MarketWise (NASDAQ: MKTW) touts Q1 2026 growth, reaffirms full-year outlook and dividend
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
MarketWise, Inc. reported preliminary, unaudited first quarter 2026 results showing a return to growth in paid subscribers and stronger billings. Paid subscribers rose to 381 thousand at March 31, 2026 from 374 thousand at December 31, 2025, while active free subscribers reached 2.0 million.
Billings for the quarter were approximately $81 million, a 15% year-over-year increase and the highest quarterly billings since 2023. The company affirmed its full-year 2026 guidance for billings of $300 million and cash from operating activities of $50 million, and maintained its dividend target of $1.80 per Class A share after paying $0.45 per share in the quarter.
Cash and cash equivalents were $53 million at March 31, 2026 compared with $70.1 million at December 31, 2025, reflecting seasonal first-quarter cash use tied to marketing, tax distributions, and working capital. MarketWise plans to release full audited first quarter 2026 results on May 7, 2026.
Positive
- Billings growth and momentum: First quarter 2026 billings reached approximately $81 million, a 15% year-over-year increase and the highest quarterly level since 2023, indicating renewed top-of-funnel strength.
- Return to subscriber growth: Paid subscribers increased to 381 thousand at March 31, 2026 from 374 thousand at December 31, 2025, suggesting improved customer acquisition and retention.
- Guidance and dividend affirmed: The company reaffirmed FY 2026 guidance for $300 million in billings and $50 million in cash from operating activities, and maintained its full-year Class A dividend target of $1.80 per share.
Negative
- None.
Insights
MarketWise shows early 2026 growth with reaffirmed guidance and maintained dividend.
MarketWise delivered a solid Q1 2026 preview, with billings up 15% year over year to about $81 million, the strongest quarter since 2023. Paid subscribers returned to growth, reaching 381 thousand, which supports recurring revenue potential for its digital subscription platform.
The company reaffirmed full-year 2026 guidance for billings of $300 million and cash from operating activities of $50 million, and paid a $0.45 dividend per Class A share while keeping a $1.80 full-year dividend target. Cash was $53 million as of March 31, 2026, down from $70.1 million at year-end, in line with historically higher first-quarter cash use.
For context, the company notes tax distributions are expected to fall to about $35 million in FY 2026, nearly $15 million lower than FY 2025, and anticipates cash balances declining in the first half of 2026 before recovering in the second half due to timing of tax payments and working capital.
8-K Event Classification
2 items: 2.02, 9.01
2 items
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.
Key Figures
Q1 2026 Billings: approximately $81 million
Paid subscribers: 381 thousand
Active free subscribers: 2.0 million
+5 more
8 metrics
Q1 2026 Billings
approximately $81 million
Preliminary, 15% year-over-year increase; highest quarter since 2023
Paid subscribers
381 thousand
As of March 31, 2026; up from 374 thousand at December 31, 2025
Active free subscribers
2.0 million
As of March 31, 2026
FY 2026 billings guidance
$300 million
Affirmed full-year 2026 outlook
FY 2026 cash from operating activities guidance
$50 million
Affirmed full-year 2026 outlook
Cash and cash equivalents
$53 million
As of March 31, 2026; compared to $70.1 million at December 31, 2025
Q1 2026 dividend
$0.45 per Class A share
Dividends paid during first quarter 2026
FY 2026 dividend target
$1.80 per Class A share
Affirmed full-year 2026 target to Class A shareholders
Key Terms
Billings, Cash for Operating Activities, noncontrolling interests, tax distributions, +2 more
6 terms
Billings financial
"Billings for first quarter totaled approximately $81 million, representing a 15% year over year increase"
Billings represent the total amount of money a company is expected to receive from customers for products or services delivered during a specific period. Think of it as the sales that have been agreed upon or scheduled, even if the cash hasn't been received yet. For investors, billings are an important indicator of future revenue and business growth, showing how well a company is selling its offerings.
Cash for Operating Activities financial
"Affirmed FY 2026 Guidance for Billings ($300 million) and Cash for Operating Activities ($50 million)."
noncontrolling interests financial
"Net Income attributable to noncontrolling interests on Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations is primarily associated with these Class B shares"
The portion of a subsidiary’s equity and profits that belongs to outside owners rather than the parent company; when a parent reports consolidated results it includes the whole subsidiary but shows the noncontrolling slice separately. Think of a company’s subsidiary as a pie where the parent owns most slices but some are held by other investors — noncontrolling interests tell you how much of the pie and its future earnings don’t belong to the parent, which affects how much profit and net assets are truly attributable to the parent’s shareholders.
tax distributions financial
"we expect tax distributions to decline significantly, at approximately $35 million, or nearly $15 million lower than FY 2025."
forward-looking statements regulatory
"This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995"
Forward-looking statements are predictions or plans that companies share about what they expect to happen in the future, like estimating sales or profits. They matter because they help investors understand a company's outlook, but since they are based on guesses and assumptions, they can sometimes be wrong.
independent registered public accounting firm regulatory
"subject to the Company’s normal quarterly accounting procedures and external review by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm."
