8X8 INC /DE/ (EGHT) Q1 2026 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- EGHT returned to year-over-year growth: total revenue $181.4M (+1.8% YoY) and service revenue $176.3M (+2.0% YoY); non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.08, in line-to-slightly above consensus, while gross margins compressed on a higher mix of usage-based CPaaS revenue .
- Q1 beat Wall Street revenue consensus by
$3.4M and slightly exceeded EPS consensus; management highlighted FX tailwinds ($1.7M) and record platform usage as drivers . Estimates: Revenue $178.0M*, EPS $0.0775* (actuals: $181.4M and $0.08) (*Values retrieved from S&P Global). - Guidance updated: FY26 service revenue $685–$700M, total revenue $706–$720M, non-GAAP operating margin 8.5–9.5%, non-GAAP diluted EPS $0.28–$0.33, CFFO $35–$45M—lower EPS and margin ranges vs prior (Q4 FY25) outlook as the usage mix shifts margins downward .
- Potential stock reaction catalysts: sustained revenue return-to-growth, accelerating CPaaS/usage momentum (usage ~17% of service revenue vs ~12% last year), debt reduction ($15M prepaid in Q1; $219M reduced since Aug-2022) against margin headwinds and lowered FY EPS guide .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Product-led momentum: “Our return to growth this quarter validates the strength of our platform strategy… product adoption has expanded, consumption-based revenue has accelerated” — CEO Samuel Wilson .
- CPaaS/usage surge: Platform usage revenue reached ~17% of service revenue (vs ~12% last year); consumption-based revenue grew >30% YoY, with messaging interactions >200% YoY and voice AI interactions >7x YoY .
- Balance sheet progress: $15M term loan prepayment in Q1; cumulative debt reduction ~$219M (≈40%) since Aug-2022; 1M shares repurchased for $1.8M; 18th consecutive quarter of positive operating cash flow ($11.9M) .
What Went Wrong
- Margin compression: Non-GAAP gross margin fell to 67.8% (from 70.6% in Q1 FY25; 69.0% in Q4 FY25) due to a higher mix of lower-margin usage-based revenue; non-GAAP operating margin at 9.0% vs 11.3% in Q1 FY25 .
- Profitability headwinds: Adjusted EBITDA $20.7M vs $25.8M in Q1 FY25; GAAP net loss -$4.3M (vs -$10.3M in Q1 FY25) despite revenue growth .
- FY guide stepped down: FY26 non-GAAP diluted EPS lowered to $0.28–$0.33 (prior $0.34–$0.37) and CFFO to $35–$45M (prior $40–$50M), reflecting gross margin pressure from mix and planned growth investments .
Financial Results
Actuals vs Estimates (Q1 FY2026)
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Segment Breakdown
KPIs
Guidance Changes
Q2 FY26 (new guidance): Service revenue $170–$175M; total revenue $175–$180M; non-GAAP GM 66%–68%; non-GAAP OM 8%–9%; diluted non-GAAP EPS $0.06–$0.08; CFFO $3–$5M .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “The future of customer experience isn’t just digital and automated—it’s intelligent, integrated, and voice-powered. We view 8x8 as uniquely positioned to lead in this space” — CEO Samuel Wilson .
- “Our communications platform revenue… has a different margin profile, and its accelerated growth is starting to influence our overall gross margin” — CFO Kevin Kraus .
- “Sales of 8x8 Voice for Teams licenses grew more than 30% YoY… recognized as a top-5 Operator Connect partner worldwide” — CEO Samuel Wilson .
- “Cash flow from operations exceeded $11 million… and we executed an opportunistic $1.8 million stock buyback” — CFO Kevin Kraus .
Q&A Highlights
- Fuze migration: ~4% of service revenue remains; ~3% growth headwind in Q1; company expects to retain roughly half of the remaining base and reduce headwind to ~1.5% next year as migrations complete .
- AI strategy: Prefer build-and-partner vs buy to preserve optionality amid rapid change; in-house AI (summarization, transcription, agent assist) complemented by best-in-breed partners .
- Legacy migrations and RCS: On-prem vendor turmoil is a tailwind; rising interest in RCS with US traffic live and European expansion planned in 3–4 months .
- OpEx vs growth: Reallocating spend to high-return areas; willing to accept near-term margin impact to re-accelerate growth; CPaaS strongest in Asia with UK multi-product traction and US RCS traffic .
Estimates Context
- Q1 FY26 actuals vs consensus: Revenue $181.4M vs $178.0M*; non-GAAP diluted EPS $0.08 vs $0.0775* — revenue beat, EPS in-line/beat .
- Estimate drivers: FX tailwind (~$1.7M) and record platform usage boosted Q1 revenue; gross margin compressed from usage mix, suggesting sell-side may need to temper margin and EBITDA assumptions near term .
- Next quarter reference: Management guides Q2 revenue $175–$180M and diluted non-GAAP EPS $0.06–$0.08; FX seen as ~$1.3M sequential headwind .
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Revenue trajectory has turned positive, aided by accelerating CPaaS/usage contributions; watch for sustained growth ex-Fuze and normalization of FX to validate the inflection .
- Mix shift toward usage-based revenue is a deliberate strategy driving platform engagement but compressing gross margins; near-term EPS guide was lowered accordingly—monitor margin progression and attach rates .
- Deleveraging continues with additional term loan prepayments; interest expense falling supports EPS and cash generation despite lower operating margin guidance .
- Product momentum is tangible: Voice AI and digital channels (RCS, WhatsApp, Viber) showing strong adoption; Microsoft Teams ecosystem positioning strengthens GTM .
- Fuze migration headwind is fading; expect diminishing drag on growth through FY26, improving underlying service revenue growth ex-Fuze .
- Trading lens: Near-term catalysts include continued usage growth, international RCS rollout, and further debt reduction; risks are margin mix and FX volatility vs guidance .
- Medium-term thesis: If platform-led usage growth scales with manageable margin impact and steady deleveraging, the company’s pivot could support durable top-line growth with improving net income cadence .
Additional Q1 FY2026 Press Releases (Context)
- Platform innovations: JourneyIQ (customer journey intelligence), AI Orchestrator (multi-bot decision flows), Engage digital channel expansion, RCS business messaging integration in Contact Center .
- Operator Connect footprint doubled: Top-five global coverage; expanded device/accessory support and compliance safeguards (SMS keyword filtering) .
- Share repurchase activity and awards/recognition listed in Business Highlights .