IZEA Reports Q3 2026 Revenue of $6.2 million, 94% increase in Managed Services Bookings
Sentiment and the balance of points
Rhea-AI Sentiment reads the wording of the document, how positive or negative its language is on a 1 to 5 scale. The balance of points shown with the takes weighs what the document actually discloses, so the two can disagree, for example when a trial that missed its main goal is described in upbeat language.
Rhea-AI Summary
IZEA Worldwide (IZEA) reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of $6.2 million, down 23% from the prior-year quarter, alongside higher bookings. Managed Services bookings reached $7.0 million, up 94% year over year and 54% sequentially. Revenue from its three largest customers grew 21%, but lower sales from other enterprise accounts and the runoff of non-core small and mid-sized customers outweighed those gains.
Net loss was $0.4 million, or $0.03 per share, versus net income of $0.1 million, or $0.01 per share. Total costs and expenses fell 16% to $7.0 million. Cash totaled $46.4 million at September 30, with no long-term debt. IZEA expects fourth-quarter revenue of $7.5 million to $8.1 million, primarily reflecting contracted bookings and expected campaign timing. It repurchased 250,583 shares for $0.8 million during the quarter and continues pursuing acquisitions.
How this balance works
Rhea-AI gives every point it takes from this document a weight. Minor counts 1, Moderate 3 and Major 9, so one Major point outweighs several Minor ones. The bar adds up the weights on each side, and when neither side holds more than 65% of the total the balance reads Mixed.
It reads the document as published, with the same rules for every company, and it does not look at what the market expected or at how the stock traded, so a point can be objectively good on a day the stock falls.
Rhea-AI Sentiment measures something else, the tone of the wording.
Hollow bars mark forward-looking points. How the balance works
Positive
- Moderate pointManaged Services bookings reached $7.0 million, up 94% year over year and 54% sequentially.
- Moderate point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.IZEA expects fourth-quarter 2026 revenue of $7.5 million to $8.1 million.
- Minor pointRevenue from the three largest customers increased 21% year over year in Q3.
- Minor pointNew business wins included Disney-ABC, HBO Max, Hulu and ASUS.
- Minor pointQ3 cost of revenue decreased 6% to $3.9 million, primarily reflecting lower campaign activity.
5 minor points
- Minor pointQ3 sales and marketing expense fell 33% to $0.7 million, primarily through lower personnel costs.
- Minor pointQ3 general and administrative expense declined 25% to $2.3 million, reflecting headcount and anticipated incentive-compensation reductions.
- Minor pointQ3 share repurchases returned $0.8 million through purchases of 250,583 shares.
- Minor pointThe balance sheet had no outstanding long-term debt at September 30, 2026.
- Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.IZEA continues pursuing acquisitions to accelerate growth and expand capabilities.
Negative
- Moderate pointQ3 revenue fell 23% to $6.2 million from $8.1 million a year earlier.
- Moderate pointQ3 net loss was $0.4 million, or $0.03 per share, versus $0.1 million profit, or $0.01 per share.
- Minor pointQ3 operating loss widened to $825,671 from $330,419 a year earlier.
- Minor pointQ3 adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP earnings measure, fell to negative $0.2 million from positive $0.4 million.
- Minor pointQ3 margins faced lower margins from a large enterprise customer and delivery labor costs not declining proportionately with revenue.
10 minor points
- Minor pointOther established enterprise accounts generated lower revenue, outweighing growth among the largest customers and new relationships.
- Minor pointNon-core customer runoff reduced revenue; those customers contributed approximately $1.2 million in the prior-year quarter.
- Minor pointQ3 Managed Services revenue declined 23% to $6,178,480 from $8,036,430.
- Minor pointQ3 subscription software services revenue fell 53% to $17,061 from $35,950.
- Minor pointNine-month revenue declined 26% to $18,575,859 from $25,173,975.
- Minor pointNine-month Managed Services revenue fell 26% to $18,442,936 from $24,996,871.
- Minor pointNine-month subscription software services revenue declined 25% to $132,923 from $177,104.
- Minor pointNine-month operating loss widened to $3,064,281 from $248,461.
