Press Release: Skillsoft Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter of Fiscal 2026

Dow Jones
Sep 10
   --  Continued execution of transformation plan, making key go-to-market and 
      AI product investments 
 
   --  Fourth consecutive quarter of revenue growth for the enterprise 
      solution within our Talent Development Solutions segment 
 
   --  Continued strong Adjusted EBITDA* performance and margin expansion 
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--September 09, 2025-- 

Skillsoft Corp. (NYSE: SKIL) ("Skillsoft", "we", "us", or "our"), the platform that empowers organizations and learners to unlock their full potential, today announced its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 ended July 31, 2025.

Fiscal 2026 Second Quarter Select Metrics and Financial Measures (1)

   --  Total Revenue of $129 million, down 3% from the prior year. 
 
   --  Talent Development Solutions ("TDS") Revenue of $101 million flat 
      compared to the prior year. 
 
   --  Global Knowledge ("GK") Revenue of $28 million, down 10% from the prior 
      year. 
 
   --  GAAP Net Loss of $24 million compared to GAAP Net Loss of $40 million 
      in the prior year. GAAP Net Loss per share of $2.78 compared to GAAP Net 
      Loss per share of $4.84 in the prior year. 
 
   --  Adjusted EBITDA of $28 million, reflecting a margin of 22% of Revenue, 
      compared to $28 million and a margin of 21% of Revenue in the prior 
      year. 
 
   --  Free Cash Flow of ($23) million compared to ($16) million in the prior 
      year, bringing year-to-date Free Cash Flow to $4 million. 

"Our teams continued to execute on our transformation strategy during the quarter, and we are very pleased to have delivered a fourth consecutive quarter of revenue growth in our TDS enterprise solution, reinforcing the durability and potential of our core business," said Ron Hovsepian, Skillsoft's Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer. "However, economic uncertainty continued into Q2 and weighed on revenue, primarily reflected in weaker discretionary demand for live training. Looking ahead, we are accelerating our execution to reimagine learning where talent development is a driver of business performance. This will be exhibited in our September announcements which introduce a set of AI Innovation based products and roadmap while reshaping our go to market to better execute the strategy."

Fiscal 2026 Second Quarter Business Highlights (1) *

   --  Achieved positive Free Cash Flow in both the year-to-date and 
      last-twelve-month periods. 
 
   --  Announced availability in AWS Marketplace, simplifying and accelerating 
      the purchasing process. 
 
   --  Expanded reach through partnership with Salesforce to bring Skillsoft 
      CAISY$(TM)$ agent actions to Agentforce and the Salesforce ecosystem. 
 
   --  Achieved 50% year-over-year increase in the number of technology 
      learners on the Skillsoft platform, as well as a 74% increase in AI 
      learners and 158% increase in total AI learning hours. 

"We were pleased with our cost discipline and working capital management during the quarter; however, to account for the softness in federal and live learning spending, we are revising our full year revenue guidance range," said John Frederick, Skillsoft's Chief Financial Officer. "Additionally, as we anticipated, we used cash in the quarter as our working capital normalized, but we generated positive free cash flow year-to-date. Looking ahead to the balance of the year, we remain on track to deliver on our adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow targets."

Full-Year Fiscal 2026 Financial Outlook

The following table reflects Skillsoft's financial outlook for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2026, based on current market conditions, expectations, and assumptions:

 
GAAP Revenue        $510 million -- $530 million 
Adjusted EBITDA*    $112 million -- $118 million 
 
