Direct Digital (DRCT) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Image source: The Motley Fool.

DATE

Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET

CALL PARTICIPANTS

• Chairman and Chief Executive Officer - Mark Walker
• Chief Financial Officer - Diana Diaz
• Investor Relations - Walter Frank

TAKEAWAYS

• Revenue -- $7.8 million, a 23% decrease compared to $10.1 million in the second quarter of 2025, driven by reduced spending from demand-side platform customers.
• DSP Spending -- Decreased $2.5 million in the second quarter, impacting total revenue results as the company shifts its strategy.
• Core Revenue Growth -- 3% in the second quarter when excluding the $2.5 million reduction from demand-side platform customers.
• First Half Revenue -- $14.5 million, a 21% decrease from $18.3 million in the first half of 2025, reflecting decreased activity from historical customers.
• DSP First Half Impact -- Decreased $4.5 million during the first six months of the year, contributing to the year-over-year revenue decline.
• First Half Core Revenue -- $14.5 million, representing 5% growth when excluding the impact of demand-side platform customer activity.
• Gross Profit Margin -- 34% in the second quarter, reflecting a slight decrease from 35% in the same period last year.
• Operating Expenses -- $5.6 million, representing a 7% reduction from $6 million in the second quarter of 2025.
• Operating Loss -- $2.9 million, compared to $2.4 million in the second quarter of 2025, reflecting the decline in top-line revenue.
• Net Loss -- $3.6 million, an improvement from $4.2 million in the second quarter of 2025, primarily due to lower interest expenses.
• Adjusted EBITDA Loss -- $2.3 million, compared to a loss of $1.5 million in the prior-year period, reflecting lower gross profit.
• Cash and Cash Equivalents -- $500,000 as of June 30, 2026, reflecting cash used in operating activities during the first half of the year.
• Total Liquidity -- $3.2 million as of June 30, 2026, driven by an accounts receivable balance of $2.7 million.
• Client Retention -- Approximately 80% among clients that represent 80% of revenue for the first six months of the year, indicating stable relationships with high-value customers.
• First Half Gross Profit Margin -- 34% compared to 33% in the first half of 2025, driven by a reduction in cost of revenues.
• First Half Net Loss -- $9.2 million, compared to $10.1 million in the first half of 2025, reflecting lower overall costs.
• First Half Adjusted EBITDA Loss -- $4.9 million, compared to a loss of $4.5 million in the first half of 2025.
• Current Debt -- $17.3 million as of June 30, 2026, reflecting an increase in related party obligations from $12 million at the end of 2025.
• First Half Operating Expenses -- $11.1 million, representing a 10% reduction compared to $12.3 million in the first half of 2025.

Need a quote from a Motley Fool analyst? Email pr@fool.com

RISKS

• Diaz stated, "Related to our current credit facility, we were not in compliance with certain financial covenants as of the end of the quarter," indicating a potential impact on the company's borrowing status.
• Walker stated, "Total revenue was down in the quarter related to decreased activity from our demand-side platform customers," highlighting the negative effect of the strategic shift on top-line results.

SUMMARY

Management reported a 23% revenue decline for the second quarter, primarily driven by reduced spending from demand-side platform customers as the company continues its strategic transition. The company stated it is focusing on its core business by diversifying its pipeline, broadening customer relationships, and launching new AI-driven product offerings, including search and generative engine optimization. Financial results for the first half of 2026 showed that core revenue grew 5% when excluding the impact of demand-side platform customer activity. Management is currently negotiating with lenders regarding financial covenant noncompliance and expressed an intent to improve operating performance while maintaining financial discipline.

• The company recently launched AI search and generative engine optimization offerings to target new technology budgets.
• CEO Walker stated that the company's technical expertise positions it as a comprehensive digital growth partner focused on resolving conversion bottlenecks for clients.
• The company is actively engaged with its lender for a waiver regarding covenant noncompliance and characterized discussions as constructive.
• Management reported that core revenue, excluding demand-side platforms, increased by $700,000 during the first half of 2026.
• The company reported expertise in high-growth sectors, including travel and tourism, energy, financial services, and higher education.

INDUSTRY GLOSSARY

• Adjusted EBITDA: A non-GAAP financial metric that calculates earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, often adjusted for one-time or non-cash expenses.
• Covenants: Legally binding conditions in a loan agreement that the borrower must fulfill to remain in compliance.
• Demand-Side Platform (DSP): A system that allows digital advertising buyers to manage multiple ad exchange and data source accounts through one interface.
• Generative Engine Optimization (GEO): The process of optimizing content to be more visible and influential within AI-generated search results and generative AI platforms.
• Programmatic Advertising: Automated buying and selling of digital advertising space using software and data.

Full Conference Call Transcript

Operator: Good day, everyone, and welcome to the Direct Digital Holdings Second Quarter 2026 Conference Call. As a reminder, this call is being recorded. At this time, I would like to hand things over to Walter Frank, Investor Relations. Please go ahead.

Walter Frank: Thank you. Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to Direct Digital Holdings Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call. On today's call are Direct Digital Holdings Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Walker; and Chief Financial Officer, Diana Diaz. Information discussed today is qualified in its entirety with the Form 8-K and accompanying earnings release, which has been filed today by Direct Digital Holdings, which may be accessed at the SEC's website and the company's website. Today's call is also being webcast, and a replay will be posted to Direct Digital's Investor Relations website. Immediately following the speaker's presentation, there will be question and answer session.

Please note that the statements made during the call, including financial projections or other statements that are not historical in nature, may constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are made on the basis of Direct Digital's views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance at the time they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update these statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, which could cause Direct Digital's actual results to differ from its historical results and forecasts, including those risks set forth in Direct Digital's filings with the SEC, and you should refer to those for more information. This cautionary statement applies to all forward-looking statements made during this call.