- Minor pointNine-month net loss reached $1,905,378, or $0.11 per share, versus $1,210,013 profit, or $0.07 per share.
- Minor pointCash declined to $46,439,805 at September 30, 2026 from $50,886,850 at December 31, 2025.
News Explained
The $10 million figure is a ceiling, while $2.6 million had actually been spent by September 30.
IZEA had spent
Managed Services bookings count sales orders received, net of cancellations and refunds, and are not necessarily predictive of quarterly revenue because recognition timing varies with contract size, complexity, and customer arrangements.
Key Figures
- Q3 revenue
- $6.2 million; down 23%
- Q3 2026 compared with Q3 2025
- Managed Services bookings
- $7.0 million; up 94% year over year and 54% sequentially
- Q3 2026
- Q4 revenue outlook
- $7.5 million to $8.1 million; comparative quarterly growth of 24% to 34%
- Company outlook for Q4 2026
- Net loss
- $0.4 million, or $(0.03) per share
- Q3 2026; compared with net income of $0.1 million, or $0.01 per share, in Q3 2025
- Adjusted EBITDA
- $(0.2) million
- Q3 2026; compared with $0.4 million in Q3 2025
- Cash and long-term debt
- $46.4 million in cash; no long-term debt
- As of September 30, 2026
- Revenue from three largest customers
- Up 21%
- Year over year in Q3 2026
- Share repurchases
- 908,798 shares; $2.6 million invested
- Under the repurchase program through September 30, 2026
Previous Earnings Reports
-
Q2 revenue and Managed Services bookings declined year over year; the company reported a net loss.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Key Terms
ebitda financial
non-gaap financial
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Enterprise Relationships Remain Strong Amid Market Uncertainties
ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IZEA Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: IZEA), a leading influencer marketing company that makes Creator Economy solutions for marketers, reported its financial and operational results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026.
Q3 2026 Financial Summary Compared to Q3 2025
- Revenue was
$6.2 million , a decrease of$1.9 million , or23% , from the prior-year period. While revenue from our three largest customers grew21% , complemented by contributions from new customers, these gains were more than offset by lower revenues from other enterprise accounts, and the continued run-off of non-core small and mid-sized business ("SMB"), which contributed$1.2 million in the prior year - Managed Services bookings totaled
$7.0 million , an increase of$3.4 million , or94% , from the prior-year period, and54% sequentially from the second quarter. The improvement reflected stronger booking activity across multiple enterprise relationships, with a broader group of customers making substantial commitments during the quarter - Total costs and expenses decreased
16% to$7.0 million , compared to$8.4 million , reflecting continued proactive cost management toward a more efficient structure aligned with our enterprise-focused business model - Net loss totaled
$0.4 million , or$(0.03) per share, compared to net income of$0.1 million , or$0.01 per share - Adjusted EBITDA* for the quarter was
$(0.2) million , compared to$0.4 million - Cash and equivalents totaled
$46.4 million as of September 30, 2026, with no long-term debt
Q4 2026 Financial Outlook
For the fourth quarter of 2026, management is providing a revenue outlook to give investors greater visibility into how recent bookings are expected to convert to revenue. The Company expects:
- Revenue between
$7.5 million and$8.1 million ; comparative quarterly growth between24% and34%
This outlook primarily reflects contracted bookings and expected campaign timing and assumes a limited contribution from customer opportunities not yet under contract. The Company has not established a practice of providing regular financial guidance and undertakes no obligation to update this outlook.
Q3 2026 Highlights
- IZEA grew its top three enterprise accounts faster than the market, increasing its share of creator marketing spend within these accounts and reinforcing the strength of its strategic client relationships.
- IZEA won new business from major entertainment and technology leaders, including Disney-ABC, HBO Max, Hulu and ASUS.
- IZEA executed high-visibility creator campaigns including Nestlé Vital Proteins at the US Open, Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, and Ravensburger’s Oh My Pigeons! launch.
- IZEA managed
100% of new campaigns through ZED, the proprietary AI-powered creator marketing operations platform, enhancing creator intelligence, brand safety, and campaign execution for enterprise customers.
* Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the definition and reconciliation of this measure under “Use of Key Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures."
