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Waystar Reports First Quarter 2026 Results

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Waystar (Nasdaq: WAY) reported Q1 2026 results with revenue $313.9M (up 22% YoY), GAAP net income of $43.3M (margin 14%), and non-GAAP net income of $81.2M. Adjusted EBITDA was $135.4M with a 43% margin. Subscription revenue reached $172.2M (+38% YoY); net revenue retention was 111%. Full-year 2026 guidance: revenue $1.274–1.294B, adjusted EBITDA $530–540M, and non-GAAP net income $317–335M.

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Positive

  • Revenue +22% YoY to $313.9M in Q1 2026
  • Subscription revenue +38% YoY to $172.2M
  • Net revenue retention rate of 111% (LTM)

Negative

  • GAAP net income margin 14% vs adjusted EBITDA margin 43%
  • Volume-based revenue growth only 7% YoY to $139.5M

Key Figures

Q1 2026 revenue: $313.9M Q1 2026 net income: $43.3M Non-GAAP net income: $81.2M +5 more
8 metrics
Q1 2026 revenue $313.9M Up 22% year-over-year in Q1 2026
Q1 2026 net income $43.3M GAAP net income, 14% net margin
Non-GAAP net income $81.2M Q1 2026 non-GAAP net income
Adjusted EBITDA $135.4M Q1 2026, 43% adjusted EBITDA margin
Cash from operations $84.9M Q1 2026 operating cash flow
Net revenue retention 111% Q1 2026 net revenue retention rate
Subscription revenue $172.2M Q1 2026, up 38% year-over-year
2026 revenue guidance $1.274–1.294B Full-year 2026 total revenue outlook

Market Reality Check

Price: $25.24 Vol: Volume 2,602,550 is sligh...
normal vol
$25.24 Last Close
Volume Volume 2,602,550 is slightly above the 20-day average of 2,398,992. normal
Technical Shares at $25.24 are trading below the 200-day MA of $32.12 and 40.68% under the 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

WAY was down 1.83% ahead of earnings while several health IT peers like HQY (-3....
1 Up

WAY was down 1.83% ahead of earnings while several health IT peers like HQY (-3.85%) and BTSG (-1.92%) were also lower, suggesting some sector pressure despite mixed moves from PRVA (+1.51%) and PINC (+0.07%).

Previous Earnings Reports

5 past events · Latest: Feb 17 (Positive)
Same Type Pattern 5 events
Date Event Sentiment Move Catalyst
Feb 17 Earnings and guidance Positive +8.5% Strong Q4/FY 2025 growth and higher 2026 guidance with mid‑40s margins.
Oct 29 Quarterly earnings Positive -6.5% Q3 2025 beat with guidance raised across revenue, EBITDA and net income.
Jul 30 Quarterly earnings Positive +3.8% Q2 2025 revenue up 15% YoY and guidance raised following Iodine deal.
Apr 30 Quarterly earnings Positive +6.2% Q1 2025 14% growth, strong margins, increased 2025 outlook and AI launch.
Feb 18 Earnings and outlook Positive -0.5% Robust FY 2024 results with double‑digit growth and 2025 guidance initiation.
Pattern Detected

Earnings releases have usually been received positively, but reactions are mixed, with both strong rallies and notable selloffs despite generally solid results and guidance raises.

Recent Company History

Over the last five earnings reports from Feb 2025 through Feb 2026, Waystar has consistently delivered double‑digit revenue growth, high‑40s adjusted EBITDA margins, and strong net revenue retention while expanding its large-client base. Management repeatedly raised or reaffirmed guidance and highlighted the Iodine acquisition and AltitudeAI as growth drivers. This Q1 2026 release continues that pattern with 22% revenue growth, a 43% adjusted EBITDA margin, and reaffirmed 2026 guidance.

Historical Comparison

+2.3% avg move · Across the last five earnings releases, WAY’s average move was about 2.28%, with both rallies and se...
earnings
+2.3%
Average Historical Move earnings

Across the last five earnings releases, WAY’s average move was about 2.28%, with both rallies and selloffs despite generally strong growth and guidance.

