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Sabre Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 22 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 4% to $712 million: Revenue was $712 million, up 4% from $687 million a year earlier. Operating income rose 4% to $93 million, and operating margin was unchanged at 13.0%. Source
  • Normalized Adjusted EBITDA up 19%: Normalized Adjusted EBITDA was $151 million, up 19%, at a 21.2% margin against 18.5%. Adjusted EBITDA was $143 million, up 21%, at a 20.1% margin. Source
  • Marketplace revenue grew 6%: Marketplace revenue rose $31 million to $577 million. Transaction-based revenue added $25 million on higher distribution bookings and favorable rates, and product-based revenue added $6 million. Source
  • Labor savings offset higher incentives: Normalized Adjusted EBITDA gained from lower labor and professional services costs under the inflation offset program, partly offset by higher incentive expense. Source
  • Air bookings growth slowed: Air bookings grew about 1% in the second quarter, after 6% growth reported in the first quarter. Source
  • Free cash flow turned positive: Free cash flow was $10 million, against negative $240 million a year earlier. Operating cash flow was $36 million, against $218 million used. Source
  • Agentic AI channel and platform focus: Management said it plans to expand the technology platform, keep gaining share and extend leadership in the emerging Agentic AI travel channel. Source

“Since the start of the year, we believe our performance has outpaced the broader industry, reflecting disciplined execution of our strategy”

Kurt Ekert, president and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Air distribution bookings SourceQ3 2026Flat to low-single-digit YoY growthNew
Air distribution bookings SourceQ4 2026Low-to-mid-single-digit YoY growthNew
Air distribution bookings SourceFY 2026Low-to-mid-single-digit YoY growthKept
Revenue SourceQ3 2026Flat to low-single-digit YoY growthNew
Revenue SourceQ4 2026Low-to-mid-single-digit YoY growthNew
Revenue SourceFY 2026Low-to-mid-single-digit YoY growthKept
Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA SourceQ3 2026~$155M, +3% YoYNew
Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA SourceQ4 2026~$125M, +5% YoYNew
Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY 2026~$600M, +12% YoYRaised from ~$585M, +9% YoY
Free Cash Flow SourceFY 2026~($65M)Raised from ~($70M)
Net loss from continuing operations (Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA bridge) SourceQ3 2026~$38MNew
Acquisition-related amortization (bridge item) SourceQ3 2026~$8MNew
Stock-based compensation (bridge item) SourceQ3 2026~$20MNew
Depreciation and amortization (bridge item) SourceQ3 2026~$20MNew
Interest expense, net (bridge item) SourceQ3 2026~$127MNew
Other expenses (bridge item) SourceQ3 2026~$3MNew
Provision for income taxes (bridge item) SourceQ3 2026~$10MNew
Pro forma adjustments for Hospitality Solutions costs (bridge item) SourceQ3 2026~$5MNew
Net loss from continuing operations (Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA bridge) SourceQ4 2026~$68MNew
Acquisition-related amortization (bridge item) SourceQ4 2026~$8MNew
Stock-based compensation (bridge item) SourceQ4 2026~$20MNew
Depreciation and amortization (bridge item) SourceQ4 2026~$22MNew
Interest expense, net (bridge item) SourceQ4 2026~$123MNew
Other expenses (bridge item) SourceQ4 2026~$1MNew
Provision for income taxes (bridge item) SourceQ4 2026~$18MNew
Pro forma adjustments for Hospitality Solutions costs (bridge item) SourceQ4 2026~$1MNew
Net loss from continuing operations (Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA bridge) SourceFY 2026~$133M
Acquisition-related amortization (bridge item) SourceFY 2026~$31M
Stock-based compensation (bridge item) SourceFY 2026~$67M
Depreciation and amortization (bridge item) SourceFY 2026~$80M
Interest expense, net (bridge item) SourceFY 2026~$497M
Restructuring and other expenses, net (bridge item) SourceFY 2026~$5M
Provision for income taxes (bridge item) SourceFY 2026~$28M
Pro forma adjustments for Hospitality Solutions costs (bridge item) SourceFY 2026~$25M
Operating cash flow (Free Cash Flow build) SourceFY 2026~$25M
Additions to property and equipment (Free Cash Flow build) SourceFY 2026~$90M

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA guidance raised from about $585 million to about $600 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 free cash flow guidance raised from about negative $70 million to about negative $65 million. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 revenue and air distribution bookings guidance reaffirmed, unchanged from the first-quarter release. Source
  • New guidance: Third- and fourth-quarter 2026 guidance given for revenue, air distribution bookings and Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Ended: Second-quarter 2026 guidance period closed; the company said results exceeded it on revenue, Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA and air distribution bookings. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 4% to $712 million: Revenue was $712 million, up 4% from $687 million a year earlier. Operating income rose 4% to $93 million, and operating margin was unchanged at 13.0%. Source
  • Normalized Adjusted EBITDA up 19%: Normalized Adjusted EBITDA was $151 million, up 19%, at a 21.2% margin against 18.5%. Adjusted EBITDA was $143 million, up 21%, at a 20.1% margin. Source
  • Net loss narrowed sharply: Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $36 million, against $256 million a year earlier. Diluted loss per share from continuing operations was $(0.09), against $(0.51). Source
  • Continuing-operations loss narrowed: Loss from continuing operations improved on higher operating income, a smaller debt extinguishment loss and a lower tax provision. Source

