NerdWallet Beats on Q2 Revenue but Misses on Profit; Q3 Revenue Outlook Tops Consensus
NRDS sits 20% above its 52-week low of $7.33.
Summary
NerdWallet posted Q2 revenue of $197.3M (a beat) but adjusted EBITDA of $23.1M (a miss). Its Q3 revenue guide of $244–$260M implies 17% year-over-year growth, well above consensus, as the company bets on vertical integration investments.
Updates
· Reuters — Management narrowed full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance to $131-$147M.
Key Events · Earnings and Guidance · NRDS
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Q2 Revenue Beat, Profit Miss
Revenue of $197.3M (+6% YoY) exceeded the $195.3M consensus, but adjusted EBITDA of $23.1M missed the $23.48M estimate. GAAP net income fell 48% YoY to $4.3M.
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Q3 Guidance Implies 17% Revenue Growth
Q3 revenue guidance of $244–$260M at the midpoint represents 17% YoY growth, well above consensus, driven by investments in owned audiences and direct customer relationships.
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Margin Compression Continues
Adjusted EBITDA margin contracted to 12% from 18% a year ago, as sales and marketing spend rose 14% YoY. Full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance of $131–$147M implies a 16–18% margin.
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Cash Burn Accelerates on Buybacks
Cash and equivalents fell to $62.0M from $98.3M at year-end, with $88.8M spent on share repurchases in H1 2026. Operating cash flow remained strong at $76.9M.
Analysis · NRDS · Technology
NerdWallet's second quarter painted a mixed picture: revenue of $197.3M edged past the $195.3M consensus, yet adjusted EBITDA of $23.1M fell short of the $23.48M estimate. The real headline, however, is the Q3 guide—revenue of $244–$260M implies 17% year-over-year growth at the midpoint, comfortably above expectations and hinting at an inflection point as the company doubles down on owned audiences. Profitability metrics are feeling the squeeze: GAAP operating income dropped 35% year over year, and the adjusted EBITDA margin compressed to 12% from 18% a year ago. Cash also came under pressure, with the balance falling to $62.0M after $36.3M in net consumption during the half, largely driven by $88.8M in share repurchases. Against a backdrop of heavy insider selling by a former CBO and a 10% owner, the bullish revenue outlook may be tempered by concerns over margin trajectory and cash burn.
How filings like this one have moved
In the 30 days to Oct 5, 2026, 36.9% of the 964 measured filings Wiseek scored 8 moved their stock by 5% or more by the next session's close. The median move was -0.65%. These are measured outcomes after filings of this importance, not a forecast for this one.
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At the time of this filing, NRDS was trading at $8.81 on NASDAQ in the Technology sector, with a market capitalization of approximately $581.7M. The 52-week trading range was $7.33 to $16.24. This filing was assessed with neutral market sentiment and an importance score of 8 out of 10.