'Milestone Quarter' for Buoyant NIQ

Global consumer intelligence group NIQ has reported revenue of $1,119.1 million for the third quarter, representing 5.8% organic growth at constant currency ('OCC growth'). Profits jumped: adjusted EBITDA was up 17.8% to $263.6 million.

OCC growth was strongest in the Americas, at 11.5% - the EMEA and APAC regions were much flatter, growing 2.9% and 0.2% respectively. EMEA was impacted by ongoing volatility in the Middle East, while the APAC figure reflects difficult comparatives. EMEA remains the largest market with revenue of $491.2m, while the Americas grew to $463.0m, and APAC brought in $164.9m. Split by service types, revenue for Intelligence grew 5.5% (OCC) and for Activation 7.0%.

Executive Chairman and CEO Jim Peck (pictured) says this has been 'a milestone quarter' - the sixth in a row in which the firm exceeded the top end of its guidance across all key metrics, and the first since its IPO to deliver positive GAAP earnings per share. The continued growth reflects durable client demand for NIQ's core measurement and analytics across its global footprint, according to Peck, who also points to the firm's progress implementing useful AI: 'momentum is turning into commercial traction. We've grown our ConnectAI charter pipeline to nearly 80 clients, we're working with OpenAI DeployCo to embed NIQ intelligence directly into client workflows, and we've expanded our partnership with Google to bring NIQ product data into its Shopping Graph.'

For the full year 2026 the company expects revenue between $4,513m and $4,520m, and adjusted EBITDA between $1,065m and $1,073m.

Web site: www.niq.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.