Marketplace and Airline Technology revenue

  • Marketplace revenue grew 6%: Marketplace revenue rose $31 million to $577 million. Transaction-based revenue added $25 million on higher distribution bookings and favorable rates, and product-based revenue added $6 million. Source
  • Airline Technology revenue declined: Airline Technology revenue fell $6 million, or 4%, to $135 million, mainly on lower license revenue and other revenue. Source
  • Average booking fee rose about 4%: The average booking fee was $6.30, up about 4% from the second quarter of 2025. Source

“Our first-half performance and outlook for the balance of the year support reaffirming our full-year guidance for revenue and air distribution bookings growth.”

Kurt Ekert, president and CEO

Bookings, passengers and hotels

  • Lodging bookings up 5%: Lodging and other bookings were 15.5 million, up 5% from the second quarter of 2025, a faster rate than air bookings. Source
  • Hotel-related revenue grew 11%: Hotel-related revenue grew 11%, listed in the highlights alongside Marketplace growth from air bookings and booking fees. Source
  • Passengers boarded up 2%: Passengers boarded were 174.1 million, up 2% from the second quarter of 2025. Source

Costs, incentives and margins

  • Labor savings offset higher incentives: Normalized Adjusted EBITDA gained from lower labor and professional services costs under the inflation offset program, partly offset by higher incentive expense. Source
  • Restructuring tied to inflation offset: Restructuring and other costs were $2.1 million in the quarter and $11.8 million for the six months, mainly from the inflation offset program. Source
  • Transition services income in other, net: Other, net includes $18 million of transition services agreement income, net, in the current year period, and the prior-year period included a $5 million gain on asset sales. Source

“Additionally, we are raising our 2026 guidance for Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow.”

Kurt Ekert, president and CEO

Demand and the order book

  • Air bookings growth slowed: Air bookings grew about 1% in the second quarter, after 6% growth reported in the first quarter. Source
  • Full-year bookings growth expectation kept: Management kept its full-year air distribution bookings growth expectation, citing first-half performance and the rest-of-year view. Source
  • Marketplace bookings edged up: Marketplace bookings net of cancellations were 92 million, up about 1% from the second quarter of 2025, after about 5% growth in the first quarter. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow turned positive: Free cash flow was $10 million, against negative $240 million a year earlier. Operating cash flow was $36 million, against $218 million used. Source
  • Six-month cash use remained large: Six-month free cash flow was negative $146 million, against negative $321 million, and operating cash used was $98 million. Source
  • Net debt lower than a year earlier: Net debt was $3.81 billion at quarter end, against $4.74 billion a year earlier. Cash balance was $697 million, including restricted cash. Source
  • Capitalized spending rose: Capitalized expenditures were $26 million, against $22 million a year earlier; six-month spending was $48 million against $39 million. Source

Strategy, investment and governance

  • Agentic AI channel and platform focus: Management said it plans to expand the technology platform, keep gaining share and extend leadership in the emerging Agentic AI travel channel. Source
  • Governance agreement advisory fees: Stockholder matter costs were $51 thousand in the quarter and $3.5 million for six months, treated as non-recurring. Source
  • Normalized figures add back Hospitality costs: Normalized figures add back estimated costs historically allocated to Hospitality Solutions, a business sold to an affiliate of TPG and closed on July 3, 2025. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 August 2026

  • Third- and fourth-quarter guidance provided: Management set third- and fourth-quarter 2026 guidance for revenue, air distribution bookings and Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA, as laid out in the release. Source
  • Supplemental financial file posted: A supplemental financial information file was to be posted on the investor relations website alongside the earnings report. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said the Middle East conflict and higher fuel prices affected global travel demand in the quarter, while revenue and Normalized Adjusted EBITDA still grew. Source
  • Financial: Interest expense, net was $123.8 million against $111.2 million a year earlier, and was cited as a partial offset in the loss bridge. Source
  • Regulatory: Indirect tax charges relate to digital services taxes and other historical indirect tax matters that may ultimately be settled in cash; the quarter recorded a $131 thousand charge. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said second-quarter results exceeded its guidance for revenue, Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA and air distribution bookings. Source
  • Not stated: The first-quarter release assumed the Middle East conflict would subside in the second quarter, with gradual recovery through summer and fall; this release does not restate that assumption.
  • Not stated: Full-year revenue and air distribution bookings guidance, which appeared in the first-quarter release, was reaffirmed in this 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.