IAC (People Inc.) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Summary

1Key Financial Results and Metrics

Digital Revenue Growth: Increased by 6%, marking the 11th consecutive quarter of growth.

Digital Adjusted EBITDA: Grew by 18%, with margins expanding to 26% from 23% year-over-year.

Total People Segment EBITDA: Increased by 5%.

Free Cash Flow: Generated $179 million over the last 12 months, with expectations to reduce net leverage ratio to below 3x by year-end.

Print Revenue: Declined by 18%, but expected to offset overhead costs for the year.

2Strategic Updates and Business Highlights

Leadership Transition: Christopher Halpin is stepping down as COO and CFO, passing the leadership to Neil Vogel (CEO) and Tim Quinn (CFO).

Asset Sales: Signed an agreement to sell a limited partner stake in a third-party fund for approximately $189 million, expected to close in Q3.

Focus on Core Assets: Emphasis on People Inc. and MGM, with plans to simplify the portfolio and monetize non-core assets.

Digital Initiatives: Continued investment in AI, licensing, events, and subscription models, including new offerings like Southern Living Insiders and a PEOPLE premium subscription bundle.

Advertising Strategy: Strong performance in non-session-based revenue streams, with a focus on high-quality content driving ad rates.

3Forward Guidance and Outlook

Full-Year Guidance: Reaffirmed EBITDA expectations for People Inc. at $325 million to $355 million, with slight adjustments due to updated definitions of adjusted EBITDA.

Growth Projections: Anticipate mid- to high single-digit digital revenue growth for the full year, with a continued focus on non-session-based revenue initiatives.

4Bad News, Challenges, or Points of Concern

Declining Session Revenue: Core session-based revenue saw a nearly flat performance, with a 1% decline in sessions despite a significant drop in core sessions (22%).

Print Advertising Decline: The ongoing secular decline in print advertising continues to impact revenue.

Google Litigation: Anticipated resolution in 2027 regarding anticompetitive practices, with potential implications for revenue and market dynamics.

Market Conditions: Some advertisers are pulling back, particularly in sectors sensitive to inflation and geopolitical issues, which could affect overall ad market performance.

5Notable Q&A Insights

Licensing Opportunities: Neil Vogel discussed the potential for growth in AI licensing and content partnerships, highlighting the value of high-quality content.

Session Durability: The management emphasized the strength of their brands in maintaining audience engagement and revenue despite session declines.

MGM Investment: Barry Diller expressed confidence in MGM's management and future performance, indicating a willingness to increase ownership.

Corporate Expenses: Expected to decrease significantly as the consolidation process continues, with a target run rate of $45 million by Q1 2027.

Content Strategy: Discussion on the integration of print and digital content, with a focus on leveraging print subscribers as valuable assets in the transition to digital. This summary captures the essential financial metrics, strategic initiatives, outlook, challenges, and insights from the Q2 2026 earnings call for IAC (People Inc.).