DFIN Reports Q1 Revenue of $205.5M, Beating Expectations
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 05 2026
0mins
Reports Q1 revenue $205.5M, consensus $204.8M. "We are pleased with the continued momentum in our performance during the first quarter, including consolidated net sales growth, an increase in Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA margin expansion compared to the first quarter of 2025. Software solutions net sales increased 8.4% versus the first quarter of 2025, driven by the performance of ActiveDisclosure, a component of our compliance platform, which grew approximately 21%. Software solutions net sales accounted for 44.6% of total first-quarter net sales, up approximately 250 basis points from last year's first-quarter sales mix, despite a moderate increase in print and distribution net sales as a result of a large special proxy project. Our first-quarter results once again demonstrated the durability of our operating model across various market conditions," said Daniel Leib, DFIN's President and Chief Executive Officer.
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Analyst Views on DFIN
Wall Street analysts forecast DFIN stock price to rise
2 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 38.680
Low
57.00
Averages
61.50
High
66.00
Current: 38.680
Low
57.00
Averages
61.50
High
66.00
About DFIN
Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc. is a provider of software and technology-enabled financial regulatory and compliance solutions. The Company provides regulatory filing and deal solutions through its software, technology-enabled services and print and distribution solutions. Its segments include Capital Markets-Software Solutions (CM-SS), Capital Markets-Compliance and Communications Management (CM-CCM), Investment Companies-Software Solutions (IC-SS), and Investment Companies-Compliance and Communications Management (IC-CCM). CM-SS segment provides software solutions to public and private companies. CM-CCM segment provides technology-enabled services and print and distribution solutions to public and private companies. IC-SS segment provides software solutions that enable clients to store and manage compliance and regulatory information. IC-CCM segment provides clients with tech-enabled solutions for creating, filing and distributing regulatory communications.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Financial Sector Faces Challenges and Opportunities
- Industry Underperformance: The financial sector has only gained 2.9% over the past six months, significantly trailing the S&P 500's 10.8% rise, indicating a lack of investor confidence amid an unpredictable interest rate and inflation environment, which has negatively impacted overall industry performance.
- Donnelley Financial Solutions Struggles: Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN) has experienced a 3.4% annual sales decline over the past five years, with earnings per share growing only 8.4% annually, failing to effectively meet market demands, resulting in a market cap of $987.3 million that reflects its competitive disadvantages.
- S&P Global's Strong Growth: S&P Global (SPGI) achieved a 10.7% annual revenue growth over the last two years, surpassing the sector average, and has driven a 17% increase in earnings per share through share repurchases, demonstrating the market value of its products and services, with a market cap of $123 billion.
- LendingClub Gains Market Share: LendingClub (LC) has recorded a 28.7% annual revenue growth over the past five years, with a remarkable 109% annual growth in earnings per share, indicating significant market share acquisition, currently valued at $1.82 billion with a share price of $15.76.
See More
Donnelley Financial Solutions Q1 Performance Analysis
- Performance Reaction: Donnelley Financial Solutions reported Q1 revenue of $205.5 million, slightly above analyst expectations of $204.8 million, reflecting a 2.2% year-on-year growth; however, the sharp negative market reaction indicates investor concerns about the company's performance amid industry changes.
- Software Solutions Growth: Management highlighted ongoing growth in software solutions, particularly from the ActiveDisclosure platform, yet adjusted EBITDA of $55.12 million fell short of the $69 million forecast, indicating pressure on profitability despite revenue gains.
- Market Environment Challenges: CEO Daniel N. Leib acknowledged that geopolitical uncertainty and a volatile market environment negatively impacted transactional activity, leading to a Q2 revenue guidance midpoint of $220 million, below analyst estimates of $227.6 million.
- Future Outlook: The company will focus on the pace of software adoption and recurring revenue growth, especially from ActiveDisclosure and Venue, while monitoring signs of recovery in capital markets-driven transactional activity to navigate current market challenges.
See More
SEC Proposes Shift to Semiannual Financial Reporting for U.S. Companies
- Regulatory Burden Reduction: The SEC's proposal to allow U.S.-listed companies to shift from quarterly to semiannual financial reporting aims to reduce regulatory burdens and provide firms with greater flexibility, enabling them to better meet their own and investors' needs.
- Cost and Complexity Decrease: Donnelley Financial (DFIN) noted that this move could lower the costs and complexities associated with being a public company while maintaining transparency and investor confidence, indicating that regulatory adjustments could attract more companies to go public.
- Support for IPO Market: The proposal is expected to support the IPO market and broader capital formation, with Donnelley Financial highlighting that ongoing expenses and complexities of being public are increasingly under scrutiny alongside the costs of going public.
- Reporting Flexibility: Under the proposal, companies could replace three quarterly reports (Form 10-Q) with a single semiannual report (Form 10-S) due within 40 to 45 days, although many companies may still voluntarily provide quarterly updates to meet investor expectations.
See More
DFIN Supports SEC Proposal for Semiannual Reporting
- Regulatory Proposal Impact: DFIN views the SEC's proposal allowing public companies to opt for semiannual reporting instead of quarterly as a significant step in reducing issuer burdens, which could enhance investor confidence and promote healthy capital market activity.
- Reporting Flexibility: The proposal enables eligible companies to choose their reporting frequency based on business and investor needs, and DFIN believes this flexibility could improve the attractiveness of the IPO market and support broader capital formation.
- ActiveDisclosure Platform Advantage: DFIN's ActiveDisclosure platform provides clients with a comprehensive auditable repository that supports both quarterly and semiannual reporting, ensuring companies can efficiently manage complex disclosure requirements under either reporting model.
- Future Outlook: DFIN will closely monitor the SEC's rulemaking process and assist clients in evaluating the operational, governance, and disclosure implications of any final rule, ensuring transparency and investor confidence as the market evolves.
See More
DFIN Supports SEC's Proposal for Semiannual Reporting
- Regulatory Proposal Impact: DFIN supports the SEC's proposal allowing public companies to opt for semiannual reporting, believing this will reduce costs and complexity for public companies while maintaining transparency and investor confidence, thus fostering healthy capital markets.
- Reporting Flexibility: The new proposal allows eligible companies to choose their reporting frequency based on their needs and those of investors, which DFIN believes will enhance the attractiveness of the IPO market and support capital formation.
- ActiveDisclosure Platform Advantage: DFIN's ActiveDisclosure platform supports clients' compliance needs under either quarterly or semiannual reporting models, offering flexible SaaS subscription services that ensure high-quality financial disclosures and audit traceability.
- Future Outlook: DFIN will closely monitor the SEC's rulemaking process and assist clients in evaluating the operational, governance, and disclosure implications of any final rule, ensuring competitiveness and transparency amid market changes.
See More
Donnelley Financial Solutions Q1 2026 Earnings Call Insights
- Sales Growth Momentum: Donnelley Financial Solutions achieved net sales of $205.5 million in Q1 2026, reflecting year-over-year growth and indicating a positive shift towards software solutions, with expectations to reach 60% of total sales by 2028.
- Software Solutions Performance: ActiveDisclosure posted approximately 21% sales growth in Q1, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, demonstrating strong demand and competitive positioning in the software market.
- Capital Markets Software Growth: Venue software delivered approximately 7% year-over-year sales growth in Q1, driven by robust demand for data rooms, indicating solid performance in the capital markets software sector.
- Cautious Future Outlook: The company expects Q2 net sales in the range of $215 million to $225 million and adjusted EBITDA margins between 34% and 36%, reflecting a cautious approach due to market volatility and ongoing declines in print and distribution revenue.
See More
Financial Sector Faces Challenges and Opportunities
- Industry Underperformance: The financial sector has only gained 2.9% over the past six months, significantly trailing the S&P 500's 10.8% rise, indicating a lack of investor confidence amid an unpredictable interest rate and inflation environment, which has negatively impacted overall industry performance.
- Donnelley Financial Solutions Struggles: Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN) has experienced a 3.4% annual sales decline over the past five years, with earnings per share growing only 8.4% annually, failing to effectively meet market demands, resulting in a market cap of $987.3 million that reflects its competitive disadvantages.
- S&P Global's Strong Growth: S&P Global (SPGI) achieved a 10.7% annual revenue growth over the last two years, surpassing the sector average, and has driven a 17% increase in earnings per share through share repurchases, demonstrating the market value of its products and services, with a market cap of $123 billion.
- LendingClub Gains Market Share: LendingClub (LC) has recorded a 28.7% annual revenue growth over the past five years, with a remarkable 109% annual growth in earnings per share, indicating significant market share acquisition, currently valued at $1.82 billion with a share price of $15.76.
See More
Donnelley Financial Solutions Q1 Performance Analysis
- Performance Reaction: Donnelley Financial Solutions reported Q1 revenue of $205.5 million, slightly above analyst expectations of $204.8 million, reflecting a 2.2% year-on-year growth; however, the sharp negative market reaction indicates investor concerns about the company's performance amid industry changes.