An independent registered public accounting firm is an outside accounting company officially registered with the government regulator to examine and report on a public company's financial records and controls. Investors treat its reports like an impartial inspector’s certificate — they add credibility to financial statements, help spot errors or misleading claims, and reduce the risk that shareholders are relying on unchecked or biased numbers.
Earnings Snapshot
Billings: approximately $81 million · Guidance included
Q1 2026
Billings
approximately $81 million
+15% year over year
Paid subscribers
381 thousand
up from 374 thousand at December 31, 2025
Active free subscribers
2.0 million
FY 2026 billings guidance
$300 million
affirmed
FY 2026 cash from operating activities guidance
$50 million
affirmed
Guidance
The company affirmed full-year 2026 guidance for billings of $300 million and cash from operating activities of $50 million, and maintained a full-year dividend target of $1.80 per Class A share.
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): April 13, 2026
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||||
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code) | ||||||||
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K 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 | |||||
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act | |||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: | ||||||||||||||
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
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 April 13, 2026, MarketWise, Inc. issued a press release announcing preliminary selected unaudited financial and operational updates results for first quarter 2026. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is herein incorporated by reference.
The foregoing information (including Exhibit 99.1) is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)Exhibits.
| Exhibit No. | Description | |||||||
| 99.1 | MarketWise, Inc. press release, dated April 13, 2026 | |||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | |||||||
SIGNATURE
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.
| MarketWise, Inc. | ||||||||
Date: April 13, 2026 | By: | /s/ Erik Mickels | ||||||
| Name: | Erik Mickels | |||||||
| Title: | Chief Operating and Financial Officer | |||||||
MarketWise, Inc. Reports Preliminary Selected Unaudited First Quarter Results with Paid Subscribers Returning to Growth in First Quarter 2026; Billings Increased Approximately 15% year-over-year to Approximately $81 million; Affirms FY 2026 Guidance, Including Dividend Target to Class A Shareholders of $1.80 per Share.
BALTIMORE, MD -- (GLOBE NEWSWIRE)—MarketWise, Inc. (NASDAQ: MKTW) is a leading multi-brand digital subscription services platform that provides premium financial research, software, education, and tools for self-directed investors, today reported preliminary selected unaudited financial and operational updates for first quarter 2026 below. Consistent with past practice, we are providing investors with selected information in advance of issuing our first quarter 2026 earnings press release, which we expect to release on May 7, 2026.
The selected unaudited results in this press release are preliminary and subject to the Company’s normal quarterly accounting procedures and external review by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Therefore, these preliminary unaudited results are subject to adjustment. In addition, these preliminary unaudited results are not a comprehensive statement of the Company’s financial results and should not be viewed as a substitute for full, audited financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Q1 2026 Preliminary Selected Unaudited Financial and Operational Updates:
▪Paid Subscribers returned to growth in first quarter 2026 following stabilization in the second half of 2025, reflecting improved customer acquisition and retention.
▪Paid subscribers were 381 thousand at March 31, 2026, compared to 374 thousand at December 31, 2025. Active Free subscribers were 2.0 million at March 31, 2026.
▪Billings for first quarter totaled approximately $81 million, representing a 15% year over year increase, and the highest quarterly Billings since 2023.
▪Affirmed FY 2026 Guidance for Billings ($300 million) and Cash for Operating Activities ($50 million).
▪Cash and cash equivalents balances remained strong at $53 million at March 31, 2026 compared to $70 million at December 31, 2025 and $51 million at September 30, 2025. Note that the first quarter is historically the highest cash use quarter of each year due to the timing of marketing efforts, tax distributions, and working capital items.
▪Dividends paid to Class A Shareholders during the quarter were $0.45 per share. No change to full year dividend target of $1.80 per share.
"We are pleased with the momentum we are seeing in our business with 15% Billings growth to start 2026, which is a continuation of the growth we saw in 2025" said Dr. David Eifrig, Chief Executive Officer of MarketWise. "Further, the return to paid subscriber growth reflects the work our teams have done to sharpen our marketing execution, enhance our product offerings, and re-engage our audience, while maintaining pricing discipline. The 15% year-over-year increase in Billings to approximately $81 million demonstrates real top-of-funnel momentum, and as a leading indicator, gives us increased visibility into future revenue recognition. We look forward to providing a full discussion of our Q1 2026 financial results in the weeks ahead."
