Earnings analysis · 10-Q
MKTW earnings analysis
Filed May 7, 2026 · Our reading of the company's report
The latest report
MarketWise reported a decline in total net revenue to $77 million for Q1 2026, down 7.8% from $83.5 million in Q1 2025. The significant drop in revenue was attributed to reduced term subscription revenue following the…
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MarketWise reported a decline in total net revenue to $77 million for Q1 2026, down 7.8% from $83.5 million in Q1 2025. The significant drop in revenue was attributed to reduced term subscription revenue following the shutdown of its Legacy Research business, alongside an increase in sales and marketing expenses. The company experienced a negative operating cash flow of $2.1 million and recorded a net loss of $0.6 million, compared to a profit of $16.8 million in the same quarter last year.
Reported figures
- Earnings per share
- $-0.57
What stood out
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Revenue Decline
Total net revenue decreased to $77.0 million, down 7.8% from $83.5 million year-over-year.
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Increased Billings
Total billings rose to $81.4 million, up 15.5% compared to $70.5 million in Q1 2025.
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High ARPU Growth
Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) increased by 76.2% to $738 from $419 year-over-year.
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Cost Management
Cost of revenue decreased by 6.6% to $11.1 million, offsetting some SG&A increases.
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Subscriber Base Challenges
Paid Subscribers decreased to 381,000, a 19.4% decline year-over-year, largely due to Legacy Research impacts.
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Cash Position
Cash and cash equivalents were $52.7 million with no debt outstanding as of March 31, 2026.
What to watch
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Subscriber Churn
The number of Paid Subscribers dropped by 92,000 from last year, primarily due to churn related to the Legacy Research business.
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Operating Cash Flow Loss
Operating cash flow was $(2.1) million, a decline of $3.8 million compared to Q1 2025.
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Increased Marketing Expenses
Sales and marketing costs increased significantly by 16.5% to $39.7 million, impacting profitability.
Management's outlook
The outlook for the remainder of the year remains cautious, focusing on subscriber retention and new marketing effectiveness.
This is our reading of a public filing, not the filing itself. Analysis can contain errors; check the source document for full context.