Earnings history shows revenue rising from $244.1M in Q4 2024 to $303.5M in Q4 2025 and now $313.9M in Q1 2026, while adjusted EBITDA margins have held near 42–43%. Guidance has been raised or reiterated multiple times, underscoring a consistent growth and profitability profile supported by Iodine integration and AI initiatives.

Regulatory & Risk Context

Active S-3 Shelf
Shelf Active
Active S-3 Shelf Registration 2025-07-14

The company has an effective S-3ASR shelf registration filed on 2025-07-14 with at least one usage via a 424B7 supplement on 2025-09-11, indicating the ability to access capital markets as needed.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights strong Q1 2026 execution, with revenue of $313.9M up 22% year over year...
Analysis

This announcement highlights strong Q1 2026 execution, with revenue of $313.9M up 22% year over year, non‑GAAP net income of $81.2M, and a 43% adjusted EBITDA margin. Key metrics such as 111% net revenue retention and 1,433 large clients underscore platform stickiness. Reaffirmed 2026 guidance of $1.274–1.294B revenue and $530–540M adjusted EBITDA, along with cash from operations of $84.9M, frame expectations and capital allocation flexibility.

Key Terms

adjusted ebitda, non-gaap net income, unlevered free cash flow, net revenue retention rate, +4 more
8 terms
adjusted ebitda financial
"Adjusted EBITDA of $135.4 million and adjusted EBITDA margin of 43%"
Adjusted EBITDA is a way companies measure how much money they make from their core operations, like running a business, by removing certain costs or income that aren’t part of regular business activities. It helps investors see how well a company is doing without distractions from unusual expenses or gains, making it easier to compare companies or track performance over time.
non-gaap net income financial
"Non-GAAP net income of $81.2 million and non-GAAP net income per diluted share"
Non-GAAP net income is a company's profit figure that excludes certain costs or income that are included in standard accounting methods. Companies often use it to show what their earnings might look like without one-time expenses or other unusual items, helping investors see the company's core performance more clearly.
unlevered free cash flow financial
"unlevered free cash flow of $90.3 million"
Unlevered free cash flow is the cash a company generates from its core business after paying operating costs and reinvesting in the business, but before any interest or debt repayments. It shows how much cash would be available to all providers of capital—owners and lenders alike—and helps investors compare underlying business performance and value companies without the distortion of different debt levels, like judging a car’s fuel efficiency before adding cargo weight.
net revenue retention rate financial
"Net revenue retention rate (NRR) of 111%"
Net revenue retention rate shows how much money a company keeps from its existing customers over time, after accounting for growth or losses. It helps measure if current customers are staying loyal and spending more or less, which is important for understanding the company's ongoing success and stability. Think of it like tracking how much your favorite subscription service keeps and grows its members' payments each year.
ipo financial
"costs related to amended debt agreements and IPO and secondary offering costs."
An initial public offering (IPO) is the process by which a private company sells its shares to the public for the first time, making its ownership available on the stock market. This allows the company to raise money from a wide range of investors to fund growth or other goals. For investors, an IPO offers a chance to buy into a company early in its public journey, potentially benefiting if the company grows in value.
secondary offerings financial
"costs related to our IPO, and the Secondary Offerings, and costs related"
A secondary offering is a sale of a company’s stock that happens after the initial public offering, either when the company issues more new shares or when existing shareholders sell their shares. It matters to investors because it can change the number of shares available and dilute the ownership stake of current shareholders when new shares are created, or signal that big holders are cashing out if existing shares are sold; think of it like adding more slices to a pizza or current owners selling their slices.
net debt financial
"We define net debt as the sum of the current portion of long-term debt"
Net debt is the total amount a company owes after subtracting the cash and assets it has that can be used to pay off that debt. It shows how much debt is truly a burden, helping investors understand if a company is financially healthy or heavily borrowed. Think of it like calculating how much money you owe after using your savings to pay part of it.
adjusted net leverage ratio financial
"We define adjusted net leverage ratio as net debt divided by adjusted EBITDA"
A measure of a company's debt burden that compares the amount of debt left after subtracting cash to its regular, adjusted operating cash profit; think of it as the remaining mortgage balance divided by annual take‑home pay. It shows how many years of that adjusted cash profit would be needed to pay off net debt, so investors use it to gauge financial risk, creditworthiness and how easily a company can afford interest and principal payments.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Q1 revenue of $313.9M, up 22% YoY

