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USA Today Co., Inc.: 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: 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Total revenue fell 8.3%: Total revenues were $536.3 million against $584.9 million a year earlier. On a same-store basis, excluding currency and exited operations, revenue fell 6.1%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA lower, margin 10.6%: Total Adjusted EBITDA was $56.9 million against $64.2 million a year earlier, and the margin was 10.6% against 11.0%. The first quarter was $73.1 million. Source
  • LocaliQ margin rose to 12.4%: LocaliQ segment revenue was $106.6 million against $117.5 million. Segment Adjusted EBITDA rose to $13.2 million from $11.5 million, with margin 12.4% against 9.8%. Source
  • Digital share of revenue 47.4%: Digital revenues were $254.3 million, down 4.2% year-over-year and down 3.6% same-store. First-quarter same-store digital revenue had risen 5.2%. Source
  • Digital-only subscription revenue grew again: Digital-only subscription revenues were $45.6 million, growing year-over-year for a second quarter. Digital-only ARPU rose 34% year-over-year. Source
  • Operating expenses cut about 8%: Management said operating expenses were down about 8% year-over-year. Operating costs were $328.1 million against $359.4 million; selling, general and administrative expenses were $154.4 million against $164.1 million. Source
  • Free cash flow up about 11%: Free cash flow was $19.6 million against $17.6 million. Operating cash flow was $35.4 million against $32.6 million; capital expenditures were $15.8 million against $15.1 million. Source

“We are confident in the steps we are taking to position the Company for sustainable long-term revenue growth combined with free cash flow growth and margin expansion”

Michael Reed, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total revenues Sourcefull year 2026flat to down in the low single digits on a same store basisKept
Total digital revenues Sourcefull year 2026grow versus prior year on a same store basis; 50%+ of total revenuesKept
Cash provided by operating activities Sourcefull year 2026grow double-digits versus prior yearKept
Free cash flow Sourcefull year 2026grow double-digits versus prior yearKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The second-quarter release names investments in technologies such as Palantir as helping the company understand and monetize its audience; the first-quarter release does not mention this. Source

Results and profit measures

  • Total revenue fell 8.3%: Total revenues were $536.3 million against $584.9 million a year earlier. On a same-store basis, excluding currency and exited operations, revenue fell 6.1%. Source
  • Net income positive a second quarter: Net income attributable to USA TODAY Co. was $9.1 million, against $78.4 million a year earlier. The prior-year income tax line was a benefit of $87.5 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA lower, margin 10.6%: Total Adjusted EBITDA was $56.9 million against $64.2 million a year earlier, and the margin was 10.6% against 11.0%. The first quarter was $73.1 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • USA TODAY Media revenue down 9.5%: USA TODAY Media segment revenue was $397.7 million against $439.3 million. Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $42.0 million against $44.5 million, with margin 10.6% against 10.1%. Source
  • Newsquest revenue down, margin near flat: Newsquest revenue was $59.2 million against $61.3 million, and segment Adjusted EBITDA margin was 24.2% against 24.3%. Newsquest operates in the United Kingdom. Source
  • LocaliQ margin rose to 12.4%: LocaliQ segment revenue was $106.6 million against $117.5 million. Segment Adjusted EBITDA rose to $13.2 million from $11.5 million, with margin 12.4% against 9.8%. Source

Digital revenue and audience

  • Digital share of revenue 47.4%: Digital revenues were $254.3 million, down 4.2% year-over-year and down 3.6% same-store. First-quarter same-store digital revenue had risen 5.2%. Source
  • Digital-only subscription revenue grew again: Digital-only subscription revenues were $45.6 million, growing year-over-year for a second quarter. Digital-only ARPU rose 34% year-over-year. Source
  • Digital-only paid subscriptions fell 16%: Digital-only paid subscriptions fell 16% year-over-year, with USA TODAY Media down 19% and Newsquest up 23%. Source
  • Monthly audience lower than first quarter: Average monthly unique visitors were below the first quarter's 180 million. About 51 million came from U.K. digital properties, against 53 million in the first quarter. Source

LocaliQ core platform

  • Core platform revenue down 9%: Core platform revenues were $106.3 million against $116.9 million a year earlier, and $99.3 million in the first quarter. Source
  • Customer count down, ARPU up: Average core platform customer count fell 12% year-over-year and rose from the first quarter. Core platform ARPU rose 3% year-over-year. Source
  • Key metrics improved sequentially: Management said core platform revenues, segment Adjusted EBITDA, core platform ARPU and average customer count all improved from the first quarter. Source

Costs and margins

  • Operating expenses cut about 8%: Management said operating expenses were down about 8% year-over-year. Operating costs were $328.1 million against $359.4 million; selling, general and administrative expenses were $154.4 million against $164.1 million. Source
  • Reorganization costs fell sharply: Integration and reorganization costs were $2.3 million against $12.3 million a year earlier. The company said the costs mainly reflect severance-related and reorganization-related expenses. Source
  • Net margin and interest expense lower: Net income margin was 1.7% against 13.4% a year earlier. Interest expense was $20.9 million against $24.4 million a year earlier. Source

Capital structure and debt

  • Debt principal down to $970.5 million: Total debt principal was $970.5 million at June 30, against $988.3 million at March 31. First lien debt was $722.7 million against $740.5 million. Source
  • First lien net leverage 2.3x: First lien net leverage was 2.3x, down 14% year-over-year. The 6% convertible notes due 2027 and 2031 are secured by liens junior to the 2029 Term Loan Facility. Source
  • Cash balance rose slightly: Cash and cash equivalents were $86.7 million at June 30, against $85.2 million at March 31. Source

Cash flow and payments

  • Free cash flow up about 11%: Free cash flow was $19.6 million against $17.6 million. Operating cash flow was $35.4 million against $32.6 million; capital expenditures were $15.8 million against $15.1 million. Source
  • Interest payments lower: Interest paid was $22.5 million against $32.2 million. Integration and reorganization costs affecting free cash flow were $4.2 million against $7.9 million. Source
  • Former partner payment in six months: The six-month cash flow statement shows a $28.5 million payment to a former partner and $2.7 million of treasury stock purchases. The release does not describe the payment. Source

Strategy and audience monetization

  • Audience reach beyond search: Management said consumer discovery is moving beyond traditional search. The company is expanding reach across social, video and newsletters and strengthening first-party audience capabilities. Source
  • Audience data to lift monetization: Management said audience data will drive greatly improved monetization as the company uses that intelligence. Source
  • Revenue inflection point seen near: Management said it believes the company is getting close to crossing a revenue inflection point, built on a large and engaged audience. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 August 2026

  • Digital other growth expected to continue: Management expects digital other revenue to keep expanding through 2026 as the company adds content licensing partners and grows commerce. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Average monthly unique visitors Source158 million
Digital-only paid subscriptions, total Source1,442 thousand
Core platform average customer count Source12.2 thousand
Digital-only ARPU, USA TODAY Co. Source$10.47
Core platform ARPU Source$2,908

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said consumer discovery is changing away from traditional search, which it cited as the reason for expanding into other channels. Source
  • Regulatory: Other income, net of $14.8 million was primarily reflected in Google litigation costs, including related reimbursements, and other legal settlements, per the reconciliation footnote. 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.