Q1 2026 Magnite Inc Earnings Call

May 6, 2026

Operator 2: Good day, welcome to the Magnite Q1 2026 Earnings Conference Call. All participants will be in a listen-only mode. Should you need assistance, please signal a conference specialist by pressing the star key followed by 0. After today's presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. To ask a question, you may press Star, then 1 on a touch-tone phone. To withdraw your question, please press Star then 2. Please note this event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to Nick Kormeluk, investor relations. Please go ahead.

Operator: Good day, welcome to the Magnite Q1 2026 Earnings Conference Call. All participants will be in a listen-only mode. Should you need assistance, please signal a conference specialist by pressing the star key followed by zero. After today's presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. To ask a question, you may press Star, then one on a touch-tone phone. To withdraw your question, please press Star then two. Please note this event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to Nick Kormeluk, investor relations. Please go ahead.

Speaker #2: After today's presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. To ask a question, you may press star, then one on a touch-tone phone.

Speaker #2: To withdraw your question, please press star, then two. Please note this event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to Nick Kormeluk, investor relations.

Speaker #2: Please go ahead. Thank you, operator, and good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to Magnite's first quarter 2026 earnings conference call. As a reminder, this conference call is being recorded.

Nick Kormeluk: Thank you, operator. Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to Magnite's Q1 2026 earnings conference call. As a reminder, this conference call is being recorded. Joining me on the call today are Michael Barrett, CEO, David Day, our CFO. I would like to point out that we have posted financial highlight slides on our investor relations website to accompany today's presentation. Before we get started, I will remind you that our prepared remarks and answers to questions will include information that might be considered to be forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements concerning our anticipated financial performance and strategic objectives, including the potential impacts of macroeconomic factors on our business. These statements are not guarantees of future performance.

Speaker #2: Joining me on the call today are Michael Barrett, CEO; David Day, our CFO; I would like to point out that we have posted financial highlights slides on our investor relations website to accompany today's presentation.

Speaker #2: Before we get started, I'll remind you that our prepared remarks and answers to questions will include information that might be considered forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements concerning our anticipated financial performance and strategic objectives, including the potential impacts of macro and economic factors on our business.

Speaker #2: These statements are not guarantees of future performance. They reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and estimates and subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from expectations or results projected or implied by forward-looking statements.

Nick Kormeluk: They reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and estimates, and subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from expectations or results projected or implied by forward-looking statements. A discussion of these and other risks, uncertainties, and assumptions is set forth in the company's periodic reports filed with the SEC, including our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and our 2025 annual report on Form 10-K. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements or relevant risks. Our commentary today will include non-GAAP financial measures, including Contribution ex-TAC or less Traffic Acquisition Costs, Adjusted EBITDA, and non-GAAP income per share.

Speaker #2: A discussion of these and other risks, uncertainties, and assumptions is set forth in the company's periodic reports filed with the SEC, including our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and our 2025 annual report on Form 10-K.

Speaker #2: We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements or relevant risks. Our commentary today will include non-gap financial measures, including contribution XTAC or less traffic acquisition costs.

Speaker #2: Adjusted EBITDA and non-gap income per share. Reconciliations between gap and non-gap metrics for our reported results can be found on our earnings press release and in the financial highlights deck that is posted on our investor relations website.

Nick Kormeluk: Reconciliations between GAAP and non-GAAP metrics for our reported results can be found on our earnings press release and in the financial highlights deck that is posted on our investor relations website. At times in response to your questions, we may offer additional metrics to provide greater insight into the dynamics of the business. Please be advised that this additional detail may be one time in nature, and we may or may not provide an update on the future of these metrics. I encourage you to visit our investor relations website to access our press release, financial highlights deck, periodic SEC reports, and the webcast replay of today's call to learn more about Magnite. I will now turn the call over to Michael. Please go ahead, Michael.

Speaker #2: At times, in response to your questions, we may offer additional metrics to provide greater insight into the dynamics of the business. Please be advised that this additional detail may be one-time in nature, and we may or may not provide an update on the future of these metrics.

Speaker #2: I encourage you to visit our investor relations website to access our press release, financial highlights deck, periodic SEC reports, and the webcast replay of today's calls to learn more about MAGNITE.

Speaker #2: I will now turn the call over to Michael. Please go ahead, Michael.

Speaker #3: Thank you, Nick. And thanks, everyone, for joining us today. We delivered a strong first quarter, exceeding expectations across both revenue and profitability. Pipeline came in ahead of consensus, with DV Plus outperforming our guide, and CTV in line.

Michael Barrett: Thank you, Nick, and thanks everyone for joining us today. We delivered a strong Q1, exceeding expectations across both revenue and profitability. Top line came in ahead of consensus, with DV+ outperforming our guide and CTV in line. Adjusted EBITDA exceeded consensus by $5 million, driven by earlier than expected cost efficiencies. We are encouraged by the margin expansion we are seeing. Importantly, the broader market trend remains unchanged. Ad dollars continue to shift towards streaming. In Q1, CTV Contribution ex-TAC grew 30% and represented 51% of total, maintaining the momentum we saw in the H2 of 2025. That strength was broad-based. We saw continued growth across leading publishers, including LG Ads, Netflix, Paramount, Roku, Vizio, Walmart, and Warner Bros. Discovery. Our top 10 accounts grew in the mid-30% range year over year, with the rest of the base growing in the mid-20s.

Speaker #3: Adjusted EBITDA exceeded consensus by $5 million, driven by earlier-than-expected cost efficiencies, and we are encouraged by the margin expansion we are seeing. Importantly, the broader market trend remains unchanged, add dollars continue to shift towards streaming.

Speaker #3: In Q1, CTV contribution XTAC grew 30% and represented 51% of total, maintaining the momentum we saw in the back half of 2025. That strength was broad-based.

Speaker #3: We saw continued growth across leading publishers, including LG Ads, Netflix, Paramount, Roku, Vizio, Walmart, and Warner Bros. Discovery. Our top 10 accounts grew in the mid-30% range year over year, with the rest of the base growing in the mid-20s.

Speaker #3: This is not isolated performance. It reflects a platform that is gaining share as the market scales. The acceleration we're seeing in CTV is not surprising.

Michael Barrett: This is not isolated performance. It reflects a platform that is gaining share as the market scales. The acceleration we're seeing in CTV is not surprising. We are materially outpacing the market, and we believe that is sustainable. This is driven by both new wins and expanding partnerships, but more fundamentally, by SpringServe. SpringServe has evolved from a best-in-class ad server into the operating system for CTV monetization. We sit at the center of the transaction, unifying demand, optimizing yield, managing ad experience, and orchestrating data across the workflow. There are point solutions in the market, but no other scaled platform in CTV combines ad serving, mediation, and monetization infrastructure in a single unified layer. For publishers, this drives higher yield and better control. For buyers, it provides a direct path to the broadest set of premium inventory. This capability scales across every cohort we serve.

Speaker #3: We are materially outpacing the market, and we believe that is sustainable. This is driven by both new wins and expanding partnerships, but more fundamentally, by spring serve.

Speaker #3: SpringServe has evolved from a best-in-class ad server into the operating system for CTV monetization. We sit at the center of the transaction, unifying demand, optimizing yield, managing ad experience, and orchestrating data across the workflow.

Speaker #3: There are point solutions in the market, but no other scaled platform in CTV combines ad serving, mediation, and monetization infrastructure in a single, unified layer.

Michael Barrett: There are point solutions in the market, but no other scaled platform in CTV combines ad serving, mediation, and monetization infrastructure in a single unified layer. For publishers, this drives higher yield and better control. For buyers, it provides a direct path to the broadest set of premium inventory. This capability scales across every cohort we serve.

Speaker #3: For publishers, this drives higher yield and better control. For buyers, it provides a direct path to the broader set of premium inventory. In this capability scales across every cohort we serve.

Speaker #3: We support OEM monetization across home screens and emerging formats, partner with streamers to build and support their offering, and help broadcasters optimize their sales efforts, particularly as live and SMB demand grows.

Michael Barrett: We support OEM monetization across home screens and emerging formats, partner with streamers to build and support their offering, and help broadcasters optimize their sales efforts, particularly as live and SMB demand grows. In live TV, where performance requirements are highest, our differentiation is even more pronounced. Live sports remains one of the largest and least penetrated opportunities in programmatic. We are seeing strong traction here, including more than 80% growth year-over-year in revenue from March Madness. On the demand side, buyer marketplaces are scaling, ClearLine adoption is increasing, and buyers are prioritizing more direct and efficient access to premium CTV supply. We are also seeing commerce media emerge as an important driver across both DV+ and CTV. These partners are bringing valuable first-party data and incremental demand into the ecosystem, increasingly activating across streaming environments.

Speaker #3: And in live TV, we're performance requirements are highest, our differentiation is even more pronounced. Live sports remains one of the largest and least penetrated opportunities in programmatic.

Speaker #3: We are seeing strong traction here, including more than 80% growth year over year in revenue from March Madness. On the demand side, buyer marketplaces are scaling.

Michael Barrett: On the demand side, buyer marketplaces are scaling, ClearLine adoption is increasing, and buyers are prioritizing more direct and efficient access to premium CTV supply. We are also seeing commerce media emerge as an important driver across both DV+ and CTV. These partners are bringing valuable first-party data and incremental demand into the ecosystem, increasingly activating across streaming environments.