Q1 net income of $43.3M and non-GAAP net income of $81.2M

Q1 net income margin of 14%; adjusted EBITDA margin of 43%

LEHI, Utah and LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Waystar Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: WAY), a provider of leading healthcare payment software, today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026.

"Waystar delivered a solid first quarter, driven by strong execution and continued expansion across our platform," said Matt Hawkins, Chief Executive Officer of Waystar. "We advanced the Iodine integration, launched new innovations such as our AI-powered recoupment solution, and saw bookings come in ahead of our internal expectations, reinforcing our confidence as providers increasingly standardize on Waystar."

First Quarter 2026 Financial Highlights

  • Revenue of $313.9 million, up 22% year-over-year
  • Net income of $43.3 million, GAAP net income per diluted share of $0.22, and net income margin of 14%
  • Non-GAAP net income of $81.2 million and non-GAAP net income per diluted share of $0.42
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $135.4 million and adjusted EBITDA margin of 43%
  • Cash flow from operations of $84.9 million and unlevered free cash flow of $90.3 million

Key Performance Metrics and Revenue Disaggregation

  • 1,433 clients contributed over $100,000 in LTM revenue, up 15% year-over-year
  • Net revenue retention rate (NRR) of 111%
  • First quarter 2026 subscription revenue of $172.2 million, up 38% year-over-year
  • First quarter 2026 volume-based revenue of $139.5 million, up 7% year-over-year

Financial Outlook

As of April 29, 2026, Waystar provides the following guidance for its full fiscal year 2026.1

  • Total revenue is expected to be between $1.274 billion and $1.294 billion
  • Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $530 million and $540 million
  • Non-GAAP net income is expected to be between $317 million and $335 million
  • Diluted non-GAAP net income per share is expected to be between $1.59 and $1.68

Webcast Information

Waystar's financial results will be discussed on a conference call scheduled at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time today, April 29, 2026. A live audio conference call will be available on Waystar's website at https://investors.waystar.com/news-events/events. The webcast will be archived on the site for those unable to listen in real time. This earnings release and the related Current Report on Form 8-K furnished April 29, 2026, are available on the Investor Relations page of the company's website. We routinely post important information on our website, including corporate and investor presentations and financial information. We intend to use our website as a means of disclosing material, non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Such disclosures will be included in the Investor Relations section of our website. Accordingly, investors should monitor this portion of our website, in addition to following our press releases, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings, and public conference calls and webcasts.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the consolidated financial statements prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), this press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined below. We present non-GAAP financial measures as supplemental measures of financial performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, GAAP. We believe they assist investors and analysts in comparing our operating performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in highlighting trends in our operating performance, while other measures can differ significantly depending on long-term strategic decisions regarding capital structure, the tax jurisdictions in which we operate, and capital investments. Management uses adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin to supplement GAAP measures of performance in the evaluation of the effectiveness of our business strategies, to make budgeting decisions, to establish discretionary annual incentive compensation, and to compare our performance against that of other peer companies using similar measures. Management uses non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share to evaluate our core operating profitability on an after-tax basis exclusive of certain non-cash and non-recurring items, and to facilitate comparison with peer companies that may have different capital structures, acquisition histories, or tax profiles. Management uses unlevered free cash flow to evaluate cash generation from our core business operations independent of our capital structure. Management supplements GAAP results with non-GAAP financial measures to provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting the business than GAAP results alone provide.

Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income per share and unlevered free cash flow are not recognized terms under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) or net income (loss) margin as measures of financial performance or cash provided by operating activities as a measure of liquidity, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, these measures are not intended to be a measure of free cash flow available for management's discretionary use, as they do not consider certain cash requirements such as interest payments, tax payments, and debt service requirements. The presentations of these measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because not all companies use identical calculations, the presentations of these measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies and can differ significantly from company to company. A reconciliation is provided below for our non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with GAAP. Investors are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business.

