Fair Isaac Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates on Scores, Revenue Up Y/Y

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Fair Isaac Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates on Scores, Revenue Up Y/Y

Fair Isaac FICO posted a strong second-quarter fiscal 2026, with non-GAAP earnings of $12.5 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 13.33% and rising 60.1% from the year-ago quarter. 

Revenues were $692 million, beating the consensus mark by 10.64% and increasing 38.7% year over year.

Results reflected sharp momentum in credit-related activity, highlighted by a 127% year-over-year jump in mortgage originations revenue, alongside continued execution in the company’s decisioning software strategy.

FICO Benefits From Scores Business

Scores segment revenue rose 60% year over year to $475.0 million, underscoring the durability of FICO’s franchise in U.S. credit markets. Growth was led by the business-to-business channel, where revenue increased 72% from the prior-year period, benefiting from higher mortgage origination scores, unit pricing and higher mortgage origination volumes.

Fair Isaac Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Fair Isaac Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Fair Isaac Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Fair Isaac Corporation Quote

Business-to-consumer Scores revenue increased 5% year over year, supported mainly by indirect channel partners. Within originations, auto revenue grew 13%, and credit card, personal loan, and other originations increased 6% year over year compared with the year-ago quarter, indicating broader-based demand beyond mortgages. Mortgage originations revenues rose 127% year over year.

Fair Isaac Gains From Software Platform Revenue

Software revenue increased 7% year over year to $216.7 million, supported by continued penetration of the FICO Platform. Platform revenue climbed 54% from the prior-year quarter, while non-platform revenue declined 12%, largely due to migrations.

Total software annual recurring revenue (ARR) was $789 million, up 10% year over year, with platform ARR of $349 million rising 49% and representing 44% of total ARR. Dollar-based net retention rate was 109%, including 136% for platform and 90% for non-platform, reflecting expansion in platform use cases and volumes even as legacy products face headwinds.

FICO’s Operating Details

Research and development expenses, as a percentage of revenues, contracted 120 basis points (bps) on a year-over-year basis to 7.8%. Selling, general, and administrative expenses, as a percentage of revenues, decreased 330 bps year over year to 20.8%.

Non-GAAP operating margin expanded to 65% from 58% in the year-ago period, as revenue growth outpaced incremental spending.

Adjusted EBITDA increased 55.8% year over year to $448.5 million in the reported quarter. The adjusted EBITDA margin in the fiscal second quarter of 2026 was 64.8% compared with 57.7% in the fiscal second quarter of 2025.

Fair Isaac’s Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

As of March 31, 2026, FICO had $219.4 million in cash and cash equivalents compared with $162 million as of Dec. 31, 2025. Total debt was $3.64 billion. 

Cash flow from operations was $223 million in the fiscal second quarter compared with $174 million in the prior quarter. Free cash flow was $214.3 million in the reported quarter compared with $165.3 million reported in the prior quarter.

FICO continued to prioritize capital returns. The company repurchased 484,000 shares for $605 million at an average price of $1,251 per share, cited as its largest quarterly repurchase in dollar terms.

FICO Raises Full-Year 2026 Outlook After Strong First Half

Reflecting the first-half performance, management raised full-year fiscal 2026 guidance. 

Revenue is now expected to be $2.45 billion, up from the prior view of $2.35 billion.

On a non-GAAP basis,earnings are projected to be $40.45 per share.

FICO’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

FICO currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector include Analog Devices ADI, Advanced Energy AEIS, and Arista Networks ANET. Each stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Shares of Analog Devices have gained 41.3% in the year-to-date period. Analog Devices is set to report the second quarter of fiscal 2026 results on May 20.

Shares of Advanced Energy have surged  76.3% in the year-to-date period. Advanced Energy is slated to report first-quarter 2026 results on May 4.

Arista Networks shares have gained 26.1% in the year-to-date period. Arista Networks is set to report first-quarter 2026 results on May 5.

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Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO): Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

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