Management Commentary
“Our third quarter results demonstrate progress in our enterprise-focused transformation,” said Patrick Venetucci, CEO. “With bookings up
Q3 2026 Financial Results
Total revenue for the third quarter of 2026 was
Cost of revenue for the third quarter of 2026 was
Costs and expenses, excluding the cost of revenue, totaled
Net loss in the third quarter of 2026 was
Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below, a non-GAAP measure management uses as a proxy for operating cash flow) totaled
As of September 30, 2026, our cash and cash equivalents totaled
We previously announced our commitment to repurchase up to
Conference Call
IZEA will hold a conference call to discuss its third quarter 2026 results on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET. IZEA's CEO Patrick Venetucci and CFO Peter Biere will host the call, followed by a question-and-answer period.
Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026
Time: 5:00 p.m. ET
Webcast link: https://viavid.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1778906&tp_key=6b57d8dfd2
Toll-free dial-in number: 1-877-407-4018
International dial-in number: 1-201-689-8471
Please call the conference telephone number five (5) minutes before the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. A call replay will be made available approximately 3 hours after the conference ends until Thursday, November 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Toll-free replay number: 1-844-512-2921
International replay number: 1-412-317-6671
Replay ID: 13763279
About IZEA Worldwide, Inc.
IZEA Worldwide, Inc. (“IZEA”) is a full-service creator economy agency powered by our proprietary ZED technology, with a mission to make Creator Economy solutions for marketers. We do this by lighting up the Creator Economy with IZEAs—our strategies, campaigns, and solutions that build brands and drive demand. Since launching the industry’s first-ever influencer marketing platform in 2006, IZEA has facilitated nearly 4 million collaborations between brands and creators.
Use of Key Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Managed Services Bookings is a key metric representing total sales orders received during a period, net of cancellations and refunds. Contracts vary by customer and scope, ranging from custom content projects to integrated marketing campaigns, and generally extend from several months up to a year. Managed Services Bookings provide a useful measure of overall demand but are not necessarily predictive of quarterly revenue, as the timing of revenue recognition varies with contract size, complexity, and customer arrangements. Certain customers enter into annual spend commitments that establish a defined budget for services to be performed throughout the year, while others engage the Company for specific campaigns or deliverables. These differing contract structures may influence the timing and distribution of bookings and related revenue. The Company uses this metric to evaluate customer and market trends, to plan operational staffing, and to inform product development initiatives.
"Adjusted EBITDA" is a non-GAAP financial measure under the Securities and Exchange Commission rules. EBITDA is commonly defined as "earnings before interest income and expense, taxes, depreciation, and amortization." IZEA defines “Adjusted EBITDA” as earnings or loss before interest expense, interest income, taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-cash stock-based compensation, gain or loss on asset disposals or impairment, and certain other unusual or non-cash income and expense items such as gains or losses on settlement of liabilities and exchanges, and changes in the fair value of derivatives, if applicable. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors as it primarily excludes non-cash and non-operating transactions, and it provides consistency to facilitate period-to-period comparisons.
Not all companies calculate bookings and Adjusted EBITDA in the same manner. These metrics and financial measures, as presented by IZEA, may not be comparable to those presented by other companies. Moreover, these metrics and financial measures have limitations as analytical tools. You should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for an analysis of our results of operations or, with respect to non-GAAP financial measures, as reported under GAAP. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is presented in the financial tables included in this press release.
Safe Harbor Statement
All statements in this release that are not based on historical fact are “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies, and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “hope,” “estimate,” “optimistic,” “believe,” “intend,” “ought to,” "likely," "projects," “plans,” "pursue," "strategy," “outlook,” or "future," or the negative of these words or other words or expressions of similar meaning. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding our financial outlook for the fourth quarter of 2026, including expected revenue and year-over-year revenue growth; expectations concerning product development and platform launches; future financial performance and operating results, including the conversion and recognition of bookings as revenues; the share repurchase authorization and any use of such authorization; potential strategic acquisitions; the growth or maintenance of customer relationships; and expectations concerning IZEA’s business strategy. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, among others, the following: the timing, scope, delay, or cancellation of customer campaigns and bookings, and our ability to convert bookings and customer opportunities not yet under contract into revenue within expected periods; our dependence on a limited number of large customers for a significant portion of our revenue; competitive conditions in the content and social sponsorship segment in which IZEA operates; failure to popularize one or more of the marketplace platforms of IZEA; our ability to identify, complete, and successfully integrate acquisitions; our ability to maintain disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting; our ability to satisfy the requirements for continued listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market; changing economic conditions that are less favorable than expected; and other risks and uncertainties described in IZEA’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements made in this release, including our financial outlook, speak only as of the date of this release, and IZEA assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in expectations, except as otherwise required by law.
