all sectors and contributions from the J.M. Wood and Smith Broughton acquisitions. Source
  • Total revenue rose 11%: Total revenue was $1,234.6 million, up 11% from $1,108.6 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS rose 20%: Net income rose 20% to $135.6 million; diluted EPS available to common stockholders rose 20% to $0.66, and diluted adjusted EPS rose 13% to $1.01. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 11%: Adjusted EBITDA increased 11% to $362.7 million, with GTV growth and inventory returns as drivers, partly offset by operating expenses and take rate. Source

Sector growth

  • CC&T GTV rose 27%: CC&T GTV reached $1,622.0 million, up 27%, driven by a higher average price per lot sold from improved mix and higher volumes. Source
  • Automotive GTV rose 7%: Automotive GTV was $2,289.2 million, up 7%, attributed to a higher average price per lot sold. Source
  • Other sector GTV rose 5%: Other sector GTV was $429.7 million, up 5% from $407.5 million a year earlier. Source

“our focus remains on what we can control ensuring that we consistently overdeliver on our commitments, particularly in this fluid macroeconomic environment.”

Jim Kessler, CEO of RB Global

Revenue mix and inventory sales

  • Service revenue rose 5%: Service revenue rose 5% to $897.7 million, driven by higher GTV and partly offset by a lower take rate. Source
  • Inventory sales revenue rose 32%: Inventory sales revenue rose 32% to $336.9 million, partly from J.M. Wood; excluding it, growth came from CC&T, partly offset by Automotive. Source
  • Inventory rate rose to 9.0%: The inventory rate rose 80 basis points to 9.0%, which the company linked to CC&T performance; inventory return rose 43% to $30.2 million. Source

Costs, margins and take rate

  • Take rate fell 160 basis points: The service revenue take rate fell to 20.7% from 22.3%, citing a larger share of higher-price lots, acquired businesses and divestments. Source
  • Cost of inventory sold rose: Cost of inventory sold rose to $306.7 million from $235.0 million; SG&A rose to $214.2 million from $205.0 million. Source
  • Income tax expense rose: Income tax expense rose to $37.6 million from $29.6 million, partly offsetting the higher operating income. Source
  • Interest expense fell: Interest expense fell to $44.0 million from $49.9 million, reflecting lower outstanding principal and lower variable interest rates. Source

“Our topline momentum translated into earnings growth, reflecting the durability of our operating model and our disciplined execution across the business”

Eric J. Guerin, Chief Financial Officer

Lots sold and demand

  • Total lots sold flat: Total lots sold were 857.5 thousand, flat against 855.1 thousand; CC&T lots rose 12% while Other lots fell 10%. Source
  • Automotive lots rose 1%: Automotive lots sold were 631.3 thousand, up 1% from 625.6 thousand a year earlier. Source

Full-year 2026 guidance

  • GTV growth guidance raised: Full-year 2026 GTV growth guidance is now 6% to 9%, up from 5% to 8%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA guidance raised: Full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance is $1,485 to $1,545 million, up from $1,470 to $1,530 million. Source
  • Tax rate and capex unchanged: The full-year tax rate stays at 23% to 25% and capital expenditures stay at $350 to $400 million. Source

Cash, debt and dividend

  • Operating cash flow rose: Net cash provided by operating activities was $224.1 million, against $156.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Cash rose; short-term debt rose: Cash and cash equivalents rose to $667.2 million from $531.5 million at December 31, 2025, while short-term debt rose to $282.0 million from $137.5 million. Source
  • Leverage fell to 1.4x: Adjusted net debt to adjusted EBITDA was 1.4x on a trailing twelve-month basis, against 1.6x a year earlier. Source
  • Quarterly dividend of $0.31 declared: The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.31 per common share on May 1, 2026, payable June 18, 2026. Source

Acquisitions and pending deal

  • Blackmon Auctions acquired: The company acquired Blackmon Auctions on April 13, 2026, a U.S.-based auction provider in the South Central U.S. Source
  • BigIron deal cleared FTC waiting period: The FTC granted early termination of the Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period on April 21, 2026, for the pending BigIron acquisition. Source
  • Acquisition-related costs rose: Acquisition-related and integration costs were $6.2 million, against $3.1 million a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 May 2026

  • BigIron acquisition closing: The BigIron acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to other customary closing conditions. Source
  • Dividend payment date: The $0.31 quarterly dividend is payable June 18, 2026, to shareholders of record on May 27, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Automotive GTV Source$2,289.2 million, up 7%
CC&T GTV Source$1,622.0 million, up 27%
Other GTV Source$429.7 million, up 5%
Automotive lots sold Source631.3 thousand, up 1%
CC&T lots sold Source97.8 thousand, up 12%
Other lots sold Source128.4 thousand, down 10%
Total lots sold Source857.5 thousand, flat

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited a fluid macroeconomic environment as the setting in which it is focused on controllable items. Source
  • Financial: Higher income tax expense partly offset the increase in net income available to common stockholders. Source
  • Operational: Higher operating expenses and a lower service revenue take rate partly offset the growth in adjusted EBITDA. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it is focused on consistently overdelivering on its commitments in a fluid macroeconomic environment. 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.