NIQ Global Intelligence Q2 Earnings Call Highlights

NIQ Global Intelligence Q2 Earnings Call Highlights

NIQ Global Intelligence Q2 Earnings Call Highlights Written by MarketBeat August 10, 2026

Key Points NIQ exceeded second-quarter guidance , reporting 5.8% organic constant-currency revenue growth, 21.9% adjusted EBITDA growth, a 270-basis-point margin expansion to 23.3%, and $74.1 million in levered free cash flow. Growth was broad-based, led by the Americas and stronger APAC performance, while intelligence revenue extended its streak of above-5% growth and activation revenue accelerated. AI-native revenue rose 34%, with adoption expanding among major clients. The company raised its 2026 outlook to 5.2%–5.6% organic revenue growth, 15%–17% adjusted EBITDA growth, $1.08–$1.12 adjusted EPS, and $245–$255 million in levered free cash flow, while targeting year-end net leverage below three times.

NIQ Global Intelligence NYSE: NIQ reported second-quarter 2026 results that exceeded the top end of its guidance across key metrics, led by 5.8% organic constant-currency revenue growth, a 21.9% increase in adjusted EBITDA and a 270-basis-point expansion in adjusted EBITDA margin to 23.3%. Executive Chairman and CEO Jim Peck said the quarter marked NIQ’s fifth consecutive period of outperforming its guidance across major measures. Adjusted earnings per share reached $0.27, while levered free cash flow turned positive at $74.1 million. The company ended the quarter with net leverage of approximately 3.1 times, down from 3.4 times at the end of the first quarter.

NIQ raised its full-year 2026 outlook, citing first-half outperformance, favorable foreign exchange effects and the contribution of its YiMian acquisition, an e-commerce data and insights business operating in China and Southeast Asia. Revenue Growth Spans Regions and Products Second-quarter reported revenue rose 8% to $1.1 billion. The company said growth was driven by retention, pricing, cross-selling and upselling across both its intelligence and activation offerings. The Americas led regional performance with 8.3% organic constant-currency growth, while EMEA accelerated to 4.9%. APAC returned to growth, rising 1.9% on the same basis, which management described as a meaningful sequential improvement from the first quarter. Peck cited several client wins and expansions, including a U.S. coffee manufacturer that consolidated work with NIQ from two incumbent providers, and a global convenience retailer that expanded its renewal into SKU-level analytics, pricing and promotion, and category management across more than a dozen countries. The latter expansion added more than $5 million of incremental value, according to the company.

NIQ’s intelligence revenue grew 5.7% organically in constant currency, its 10th straight quarter above 5% growth. Annualized intelligence subscription revenue increased 5.8% and exceeded $3 billion. The company reported net dollar retention of 105% and gross dollar retention of 99% in the quarter. Activation revenue grew 6.1% organically in constant currency, accelerating for a second consecutive quarter. Analytics and innovation-based offerings accounted for nearly 60% of year-to-date activation revenue and grew at a low-double-digit rate, management said. During the question-and-answer session, CFO Mike Burwell said e-commerce and consumer panel offerings were each growing at rates above 30%, contributing to intelligence growth. He also said demand for analytics offerings, including the company’s BASES AI Screener, remained strong.

AI Products, Data Access and Commercial Expansion Management emphasized AI as both a product-growth opportunity and a source of operational efficiency. Revenue from AI-native solutions grew 34% in the second quarter, and more than 80% of that revenue came from recurring clients, Peck said. About 51% of NIQ’s top 100 clients now ...