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Shopify Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 34 percent: Revenue was $3,170 million against $2,360 million a year earlier, growth of 34% against 27% in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • GMV passed $100 billion: GMV, the total dollar value of orders facilitated through the platform, was $100,743 million against $74,750 million. Management cited growth across geographies, merchant sizes and channels. Source
  • Operating income rose 88 percent: Operating income was $382 million against $203 million a year earlier. Source
  • Free cash flow was $476 million: Free cash flow was $476 million against $363 million, a 15% margin in both quarters. Operating cash flow was $481 million against $367 million. Source
  • Buybacks of $491 million in quarter: Repurchases of common stock were $491 million; the prior-year quarter had none. Proceeds from stock option exercises were $6 million against $59 million. Source
  • Guidance covers second quarter only: The guidance covers the second quarter of 2026 only and supersedes all earlier financial guidance. The documents give no full-year figures. Source
  • AI advantage presented as an edge: Management said Shopify has entered the AI era with a clear edge, citing growth and two decades of commerce intelligence. Source

“Shopify has entered the AI era with a clear edge: strong, durable growth and two decades of commerce intelligence.”

Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Operating expenses as a percentage of revenue Sourcesecond quarter of 202635% to 36%New
Stock-based compensation Sourcesecond quarter of 2026$145 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Second-quarter 2026 guidance was issued covering revenue, gross profit, operating expenses, stock-based compensation and free cash flow margin. Source
  • New: Share repurchases under the program authorized in February were recorded in the quarter. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 34 percent: Revenue was $3,170 million against $2,360 million a year earlier, growth of 34% against 27% in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • GMV passed $100 billion: GMV, the total dollar value of orders facilitated through the platform, was $100,743 million against $74,750 million. Management cited growth across geographies, merchant sizes and channels. Source
  • Operating income rose 88 percent: Operating income was $382 million against $203 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net income excluding equity investments rose: Net income excluding the impact of equity investments was $360 million against $226 million, a non-GAAP measure. GAAP net loss was $581 million against $682 million. Source

Segments and currency-adjusted growth

  • Merchant solutions grew 39 percent: Merchant solutions revenue was $2,420 million against $1,740 million, up 39%, or 37% in constant currency. Source
  • Monthly recurring revenue rose: MRR, the aggregate value of subscription plans excluding variable platform fees, was $212 million against $182 million. Management uses it as a directional indicator of subscription revenue. Source
  • Currency effect on growth: At prior-year exchange rates, GMV grew 30%, revenue 32%, gross profit 30% and operating income 78%, against reported growth of 35%, 34%, 32% and 88%. Source

“The durability of this model allows us to invest strategically in growth, both in the merchant-facing tools that drive commerce innovation and in the internal capabilities that let us build and ship faster.”

Jeff Hoffmeister, Chief Financial Officer

Costs, margins and operating expenses

  • Gross profit rose 32 percent: Gross profit was $1,546 million against $1,169 million. Cost of merchant solutions rose to $1,476 million from $1,068 million. Source
  • Operating expenses rose to $1,164 million: Sales and marketing was $496 million against $405 million, research and development $437 million against $377 million, and general and administrative $115 million against $109 million. Source
  • Transaction and loan losses rose: Transaction and loan losses were $116 million against $75 million. Source
  • Stock-based compensation rose: Stock-based compensation expense in the cash flow statement was $132 million against $114 million. Source

Cash flow, balance sheet and buybacks

  • Free cash flow was $476 million: Free cash flow was $476 million against $363 million, a 15% margin in both quarters. Operating cash flow was $481 million against $367 million. Source
  • Buybacks of $491 million in quarter: Repurchases of common stock were $491 million; the prior-year quarter had none. Proceeds from stock option exercises were $6 million against $59 million. Source
  • Cash rose as securities fell: Cash and cash equivalents rose to $1,848 million from $1,545 million at December 31, 2025, while marketable securities fell to $3,895 million from $4,233 million. Source
  • Equity investments declined: Equity and other investments were $3,533 million against $4,582 million at December 31, 2025. Shareholders' equity was $12,501 million against $13,473 million. Source

Second-quarter guidance

  • Guidance covers second quarter only: The guidance covers the second quarter of 2026 only and supersedes all earlier financial guidance. The documents give no full-year figures. Source
  • Five second-quarter figures given: Second-quarter figures cover revenue growth, gross profit growth, operating expenses as a share of revenue, stock-based compensation and free cash flow margin. Source
  • Earlier first-quarter revenue guidance: Guidance for the first quarter had called for revenue growth at a low-thirties percentage rate, similar to the fourth quarter of 2025.

Strategy and investment in AI

  • AI advantage presented as an edge: Management said Shopify has entered the AI era with a clear edge, citing growth and two decades of commerce intelligence. Source
  • Investment in tools and build capability: The CFO said the durable model allows investment in merchant-facing commerce tools and internal capabilities that let the company build and ship faster. Source
  • Quarter described as platform compounding: The CFO described the quarter's growth, with GMV above $100 billion, as the platform compounding. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 May 2026

  • AI advantage to compound in 2026: Management said it expects the AI advantage to compound throughout 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Subscription solutions revenue Source$750 million against $620 million, up 21%

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.