Ttec Holdings, Inc.: 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: 19 kept. The quarter’s numbers.
Key takeaways
- Revenue fell 7.1 percent: Revenue was $496.2 million, down from $534.2 million a year earlier. Foreign exchange had a $7.8 million positive impact on revenue. Source
- Timing shifts cited for quarter: Management said the quarter was impacted by timing shifts across the business, and it reaffirmed its annual plan. Source
- Digital margin fell sharply: Digital non-GAAP income from operations was $6.7 million, or 6.6 percent of revenue, against $12.1 million, or 11.2 percent, a year earlier. Source
- Digital professional services phased late: Management said significant new Digital professional services engagements were signed, with a large portion phased late in the quarter, affecting near-term revenue and profitability. Source
- Adjusted EBITDA margin fell: Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA was $45.8 million, or 9.2 percent of revenue, against $56.4 million, or 10.6 percent a year earlier. Source
- Free cash flow rose: Free cash flow was $21.1 million, against $16.2 million. Operating cash flow was $27.5 million, against $21.6 million. Source
- Net debt lower than last year: Net debt was $802.7 million at March 31, 2026, against $881.4 million for the same period of 2025. Cash was $88.7 million and debt $891.5 million. Source
“While our performance this quarter was impacted by timing shifts across the business, our commitment to our annual plan is steadfast.”
Ken Tuchman, chairman and chief executive officer, TTEC
Guidance
| Area | Period | Figure | Against last quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company revenue Source | Full year 2026 | $2,005M - $2,055M | Kept |
| Company non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA Source | Full year 2026 | $220M - $240M | Kept |
| Company non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA margin Source | Full year 2026 | 11.0% - 11.7% | Kept |
| Company non-GAAP operating income Source | Full year 2026 | $159M - $179M | Kept |
| Company non-GAAP operating income margin Source | Full year 2026 | 7.9% - 8.7% | Kept |
| Company interest expense, net Source | Full year 2026 | ($72M) - ($74M) | Kept |
| Company non-GAAP adjusted tax rate Source | Full year 2026 | 38% - 42% | Kept |
| Company diluted share count Source | Full year 2026 | 48.5M - 48.7M | Kept |
| Company non-GAAP earnings per share Source | Full year 2026 | $1.06 - $1.32 | Kept |
| TTEC Engage revenue Source | Full year 2026 | $1,585M - $1,615M | Kept |
| TTEC Engage non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA Source | Full year 2026 | $164M - $176M | Kept |
| TTEC Engage non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA margin Source | Full year 2026 | 10.3% - 10.9% | Kept |
| TTEC Engage non-GAAP operating income Source | Full year 2026 | $114M - $126M | Kept |
| TTEC Engage non-GAAP operating income margin Source | Full year 2026 | 7.2% - 7.8% | Kept |
| TTEC Digital revenue Source | Full year 2026 | $420M - $440M | Kept |
| TTEC Digital non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA Source | Full year 2026 | $56M - $64M | Kept |
| TTEC Digital non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA margin Source | Full year 2026 | 13.3% - 14.6% | Kept |
| TTEC Digital non-GAAP operating income Source | Full year 2026 | $45M - $53M | Kept |
| TTEC Digital non-GAAP operating income margin Source | Full year 2026 | 10.6% - 12.0% | Kept |
What changed from last quarter
- Guidance kept: Full year 2026 guidance was re-affirmed, and the CFO said confidence in the business segments is unchanged. Source
- New: TTEC Digital signed significant new professional services engagements, with a large portion phased late in the quarter. Source
Results and growth drivers
- Revenue fell 7.1 percent: Revenue was $496.2 million, down from $534.2 million a year earlier. Foreign exchange had a $7.8 million positive impact on revenue. Source
- Timing shifts cited for quarter: Management said the quarter was impacted by timing shifts across the business, and it reaffirmed its annual plan. Source
- Operating income declined: GAAP income from operations was $18.5 million, or 3.7 percent of revenue, against $24.2 million, or 4.5 percent a year earlier. Source
- Per-share results versus last year: GAAP diluted net loss per share was $0.11, against net income of $0.07 a year earlier. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.15, against $0.28. Source
Segment results
- Digital revenue fell 5.7 percent: TTEC Digital revenue was $101.9 million, down from $108.0 million. Its GAAP income from operations was $1.4 million, or 1.3 percent of revenue. Source
- Digital margin fell sharply: Digital non-GAAP income from operations was $6.7 million, or 6.6 percent of revenue, against $12.1 million, or 11.2 percent, a year earlier. Source
- Digital professional services phased late: Management said significant new Digital professional services engagements were signed, with a large portion phased late in the quarter, affecting near-term revenue and profitability. Source
- Engage revenue fell 7.5 percent: TTEC Engage revenue was $394.3 million, down from $426.2 million. Its GAAP income from operations was $17.1 million, or 4.3 percent of revenue, unchanged from a year earlier. Source
- Engage non-GAAP margin lower: Engage non-GAAP income from operations was $24.9 million, or 6.3 percent of revenue, against $29.4 million, or 6.9 percent, a year earlier. Source
“Our first quarter financial results were slightly below expectations across both segments, primarily due to timing factors.”
