This article first appeared on GuruFocus .
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Revenue:INR 423 crores, a 28% year-on-year increase compared to Q1 FY 2026.
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Adjusted EBITDA:INR 34.7 crores, with a margin of 8.2% versus 10.1% in Q1 FY 2026.
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Standalone Revenue:INR 390 crores, an 18% expansion over INR 331 crores in Q1 FY 2026.
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Consolidated Revenue Mix:SaaS platform fees contributed INR 12.5 crores; program fees INR 160 crores; Propel Points INR 251 crores.
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Propel Points Margin:7.1% on a consolidated basis; 5% on a standalone basis.
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Cashback as % of Program Fees:66.3% in Q1 FY 2027, compared to 65.7% in Q1 FY 2026.
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86400 Revenue:INR 22 crores, a 29% year-on-year growth from INR 17 crores.
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86400 EBITDA:INR 8.8 crores, a 400% year-on-year growth from INR 2.8 crores.
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GreenEdge Revenue:INR 44 crores, a 160% year-on-year growth from INR 17 crores.
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GreenEdge EBITDA:INR 4.3 crores, a 66% year-on-year growth from INR 2.6 crores.
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TaxSpanner Revenue:INR 80 lakhs, a 65% increase over Q1 FY 2026.
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Fleet Business Transactions:43% increase in total transactions and 53% increase in transaction value year-on-year, reaching an annualized spend rate of INR 100 crores.
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Release Date: August 14, 2026
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript .
Positive Points
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Revenue grew 28% YoY to INR 423 crores, with standalone revenue up 18% and strong subsidiary performance.
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Subsidiaries showed exceptional growth: 86400 revenue up 29% YoY and EBITDA up 400%, GreenEdge revenue up 160% YoY.
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Dice acquisition completed at a significantly reduced cost (INR 68 crores vs. initial INR 123 crores), with 85+ client contracts being novated, including marquee names like Hindalco and IDFC FIRST Bank.
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Zagg.money annualized card run rate increased 2.3x to ~84,000 cards, with new co-brand card launches with PNB and AU Small Finance Bank.
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Strategic investment in Unobanc (Moneyhop) positions Zaggle to capitalize on cross-border payment opportunities, supported by favorable regulatory tailwinds.
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Signed a five-year agreement with HPCL for the Driver Track Plus program, opening a new revenue stream in the fleet business.
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AI investments are driving operational efficiencies (12.5% cost optimization) and enabling complex enterprise solutions, with a patent-pending 'Zaggle Brain' platform.
Negative Points
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Adjusted EBITDA margin declined to 8.2% from 10.1% YoY, due to increased costs from Dice acquisition, moderated capitalization, and employee increments.
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Revenue growth slowed to 28% YoY, down from the 40-45% growth seen in previous quarters, with program fee growth at just 10%.
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Dice acquisition costs were absorbed in Q1 without corresponding revenue, which will only start from Q2 FY2027, pressuring near-term margins.
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Cash flow optimization efforts are still in early stages, with management acknowledging a 16-18 month gestation period for improvements.
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The company's decision to moderate capitalization and expense more costs upfront will continue to pressure P&L in the near term.
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Program fee growth was impacted by a conscious shift to optimize cash flows, moving volumes to banks with faster realization, which may temporarily slow growth.
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EBITDA margin guidance remains unclear, with management deferring specific guidance until Dice revenue kicks in, adding uncertainty for investors.
Q & A Highlights
Q: The company's revenue growth has slowed significantly to 28% YoY, down from the 40%-50% growth seen in previous quarters. Is the company still on track to meet its 40% consolidated growth guidance for FY 2027? A: Raj Narayanam (Executive Chairman) and Avinash Godkhindi (MD & CEO) confirmed that the 40% consolidated growth guidance remains intact. The slowdown is attributed to Q1 seasonality, the conscious decision to optimize cash flows by shifting volumes to banks with faster realization cycles, and the fact that revenue from the Dice acquisition will only begin accruing from Q2 FY 2027, while its costs were already absorbed in Q1.
