STOCK TITAN

First Advantage (NASDAQ: FA) posts Q1 2026 growth and reaffirms 2026 outlook

Filing Impact
(High)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

First Advantage Corporation reported strong first quarter 2026 results, with revenues of $385.2 million, an 8.6% increase from $354.6 million a year earlier. Net income was $2.2 million, compared with a $41.2 million loss, reflecting a return to profitability.

Adjusted EBITDA rose to $105.3 million with a 27.3% margin, while Adjusted Net Income reached $45.1 million and Adjusted Diluted EPS was $0.26, up from $0.17. The company generated $49.4 million in operating cash flow, prepaid $50 million of debt across February and May, repurchased $19.5 million of shares, and reaffirmed its full year 2026 guidance ranges.

Positive

  • Revenues increased 8.6% year-over-year to $385.2 million, while net income swung from a $41.2 million loss to a $2.2 million profit, signaling a notable improvement in profitability.
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $105.3 million with a 27.3% margin, and Adjusted Net Income climbed to $45.1 million with Adjusted Diluted EPS up to $0.26 from $0.17, indicating strong underlying earnings growth.
  • The company generated $49.4 million in operating cash flow, made $50 million of voluntary debt prepayments, repurchased $19.5 million of shares, and reaffirmed full year 2026 guidance ranges, reflecting balance sheet improvement and continued confidence.

Negative

  • None.

Insights

First Advantage shows solid growth, margin improvement, debt paydown, and continued confidence via reaffirmed guidance.

First Advantage delivered Q1 2026 revenue of $385.2 million, up 8.6% year-over-year, with income from operations rising sharply to $33.5 million. Net income improved to $2.2 million from a prior $41.2 million loss, indicating better cost control and lower interest expense.

Non-GAAP metrics were notably stronger: Adjusted EBITDA reached $105.3 million with a 27.3% margin, and Adjusted Net Income grew to $45.1 million. Adjusted Diluted EPS increased from $0.17 to $0.26, highlighting underlying earnings expansion even though GAAP net margin remains modest.

Cash flow from operations was $49.4 million, supporting voluntary debt prepayments totaling $50 million and share repurchases of $19.5 million. These actions, alongside reaffirmed full year 2026 guidance ranges, suggest continued management confidence in the business trajectory based on the disclosed figures.

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition Financial
Disclosure of earnings results, typically an earnings press release or preliminary financials.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Revenue $385.2 million Three months ended March 31, 2026; 8.6% year-over-year increase from $354.6 million
Net income $2.2 million Q1 2026 net income vs. $41.2 million loss in Q1 2025
Adjusted EBITDA $105.3 million Q1 2026 Adjusted EBITDA with 27.3% margin, up from $92.1 million and 26.0% margin
Adjusted Diluted EPS $0.26 Q1 2026 Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share vs. $0.17 in Q1 2025
Operating cash flow $49.4 million Cash flows from operating activities for three months ended March 31, 2026
Voluntary debt prepayments $50 million Voluntary debt prepayments of $25 million on February 27 and $25 million on May 6, 2026
Share repurchases $19.5 million Shares repurchased under $100 million share repurchase program during Q1 2026
Total assets $3,754.2 million Total assets as of March 31, 2026, down from $3,833.8 million at December 31, 2025
Adjusted EBITDA financial
"Adjusted EBITDA of $105.3 million (27.3% margin)"
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.
Adjusted Net Income financial
"Adjusted Net Income of $45.1 million; Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share of $0.26"
Adjusted net income is a company's reported profit after removing unusual, one-time, or non-operational items so the number reflects the business’s regular earning power. Investors use it like a cleaned-up scorecard — similar to judging a player’s season performance without a few fluke games — to compare companies or assess trends without being misled by rare gains or losses that won’t affect future cash flow.
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share financial
"Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share of $0.26"
Adjusted diluted earnings per share is the company’s net profit per share after accounting for potential extra shares (from options or convertible securities) and removing one‑time or unusual items so the number reflects ongoing business results. Think of it like timing a runner’s steady pace after excluding a few unexpected stops; it gives investors a clearer view of sustainable profit available to each share. Investors use it to compare companies and judge underlying profitability and valuation without short‑term distortions.
loss on extinguishment of debt financial
"Loss on extinguishment of debt | 374 | | | | —"
Loss on extinguishment of debt is the accounting hit a company records when it retires or restructures a loan or bond for an amount that exceeds the debt’s recorded value—like paying more than the remaining balance to settle a loan early. It matters to investors because it reduces reported profit and can use cash, but may also cut future interest costs or signal financial stress; understanding it helps assess earnings quality and balance-sheet strength.
share-based compensation financial
"Share-based compensation | 4,430 | | | | 7,967"
Share-based compensation is when a company pays employees, executives or directors with its own stock or rights to buy stock instead of, or in addition to, cash. Think of it like receiving store gift cards instead of extra paycheck — it can motivate staff to boost the company’s value, but it also increases the number of shares outstanding and can shrink each existing owner’s slice of profits and voting power. Investors watch it because it affects reported earnings, share count and the alignment between management and shareholders.
integration, restructuring, and other charges financial
"Integration, restructuring, and other charges (c) | 4,582 | | | | 10,866"
Revenue $385.2 million +8.6% year-over-year
Net income $2.2 million from $41.2 million net loss in Q1 2025
Adjusted EBITDA $105.3 million from $92.1 million in Q1 2025
Adjusted Net Income $45.1 million from $30.5 million in Q1 2025
Adjusted Diluted EPS $0.26 from $0.17 in Q1 2025
Guidance

