Press Release: NerdWallet Reports Second Quarter Results

Dow Jones08-07

Revenue of $197.3 million, up 6% Year-Over-Year

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   --  Revenue of $197.3 million 
 
   --  GAAP income from operations of $7.0 million 
 
   --  GAAP net income of $4.3 million, or $0.07 income per diluted share 
 
   --  Non-GAAP operating income of $12.2 million 
 
   --  Adjusted EBITDA of $23.1 million 
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--August 06, 2026-- 

NerdWallet, Inc. (Nasdaq: NRDS), which provides trustworthy financial guidance to consumers and small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), today reported financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2026.

"We're reaching an inflection point in our business," said Tim Chen, Co-Founder and CEO of NerdWallet. "The success of our vertical integration strategy now gives us the conviction to make incremental investments underwritten on a multi-year payback, with compelling returns. We expect to grow this incremental investment fivefold in 2026 versus 2025 as we deepen our owned audiences and build durable, direct relationships with our customers."

SECOND QUARTER 2026 HIGHLIGHTS

As previously announced, effective with the first quarter of 2026, we present revenue disaggregated by our user groups: Consumer and SMB. This presentation is consistent with recent changes in how management evaluates our financial and business performance, including the information currently reviewed by our chief operating decision maker. Consumer revenue includes revenue from financial products and services intended for individual consumers, including insurance, credit cards, loans, bank accounts and other products and services. Consumer revenue includes our previously reported Insurance, Credit cards, Loans and Emerging verticals product categories. SMB revenue includes revenue from financial products and services intended for SMBs, including loans, credit cards and other products and services. Prior period disaggregation of revenue has been recast to conform to this new presentation.

   --  Consumer revenue of $175.2 million increased 8% year-over-year, 
      primarily driven by increases of $12.3 million from personal loans as we 
      expanded our marketplace offerings to serve a broader range of borrowers, 
      and $9.6 million from deposit accounts as partners expanded budgets, 
      partially offset by an $8.6 million decrease from consumer credit cards 
      primarily due to continued pressures in organic search traffic that have 
      persisted for multiple quarters. 
 
   --  SMB revenue of $22.1 million was down 11% year-over-year, primarily due 
      to continued pressures in organic search traffic, partially offset by an 
      increase in business loan originations. 

SUMMARY FINANCIAL RESULTS

 
                                            Quarter 
                 Quarter Ended               Ended 
                 --------------            --------- 
                  Jun     Jun       %                    % 
                  30,     30,     Change    Mar 31,    Change 
-------------- 
(in millions, 
except per 
share 
amounts)          2026    2025     YoY       2026       QoQ 
--------------   ------  ------  --------  ---------  -------- 
Revenue          $197.3  $186.9     6%      $  222.2   (11%) 
Consumer(1)       175.2   161.9     8%         197.6   (11%) 
SMB(2)             22.1    25.0   (11%)         24.6   (10%) 
 
Income from 
 operations      $  7.0  $ 10.7   (35%)     $   27.2   (75%) 
Net income       $  4.3  $  8.2   (48%)     $   20.4   (79%) 
 
Net income per 
share 
Basic            $ 0.07  $ 0.11   (36%)     $   0.30   (77%) 
Diluted          $ 0.07  $ 0.11   (36%)     $   0.29   (76%) 
 
Non-GAAP 
financial 
measures(3) 
Non-GAAP 
 operating 
 income          $ 12.2  $ 20.7   (41%)     $   33.7   (64%) 
Adjusted EBITDA  $ 23.1  $ 33.6   (31%)     $   45.2   (49%) 
 
Cash and cash 
 equivalents     $ 62.0  $105.3   (41%)     $   56.3    10% 
 
 
________________ 
(1)    Consumer revenue consists of revenue from financial products and 
       services intended for individual consumers, including insurance, credit 
       cards, loans, bank accounts and other products and services. 
(2)    SMB revenue includes revenue from loans, credit cards and other 
       financial products and services intended for small and mid-sized 
       businesses. 
(3)    Non-GAAP operating income and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial 
       measures. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for more information, 
       including reconciliations to the most directly comparable financial 
       measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. 
 

QUARTERLY CONFERENCE CALL

A conference call to discuss NerdWallet's second quarter 2026 financial results will be webcast live today, August 6, 2026 at 1:30 PM Pacific Time (PT). The live webcast is open to the public and will be available on NerdWallet's investor relations website at https://investors.nerdwallet.com. Following completion of the call, a recorded replay of the webcast will be available on NerdWallet's investor relations website.

