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Bandwidth Q2 Earnings Top Estimates on Strong AI-Driven Demand
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Key Takeaways
BAND beat Q2 earnings and revenue estimates as AI-driven communications demand fueled 22% revenue growth.
BAND added five $1M-plus customer wins with Maestro or AI services and lifted its full-year 2026 outlook.
BAND posted a record adjusted EBITDA margin, strong free cash flow and expanded voice and messaging growth.
Bandwidth Inc. (BAND - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 non-GAAP earnings of 37 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 36 cents by 2.78%. Revenues of $220 million also surpassed the consensus mark of $217 million by 1.34% and increased 22.2% year over year.
The outperformance reflected robust demand for AI-enabled communications, strong enterprise customer wins and continued expansion across voice and messaging services. Commercial net retention reached 113% on an adjusted basis, while the company signed five new million-dollar-plus customer wins during the quarter, all of which included Maestro or AI services.
BAND’s Q2 Revenue Growth Fueled by Voice and Messaging
Bandwidth delivered total revenues of $220 million, up from $180 million in the year-ago quarter, supported by healthy demand across its cloud communications platform.
Cloud communications revenues, excluding messaging surcharge revenues, increased 12% year over year to $152 million. Voice solutions generated revenues of $121 million, rising 9%, while programmable messaging revenues climbed 22% to $31 million, benefiting from strong commercial messaging demand and approximately $1 million of political campaign-related messaging revenues. Software services attached to voice and messaging expanded 66% year over year as AI adoption increased platform usage.
Bandwidth continued to strengthen its position as a communications infrastructure provider for AI-driven applications through large enterprise wins and customer expansions.
During the quarter, the company secured five new million-dollar-plus customer wins and expansions, with every deal including Maestro or AI services. New customers included a large Midwest healthcare system and a European appliance care provider, while existing customers such as a global electronic brokerage, a hyperscaler partner and a large U.S. messaging platform expanded their relationships. Management also highlighted growing momentum from its exclusive infrastructure partnership with Salesforce for Agentforce Contact Center, with initial customer traffic already flowing through the platform.
Non-GAAP gross margin expanded 100 basis points year over year to 59.4%, while non-GAAP gross profit increased 14% to $90 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose 27% year over year to $28 million, with the adjusted EBITDA margin reaching a record 18.3%. Management attributed the margin improvement to continued investments in its owned-and-operated network, which are generating structural efficiency gains as transaction volumes increase.
Bandwidth Delivers Strong Cash Flow and Balance Sheet
Bandwidth continued to generate healthy cash flows while strengthening its capital structure during the second quarter.
Free cash flow totaled $24 million, reflecting another quarter of solid execution. The company also reported customer name retention above 99%, while average annual revenue per customer reached a record $256,000 as larger enterprise customers expanded their spending.
Capital allocation remained active. During the quarter, Bandwidth repurchased $15 million of shares, buying back approximately 263,000 shares. It also completed a $316 million offering of 0.00% convertible senior notes due 2032 and used about $122 million of the proceeds to repurchase a substantial portion of its 2028 convertible notes, improving its debt maturity profile while maintaining net leverage at 1.6x.
BAND Raises Outlook on Sustained Demand
Encouraged by its second-quarter execution, Bandwidth raised its full-year 2026 financial outlook.
For the third quarter of 2026, management expects revenues between $231 million and $235 million, adjusted EBITDA of $32 million to $34 million and non-GAAP earnings per share of 45 cents to 49 cents.
For the full year, the company now projects revenues between $900 million and $910 million, up from the prior outlook of $880 million to $900 million. Adjusted EBITDA is expected in the range of $123 million to $125 million, compared with the previous guidance of $119 million to $125 million, while non-GAAP earnings per share are projected between $1.71 and $1.79.
Management expects recent enterprise customer wins, increasing AI voice adoption and continued expansion of software services to support future revenue growth, profitability and cash generation as customers increasingly standardize on Bandwidth's communications platform.
Arista Networks Inc. (ANET - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 earnings on Aug. 4. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 89 cents per share, suggesting growth of 21.9% from the year-ago reported figure.
Arista has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 19.9%. Arista delivered an average earnings surprise of 8.3% in the last four reported quarters.
Akamai Technologies, Inc. (AKAM - Free Report) is slated to release second-quarter 2026 earnings on Aug. 6. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.58 per share, indicating an 8.7% decline from the year-ago reported figure.
Akamai has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 8.1%. Akamai delivered an average earnings surprise of 7.5% in the last four reported quarters.
Pinterest, Inc. (PINS - Free Report) is set to release second-quarter 2026 earnings on Aug. 4. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 36 cents per share, implying a rise of 9.1% from the year-ago reported figure.
Pinterest has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 27%. Pinterest delivered an average negative earnings surprise of 4.1% in the last four reported quarters.
