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Yelp Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 May 2026: press release, letter to shareholders. Guidance figures: 4 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net revenue rose 1%: Net revenue was $361 million, up 1% from the first quarter of 2025 and $6 million above the high end of the first-quarter range, led by other revenue and Services advertising. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 7%: Adjusted EBITDA was $79 million, down 7% from $85 million, and $16 million above the high end of the first-quarter range. Source
  • Other revenue up 75%: Other revenue rose 75% to a record $29 million, driven mainly by Hatch, which was acquired in February, plus data licensing and food ordering. Source
  • RR&O advertising fell 11%: RR&O advertising revenue fell 11% to $99 million, driven by fewer ad clicks, partly offset by higher average CPC as advertiser demand outpaced consumer demand. Source
  • Yelp Assistant expanded to all categories: A new Yelp Assistant covers every business category on Yelp. It accounted for about 15% of Request-a-Quote projects in the quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin down two points: Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased two percentage points to 22%, and net income margin fell to 5%. Source
  • Paying advertising locations down 6%: Total paying advertising locations fell 6% to 485 thousand, while average revenue per location rose to a near-record level. Source
  • Buybacks of $125 million: The company repurchased about 5.1 million shares for $125 million at an average $24.58 per share. $414 million remains under the authorization. Source
  • Other revenue target of $250M: The company targets a $250 million annual run rate in other revenue by the end of 2028, from $116 million in the first quarter. Source

“We continued to accelerate Yelp's AI transformation in the first quarter”

Jeremy Stoppelman, Yelp's co-founder and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net revenue SourceSecond quarter 2026$363 million to $368 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA SourceSecond quarter 2026$70 million to $75 millionNew
Net revenue SourceFull year 2026$1.455 billion to $1.475 billionKept
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$310 million to $330 millionKept
Stock-based compensation, % of net revenue SourceSecond quarter 2026 and full year 2026~8% and ~7%
Depreciation and amortization, % of net revenue SourceSecond quarter 2026 and full year 2026~5% and ~4%
Excluded Hatch acquisition and integration payments SourceSecond quarter 2026 and full year 2026approximately $4 million and $13 millionNew
Stock-based compensation, % of revenue SourceEnd of 2027less than 6%Kept
Other revenue annual run rate SourceEnd of 2028$250 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: A new target was set for an annual run rate of $250 million in other revenue by the end of 2028. Source
  • New guidance: Second-quarter net revenue and adjusted EBITDA ranges were given for the first time in this letter. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 net revenue and adjusted EBITDA ranges were reaffirmed without change. Source
  • New: An expanded Yelp Assistant was rolled out that covers every business category on Yelp. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net revenue rose 1%: Net revenue was $361 million, up 1% from the first quarter of 2025 and $6 million above the high end of the first-quarter range, led by other revenue and Services advertising. Source
  • Net income and EPS declined: Net income was $18 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, against $24 million, or $0.36, a year earlier. Net income margin was 5%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 7%: Adjusted EBITDA was $79 million, down 7% from $85 million, and $16 million above the high end of the first-quarter range. Source
  • Other revenue up 75%: Other revenue rose 75% to a record $29 million, driven mainly by Hatch, which was acquired in February, plus data licensing and food ordering. Source

Segments: Services and RR&O

  • Services advertising up 1%: Services advertising revenue rose 1% to $234 million, driven by a slight increase in ad clicks, with average revenue per location up and paying locations down. Source
  • RR&O advertising fell 11%: RR&O advertising revenue fell 11% to $99 million, driven by fewer ad clicks, partly offset by higher average CPC as advertiser demand outpaced consumer demand. Source
  • Services clicks carry higher CPCs: Services ad clicks, which generally have higher CPCs, made up a larger share of total ad clicks than a year earlier. Source

“First quarter net revenue of $361 million and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 22% both exceeded the high end of our outlook”

David Schwarzbach, Yelp's chief financial officer

Products, customers and AI tools

  • Yelp Assistant expanded to all categories: A new Yelp Assistant covers every business category on Yelp. It accounted for about 15% of Request-a-Quote projects in the quarter. Source
  • Yelp Host passed 1.5M calls: Yelp Host, the AI call answering service for restaurants, reached an annual run rate of 1.5 million calls handled in April, more than doubling since January. Source
  • Hatch run rate above $34M: Hatch annual run rate revenue exceeded $34 million in March, up 92% year over year and 27% from November 2025. These growth rates use unaudited pre-acquisition results. Source
  • Data licensing deals with AI firms: New licensing agreements were signed, including with OpenAI, and integrations were expanded with existing partners such as Alexa+. Source
  • Food ordering revenue up 88%: Food ordering revenue grew 88% year over year after the DoorDash partnership added hundreds of thousands of restaurants. Source