Press Contact
John Francis
IZEA Worldwide, Inc.
Phone: 407-674-6911
Email: ir@izea.com
| IZEA Worldwide, Inc. Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets | |||||||
| September 30, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||
| Assets | |||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 46,439,805 | $ | 50,886,850 | |||
| Accounts receivable, net | 3,828,086 | 3,398,479 | |||||
| Prepaid expenses | 438,608 | 830,509 | |||||
| Other current assets | 8,667 | 9,002 | |||||
| Total current assets | 50,715,166 | 55,124,840 | |||||
| Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation | 90,550 | 17,131 | |||||
| Software development costs, net of accumulated amortization | 2,672,715 | 2,335,745 | |||||
| Total assets | $ | 53,478,431 | $ | 57,477,716 | |||
| Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | |||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||
| Accounts payable | 1,139,841 | 779,434 | |||||
| Accrued expenses | 1,373,024 | 3,050,995 | |||||
| Contract liabilities | 4,505,527 | 4,729,767 | |||||
| Total current liabilities | 7,018,392 | 8,560,196 | |||||
| Total liabilities | 7,018,392 | 8,560,196 | |||||
| Commitments and Contingencies | — | — | |||||
| Stockholders’ equity: | |||||||
| Preferred stock; $.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding | — | — | |||||
| Common stock; | 1,857 | 1,815 | |||||
| Treasury stock at cost: 1,274,655 and 889,123 shares at September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively | (3,630,816 | ) | (2,344,698 | ) | |||
| Additional paid-in capital | 156,330,343 | 155,568,812 | |||||
| Accumulated deficit | (106,160,107 | ) | (104,254,729 | ) | |||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (81,238 | ) | (53,680 | ) | |||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 46,460,039 | 48,917,520 | |||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 53,478,431 | $ | 57,477,716 | |||
| IZEA Worldwide, Inc. Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations | |||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 6,195,541 | $ | 8,072,380 | $ | 18,575,859 | $ | 25,173,975 | |||||||
| Costs and expenses: | |||||||||||||||
| Cost of revenue | 3,893,483 | 4,152,375 | 11,126,221 | 12,940,561 | |||||||||||
| Sales and marketing | 735,314 | 1,095,363 | 2,428,742 | 3,179,162 | |||||||||||
| General and administrative | 2,252,509 | 3,004,321 | 7,608,452 | 8,842,379 | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 139,906 | 150,740 | 476,725 | 460,334 | |||||||||||
| Total costs and expenses | 7,021,212 | 8,402,799 | 21,640,140 | 25,422,436 | |||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (825,671 | ) | (330,419 | ) | (3,064,281 | ) | (248,461 | ) | |||||||
| Other income, net: | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (32 | ) | (1,654 | ) | (2,867 | ) | (5,092 | ) | |||||||
| Other income | 381,763 | 479,818 | 1,161,770 | 1,463,566 | |||||||||||
| Total other income, net | 381,731 | 478,164 | 1,158,903 | 1,458,474 | |||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | (443,940 | ) | 147,745 | (1,905,378 | ) | 1,210,013 | |||||||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic | 17,330,831 | 17,074,681 | 17,398,981 | 17,142,358 | |||||||||||
| Basic income (loss) per common share | $ | (0.03 | ) | $ | 0.01 | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | 0.07 | |||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted | 17,330,831 | 18,377,063 | 17,398,981 | 18,150,970 | |||||||||||
| Diluted income (loss) per common share | $ | (0.03 | ) | $ | 0.01 | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | 0.07 | |||||
| IZEA Worldwide, Inc. Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) | ||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | |||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (443,940 | ) | $ | 147,745 | $ | (1,905,378 | ) | $ | 1,210,013 | ||||