The following non-GAAP financial measures and key performance metrics are defined below:

Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA Margin

We define adjusted EBITDA as net income / (loss) before interest expense, net, income tax expense / (benefit), depreciation and amortization, and as further adjusted for stock-based compensation expense, acquisition and integration costs, asset and lease impairments, costs related to amended debt agreements and IPO and secondary offering costs. Adjusted EBITDA margin represents adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue.

Non-GAAP Net Income and Non-GAAP Net Income Per Share

We define non-GAAP net income as GAAP net income excluding the impact of stock-based compensation, acquisition and integration costs, asset and lease impairments, costs related to our IPO, and the Secondary Offerings, and costs related to amended debt agreements and amortization of intangibles. The tax effects of the adjustments are calculated using a management estimated annual effective non-GAAP tax rate of 21%, which is based on our statutory federal tax rate and provides consistency across interim reporting periods by eliminating the effects of non-recurring and period specific items. Due to the differences in the tax treatment of items excluded from non-GAAP net income, our estimate tax rate on non-GAAP net income may differ from our GAAP tax rate. Non-GAAP net income per share is shown on both a basic and diluted basis and is defined as non-GAAP net income divided by the basic or diluted weighted-average shares, respectively.

Unlevered Free Cash Flow

We define unlevered free cash flow as cash from operations plus cash interest paid less capital expenses.

Net Debt

We define net debt as the sum of the current portion of long-term debt, long-term debt, and accounts receivable securitization less cash and equivalents and investment securities.

Adjusted Net Leverage Ratio

We define adjusted net leverage ratio as net debt divided by adjusted EBITDA over the preceding twelve months.

Key Performance Metrics

Net Revenue Retention Rate

Our Net Revenue Retention Rate compares twelve months of client invoices for our solutions at two period end dates. To calculate our Net Revenue Retention Rate, we first accumulate the total amount invoiced during the twelve months ending with the prior period-end or Prior Period Invoices. We then calculate the total amount invoiced to those same clients for the twelve months ending with the current period-end, or Current Period Invoices. Current Period Invoices are inclusive of upsell, downsell, pricing changes, clients that cancel or chose not to renew, and discontinued solutions with continuing clients. The Net Revenue Retention Rate is then calculated by dividing the Current Period Invoices by the Prior Period Invoices. Our total invoices included in the analysis are greater than 98% of reported revenue. We use Net Revenue Retention Rate to evaluate our ongoing operations and for internal planning and forecasting purposes. Acquired businesses are included in the last-twelve-month Net Revenue Retention Rate in the ninth quarter after acquisition, which is the earliest point that comparable post-acquisition invoices are available for both the current and prior twelve-month period.

Customer Count with >$100,000 of Revenue

We regularly monitor and review our count of clients who generate more than $100,000 of revenue.