Speaker #3: Clearline adoption is increasing, and buyers are prioritizing more direct and efficient access to premium CTV supply. We are also seeing commerce media emerge as an important driver across both DV Plus and CTV.

Speaker #3: These partners are bringing valuable first-party data, and incremental demand into the ecosystem increasingly activating across streaming environments. A recent announcement with Expedia Group, Walmart Connect, and Roku Curate show further traction on the commerce media front.

Michael Barrett: Our recent announcements with Expedia Group, Walmart Connect, and Roku Curate show further traction on the commerce media front. Across all of these areas, our role is consistent. We are the infrastructure layer that connects the ecosystem. As our capabilities expand, so does our position. We are increasingly the single entry point for buyers to access premium CTV inventory at scale, becoming the easy button for CTV. As the market consolidates around scaled platforms, we believe our lead is durable and widening. Turning to DV plus. DV plus declined 5% in Q1, which was better than expected. While budget shifts towards CTV continue, we remain confident in the long-term role of DV plus. Trends improved exiting Q1 and into Q2, with signs of stabilization driven by mobile in-app, online video, audio, and commerce media.

Speaker #3: Across all of these areas, our role is consistent. We are the infrastructure layer that connects the ecosystem. As our capabilities expand, so does our position.

Speaker #3: We are increasingly the single entry point for buyers to access premium CTV inventory at scale, becoming the easy button for CTV. And as the market consolidates around scaled platforms, we believe our lead is durable and widening.

Speaker #3: Turning to DV Plus, DV Plus declined 5% in Q1, which was better than expected. While budget shifts towards CTV continue, we remain confident in the long-term role of DV Plus.

Speaker #3: Trends improved exiting Q1 and into Q2, with signs of stabilization driven by mobile and app, online video, audio, and commerce media. Mobile and app grew 8% year over year and remains a durable growth segment, supported by deeper integrations and new publisher and DSP onboarding.

Michael Barrett: Mobile in-app grew 8% year over year and remains a durable growth segment, supported by deeper integrations and new publisher and DSP onboarding. Commerce media continues to build momentum, with 21 partners and 13 now deployed and ramping, expanding both our demand footprint and data capabilities across DV+ and CTV. On the Google ad tech remedies, our view remains unchanged, and we continue to believe the potential upside is meaningful. Stepping back, what ties this together is how our platform is evolving, particularly with AI. We are embedding AI across the platform to improve how media is bought and sold. At the core, AI enhances how inventory is valued, how campaigns are executed, and how decisions are made in real time. For publishers, AI is improving monetization through dynamic pricing and demand optimization.

Speaker #3: Commerce media continues to build momentum. With 21 partners and 13 now deployed and ramping, expanding both our demand footprint and data capabilities across DV Plus and CTV.

Speaker #3: On the Google Ad Tech Remedies, our view remains unchanged, and we continue to believe the potential upside is meaningful. Stepping back, what ties this together is how our platform is evolving, particularly with AI.

Speaker #3: We are embedding AI across the platform to improve how media is bought and sold. At the core, AI enhances how inventory is valued, how campaigns are executed, and how decisions are made in real time.

Speaker #3: For publishers, AI is improving monetization through dynamic pricing and demand optimization. And with ClearLine, AI is simplifying activation, curation, and optimization for buyers, reducing friction and enabling faster execution.

Michael Barrett: With ClearLine, AI is simplifying activation, curation, and optimization for buyers, reducing friction and enabling faster execution. Across the platform, we are beginning to see the emergence of agentic workflows, enabling greater automation and efficiency for both buyers and sellers. What matters is not a single feature, it's how these capabilities work together across our scaled infrastructure. We are already seeing adoption from the leading players across the ecosystem using our AI to automate workflows, act on real-time signals, and improve performance. This is still early, but the direction is clear. AI is increasing efficiency, expanding working media, and driving more volume through platforms like ours. This is a tailwind for Magnite. Before I conclude, I want to address David's retirement. As previously announced, David has decided to retire after more than 13 years of exceptional service.

Speaker #3: Across the platform, we are beginning to see the emergence of agentic workflows, enabling greater automation and efficiency for both buyers and sellers. What matters is not a single feature; it's how these capabilities work together across our scaled infrastructure.

Speaker #3: We are already seeing adoption from the leading players across the ecosystem, using our AI to automate workflows, act on real-time signals, and improve performance.

Speaker #3: This is still early, but the direction is clear. AI is increasing efficiency, expanding working media, and driving more volume through platforms like ours. This is a tailwind for MAGNITE.

Speaker #3: Before I conclude, I want to address David's retirement. As previously announced, David has decided to retire after more than 13 years of exceptional service.

Speaker #3: He has been an invaluable partner and a steady leader whose financial stewardship helped shape MAGNITE into the company we are today. We are grateful for his leadership and for his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition as we remain in his role through September 30th while we evaluate internal and external candidates.

Michael Barrett: He has been an invaluable partner and a steady leader whose financial stewardship helped shape Magnite into the company we are today. We are grateful for his leadership and for his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition as he remains in his role through 30 September while we evaluate internal and external candidates. On behalf of the board and the entire Magnite family, I want to thank David and wish him and his family all the best. With that, I'll turn the call over to David for more details on the financials.

Speaker #3: On behalf of the board and the entire Magnite family, I want to thank David and wish him and his family all the best. With that, I'll turn the call over to David for more details on the financials.

Speaker #4: Thanks for those kind words, Michael. I appreciate it. We're off to a good start to 2026. Q1 total contribution ex tax grew 10% and came in at the top end of our guidance range.

David Day: Thanks for those kind words, Michael. I appreciate it. We're off to a good start to 2026. Q1 total Contribution ex-TAC grew 10% and came in at the top end of our guidance range. As Michael mentioned, CTV increased an impressive 30% year over year, and DV+ declined 5%, but exceeded our previous expectations. We're pleased with the results and are encouraged by the many positive catalysts that are driving momentum in our business. Total revenue for Q1 was $164 million, up 6% from Q1 2025. Contribution ex-TAC was $161 million, up 10% at the high end of our guidance range. CTV Contribution ex-TAC was $82 million, up 30% year over year.

Speaker #4: As Michael mentioned, CTV increased an impressive 30% year over year, and DV Plus declined 5%, but exceeded our previous expectations. We're pleased with the results and are encouraged by the many positive catalysts that are driving momentum in our business.

Speaker #4: Total revenue for Q1 was $164 million, up 6% from Q1 2025. Contribution ex tax was $161 million, up 10% at the high end of our guidance range.

Speaker #4: CTV contribution ex tax was $82 million, up 30% year over year. DV Plus contribution ex tax was $79 million, a decrease of 5% from the first quarter last year.

David Day: DV+ contribution ex-TAC was USD 79 million, a decrease of 5% from Q1 last year. Our contribution ex-TAC mix for Q1 was 51% CTV, 34% mobile, and 15% desktop. From an overall vertical perspective, health and fitness, retail, and food and beverage were the strongest performing categories, while automotive and technology were our weakest performing categories. Total operating expenses, which includes cost of revenue, were USD 157 million, flat from last year. Adjusted EBITDA operating expense for Q1 was USD 118 million, USD 4 million better than our guide and an increase from USD 109 million in the same period last year. Operating expense was better than expected due to significant improvements in cloud spend and some early AI-related productivity gains.

Speaker #4: Our contribution ex-tax mix for Q1 was 51% CTV, 34% mobile, and 15% desktop. From an overall vertical perspective, health and fitness, retail, and food and beverage were the strongest performing categories, while automotive and technology were our weakest performing categories.

Speaker #4: Total operating expenses, which includes cost of revenue, were $157 million, flat from last year. Adjusted EBITDA, operating expense for the first quarter, was $118 million, $4 million better than our guide, and an increase from $109 million in the same period last year.

Speaker #4: Operating expense was better than expected, due to significant improvements in cloud spend and some early AI-related productivity gains. Our net income was $4 million for the quarter, compared to net loss of $10 million for the first quarter of 2025.

David Day: Our net income was $4 million for the quarter compared to net loss of $10 million for Q1 2025. Adjusted EBITDA grew 16% year-over-year to $43 million, reflecting a margin of 27% as compared to 25% in Q1 last year. As a reminder, Q1 is always seasonally our lowest margin quarter. We calculate Adjusted EBITDA margin as a percentage of Contribution ex-TAC. GAAP earnings per diluted share were $0.03 for Q1 2026 compared to a net loss of $0.07 for Q1 2025. Non-GAAP earnings per share for Q1 2026 were $0.13 compared to $0.12 in Q1 last year.

Speaker #4: Adjusted EBITDA grew 16% year over year to $43 million, reflecting a margin of 27% as compared to 25% in Q1 last year. As a reminder, the first quarter is always seasonally our lowest margin quarter.

Speaker #4: We calculate adjusted EBITDA margin as a percentage of contribution ex tax. Gap earnings for diluted share were $0.03 for the first quarter of 2026, compared to a net loss of $0.07 for the first quarter of 2025.

