Newsmax Announces First Quarter 2026 Financial Results

Thursday, 14 May 2026 04:05 PM

Topic: 

Earnings

Company Reports Quarterly Revenues of $51.7 million, a 14.0% Year-Over-Year Increase

Broadcast Revenues Increase to $43.7 million, a 20.8% Increase Year-Over-Year

Company Reaffirms Full-Year 2026 Revenue Guidance, Representing Accelerated Year-Over-Year Growth of 13% at the Midpoint

BOCA RATON, FL / ACCESS Newswire / May 14, 2026 / Newsmax Inc. (NYSE:NMAX) ("Newsmax" or the "Company") today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026.

First Quarter 2026 Business and Operational Highlights

  • Delivered broad first quarter audience reach, with 30.4 million total viewers and 13.3 million Adults 35-64, reinforcing Newsmax's position as the fourth highest-rated cable news channel and a top fifteen cable network across key dayparts.

  • Continued to strengthen the Company's multi-platform audience ecosystem, with social media followers rising to 24.7 million as of March 31, 2026.

  • Increased content offering through continued investment in Newsmax+ and in premium programming, including the expansion of World at War / War & Warriors, where available titles increased more than 200%.

  • Continued to advance our international growth strategy by expanding our licensing agreement with Telecom Serbia and Newsmax Poland.

Management Commentary

"Newsmax delivered a strong start to 2026, with broad audience reach across cable, streaming and digital while continuing to strengthen the scale of our platform," said Christopher Ruddy, Chief Executive Officer of Newsmax. "In the first quarter, we increased viewership, gained traction with younger demographics and saw continued momentum across Newsmax2, Newsmax+ and social media. While the industry is lapping unusually high election-driven news consumption from early 2025, our first quarter rankings demonstrate that Newsmax continues to perform strongly in a more normalized environment. We are also making further strides as a global news brand and continuing to attract unique viewers that reinforce the significant opportunity we see in the under-served center-right market. These results reflect the strength of our brand, the loyalty of our audience and the value of our multi-platform strategy."

"Looking ahead, we see meaningful opportunity to build on this momentum through continued investment in content, broader distribution and deeper audience engagement across all of our platforms," Ruddy continued. "As the media landscape evolves, we believe Newsmax is well positioned to expand its reach, strengthen monetization and deliver sustainable long-term growth by providing independent, values-driven journalism that resonates with viewers in the United States and around the world."

"Our first quarter results reflect continued progress in executing our growth strategy," commented Darryle Burnham, Chief Financial Officer of Newsmax. "We saw solid revenue growth driven by affiliate fees and licensing, while we continue to invest behind this growth in programming, production and our OTT initiatives to support long-term expansion. With a strong balance sheet and disciplined approach to capital allocation, we remain confident in our financial outlook and are maintaining our full-year guidance as we continue to invest in initiatives that drive sustainable, long-term shareholder value."

Financial Results:

Revenue by Segment by Component Table (unaudited):

($ in millions)

Three Months Ended March 31,

2026

2025

$ Change

% Change

Broadcasting

Advertising

$

23.7

$

24.6

$

(0.9

)

(3.7

)%

Affiliate fee

13.0

7.4

5.6

75.2

%

Subscription

3.5

3.7

(0.2

)

(5.9

)%

Licensing

3.5

0.4

3.0

697.1

%

Total Broadcasting revenues

$

43.7

$

36.2

$

7.5

20.8

%


Digital

Advertising

$

3.5

$

4.3

$

(0.8

)

(18.1

)%

Subscription

3.0

3.3

(0.3

)

(10.1

)%

Product sales

1.5

1.6

(0.1

)

(3.5

)%

Total Digital revenues

$

8.0

$

9.1

$

(1.2

)

(12.7

)%

Total Revenues

$

51.7

$

45.3

$

6.4

14.0

%

First Quarter 2026 Financial Highlights:

  • Newsmax reported total quarterly revenues of $51.7 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2026, representing a 14.0% year-over-year increase.

  • Total broadcasting revenues grew 20.8% year-over year to $43.7 million for the first quarter of 2026, primarily driven by an increase in affiliate fee revenue attributed to timing of new contractual relationships and expanded international licensing agreements.

  • Newsmax reported a quarterly net loss of $(2.2) million as compared to a net loss of $(17.2) million reported in same quarter in the prior year, primarily driven by higher total revenue, lower legal expenses and improved other income, partially offset by higher production headcount, programming and production costs, continued investment in Newsmax2 and higher stock-based compensation.

  • Quarterly adjusted EBITDA was $(0.4) million, a decrease of $(0.8) million from the amount reported in the same quarter last year, primarily due to higher production, programming and personnel costs to support ongoing content and OTT investment, partially offset by growth in affiliate fee revenue in the broadcast segment. See reconciliation of net loss to adjusted EBITDA below.

  • The Company ended the quarter with $129.1 million in cash and short-term investments. Cash and cash equivalents were $17.2 million and short-term investments were $111.9 million.

The Company is reiterating its previously issued full-year 2026 revenue guidance of $212 million to $216 million, representing 13% year-over-year growth at the midpoint of the range.

About Newsmax

Newsmax Inc. is listed on the NYSE (NMAX) and operates, through Newsmax Broadcasting LLC, one of the nation's leading news outlets, the Newsmax channel. The fourth highest-rated network is carried on all major pay TV providers. Newsmax's media properties reach more than 50 million Americans regularly through Newsmax TV, the Newsmax App, its popular website Newsmax.com, and publications such as Newsmax Magazine. Through its social media accounts, Newsmax reaches over 25 million combined followers. Reuters Institute says Newsmax is one of the top U.S. news brands and Forbes has called Newsmax "a news powerhouse."

For more information, please visit Investor Relations | Newsmax Media, Inc.

Investor Contacts

Newsmax Investor Relations
[email protected]

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements. From time to time, we or our representatives may make forward-looking statements orally or in writing. We base these forward-looking statements on our expectations and projections about future events, which we derive from the information currently available to us. Forward-looking statements can be identified by those that are not historical in nature. The forward-looking statements discussed in this communication and other statements made from time to time by us or our representatives, may not occur, and actual events and results may differ materially and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us. Newsmax does not guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as predictions of future events. We are under no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this communication to conform our prior statements to actual results or revised expectations, and we do not intend to do so. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include various factors, including but not limited changes in domestic and global general economic and macro-economic conditions and the volatility of the price of Common Stock that may result from, among other things, comments by securities analysts or other third parties, including blogs, articles, message boards and social and other media, large shareholders exiting their position in our Common Stock, any negative public perception of us, sales of shares previously registered for resale, or other uncertainties and the factors set forth in the sections entitled "Risk Factors" in Newsmax's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the twelve months ended December 31, 2025 and other filings Newsmax makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Nothing in this communication should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements in this communication, which speak only as of the date they are made and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the cautionary statements herein.

USE AND DEFINITION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This press release contains a financial measure that has not been prepared in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("U.S. GAAP"). This financial measure is Adjusted EBITDA.

Non-GAAP financial measures are used to supplement the financial information presented on a U.S. GAAP basis and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the relevant U.S. GAAP measures and should be read in conjunction with information presented on a U.S. GAAP basis. Because not all companies use identical calculations, our presentation of Non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

Adjusted EBITDA1 is defined as revenues less cost of revenues and general and administrative expenses and does not include depreciation, amortization related to the incremental costs to obtain a contract, interest expense, net, impairment charges, unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities, stock-based compensation, other corporate matters (consisting primarily of certain litigation expenses, and related fees, for specific legal proceedings that the Company has determined are infrequent and unusual in terms of their magnitude), other, net, and income tax expense.

You are encouraged to evaluate each adjustment used in calculating our non-GAAP financial measure and the reasons we consider our non-GAAP financial measure appropriate for supplemental analysis. In evaluating our non-GAAP financial measure, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses similar to the adjustments in our presentation. Our non-GAAP financial measure has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider this measure in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Our presentation of our non-GAAP financial measure should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. Our non-GAAP financial measure may not be comparable to other companies. Please see a historical reconciliation of this measure to the most comparable GAAP measure presented in our consolidated financial statements below.

1 The Company compensates for limitations of the adjusted EBITDA measure by prominently disclosing GAAP net loss, which the Company believes is the most directly comparable GAAP measure, and providing investors with a reconciliation from GAAP net loss to adjusted EBITDA.

NEWSMAX INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)

March 31,
2026

December 31,
2025

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

17,198,760

$

20,433,021

Funds held in escrow

20,000,000

20,000,000

Investments

111,896,268

110,895,693

Accounts receivable, net

38,293,087

33,414,435

Inventories, net

2,010,130

2,027,168

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

10,704,282

8,690,490

Total current assets

200,102,527

195,460,807

Property and equipment, net

6,902,752

6,264,885

Right of use assets

7,893,359

8,823,716

Other assets

11,359,217

9,293,670

Funds held in escrow

-

20,000,000

Total assets

$

226,257,855

$

239,843,078

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities

Accounts payable

$

16,277,687

$

16,770,777

Accrued expenses

20,008,943

14,894,949

Deferred revenue

13,480,873

12,599,119

Lease liability

3,643,566

4,062,971

Settlement liability

26,250,513

26,487,028

Share repurchase liability

6,461,320

6,461,320

Total current liabilities

86,122,902

81,276,164

Long-term liabilities:

Deferred revenue, net of current portion

2,522,836

3,148,945

Lease liability, net of current portion

4,681,137

5,292,095

Other long-term liabilities

3,879,167

925,000

Settlement liability, net of current portion

22,027,017

43,152,322

Total liabilities

119,233,059

133,794,526

Stockholders' equity

Class A common stock, 0.001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 39,239,297 shares issued and outstanding at par as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025; Class B common stock, 0.001 par value; 940,000,000 shares authorized 89,899,158 and 89,889,822 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively.

