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Unisys Corp.: 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: 1 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew in reported terms only: Revenue was $437.6 million, up 1.3% YoY and down 4.5% in constant currency. Foreign currency added 6 percentage points, partly offset by the timing of software license renewals. Source
  • Net loss per diluted share rose: Net loss attributable to Unisys was $35.8 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, against $29.5 million, or $0.42 a year earlier. Non-GAAP diluted loss per share was $0.14, against $0.05. Source
  • Gross margin up on delivery work: Gross profit margin was 25.7%, up 80 bps YoY. Ex-L&S gross profit margin was 19.5%, up 170 bps YoY, primarily from delivery improvement and labor cost savings. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin reached 4.5%: Operating profit was $16.2 million, a 3.7% margin, up 250 bps. Non-GAAP operating profit was $19.8 million, a 4.5% margin, up 170 bps. Source
  • New Business TCV up 45%: New Business total contract value was $158 million, up 45% YoY and 16% from the prior quarter. Total TCV was $274 million, up 33% YoY. Source
  • Free cash flow negative on interest timing: Free cash flow was negative $25.5 million, against $13.2 million, due to the timing of cash interest on the 2031 Notes. Cash used for operations was $4.4 million. Source
  • Full-year ranges reaffirmed: Management reaffirmed the full-year 2026 constant currency revenue growth and non-GAAP operating profit margin ranges. Source

“We are off to a good start in 2026, with solid financial performance and double-digit growth in New Business signings in the first quarter,”

Michael Thomson, Unisys CEO and President

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue growth in constant currency Source2026 full year(6.5)% to (4.5)%Kept
Non-GAAP operating profit margin Source2026 full year9.0% to 11.0%Kept
Reported revenue growth Source2026 full year(3.5)% to (1.5)%
Ex-L&S constant currency revenue growth Source2026 full year(7.0)% to (4.5)%Kept
License and Support revenue Source2026 full yearapproximately $415 millionKept
Gross margin benefit from UK joint venture transaction Source2026 full yearapproximately $12 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 revenue and profitability guidance ranges were reaffirmed, with no change from the earlier guidance. Source
  • New: The company released ClearPath Forward products and tools intended to enable enterprise AI on its platforms and external systems. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew in reported terms only: Revenue was $437.6 million, up 1.3% YoY and down 4.5% in constant currency. Foreign currency added 6 percentage points, partly offset by the timing of software license renewals. Source
  • Ex-L&S revenue rose on reported basis: Excluding License and Support, revenue was $372.1 million, up 3.1% YoY and down 2.9% in constant currency. License and Support revenue was $65.5 million, down 7.9% YoY. Source
  • Net loss per diluted share rose: Net loss attributable to Unisys was $35.8 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, against $29.5 million, or $0.42 a year earlier. Non-GAAP diluted loss per share was $0.14, against $0.05. Source

Segment results

  • DWS revenue flat, margin lower: DWS revenue was $118.2 million, down 0.3% YoY and 6.5% in constant currency. Gross profit margin was 13.5%, down 70 bps YoY. Source
  • CA&I margin rose on delivery savings: CA&I revenue was $182.0 million, up 3.1% YoY and down 2.4% in constant currency. Gross profit margin rose 230 bps to 21.8%. Source
  • ECS revenue and margin declined: ECS revenue was $115.2 million, down 2.9% YoY and 8.4% in constant currency. Gross profit margin was 46.9%, down 80 bps YoY. Source
  • Other column revenue increased: The Other column of segment revenue was $22.2 million, against $18.2 million a year earlier. Source

“We are pleased to reaffirm our full-year financial guidance ranges for both revenue and profitability.”

Deb McCann, Unisys Chief Financial Officer

Margins, costs and interest

  • Gross margin up on delivery work: Gross profit margin was 25.7%, up 80 bps YoY. Ex-L&S gross profit margin was 19.5%, up 170 bps YoY, primarily from delivery improvement and labor cost savings. Source
  • UK joint venture added gross margin: A transaction in the UK business process outsourcing joint venture added about $3 million of gross margin, or 50 bps to gross margin and 70 bps to Ex-L&S margin. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin reached 4.5%: Operating profit was $16.2 million, a 3.7% margin, up 250 bps. Non-GAAP operating profit was $19.8 million, a 4.5% margin, up 170 bps. Source
  • Operating expense lines came down: Selling, general and administrative expense was $91.5 million, against $96.8 million. Research and development was $4.8 million, against $5.6 million; cost reduction and other expenses were $3.3 million pretax. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose: Adjusted EBITDA was $46.2 million, or 10.6% of revenue, against $40.2 million and 9.3% a year earlier. Source
  • Interest expense more than doubled: Interest expense was $18.5 million, against $8.2 million. Pension and postretirement expense was $30.5 million, against $21.9 million, and is excluded from non-GAAP measures. Source

Demand and order book

  • New Business TCV up 45%: New Business total contract value was $158 million, up 45% YoY and 16% from the prior quarter. Total TCV was $274 million, up 33% YoY. Source
  • Renewal TCV mixed by type: Ex-L&S renewal TCV was $74 million, down 3% YoY; L&S renewal TCV was $42 million, up 100%. Total TCV fell 76% from the prior quarter. Source
  • Backlog up year over year: Backlog was $2.96 billion at the first quarter of 2026, against $2.89 billion at the first quarter of 2025. Source

“Consistent progress on delivery and operational efficiency initiatives improved our first quarter margins and keeps us on track to meet our free cash flow expectations.”

Deb McCann, Unisys Chief Financial Officer

Cash, debt and pension

  • Free cash flow negative on interest timing: Free cash flow was negative $25.5 million, against $13.2 million, due to the timing of cash interest on the 2031 Notes. Cash used for operations was $4.4 million. Source
  • Pension contributions rose: Pension and postretirement contributions were $28.4 million, against $9.4 million. Pre-pension and postretirement free cash flow was $2.9 million, against $22.6 million. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow declined: Adjusted free cash flow was $13.9 million, against $28.3 million, after cost reduction and other payments of $9.8 million. Source
  • Cash balance lower at quarter end: Cash and cash equivalents were $380.2 million at March 31, 2026, against $413.9 million at December 31, 2025, a decrease of $33.7 million. Source
  • Debt and pension liabilities on balance sheet: Long-term debt was $724.0 million and long-term pension and postretirement liabilities were $493.3 million at March 31, 2026. Total Unisys stockholders' deficit was $300.0 million. Source
  • Software and property investment: Investment in marketable software was $10.4 million and capital additions of properties and other assets were $10.7 million. Source

Guidance and AI strategy

  • Full-year ranges reaffirmed: Management reaffirmed the full-year 2026 constant currency revenue growth and non-GAAP operating profit margin ranges. Source
  • Free cash flow expectations on track: Management said delivery and efficiency progress keeps the company on track to meet its free cash flow expectations. The release gives no free cash flow figure for 2026. Source
  • AI use cases moved into production: Management said it has moved AI use cases into production with measurable results, which it said makes Unisys more relevant to clients and alliance partners. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Lower volume from client attrition reduced DWS revenue and gross profit margin in the quarter. Source
  • Demand: Timing of software license renewals reduced ECS revenue and gross profit margin in the quarter. Source
  • External: Revenue is affected by changes in the U.S. dollar against major international currencies; constant currency figures remove that effect. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said it is on track to meet its free cash flow expectations. Source
  • Not stated: Management said the company reaffirmed its 2026 guidance ranges for constant currency revenue growth and non-GAAP operating profit margin. 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.