Sabre Corp
Q1 2026 Earnings
Market Reaction
S&P 500 over the same 30 days: +0.75%.
Did SABR Beat Earnings? Q1 2026 Results
Sabre Corporation matched Wall Street expectations in Q1 2026, posting adjusted EPS of $0.06 in line with the consensus estimate while revenue of $760.33 million reflected a 2.1% decline year over year, though the company's internal narrative centered on stronger operational momentum beneath that headline figure. The primary driver of the quarter was a 9% jump in Marketplace revenue to $618.01 million, fueled by a 5% rise in total bookings to 101 million and a 3% increase in average booking fee to $6.10, with air distribution bookings growth that management described as the highest rate in over two years. Normalized adjusted EBITDA climbed 21% to $169.09 million, expanding margin to 22.2% from 19.9%, even as free cash flow remained deeply negative at $155.39 million. Geopolitical pressures, particularly the Middle East conflict and elevated fuel prices, are weighing on near-term bookings, though management reaffirmed full-year pro forma adjusted EBITDA guidance of approximately $585 million and expects gradual recovery through summer and fall to support low-to-mid-single-digit annual bookings growth.
- 6% air distribution bookings growth, highest rate in over two years
- 5% increase in total Marketplace bookings to 101 million
- 3% increase in average booking fee to $6.10
- Higher transaction-based revenue drove $42 million increase in Marketplace revenue
- Recognition of previously deferred revenue boosted Airline Technology revenue
- Effective cost management expanded operating margin from 13.0% to 15.2%
“We are pleased with our strong start to the year, delivering 8% revenue growth and a 21% increase in Normalized Adjusted EBITDA, significantly exceeding our first quarter outlook. Air distribution bookings grew 6%, our highest rate in more than two years, and we believe it outpaced the broader industry, underscoring our solid execution and continued momentum across our growth initiatives.”
Sabre CEO, on the earnings call
Forward Guidance & Outlook
Sabre reaffirmed its full-year 2026 guidance: Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $585 million (+9% YoY) and Free Cash Flow of approximately negative $70 million. For Q2 2026, the company expects near-flat YoY air distribution bookings growth, flat-to-nominal revenue growth YoY, and Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $130 million (+2% YoY). Full-year 2026 air distribution bookings and revenue are expected to grow at a low-to-mid-single-digit rate YoY. Management assumes the Middle East conflict subsides during Q2, with gradual recovery through summer and fall driving positive full-year air bookings growth.
SABR YoY Financials
SABR Revenue by Segment
Figures from SEC filings and company reports. Not investment advice.