- Software Solutions Growth: Management highlighted ongoing growth in software solutions, particularly from the ActiveDisclosure platform, yet adjusted EBITDA of $55.12 million fell short of the $69 million forecast, indicating pressure on profitability despite revenue gains.
- Market Environment Challenges: CEO Daniel N. Leib acknowledged that geopolitical uncertainty and a volatile market environment negatively impacted transactional activity, leading to a Q2 revenue guidance midpoint of $220 million, below analyst estimates of $227.6 million.
- Future Outlook: The company will focus on the pace of software adoption and recurring revenue growth, especially from ActiveDisclosure and Venue, while monitoring signs of recovery in capital markets-driven transactional activity to navigate current market challenges.
See More
SEC Proposes Shift to Semiannual Financial Reporting for U.S. Companies
- Regulatory Burden Reduction: The SEC's proposal to allow U.S.-listed companies to shift from quarterly to semiannual financial reporting aims to reduce regulatory burdens and provide firms with greater flexibility, enabling them to better meet their own and investors' needs.
- Cost and Complexity Decrease: Donnelley Financial (DFIN) noted that this move could lower the costs and complexities associated with being a public company while maintaining transparency and investor confidence, indicating that regulatory adjustments could attract more companies to go public.
- Support for IPO Market: The proposal is expected to support the IPO market and broader capital formation, with Donnelley Financial highlighting that ongoing expenses and complexities of being public are increasingly under scrutiny alongside the costs of going public.
- Reporting Flexibility: Under the proposal, companies could replace three quarterly reports (Form 10-Q) with a single semiannual report (Form 10-S) due within 40 to 45 days, although many companies may still voluntarily provide quarterly updates to meet investor expectations.
See More
DFIN Supports SEC Proposal for Semiannual Reporting
- Regulatory Proposal Impact: DFIN views the SEC's proposal allowing public companies to opt for semiannual reporting instead of quarterly as a significant step in reducing issuer burdens, which could enhance investor confidence and promote healthy capital market activity.
- Reporting Flexibility: The proposal enables eligible companies to choose their reporting frequency based on business and investor needs, and DFIN believes this flexibility could improve the attractiveness of the IPO market and support broader capital formation.
- ActiveDisclosure Platform Advantage: DFIN's ActiveDisclosure platform provides clients with a comprehensive auditable repository that supports both quarterly and semiannual reporting, ensuring companies can efficiently manage complex disclosure requirements under either reporting model.
- Future Outlook: DFIN will closely monitor the SEC's rulemaking process and assist clients in evaluating the operational, governance, and disclosure implications of any final rule, ensuring transparency and investor confidence as the market evolves.
See More
DFIN Supports SEC's Proposal for Semiannual Reporting
- Regulatory Proposal Impact: DFIN supports the SEC's proposal allowing public companies to opt for semiannual reporting, believing this will reduce costs and complexity for public companies while maintaining transparency and investor confidence, thus fostering healthy capital markets.
- Reporting Flexibility: The new proposal allows eligible companies to choose their reporting frequency based on their needs and those of investors, which DFIN believes will enhance the attractiveness of the IPO market and support capital formation.
- ActiveDisclosure Platform Advantage: DFIN's ActiveDisclosure platform supports clients' compliance needs under either quarterly or semiannual reporting models, offering flexible SaaS subscription services that ensure high-quality financial disclosures and audit traceability.
- Future Outlook: DFIN will closely monitor the SEC's rulemaking process and assist clients in evaluating the operational, governance, and disclosure implications of any final rule, ensuring competitiveness and transparency amid market changes.
See More
Donnelley Financial Solutions Q1 2026 Earnings Call Insights
- Sales Growth Momentum: Donnelley Financial Solutions achieved net sales of $205.5 million in Q1 2026, reflecting year-over-year growth and indicating a positive shift towards software solutions, with expectations to reach 60% of total sales by 2028.
- Software Solutions Performance: ActiveDisclosure posted approximately 21% sales growth in Q1, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, demonstrating strong demand and competitive positioning in the software market.
- Capital Markets Software Growth: Venue software delivered approximately 7% year-over-year sales growth in Q1, driven by robust demand for data rooms, indicating solid performance in the capital markets software sector.
- Cautious Future Outlook: The company expects Q2 net sales in the range of $215 million to $225 million and adjusted EBITDA margins between 34% and 36%, reflecting a cautious approach due to market volatility and ongoing declines in print and distribution revenue.
See More