Our count of clients who generate more than $100,000 of revenue is based on an accumulation of the amounts invoiced to clients over the preceding twelve months. The invoices for acquired clients are included starting in the first full calendar quarter after the date of acquisition.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, statements regarding Waystar's expectations relating to future operating results and financial position, including full year 2026, and future periods; the performance of our new product offerings; our industry and market opportunities, business strategy, goals, and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins and profitability, capital expenditures, liquidity, and capital resources and other financial and operating information. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts. These statements may include words such as "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "future," "will," "seek," "foreseeable," "outlook," the negative version of these words or similar terms and phrases to identify forward-looking statements in this press release, including the discussion of outlook for full fiscal year 2026.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on management's current expectations and are not guarantees of future performance. The forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties, assumptions, or changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict or quantify. Our expectations, beliefs, and projections are expressed in good faith, and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them. However, there can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs, and projections will result or be achieved. The following factors are among those that may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements: our operation in a highly competitive industry; our ability to retain our existing clients and attract new clients; our ability to successfully execute on our business strategies in order to grow; our ability to accurately assess the risks related to acquisitions and successfully integrate acquired businesses, including the acquisition of Iodine; our ability to establish and maintain strategic relationships; the growth and success of our clients and overall healthcare transaction volumes; consolidation in the healthcare industry; our selling cycle of variable length to secure new client agreements; our implementation cycle that is dependent on our clients' timing and resources; our dependence on our senior management team and certain key employees, and our ability to attract and retain highly skilled employees; the accuracy of the estimates and assumptions we use to determine the size of our total addressable market; our ability to develop and market new solutions, or enhance our existing solutions, to respond to technological changes or evolving industry standards; the interoperability, connectivity, and integration of our solutions with our clients' and their vendors' networks and infrastructures; the performance and reliability of internet, mobile, and other infrastructure; the consequences if we cannot obtain, process, use, disclose, or distribute the highly regulated data we require to provide our solutions; our reliance on certain third-party vendors and providers; any errors or malfunctions in our products and solutions; failure by our clients to obtain proper permissions or provide us with accurate and appropriate information; the potential for embezzlement, identity theft, or other similar illegal behavior by our employees or vendors, and a failure of our employees or vendors to observe quality standards or adhere to environmental, social, and governance standards; our compliance with the applicable rules of the National Automated Clearing House Association and the applicable requirements of card networks; increases in card network fees and other changes to fee arrangements; the effect of payer and provider conduct which we cannot control; privacy concerns and security breaches or incidents relating to our platform or data (including personal information and other regulated data); the complex and evolving laws and regulations regarding privacy, data protection, and cybersecurity; our ability to adequately protect and enforce our intellectual property rights; our ability to use or license data and integrate third-party technologies; the development, deployment, and use of AI; our use of "open source" software; legal proceedings initiated by third parties alleging that we are infringing or otherwise violating their intellectual property rights; claims that our employees, consultants, or independent contractors have wrongfully used or disclosed confidential information of third parties; the heavily regulated industry in which we conduct business; the uncertain and evolving healthcare regulatory and political framework; healthcare laws and data privacy and security laws and regulations governing our Processing of personal information (which may also be referred to as "personal data" or "personally identifiable information"); reduced revenues in response to changes to the healthcare regulatory landscape; legal, regulatory, and other proceedings that could result in adverse outcomes; contractual obligations requiring compliance with certain provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money laundering laws and regulations; existing laws that regulate our ability to engage in certain marketing activities; our full compliance with website accessibility standards; any changes in our tax rates, the adoption of new tax legislation, or exposure to additional tax liabilities; limitations on our ability to use our net operating losses to offset future taxable income; losses due to asset impairment charges; our substantial debt and restrictive covenants in the agreements governing our Credit Facilities; interest rate fluctuations; unavailability of additional capital on acceptable terms or at all; the impact of general macroeconomic conditions; our history of net losses and our ability to achieve or maintain profitability; the interests of the certain investors may be different than the interests of other holders of our securities; and each of the other factors discussed under the heading of "Risk Factors" in the Company's 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 17, 2026, and in other reports filed with the SEC, all of which are available on the Investor Relations page of our website at investors.waystar.com.

Any forward-looking statements made by us in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in this press release. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws.

About Waystar

Waystar's mission-critical software is purpose-built to simplify healthcare payments so providers can prioritize patient care and optimize their financial performance. Waystar serves approximately 30,000 clients, representing over 1 million distinct providers, including 16 of 20 institutions on the U.S. News Best Hospitals list. Waystar's enterprise-grade platform annually processes over 7.5 billion healthcare payment transactions, including over $2.4 trillion in annual gross claims and spanning approximately 60% of U.S. patients. Waystar strives to transform healthcare payments so providers can focus on what matters most: their patients and communities. Discover the way forward at waystar.com.











1We have not reconciled the forward-looking adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP net income, and non-GAAP net income per share guidance included above to the most directly comparable GAAP measure because this cannot be done without unreasonable effort due to the variability and low visibility with respect to certain costs, the most significant of which are incentive compensation (including stock-based compensation), transaction-related expenses, and certain fair value measurements, which are potential adjustments to future earnings. We expect the variability of these items to have a potentially unpredictable, and a potentially significant, impact on our future GAAP financial results.

