Nerdy (NYSE: NRDY) tops Q1 2026 guidance and posts positive adjusted EBITDA
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Nerdy Inc. reported first-quarter 2026 results that beat guidance and showed sharp profit improvement while growth remained modest. Revenue was $48.7 million, above the $46–$48 million guidance range and up 2% from $47.6 million a year earlier, driven by higher consumer pricing partly offset by softer institutional revenue.
Gross margin rose to 66.2% from 58.0%, reflecting prior price increases and AI-enabled efficiency. Net loss narrowed to $6.1 million from $16.2 million, and non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA turned positive at $1.0 million versus a loss of $6.4 million a year ago, Nerdy’s second consecutive positive quarter on this metric.
Active Members were 36.9 thousand, down 9% year over year, but the decline has been narrowing. Average revenue per member per month reached $374, up 12%. Nerdy ended the quarter with $44.7 million in cash and reaffirmed its 2026 outlook for $180–$190 million in revenue and approximately breakeven non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA.
Positive
- Profitability inflection on non-GAAP metrics – Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA reached a positive $1.0 million in Q1 2026 versus a $6.4 million loss a year earlier, with adjusted EBITDA margin improving by over 1,500 basis points year-over-year.
- Strong margin expansion – Gross margin increased to 66.2% from 58.0% in Q1 2025, driven primarily by prior price increases and AI-enabled efficiency, indicating structurally better unit economics.
- Guidance reaffirmed with stable liquidity – Nerdy reaffirmed full-year 2026 revenue guidance of $180–$190 million and approximately breakeven non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA, and reported $44.7 million of cash at March 31, 2026.
Negative
- Ongoing GAAP net losses – Despite non-GAAP profitability improvements, Nerdy reported a Q1 2026 GAAP net loss of $6.1 million, though this improved from a $16.2 million loss a year earlier.
- Declining Active Members – Active Members were 36.9 thousand as of March 31, 2026, a 9% year-over-year decline, indicating continued pressure on learner volumes even as monetization per member increases.
- Institutional softness and deferred impact – Institutional revenue declined 1% year over year to $9.3 million, and the company notes that weaker Q1 bookings will flow through and weigh on Q2 institutional revenue.
Insights
Revenue and profitability modestly improved, but growth is still slow and member counts are declining.
Nerdy delivered Q1 2026 revenue of $48.7 million, slightly above guidance and up 2% year over year. The more notable shift is profitability: non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA improved from a $6.4 million loss to a $1.0 million profit, with gross margin expanding to 66.2%.
This profitability progress stems largely from price increases and AI-enabled cost reductions across sales, marketing, and general and administrative expenses. However, Active Members declined 9% to 36.9 thousand, indicating underlying volume pressure even as ARPM rose 12% to $374.
The company reaffirmed full-year 2026 revenue guidance of $180–$190 million and approximately breakeven non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA, and ended Q1 with $44.7 million in cash. Actual performance will depend on stabilizing member trends and execution in the institutional segment, including the Varsity Tutors for Schools platform, over the remainder of 2026.
8-K Event Classification
Key Figures
Key Terms
non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA financial
gross margin financial
Active Members financial
ARPM financial
free cash flow financial
Varsity Tutors for Schools financial
Earnings Snapshot
Reaffirmed full-year 2026 revenue of $180–$190 million and approximately breakeven non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA; introduced Q2 2026 revenue guidance of $42–$44 million and non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA of negative $2 million to breakeven.