 
*     Denotes a non-GAAP financial measure. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures 
      and Key Performance Metrics" below for the definitions of these and 
      other non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release, how 
      they are calculated, and the rationale for their use. A reconciliation 
      of historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly 
      comparable GAAP financial measures is provided in the tables at the back 
      of this press release. We do not provide quantitative reconciliations 
      for forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures, as we are unable to 
      provide a meaningful or accurate calculation or estimation of 
      reconciling items and the information is not available without 
      unreasonable effort. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Key 
      Performance Metrics" below for further detail. 
(1)   Skillsoft has two operating and reportable segments: TDS (formerly 
      referred to as Content & Platform) and GK (formerly referred to as 
      Instructor-Led Training). Segment performance is evaluated based on 
      segment revenue, segment ("business unit") contribution profit and 
      segment ("business unit") contribution margin (segment contribution 
      profit as a percentage of segment revenue). In the fourth quarter of the 
      fiscal year ended January 31, 2025, the Company made changes to the 
      components used to determine segment results to increase transparency 
      and improve segment comparability to peers. All prior period 
      comparatives have been recast to conform to the current presentation. 
      See note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 
      Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2025, 
      and "Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Key Performance Metrics" below for 
      further detail. 
 

Webcast and Conference Call Information

Skillsoft will host a conference call and webcast today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss its financial results. To access the call, dial (877) 407--3088 from the United States and Canada or (201) 389--0927 from international locations. The live event can be accessed from the Investor Relations section of Skillsoft's website at investor.skillsoft.com. A replay will be available for twelve months.

About Skillsoft

Skillsoft (NYSE: SKIL) empowers organizations and learners to unlock their full potential by delivering personalized, interactive learning experiences and enterprise-ready solutions. Powered by AI and strengthened by a broad ecosystem of partners, the Skillsoft platform helps customers solve some of today's most complex business challenges including bridging skill gaps, improving talent retention, driving digital transformation, and future-proofing the workforce. Skillsoft is the talent development partner of choice for thousands of organizations -- including 60% of the Fortune 1000 -- and serves a global community of more than 105 million learners. For more information, visit skillsoft.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures And Key Performance Metrics

We track the non-GAAP financial measures and key performance metrics that we believe are key financial measures of our success. Non-GAAP measures and key performance metrics are frequently used by securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties in their evaluation of companies comparable to us, many of which present non-GAAP measures and key performance metrics when reporting their results. These measures can be useful in evaluating our performance against our peer companies because we believe the measures provide users with valuable insight into key components of U.S. GAAP financial disclosures. For example, a company with higher U.S. GAAP net income may not be as appealing to investors if its net income is more heavily comprised of gains on asset sales. Likewise, excluding the effects of interest income and expense moderates the impact of a company's capital structure on its performance. In addition, management uses these non-GAAP financial measures and key performance metrics to assess operating performance, financial leverage and the effective use and allocation of resources; to provide more normalized period-to-period comparisons of operating results; to enhance investors' understanding of the core operating results of our business; and to set management incentive targets. We believe investors use both U.S. GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures, as well as key performance metrics to assess management's decisions associated with our priorities and capital allocation, as well as to analyze how our business operates in, or responds to, macroeconomic trends or other events that impact our core operations. We disclose the non-GAAP financial measures and key performance metrics included in this press release because we believe that they provide meaningful supplemental information. However, non-GAAP financial measures and key performance metrics have limitations as analytical tools. Because not all companies use identical calculations, our presentation of non-GAAP financial measures and key performance metrics may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. They are not presentations made in accordance with U.S. GAAP, are not measures of financial condition or liquidity, and should not be considered as an alternative to profit or loss for the period determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP or operating cash flows determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. As a result, these performance measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute analysis for, results of operations as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release are: adjusted net income (loss); adjusted net income (loss) per share; adjusted net income (loss) margin % (i.e., adjusted net income (loss) as a percentage of revenue); adjusted EBITDA; adjusted EBITDA margin % (i.e., adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue); adjusted total operating expenses; adjusted contribution margin; business unit contribution profit; business unit contribution margin (i.e., business unit contribution profit as a percentage of business unit revenue); adjusted costs of revenues; adjusted content and software development expenses; adjusted selling and marketing expenses; adjusted general and administrative expenses; business unit costs of revenues, business unit content and software development expenses; business unit product research and management expenses, free cash flow, adjusted free cash flow (levered), free cash flow conversion and adjusted net leverage.