Q: With the Dice acquisition costs now absorbed but revenue not yet realized, and the adjusted EBITDA margin at 8.2% (down from 10.1% YoY), what is the outlook for EBITDA margins going forward? A: Raj Narayanam (Executive Chairman) stated that the current margin represents a low point due to one-time costs (relocation, tech vendors) and the timing of Dice revenue. He expects margins to improve as Dice revenue kicks in from Q2 and contract novations complete. The company will provide more specific EBITDA guidance in upcoming quarters, reiterating that the long-term target of 14%-15% remains a 5-7 year goal.
Q: Can you explain the change in policy regarding the expensing of costs that were previously capitalized, and what is the nature of these costs? A: Raj Narayanam (Executive Chairman) explained that the company is transitioning to a policy of expensing more costs rather than capitalizing them, to present a cleaner balance sheet and more realistic P&L. In Q1, they expensed approximately INR 6 crores of product development costs for a specific client-ready product. Avinash Godkhindi (MD & CEO) added that this is being done in consultation with auditors, and a full policy update will be shared in coming quarters.
Q: Regarding the Dice acquisition, have the technical integrations of payment rails been completed, and when can we expect revenue from these contracts? A: Raj Narayanam (Executive Chairman) confirmed that the majority of the technical integration is complete, with the final bits expected to be finished by September 10th. Revenue from novated contracts has already started flowing from July 1st, with a full pickup expected by Q3 FY 2027 once all 85+ contracts are novated. He also noted that Dice's revenue is expected to be INR 15-16 crores in FY 2027, up from INR 12 crores last year, with gross margins above 90%.
Q: The program fee growth was the lowest in three years at around 10%. Is this a sign of consolidation, and how should we view this segment for the rest of the year? A: Avinash Godkhindi (MD & CEO) explained that the slowdown is by design, as the company prioritizes cash flow optimization and calibrated capitalization over raw growth. He emphasized that the focus is on improving the quality of revenue (lower cashback percentage) and working capital cycles. Raj Narayanam (Executive Chairman) added that a "significant improvement" in program fee growth is expected in the coming quarters.
Q: What is the organic net revenue growth excluding the contributions from GreenEdge and other acquisitions, as the core business seems to have slowed? A: Raj Narayanam (Executive Chairman) clarified that the standalone business grew 18% in Q1 FY 2027, and the company maintains its guidance of 25% growth for the standalone entity for the full year. The consolidated growth of 28% is expected to accelerate to the 40% range as the year progresses, driven by contributions from subsidiaries and the Dice acquisition.
Q: The EBITDA margin has been volatile for the past six quarters. When can we expect stability and a return to the previously guided 13%-15% trajectory? A: Raj Narayanam (Executive Chairman) defended the margin stability, stating it has been in the 9%-10% range for the last eight quarters. He clarified that the 14%-15% target is a long-term (5-7 year) goal. The current actionsexpensing costs, focusing on free cash flow, and integrating acquisitionsare short-term measures (15-18 months) designed to build a cleaner balance sheet and set the foundation for that higher margin trajectory.
Q: The company is investing heavily in AI. When will this become a meaningful revenue driver rather than just a cost-efficiency tool? A: Raj Narayanam (Executive Chairman) highlighted that AI has already had a dual impact. Internally, it helped optimize 12.5% of the cost base in FY 2026 and reduced feature launch timelines by up to 50%. Externally, it enables the company to solve complex problems for large corporates, leading to higher-value contracts. He mentioned "Project Shiva" (Zaggle Brain), an AI-driven platform, which will be showcased and patented, and expects the payback on AI investments to accelerate significantly in the coming quarters.
Q: With the focus on cash flow over growth, when can investors expect to see both strong growth and positive cash flow simultaneously? A: Raj Narayanam (Executive Chairman) stated that achieving both is the company's primary daily and monthly focus. He acknowledged it is a process but affirmed the commitment to not compromise on either front. The management is working to ensure that growth is profitable and cash-generative, with improvements expected to be visible in the coming quarters.
Q: There was a previous mention of promoter buying shares from the open market. Are there plans to continue this at the current price levels? A: Raj Narayanam (Executive Chairman) confirmed that the promoters have consistently bought shares in the open market and have never sold a single share. He stated that as liquidity becomes available, they will continue to purchase shares, reaffirming their long-term commitment to the company.
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript .
