AI Earnings Predictions for MarketWise Inc. (MKTW)

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MarketWise, Inc. Reports Preliminary Selected Unaudited Second Quarter Results With Paid Subscriber Growth Continuing In The Second Quarter 2026; Billings Increased 56% Year-Over-Year To Approximately $91 million; Raises FY 2026 Billings Guidance 10% To $330 million; Affirms FY 2026 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 second quarter 2026. Consistent with past practice, we are providing investors with selected information in advance of issuing our second quarter 2026 earnings press release, which we expect to release on August 6, 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.

Q2 2026 Preliminary Selected Unaudited Financial and Operational Updates:

▪Paid Subscribers were 400 thousand at June 30, 2026, compared to 374 thousand at December 31, 2025. Active Free Subscribers were 2.1 million at June 30, 2026.

▪Billings for second quarter totaled approximately $91 million, representing a 56% year over year increase, and the highest quarterly Billings since 2023.

▪Raised FY 2026 Guidance for Billings by 10% to $330 million, which represents a 21.7% full year increase compared to FY 2025.

▪Cash and cash equivalents balances remained strong at $33 million at June 30, 2026, which includes the $12.2 million cash disbursement related to the previously disclosed legal settlement and the associated repurchase of 3% of total shares outstanding in April 2026.

▪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.

"The operational momentum from the first quarter continued into the second quarter as Billings topped $91 million on the back of higher customer acquisition, improved customer retention, and strong conversion of our higher priced products” said Dr. David Eifrig, Chief Executive Officer. “Our strategy is simple. Acquire new customers with compelling products and ideas, earn trust as we educate and empower, and then deepen our relationship with our customers over time.”

Eifrig continued, “As we mentioned previously, for the first quarter, and continuing into the second quarter, we meaningfully increased investment in customer acquisition. This opportunistic marketing investment resulted in a strong increase in Paid Subscribers during the first and second quarters. Consistent with our plans, we now moderate customer acquisition and shift toward disciplined cash generation for the balance of the year. This is the strategic core of our business model, where we toggle between growth and margin, on a near real-time basis, in response to market conditions and opportunity. As such, while margins were lower in the first half of 2026 due to an increase in opportunistic investment in customer acquisition, we expect margins to increase significantly in the second half of the year.”

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“Regarding our financial guidance, given the robust growth in the first half of 2026, we are increasing our FY 2026 Billings Target by 10% to $330 million, which represents a 21.7% increase compared to FY 2025.”

“Finally, as I mentioned last quarter, we recently completed a review of our long-term strategic plan with our Board of Directors. To reiterate some of those points, I am more excited than ever about our plans to provide high-quality products for our customers while delivering strong top-line growth coupled with margin expansion over time. The plan also forges the alignment of incentives as we execute our business strategy. Achieving our ambitious plans will require discipline, innovation, and operational creativity. We have fantastic brands, fantastic teams, and a strategy designed to enhance value for subscribers and shareholders. We look forward to providing a full discussion of our Q2 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.

Paid Subscribers

Paid Subscribers at June 30, 2026 were 400 thousand, an increase of 26 thousand or 7% from 374 thousand at December 31, 2025. The inc

mktw-20260507

0001805651FalseMay 7, 202600018056512026-05-072026-05-07

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): May 7, 2026

MarketWise, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

001-39405

87-1767914

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1125 N. Charles St.

Baltimore,

Maryland

21201

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(888) 261-2693

(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 classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered

Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per shareMKTWThe Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

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 May 7, 2026, MarketWise, Inc. (the “Company”) issued an earnings press release announcing its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026. A copy of the earnings 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 (the “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 8.01. Other Events.

On May 7, 2026, the Company announced that the Board of Directors reauthorized a stock repurchase program of up to $50 million of Class A common stock. Repurchases of Class A common stock may be made from time to time, either through open market transactions (including pre-set trading plans) or through other transactions, at the discretion of the management of the Company and in accordance with the limitations set forth in Rule 10b-18 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and other applicable securities laws. The timing of the repurchases will depend on market conditions and other requirements. Repurchases under the program have been authorized for the next 12 months but the program may be modified, suspended, or terminated at any time. The share repurchase program does not obligate the Company to repurchase any dollar amount or number of shares.

For each share of Class A common stock the Company repurchases under the share repurchase program, MarketWise, LLC, the Company’s direct subsidiary, will redeem one common unit of MarketWise, LLC held by the Company, decreasing the percentage ownership of MarketWise, LLC by the Company and relatively increasing the ownership by the other unitholders of MarketWise, LLC.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)Exhibits.

Exhibit No.Description

99.1 MarketWise, Inc. earnings press release, dated May 7, 2026

104Cover 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: May 7, 2026 By:/s/ Erik Mickels

Name:Erik Mickels

Title:Chief Operating and Financial Officer

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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 2