NIQ Global Intelligence (NYSE:NIQ) Posts Quarterly Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.04 EPS

Key Points

• NIQ Global Intelligence beat quarterly expectations, reporting $0.24 EPS versus the $0.20 consensus estimate. Adjusted results included 5.8% organic constant-currency revenue growth, 21.9% adjusted EBITDA growth and $74.1 million in levered free cash flow.
• The company raised its full-year 2026 guidance to adjusted EPS of $1.08–$1.12, organic revenue growth of 5.2%–5.6% and $245 million–$255 million in levered free cash flow, with year-end net leverage expected below 3x.
• Despite broad-based growth and an AI platform under development, NIQ still reported a GAAP net loss and expects about $50 million in additional restructuring cash payments during the second half of 2026. Shares were down 0.7% in midday trading, while analysts maintained a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating with a $17.58 target price.

NIQ Global Intelligence (NYSE:NIQ - Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings data on Monday. The company reported $0.24 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.20 by $0.04, Zacks reports. NIQ Global Intelligence had a negative net margin of 7.78% and a positive return on equity of 10.30%. NIQ Global Intelligence updated its FY 2026 guidance to 1.080-1.120 EPS and its Q3 2026 guidance to 0.220-0.240 EPS.

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

• NIQ exceeded guidance across all key metrics in Q2, with organic constant-currency revenue growth of 5.8%, adjusted EBITDA growth of 21.9%, a 270-basis-point margin expansion to 23.3%, adjusted EPS of $0.27, and positive levered free cash flow of $74.1 million.
• The company raised its full-year 2026 outlook, now expecting 5.2%-5.6% organic constant-currency revenue growth, 23.5%-23.9% adjusted EBITDA margins, adjusted EPS of $1.08-$1.12, and $245 million-$255 million of levered free cash flow; year-end net leverage is expected to fall below 3x.
• Core demand remained broad-based, led by Americas growth of 8.3%, EMEA growth of 4.9%, and APAC’s return to growth at 1.9%. Intelligence grew 5.7% and activation 6.1%, while e-commerce and consumer panel solutions grew more than 30%.
• NIQ is building an AI monetization platform through Optiq Bridge, Connect AI, Product Intelligence, and agentic-commerce measurement. The company reported 49 live Connect AI opportunities and 34% growth in AI-native revenue, but said 2026 guidance assumes no material contribution and expects commercial scaling primarily from 2027 onward.
• The 2026 restructuring program is largely complete but will require roughly $50 million of additional cash payments in the second half, with about 70% expected in Q3. Q2 also included approximately $36 million of one-time restructuring and deal-related costs, and the company continues to report a GAAP net loss.

NIQ Global Intelligence Trading Down 0.7%

Shares of NYSE:NIQ traded down $0.08 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $11.60. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,179,332 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,436,803. The firm has a market cap of $3.42 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of -9.21. The company has a quick ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.01. NIQ Global Intelligence has a 1 year low of $7.93 and a 1 year high of $18.70. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $9.85 and a 200 day moving average price of $11.04.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have issued reports on NIQ. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $14.00 price target on shares of NIQ Global Intelligence in a report on Friday, May 15th. Wall Street Zen upgraded NIQ Global Intelligence from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, May 16th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on NIQ Global Intelligence from $18.00 to $13.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 15th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "sell (e+)" rating on shares of NIQ Global Intelligence in a report on Monday, July 6th. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut their price target on NIQ Global Intelligence from $20.00 to $14.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 15th. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $17.58.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other NIQ Global Intelligence news, insider James M. Peck purchased 118,625 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 18th. The stock was bought at an average price of $8.43 per share, for a total transaction of $1,000,008.75. Following the acquisition, the insider directly owned 424,683 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,580,077.69. This represents a 38.76% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 3.80% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On NIQ Global Intelligence

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of NIQ. Deutsche Bank AG purchased a new position in NIQ Global Intelligence during the fourth quarter worth approximately $38,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets acquired a new stake in shares of NIQ Global Intelligence during the 3rd quarter worth $44,000. Legal & General Group Plc acquired a new stake in shares of NIQ Global Intelligence during the 3rd quarter worth $76,000. Squarepoint Ops LLC acquired a new stake in shares of NIQ Global Intelligence during the 3rd quarter worth $162,000. Finally, Mariner LLC purchased a new position in shares of NIQ Global Intelligence in the 4th quarter worth $203,000.

NIQ Global Intelligence Company Profile

Nuveen Intermediate Duration Quality Municipal Term Fund is a close ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments Inc The fund is co-managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC. It invests into public fixed income markets of the United States. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies that are operating across diversified sectors. It primarily invests in municipal securities that are exempt from federal income taxes, and seeks to maintain a portfolio with an intermediate effective duration of between 3 and 10 years, including the effects of leverage.

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