 

Waystar Holding Corp.

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)




Three months ended
March 31,


2026


2025

Revenue

313,874


256,435

Operating expenses




Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization expenses)

97,035


83,345

Sales and marketing

45,830


40,123

General and administrative

30,724


23,300

Research and development

18,368


11,078

Depreciation and amortization

41,452


33,380

Total operating expenses

233,409


191,226

Income from operations

80,465


65,209

Other expense




Interest expense, net

(19,714)


(18,257)

Related party interest expense

(933)


(643)

Income before income taxes

59,818


46,309

Income tax expense/(benefit)

16,535


17,040

Net income

43,283


29,269

Net income per share:




Basic

0.23


0.17

Diluted

0.22


0.16

Weighted-average shares outstanding:




Basic

191,666,913


172,188,237

Diluted

195,155,126


180,691,994

 

Waystar Holding Corp.

Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)






March 31, 2026


December 31,
2025





Assets




Current assets




Cash and cash equivalents

$          34,337


$               61,355

Restricted cash

28,363


15,454

Investment securities

124,593


24,877

        Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $6,614 at March 31, 2026 and $6,170
           at December 31, 2025

172,532


177,037

Income tax receivable


6,437

Prepaid expenses

23,461


20,078

Other current assets

3,326


3,174

Total current assets

386,612


308,412

Property, plant and equipment, net

60,862


51,649

Operating lease right-of-use assets, net

11,870


12,972

Intangible assets, net

1,258,365


1,292,839

Goodwill

4,014,781


4,016,818

Deferred costs

98,414


93,951

Other long-term assets

8,089


8,459

Total assets

$       5,838,993


$           5,785,100

Liabilities and stockholders' equity




Current liabilities




Accounts payable

$           58,799


$               50,949

Accrued compensation

17,799


40,942

Aggregated funds payable

29,911


15,104

Other accrued expenses

28,975


22,990

Deferred revenue

64,680


67,855

Current portion of long-term debt

13,493


13,537

Related party current portion of long-term debt

701


657

Current portion of operating lease liabilities

5,602


6,029

Total current liabilities

219,960


218,063

Long-term liabilities




Deferred tax liability

209,721


211,320

Long-term debt, net, less current portion

1,388,238


1,394,523

Related party long-term debt, net, less current portion

67,343


64,186

Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion

10,852


11,994

Deferred revenue - long-term

5,164


5,496

Other long-term liabilities

277


692

Total liabilities

1,901,555


1,906,274

Commitments and contingencies (Note 20)




Stockholders' equity




Preferred stock $0.01 par value - 100,000,000 shares authorized as of March 31,
  2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively; zero shares issued or outstanding
  as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively


Common stock $0.01 par value - 2,500,000,000 shares authorized at March 31,
  2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively; 191,685,290 and 191,587,193 shares
  issued and outstanding at March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively

1,917


1,916

Additional paid-in capital

4,000,203


3,986,353

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

846


(632)

Accumulated deficit

(65,528)


(108,811)

Total stockholders' equity

3,937,438


3,878,826

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$       5,838,993


$           5,785,100

 

Waystar

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)




Three months ended March 31,


2026


2025

Cash flows from operating activities




Net income

$           43,283


$           29,269

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities




Depreciation and amortization

41,452


33,380

Stock-based compensation

11,446


6,744

Provision for bad debt expense

1,267


1,255

Loss on extinguishment of debt

113


Deferred income taxes

(2,104)


4,569

Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs

661


667

Changes in:




Accounts receivable

3,237


(3,284)

Income tax refundable

6,437


2,838

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

(3,176)


(1,460)

Deferred costs

(4,346)


(2,222)

Other long-term assets

284


324

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

(9,667)


(8,130)

Deferred revenue

(3,507)


775

Operating lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities

(467)


(476)