Reaffirmed full year 2026 guidance ranges.

0001210677False00012106772026-05-072026-05-07

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 7, 2026

 

 

First Advantage Corporation

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

Delaware

001-31666

84-3884690

(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

 

1 Concourse Parkway NE

Suite 200

 

Atlanta, Georgia

 

30328

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (678) 868-4151

 

Not applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of each class

 

Trading
Symbol(s)

 


Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share

 

FA

 

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

 


Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On May 7, 2026, First Advantage Corporation issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.

The information furnished under this Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that section and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as otherwise expressly stated by specific reference in any such filing.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.

 

Description

99.1

 

Press Release of First Advantage Corporation dated May 7, 2026.

104

 

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

 


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

FIRST ADVANTAGE CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

Date:

May 7, 2026

By:

/s/ Steven Marks

 

 

 

Name: Steven Marks
Title: Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

 


 

Exhibit 99.1

img219211210_0.gif


 

First Advantage Reports First Quarter 2026 Results

Delivers Another Record Quarter and Reaffirms Full Year 2026 Guidance

First Quarter 2026 Highlights1

Revenues of $385.2 million (8.6% growth year-over-year)
Net income of $2.2 million (0.6% margin); Diluted net income per share of $0.01
Adjusted EBITDA of $105.3 million (27.3% margin)
Adjusted Net Income of $45.1 million; Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share of $0.26
Cash Flows from Operations of $49.4 million
Subsequent to the end of the quarter, voluntary debt prepayment of $25 million made on May 6, in addition to $25 million prepayment made on February 27
$19.5 million in shares repurchased under $100 million share repurchase program
Reaffirming full year 2026 guidance ranges3

ATLANTA, May 7, 2026 – First Advantage Corporation (NASDAQ: FA), a global software and data company, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026.

Key Financials

(Amounts in millions, except per share data and percentages)

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

 

Change

 

Revenues

$

385.2

 

 

$

354.6

 

 

 

8.6

%

Net income (loss)

$

2.2

 

 

$

(41.2

)

 

NM

 

Net income (loss) margin

 

0.6

%

 

 

(11.6

)%

 

NA

 

Diluted net income (loss) per share

$

0.01

 

 

$

(0.24

)

 

NM

 

Adjusted EBITDA1

$

105.3

 

 

$

92.1

 

 

 

14.3

%

Adjusted EBITDA Margin1

 

27.3

%

 

 

26.0

%

 

NA

 

Adjusted Net Income1

$

45.1

 

 

$

30.5

 

 

 

48.0

%

Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share1

$

0.26

 

 

$

0.17

 

 

 

52.9

%

1 Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Net Income, and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share are non-GAAP measures. Please see the end of this earnings release for definitions and schedules with reconciliations of these measures to their most directly comparable respective GAAP measures.

Note: "NA" indicates not applicable information; "NM" indicates not meaningful information.

“Continuing our positive momentum from 2025, we generated exceptional financial results in the first quarter, with year-over-year revenue growth of 8.6%. Our sales engine is clearly humming. Our verticalized go-to-market strategy and diversified customer base, with our focus on enterprise customers, have enabled us to consistently outpace broader hiring market trends. We are seeing positive momentum across key verticals including retail & e-commerce, transportation & logistics, and gig economy, and are continuing to deliver upsell, cross-sell, and new logo wins through our innovative solutions, while also maintaining our high customer retention rate of 97%. Spanning across the employee lifecycle, our comprehensive solutions, including Digital Identity, continue to resonate with customers and open up meaningful growth opportunities,” said Scott Staples, Chief Executive Officer.

