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Sabre Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 6 lowered, 5 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 8% to $760 million: First quarter revenue was $760 million, up from $702 million a year earlier. Marketplace contributed $618 million and Airline Technology $142 million. Source
  • Operating income rose 27%: Operating income was $116 million against $91 million. Higher revenue drove the increase, partly offset by higher incentive and other expenses. Source
  • Normalized Adjusted EBITDA up 21%: Normalized Adjusted EBITDA was $169 million, and Adjusted EBITDA was $159 million, both up 21%. Normalized adds back estimated costs historically allocated to Hospitality Solutions. Source
  • Marketplace revenue grew 9%: Marketplace revenue rose $49 million to $618 million. Transaction-based revenue rose $42 million on higher distribution bookings and favorable rates, and other revenue added $7 million. Source
  • Air bookings up 6%: Air bookings reached 87 million, up from 82 million, the highest growth rate in over two years. Source

“Through continued share gains, disciplined execution, and our leadership role in next-generation, AI-powered travel solutions, we are confident in our ability to deliver sustained, long-term growth.”

Kurt Ekert, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Air distribution bookings SourceQ2 2026Near flat YoY growthNew
Revenue SourceQ2 2026Flat-to-nominal YoY growthNew
Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA SourceQ2 2026~$130M, +2% YoYNew
Net loss from continuing operations (EBITDA bridge) SourceQ2 2026approximately $63 millionNew
Interest expense, net (EBITDA bridge) SourceQ2 2026approximately $124 millionNew
Air distribution bookings SourceFY 2026Low-to-mid-single-digit YoY growthLowered from Mid-single digit YoY growth
Revenue SourceFY 2026Low-to-mid-single-digit YoY growthLowered from Mid-single digit YoY growth
Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY 2026~$585M, +9% YoYKept
Free Cash Flow SourceFY 2026~($70M)Kept
Net loss from continuing operations (EBITDA bridge) SourceFY 2026approximately $128MLowered from approximately $132M
Acquisition-related amortization (EBITDA bridge) SourceFY 2026approximately $31MKept
Stock-based compensation (EBITDA bridge) SourceFY 2026approximately $59MLowered from approximately $68M
Depreciation and amortization (EBITDA bridge) SourceFY 2026approximately $73MRaised from approximately $72M
Interest expense, net (EBITDA bridge) SourceFY 2026approximately $491MRaised from approximately $478M
Restructuring and other expenses (EBITDA bridge) SourceFY 2026approximately $6MLowered from approximately $14M
Provision for income taxes (EBITDA bridge) SourceFY 2026approximately $26MLowered from approximately $31M
Pro forma adjustments (EBITDA bridge) SourceFY 2026approximately $27MRaised from approximately $26M

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Second-quarter 2026 guidance was given for air distribution bookings, revenue and Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA, which the prior release did not include. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year air distribution bookings guidance moved to low-to-mid-single-digit growth from mid-single digit. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year revenue guidance moved to low-to-mid-single-digit growth from mid-single digit. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow guidance were reaffirmed, with Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA at about $585 million. Source
  • New: Revenue categories were renamed: Distribution became Marketplace and IT Solutions became Airline Technology, with the products within each unchanged. Source
  • New: A new non-GAAP adjustment, Stockholder Matter Costs, covers legal and advisory fees tied to a strategic governance agreement. Source
  • New: The non-GAAP profit measure is now presented as Adjusted Net Income, replacing the prior Adjusted Net Loss measure. Source
  • Ended: Pro Forma Free Cash Flow is no longer used for the current period, because no further adjustments remain for the Hospitality Solutions sale. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 8% to $760 million: First quarter revenue was $760 million, up from $702 million a year earlier. Marketplace contributed $618 million and Airline Technology $142 million. Source
  • Operating income rose 27%: Operating income was $116 million against $91 million. Higher revenue drove the increase, partly offset by higher incentive and other expenses. Source
  • Normalized Adjusted EBITDA up 21%: Normalized Adjusted EBITDA was $169 million, and Adjusted EBITDA was $159 million, both up 21%. Normalized adds back estimated costs historically allocated to Hospitality Solutions. Source
  • Income to common stockholders fell: Income attributable to common stockholders was $8 million against $35 million. Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.02, against a loss of $0.01. Source
  • Continuing operations returned to income: Income from continuing operations was $9 million against a $3 million loss, helped by higher operating income and partly offset by interest expense of $123 million. Source