Speaker #4: Non-gap earnings per share for the first quarter of 2026 were $0.13, compared to $0.12 in Q1 last year. The reconciliations to non-gap income and non-gap earnings per share are included with our Q1 results press release.

David Day: The reconciliations to non-GAAP income and non-GAAP earnings per share are included with our Q1 results press release. Our cash balance at the end of Q1 was $185 million, a decrease from $553 million at the end of Q4. The drivers of the change were the $205 million payoff of our convertible debt, planned CapEx, share repurchases, and normal seasonality in working capital. Operating cash flow, which we define as Adjusted EBITDA less CapEx, was $23 million. CapEx, including both purchases of property and equipment and capitalized internal use software development costs, were $20 million, in line with the expectations we discussed last quarter. Net interest expense for the quarter was $5 million. Net leverage was 0.7x at quarter end, consistent with our target of less than 1x.

Speaker #4: Our cash balance at the end of Q1 was $185 million, a decrease from $553 million at the end of the fourth quarter. The drivers of the change were the $205 million payoff of our convertible debt, planned capital expenditures, share repurchases, and normal seasonality in working capital.

Speaker #4: Operating cash flow, which we define as adjusted EBITDA less capex, was $23 million. Capital expenditures, including both purchases of property and equipment and capitalized internal use software development costs, were $20 million, in line with the expectations we discussed last quarter.

Speaker #4: Net interest expense for the quarter was $5 million. Net leverage was 0.7x at quarter end, consistent with our target of less than 1x. During the first quarter, we repurchased or withheld over 2.2 million shares for approximately $29 million.

David Day: During Q1, we repurchased or withheld over 2.2 million shares for approximately $29 million. As of quarter-end, $186 million remained available under our current repurchase authorization, which is effective through February 2028. Now that we've repaid our convert, we plan to be more aggressive with share repurchases given our expected free cash flow generation. As discussed last quarter, our capital allocation strategy aims to return approximately 50% of free cash flow to shareholders via share repurchases. We believe our shares currently trade at very attractive levels. I will now share our expectations for Q2 2026 and our current thoughts for the full year in a mixed macro environment.

Speaker #4: As of quarter end, $186 million remained available under our current repurchase authorization, which is effective through February of 2028. Now that we repaid our convert, we plan to be more aggressive with share repurchases given our expected free cash flow generation.

Speaker #4: As discussed last quarter, our capital allocation strategy aims to return approximately 50% of free cash flow to shareholders via share repurchases. We believe our shares currently trade at very attractive levels.

Speaker #4: I will now share our expectations for the second quarter of 2026 and our current thoughts for the full year in a mixed macro environment.

Speaker #4: For the second quarter, we expect contribution ex tax to be in the range of $177 to $181 million, which represents growth of 9 to 12%.

David Day: For Q2, we expect contribution ex TAC to be in the range of $177 to 181 million, which represents growth of 9% to 12%. Contribution ex TAC attributable to CTV to be in a range of $90 to 92 million, which represents growth of 26% to 29%. DV+ contribution ex TAC to be in the range of $87 to 89 million, which represents a decline of 4% to 2%. We anticipate Adjusted EBITDA operating expenses to be in the range of $115 to 117 million, which implies Adjusted EBITDA margin of 34% to 36%.

Speaker #4: Contribution ex tax attributable to CTV to be in a range of 90 to 92 million, which represents growth of 26 to 29%. DV Plus contribution ex tax to be in the range of 87 to 89 million dollars, which represents a decline of 4% to 2%.

Speaker #4: We anticipate adjusted EBITDA operating expenses to be in the range of $115 to $117 million, which implies adjusted EBITDA margin of 34 to 36%.

Speaker #4: And for the full year 2026, we reaffirm total contribution ex tax growth to be at least 11%, reaffirm adjusted EBITDA percentage growth in the mid-teens, raise adjusted EBITDA margin to be at least 35.5% from greater than 35%, raise free cash flow growth to be in the mid-30% range from greater than 30%, and reaffirm capex of approximately $60 million a reduction from prior year.

David Day: For the full year 2026, we reaffirm total contribution ex-TAC growth to be at least 11%, reaffirm Adjusted EBITDA percentage growth in the mid-teens, raise Adjusted EBITDA margin to be at least 35.5% from greater than 35%. Raise free cash flow growth to be in the mid 30% range from greater than 30% and reaffirm CapEx of approximately $60 million, a reduction from prior year. I want to point out that our estimates do not include any potential market share gains as a result of remedies from the Google ad tech trial. Lastly, a note regarding our tax position. We would not expect to have any significant increases in cash taxes. Finally, on a personal note, I'm incredibly pleased with our performance and the robust financial position the company maintains today.

Speaker #4: I want to point out that our estimates do not include any potential market share gains as a result of remedies from the Google AdTech trial.

Speaker #4: Lastly, a note regarding our tax position: we would not expect to have any significant increases in cash taxes. Finally, on a personal note, I'm incredibly pleased with our performance and the robust financial position the company maintains today.

Speaker #4: It is from this position of strength that I've decided to retire, marking the end of what has been the most rewarding chapter of my professional life.

David Day: It is from this position of strength that I've decided to retire, marking the end of what has been the most rewarding chapter of my professional life. My journey here, from the early days of Rubicon Project through our 2014 IPO, transformative merger with Telaria, and the acquisitions of SpotX and SpringServe has been an exhilarating ride, and I'm immensely proud of the durable company we've built, our winning culture, and our world-class finance team. While I am looking forward to spending more time with my family, I will continue to energetically serve as CFO through 30 September to ensure our momentum continues uninterrupted and to assist Michael and the board in identifying my successor. I leave with full confidence that Magnite is extremely well-positioned to lead the future of digital advertising. Thank you all for an unforgettable decade-plus partnership.

Speaker #4: My journey here from the early days of Rubicon Project, through our 2014 IPO, transformative merger with Polaria, and the acquisitions of Spotex and SpringServe, has been an exhilarating ride.

Speaker #4: And I'm immensely proud of the durable company we've built, our winning culture, and our world-class finance team. While I am looking forward to spending more time with my family, I will continue to energetically serve as CFO through September 30th to ensure our momentum continues uninterrupted and to assist Michael and the board in identifying my successor.

Speaker #4: I leave with full confidence that MAGNITE is extremely well positioned to lead the future of digital advertising. Thank you all for an unforgettable decade-plus partnership.

Speaker #4: And with that, let's open the line for Q&A.

David Day: With that, let's open the line for Q&A.

Speaker #1: We will now begin the question and answer session. To ask a question, you may press star, then one on your touch-tone phone. If you are using a speakerphone, please pick up your handset before pressing the keys.

Operator 2: We will now begin the question-and-answer session. To ask a question, you may press star then one on your touch-tone phone. If you are using a speakerphone, please pick up your handset before pressing the keys. If at any time your question has been addressed and you would like to withdraw your question, please press star then two. We ask that you please limit yourself to one question and one follow-up. If you have additional questions, please rejoin the question queue. At this time, we will pause momentarily to assemble our roster. The first question today comes from Daniel Kurnos with StoneX. Please go ahead.

Operator: We will now begin the question-and-answer session. To ask a question, you may press star then one on your touch-tone phone. If you are using a speakerphone, please pick up your handset before pressing the keys. If at any time your question has been addressed and you would like to withdraw your question, please press star then two. We ask that you please limit yourself to one question and one follow-up. If you have additional questions, please rejoin the question queue. At this time, we will pause momentarily to assemble our roster. The first question today comes from Daniel Kurnos with StoneX. Please go ahead.

Speaker #1: If at any time your question has been addressed and you would like to withdraw your question, please press star, then two. We ask that you please limit yourself to one question and one follow-up.

Speaker #1: If you have additional questions, please rejoin the question queue. At this time, we will pause momentarily to assemble our roster. The first question today comes from Dan Kernos with Stonex.

Speaker #1: Please go ahead.

Speaker #3: Great. Thanks. Good afternoon and let me be the first David to wish you the best. It's been a pleasure working with you. Michael, let me jump in and just kind of unpack DV Plus a little bit for a second.

Daniel Kurnos: Great. Thanks. Good afternoon, let me be the first, David, to wish you the best. It's been a pleasure working with you. Michael, let me jump in and just kinda unpack DV+ a little bit for a second. You know, your comments suggest that we're still seeing mix shift to CTV, but your guide suggests, I mean, you talked about stabilization. Your guide's almost flat in Q2. I'm just trying to figure out how much of that is sort of these commerce media wins stacking up here and how you think that might trend as we kind of proceed through the year, understanding there's uncertainty in the macro and the pressures that we're still seeing in sort of the traditional desktop business.

Speaker #3: Your comments suggest that we're still seeing makeshift to CTV, but your guide suggests I mean, you talked about stabilization. Your guide's almost flat and too cute.

Speaker #3: I'm just trying to figure out how much of that is sort of these commerce media wins backing up here and how you think that might trend as we kind of proceed through the year understanding there's uncertainty in the macro and the pressures that we're still seeing and sort of the traditional desktop business.

Speaker #4: Yeah, Dan, no issue. Didn't say it was a pleasure to work with me, so that's kind of hurting. But yeah, no, good observation. We do think we've seen stabilization return to DV Plus.