 


 

“We are building on our position of strength through the disciplined execution of our FA 5.0 growth strategy. First Advantage operates at scale, leveraging our AI-enabled products and technologies to help customers navigate increasingly complex human capital risks. Our proprietary data assets, large scale physical fulfillment networks, compliance expertise, consultative approach, and deep system integrations uniquely position us to deliver durable, long-term shareholder value in an evolving technology landscape,” Staples concluded.

Reaffirming Full Year 2026 Guidance

“We are reaffirming our full year 2026 guidance in light of our strong performance in the first quarter and our latest view of the macroeconomic environment,” commented Steven Marks, Chief Financial Officer. “We continue to generate strong cash flow, and consistent with our balanced capital allocation strategy, we are both repurchasing shares and continuing to reduce net leverage. During the quarter, we repurchased $19.5 million in shares under our recently announced $100 million authorization and voluntarily paid down $25 million of debt, as previously announced. Subsequent to the end of the quarter, we repurchased an additional $13.8 million in shares through May 1 and made another voluntary principal prepayment of $25 million in early May. We remain focused on accelerating growth while steadily reducing net leverage and advancing toward our long-term financial objectives.”

The following table summarizes our full year 2026 guidance.

 

As of May 7, 2026

Revenues

 

$1,625 million – $1,700 million

Adjusted EBITDA3

 

$460 million – $485 million

Adjusted Net Income3

 

$200 million – $220 million

Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share3

 

$1.15 – $1.25

3 A reconciliation of the foregoing guidance for the non-GAAP metrics of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income to GAAP net income (loss) and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share to GAAP diluted net income (loss) per share cannot be provided without unreasonable effort because of the inherent difficulty of accurately forecasting the occurrence and financial impact of the various adjusting items necessary for such reconciliation that have not yet occurred, are out of our control, or cannot be reasonably predicted. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to assess the probable significance of the unavailable information, which could have a material impact on its future GAAP financial results.

Actual results may differ materially from First Advantage’s full year 2026 guidance as a result of, among other things, the factors described under “Forward-Looking Statements” below.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

First Advantage will host a conference call to review its first quarter 2026 results today, May 7, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. ET.

To participate in the conference call, please dial 800-274-8461 (domestic) or 203-518-9814 (international) approximately ten minutes before the 8:30 a.m. ET start. Please mention to the operator that you are dialing in for the First Advantage first quarter 2026 earnings call or provide the conference code FA1Q26. The call will also be webcast live on the Company’s investor relations website at https://investors.fadv.com under the “News & Events” and then “Events & Presentations” section, where related presentation materials will be posted prior to the conference call.

Following the conference call, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Company’s investor relations website, https://investors.fadv.com. Alternatively, the live webcast and subsequent replay will be available at https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/5299677/C9C3CC4A5F89F22F622AC6FC6E51BB7B.

 


 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, our operations and financial performance. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements relate to matters such as our industry, business strategy, goals, and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, capital expenditures, liquidity and capital resources, and other financial and operating information. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “future,” “will,” “seek,” “foreseeable,” “target,” “guidance,” the negative version of these words, or similar terms and phrases.

These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties, assumptions, or changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict or quantify. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:

the failure to realize the expected benefits of the Sterling Acquisition;
adverse changes in external events beyond our control, including our customers’ onboarding volumes, economic drivers which are sensitive to macroeconomic cycles, such as interest rate volatility and inflation, geopolitical unrest, global trade disputes, uncertainty in financial markets, and changes in tax laws;
our operations in a highly regulated industry and the fact that we are subject to numerous and evolving laws and regulations, including with respect to personal data, data security, and artificial intelligence ("AI");
our inability to identify and successfully implement our growth strategies on a timely basis or at all;
potential harm to our business, brand, and reputation as a result of security breaches, cyber-attacks, social, ethical, and legal issues relating to the use of new and evolving technologies, employee or other internal misconduct, computer viruses, or the mishandling of personal data;
operating in a penetrated and competitive market;
our reliance on third-party data providers;
our sales to government entities and higher-tier contractors to governmental customers which involve unique competitive, procurement, budget, administrative and contractual risks;
due to the sensitive and privacy-driven nature of our products and solutions, we could face liability and legal or regulatory proceedings, which could be costly and time-consuming to defend and may not be fully covered by insurance;
our international business exposes us to a number of risks;
real or perceived errors, failures, or bugs in our products could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, and growth prospects;
our ability to identify attractive targets or successfully complete such transactions;
failure to comply with anti-corruption, economic and trade sanctions, and anti-money laundering laws and regulations;
disruptions at our Operation Centers of Excellence and other operational sites;
our contracts with our customers, which do not guarantee exclusivity or contracted volumes;
the timing, manner and volume of repurchases of common stock pursuant to our share repurchase program;
disruptions, outages, or other errors with our technology and network infrastructure, including our data centers, servers, and third-party cloud and internet providers and our migration to the cloud;
the continued integration of our platforms and solutions with human resource providers such as applicant tracking systems and human capital management systems as well as our relationships with such human resource providers;
risks relating to public opinion, which may be magnified by incidents or adverse publicity concerning our industry or operations;
our reliance on third-party vendors to carry out certain portions of our operations;

 


 

our dependence on the service of our key executives and other employees, and our ability to find and retain qualified employees;
our ability to obtain, maintain, protect and enforce our intellectual property and other proprietary information;
our ability to maintain, protect, and enforce the confidentiality of our trade secrets;
the use of open-source software in our applications;
seasonality in our operations from quarter to quarter;
our indebtedness could adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, limit our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry, and prevent us from meeting our obligations;
Silver Lake’s control of us and the potential conflict of its interest with ours or those of our stockholders; and
changing interpretations of tax laws.

For additional information on these and other factors that could cause First Advantage’s actual results to differ materially from expected results, please see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as such factors may be updated from time to time in our filings with the SEC, which are or will be accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release, and 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 required by law.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release contains “non-GAAP financial measures” that are financial measures that either exclude or include amounts that are not excluded or included in the most directly comparable measures calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). Specifically, we make use of the non-GAAP financial measures “Adjusted EBITDA,” “Adjusted EBITDA Margin,” “Adjusted Net Income,” and “Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share.”

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Net Income, and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share have been presented in this press release as supplemental measures of financial performance that are not required by or presented in accordance with GAAP because 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 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, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Net Income, and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share 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 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.

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Net Income, and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share are not recognized terms under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income as a measure of financial performance or cash provided by operating activities as a measure of liquidity, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP.

 


 

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, and as further adjusted for loss on extinguishment of debt, share-based compensation, transaction and acquisition-related charges, integration and restructuring charges, and other non-cash charges. We define Adjusted EBITDA Margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by total revenues. We define Adjusted Net Income for a particular period as net income before taxes adjusted for debt-related costs, acquisition-related depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation, transaction and acquisition-related charges, integration and restructuring charges, and other non-cash charges, to which we then apply the related effective tax rate. We define Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share as Adjusted Net Income divided by adjusted weighted average number of shares outstanding—diluted.

For reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures, see the reconciliations included at the end of this press release.

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.

Certain monetary amounts, percentages, and other figures have been subject to rounding adjustments. Percentage amounts have not in all cases been calculated on the basis of such rounded figures, but on the basis of such amounts prior to rounding. For this reason, percentage amounts may vary from those obtained by performing the same calculations using the figures in our press release. Certain other amounts that appear in this press release may not sum due to rounding.

About First Advantage

First Advantage (NASDAQ: FA) is a global software and data company. We provide comprehensive, end-to-end identity solutions, criminal background screening, credential verifications, drug and health screening, and continuous risk monitoring. Combining AI-powered proprietary technology platforms with proprietary data, primary source data, and third-party data, we help organizations hire with confidence and manage risk across the entire employee lifecycle. With over 80,000 customers worldwide – including approximately two-thirds of the Fortune 100 – we deliver fast, comprehensive, and reliable solutions for employers, their candidates, and their employees. We conduct more than 200 million screens annually across over 200 countries and territories, supported by our verticalized go-to-market strategy, decades of experience, and proprietary databases containing over 1 billion records. For more information, please visit our website at https://fadv.com/.

