Thomas Etergino
Analyst · Northland Capital Markets
Thanks, David. Good morning, everyone. From 2022 through 2025, we systematically reengineered our cost structure, reducing headcount, rationalizing expenses and rebuilding the foundation of this business with one objective in mind, ensuring that when revenue growth resumes, it would flow disproportionately to the bottom line. Q2 provides early evidence that this is working exactly as designed. Across all 3 metrics, GMV, revenue and adjusted EBITDA margin, we beat the high end of our guidance. GMV grew 7%, revenue grew 5% and adjusted EBITDA margin reached approximately 6%. Critically, that margin expansion is happening alongside a deliberate rebalancing of our team towards product and engineering, the highest ROI investment we can make. We are expanding margins while simultaneously concentrating more of our resources on the work that will drive our next phase of growth. Let me walk you through the numbers. GMV of $96 million was up 7% and above the high end of our guidance range. That growth reflected progress across all 3 dimensions of our funnel, easing traffic declines, expanding average order values and continued conversion growth. Traffic declines moderated relative to the first quarter and sessions were flat on a sequential basis. We ended the quarter with approximately 75% of traffic from organic sources, a continued reflection of the enduring strength of the 1stDibs brand. Average order value reached approximately $2,850, up 10% year-over-year. Median order value, which excludes the impact of outlier transactions, also grew 10% to approximately $1,500. That trend tells us order value expansion is broad-based, a clear signal of the trust buyers place in our platform. Conversion grew for the 11th consecutive quarter, reflecting the compounding impact of our product investments and giving us continued confidence in our roadmap. While order volume declined year-over-year, orders grew sequentially. Consumer and trade GMV both grew year-over-year. Together, the 2 channels reinforce the same story. Our platform is gaining traction across buyer types independent of the macro environment. On a vertical basis, growth rates improved across all categories relative to the first quarter with strength in vintage and antique furniture, art and fashion. We ended the quarter with approximately 57,700 active buyers, down 10%, reflecting the deliberate reduction in sales and marketing spend enacted in late 2025. Turning to supply. Unique sellers held steady at approximately 5,700, flat sequentially, reflecting continued stabilization following our 2024 and 2025 pricing actions. Listings grew 1% year-over-year to nearly 1.9 million, providing buyers with a deep and expanding catalog of one-of-a-kind inventory. Turning to the income statement. Net revenue reached $23.3 million, up 5%, exceeding the high end of our guidance range. Transaction revenue, which is tied directly to GMV, represented approximately 74% of total revenue. The quarter also included approximately $270,000 of non-endemic advertising revenue related to the 1stDibs 50 sponsorships, an early but tangible contribution from this nascent revenue stream. Take rates declined approximately 30 basis points year-over-year, largely driven by a mix shift to higher-value orders, which carry a lower blended commission rate. Gross profit was $17.2 million, up 8%. Gross margin was 73.9%, up 210 basis points year-over-year at the high end of our target range of 72% to 74%, helped by modest reductions in professional services, depreciation and shipping costs. Total operating expenses were $19.3 million, down 11%. That decline did not come at the expense of product investment. Technology development continues to grow year-over-year, consistent with our decision to rebalance resources towards product and engineering even as total OPEX declined. Sales and marketing expenses were $5.4 million, down 34%. This reduction reflects the strategic realignment implemented in late 2025, which fundamentally reset our marketing organization and rationalized performance marketing spend as well as lower headcount-related expenses following our first quarter reorganization. Sales and marketing as a percentage of revenue was 23%, down from 37% a year ago. Technology development expenses were $6.3 million, up 7%. This increase reflects continued investment in product and engineering in support of our 2026 roadmap, including the impact of our annual merit cycle in March. Technology development as a percentage of revenue was approximately 27%, flat year-over-year. General and administrative expenses were $6.7 million, up 1%, reflecting the ongoing discipline in our overhead cost base. General and administrative as a percentage of revenue was approximately 29% versus 30% a year ago. Lastly, provision for transaction losses were approximately $930,000 or 4% of revenue, in line with our historical range of 2% to 4%. As I mentioned previously, total operating expenses were $19.3 million, down 11%. In addition, operating expenses as a percentage of revenue were at the lowest level since we went public in 2021. Adjusted EBITDA was $1.3 million, representing a margin of approximately 6%, well above the high end of our guidance range. This result is a direct product of the cost structure we rebuilt starting in 2022, revenue upside flowing disproportionately to the bottom line, exactly as designed. Turning to the balance sheet. We ended the quarter with cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments of $67.7 million, down $17.6 million sequentially. That decline primarily reflects 2 items: $11.1 million in share repurchases and approximately $5.9 million related to a change in our agreement with our payment processors that resulted in an accounting reclassification of cash and cash equivalents to receivables from payment processors and seller accounts. This reclassification has no economic impact. It is a presentation change only. Total assets remain unchanged. The offsetting liability to sellers is unchanged, and there is no impact to net income, working capital or overall financial position. The cash balance appears smaller, but this cash was always offset by an equal payable to the sellers. The offset now simply sits against a different asset account. Excluding it, cash declined approximately $11.7 million, driven primarily by capital returns to shareholders. During the quarter, we repurchased approximately 2.4 million shares for $11.1 million under our 2026 stock repurchase program, exhausting the authorization. Since inception of our repurchase programs, we have repurchased approximately 11.4 million shares for approximately $55.3 million. Before moving to guidance, I want to address our full year free cash flow directly. Our 2026 financial framework includes a commitment to positive free cash flow and the operational performance of the business supports that. If anything, performance has exceeded our expectations year-to-date. However, the reclassification I just discussed affects our reported free cash flow and means we are no longer likely to generate positive free cash flow in 2026. Excluding the reclassification, the underlying business is generating cash ahead of our original expectations. Turning to the outlook. Our guidance reflects quarter-to-date results and our forecast for the remainder of the period. We forecast third quarter GMV between $89 million and $94 million or flat to up 6%. Net revenue of $22 million to $22.9 million or flat to up 4%. And adjusted EBITDA margin between negative 1% and positive 2%. Our GMV guidance reflects 3 factors. First, product-driven growth. Continued year-over-year GMV growth at the midpoint, a reflection of compounding roadmap progress against the backdrop of significant sales and marketing reductions. Second, quality-driven performance. While traffic remains a headwind, we expect continued growth in conversion and AOV. Third, seasonal dynamics. The third quarter is our seasonally softest period, and we are facing our toughest year-over-year GMV comparison of 2026. Our revenue guidance reflects take rate dynamics. Revenue is expected to grow year-over-year, though at a modestly slower rate than GMV at the midpoint, reflecting a continued mix shift towards higher-value orders. These transactions carry a lower blended commission rate. Our adjusted EBITDA margin guidance reflects 2 factors. First, structural efficiency, continued operating expense discipline from actions taken in late 2025. Second, seasonal dynamics. The third quarter is our seasonally softest period. A sequential step down in revenue is the primary driver of lower margin versus Q2. Turning to our 2026 financial framework. We are upgrading our expectations for GMV growth based on Q2 performance. Our revised financial framework is -- we now expect GMV to grow year-over-year for 2026 as a whole. We also expect Q4 GMV to grow year-over-year, our original milestone. We expect revenue take rates of approximately 24% to 25%, down from our prior outlook of 25% to 26% as higher order values, which carry a lower blended commission rate, represent a growing share of our GMV. We expect to deliver a third consecutive year of revenue growth, reflecting the resilience of our marketplace in the face of a soft market for luxury home goods. We expect gross margins of 72% to 74%, up from 71% to 73% in 2025. We remain focused on efficient growth with a full year outlook of positive adjusted EBITDA. On free cash flow, as discussed, because of our accounting reclassification related to our payment processor agreements, we are no longer likely to generate positive free cash flow for 2026. Underpinning this plan is the assumption that macroeconomic conditions, particularly those impacting the housing market and the consumer discretionary spending remain stable. In 2022, we began resetting our expense base with a specific goal in mind, ensuring that when revenue recovered, it would flow disproportionately to the bottom line. Q2 is the clearest evidence yet that this design is working. GMV, revenue and adjusted EBITDA all came in above the high end of guidance. Adjusted EBITDA margin reached approximately 6%, and we achieved all this while continuing to invest in product and engineering, the engine of our long-term growth. We are on plan. We are executing and our conviction in the path ahead has never been stronger. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to updating you on the progress in the coming quarters. Thank you. I will now turn the call over to the operator to take your questions.