Segments and Marketplace

  • Marketplace revenue grew 9%: Marketplace revenue rose $49 million to $618 million. Transaction-based revenue rose $42 million on higher distribution bookings and favorable rates, and other revenue added $7 million. Source
  • Airline Technology revenue up 7%: Airline Technology revenue rose $9 million to $142 million, mainly because revenue previously deferred was recognized in the quarter. Source
  • Bookings and booking fee rose: Marketplace bookings, net of cancellations, were 101 million, and average booking fee was $6.10, with bookings up about 5% and the fee up about 3%. Source

Costs, margins and incentives

  • Operating margin up two points: Operating margin was 15.2% against 13.0%. Management said the company expanded margin two percentage points on higher operating income. Source
  • Restructuring charge for inflation program: Restructuring and other costs were $9.8 million in the quarter, related to the inflation offset program begun in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • Incentive expense rose: Incentive and other expenses increased and partly offset the revenue gains in operating income. Normalized Adjusted EBITDA also absorbed higher incentive expense. Source

Demand and bookings

  • Air bookings up 6%: Air bookings reached 87 million, up from 82 million, the highest growth rate in over two years. Source
  • Passengers and lodging each up 3%: Passengers boarded rose to 170 million, and lodging and other bookings rose to 14.3 million, both up 3% from a year earlier. Source
  • Share gains cited in air bookings: Management said it believes air distribution bookings growth outpaced the broader industry, which it attributes to execution across its growth initiatives. Source
  • Gradual recovery expected in bookings: Management expects a gradual recovery through the summer and fall, driving positive full-year air bookings growth after conflict and fuel prices weighed in the quarter. Source

AI platform and brand positioning

  • First agentic AI travel experience: Sabre's AI platform launched its first agentic AI experience for travel with MindTrip and PayPal, according to the release highlights. Source
  • Revenue streams renamed: Revenue categories were renamed to better reflect brand identity and market positioning, with the products and solutions within them unchanged. Source
  • Leadership in AI-powered travel: Management cites its leadership role in next-generation, AI-powered travel solutions as part of its growth strategy. Source

Capital, cash and debt

  • Cash balance of $665 million: The company ended the quarter with $665 million of cash including restricted cash, down from $910 million at the start of the year. Source
  • Free Cash Flow negative $155 million: Cash used in operating activities was $134 million. Free Cash Flow was negative $155 million, against negative $81 million a year earlier. Source
  • Financing outflow and lower net debt: Financing activities used $92 million, against $13 million provided a year earlier. Net debt was $3.80 billion, down from $4.61 billion. Source
  • Capital expenditures of $21 million: Capitalized expenditures were $21 million, against $17 million a year earlier. Source

Reporting and terminology changes

  • Adjusted Net Income replaces loss measure: The non-GAAP profit measure is now presented as Adjusted Net Income, with Adjusted EPS of $0.06 against $0.01 a year earlier. Source
  • Pro Forma Free Cash Flow retired: Pro Forma Free Cash Flow is shown for comparability only, because no further Hospitality Solutions adjustments remain for the period. Source
  • Stockholder matter costs added: A new adjustment of $3.5 million covers legal and advisory fees tied to a strategic governance agreement, which management treats as non-recurring. Source

Coming up, as management said on 7 May 2026

  • Conflict assumed to ease in Q2: Current view assumes the Middle East conflict subsides during the second quarter, with recovery through the summer and fall. Source

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cites the Middle East conflict and higher fuel prices as weighing on near-term air bookings. Source
  • Financial: Higher interest expense, net, partly offset the gain in income from continuing operations. Source
  • Regulatory: Indirect tax charges relate to digital services taxes and other historical matters, which may ultimately be settled in cash. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: First-quarter revenue and Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA guidance were exceeded, according to the release. Source
  • Met: First-quarter air distribution bookings guidance was achieved, according to the release. Source
  • Not stated: The company reaffirmed its full-year 2026 Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow guidance. 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.