Second Quarter 2026
Filed Aug 12, 2026Comscore Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results; Completed Sale of Movies Business Enabling Full Repayment of Senior Debt; Announced Transformational ROI Strategy to Realign, Optimize and Grow the Business
Revenue declined 11.3%, net loss widened to $14.8 million, and non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA declined to $1.3 million. The Company also said it does not anticipate near-term growth.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueGAAP | $79.2 million | – | down 11.3% |
| Movies business revenueother | $6.2 million | – | – |
| Core operating expensesGAAP | $87.9 million | – | down 2.8% |
| Net lossGAAP | $14.8 million | – | – |
| Net loss marginGAAP | 18.7% of revenue | – | – |
| Loss per share attributable to common sharesGAAP | $(0.97) | – | – |
| Adjusted EBITDAnon-GAAP | $1.3 million | – | – |
| Adjusted EBITDA marginnon-GAAP | 1.7% | – | – |
| Content & Ad Measurement revenue changeother | decreased 11.7% | – | decreased 11.7% |
| Cross-Platform revenue changeother | decreased 2.1% | – | decreased 2.1% |
| Research & Insight Solutions revenue changeother | decreased 9.2% | – | decreased 9.2% |
Full year 2026 outlook
- Revenue$315 and $325 million
- Noteadjusted EBITDA margin in the low-to-mid single digits
- Notebetween $20 and $25 million in annual run-rate cost savings from our realignment plan
What drove it
- Content & Ad Measurement revenue declined due to lower Syndicated Audience revenue, primarily related to the divestiture of the Movies business, as well as lower performance in national TV, local TV and syndicated digital products.
- Cross-Platform revenue declined primarily due to lower usage in Proximic, partially offset by growth from new business in CCM.
- Research & Insight Solutions revenue declined primarily due to lower renewals and lower deliveries of certain custom digital products.
- Core operating expenses declined primarily due to lower employee compensation costs, partially offset by higher professional fees related to the divestiture of the Movies business.
- The Company announced an ROI-based operating model intended to realign the business and corporate culture, optimize operations and product development, and focus future investment.
Concerns
- Revenue was down 11.3% from the second quarter of 2025.
- Net loss increased to $14.8 million from $9.5 million, with net loss margin increasing to 18.7% of revenue from 10.6% of revenue.
- Adjusted EBITDA declined to $1.3 million from $8.9 million, and adjusted EBITDA margin declined to 1.7% from 10.0%.
- The Company does not anticipate near-term growth given the divestiture of its Movies business and the significant transformation it is undertaking.
- The Company identified potential cash flow and liquidity challenges related to implementation of the realignment plan and the loss of non-strategic revenue.
What to watch
- Execution against the new ROI operating model and realignment plan.
- Delivery of between $20 and $25 million in annual run-rate cost savings from the realignment plan.
- Market-share opportunities in established businesses and revenue from targeted product expansion.
- Performance in national TV, local TV, syndicated digital products, Proximic and CCM.
- The Company's stated goal to enter 2027 with a leaner, more flexible cost model.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- As of June 30, 2026, cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $28.7 million, including $3.0 million in restricted cash.
- The Movies business divestiture closed for an aggregate base purchase price of $70.0 million in cash, subject to customary adjustments and other terms set forth in the purchase agreement.
- On May 27, 2026, the Company repaid approximately $40.1 million of outstanding obligations under its senior secured credit facility.
- As of June 30, 2026, the Company's remaining debt obligations consisted of outstanding principal on finance leases related to equipment purchases.
Analysis
Comscore reported a weaker second quarter, with GAAP revenue of $79.2 million, down 11.3% from $89.4 million in the second quarter of 2025. The reported revenue base included $6.2 million from the now-divested Movies business, compared with $9.6 million in the prior-year quarter. Management described declines across all three named operating areas: Content & Ad Measurement decreased 11.7%, Cross-Platform decreased 2.1%, and Research & Insight Solutions decreased 9.2%.
The profitability result deteriorated materially. GAAP net loss was $14.8 million, compared with $9.5 million in the prior-year period, while net loss margin was 18.7% of revenue versus 10.6% of revenue. The Company attributed the loss in part to loss on divestiture of business and loss on extinguishment of debt. Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA was $1.3 million, compared with $8.9 million, and adjusted EBITDA margin declined to 1.7% from 10.0%.
Cost actions did not offset the revenue decline in the reported period. Core operating expenses were $87.9 million, down 2.8% from $90.4 million. Lower employee compensation costs were partly offset by higher professional fees related to the Movies divestiture. The reported result places attention on whether the announced ROI-based operating model can reduce the cost structure while supporting targeted product investment and commercial execution.
The balance sheet changed substantially through the Movies transaction. The Company completed the sale for an aggregate base purchase price of $70.0 million in cash and used a portion of the proceeds to repay approximately $40.1 million under its senior secured credit facility. As of June 30, 2026, cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $28.7 million, including $3.0 million in restricted cash, while remaining debt obligations consisted of outstanding principal on finance leases related to equipment purchases.
For full year 2026, Comscore expects revenue to be between $315 and $325 million and adjusted EBITDA margin in the low-to-mid single digits. Management explicitly does not anticipate near-term growth, citing the Movies divestiture and transformation. It expects between $20 and $25 million in annual run-rate cost savings from the realignment plan, though some savings are expected to be used for leadership hires, employee investment and other transformational initiatives.
Management, verbatim
However, our top- and bottom-line results for the quarter were not acceptable, reinforcing the urgency with which we are taking action to realign our priorities.
Matt McLaughlin, CEO of Comscore
There are significant opportunities in front of us, including launching new and enhanced products, closing multimillion-dollar deals in local TV, expanding our Proximic footprint, and delivering AI and Creator solutions.
Matt McLaughlin, CEO of Comscore
However, given the divestiture of our Movies business and the significant transformation we are undertaking, we do not anticipate near-term growth.
Mary Margaret Curry, Comscore's Chief Financial Officer
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- GAAP gross profit and gross margin
- GAAP operating income or loss and operating margin
- GAAP income tax expense or benefit and tax rate
- GAAP net cash provided by or used in operating activities
- Free cash flow
- Capital expenditures
- Share repurchases
- Dividends
- Exact finance lease debt balance
- Debt balance as of June 30, 2026
- Revenue amounts for Content & Ad Measurement, Cross-Platform, and Research & Insight Solutions
- Prior-quarter revenue, expenses, net loss, loss per share, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA margin
- Segment prior-quarter comparisons
- Full-year 2026 GAAP net income or loss guidance
- Full-year 2026 gross margin, operating-expense, and tax-rate guidance
- Previous quarterly outlook for comparison
AlphaAI analysis generated from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure was cross-checked against the filing text; consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.