Investor Contact

Stephanie Gorman

Vice President, Investor Relations

Investors@fadv.com

(678) 868-4151

 


 

Condensed Financial Statements

First Advantage Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share and par value amounts)

 

March 31, 2026

 

 

December 31, 2025

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

225,908

 

 

$

239,998

 

Restricted cash

 

 

111

 

 

 

86

 

Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $8,327 and $8,084 at March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively)

 

 

287,676

 

 

 

297,281

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

21,317

 

 

 

15,323

 

Income tax receivable

 

 

4,306

 

 

 

9,010

 

Total current assets

 

 

539,318

 

 

 

561,698

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

237,039

 

 

 

250,865

 

Goodwill

 

 

2,138,399

 

 

 

2,143,604

 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

820,653

 

 

 

857,111

 

Deferred tax asset, net

 

 

4,151

 

 

 

4,183

 

Other assets

 

 

14,604

 

 

 

16,341

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

3,754,164

 

 

$

3,833,802

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

107,193

 

 

$

109,888

 

Accrued compensation

 

 

42,246

 

 

 

60,537

 

Accrued liabilities

 

 

42,347

 

 

 

49,140

 

Current portion of operating lease liability

 

 

3,372

 

 

 

3,568

 

Income tax payable

 

 

3,128

 

 

 

2,298

 

Deferred revenues

 

 

5,211

 

 

 

5,028

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

203,497

 

 

 

230,459

 

Long-term debt (net of deferred financing costs of $32,603 and $34,498 at March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively)

 

 

2,056,934

 

 

 

2,080,039

 

Deferred tax liability, net

 

 

181,024

 

 

 

190,255

 

Operating lease liability, less current portion

 

 

4,862

 

 

 

5,525

 

Other liabilities

 

 

14,063

 

 

 

13,972

 

Total liabilities

 

 

2,460,380

 

 

 

2,520,250

 

EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock - $0.001 par value; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 172,705,863 and 174,190,461 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively

 

 

173

 

 

 

174

 

Additional paid-in-capital

 

 

1,532,985

 

 

 

1,528,315

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(212,149

)

 

 

(194,632

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(27,225

)

 

 

(20,305

)

Total equity

 

 

1,293,784

 

 

 

1,313,552

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

$

3,754,164

 

 

$

3,833,802

 

 

 


 

First Advantage Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

(Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

REVENUES

 

$

385,201

 

 

$

354,588

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization below)

 

 

211,411

 

 

 

192,565

 

Product and technology expense

 

 

24,605

 

 

 

27,155

 

Selling, general, and administrative expense

 

 

53,475

 

 

 

65,585

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

62,190

 

 

 

61,666

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

351,681

 

 

 

346,971

 

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

 

 

33,520

 

 

 

7,617

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER EXPENSE, NET:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

29,841

 

 

 

46,580

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

374

 

 

 

 

Total other expense, net

 

 

30,215

 

 

 

46,580

 

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

 

 

3,305

 

 

 

(38,963

)

Provision for income taxes

 

 

1,137

 

 

 

2,231

 

NET INCOME (LOSS)

 

$

2,168

 

 

$

(41,194

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation (loss) income

 

 

(6,920

)

 

 

5,453

 

COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

 

$

(4,752

)

 

$

(35,741

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS)

 

$

2,168

 

 

$

(41,194

)

Basic net income (loss) per share

 

$

0.01

 

 

$

(0.24

)

Diluted net income (loss) per share

 

$

0.01

 

 

$

(0.24

)

Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic

 

 

173,903,625

 

 

 

172,756,497

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted

 

 

174,922,780

 

 

 

172,756,497

 

 

 


 

First Advantage Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

2,168

 

 

$

(41,194

)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

62,190

 

 

 

61,666

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

374

 

 

 

 

Amortization of deferred financing costs

 

 

1,520

 

 

 

1,608

 

Bad debt expense (recovery)

 

 

572

 

 

 

(712

)

Deferred taxes

 

 

(9,227

)

 

 

(7,553

)

Share-based compensation

 

 

4,430

 

 

 

7,967

 

Loss on disposal and impairment of long-lived assets

 

 

6,631

 

 

 

132

 

Change in fair value of interest rate swaps

 

 

(4,945

)

 

 

3,936

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

8,339

 

 

 

1,927

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

 

(5,502

)

 

 

(993

)

Accounts payable

 

 

(1,857

)

 

 

(6,038

)

Accrued compensation and accrued liabilities

 

 

(19,892

)

 

 

(8,615

)

Deferred revenues

 

 

201

 

 

 

482

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

 

87

 

 