During the call, Direct Digital will be referring to non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP measures are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures is available in the earnings release that Direct Digital filed in its Form 8-K today. I will now hand over the conference to Mark Walker, Chief Executive Officer. Please go ahead, Mark.

Mark Walker: Thanks, Walter, and thank you to everyone joining our call today. I'll start by reviewing some of the highlights of our operations and financial results during the second quarter and first half of 2026. Before turning the call over to our Chief Financial Officer, Diana Diaz, for a more detailed look at our financial results, we'll conclude by opening the call for a brief Q&A. We saw encouraging progress in our core business during the second quarter.

To recap, during the first quarter of 2026, we announced a comprehensive shift in our strategy that saw us aggregate our operations to a streamlined model to sharpen our focus on the areas where we believe we can create the greatest value for both our clients and our shareholders. We believe that by diversifying our pipeline, broadening our customer relationships and enhancing our product capabilities, we're positioning ourselves to drive more consistent, scalable long-term growth. We successfully unveiled AI search and GEO offerings this past quarter and are seeing strong demand from current clients and prospective new clients as well as our AI support and web infrastructure technology services, which will both expand our addressable market.

These products unlock new technology budgets and the technical upgrades we provide clients service performance multipliers that improves conversion performance and lowers cost to acquire for our new clients. We're seeing our technical expertise position us with clients as a comprehensive digital growth partner rather than just supporting the media needs and leaning into helping companies facing conversion bottlenecks. Demand is strong, but it's important to remember that we're still in the early stages of this shift. Total revenue was down in the quarter related to decreased activity from our demand-side platform customers, which is expected as we continue to shift our strategy.

In fact, excluding the impact of reduced spending from DSP customers, total revenue increased approximately 5% year-to-date when compared with the first 6 months of 2025. While these numbers seem small compared to our historical results, they are trending in the right direction. Our value proposition is heightened by complete alignment across our digital supply platform. We're technology and media agnostic and our clients rely on us to provide the best opportunity their brands and businesses to achieve enhanced market reach through strategic digital advertising. Strong relationships we have built are evidenced in our client retention rate of approximately 80% among clients that represent approximately 80% of our revenue for the 6 months ended June 30, 2026.

We still have a tremendous amount of work to do, but we're operating from a much stronger foundation and driving measurable results. Additionally, we have the flexibility to evaluate strategic partnerships and opportunities that complement and enhance the strength of our platform with the goal of driving shareholder value. As always, I sincerely appreciate your support of Direct Digital Holdings. I will now hand the call over to Diana Diaz, our Chief Financial Officer, who will walk through some of the financial highlights in further detail.

Diana Diaz: Thank you, Mark, and good evening, everyone. I'll now provide a review of our second quarter results with some commentary on year-to-date results where relevant. Consolidated revenue in the second quarter of 2026 was $7.8 million compared to revenue of $10.1 million in the second quarter of last year. As Mark mentioned, revenue declined in the quarter related to a decrease in spending by demand-side platform customers of $2.5 million. On a year-to-date basis, revenue of $14.5 million decreased compared to $18.3 million in the first half of last year. Excluding the decrease in sales to DSP customers of $4.5 million for the first half of the year, revenue grew about $700,000 or 5% year-over-year.

Gross profit was $2.7 million for the second quarter of 2026 or 34% of revenue compared with $3.6 million or 35% of revenue in the second quarter of 2025. Operating expenses in the second quarter of 2026 decreased 7% to $5.6 million compared to $6 million in the second quarter of 2025. Total operating loss for the second quarter was $2.9 million compared with an operating loss of $2.4 million in the second quarter of 2025. Net loss in the second quarter was $3.6 million compared to a net loss of $4.2 million in the second quarter of last year.

And the adjusted EBITDA loss for the second quarter was $2.3 million compared with adjusted EBITDA loss of $1.5 million in the second quarter of last year. Turning to the balance sheet. We ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $500,000 compared to $700,000 at the end of December 2025. Total cash plus our accounts receivable balance as of June 30, 2026, was $3.2 million compared to $3.9 million at the end of 2025. Related to our current credit facility, we were not in compliance with certain financial covenants as of the end of the quarter. We are actively engaged with our lender and have requested a waiver. Discussions have been constructive.

And while the process remains ongoing, our current focus is on improving operating performance and working toward a mutually acceptable resolution. We will provide further updates when appropriate. Our focus continues to be on driving operational efficiencies and managing the business with financial discipline, and we're strategically investing in the business to capitalize on opportunities and drive sustainable long-term growth. Now I'd like to turn it back over to Mark for some closing comments.

Mark Walker: Thank you, Diana, and thank you to everyone for joining. We appreciate your interest in Direct Digital Holdings and I would like to now open the call for questions. Operator, please open the line.

Operator: [Operator Instructions] Everyone, there are no questions. That does conclude our conference for today. We would like to thank you all for your participation. You may now disconnect.

This article is a transcript of this conference call produced for The Motley Fool. While we strive for our Foolish Best, there may be errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in this transcript. Parts of this article were created using Large Language Models (LLMs) based on The Motley Fool's insights and investing approach. It has been reviewed by our AI quality control systems. Since LLMs cannot (currently) own stocks, it has no positions in any of the stocks mentioned. As with all our articles, The Motley Fool does not assume any responsibility for your use of this content, and we strongly encourage you to do your own research, including listening to the call yourself and reading the company's SEC filings. Please see our Terms and Conditions for additional details, including our Obligatory Capitalized Disclaimers of Liability.

The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.