129,138

129,129

Additional paid-in capital

436,731,324

433,325,830

Accumulated other comprehensive income

223,316

464,365

Accumulated deficit

(330,058,982

)

(327,870,772

)

Total stockholders' equity

107,024,796

106,048,552

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

226,257,855

$

239,843,078

NEWSMAX INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
(Unaudited)

2026

2025

Revenues:

Service revenue

$

50,146,781

$

43,735,340

Product revenue

1,511,710

1,566,367

Total revenues

51,658,491

45,301,707

Cost of services

30,761,471

24,648,465

Cost of products sold

968,292

1,191,106

Gross profit

19,928,728

19,462,136

General and administrative expenses:

Personnel costs

9,048,634

8,013,416

Advertising costs

5,361,998

4,418,454

Depreciation

566,819

736,875

Other corporate matters

-

9,667,603

Other

9,420,361

8,198,568

Total general and administrative expenses

24,397,812

31,034,916

Loss from operations

(4,469,084

)

(11,572,780

)

Other income (expense), net

Interest and dividend income

1,343,812

1,054,286

Interest expense

(2,950

)

(6,055

)

Unrealized gain on marketable securities

978,911

1,585,580

Other, net

(38,899

)

(8,288,556

)

Total other income (expense), net

2,280,874

(5,654,745

)

Net loss before income taxes

(2,188,210

)

(17,227,525

)

Income tax expense

-

5,000

Net loss

$

(2,188,210

)

$

(17,232,525

)

Other comprehensive income:

Unrealized (loss) gain on available for sale debt investments, net of income tax

(241,049

)

482,391

Comprehensive loss

$

(2,429,259

)

$

(16,750,134

)

Weighted average common stock outstanding, basic and diluted

128,491,597

44,895,546

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

$

(0.02

)

$

(0.49

)

NEWSMAX INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
(Unaudited)

2026

2025

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net loss

$

(2,188,210

)

$

(17,232,525

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

1,523,571

1,540,440

Stock-based compensation

3,355,369

1,577,109

Change in fair value of warrant liability

-

1,824,179

Change in fair value of derivative liability

-

6,104,230

Provision for (recovery of) credit losses

331,760

(118,266

)

Unrealized gain on investments

(890,275

)

(1,585,580

)

Lease expense

930,357

889,411

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable

(5,210,412

)

(540,358

)

Inventory

17,038

(90,331

)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

(2,013,792

)

(758,633

)

Funds released from escrow

20,000,000

-

Other asset

(3,022,299

)

(472,398

)

Accounts payable

(1,407,567

)

577,173

Accrued expenses

5,113,994

4,006,055

Lease liabilities

(1,030,363

)

(1,005,711

)

Settlement liability

(21,361,820

)

(10,322,243

)

Other long-term liabilities

2,954,167

-

Deferred revenue

255,645

(118,511

)

Net cash used in operating activities

(2,642,837

)

(15,725,959

)

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchase of investments

(351,349

)

(36,672,837

)

Proceeds from maturity of investments

-

7,250,000

Purchase of property and equipment

(242,854

)

(40,786

)

Net cash used in investing activities

(594,203

)

(29,463,622

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from issuance of convertible preferred stock, net

-

80,742,222

Proceeds from issuance of common stock IPO, net

-

67,469,857

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

50,134

-

Payment of dividend

-

(304,930

)

Principal payment under finance lease obligation

(47,355

)

(51,761

)

Net cash provided by financing activities

2,779

147,855,388

Net change in cash

(3,234,261

)

102,665,806

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning

20,433,021

24,052,887

Cash and cash equivalents - ending

$

17,198,760

$

126,718,693

NEWSMAX INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
(Unaudited)

2026

2025

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

Operating lease assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities

$

-

$

28,391

Interest paid

$

-

$

586

Non-cash investing transactions:

Property and equipment acquired through accounts payable:

$

914,477

$

195,722

Non-cash financing activities:

Common stock issuance costs acquired through accounts payable

$

-

$

(337,458

)

Common stock issuance costs reclassified from prepaid expenses

$

-

$

(1,798,989

)

Issuance of warrants in connection with the issuance of convertible stock

$

-

$

1,144,976

Preferred stock cancellations to be refunded

$

-

$

(115,000

)

Accrued dividends payable

$

-

$

610,139

IPO funds receivable in escrow

$

-

$

750,000

NEWSMAX INC.
NON-GAAP ADJUSTED EBITDA RECONCILIATION
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
(Unaudited)

2026

2025

Net loss

$

(2,188,210

)

$

(17,232,525

)

Add

Depreciation

566,819

736,875

Amortization

192,562

39,375

Interest, net

(1,340,862

)

(1,048,231

)

Unrealized gain on marketable securities

(978,911

)

(1,585,579

)

Stock-based compensation

3,355,369

1,577,110

Other corporate matters2

-

9,667,603

Other, net3

38,899

8,288,556

Income tax expense

-

5,000

Adjusted EBITDA4

$

(354,336

)

$

448,184

2 Comprised of certain litigation expenses, and related fees, for specific legal proceedings that we have determined are infrequent and unusual in terms of their magnitude.

3 Comprised of miscellaneous items such as derivative adjustments, income tax credits, and unrealized gains on securities

4 For a discussion of Adjusted EBITDA, see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures".

SOURCE: Newsmax Inc.