Michael Barrett: Yeah, Daniel, notice you didn't say it was a pleasure to work with me, so that's kind of hurting. Yeah, no, good observation. You know, we do think we've seen stabilization return to DV+ you know, driven largely by You know, it's a portfolio, right? The open web, display certainly under siege, but other pockets, mobile, app, commerce media, as you pointed out, audio are growth areas for us. You know, I do think macro weighs heavy on DV+ particularly, but, you know, seeing it return to flattish is something that I think would still outperform market, and that's kind of where I think we should be in either one of our businesses.

Speaker #4: Driven largely by it's a portfolio, right? And so the open web display certainly undersiege but other pockets mobile app commerce media, as you pointed out, audio, our growth areas for us.

Speaker #4: So I do think macro weighs heavy on DV Plus particularly. But seeing it return to flattish is something that I think would still outperform market, and that's kind of where I think we should be in either one of our businesses.

Daniel Kurnos: I promise you, Michael, when you eventually someday down the line retire, I'll say very nice things about you. The other thing that I wanted to ask about just quickly since you brought up, you know, sports, live sports and some of the drivers there. Obviously, we have a very big event coming up this summer, World Cup. I know you've been asked about it before. We're kind of a month out now. We're starting to get to see a little bit more what Fox's strategy is there, and we're finally gonna get real games on Tubi. They have, you know, DTC out there now. Just curious how we should be thinking about sort of the impact of that event.

Speaker #3: I promise you, Michael, when you eventually someday down the line retire, I'll say very nice things about you. The other thing that I wanted to ask about just quickly since you brought up sports live sports and some of the drivers there, obviously, we have a very big event coming up the Summer World Cup.

Speaker #3: I know you've been asked about it before. We're kind of a month out now. We're starting to get to see a little bit more what Fox's strategy is.

Speaker #3: And we're finally going to get real games on 2B they have DTC out there now. So just curious how we should be thinking about sort of the impact of that event.

Speaker #3: And it seems like every time we get one of these big events, even starting with Olympics this year, and you mentioned March Madness, more and more inventory shifts to programmatics.

Daniel Kurnos: It seems like every time we get one of these big events, even starting with Olympics this year, and you mentioned March Madness, more and more inventory shifts to programmatic. I don't know if you think that that's also an incremental catalyst for more inventory to keep moving in that direction.

Speaker #3: So I don't know if you think that that's also an incremental catalyst for more inventory to keep moving in that direction.

Speaker #4: Yeah, no, it'll certainly be a good guy for us. And I do think given the volume of games and some of the added ad breaks for instance, the mandatory water breaks that's going to be a big ad load there.

Michael Barrett: Yeah, no, it'll certainly be a good guy for us. I do think given the volume of games and some of the added ad breaks, for instance, the mandatory water breaks, that's going to be a big ad load there. I think that, yeah, we're expecting good things from it. Not so sure it'll be something that we'll be citing as a comp issue in 2027, but it'll certainly be part of the portfolio of the sports that's going to add to the revenue growth.

Speaker #4: So I think that yeah, we're expecting good things from it. I'm not so sure it'll be something that we'll be citing as accom issue in 2027.

Speaker #4: But it'll certainly be part of the portfolio of the sports that's going to add to the revenue growth.

Speaker #1: The next question comes from Sham Teto with Susquehanna. Please go ahead.

Operator 2: The next question comes from Shyam Patil with Susquehanna. Please go ahead.

Operator: The next question comes from Shyam Patil with Susquehanna. Please go ahead.

Speaker #5: Hey, guys. Congrats on the results. And David, on your retirement as well. I had a couple of questions. I guess the first one David, in your remarks, you talked a little bit about just kind of kind of like a side comment almost about kind of the uncertain macro.

Shyam Patil: Hey, guys. Congrats on the results and David Day on your retirement as well. I had a couple of questions. I guess the first one, David Day, in your remarks, you talked a little bit about just kind of like a side comment almost about kind of the uncertain macro, and I was just curious, did this have any impact on you guys in Q1 or Q2? You know, obviously, very strong results, would they have been even better if it weren't for some of the macro events? Second one, Michael Barrett, you know, obviously very strong CTV growth, very strong outlook as well for CTV. Is there any reason to think that CTV can't continue to grow at these levels going forward, you know, maybe kind of on a secular level?

Speaker #5: And I was just curious did this have any impact on you guys in one queue or two queue? Obviously, very strong results. But would they have been even better if it weren't for some of the macro events?

Speaker #5: And then second one, Michael, obviously very strong CTV growth, very strong outlook as well for CTV. Is there any reason to think that CTV can't continue to grow at these levels going forward, maybe kind of on a secular level?

Speaker #5: And then just related, how are you guys thinking about just the secular profile for desktop and mobile? Thank you, guys.

Shyam Patil: Then just related, how are you guys thinking about just the secular profile for desktop and mobile? Thank you, guys.

Speaker #3: Great. Yeah, on the macro front, it certainly wasn't, I'd say, an overwhelming drag on the quarter. But you see it in a couple of verticals in particular.

David Day: Great. Yeah, on the macro fun-front, it certainly wasn't, you know, I'd say an overwhelming, you know, drag on the quarter. You know, you see it in a couple of verticals in particular, you know, automotive, most importantly, and that's was down significantly. Technology also. You know, you see some impacts from there's still some overhang from, you know, some of the tariff challenges, supply chain challenges, and then just the uncertainty with things in the Middle East. You know, so those are the data points underlying my comment. It's, you know, it's not booming, but it's, you know, we're not, we're not, prognosticating, doom and gloom either.

Speaker #3: Automotive, most importantly—and that's a large vertical—and that was down significantly. Technology also. So you see some impacts from—there's still some overhang from some of the tariff challenges, supply chain challenges, and then just uncertainty with things in the Mideast.

Speaker #3: So those are the data points underlying my comment. And so it's not booming, but it's we're not prognosticating a doom and gloom either.

Speaker #5: Yeah, Sham, and on the CTV front, yeah, we're really pleased with the growth rates in feel very strong that they're sustainable. The market as a whole looks like from peer reports and analyst expectations, it's growing in the low teens.

Michael Barrett: Yeah, Shyam, on the CTV front, we're really pleased with the growth rates and feel very strongly that they're sustainable. You know, the market as a whole, you know, looks like from peer reports and analyst expectations, it's growing in the, you know, low teens. We're significantly outperforming market growth, and that's been a goal, a stated goal of ours, and I think that will continue just given the penetration that we have with all the top streamers, their growth profiles, and increasing wins across the globe. It's pretty much an untold story for us is the success of these streamers that are US-based.

Speaker #5: So we're significantly outperforming market growth. And that's been a goal stated goal of ours. And I think that will continue just given the penetration that we have with all the top streamers their growth profiles.

Speaker #5: And increasing wins across the globe. That's pretty much an untold story for us: the success of these streamers that are US-based. When they go international, we go with them.

Michael Barrett: When they go international, we go with them, and then they have the added benefit of disrupting the local market, and they're forced to adopt programmatic and forced to adopt streaming. It's a real positive story for us internationally. As far as DV Plus is concerned, yeah, you know, that's a difficult one because, again, it's a portfolio. In terms of the high-growth areas, certainly, in-app mobile is a huge growth category. Audio, very promising, growth category. Things like even digital out-of-home, you see all the outdoor companies report how fast that's growing. Yeah, we think that DV Plus as a whole is an important part of the business and will be a positive contributor.

Speaker #5: And then they have the added benefit of disrupting the local market. And they're forced to adopt programmatic and forced to adopt streaming. So it's a real positive story for us internationally.

Speaker #5: And as far as DV Plus is concerned, yeah, that's a difficult one because, again, it's a portfolio. But in terms of the high growth areas, certainly in-app mobile is a huge growth category.

Speaker #5: Audio, very promising. Growth category. Things like even digital out of home you see all the outdoor companies report how fast that's growing. So yeah, we think that DV Plus as a whole is an important part of the business.

Speaker #5: And we'll be a positive contributor; it's just kind of hard to swag it in terms of what you should expect going forward on a specific basis.

Michael Barrett: Just kind of hard to swag it in terms of what you should expect going forward on a specific basis.

Speaker #5: Great. Thank you, guys.

Shyam Patil: Great. Thank you, guys.

Speaker #1: The next question comes from Jason Cryer with Craig Allen. Please go ahead.

Operator 2: The next question comes from Jason Kreyer with Craig-Hallum. Please go ahead.

Operator: The next question comes from Jason Kreyer with Craig-Hallum. Please go ahead.

Speaker #6: Great. Thank you. Michael, I wanted to ask on AI. I know you've brought some new solutions to market in the last several weeks. I'm just curious, can you talk about maybe demand and adoption trends of AI-enabled tools?

Jason Kreyer: Great. Thank you. Michael, I wanted to ask on AI. I know you've brought some new solutions to market in the last several weeks. I'm just curious, can you talk about maybe demand and adoption trends of AI-enabled tools? Maybe just give some perspective on what pain points you think exist in the industry that you can leverage AI to help, you know, make those more efficient.

Speaker #6: And maybe just give some perspective on what pain points you think exist in the industry that you can leverage AI to help make those more efficient.

Speaker #4: Yeah, great question, Jason. Wow, no love for David. AI is 2026 will be the story of AI with modest amounts of revenue flowing through.

