Company Reports Q1 Revenue of $548.5M, Below Expectations
Reports Q1 revenue $548.5M, consensus $551.01M. "We are pleased to report strong and improving first quarter performance against important financial and metric measurements, building on a strong fourth quarter from last year. Same store revenue trends improved to a decline of 1.8%, a meaningful step up from the decline of 3.9% in the fourth quarter of last year. Importantly, this revenue trend improvement was driven by same store digital revenue growth in the quarter of 5.2%. Also, Total Digital revenues as a percentage of Total revenues climbed to 48%, nearing the critical 50% mark. In the first quarter, we delivered net income of $19.9 million, which was an increase of $27.2 million from the prior year period. Furthermore, first lien net leverage decreased to 2.3x at the end of the first quarter."
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Analyst Views on TDAY
About TDAY
About the author

- Conference Schedule: USA TODAY Co. will present virtually at the 21st Annual Needham Technology, Media, & Consumer Conference on May 14, 2026, at 8:45 am ET, featuring Chairman and CEO Michael Reed and CFO Trisha Gosser, who will discuss the company's strategy and future direction.
- Webcast Details: The video webcast of the conference will be accessible through the Investor Relations section of the company's website and will remain archived for 90 days post-presentation, ensuring that investors and the public can access relevant information, thereby enhancing transparency and communication efficiency.
- Company Overview: USA TODAY Co. is a diversified media company dedicated to providing essential journalism and digital experiences through its national publication, USA TODAY, and its wholly-owned subsidiary Newsquest in the UK, aiming to inspire, inform, and connect audiences.
- Digital Marketing Solutions: The company's LocaliQ brand focuses on providing innovative digital marketing products and solutions to support small and medium-sized businesses, reinforcing USA TODAY Co.'s market position in the media and digital marketing sectors.
- Digital Revenue Growth: USA TODAY reported a 5% year-over-year increase in digital revenues for Q1 2026, reaching $261.9 million, which accounted for 48% of total revenues, marking an all-time high and demonstrating the company's successful digital transformation and enhanced market competitiveness.
- Profitability Improvement: Adjusted EBITDA rose by 44.7% to $73.1 million, with margins increasing from 8.8% in the prior year to 13.3%, indicating significant progress in cost control and profitability enhancement.
- Strong Cash Flow Position: The company generated positive free cash flow of $6.4 million in the quarter, with a cash balance of $85.2 million and net debt of $903.1 million, reflecting improved financial health and supporting future investment opportunities.
- Optimistic Outlook: Management reaffirmed the full-year 2026 business outlook, expecting to sustain revenue growth momentum in Q2, although EBITDA growth is anticipated to moderate, reflecting a cautiously optimistic stance on market dynamics.
- Earnings Beat: USA TODAY reported a Q1 GAAP EPS of $0.12, exceeding expectations by $0.22, indicating strong profitability despite overall revenue decline.
- Slight Revenue Decline: Total revenue for Q1 was $545.5 million, down 4.6% year-over-year, missing expectations, reflecting challenges from increased market competition and reduced advertising spending.
- Digital Revenue Growth: Digital revenues reached $261.9 million, accounting for 47.8% of total revenues and up 5.2% year-over-year, demonstrating positive progress in the company's digital transformation, with projections for digital revenue to exceed 50% by 2026.
- Significant Net Income Increase: Net income attributable to USA TODAY Co. was $19.9 million, an increase of $27.2 million year-over-year, with a margin of 3.6%, showcasing improvements in cost control and operational efficiency.
- Earnings Announcement Date: Gannett (TDAY) is set to release its Q1 2023 earnings report on April 30 before market open, with consensus EPS estimate at -$0.10 and revenue estimate at $551.01 million, reflecting a 3.6% year-over-year decline.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past year, Gannett has only beaten EPS estimates 25% of the time and has failed to exceed revenue estimates, indicating challenges in profitability and revenue growth.
- Digital Revenue Outlook: Gannett anticipates that digital revenue will exceed 50% by 2026, highlighting its proactive transformation to adapt to digital trends and its efforts to expand AI licensing partnerships.
- Market Reaction Expectations: Given the company's historical performance and current estimates, market reactions to Gannett's earnings report may lean cautious, with investors needing to monitor how the company addresses its revenue decline challenges.
- Food and Football Fusion: USA TODAY Network announces the inaugural USA TODAY Great American Tailgate event from August 5-9 in Canton, Ohio, designed to enhance fan engagement and community connection through iconic foods from all 32 NFL teams.
- Unique Experience: As part of Sugardale Fan Fest, the event offers a distinctive ticketing experience where fans can enjoy 6, 16, or 32 tasting samples, catering to diverse preferences while interacting with Hall of Famers, thereby increasing the event's appeal.
- Marketing Opportunities: The event provides sponsorship opportunities for businesses targeting engaged sports audiences, expected to boost brand visibility and drive sales growth, further solidifying USA TODAY Network's market position in sports events.
- Celebration of History and Culture: The partnership between USA TODAY Network and the Hall of Fame is not just a culinary event but a tribute to football culture and history, aiming to connect fans across generations through food and enhance community cohesion.
- AI Voice Agent Launch: LocaliQ ANZ has introduced its next-generation AI Voice Agent, enhancing the capabilities of the Dash platform to enable businesses to interact seamlessly with customers 24/7, thereby improving customer conversion rates and satisfaction.
- Real-Time Response Capability: The new system ensures that every call is answered, addressing the issue of approximately one in four inbound calls going unanswered, which helps small and medium businesses capture high-intent customers and enhance sales opportunities.
- Smart Scheduling Feature: The integrated AI Scheduler in Dash allows customers to book appointments instantly during calls, eliminating the back-and-forth typical of traditional scheduling, ensuring real-time bookings and reducing customer drop-off.
- Comprehensive Customer Journey Optimization: By embedding AI technology across every stage of the customer journey, Dash enables businesses to respond faster to customer needs, ultimately achieving higher revenue conversion rates and driving business growth.