We have provided at the back of this press release reconciliations of these historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures for the three and six month periods ended July 31, 2025 and 2024. We do not reconcile our forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures, due to variability and difficulty in making accurate forecasts and projections and/or certain information not being ascertainable or accessible; and because not all of the information necessary for a quantitative reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures is available to us without unreasonable efforts. For the same reasons, we are unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information. We provide non-GAAP financial measures that we believe will be achieved, however we cannot accurately predict all of the components of the adjusted calculations, and the U.S. GAAP financial measures may be materially different than the non-GAAP financial measures.

Key Performance Metric

   --  Dollar retention rate ("DRR") -- For existing customers at the 
      beginning of a given period, DRR represents subscription renewals, 
      upgrades, churn, and downgrades in such period divided by the beginning 
      total renewable base for such customers for such period. Renewals reflect 
      customers who renew their subscription, inclusive of auto-renewals for 
      multi-year contracts, while churn reflects customers who choose to not 
      renew their subscription. Upgrades include orders from customers that 
      purchase additional licenses or content (e.g., a new Leadership and 
      Business module), while downgrades reflect customers electing to decrease 
      the number of licenses or reduce the size of their content package. 
      Upgrades and downgrades also reflect changes in pricing. We use our DRR 
      to measure the long-term value of customer contracts as well as our 
      ability to retain and expand the revenue generated from our existing 
      customers. 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The non-GAAP measures included in this press release are defined as follows:

   --  Adjusted net income (loss) is defined as net income (loss) excluding 
      non-cash items, discrete and event-specific costs that do not represent 
      normal cash operating expenses necessary for our business operations, and 
      certain accounting income and/or expenses. Management believes these 
      exclusions enhance the comparability of our results from period to period, 
      and as compared to peers, and are useful in assessing our operating 
      performance, and consist of the following (including the related tax 
      effects), when applicable to the periods presented: 
 
          --  Impairment charges -- Non-cash goodwill and intangible asset 
             impairment charges. 
 
          --  Amortization of acquired intangible assets -- Non-cash 
             amortization expense of finite-lived intangible assets recognized 
             as a part of business combination accounting. 
 
          --  Acquisition and integration related costs -- Costs incurred to 
             effectuate an acquisition, including contingent compensation 
             expenses, and integration-related costs. 
 
          --  Restructuring charges -- Charges related to strategic cost 
             saving initiatives, including severance costs, losses associated 
             with the abandonment of right-of-use assets, and contract 
             termination costs. 
 
          --  Transformation costs -- Costs incurred to transform our 
             operations through significant strategic non-ordinary course 
             transactions. 
 
          --  System migration costs -- Costs of temporary resources needed 
             for the migration of content and customers from our legacy system 
             to a global platform. 
 
          --  Long-term incentive compensation expenses -- Charges associated 
             with long-term incentive compensation programs, including 
             stock-based compensation, cash awards tied to stock performance, 
             and awards granted in-lieu of stock that are intended to be 
             settled in cash. 
 
          --  Executive exit costs -- Costs associated with the departure of 
             executives. 
 
          --  Fair value adjustments -- Mark-to-market adjustments of warrants 
             and hedge instruments. 
 
          --  Other (income) expense, net -- Unrealized and realized gains or 
             losses primarily resulting from fluctuations of U.S. dollar 
             appreciating or depreciating against other currencies, and 
             impairments associated with property and equipment and other 
             tangible assets when their carrying values are not recoverable. 
 
 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures And Key Performance Metrics - continued

   --  Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) excluding (when 
      applicable to the periods presented) the same exclusions set forth above 
      for the determination of adjusted net income (loss) plus the additional 
      exclusions set forth below. Management believes these exclusions enhance 
      the comparability of our results from period to period, and as compared 
      to peers, and are useful in assessing our operating performance. The 
      additional exclusions are: 
 
          --  Amortization of intangible assets -- Non-cash amortization 
             expense for finite-lived intangible assets other than those 
             recognized as a part of business combination accounting. 
 
          --  Depreciation expense -- Non-cash depreciation expense for 
             property and equipment assets. 
 
          --  Provision for (benefit from) income taxes -- Current and 
             deferred federal, state and foreign income tax expense (benefit). 
 