Michael Barrett: Yeah. Great question, Jason. Wow, no love for David. AI. 2026 will be the story of AI with modest amounts of revenue flowing through. There's several working initiatives, several different standards out there. A lot of it is replacing direct sold, so not even truly the programmatic real-time, but bringing more dollars into the programmatic ecosystem because it's so much easier to do it agentic. I think the biggest benefit you're gonna see from it is workflow and productivity, because these are easier to use instead of toggling between 13 different dashboards, and you can just natural language ask the agent to perform a task. It really will free up a lot of bandwidth for the traders. It'll be more efficient.

Speaker #4: There's several working initiatives, several different standards out there. A lot of it is replacing direct sold. So not even truly the programmatic real-time, but bringing more dollars into the programmatic ecosystem because it's so much easier to do agentically.

Speaker #4: I think the biggest benefit you're going to see from it is workflow and productivity. Because these are easier to use instead of toggling between 13 different dashboards.

Speaker #4: And you can just natural language ask the agent to perform a task. It really will free up a lot of bandwidth for the traders.

Speaker #4: It'll be more efficient. There'll be more working media going to it. And I think we're exceptionally well positioned, from the tools that we built and the tools that we are building, to be able to catch it when the dollars start to flow.

Michael Barrett: There'll be more working media going to it. I think we're exceptionally well-positioned from the tools that we've built and the tools that we are building to be able to catch it when the dollars start to flow. I would imagine in 2027 won't be the year of the story of AI, it will actually be resulting in real revenue. I think, again, we're really well-positioned to take advantage of that.

Speaker #4: And I would imagine in 2027, it won't be the year of the story of AI. It will actually be a resulting in real revenue.

Speaker #4: And I think, again, we're really well positioned to take advantage of that.

Speaker #6: Thank you. And David gets his own question. So David, congratulations on your retirement. It's been my pleasure working for you for most of that 13 years.

Jason Kreyer: Thank you. David gets his own question. David, congratulations on your retirement. It's been.

David Day: Thanks.

Jason Kreyer: My pleasure working for you for most of that 13 years.

Speaker #6: So question for you. Thank you. So I wanted to touch on the EBITDA OPEX that came in better for Q1. Your guiding for that better for Q2.

David Day: Back at ya.

Jason Kreyer: question for you. Thank you. I wanted to touch on the EBITDA OpEx that came in better for Q1. You're guiding for that better for Q2, and I know you called out, like, the cloud and AI benefits. How durable are those savings, and do you think there's more to squeeze out of that as we move forward?

Speaker #6: And I know you called out the cloud and AI benefits. How durable are those savings? And do you think there's more to squeeze out of that as we move forward?

Speaker #5: I think as a general matter, the savings are very durable. The primary driver of those savings are kind of two fronts. One is moving some of our activity from the cloud to on-prem.

David Day: I think as a general matter, the savings are very durable. You know, the primary driver of those savings are kind of two fronts. One is, moving some of our activity from the cloud to on-prem, and also our dev team is doing a great job in optimizing, you know, how we run, you know, more efficiently on the cloud. I'm really excited about that. Now that said, we do have some resources into our product development, you know, later in the year. We've got, you know, a lot of new business and volume increases, you know, I wouldn't go too crazy with, you know, lowering costs, but the trend line is definitely durable.

Speaker #5: And also our dev team is doing a great job in optimizing how we run more efficiently on the cloud. So I'm really excited about that.

Speaker #5: Now, that said, we do have some resources and our product development later in the year we've got a lot of new business and volume increases.

Speaker #5: And so I wouldn't go too crazy with lowering costs. But the trend line is definitely durable. And we have more to come on that front as we continue to—we'll have a new data center in Northern California that will come online later in the year.

David Day: We have, you know, more to come on that front, as we continue to. We'll have a new data center in Northern California that will come online later in the year, and, you know, lots of opportunity, particularly as we, as we spring into 2027 on the margin expansion front.

Speaker #5: And lots of opportunity. Particularly as we spring into 2027 on the margin expansion front.

Speaker #1: The next question comes from Laura Martin with Needham. Please go ahead.

Operator 2: The next question comes from Laura Martin with Needham. Please go ahead.

Operator: The next question comes from Laura Martin with Needham. Please go ahead.

Laura Martin: Hey, I have two. One is, Taboola said on their call this morning that they see programmatic workflows being replaced by agentic. You just mentioned that you thought it might be additive, why don't we have agentic buy-side agents sort of talking directly to agentic sell-side agents in the ad business and therefore getting rid of most of the 40% to 50% take rate that currently sits in the open web programmatic ecosystem? That's my first question. My second question is on pricing power. Maybe David, this is you, and goodbye, it was wonderful working with you. I'm not sure who this is for. On the pricing, one of the things that came out of Possible is everybody's introducing AI products. Nobody is charging for them.

Speaker #7: Hey, I have two. One is, Tabula said on their call this morning that they see programmatic workflows being replaced by agentic. You just mentioned that you thought it might be additive.

Speaker #7: But why don't we have agentic buy-side ide agents sort of talking directly to agentic sell-side agents and they add business and therefore getting rid of most of the 40 to 50 percent take rate that's currently sits in the open web programmatic ecosystem?

Speaker #7: So that's my first question. And then my second question is on pricing power. Maybe, David, this is you. And goodbye. It was wonderful working with you.

Speaker #7: I'm not sure what this is for. But on the pricing, one of the things that came out of Possible is everybody's introducing AI products.

Speaker #7: Nobody is charging for them. They're all just table stakes, and they're sort of making everybody's products more interesting, more automated, higher returns on ad spend.

Laura Martin: They are all just table stakes, and they're sort of making everybody's products more interesting, more automated, higher returns on ad spend. That's my question. Are we actually gonna get price uplift by all these AI innovations, or is it just gonna become table stakes and we spend money in AI, but we don't actually get any revenue upside? Thanks.

Speaker #7: But so that's my question. Are we actually going to get price uplift from all these AI innovations, or is it just going to become table stakes?

Speaker #7: And we spend money on AI, but we don't actually get any revenue upside. Thanks.

Michael Barrett: Hey, Laura, it's Michael. I'll grab the first one. Certainly that's been an overhang for a lot of companies, software companies about agentic replacing the need for those companies. I really feel as though, as we said in our previous quarter script and this one, that AI is a real tailwind for us. It makes things easier to work with. It makes our publishers have to go from 12 different dashboards, a SpringServe dashboard, a DV+, to one, and they can execute more seamlessly. The agent to buyer connection and the talking of the two makes a ton of sense. Who's to say that that buyer agent isn't ours, that they're utilizing just like they utilize Clearline. I think there's a real upside there.

Speaker #4: Hey, Laura. It's Michael. I grabbed the first one. Yeah, so certainly that's been an overhang for a lot of companies. Software companies about agentic replacing the need for those companies.

Speaker #4: And I really feel as though, as we said in our previous quarter script and this one, that AI is a real tailwind for us.

Speaker #4: It makes things easier to work with. It makes our publishers have to go from 12 different dashboards, a Spring Serve dashboard, a DB+, to one in the can execute more seamlessly.

Speaker #4: The agent-to-buyer connection and the talking between the two makes a ton of sense. But who's to say that that buyer agent isn't ours—that they're utilizing just like they utilize Clearline?

Speaker #4: So I think there's a real upside there. But also, if you want to conduct conversations, execute plans, and buy programmatically from tens of thousands of buyer agents, that's where we really shine, right?

Michael Barrett: Also, if you wanna conduct conversations, execute plans, and buy programmatically from tens of thousands of buyer agents, that's where we really shine, right? We make sure that those are the agents you wanna talk to, that it's fresh inventory. We're collecting payment. We're policing fraud. Our plumbing, our, our bandwidth, our servers are all being utilized to make it happen. We just feel that it's going to be more volume on the platform than we've ever seen. And yes, we will charge for that. And it will improve our margin profiles, not be a pressure on it.

Speaker #4: We make sure that those are the agents you want to talk to, that it's busy inventory. We're collecting payment. We're policing fraud. Our plumbing, our bandwidth, our servers are all being utilized to make it happen.

Speaker #4: And so we just feel that it's going to be more volume on the platform than we've ever seen and, yes, we will charge for that and it will improve our margin profiles, not be a pressure on it.

Speaker #5: Yeah, I think Michael's kind of hit it. Just building on that, yeah. And particularly as you look at, for example, in CTV where we do have lower take rates at the moment, but those are stabilizing.

David Day: I think Michael's done it, kind of hit it, you know, just building on that. Particularly as you look at, for example, in CTV, where, you know, we do have lower, you know, take rates at the moment, those are stabilizing, there's so much value add. As we provide those additional value-added services, we only see those increasing in the future, I think that, you know, that value add will be accelerated with the AI implementations that we're making.

Speaker #5: And there's so much value add as we provide those additional value-added services. We only see those increasing in the future. And I think that will be that value add will be accelerated with the AI implementations that we're making.

Speaker #7: Thank you.

Laura Martin: Thank you.

Operator 2: The next question comes from Naved Khan with B. Riley. Please go ahead.

Operator: The next question comes from Naved Khan with B. Riley. Please go ahead.

Speaker #1: The next question comes from Naveed Khan with B Riley. Please go ahead.