| Other comprehensive gain (loss) | ||||||||||||||
| Unrealized loss on securities held | — | — | — | (12,209 | ) | |||||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss) on currency translation | 1,387 | 1,048 | (27,558 | ) | (143,343 | ) | ||||||||
| Total other comprehensive gain (loss) | 1,387 | 1,048 | (27,558 | ) | (155,552 | ) | ||||||||
| Total comprehensive income (loss) | $ | (442,553 | ) | $ | 148,793 | $ | (1,932,936 | ) | $ | 1,054,461 | ||||
| IZEA Worldwide, Inc. Revenue Details | ||||||||||||
| Revenue details by type: | ||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||
| Managed Services revenue | 6,178,480 | 100 | % | 8,036,430 | 100 | % | (1,857,950 | ) | (23) % | |||
| SaaS Services revenue | 17,061 | — | % | 35,950 | — | % | (18,889 | ) | (53) % | |||
| Total revenue | $ | 6,195,541 | 100 | % | $ | 8,072,380 | 100 | % | $ | (1,876,839 | ) | (23) % |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||
| Managed Services revenue | 18,442,936 | 99 | % | 24,996,871 | 99 | % | (6,553,935 | ) | (26) % | |||
| SaaS Services revenue | 132,923 | 1 | % | 177,104 | 1 | % | (44,181 | ) | (25) % | |||
| Total revenue | $ | 18,575,859 | 100 | % | $ | 25,173,975 | 100 | % | $ | (6,598,116 | ) | (26) % |
| IZEA Worldwide, Inc. Reconciliation of GAAP Net Loss to Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA | |||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (443,940 | ) | $ | 147,745 | $ | (1,905,378 | ) | $ | 1,210,013 | |||||
| Non-cash stock-based compensation | 390,260 | 445,643 | 1,150,291 | 1,086,489 | |||||||||||
| Non-cash stock issued for payment of services | 89,999 | 89,995 | 270,008 | 269,991 | |||||||||||
| Gain on disposal of equipment | (7,767 | ) | — | (7,767 | ) | — | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 139,906 | 150,740 | 476,725 | 460,334 | |||||||||||
| Interest expense | 32 | 1,654 | 2,867 | 5,092 | |||||||||||
| Other income, net | (381,507 | ) | (482,760 | ) | (1,161,770 | ) | (1,429,292 | ) | |||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | (213,017 | ) | $ | 353,017 | $ | (1,175,024 | ) | $ | 1,602,627 | |||||
| Revenue | $ | 6,195,541 | $ | 8,072,380 | $ | 18,575,859 | $ | 25,173,975 | |||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA as a % of revenue | (3.4) % | 4.4 | % | (6.3) % | 6.4 | % | |||||||||
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
What were IZEA's Q3 2026 revenue and earnings?
IZEA reported $6.2 million in revenue, down 23% year over year, and a net loss of $0.4 million, or $0.03 per share. The prior-year quarter generated revenue of $8.1 million and net income of $0.1 million, or $0.01 per share.
What is IZEA's fourth-quarter 2026 revenue outlook?
IZEA expects fourth-quarter 2026 revenue between $7.5 million and $8.1 million. The outlook primarily reflects contracted bookings and expected campaign timing, with limited contribution assumed from customer opportunities not yet under contract.
Do IZEA's Managed Services bookings predict quarterly revenue?
Managed Services bookings are not necessarily predictive of quarterly revenue because revenue recognition varies with contract size, complexity and customer arrangements. Bookings measure sales orders received, net of cancellations and refunds. Contracts generally extend from several months up to a year, with some customers making annual spending commitments and others purchasing specific campaigns.
How much stock has IZEA repurchased under its buyback program?
Through September 30, 2026, IZEA purchased 908,798 shares for $2.6 million under its repurchase program. The previously announced program covers up to $10.0 million in open-market purchases, subject to restrictions.