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BFAM · 10-Q filed May 7, 2026

BFAM earnings analysis

What we found in BFAM's 10-Q: the parts that mattered, the offsets in the same document, and what the company said about what comes next.

Our reading of the filing · Free to read, no account needed

Bright Horizons Family Solutions reported Q1 2026 results with revenue of $712 million, a 7% increase from $665.5 million in Q1 2025, while EPS improved to $0.82 from $0.77. The back-up care segment showed strong growth of 12%, countering lower contributions and challenges in the educational advisory services segment. Management remains cautious of operational headwinds related to labor costs and market conditions but maintains confidence in their business model.

What stood out

The parts that mattered.

Pulled out of the filing itself, with the figures the company reported.

Revenue Growth of 7% YoY
Revenue increased by $46.7 million to $712.2 million from $665.5 million, reflecting a 7% increase year-over-year.
Improved EPS Performance
Diluted EPS increased to $0.82 from $0.77 a year prior, reflecting a 6.5% growth.
Strong Back-Up Care Growth
The back-up care segment revenue rose by 12% year-over-year, contributing significantly to overall growth.
Income from Operations Up 4%
Income from operations increased by $2.7 million to $64.9 million, illustrating operational stability.
Cash Provided by Operating Activities Increased
Net cash provided by operating activities rose to $107.7 million from $86.2 million, indicating stronger cash flow.
Effective Tax Rate Increase
The effective tax rate increased to 36% from 27% due to unbenefited losses in foreign jurisdictions.
What to watch

And the other side of it.

The offsets in the same document — the things a summary that only listed the good news would have left out.

Increased Interest Expense
Net interest expense increased to $12.0 million from $10.4 million, attributed to higher borrowings and interest rates.
Rising Operating Costs
Operational costs increased by 8% to $548.7 million, highlighting pressures from personnel costs and inflation.
Macroeconomic Conditions
Management cited challenges from evolving work demographics and cost management amid uncertain macroeconomic conditions.
The numbers

What they reported.

What the company itself reported, taken out of the document.

What survived to operating profit
Of every $100 of revenue Cost of sales $77 Operating expenses $14 Left as operating profit $9
Percentages of revenue, taken from the filing. Drawn this way because it holds whatever scale the company reports in.
Earnings per share
$0.82
Gross margin
23%
Operating margin
9.1%
Segment
Full service center-based child care
Segment
Back-up care
Segment
Educational advisory services
Guidance

What they said about what is next.

Management reaffirmed 2026 revenue guidance of $3.075 billion to $3.125 billion and EPS guidance of $4.90 to $5.10.

How we read the filing overall

The filing reads about the same as the one before it.

One reading of one document. It is not advice, and it is not a forecast.
Earlier filings

What came before.

10-K · February 26, 2026
Bright Horizons positions itself as a scaled, employer-focused provider of early education, back-up care and educational advisory services, operating 1,010 centers and serving more than 1,450 employer clients. Based on…
10-Q · November 5, 2025
Bright Horizons reported Q3 revenue of $802,812,000, up from $719,099,000 in Q3 2024, with gross profit rising to $217,049,000 and operating income to $120,846,000. Diluted EPS was $1.37 (vs. $0.94 a year ago).…
10-Q · May 7, 2025
Bright Horizons reported Q1 revenue of $665,527,000 (up $42,818,000 or ~6.9% year-over-year) and diluted EPS of $0.66 versus $0.29 in Q1 2024. Gross profit rose to $155,737,000 (gross margin 23.4%) and operating income…
10-K · February 27, 2025
Bright Horizons positions itself as a market leader in employer-sponsored center-based child care, back-up care and educational advisory services with scale-driven advantages and high client retention. The 10-K…

This is our reading of a public filing, not the filing. Read the original on SEC.gov · Educational only. Nothing here is investment advice.

Read the next one first.

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