NIQ Global Intelligence (NYSE:NIQ) Issues Quarterly Earnings Results

Key Points

• NIQ beat quarterly estimates: EPS was $0.30 versus the $0.23 consensus, while revenue rose 6.3% year over year to $1.12 billion.
• The company raised its 2026 EPS guidance to $1.16–$1.20; it also said AI offerings could add 0.25–0.5 percentage points to growth in 2027.
• NIQ authorized a $150 million share repurchase as cash generation improved and net leverage declined to 2.9x, though regional growth and near-term revenue remain uneven.

NIQ Global Intelligence (NYSE:NIQ - Get Free Report) posted its earnings results on Thursday. The company reported $0.30 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.23 by $0.07, FiscalAI reports. NIQ Global Intelligence had a positive return on equity of 14.84% and a negative net margin of 8.01%. The firm had revenue of $1.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.11 billion. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. NIQ Global Intelligence updated its FY 2026 guidance to 1.160-1.200 EPS and its Q4 2026 guidance to 0.430-0.470 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from NIQ Global Intelligence's conference call:

• NIQ beat expectations and raised its 2026 outlook. Q3 organic constant-currency revenue grew 5.8%, adjusted EBITDA rose 17.8%, and the company reported positive GAAP earnings for the first time since its IPO.
• AI is beginning to create new growth opportunities. NIQ said AI-native offerings could contribute 0.25–0.5 percentage points of growth in 2027, with 10 charter commitments and a pipeline of about 100 opportunities; its Google partnership includes licensing NIQ product data for Google’s Shopping Graph.
• Cash generation and leverage improved, enabling a measured return of capital. Year-to-date levered free cash flow reached $132 million, up $187 million year over year, and net leverage fell to 2.9x; NIQ authorized $150 million in share repurchases while saying debt reduction remains a priority.
• Growth remains uneven across regions, and some near-term revenue is harder to predict. EMEA’s ad hoc demand was affected by conflict-related uncertainty, APAC growth was nearly flat, and NIQ said Q4 will lap a large retailer collaboration while activation work is seasonally concentrated and less predictable.

NIQ Global Intelligence Stock Down 8.8%

Shares of NYSE:NIQ traded down $1.84 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $19.21. The company had a trading volume of 2,459,457 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,126,462. The business's 50 day moving average price is $18.71 and its 200 day moving average price is $13.43. NIQ Global Intelligence has a 1-year low of $7.93 and a 1-year high of $21.51. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.01. The stock has a market cap of $5.67 billion, a PE ratio of 35.69 and a beta of -0.27.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $21.00 price target on shares of NIQ Global Intelligence in a research report on Friday, September 18th. BMO Capital Markets set a $22.00 price objective on NIQ Global Intelligence and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on NIQ Global Intelligence from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. Weiss Ratings raised NIQ Global Intelligence from a "sell (e+)" rating to a "sell (d-)" rating in a research note on Thursday, September 17th. Finally, Deutsche Bank increased their target price on NIQ Global Intelligence from $14.00 to $15.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $19.17.

Key Stories Impacting NIQ Global Intelligence

These are some of the NIQ stories that stood out recently:

• Positive Sentiment: Third-quarter adjusted EPS was $0.30, ahead of the roughly $0.23–$0.24 analyst consensus and up from $0.03 a year earlier. Revenue rose 6.3% year over year to $1.12 billion, slightly above estimates. One report also described NIQ as posting its first GAAP profit since its IPO. Zacks earnings report
• Positive Sentiment: NIQ raised its FY 2026 EPS guidance to $1.16–$1.20, above the $1.04 consensus. Fourth-quarter EPS guidance of $0.43–$0.47 also topped the $0.42 estimate. Full-year and fourth-quarter revenue guidance was $4.5 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively, in line with expectations. Guidance and earnings report
• Positive Sentiment: The company expects AI to add 0.25–0.5 percentage points to growth in 2027 and authorized a share buyback, providing potential longer-term growth and capital-return support. AI outlook and guidance article Buyback and earnings article

About NIQ Global Intelligence

NIQ Global Intelligence, Inc. NYSE: NIQ, also known as NielsenIQ, provides consumer and retail intelligence to manufacturers and retailers. Its services include retail measurement, consumer and shopper insights, market research, and data analytics designed to help clients understand purchasing behavior, track product performance, and inform business decisions. The company combines information from retail sales, consumer panels, and other sources to deliver analysis across product categories and markets.

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