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.