Image: Bigstock
Bandwidth Q2 Earnings Top Estimates on Strong AI-Driven Demand
Key Takeaways
Bandwidth Inc. (BAND - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 non-GAAP earnings of 37 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 36 cents by 2.78%. Revenues of $220 million also surpassed the consensus mark of $217 million by 1.34% and increased 22.2% year over year.
The outperformance reflected robust demand for AI-enabled communications, strong enterprise customer wins and continued expansion across voice and messaging services. Commercial net retention reached 113% on an adjusted basis, while the company signed five new million-dollar-plus customer wins during the quarter, all of which included Maestro or AI services.
BAND’s Q2 Revenue Growth Fueled by Voice and Messaging
Bandwidth delivered total revenues of $220 million, up from $180 million in the year-ago quarter, supported by healthy demand across its cloud communications platform.
Cloud communications revenues, excluding messaging surcharge revenues, increased 12% year over year to $152 million. Voice solutions generated revenues of $121 million, rising 9%, while programmable messaging revenues climbed 22% to $31 million, benefiting from strong commercial messaging demand and approximately $1 million of political campaign-related messaging revenues. Software services attached to voice and messaging expanded 66% year over year as AI adoption increased platform usage.
Bandwidth Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Bandwidth Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Bandwidth Inc. Quote
Bandwidth Expands Enterprise AI Momentum
Bandwidth continued to strengthen its position as a communications infrastructure provider for AI-driven applications through large enterprise wins and customer expansions.
During the quarter, the company secured five new million-dollar-plus customer wins and expansions, with every deal including Maestro or AI services. New customers included a large Midwest healthcare system and a European appliance care provider, while existing customers such as a global electronic brokerage, a hyperscaler partner and a large U.S. messaging platform expanded their relationships. Management also highlighted growing momentum from its exclusive infrastructure partnership with Salesforce for Agentforce Contact Center, with initial customer traffic already flowing through the platform.
BAND’s Margins Improve as Platform Scales
Profitability improved alongside revenue growth, reflecting operating leverage from Bandwidth's owned communications network.
Non-GAAP gross margin expanded 100 basis points year over year to 59.4%, while non-GAAP gross profit increased 14% to $90 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose 27% year over year to $28 million, with the adjusted EBITDA margin reaching a record 18.3%. Management attributed the margin improvement to continued investments in its owned-and-operated network, which are generating structural efficiency gains as transaction volumes increase.
Bandwidth Delivers Strong Cash Flow and Balance Sheet
Bandwidth continued to generate healthy cash flows while strengthening its capital structure during the second quarter.
Free cash flow totaled $24 million, reflecting another quarter of solid execution. The company also reported customer name retention above 99%, while average annual revenue per customer reached a record $256,000 as larger enterprise customers expanded their spending.
Capital allocation remained active. During the quarter, Bandwidth repurchased $15 million of shares, buying back approximately 263,000 shares. It also completed a $316 million offering of 0.00% convertible senior notes due 2032 and used about $122 million of the proceeds to repurchase a substantial portion of its 2028 convertible notes, improving its debt maturity profile while maintaining net leverage at 1.6x.
BAND Raises Outlook on Sustained Demand
Encouraged by its second-quarter execution, Bandwidth raised its full-year 2026 financial outlook.
For the third quarter of 2026, management expects revenues between $231 million and $235 million, adjusted EBITDA of $32 million to $34 million and non-GAAP earnings per share of 45 cents to 49 cents.
For the full year, the company now projects revenues between $900 million and $910 million, up from the prior outlook of $880 million to $900 million. Adjusted EBITDA is expected in the range of $123 million to $125 million, compared with the previous guidance of $119 million to $125 million, while non-GAAP earnings per share are projected between $1.71 and $1.79.
Management expects recent enterprise customer wins, increasing AI voice adoption and continued expansion of software services to support future revenue growth, profitability and cash generation as customers increasingly standardize on Bandwidth's communications platform.
BAND’s Zacks Rank
Bandwidth currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Upcoming Releases
Arista Networks Inc. (ANET - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 earnings on Aug. 4. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 89 cents per share, suggesting growth of 21.9% from the year-ago reported figure.
Arista has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 19.9%. Arista delivered an average earnings surprise of 8.3% in the last four reported quarters.
Akamai Technologies, Inc. (AKAM - Free Report) is slated to release second-quarter 2026 earnings on Aug. 6. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.58 per share, indicating an 8.7% decline from the year-ago reported figure.
Akamai has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 8.1%. Akamai delivered an average earnings surprise of 7.5% in the last four reported quarters.
Pinterest, Inc. (PINS - Free Report) is set to release second-quarter 2026 earnings on Aug. 4. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 36 cents per share, implying a rise of 9.1% from the year-ago reported figure.
Pinterest has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 27%. Pinterest delivered an average negative earnings surprise of 4.1% in the last four reported quarters.