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Ziff Davis, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 8 May 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue fell 1.9% to $267.6 million: Total revenues from continuing operations were $267.6 million, down 1.9% from $272.8 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Operating income fell to $2.9 million: Operating income was $2.9 million, compared with $14.5 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA down 11.2%: Adjusted EBITDA was $63.4 million, down from $71.4 million, a decline of 11.2%. Source
  • Net loss from continuing operations: Net loss from continuing operations was $(0.8) million, against net income of $9.8 million; diluted EPS was $(0.02) against $0.23. Source
  • Technology & Shopping revenue down 12.9%: Technology & Shopping revenue fell to $71.1 million from $81.7 million; Gaming & Entertainment rose to $40.8 million from $38.0 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow up 45.3%: Operating cash flow across continuing and discontinued operations was $30.0 million, against $20.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Share repurchases of $51.6 million: The company deployed about $51.6 million on share repurchases in the first quarter of 2026. Source

“We remain focused on unlocking value for our shareholders as we look to complete the divestiture of the Connectivity business as well as explore additional value-creating transactions”

Vivek Shah, CEO of Ziff Davis

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Entered a definitive agreement in the first quarter to sell the Connectivity business. Source
  • Ended: Connectivity is no longer reported as a segment, because it is classified as discontinued operations. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue fell 1.9% to $267.6 million: Total revenues from continuing operations were $267.6 million, down 1.9% from $272.8 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Operating income fell to $2.9 million: Operating income was $2.9 million, compared with $14.5 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA down 11.2%: Adjusted EBITDA was $63.4 million, down from $71.4 million, a decline of 11.2%. Source
  • Net loss from continuing operations: Net loss from continuing operations was $(0.8) million, against net income of $9.8 million; diluted EPS was $(0.02) against $0.23. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS $0.73: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.73, compared with $0.77 in the first quarter of 2025. Source

Segments and regions

  • Technology & Shopping revenue down 12.9%: Technology & Shopping revenue fell to $71.1 million from $81.7 million; Gaming & Entertainment rose to $40.8 million from $38.0 million. Source
  • Health & Wellness flat, Cybersecurity up: Health & Wellness revenue was $85.9 million, flat against $85.8 million. Cybersecurity & Martech rose 3.6% to $69.8 million from $67.3 million. Source
  • Segment adjusted EBITDA by business: Segment adjusted EBITDA was $17.0 million for Technology & Shopping, $12.7 million for Gaming & Entertainment, $24.5 million for Health & Wellness and $21.8 million for Cybersecurity & Martech; corporate was $(12.6) million. Source
  • Technology & Shopping operating loss: Technology & Shopping recorded an operating loss of $6.5 million in the quarter, while Gaming & Entertainment, Health & Wellness and Cybersecurity & Martech each reported operating income. Source

“Our first quarter results demonstrate the strength of many of our businesses while we manage through the headwinds challenging other parts of our portfolio.”

Vivek Shah, CEO of Ziff Davis

Costs, margins and tax

  • Operating margin fell to 1.1%: Operating income margin was 1.1%, against 5.3% in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin down to 23.7%: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 23.7%, against 26.2%. Adjusted net income was $27.5 million, against $33.0 million. Source
  • Direct costs and sales spending rose: Direct costs were $44.3 million against $40.4 million, and sales and marketing expense was $115.2 million against $112.4 million. Source
  • Transaction charges rose to $6.6 million: Transaction, integration and other charges were $6.6 million, against a $(0.6) million credit in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • GAAP tax rate (80.5)%: The GAAP effective tax rate was (80.5)% against 53.2%; the adjusted effective tax rate was 23.9% against 23.5%. Source

Discontinued operations and equity investment

  • Continuing results exclude Connectivity: Figures exclude Connectivity except the cash flow statement and free cash flow, which combine continuing and discontinued operations. Source
  • Discontinued operations added $23.0 million: Net income from discontinued operations was $23.0 million, against $14.4 million, and is included in total net income of $22.3 million. Source
  • Equity method income declined: Income from the equity method investment, net of tax, was $5.1 million against $6.6 million, and is excluded from adjusted net income. Source

Cash, balance sheet and returns

  • Operating cash flow up 45.3%: Operating cash flow across continuing and discontinued operations was $30.0 million, against $20.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Free cash flow negative: Free cash flow was $(3.2) million, compared with $(5.0) million a year earlier. Source
  • Cash balance down to $519.7 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $519.7 million at March 31, 2026, from $573.8 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Debt split between current and long-term: The current portion of long-term debt was $148.8 million and long-term debt was $718.3 million at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Share repurchases of $51.6 million: The company deployed about $51.6 million on share repurchases in the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • Diluted share count fell: Diluted weighted average shares were 37.6 million, against 42.8 million a year earlier. Source

Working capital and deferred revenue

  • Receivables and payables movements: Accounts receivable provided $195.3 million of cash and accounts payable used $247.7 million; deferred revenue provided $22.9 million. Source
  • Noncurrent deferred revenue edged down: Noncurrent deferred revenue was $6.1 million, against $6.5 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Held-for-sale assets rose: Current assets held for sale were $435.2 million, against $91.2 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Coming up, as management said on 8 May 2026

  • Connectivity run as usual until closing: Connectivity will continue to be owned and operated in the ordinary course until the transaction closes. No closing date is given. Source
  • Further transactions under review: Management said it intends to explore additional value-creating transactions beyond the Connectivity divestiture. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Capital expenditure (purchases of property and equipment) Source$33.1 million in Q1 2026; $25.6 million in Q1 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited headwinds challenging parts of the portfolio beyond the businesses that grew in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management referred back to an earlier statement about engaging outside advisors. The documents give no status update on that work. 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.