Costs, margins and expense lines

  • Total costs rose 2%: Total costs and expenses were $334 million, up 2% from the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Sales and marketing up 5%: Sales and marketing rose 5% to $153 million on higher consumer and business owner marketing and higher sales headcount, including Hatch. Source
  • Product development down 8%: Product development fell 8% to $77 million, mainly from more employee costs being capitalized, partly offset by Hatch headcount. Source
  • Cost of revenue up 10%: Cost of revenue rose 10% to $38 million on higher website infrastructure, including AI products and Hatch, partly offset by lower Yelp Audiences spend. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin down two points: Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased two percentage points to 22%, and net income margin fell to 5%. Source
  • Hatch acquisition costs and tax: Acquisition and integration costs of $4.4 million related to Hatch. Income tax provision rose 12%, driven by discrete tax expense tied to stock-based compensation. Source

“We anticipate that the challenging economic environment for local businesses will persist into the second quarter and continue impacting advertising revenue across categories”

Yelp Inc., letter to shareholders

Demand, advertisers and consumer activity

  • Paying advertising locations down 6%: Total paying advertising locations fell 6% to 485 thousand, while average revenue per location rose to a near-record level. Source
  • Ad clicks down 10%: Ad clicks fell 10%, driven by lower consumer demand in RR&O categories. Source
  • Average CPC up 8%: Average cost per click rose 8%, as RR&O increases offset Services decreases in the mix of clicks. Source
  • Economic pressure expected to continue: Management expects the challenging economic environment for local businesses to persist into the second quarter and affect ad revenue across categories. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow fell: Cash from operations was $58 million, against $98 million a year earlier, and free cash flow was $45 million, against $87 million. Source
  • Net borrowings of $130 million: Cash and equivalents ended at $110 million, with $130 million in net borrowings under the credit facility. Source
  • Buybacks of $125 million: The company repurchased about 5.1 million shares for $125 million at an average $24.58 per share. $414 million remains under the authorization. Source
  • Diluted shares down 12%: Diluted shares outstanding fell 12% year over year as repurchases continued. Source

Strategy and investment

  • AI transformation in three areas: Investment in the AI transformation is organized around three focus areas: reconceiving Yelp around answers and actions, AI tools for businesses, and reach across the AI ecosystem. Source
  • Other revenue target of $250M: The company targets a $250 million annual run rate in other revenue by the end of 2028, from $116 million in the first quarter. Source
  • Margin gains expected over years: Management expects AI-driven efficiencies and revenue growth to support strong growth in adjusted EBITDA margin over the next several years. Source
  • Stock-based compensation falls to 8%: Stock-based compensation fell two points to 8% of revenue, and the company expects it below 6% by the end of 2027. Source

People and headcount

  • Headcount held roughly flat: Headcount was held approximately flat in recent years, while the company invests in 2026 in higher-return areas. Source
  • Resources moved to Hatch: Go-to-market and engineering resources were reallocated to help accelerate Hatch's growth initiatives. Source

Coming up, as management said on 7 May 2026

  • Yelp Host adds phone food ordering: Management plans new Yelp Host functionality, including placing food orders over the phone. Source
  • Hatch voice and lead tools expand: Management plans to expand Hatch voice capabilities and add lead management functions for Services businesses. Source
  • Second-quarter expenses rise: Expenses are expected to increase sequentially as the company invests in the AI transformation and raises marketing spend. Source
  • Buybacks continue in 2026: The company plans to keep repurchasing shares in 2026, subject to market and economic conditions. Source

In management's words

“We are targeting an annual run rate of $250 million in other revenue by the end of 2028”

David Schwarzbach, Yelp's chief financial officer

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management expects economic headwinds for local businesses to persist through the year, affecting advertising revenue. Source
  • Demand: RR&O weakness reflects a challenging environment for local businesses and, to a lesser extent, competition from food ordering and delivery providers. Source
  • Financial: Net borrowings under the credit facility reached $130 million at quarter end, against $110 million of cash. Source
  • Financial: Other income fell with lower interest income and higher interest expense on the new credit facility borrowings. Source
  • Operational: Acquisition and integration costs relate to Hatch and include accrued acquisition- and integration-related compensation. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management continues to expect stock-based compensation below 6% of revenue by the end of 2027. Source
  • Not stated: Management continues to expect full-year 2026 ranges that were set in February. 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.