SHAREHOLDER LETTER

A shareholder letter providing additional information and analysis can be found at NerdWallet's investor relations website at https://investors.nerdwallet.com.

ABOUT NERDWALLET

NerdWallet (Nasdaq: NRDS) is on a mission to provide clarity for all of life's financial decisions. As a personal finance website and app, NerdWallet provides consumers with trustworthy and knowledgeable financial information so they can make smart money moves. From finding the best credit card to buying a house, NerdWallet is there to help consumers make financial decisions with confidence. Consumers have free access to our expert content and comparison shopping marketplaces, plus a data-driven app, which helps them stay on top of their finances and save time and money, giving them the freedom to do more. NerdWallet is available in the U.S. and Canada.

"NerdWallet" is a trademark of NerdWallet, Inc. All rights reserved. Other names and trademarks used herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 
Unaudited 
 
                    Three Months Ended               Six Months Ended 
                          June 30,                       June 30, 
-----------------   -------------------  ----        ----------------  ---- 
(in millions, 
except per share 
amounts)               2026      2025     % Change    2026     2025     % Change 
-----------------   ----------  -------  ----------  -------  -------  ---------- 
Revenue             $197.3      $186.9      6%       $419.5   $396.1      6% 
Costs and 
Expenses: 
Cost of revenue       13.4        16.6    (19%)        27.0     34.8    (22%) 
Research and 
 development          17.5        17.9     (2%)        34.3     34.7     (1%) 
Sales and 
 marketing           145.4       128.0     14%        294.5    287.7      2% 
General and 
 administrative       14.0        13.7      1%         29.5     27.5      7% 
                     -----       -----   ----   ---   -----    -----   ---- --- 
      Total costs 
       and 
       expenses      190.3       176.2      8%        385.3    384.7      0% 
                     -----       -----   ----   ---   -----    -----   ---- --- 
Income from 
 Operations            7.0        10.7    (35%)        34.2     11.4    200% 
                     -----       -----   ----         -----    -----   ---- --- 
Other income, 
net: 
   Interest income     0.4         0.8    (45%)         1.3      1.5    (11%) 
   Interest 
    expense           (0.1)       (0.2)    (3%)        (0.3)    (0.3)     2% 
   Other gains, 
    net                 --         0.2    (71%)         0.1      0.2    (44%) 
                     -----       -----   ----         -----    -----   ---- 
      Total other 
       income, 
       net             0.3         0.8    (59%)         1.1      1.4    (20%) 
                     -----       -----   ----         -----    -----   ---- 
Income before 
 income taxes          7.3        11.5    (37%)        35.3     12.8    176% 
Income tax 
 provision             3.0         3.3    (10%)        10.6      4.4    140% 
                     -----       -----   ----         -----    -----   ---- --- 
Net Income          $  4.3      $  8.2    (48%)      $ 24.7   $  8.4    195% 
                     -----       -----   ----         -----    -----   ---- --- 
 
Net Income per 
Share 
Attributable to 
Common 
Stockholders 
Basic               $ 0.07      $ 0.11    (36%)      $ 0.37   $ 0.11    236% 
Diluted             $ 0.07      $ 0.11    (36%)      $ 0.37   $ 0.11    236% 
 
Weighted-average 
Shares Used in 
Computing Net 
Income per Share 
Attributable to 
Common 
Stockholders 
Basic                 65.1        74.8                 66.6     74.5 
Diluted               65.8        76.6                 67.6     76.3 
 
 
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
Unaudited 
 
                                           June 30,      December 31, 
(in millions)                                 2026            2025 
---------------------------------------   -----------  ----------------- 
Assets 
Current assets: 
    Cash and cash equivalents              $     62.0    $        98.3 
    Accounts receivable--net                    113.6            111.0 
    Prepaid expenses and other current 
     assets                                      25.7             35.4 
                                              -------  ---  ---------- 
        Total current assets                    201.3            244.7 
Property, equipment and software--net            29.1             31.8 
Goodwill                                        136.3            123.5 
Intangible assets--net                           19.1             21.5 
Deferred tax asset--noncurrent                   20.9             29.4 
Right-of-use assets                               6.3              7.1 
Other assets                                      5.0              3.1 
                                              -------  ---  ---------- 
Total Assets                               $    418.0    $       461.1 
                                              -------  ---  ---------- 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity 
Current liabilities: 
    Accounts payable                       $     12.7    $         5.4 
    Accrued expenses and other current 
     liabilities                                 64.2             65.5 
                                              -------  ---  ---------- 
        Total current liabilities                76.9             70.9 
Other liabilities--noncurrent                    15.3             15.7 
                                              -------  ---  ---------- 
    Total liabilities                            92.2             86.6 
Commitments and contingencies 
Stockholders' equity                            325.8            374.5 
                                              -------  ---  ---------- 
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' 
 Equity                                    $    418.0    $       461.1 
                                              -------  ---  ---------- 
 