Naved Khan: Great. Thank you very much. A couple of questions from me, and David, all the best.

Speaker #6: Okay. Thank you very much. A couple of questions from me. And David, all the best. One question I had is surrounding the commerce media and I guess you guys have been talking about how your 21 partners now, you deployed 13.

David Day: Thanks

Naved Khan: One question I had is just around the commerce media, and I guess you guys talked about how you're 20, 21 partners now, you deployed 13. Can you give us a sense of the scale this business is at currently and how fast it might be growing? In terms of the live sports, you guys called it out as a pretty sizable opportunity. Can you just maybe talk about the penetration levels and where we are with respect to penetration of live sports with programmatic and where it could be over time? Thank you.

Speaker #6: Can you give us a sense of the scale that this business is at currently and how fast it might be growing? And then in terms of the live sports, you guys called it out as a pretty sizable opportunity.

Speaker #6: Can you just maybe talk about the penetration levels and where we are with respect to penetration of live sports with programmatic and where it could be over time?

Speaker #6: Thank you.

Michael Barrett: Yeah, sure, Naved. This is Michael. Yeah, commerce media is super exciting for us. Obviously, we mentioned the number of partners in that, total keeps growing. I think the most important thing about commerce media isn't necessarily the number of partners, but it's how quickly the strategy has changed for the commerce media players. You know, chapter one of commerce media was take my valuable retail data, park it in one DSP, and then force all the advertisers that want to utilize that data to go through that DSP. Now you're starting to see that unwind, and the strategy now is keep the data as close to the retail media partner, working with an SSP like Magnite.

Speaker #4: Yeah, sure, Naveed. This is Michael. Yeah, commerce media is super exciting for us. Obviously, we mentioned the number of partners in that total keeps growing.

Speaker #4: And I think the most important thing about commerce media isn't necessarily the number of partners, but it's how quickly the strategies change for the commerce media players.

Speaker #4: Chapter 1 of commerce media was take my valuable retail data, park it in one DSP, and then force all the advertisers that want to utilize that data to go through that DSP.

Speaker #4: And now you're starting to see that unwind. And the strategy now is to keep the data as close to the retail media partner, working with an SSP like Magnite.

Speaker #4: That way, you can democratize it and allow multiple DSPs to access it in a safe, privacy-compliant way. So that is the most exciting, I think, change that we're seeing, and a huge tailwind for us there.

Michael Barrett: That way you can democratize it and allow multiple DSPs to access it in a safe, privacy compliant way. That is the most exciting, I think, change that we're seeing and a huge tailwind for us there. As far as the contribution Commerce Media is doing, it has been, you know, a significant contributor and will even expand because a lot of these players are now just adding CTV to the inventory mix. Think about it. They start with their owned and operated inventory, and then they go off that in, typically that's been in the DV+ world, and now their advertisers are saying to them, Hey, I do a lot of advertising on TV. I wanna do that with your data. We're the perfect on-ramp for that to occur.

Speaker #4: As far as the contribution commerce media is doing, it has been a significant contributor. And we'll even expand because a lot of these players are now just adding CTV to the inventory mix.

Speaker #4: Think about it. They start with their owned and operated inventory. And then they go off that and typically that's been in the DV Plus world.

Speaker #4: And now their advertisers are saying to them, "Hey, I do a lot of advertising on TV. I want to do that with your data." And so we're the perfect on-ramp for that to occur.

Speaker #4: So really excited about the prospect of even further growth given CTV being part of the story, essential part of the story for most of these commerce media partners.

Michael Barrett: Really excited about the prospect of even further growth, given CTV being part of the story, essential part of the story for most of these commerce media partners. Yeah, in live sports, boy, we're just scratching the surface. I mean, live sports, as a consumer, you see live sports everywhere in streaming, but programmatically, very, very little inventory is bought and sold programmatically. When we cite gains like 80% plus for March Madness, it's minuscule compared to the opportunity that's coming. Super excited about World Cup and the fall slate of sports. Little by little, it's getting more and more programmatically driven and it's a big tailwind for us in that respect.

Speaker #4: Yeah. And live sports, boy, we're just scratching the surface. I mean, live sports as a consumer, you see live sports everywhere in streaming. But programmatically, very, very little inventory is bought and sold programmatically.

Speaker #4: So when we cite games like 80% plus for March Madness, it's minuscule compared to the opportunity that's coming. And so super excited about World Cup.

Speaker #4: And the fall slate of sports and little by little, it's getting more and more programmatically driven. And it's a big, big tailwind for us in that respect.

Speaker #6: Great. Thank you.

Naved Khan: Great. Thank you.

Operator 2: The next question comes from Shweta Khajuria with Wolfe Research. Please go ahead.

Operator: The next question comes from Shweta Khajuria with Wolfe Research. Please go ahead.

Speaker #1: The next question comes from Shweta Kagira with Wolf Research. Please go ahead.

Speaker #8: Hi, this is Ken off of Shweta. Congrats, David, on the retirement. Too, for me, Michael, can you provide us an update on the impact of Open Path, particularly with smaller advertisers and agencies?

[Analyst] (Wolfe Research): Hi, this is Ken off of Shweta. Congrats, David, on the retirement. Two from me. Michael, can you provide us an update on the impact of OpenPath, particularly with smaller advertisers and agencies? David, can you provide the puts and takes of EBITDA in H2 2026? Thank you.

Speaker #8: And David, can you provide the percentage of EBITDA in the second half of 2026? Thank you.

Speaker #4: Yeah. So Open Path, I think we've talked about it ad nauseam. Came as a shock to the system. A couple of quarters ago, we pretty much stated that all the big buyers from the agencies that use Magnet as an invaluable partner had flipped us back on.

Michael Barrett: You know, OpenPath, I think we've talked about it ad nauseam, you know, came as a shock to the system a couple of quarters ago. We pretty much stated that all the big buyers from the agencies that use Magnite as an invaluable partner had flipped it, us back on. I think you can see in our results that it's certainly not deteriorating. I think that, you know, the OpenPath extinction event has come and gone, and we're still here and doing quite well.

Speaker #4: I think you can see in our results that it's certainly not deteriorating. So I think that the Open Path extinction event is coming on and we're still here.

Speaker #4: And doing quite well.

Speaker #5: Great. And EBITDA in the second half, as we mentioned, we expect 11% or greater growth on the top line. So we're stable, steady.

David Day: Great. EBITDA in H2, you know, as we mentioned, we expect, you know, 11% or greater, you know, growth on the top line. We'll have You know, we're stable, steady. Then as I mentioned on the cost side, we've got some nice savings on the one hand, with our cloud usage, but we've got some kind of volume growth and some resources that, you know, sort of be neutralizing some of that savings, at least this year. As I mentioned, the EBITDA margin, you know, is increasing. You know, we'd expected something north of 35% and expect, you know, 35.5% this year. That's increasing. We're in a great spot.

Speaker #5: And then as I mentioned on the cost side, we've got some nice savings on the one hand with our cloud usage. But we've got some kind of volume growth and some resources that will sort of be neutralizing some of that savings at least this year.

Speaker #5: And as I mentioned, the EBITDA margin is increasing we'd expected something north of 35%. And expect 35 and a half percent this year. So that's increasing.

Speaker #5: So we're in a great spot. The and what's really great is our margin EBITDA margin is increasing. And it's cost-driven at this point. And so to the extent that we do have upside on the revenue line, that upside will flow almost 100% to free cash flow in the business.

David Day: You know, what's really great is our margin, EBITDA margin is increasing, and it's cost-driven at this point. To the extent that we do have upside on the revenue line, that upside will flow, you know, almost 100%, you know, to free cash flow in the business. I feel like we're really well-positioned.

Speaker #5: So I feel like we're really well positioned.

Speaker #6: Got it. Thanks, guys.

[Analyst] (Wolfe Research): Got it. Thanks, guys.

Speaker #1: The next question comes from Robert Culberth with Evercore ISI. Please go ahead.

Operator 2: The next question comes from Robert Coolbrith with Evercore ISI. Please go ahead.

Operator: The next question comes from Robert Coolbrith with Evercore ISI. Please go ahead.

Robert Coolbrith: Good afternoon. Congratulations on a great run to David, and best wishes on your retirement. Michael, you're great too.

Speaker #7: Good afternoon. Congratulations on a great run to David and best wishes on your retirement, Michael. You're great too. I want to ask a little bit on AI creative generation.

Robert Coolbrith: Good afternoon. Congratulations on a great run to David, and best wishes on your retirement. Michael, you're great too.

Michael Barrett: It's nice to hear that.

Robert Coolbrith: a little bit on AI creative generation. Just wanted to ask for any update on the role you're playing there. You know, we're beginning to see, you know, more tools released sort of to general availability. I am just wondering if you're beginning to see more AI-generated creative showing up in the market, and what do you think that sort of, you know, if that is catalyzing incremental demand, incremental creative refresh, what, you know, what does that do for CTV? Then maybe another related question on AI. You know, we heard, you know, some speculation about different ad tech players that could play in terms of monetizing some of the AI engine inventory itself. Do you think there's an opportunity for Magnite there? Thank you.

Speaker #7: Just wanted to ask for any update on the role you're playing there. And we're beginning to see more tools released sort of to general availability.

