Zeta Global Holdings Corp. Q1 2026 Earnings Recap

Shares of Zeta rose 4.4% after earnings, as the company delivered both revenue and EBITDA growth ahead of expectations, highlighted by accelerating organic revenue and the ongoing adoption of its AI-powered Athena platform. Management raised full-year revenue guidance for the second consecutive quarter, reflecting continued market share gains.

Key Takeaways

• Q1 revenue reached $396 million, up 50% year-over-year and accelerating to 29% growth ex-acquisitions and political.
• Adjusted EBITDA was $66 million, increasing 42% from the prior year.
• Management raised the 2026 revenue guidance midpoint by $30 million, now implying 37% annual growth.
• Strong early adoption of Athena—the company’s AI marketing interface—contributed to the revenue beat, helping close significant new enterprise deals and drive ARPU up 21% year-over-year among “super-scaled” customers.
• Net retention remained above target, with Zeta citing marquee client wins and expansion in key segments driven by its proprietary data and AI advantages.