 
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 
Unaudited 
 
                                                  Six Months Ended 
                                                       June 30, 
                                               ----------------------- 
(in millions)                                     2026         2025 
--------------------------------------------   -----------  ---------- 
Operating Activities: 
Net income                                      $    24.7   $   8.4 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net 
cash provided by operating activities: 
    Depreciation and amortization                    19.0      25.3 
    Stock-based compensation                         13.9      14.9 
    Deferred taxes                                    8.4      (3.4) 
    Non-cash lease costs                              0.8       1.3 
    Other losses, net                                 0.1       1.1 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, 
net of business combinations: 
    Accounts receivable                              (2.0)      3.8 
    Prepaid expenses and other assets                 6.5       1.8 
    Mortgage loans held for sale                      1.8      (9.0) 
    Accounts payable                                  4.2       2.9 
    Accrued expenses and other current 
     liabilities                                     (0.2)     (1.6) 
    Operating lease liabilities                      (0.9)     (1.7) 
    Other liabilities                                 0.6       0.4 
                                                   ------    ------ 
Net cash provided by operating activities            76.9      44.2 
                                                   ------    ------ 
Investing Activities: 
Purchase of investment                               (2.0)       -- 
Liquidation of certificate of deposit                 2.3        -- 
Capitalized software development costs               (7.4)     (8.1) 
Purchases of property and equipment                  (0.5)     (0.9) 
Business combinations, net of cash acquired         (16.1)     (5.0) 
                                                   ------    ------ 
Net cash used in investing activities               (23.7)    (14.0) 
                                                   ------    ------ 
Financing Activities: 
Net borrowing (repayment) on warehouse line 
 of credit                                           (1.7)      8.7 
Proceeds from exercises of stock options              0.7       0.3 
Tax payments related to net-share settlements 
 on restricted stock units                           (0.8)     (0.8) 
Issuances of Class A common stock under 
 Employee Stock Purchase Plan                         1.2       1.0 
Repurchases of Class A common stock                 (88.8)     (0.3) 
                                                   ------    ------ 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing 
 activities                                         (89.4)      8.9 
                                                   ------    ------ 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and 
 cash equivalents                                    (0.1)     (0.1) 
                                                   ------    ------ 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash 
 equivalents                                        (36.3)     39.0 
Cash and Cash Equivalents: 
Beginning of period                                  98.3      66.3 
                                                   ------    ------ 
End of period                                   $    62.0   $ 105.3 
                                                   ------    ------ 
 
 

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

We use non-GAAP operating income (loss), adjusted EBITDA and adjusted free cash flow in conjunction with GAAP measures as part of our overall assessment of our performance, including the preparation of our annual operating budget and quarterly forecasts, to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies, and to communicate with our Board of Directors concerning our financial performance.

Non-GAAP operating income (loss): We define non-GAAP operating income (loss) as income (loss) from operations adjusted to exclude depreciation and amortization, and further exclude (1) losses (gains) on disposals of assets, (2) acquisition-related costs, and (3) restructuring charges. We also reduce income from operations, or increase loss from operations, for capitalized internally developed software costs.

Adjusted EBITDA: We define adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) from continuing operations adjusted to exclude depreciation and amortization, interest income (expense), net, other gains (losses), net, and provision (benefit) for income taxes, and further exclude (1) losses (gains) on disposals of assets, (2) stock-based compensation, (3) acquisition-related costs, and (4) restructuring charges.

The above items are excluded from our non-GAAP operating income (loss) and adjusted EBITDA measures because these items are non-cash in nature, or because the amounts are not driven by core operating results and renders comparisons with prior periods less meaningful. We deduct capitalized internally developed software costs in our non-GAAP operating income (loss) measure to reflect the cash impact of personnel costs incurred within the time period.