Speaker #7: Just wondering if you're beginning to see more AI-generated creative showing up in the market. What do you think that sort of if that catalyzed an incremental demand, incremental creative refresh, what does that do for CTV?

Speaker #7: And then maybe another related question on AI, just we heard some speculation about different ad tech players that could play in terms of monetizing some of the AI engine inventory itself.

Speaker #7: Do you think there's an opportunity for Magnet there? Thank you.

Speaker #4: Yeah. Hey, Robert. So as you know, we purchased a couple of quarters ago, a company called Streamer. Which is one of the leading tools out there that allows small to medium-sized businesses to create a TV ad, to track it, to measure it, and to buy it.

Michael Barrett: Hey, Robert, the. As you know, we purchased a couple quarters ago a company called streamr.ai, which is one of the leading tools out there that allows small to medium-sized businesses to create a TV ad, to track it, to measure it, and to buy it obviously on our platform in our access to all the premium streamers. That product is really taking off. You know, our role with that product isn't to chase down the small to medium-sized business. It's to put those tools in the hands of folks that have those relationships.

Speaker #4: Obviously, on our platform, in our access to all the premium streamers. And that product is really taking off. It's our role with that product isn't to chase down the small to medium-sized business.

Speaker #4: It's to put those tools in the hands of folks that have those relationships so they're either huge aggregators that have the relationships and now we are bringing that demand onto our platform.

Michael Barrett: They're either huge aggregators that have the relationships, and now we are bringing that demand onto our platform, or there are publishing partners that kind of hang that as their self-serve, and when they have relationships with smaller advertisers, they go and use the tool. It's really turned out to be a wonderful acquisition, and we're starting to see the benefits of that reflected in the growth rates of CTV. I'm sorry, the second point, was it?

Speaker #4: Or there are publishing partners that kind of hang that as their self-serve and when they have relationships with small advertisers, they go and use the tool.

Speaker #4: So it's really turned out to be a wonderful acquisition. And we're starting to see the benefits of that reflected in the growth rates of CTV.

Speaker #4: And I'm sorry, the second point was a.

Speaker #7: Just on the AI engines themselves, the OpenAIs and so forth, if there's an opportunity. Potentially for Magnet there.

Robert Coolbrith: Just on the AI engines themselves, the OpenAIs and so forth, if there's an opportunity-

Michael Barrett: Oh, yeah.

Robert Coolbrith: potentially for Magnite there.

Speaker #4: Yeah, no, I certainly think there is. I think the encouraging thing is it's very early, but you're seeing in these early stages that the ones that are ad-supported are reaching out for third-party demand.

Michael Barrett: Yeah, no, I certainly think there is. I think the encouraging thing is it's very early, but you're seeing in these early stages that the ones that are ad-supported are reaching out for third-party demand. That history's pretty clear. Initially, if you're just gonna work with one DSP, maybe there's not a need for someone like a Magnite. You start to work with three, four, five, six, seven, and then you do it globally, and they have specialty DSPs, I think we feel very encouraged with the initial direction about some of the folks leaning into third-party demand. In that case, SSPs become invaluable, and I think we're well-positioned to take advantage of that when the time is right.

Speaker #4: And that history is pretty clear. Initially, if you're just going to work with one DSP, maybe there's not a need for someone like a Magnet but you start to work with three, four, five, six, seven.

Speaker #4: And then you do it globally. And they have specialty DSPs. I think we feel very encouraged with the initial direction about some of the folks leaning into third-party demand.

Speaker #4: And in that case, SSPs become invaluable. And I think we're well positioned to take advantage of that when the time is right.

Speaker #5: Got it. Thanks so much.

Robert Coolbrith: Got it. Thanks so much.

Speaker #1: The next question comes from Barton Crockett with Rosenblatt. Please go ahead.

Operator 2: The next question comes from Barton Crockett with Rosenblatt. Please go ahead.

Operator: The next question comes from Barton Crockett with Rosenblatt. Please go ahead.

Speaker #8: Okay. Thanks for taking the questions. And two, if I could. Let me see. First is just to get your perspective on an environment that I think there's kind of a coalition of views that maybe this is where we're moving.

Barton Crockett: Okay. Thanks for taking the questions and, you know, two, if I could. Let me see. First is just to get your perspective on an environment that I think there's kind of a coalition of views that maybe this is where we're moving, which is that we could be moving to a world where agencies would be working with a single integrated interface through Claude or something to place, you know, basically outcome-driven marketing dollars across a range of environments, whether it be the social media walled gardens like Meta or the search environments, AI environments like Google Gemini or open web. In that environment, you know, where it's simplified at the agency and the front end is, you know, not what we see today, but something different built on an LLM.

Speaker #8: Which is that we could be moving to a world where agencies would be working with a single integrated interface—through Claude or something—to place, basically, outcome-driven marketing dollars across a range of environments.

Speaker #8: Whether it be the social media walled gardens like Meta or the search environments, AI environments like Google Gemini. Or open web. And in that environment, where it's simplified at the agency and the front end is not what we see today but something different built on an LLM.

Speaker #8: In your view, does that have any impact on take rates? Any impact on revenue flows? Do you think that's where it's going?

Barton Crockett: In your view, does that have any impact on take rates, any impact on revenue flows? Do you think that's where it's going?

Speaker #4: Oh, I certainly think that's a worldview that a lot of people share. More simplified buying tools for agencies that actually deliver upon the stated goal for the marketer.

Michael Barrett: I certainly think that's a worldview that a lot of people share. More simplified buying tools for agencies that actually deliver upon the stated goal for the marketer. I think that our role remains quite valuable and necessary in that world, right? Again, we're the system of record. We're the rails upon which the transactions take place. It's one thing to have an agent talk to another agent, but if they're involved in a complex transaction in real time, doing it trillions of times a day, you really need the infrastructure, and that's where we shine. The impact to our take rate, I don't think there's any change in what we do in that world.

Speaker #4: I think that our role remains quite valuable and necessary in that world, right? Again, we're the system of record. We're the rails upon which the transactions take place.

Speaker #4: It's one thing to have an agent talk to another agent. But if they're involved in a complex transaction in real time, doing trillions of times a day, you really need the infrastructure.

Speaker #4: And that's where we shine. The impact to our take rate, I don't think there's any change in what we do in that world. It's just probably easier for seller and buyer less interfaces to go through, less knobs and tools.

Michael Barrett: It's just probably easier for seller and buyer, less interfaces to go through, less knobs and tools, so perhaps freeing up more working media there. Our role remains kind of unchanged as that system of record. I feel confident in our durability as it relates to take rates.

Speaker #4: So perhaps freeing up more working media there. But our role remains kind of unchanged as that system of record. So I feel confident in our durability as it relates to take rates.

Speaker #8: Okay. And then switching gears, on Google ad tech antitrust, I think we're sitting here in May. And we still don't have a decision on the remedies.

Barton Crockett: Okay. Switching gears on Google Ad Tech antitrust. You know, I think we're sitting here in May, and we still don't have a decision on the remedies. You know, if a remedy decision were to come out today, what's your sense of when you could begin to see the impact of that? Is it something that now is pushed into 2027 or any thoughts of, you know, obviously part of that is a view of what the remedies could or should be, but you know, your sense of how much time it would take to kind of implement given all the legal waiting periods and technological considerations.

Speaker #8: If a remedy decision were to come out today, what's your sense of when you could begin to see the impact of that? Is it something that now is pushed into 2027 or any thoughts of obviously, part of that is a view of what the remedies could or should be.

Speaker #8: But your sense of how much time it would take to kind of implement given all the legal waiting periods and technological considerations?

Michael Barrett: Yeah, a great question, and I think you hit the nail on the head. It really does depend upon the remedy. Some are just behavioral in nature. Some would require Google to do technical work to make it happen, and I think even in their case, they cited a 6 to 9-month window for changing two of the things that they were talking about. But I definitely think that there'd be some instant gains there. Again, keep in mind, we see all the inventory, we bring it to auction, and our win rate is very low when it comes against when it goes up against a Google. Therefore, if there was a behavior change there, it could be somewhat instantaneous, the impact it would see.

Speaker #4: Yeah, great question. And I think you hit the nail on the head. It really does depend upon the remedy. Some are just behavioral in nature.

Speaker #4: Some would require Google to do technical work to make it happen. And I think even in their case, they cited a six to nine-month window for changing two of the things that they were talking about.

Speaker #4: So but I definitely think that there'd be some instant gains there. Again, keep in mind, we see all the inventory. We bring it to auction.

Speaker #4: And our win rate is very low when it comes against when it goes up against a Google. And so therefore, if there was a behavior change there, it could be somewhat instantaneous.

Speaker #4: The impact it would see. So I certainly don't think any of the benefits from the ruling is pushed out all of it's pushed out to 2027.

Michael Barrett: I certainly don't think any of the benefits from the ruling is pushed out, all of it's pushed out to 2027. Obviously, we're a little disappointed that there hasn't been a ruling, but completely anticipate a favorable ruling for us and impact in 2026.

Speaker #4: Obviously, we're a little disappointed that there hasn't been a ruling. But completely anticipate favorable ruling for us. And impact in 2026.