 

(91

)

Other liabilities

 

 

(1,183

)

 

 

(366

)

Income taxes receivable and payable, net

 

 

5,525

 

 

 

7,315

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

49,431

 

 

 

19,471

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capitalized software development costs

 

 

(13,204

)

 

 

(10,628

)

Purchases of property and equipment

 

 

(2,812

)

 

 

(485

)

Other investing activities

 

 

2,000

 

 

 

37

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(14,016

)

 

 

(11,076

)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repayments of First Lien Credit Facility

 

 

(25,000

)

 

 

(5,463

)

Share repurchases

 

 

(19,492

)

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of common stock under share-based compensation plans

 

 

1,152

 

 

 

1,688

 

Net settlement of share-based compensation plan awards

 

 

(911

)

 

 

(2,204

)

Cash dividends paid

 

 

(10

)

 

 

(11

)

Payments on finance lease obligations

 

 

 

 

 

(3

)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

 

(44,261

)

 

 

(5,993

)

Effect of exchange rate on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

 

 

(5,219

)

 

 

906

 

(Decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

 

 

(14,065

)

 

 

3,308

 

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period

 

 

240,084

 

 

 

169,483

 

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period

 

$

226,019

 

 

$

172,791

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds received

 

$

5,768

 

 

$

3,003

 

Cash paid for interest

 

$

34,714

 

 

$

41,881

 

NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment acquired on account

 

$

2,386

 

 

$

973

 

Excise taxes on share repurchases incurred but not paid

 

$

195

 

 

$

 

 

 


 

Reconciliation of Consolidated Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

(in thousands, except percentages)

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

2,168

 

 

$

(41,194

)

Interest expense, net

 

 

29,841

 

 

 

46,580

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

1,137

 

 

 

2,231

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

62,190

 

 

 

61,666

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

374

 

 

 

 

Share-based compensation(a)

 

 

4,430

 

 

 

7,967

 

Transaction and acquisition-related charges(b)

 

 

565

 

 

 

3,996

 

Integration, restructuring, and other charges(c)

 

 

4,582

 

 

 

10,866

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

105,287

 

 

$

92,112

 

Revenues

 

 

385,201

 

 

 

354,588

 

Net income (loss) margin

 

 

0.6

%

 

 

(11.6

)%

Adjusted EBITDA Margin

 

 

27.3

%

 

 

26.0

%

(a)
Share-based compensation for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 includes approximately $0.6 million and $1.9 million, respectively, of incrementally recognized expense associated with the May 2023 modification of the vesting terms of outstanding unvested and unearned performance-based options, restricted stock units, and restricted stock awards.
(b)
Represents charges incurred related to acquisitions and similar transactions, primarily consisting of change in control-related costs, professional service fees, and other third-party costs. Transaction and acquisition related charges for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 include approximately $0.2 million and $3.8 million, respectively, of expense associated with the Sterling Acquisition.
(c)
Represents charges from organizational restructuring and integration activities, non-cash, and other charges primarily related to nonrecurring legal exposures, foreign currency (gains) losses, (gains) losses on the sale of assets, and other non-recurring items. Integration, restructuring, and other charges for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 include approximately $1.4 million and $7.8 million, respectively, of expense associated with the integration of Sterling.

 


 

Reconciliation of Consolidated Non-GAAP Financial Measures (continued)

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

2,168

 

 

$

(41,194

)

Provision for income taxes

 

 

1,137

 

 

 

2,231

 

Income (loss) before provision for income taxes

 

 

3,305

 

 

 

(38,963

)

Debt-related charges(a)

 

 

(3,169

)

 

 

6,803

 

Acquisition-related depreciation and amortization(b)

 

 

50,914

 

 

 

50,039

 

Share-based compensation(c)

 

 

4,430

 

 

 

7,967

 

Transaction and acquisition-related charges(d)

 

 

565

 

 

 

3,996

 

Integration, restructuring, and other charges(e)

 

 

4,582

 

 

 

10,866

 

Adjusted Net Income before income tax effect

 

 

60,627

 

 

 

40,708

 

Less: Adjusted income taxes(f)

 

 

15,508

 

 

 

10,222

 

Adjusted Net Income

 

$

45,119

 

 

$

30,486

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2026

 

 

2025

 

Diluted net income (loss) per share (GAAP)

 

$

0.01

 

 

$

(0.24

)

Adjusted Net Income adjustments per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

0.01

 

