Brands
Pinterest Q1 2026 revenue rises 18 per cent to $1.008 billion, users hit 631 million
Strong growth, record user base and $2 billion buybacks lift Pinterest results
MUMBAI: Pinterest has reported a strong start to 2026, posting 18 per cent year-on-year revenue growth in the first quarter alongside record user numbers and a major share buyback programme.
The company recorded Q1 revenue of $1,007.5 million, up 18 per cent on a reported basis and 15 per cent in constant currency. On a global scale, monthly active users rose 11 per cent year over year to 631 million, marking an all-time high and the tenth consecutive quarter of double-digit user growth.
NYSE: PINS also reported a GAAP net loss of $73.6 million for the quarter, compared with a net income of $8.9 million a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA, however, came in strong at $206.5 million, up 20 per cent year on year, with a stable margin of 20 per cent.
Free cash flow stood at $311.7 million, while net cash provided by operating activities was $328 million, reflecting solid underlying cash generation despite the reported loss.
“Pinterest is where online discovery leads to real-world action, and we are seeing continued momentum driven by our differentiated visual search product experiences,” Pinterest chief executive officer Bill Ready said. “We delivered a strong start to 2026, with Q1 revenue surpassing $1 billion, up 18 per cent year over year, and global monthly active users growing to 631 million.”
He added that the company is building an AI-powered advertising platform designed to improve performance for advertisers, while also focusing on better monetisation aligned with growing user engagement.
Revenue growth was broad-based across regions. The US and Canada generated $750 million, up 13 per cent, while Europe rose 27 per cent to $186 million. The rest of the world saw the fastest growth, surging 59 per cent to $72 million.
User growth was similarly widespread, with the US and Canada reaching 106 million monthly active users, Europe at 159 million, and the rest of the world climbing to 367 million, up 15 per cent.
Pinterest also continued to improve monetisation per user. Global average revenue per user rose 6 per cent to $1.61, with particularly strong gains in Europe and the rest of the world.
In capital allocation, the company completed approximately $2 billion in near-term share repurchases during the quarter, reinforcing its return-focused strategy alongside growth investments.
Looking ahead, Pinterest expects Q2 2026 revenue between $1.133 billion and $1.153 billion, representing growth of 14 per cent to 16 per cent year on year. Adjusted EBITDA is forecast between $256 million and $276 million.
With record users, rising revenue and continued investment in AI-driven advertising tools, Pinterest enters the next quarter with momentum, even as it balances growth with profitability pressures.
