greeksoup/ stock research

Stagwell Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 11% in quarter: Revenue of $786 million rose 11% year over year, 10% organically. Year-to-date revenue of $1,490 million rose 10%, 8% organically. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 39%: Adjusted EPS was $0.25 against $0.18, up 39%. Management attributed the growth to revenue, cost control and share repurchases. Source
  • Digital Transformation grew 18% organically: Digital Transformation net revenue of $107 million grew 18% organically. Its two-year organic net revenue growth stack was 29%. Source
  • Communications grew 12% organically: Communications net revenue of $112 million grew 12.1% organically. Management linked the growth to the political cycle ramping up. Source
  • Net new business set a record: Management described net new business for the quarter as a record and named recent wins with IBM, Adobe, Mondelez and Heineken. Source
  • Cost of services rose: Cost of services was $517.1 million against $459.2 million. Office and general expenses were $213.7 million against $183.1 million. Source
  • Net loss attributable widened: Net loss attributable to Stagwell Inc. common shareholders was $8 million against $5 million. Diluted loss per share was $(0.03) against $(0.02). Source
  • Share repurchases and share count: Shares repurchased and cancelled totaled $88.0 million for six months, against $67.5 million a year earlier. Quarterly weighted diluted shares were 245.9 million, against 260.8 million. Source

“Our second quarter results demonstrate Stagwell is thriving in today's AI era.”

Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$1.03 - $1.17Raised from $0.98 - $1.12
Total net revenue growth Sourcefull year 20268% to 12%Kept
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$475 million to $525 millionKept
Free cash flow conversion Sourcefull year 202650% to 60%Kept
Second-half revenue growth Sourcesecond half of 2026double-digit growth

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EPS guidance for 2026 raised to $1.03 to $1.17 from $0.98 to $1.12. Source
  • Guidance kept: Total net revenue growth, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow conversion guidance were reiterated. Source
  • New: New client wins named in the quarter: IBM, Adobe, Mondelez and Heineken. Source

Revenue and profit growth

  • Revenue rose 11% in quarter: Revenue of $786 million rose 11% year over year, 10% organically. Year-to-date revenue of $1,490 million rose 10%, 8% organically. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 15%: Adjusted EBITDA rose 15% to $109 million. Year-to-date adjusted EBITDA rose 12% to $198 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 39%: Adjusted EPS was $0.25 against $0.18, up 39%. Management attributed the growth to revenue, cost control and share repurchases. Source
  • Net revenue growth trailed revenue: Net revenue of $632 million rose 6%, 5% organically. Year-to-date net revenue of $1,216 million rose 5%, 3% organically. Source

Segment results

  • Digital Transformation grew 18% organically: Digital Transformation net revenue of $107 million grew 18% organically. Its two-year organic net revenue growth stack was 29%. Source
  • Communications grew 12% organically: Communications net revenue of $112 million grew 12.1% organically. Management linked the growth to the political cycle ramping up. Source
  • Marketing Services rose 0.5% organically: Marketing Services net revenue of $234 million rose 0.5% organically. Net divestitures reduced the reported change to (0.5)%. Source
  • Media & Commerce and Marketing Cloud grew: Media & Commerce net revenue of $155 million rose 1.0% organically. The Marketing Cloud net revenue of $27 million rose 4.1% organically. Source
  • Segment adjusted EBITDA by unit: Adjusted EBITDA: Marketing Services $45.2 million, Digital Transformation $32.2 million, Media & Commerce $16.1 million, Communications $34.9 million. The Marketing Cloud was a $5.3 million loss; corporate was $14.5 million. Source

“Our organic net revenue growth continues to accelerate, led by 18% growth in our Digital Transformation segment, and 12% growth in Communications as the political cycle starts to ramp up.”

Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO

Client wins and demand

  • Net new business set a record: Management described net new business for the quarter as a record and named recent wins with IBM, Adobe, Mondelez and Heineken. Source
  • Net new business definition: The company defines net new business as estimated annualized revenue from new wins, less annualized revenue from losses incurred in the period. Source

Costs and margins

  • Cost of services rose: Cost of services was $517.1 million against $459.2 million. Office and general expenses were $213.7 million against $183.1 million. Source
  • Costs controlled as revenue grew: Management said it controlled costs as revenue grew. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 17% on net revenue, against 15% in the first quarter. Source
  • Total operating expenses rose: Total operating expenses were $774.8 million against $683.6 million. Depreciation and amortization was $44.0 million against $41.4 million. Source

GAAP results and tax

  • Net loss attributable widened: Net loss attributable to Stagwell Inc. common shareholders was $8 million against $5 million. Diluted loss per share was $(0.03) against $(0.02). Source
  • Tax benefit on pre-tax loss: The GAAP income tax benefit was $0.3 million at a 3.8% effective rate. The non-GAAP tax expense was $21.8 million at a 26.5% rate. Source
  • Non-GAAP adjustments to earnings: Adjusted net income adds back amortization of $38.4 million, stock-based compensation of $18.6 million, deferred acquisition consideration of $8.8 million and other items of $25.8 million. Source

Capital, cash and returns

  • Share repurchases and share count: Shares repurchased and cancelled totaled $88.0 million for six months, against $67.5 million a year earlier. Quarterly weighted diluted shares were 245.9 million, against 260.8 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose: Net cash provided by operating activities was $64 million for six months, against $55 million. Capitalized software spending was $62.4 million, against $29.2 million. Source
  • Long-term debt increased: Long-term debt was $1,450 million at June 30, against $1,326 million at December 31, 2025. Cash and cash equivalents were $109.5 million. Source
  • Capital spending and acquisitions: Capital expenditures were $21.6 million for six months, against $18.1 million. Acquisitions, net of cash acquired, were a $4.5 million outflow, against a $14.2 million inflow. Source

Strategy and AI positioning

  • Software, services and engineers mix: Management said the industry is embracing the company's combination of software, services and engineers in the AI era. Source
  • Global challenger network positioning: The company describes itself as a global challenger network transforming marketing through AI, with specialists in 45+ countries. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net new business, second quarter Source$171 million
Net new business, last twelve months Source$540 million

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.