Speaker #1: The next question comes from Matt Swanson with RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Operator 2: The next question comes from Matthew Swanson with RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Operator: The next question comes from Matthew Swanson with RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Speaker #9: Hey, guys. This is Sam Rinon from Matt Swanson. Congrats on the quarter. And congrats, David. Just one for me. So going back to CTV and DV Plus for a second, we've been seeing how CTV has been hitting an inflection point for the business.

[Analyst] (RBC Capital Markets): Hey, guys. This is Simran for Matthew Swanson. Congrats on the quarter and congrats, David. Just one from me.

Michael Barrett: Thanks.

Operator 1: Going back to CTV and DV+ for a second, we've been seeing how CTV has been hitting an inflection point for the business, and last quarter, we started talking about the accelerated reallocation of budgets to from DV+ to CTV. While there's like the areas of growth in mobile and commerce for DV+, to what extent does this reallocation remain a headwind? Has that accelerated this quarter, and do you expect it to continue for the year?

[Analyst] (RBC Capital Markets): Going back to CTV and DV+ for a second, we've been seeing how CTV has been hitting an inflection point for the business, and last quarter, we started talking about the accelerated reallocation of budgets to from DV+ to CTV. While there's like the areas of growth in mobile and commerce for DV+, to what extent does this reallocation remain a headwind? Has that accelerated this quarter, and do you expect it to continue for the year?

Speaker #9: And then last quarter, we started talking about the accelerated reallocation of budgets to from DV Plus to CTV. So while there's the areas of growth in mobile and commerce for DV Plus to what extent does this reallocation remain a headwind?

Speaker #9: And has that accelerated this quarter? And do you expect it to continue for the year?

Speaker #4: Yeah. Great question. I don't know if we've seen an acceleration in you can see the freshening of DV Plus's growth rate. Exceeding our expectation.

Michael Barrett: Yeah, great question. I don't know if we've seen an acceleration, and you can see the freshening of DV+'s growth rate exceeding our expectation. I think, you know, there's a stabilization. I do think that, you know, a big slug of that portfolio in DV+, the type of media is open web, is display, and I think it's safe to say that's gonna be a negative grower. Could that be outpaced by mobile app? Could that be outpaced by audio, by commerce media, digital out of home? Certainly. I think our long-term expectation for DV+ is it's a grower, but it's certainly not gonna have the profile of a CTV growth rate.

Speaker #4: So I think there's a stabilization. I do think that a big slug of that portfolio in DV Plus, the type of media is open web, is display.

Speaker #4: And I think it's safe to say that that's going to be a negative grower. But could that be outpaced by mobile app? Could that be outpaced by audio?

Speaker #4: Commerce media digital out of home? Certainly. So I think our long-term expectation for DV Plus is it's a grower. But it's certainly not going to have the profile of a CTV growth rate.

Michael Barrett: Increasingly, our revenue balance will be more CTV than DV+ for the company.

Speaker #4: And increasingly, our revenue balance will be more CTV than DV Plus for the company.

Michael Barrett: Increasingly, our revenue balance will be more CTV than DV+ for the company.

Speaker #9: Thanks, guys.

[Analyst] (RBC Capital Markets): Thanks, guys.

Speaker #1: The next question comes from Ellie Neighbor with Lake Street Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Operator 2: The next question comes from Eric Neuberger with Lake Street Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Operator: The next question comes from Elle Niebuhr with Lake Street Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Speaker #10: Hey, guys. Thanks for taking my question. Just a quick one from me. Just looking at how CTV is becoming over 50% of that total contribution ex-tact number, how should we look at incremental margins on CTV versus DV Plus?

Eric Neuberger: Hey, guys. Thanks for taking my question. Just a quick one from me. Just looking at how CTV is becoming, you know, over 50% of that total Contribution ex-TAC number, how should we look at incremental margins on CTV versus DV+? Is there a mix shift that's kind of structurally lifting the margins by itself, or are there some offsetting costs?

Elle Niebuhr: Hey, guys. Thanks for taking my question. Just a quick one from me. Just looking at how CTV is becoming, you know, over 50% of that total Contribution ex-TAC number, how should we look at incremental margins on CTV versus DV+? Is there a mix shift that's kind of structurally lifting the margins by itself, or are there some offsetting costs?

Speaker #10: Is there a mixed shift that's kind of structurally lifting the margins by itself? Or are there some offsetting costs?

Speaker #8: Yeah. I'll take that. Yeah. It's generally equal. So we don't see it doesn't create headwinds by having a greater proportion of our business be CTV.

David Day: Yeah, I'll take that. Yeah, it's generally, you know, it's generally equal. We don't see, you know, it doesn't create, you know, headwinds by having a greater proportion of our business be CTV. In fact, as we mentioned earlier, we've got, you know, significant gains in the cost basis on our CTV business with our cloud costs going down. You know, it won't be one of the more significant drivers. It's a good question, but we see it more as kind of neutral.

Speaker #8: And in fact, as we mentioned earlier, we've got significant gains in the cost basis on our CTV business with our cloud costs going down.

Speaker #8: And so it won't be one of the more significant drivers. It's a good question, but we see it more as kind of neutral.

Speaker #9: Awesome. Thanks, guys. That's it for me.

Eric Neuberger: Awesome. Thanks, guys. That's it for me.

Elle Niebuhr: Awesome. Thanks, guys. That's it for me.

Operator 2: This concludes our question and answer session. I would like to turn the conference back over to Michael Barrett for any closing remarks.

Operator: This concludes our question and answer session. I would like to turn the conference back over to Michael Barrett for any closing remarks.

Speaker #1: This concludes our question-and-answer session. I would like to turn the conference back over to Michael Barrett for any closing remarks.

Speaker #4: Thank you, operator. CTV's long-awaited ramp and programmatic has clearly arrived. And the investments we've made over the past several years are now translating into profitable, scalable growth.

Michael Barrett: Thank you, operator. CTV's long-awaited ramp in programmatic has clearly arrived, and the investments we've made over the past several years are now translating into profitable, scalable growth. We believe CTV is in a powerful phase of its evolution. The shift to programmatic is real, and as the channel matures, it is increasingly taking share from both linear television and other digital formats. Before we close, I wanna thank our team at Magnite. The progress we've discussed today is a direct result of your hard work, innovation, and commitment to our partners. Your efforts continue to position us at the center of this transformation. We're confident in the momentum of the business and in the long-term opportunity ahead. Thank you for joining us today. We look forward to updating you next quarter. With that, I'll turn it back over to Nick to cover our upcoming marketing events.

Speaker #4: We believe CTV is in a powerful phase of its evolution. The shift to programmatic is real. And as the channel matures, it is increasingly taking share from both linear television and other digital formats.

Speaker #4: Before we close, I want to thank our team at MAGNITE, the progress we've discussed today is a direct result of your hard work, innovation, and commitment to our partners.

Speaker #4: Your efforts continue to position us at the center of this transformation. We're confident in the momentum of the business and in the long-term opportunity ahead.

Speaker #4: Thank you for joining us today. We look forward to updating you next quarter. With that, I'll turn it back over to Nick to cover our upcoming marketing events.

Speaker #8: Thanks, Michael. We look forward to seeing many of our upcoming investor events. Just to kind of tick through them for your info and participation.

Nick Kormeluk: Thanks, Michael. We look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming investor events. Just to kinda tick through them for your info and participation, we have a post Q1 virtual NDR tomorrow hosted by B. Riley. We have an in-person AI tech demo with SSR in New York City on 12 May. We're at the Needham Conference in New York on 13 May. B. Riley Conference in Marina del Rey on 20 May and 21 May. RBC Bus Tour New York on 27 May. Craig-Hallum Conference in Minneapolis on 28 May. CFA Conference in San Francisco on 2 June. Rothschild Redburn Investor Meeting in San Francisco on 3 June. Evercore's Conference in San Francisco on 3 June as well. Guano NDR with RBC on 9 June. Chicago NDR with Benchmark on 10 June.

Speaker #8: We have a post-Q1 virtual NDR tomorrow hosted by Bee Riley. We have an in-person AI tech demo with SSR in New York City on May 12th.

Speaker #8: We're at the Needham Conference in New York on May 13th. Bee Riley Conference in Marina Del Rey on May 20th and 21st. RBC Bus Tour in New York on May 27th.

Speaker #8: Craig Hallam Conference in Minneapolis on May 28th. CFA Conference in San Francisco on June 2nd. Rothschild Redburn Investor Meeting in San Francisco on June 3rd.

Speaker #8: Evercore's Conference in San Francisco on June 3rd as well. Grano NDR with RBC on June 9th. Chicago NDR with Benchmark on June 10th. The Roth Virtual Ad Tech Summit on June 15th.

Nick Kormeluk: The Roth Virtual Ad Tech Summit on 15 June. Analyst and investor meetings with a variety of our covering analysts in Cannes on the week of 22 June. Thank you, and have a great evening. Look forward to seeing many of you at our events.

Speaker #8: And analysts and investor meetings with a variety of our covering analysts in Cannes on the week of June 22nd. Thank you. And have a great evening.

Speaker #8: Look forward to seeing many of you at our events.

Operator 2: The conference is now concluded. Thank you for attending today's presentation. You may now disconnect.

Operator: The conference is now concluded. Thank you for attending today's presentation. You may now disconnect.