Net cash provided by operating activities

84,913


64,249

Cash flows from investing activities




Purchase of property and equipment and capitalization of internally developed software costs

(15,327)


(5,426)

Purchase of investment securities

(124,195)


(24,431)

Proceeds from sale or maturity of investment securities

25,000


Measurement period adjustments related to prior year acquisition

2,037


Net cash used in investing activities

(112,485)


(29,857)

Cash flows from financing activities




Change in aggregated funds liability

14,807


3,194

Proceeds from issuance of common stock from employee equity plans

2,405


10,686

Proceeds from issuances of debt, net of creditor fees

19,800


Payments on debt

(23,549)


(2,917)

Finance lease liabilities paid


(219)

Net cash provided by financing activities

13,463


10,744

Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents during the period

(14,109)


45,136

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash–beginning of period

76,809


204,582

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash–end of period

$           62,700


$          249,718

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information




Interest paid

$           20,680


$            19,960

Cash taxes paid (refunds received), net

154


532

Non-cash investing and financing activities




Fixed asset purchases in accounts payable

1,076


56

Reconciliation of Balance Sheet Cash Accounts to Cash Flow Statement




Balance sheet




Cash and cash equivalents

34,337


223,995

Restricted cash

28,363


25,723

Total

62,700


249,718

 

Waystar

Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA

 (in thousands)

(unaudited)






Three months ended
March 31,

($ in thousands)


2026


2025

Net income


$  43,283


$  29,269

Interest expense, net


20,647


18,900

Income tax expense


16,535


17,040

Depreciation and amortization


41,452


33,380

Stock-based compensation expense


11,446


6,744

Acquisition and integration costs


1,806


229

Costs related to amended debt agreements


227


IPO and Secondary Offering related expenses


7


1,430

Other (a)



754

Adjusted EBITDA


$ 135,403


$ 107,746

Revenue


$ 313,874


$ 256,435

Net income margin


13.8 %


11.4 %

Adjusted EBITDA margin


43.1 %


42.0 %



(a)

 Adjustments relate to additional lease costs due to the relocation of our Louisville office totaling $0.2 million and executive severance $0.5 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2025.

 

Waystar

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Operating Expenses

(in thousands)

(unaudited) 




Three months ended
March 31,


2026


2025

Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization expenses)

97,035


83,345

Less Stock-based compensation expense

(435)


(231)

Less Acquisition and integration costs

(1,145)


-

Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization expenses), adjusted

95,455


83,114





Sales and marketing

45,830


40,123

Add/(Less) Stock-based compensation expense

391


(1,392)

Add/(Less) Acquisition and integration costs

33


-

Sales and marketing, adjusted

46,254


38,731





General and administrative

30,724


23,300

Less Stock-based compensation expense

(8,752)


(4,106)

Less Acquisition and integration costs

(538)


(107)

Less Costs related to amended debt agreements

(227)


-

Less IPO and Secondary Offering expenses

(7)


(1,430)

Less Other (a)

-


(754)

General and administrative, adjusted

21,200


16,903





Research and development

18,368


11,078

Less Stock-based compensation expense

(2,650)


(1,015)

Less Acquisition and integration costs

(156)


(122)

Research and development, adjusted

15,562


9,941





Depreciation and amortization

41,452


33,380

Less Intangible amortization

(34,474)


(28,115)

Depreciation and amortization, adjusted

6,978


5,265





Income tax expense

16,535


17,040

Plus Tax effect of adjustments

10,072


7,827

Income tax expense, adjusted

26,607


24,867



(a)

 Adjustments relate to additional lease costs due to the relocation of our Louisville office totaling $0.2 million and executive severance $0.5 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2025.

 

Waystar

 Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Net Income

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)






Three months ended
March 31,

($ in thousands)


2026


2025

Net income


$        43,283


$       29,269

Stock based compensation


11,446


6,744

Acquisition and integration costs


1,806


229

Costs related to amended debt agreements


227


IPO and Secondary Offering related expenses


7


1,430

Other (a)



754

Intangible amortization


34,474


28,115

Tax effect of adjustments


(10,072)


(7,827)

Non-GAAP net income


$         81,171


$       58,714






Non-GAAP net income per share:





Basic


$            0.42


$          0.34

Diluted


$            0.42


$          0.32

Weighted-average shares outstanding:





Basic


191,666,913


172,188,237

Diluted


195,155,126


180,691,994



(a)

 Adjustments relate to additional lease costs due to the relocation of our Louisville office totaling $0.2 million and executive severance $0.5 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2025.