We believe that non-GAAP operating income (loss) and adjusted EBITDA provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results and in comparing operating results across periods. Moreover, non-GAAP operating income (loss) and adjusted EBITDA are key measurements used by our management internally to make operating decisions, including those related to analyzing operating expenses, evaluating performance, and performing strategic planning and annual budgeting. However, the use of these non-GAAP measures have certain limitations because they do not reflect all items of income and expense that affect our operations. Non-GAAP operating income (loss) and adjusted EBITDA have limitations as financial measures, should be considered as supplemental in nature, and are not meant as substitutes for the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. These limitations include the following:

   --  Non-GAAP operating income (loss) and adjusted EBITDA exclude certain 
      recurring, non-cash charges, such as amortization of software, 
      depreciation of property and equipment, amortization of intangible assets, 
      and (losses) gains on disposals of assets. Although these are non-cash 
      charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized may have to be 
      replaced in the future, and non-GAAP operating income (loss) and adjusted 
      EBITDA do not reflect all cash requirements for such replacements or for 
      new capital expenditure requirements; 
 
   --  Non-GAAP operating income (loss) and adjusted EBITDA exclude certain 
      acquisition-related costs, including acquisition-related retention 
      compensation under compensatory retention agreements with certain key 
      employees, and acquisition-related transaction expenses; 
 
   --  Non-GAAP operating income (loss) and adjusted EBITDA exclude 
      restructuring charges primarily consisting of severance payments, 
      stock-based compensation, employee benefits, and related expenses for 
      impacted employees, as well as contract termination costs, associated 
      with our restructuring plan implemented in 2024; 
 
   --  Adjusted EBITDA excludes stock-based compensation, including for 
      acquisition-related inducement awards, which has been, and will continue 
      to be for the foreseeable future, a significant recurring expense in our 
      business and an important part of our compensation strategy; and 
 
   --  Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect interest income (expense) and other 
      gains (losses), net, which include unrealized and realized gains and 
      losses on foreign currency exchange, as well as certain nonrecurring 
      gains (losses). 

Adjusted free cash flow: We define free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities less capitalized software development costs and purchases of property and equipment, adjusted for any net borrowing or repayment on our warehouse line of credit. Our warehouse line of credit is used to fund mortgage loans originated for sale, as any increase or decrease in our mortgage loans held for sale is substantially offset by a corresponding borrowing or repayment on our warehouse line of credit. Adjusted free cash flow is a key measurement used by our management internally to evaluate our business performance and overall liquidity. We believe that adjusted free cash flow provides useful information for investors and others for determining the amount of cash available for investment in our business, strategic opportunities, repurchasing stock, strengthening our financial position and other purposes, as well as evaluating our historical and prospective liquidity. A limitation of the utility of adjusted free cash flow as a measure of financial performance and liquidity is that adjusted free cash flow does not represent the total increase or decrease in our cash balance for the period.

In addition, non-GAAP operating income (loss), adjusted EBITDA and adjusted free cash flow as we define them may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Because of these limitations, you should consider non-GAAP operating income (loss), adjusted EBITDA and adjusted free cash flow alongside other financial performance measures, including income (loss) from operations, net income (loss), cash flows from operating activities and our other GAAP results.

We compensate for these limitations by reconciling non-GAAP operating income to income from operations, adjusted EBITDA to net income and adjusted free cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, as follows:

 
                        Three Months Ended                  Six Months Ended 
                              June 30,                           June 30, 
                       ---------------------  -----       ----------------------  ----- 
(in millions)             2026       2025      % Change      2026        2025      % Change 
--------------------   ----------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ---------- 
Income from 
 Operations            $ 7.0       $10.7        (35%)     $ 34.2      $ 11.4        200% 
Depreciation and 
 amortization            9.3        12.7        (26%)       19.0        25.3        (25%) 
Acquisition-related 
 retention                --         0.8       (100%)         --         1.6       (100%) 
Acquisition-related 
 expenses               (0.1)        0.8         NM          1.1         0.8         36% 
Loss on disposal of 
 assets                   --         0.3       (100%)         --         0.3        (84%) 
Restructuring             --         0.1       (100%)        0.1         0.4        (87%) 
Capitalized 
 internally developed 
 software costs         (4.0)       (4.7)       (15%)       (8.5)       (9.8)       (13%) 
                        ----        ----      -----        -----       -----      ----- 
Non-GAAP Operating 
 Income                $12.2       $20.7        (41%)     $ 45.9      $ 30.0         53% 
                        ----  ---   ----      -----        -----       -----      ----- 
 
Operating income 
 margin                    4%          6%                      8%          3% 
Non-GAAP operating 
 income margin(1)          6%         11%                     11%          8% 
 