Kenny Wagers, chief financial officer of TTEC
Demand, wins and pipeline
- New client wins cited: Management pointed to recent new client wins and embedded base growth across its diversified portfolio as support for the balance of the year. Source
- AI demand described as accelerating: Management said market demand for its AI expertise is accelerating, and that this is translating into new contract wins and a growing pipeline. Source
- Sales momentum and pipeline growth: The CFO cited sales momentum and a growing pipeline as the basis for expecting meaningful growth in Digital's diversified practices through the rest of the year. Source
Costs, margins and tax
- Cost of services declined: Cost of services was $387.9 million, against $414.5 million. Selling, general and administrative expense was $66.5 million, against $70.0 million. Source
- Non-GAAP operating margin compressed: Non-GAAP income from operations was $31.7 million, or 6.4 percent of revenue, against $41.5 million, or 7.8 percent a year earlier. Source
- Adjusted EBITDA margin fell: Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA was $45.8 million, or 9.2 percent of revenue, against $56.4 million, or 10.6 percent a year earlier. Source
- Tax rate rose on lower pre-tax income: Income before income taxes was $2.6 million, against $12.6 million. The effective tax rate was 297.6 percent, against 74.2 percent, on a provision of $7.8 million. Source
- Other expense increased: Other expense, net was $15.9 million, against $11.6 million a year earlier. Source
- Non-binding offer costs lower: Expenses related to the non-binding offer were $659 thousand, against $3,189 thousand a year earlier. Source
“Market demand for our AI expertise is accelerating.”
Ken Tuchman, chairman and chief executive officer, TTEC
Cash flow and net debt
- Free cash flow rose: Free cash flow was $21.1 million, against $16.2 million. Operating cash flow was $27.5 million, against $21.6 million. Source
- Capital expenditures increased: Capital expenditures were $6.4 million, against $5.4 million a year earlier. Source
- Net debt lower than last year: Net debt was $802.7 million at March 31, 2026, against $881.4 million for the same period of 2025. Cash was $88.7 million and debt $891.5 million. Source
- Net repayment on credit line: The company made net repayments of $16.0 million on its line of credit in the quarter. Source
Strategy and AI positioning
- AI delivery as competitive edge: Management said its ability to design, build and operate secure, scalable solutions gives it a competitive advantage that is translating into new contract wins. Source
- Engage profit levers: Engage initiatives are rationalizing certain underperforming clients, infusing AI into business process enhancements, and growing the offshore revenue mix. Source
- Strategies and teams in place: Management said it has the right strategies and teams in place to deliver on full year commitments and to lead in customer experience. Source
Non-GAAP and guidance basis
- Guidance not reconciled to GAAP: Management said the company has not reconciled its non-GAAP guidance to GAAP measures, because reconciling items depend on future events outside its control. Source
- Non-GAAP exclusions described: Non-GAAP measures may exclude restructuring and impairment charges, equity-based compensation, amortization of purchased intangibles and other items. Source
- Restructuring and impairment charges small: Restructuring charges, net were $1.5 million, against $2.0 million, and impairment losses were $0.5 million, against $0.8 million. Source
Coming up, as management said on 7 May 2026
- Engage profit improvements expected: Management anticipates the Engage initiatives will deliver profitability improvements through the rest of the year. Source
- Digital growth expected later in year: Management said it is confident Digital's diversified practices will show meaningful growth through the rest of the year. Source
Risks management discussed
- Operational: Timing shifts across the business affected the quarter, and Digital professional services phased late in the quarter weighed on near-term results. Source
- External: Foreign exchange lowered non-GAAP income from operations by $0.6 million in the quarter, after adding $7.8 million to revenue. Source
Earlier plans management reported on
- Not stated: Management said it is on its way to achieving its full year objectives, citing new client wins and embedded base growth. Source
- Not stated: Management said first-quarter results were slightly below expectations across both segments, mainly due to timing factors. 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.