 
 
 
   --  Adjusted total operating expenses are defined as costs of revenues, 
      content and software development expenses, selling and marketing expenses, 
      and general and administrative expenses, in each case excluding (where 
      applicable) depreciation expense, long-term incentive compensation 
      expense, system migration costs and transformation costs, as applicable. 
 
 
   --  Adjusted contribution margin is defined as revenue less adjusted total 
      operating expenses, divided by revenue for the same period. 
 
   --  Business unit contribution profit -- Segment ("business unit") 
      contribution profit is defined as business unit revenue, less business 
      unit cost of revenues, business unit content and software development 
      expenses, and business unit product research and management expenses. 
 
 
   --  Business unit contribution margin is defined as business unit 
      contribution profit divided by business unit revenue for the same 
      period. 
 
   --  Business unit cost of revenues is defined as cost of revenues 
      attributable to the business unit, excluding, where applicable, 
      depreciation expense, long-term incentive compensation expense, system 
      migration costs, and transformation expenses. 
 
   --  Business unit content and software development expenses are defined as 
      content and software development expenses attributable to the business 
      unit, excluding, where applicable, depreciation, long-term incentive 
      compensation, system migration costs, and transformation expenses. 
 
   --  Business unit product research and management expenses are defined as 
      certain selling and marketing costs attributable to the business unit 
      reflected in the business unit contribution profit. 
 
   --  Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by (used in) operating 
      activities less net purchases of property and equipment and internally 
      developed software. Note that free cash flow does not represent residual 
      cash flow available to Skillsoft for discretionary expenditures. 
 
   --  Adjusted free cash flow (levered) is defined as free cash flow plus the 
      cash impact of the charges excluded in the determination of adjusted 
      EBITDA. Note that adjusted free cash flow (levered) does not represent 
      residual cash flow available to Skillsoft for discretionary 
      expenditures. 
 
   --  Free cash flow conversion is defined as free cash flow divided by 
      adjusted EBITDA for the same period. 
 
   --  Adjusted net leverage is defined as current maturities of long-term 
      debt, plus borrowings under our accounts receivable facility, plus 
      long-term debt, less cash and equivalents and restricted cash, divided by 
      adjusted EBITDA for the preceding twelve-month period. 

Cautionary Notes Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This document includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. For all such statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by such sections and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate may occur in the future, including statements related to our outlook (including our Full Year Fiscal 2026 Financial Outlook), our product development and planning, our pipeline, future capital expenditures, future share repurchases, anticipated financial results, the impact of regulatory changes, our current and evolving business strategies, including with respect to acquisitions and dispositions, demand for our services, our competitive position, the benefits of new initiatives, growth of our business and operations, the effectiveness of our products, the outcomes of litigation proceedings and claims, the state and future of skilling in the workplace, our ability to successfully implement our plans, strategies, objectives, and our expectations and intentions. Forward-looking statements may, without limitation, be preceded by, followed by, or include words such as "may," "will," "would," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "contemplate," "continue," "project," "forecast," "seek," "outlook," "target," "goal," "objective," "potential," "possible," "probably," or similar expressions, or employ such future or conditional verbs as "may, " "might," "will," "could," "should," or "would," or may otherwise be indicated as forward-looking statements by grammatical construction, phrasing or context. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Skillsoft's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking disclosure is speculative by its nature, and we caution you against unduly relying on these forward-looking statements.

Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include those described under "Part I - Item 1A. Risk Factors" and "Part II, Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Form 10--K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2025 ("2025 Form 10-K"). These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements included in the 2025 Form 10-K, in this document and in our other periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this document represent our estimates only as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as representing our estimates as of any subsequent date. While we may elect to update these forward-looking statements in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, whether to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions, changes in other factors affecting such forward-looking statements, or otherwise, except as required by law.