Net Income             $ 4.3       $ 8.2        (48%)     $ 24.7      $  8.4        195% 
Depreciation and 
 amortization            9.3        12.7        (26%)       19.0        25.3        (25%) 
Stock-based 
 compensation            6.9         8.2        (16%)       13.9        14.9         (7%) 
Acquisition-related 
 retention                --         0.8       (100%)         --         1.6       (100%) 
Acquisition-related 
 expenses               (0.1)        0.8         NM          1.1         0.8         36% 
Loss on disposal of 
 assets                   --         0.3       (100%)         --         0.3        (84%) 
Restructuring             --         0.1       (100%)        0.1         0.4        (87%) 
Interest income, net    (0.3)       (0.6)       (55%)       (1.0)       (1.2)       (15%) 
Other gains, net          --        (0.2)       (71%)       (0.1)       (0.2)       (44%) 
Income tax provision     3.0         3.3        (10%)       10.6         4.4        140% 
                        ----  ---   ----      -----        -----       -----      ----- 
Adjusted EBITDA        $23.1       $33.6        (31%)     $ 68.3      $ 54.7         25% 
Stock-based 
 compensation           (6.9)       (8.2)       (16%)      (13.9)      (14.9)        (7%) 
Capitalized 
 internally developed 
 software costs         (4.0)       (4.7)       (15%)       (8.5)       (9.8)       (13%) 
                        ----        ----      -----        -----       -----      ----- 
Non-GAAP Operating 
 Income                $12.2       $20.7        (41%)     $ 45.9      $ 30.0         53% 
                        ----  ---   ----      -----        -----       -----      ----- 
 
Net income margin          2%          4%                      6%          2% 
Adjusted EBITDA 
 margin(2)                12%         18%                     16%         14% 
 
 
________________ 
(1)    Represents non-GAAP operating income as a percentage of revenue. 
(2)    Represents adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue. 
 
 
                              Twelve Months Ended 
                 --------------------------------------------- 
                 Jun 30,  Mar 31,  Dec 31,  Sep 30,  Jun 30, 
(in millions)     2026      2026    2025      2025      2025 
--------------   -------  -------  -------  -------  --------- 
Net cash 
 provided by 
 operating 
 activities      $164.3   $140.6   $131.6   $102.6   $ 83.1 
Capitalized 
 software 
 development 
 costs            (16.2)   (16.3)   (16.9)   (17.2)   (18.0) 
Purchases of 
 property and 
 equipment         (0.9)    (1.5)    (1.3)    (1.2)    (1.2) 
Net borrowing 
 (repayment) on 
 warehouse line 
 of credit         (6.0)     8.1      4.4      1.3      6.7 
                  -----    -----    -----    -----    ----- 
Adjusted free 
 cash flow       $141.2   $130.9   $117.8   $ 85.5   $ 70.6 
                  -----    -----    -----    -----    ----- 
 

FINANCIAL OUTLOOK

We are providing guidance for the third quarter of 2026:

   --  Revenue is expected in the range of $244-$260 million, up 17% 
      year-over-year at the midpoint 
 
   --  GAAP operating income is expected in the range of $22-$30 million 
 
   --  Non-GAAP operating income is expected in the range of $29-$37 million 
 
 
   --  Adjusted EBITDA is expected in the range of $39-$47 million 

We are adjusting our 2026 annual GAAP operating income expectation to the range of $65-$80 million and non-GAAP operating income to the range of $90-$105 million. We are also adjusting our 2026 annual adjusted EBITDA expectation to the range of $131-$147 million.

NerdWallet has not provided a quantitative reconciliation of forecasted GAAP net income (loss) to forecasted adjusted EBITDA within this communication because the Company is unable, without making unreasonable efforts, to calculate certain reconciling items with confidence. These items include, but are not limited to, income taxes which are directly impacted by unpredictable fluctuations in the market price of the Company's capital stock. These items, which could materially affect the computation of forward-looking GAAP net income (loss), are inherently uncertain and depend on various factors, many of which are outside of NerdWallet's control.

A reconciliation of forecasted GAAP operating income to forecasted non-GAAP operating income for forecasted third quarter 2026 and forecasted full year 2026 is as follows:

 
                                                 Forecasted    Forecasted 
                                                Third Quarter   Full Year 
(in millions)                                       2026          2026 
--------------------------------------------   --------------  ----------- 
GAAP operating income                            $22 - $30      $65 - $80 
Estimated adjustments for: 
    Depreciation and amortization                  9 - 10        37 - 39 
    Acquisition-related expenses                   0 - 1          1 - 3 
    Capitalized internally developed software 
     costs                                       (2) - (4)     (13) - (17) 
                                               --------------  ----------- 
Non-GAAP operating income                        $29 - $37     $90 - $105 
                                               --------------  ----------- 
 

For more information regarding the non-GAAP financial measures discussed in this communication, please see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" above.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

At the request of the copyright holder, you need to log in to view this content

Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.

Comments

We need your insight to fill this gap
Leave a comment