The quarter was broadly in line, with a modest earnings beat. Published estimates clustered around roughly $430 million of revenue and $0.30 of GAAP EPS; ACI delivered $430.4 million and $0.31, respectively. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.54, while adjusted EBITDA reached $90.8 million, up 12% year over year.
| Metric | Q2 2026 | Q2 2025 | Market reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $430.4M | $401.3M | Consensus ~ $430M |
| GAAP diluted EPS | $0.31 | $0.12 | Consensus ~ $0.30 |
| Adjusted diluted EPS | $0.54 | $0.35 | — |
| Adjusted EBITDA | $90.8M | $80.9M | — |
| Net adjusted EBITDA margin | 34% | 32% | — |
| Recurring revenue | $336.3M | $321.7M | — |
Profitability was the genuine upside. Adjusted EBITDA grew faster than revenue, lifting net adjusted EBITDA margin to 34% from 32%; Payment Software was especially strong, with segment EBITDA up 12% and margin expanding to 48% from 46%. That offsets a weaker Biller contribution, where net revenue fell 3% and adjusted EBITDA dropped 13% to $34.7 million. (Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation; Segment Information; Biller results)
The guidance increase is positive but small rather than a major reset. Full-year revenue guidance moved up by $5 million at both ends to $1.895 billion-$1.925 billion, while adjusted EBITDA guidance also rose by $5 million to $545 million-$560 million. The company maintained its high-single-digit Biller growth outlook and expects Q3 revenue of $417 million-$427 million. Because the prior Q2 outlook was already $420 million-$440 million revenue and $85 million-$95 million adjusted EBITDA, the update reads as confirmation of execution with a modest improvement, not a wholesale change in expectations. (Full-year 2026 guidance; Q3 2026 outlook)
Forward bookings remain the key weakness beneath the headline. Q2 ARR bookings fell 25%, and trailing-twelve-month ARR bookings declined 15% to $67.7 million; license and services bookings declined 12% on the same basis to $255.2 million. Management attributes the ARR shortfall partly to timing of Payment Software contracts and still expects full-year growth, but the lower booking base makes the raised outlook more dependent on renewals and second-half conversion. (New Bookings)
Capital returns support the near-term picture, while leverage remains material. ACI repurchased $106.8 million of stock year to date and retained roughly $349 million under its authorization, funded by $135.0 million of operating cash flow. However, cash on hand was $167.4 million against $826 million of debt, leaving the result reliant on continued cash generation and the planned high-margin renewal cycle. (Cash Flow statement; Balance Sheet; Capital allocation commentary)
Read the original 8-K on SEC EDGAR ↗