Although we believe that the assumptions underlying our forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of these assumptions, and therefore also the forward-looking statements based on these assumptions, could themselves prove to be inaccurate. Given the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included in this document, our inclusion of this information is not a representation or guarantee by us that our objectives and plans will be achieved. Annualized, pro forma, projected and estimated numbers are used for illustrative purposes only, are not forecasts and may not reflect actual results. Additionally, statements as to market share, industry data and our market position are based on the most current data available to us and our estimates regarding market position or other industry statistics included in this document or otherwise discussed by us involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including as set forth above.

All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements.

Industry and Market Data

Within this document, we may reference information and statistics regarding market share, industry data and our market position. Certain of this information has been obtained from various independent third-party sources, including independent industry publications, news reports, reports by market research firms and other independent sources. We believe that these external sources and estimates are reliable but have not independently verified them. In addition, certain of this information and statistics are based on our own internal surveys and assessments, which are developed in good faith using reasonable estimates. The information is based on the most current data available to us and our estimates regarding market position or other industry statistics included in this document or otherwise discussed by us involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including as set forth above.

 
 
                            SKILLSOFT CORP. 
            UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
      (in thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts) 
 
                                                        January 31, 
                                     July 31, 2025         2025 
                                    ---------------   --------------- 
ASSETS 
Current assets: 
  Cash and cash equivalents         $       100,512   $       100,766 
  Restricted cash                             2,908             2,571 
  Accounts receivable, net of 
   allowance for credit losses of 
   approximately $321 and $501 as 
   of July 31, 2025 and January 
   31, 2025, respectively                    96,778           178,989 
  Prepaid expenses and other 
   current assets                            52,581            50,527 
                                        -----------       ----------- 
    Total current assets                    252,779           332,853 
Goodwill                                    317,071           317,071 
Intangible assets, net                      374,654           427,221 
Other assets                                 24,922            28,924 
                                        -----------       ----------- 
      Total assets                  $       969,426   $     1,106,069 
                                        ===========       =========== 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' 
EQUITY (DEFICIT) 
Current liabilities: 
  Current maturities of long-term 
   debt                             $         6,404   $         6,404 
  Borrowings under accounts 
   receivable facility                        1,000             1,000 
  Accounts payable                           26,794            13,458 
  Accrued compensation                       26,096            47,803 
  Accrued expenses and other 
   current liabilities                       21,265            26,022 
  Deferred revenue                          215,309           282,295 
                                        -----------       ----------- 
    Total current liabilities               296,868           376,982 
                                        -----------       ----------- 
 
Long-term debt                              571,203           573,267 
Deferred tax liabilities                     39,360            42,039 
Deferred revenue - non-current                1,000             1,656 
Other long-term liabilities                  18,542            18,279 
                                        -----------       ----------- 
  Total long-term liabilities               630,105           635,241 
                                        -----------       ----------- 
Commitments and contingencies 
Shareholders' equity (deficit): 
  Shareholders' common stock - 
   Class A common shares, $0.0001 
   par value: 18,750,000 shares 
   authorized and 8,972,560 shares 
   issued and 8,672,783 shares 
   outstanding as of July 31, 
   2025, and 8,616,633 shares 
   issued and 8,316,856 shares 
   outstanding as of January 31, 
   2025                                           1                 1 
  Additional paid-in capital              1,572,538         1,565,040 
  Accumulated (deficit)                  (1,505,223)       (1,443,386) 
  Treasury stock, at cost - 
   299,777 shares as of July 31, 
   2025 and January 31, 2025                (10,891)          (10,891) 
  Accumulated other comprehensive 
   income (loss)                            (13,972)          (16,918) 
                                        -----------       ----------- 
    Total shareholders' equity 
     (deficit)                               42,453            93,846 
                                        -----------       ----------- 
      Total liabilities and 
       shareholders' equity 
       (deficit)                    $       969,426   $     1,106,069 
                                        ===========       =========== 
 
 
 
                               SKILLSOFT CORP. 
          UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 
         (in thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts) 
 
                          Three Months Ended July    Six Months Ended July 
                                    31,                       31, 
                          -----------------------   ----------------------- 
                             2025         2024         2025         2024 
                          ----------   ----------   ----------   ---------- 
Revenues: 

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