Selected Operational and Financial Supplemental Information
We are providing the additional information below to provide further context on results and trends.
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Billings
Q1 2026 Billings represents amounts invoiced to customers and increased 15% year over year and 3% sequentially, to approximately $81M. The increased Billings, which represents the highest total since 2023, was the result of our marketing efforts in the quarter which yielded a significant cohort of new subscribers combined with strong revenue retention from existing subscribers. The chart below illustrates Billings trends over the last several quarters and demonstrates the sustained recovery in Billings since the low mark in 3Q 2024.
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Balance Sheet and Capital Structure
As of March 31, 2026, the Company holds cash and cash equivalents of $53 million, compared to $70.1 million at December 31, 2025 and $50.5 million as of September 30, 2025. Note that the first quarter is historically the highest cash use quarter of each year due to the timing of marketing efforts, tax distributions, and working capital items.
As previously disclosed, for FY 2026, we expect tax distributions to decline significantly, at approximately $35 million, or nearly $15 million lower than FY 2025. Similar to the tax distribution payments in FY 2025, we expect FY 2026 tax distributions to be higher in the first half of the year and lower in the second half. As such, due to the timing of tax distribution payments and the higher working capital needs in the first part of each year, we expect overall cash balances to decline in the first half of 2026 before increasing in the second half of 2026.
MarketWise Inc.’s Class A common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "MKTW." As of March 31, 2026, the Company had 2,537,037 Class A common shares and 13,612,641 Class B common shares issued and outstanding, totaling 16,149,678 Class A and Class B common shares.
When determining the market capitalization or equity value of the Company, we believe it is appropriate to include the total of the Class A and Class B common shares. Net Income attributable to noncontrolling interests on Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations is primarily associated with these Class B shares and is a result of our corporate structure.
Upcoming Events
The Company plans to report full and audited results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026 on May 7, 2026.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the financial position, business strategy, and the plans and objectives of management for future operations of MarketWise. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “estimate,” “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections, and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including, but not limited to: our ability to attract new subscribers and to persuade existing subscribers to renew their subscription agreements with us and to purchase additional products and services from us; our ability to adequately market our products and services, and to develop additional products and product offerings; our ability to manage our growth effectively, including through acquisitions; failure to maintain and protect our reputation for trustworthiness and independence; our ability to attract, develop, and retain capable management, editors, and other key personnel; our ability to grow market share in our existing markets or any new markets we may enter; adverse or weakened conditions in the financial sector, global financial markets, and global economy; current macroeconomic events, including heightened inflation, rise in interest rates and the potential for an economic recession; failure to comply with laws and regulations or other regulatory action or investigations, including the Advisers Act; our ability to respond to and adapt to changes in technology and consumer behavior; failure to successfully identify and integrate acquisitions, or dispose of assets and businesses; our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading; the impact of the regulatory environment and complexities with compliance related to such environment; our future capital needs; our ability to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, and to address and remediate existing material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting; and other factors beyond our control.
The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of
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all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this press release may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and we assume no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. We do not give any assurance that we will achieve our expectations.
MarketWise Investor Relations Contact Information
Email: ir@marketwise.com
MarketWise Media Contact
Email: media@marketwise.com
4
FAQ
How did MarketWise (MKTW) perform in its preliminary Q1 2026 results?
MarketWise reported preliminary Q1 2026 billings of approximately $81 million, a 15% year-over-year increase and its highest quarter since 2023. Paid subscribers rose to 381 thousand, and the company reaffirmed full-year 2026 guidance and its dividend target to Class A shareholders.
Did MarketWise (MKTW) return to subscriber growth in Q1 2026?
Yes. Paid subscribers increased to 381 thousand at March 31, 2026 from 374 thousand at December 31, 2025. Management attributed this return to growth to better marketing execution, enhanced product offerings, and re-engaged audiences while maintaining pricing discipline across its digital subscription brands.
What guidance did MarketWise (MKTW) reaffirm for full-year 2026?
MarketWise reaffirmed its 2026 guidance for billings of $300 million and cash from operating activities of $50 million. The company also maintained its full-year dividend target of $1.80 per Class A share, after paying $0.45 per share in dividends during the first quarter of 2026.
What were MarketWise’s cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2026?
Cash and cash equivalents totaled $53 million at March 31, 2026, compared with $70.1 million at December 31, 2025 and $50.5 million at September 30, 2025. The company noted first quarters are typically its highest cash use period due to marketing, tax distributions, and working capital.
What dividend did MarketWise (MKTW) pay in Q1 2026 and what is the 2026 target?
MarketWise paid dividends of $0.45 per Class A share during the first quarter of 2026. It reiterated a full-year 2026 dividend target of $1.80 per Class A share, aligning its capital returns with projected billings and cash from operating activities for the year.