 

Waystar

Reconciliation of Unlevered Free Cash Flow

(in thousands)

(unaudited)




Three months ended
March 31,


2026


2025

Net cash provided by operating activities

84,913


64,249

Interest paid

20,680


19,960

Purchase of PP&E and capitalization of internally developed software costs

(15,327)


(5,426)

Unlevered free cash flow

90,266


78,783

 

Waystar

Reconciliation of Net Debt

 (in thousands)

(unaudited)




March 31,


2026


2025

First lien term loan facility outstanding debt, current

14,194


11,668

First lien term loan facility outstanding debt, net of current portion

1,363,504


1,148,960

Receivables facility outstanding debt

100,000


80,000

Cash and cash equivalents

(34,337)


(223,995)

Investment securities

(124,593)


(24,419)

Net debt

1,318,768


992,214





Trailing Twelve Months Adjusted EBITDA

489,803


398,481





Adjusted Gross leverage ratio

3.0x


3.1x

Adjusted Net leverage ratio

2.7x


2.5x

 

Waystar

Reconciliation of Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) Adjusted EBITDA

(in thousands)

(unaudited)






Three Months Ended


TTM


March 31,
2026


December 31,
2025


September 30,
2025


June 30,
2025


March 31,
2026

Net income

43,283


19,988


30,648


32,184


126,103

Interest expense, net

20,647


22,872


17,515


18,255


79,289

Income tax expense

16,535


16,158


12,069


14,407


59,169

Depreciation and amortization

41,452


40,442


33,300


33,426


148,620

Stock-based compensation expense

11,446


12,198


11,597


11,530


46,771

Acquisition and integration costs

1,806


14,877


5,313


655


22,651

Costs related to amended debt agreements

227


1,931


649


-


2,807

IPO and Secondary Offering expenses

7


86


1,372


1,769


3,234

Other (a)

-


593


240


326


1,159

Adjusted EBITDA

135,403


129,145


112,703


112,552


489,803


(a) Adjustments relate to additional lease costs due to the relocation of our Louisville office and executive severance.

Media Contact
Kristin Lee
kristin.lee@waystar.com

Investor Contact
investors@waystar.com

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/waystar-reports-first-quarter-2026-results-302757829.html

SOURCE Waystar

FAQ

What did Waystar (WAY) report for Q1 2026 revenue and growth?

Waystar reported $313.9 million in Q1 2026 revenue, a 22% year-over-year increase. According to the company, growth was driven by subscription expansion and product rollouts, with subscription revenue up 38% year-over-year to $172.2 million.

How profitable was Waystar (WAY) in Q1 2026 on GAAP and non-GAAP bases?

GAAP net income was $43.3 million (14% margin); non-GAAP net income was $81.2 million. According to the company, non-GAAP excludes stock-based compensation and other items, producing an adjusted EBITDA of $135.4 million (43% margin).

What guidance did Waystar (WAY) give for full-year 2026 revenue and EBITDA?

Waystar expects full-year 2026 revenue of $1.274–1.294 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $530–540 million. According to the company, guidance reflects current bookings, subscription trends, and continued integration of recent acquisitions.

How did Waystar's subscription vs volume-based revenue perform in Q1 2026?

Subscription revenue was $172.2 million (up 38% YoY); volume-based revenue was $139.5 million (up 7% YoY). According to the company, subscription expansion drove the stronger growth rate compared with transaction-based volume revenue.

What cash generation metrics did Waystar (WAY) report for Q1 2026?

Cash flow from operations was $84.9 million and unlevered free cash flow was $90.3 million in Q1 2026. According to the company, these metrics reflect operating performance and cash conversion from recurring subscription revenue.