 

 

0.01

 

Debt-related charges(a)

 

 

(0.02

)

 

 

0.04

 

Acquisition-related depreciation and amortization(b)

 

 

0.29

 

 

 

0.29

 

Share-based compensation(c)

 

 

0.03

 

 

 

0.05

 

Transaction and acquisition related charges(d)

 

 

0.00

 

 

 

0.02

 

Integration, restructuring, and other charges(e)

 

 

0.03

 

 

 

0.06

 

Adjusted income taxes(f)

 

 

(0.09

)

 

 

(0.06

)

Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share (Non-GAAP)

 

$

0.26

 

 

$

0.17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding used in computation of Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding—diluted (GAAP and Non-GAAP)

 

 

174,922,780

 

 

 

172,756,497

 

Options and restricted stock not included in weighted average number of shares outstanding—diluted (GAAP) (using treasury stock method)

 

 

 

 

 

2,217,580

 

Adjusted weighted average number of shares outstanding—diluted (Non-GAAP)

 

 

174,922,780

 

 

 

174,974,077

 

(a)
Represents the loss on extinguishment and non-cash interest expense related to the amortization of debt issuance costs related to the refinancing of the Company’s First Lien Credit Facility. This adjustment also includes the impact of the change in fair value of interest rate swaps, which represents the difference between the fair value gains or losses and actual cash payments and receipts on the interest rate swaps.
(b)
Represents the depreciation and amortization expense related to incremental intangible and developed technology assets recorded due to the application of ASC 805, Business Combinations. As a result, the purchase accounting related depreciation and amortization expense will recur in future periods until the related assets are fully depreciated or amortized, and the related purchase accounting assets may contribute to revenue generation.
(c)
Share-based compensation for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 includes approximately $0.6 million and $1.9 million, respectively, of incrementally recognized expense associated with the May 2023 modification of the vesting terms of outstanding unvested and unearned performance-based options, restricted stock units, and restricted stock awards.
(d)
Represents charges incurred related to acquisitions and similar transactions, primarily consisting of change in control-related costs, professional service fees, and other third-party costs. Transaction and acquisition related charges for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 include approximately $0.2 million and $3.8 million, respectively, of expense associated with the Sterling Acquisition.
(e)
Represents charges from organizational restructuring and integration activities, non-cash, and other charges primarily related to nonrecurring legal exposures, foreign currency (gains) losses, (gains) losses on the sale of assets, and other non-recurring items. Integration, restructuring, and other charges for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 include approximately $1.4 million and $7.8 million, respectively, of expense associated with the integration of Sterling.
(f)
Effective tax rates of approximately 25.6% and 25.1% have been used to compute Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively.

 

 


FAQ

How did First Advantage (FA) perform financially in Q1 2026?

First Advantage reported Q1 2026 revenues of $385.2 million, up 8.6% year-over-year. Net income was $2.2 million, compared with a $41.2 million loss a year earlier. Income from operations increased to $33.5 million, indicating significantly improved profitability.

What were First Advantage (FA) non-GAAP results for Q1 2026?

In Q1 2026, First Advantage generated Adjusted EBITDA of $105.3 million with a 27.3% margin. Adjusted Net Income was $45.1 million, and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share reached $0.26, up from $0.17 in Q1 2025.

How did First Advantage (FA) cash flow and balance sheet change in Q1 2026?

First Advantage produced $49.4 million of cash flows from operations in Q1 2026. The company made voluntary debt prepayments totaling $50 million and repurchased $19.5 million of shares, while cash and cash equivalents were $225.9 million as of March 31, 2026.

Did First Advantage (FA) reaffirm its full year 2026 guidance?

Yes. First Advantage explicitly stated it is reaffirming full year 2026 guidance ranges. This means the company is maintaining its previously communicated outlook for 2026 based on current performance and conditions described in the Q1 2026 results.

How did First Advantage (FA) margins trend in Q1 2026 versus 2025?

In Q1 2026, First Advantage’s net income margin was 0.6%, versus an 11.6% net loss margin a year ago. Adjusted EBITDA margin improved to 27.3% from 26.0%, reflecting stronger underlying profitability alongside higher revenue.

What key non-GAAP adjustments affected First Advantage (FA) Q1 2026 results?

Key adjustments included interest expense, acquisition-related depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation, transaction and acquisition-related charges, and integration, restructuring, and other charges. These items were added back to derive Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income metrics.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

2 documents