Storytel Group reports continued strong earnings growth, driven by both net sales and margin expansion, resulting in raised guidance for the full year.
2026-07-28 08:00:00
“Storytel Group continues to combine profitable growth with strong margin expansion. With a strong first half behind us, we are raising our guidance for the full year 2026,” says Bodil Eriksson Torp, CEO of Storytel Group.
Second quarter 2026
- Net sales amounted to SEK 1,070m (958).
- Net sales growth of 12.7% in constant exchange rates (CER), of which 10.7% organic.
- Gross margin amounted to 46.3% (45.3%).
- Adjusted EBITDA margin amounted to 19.2% (16.8%).
- Operating profit increased 45% to 118m (82).
- Net profit amounted to 100m (47), with earnings per share of 1.18 (0.54).
- Paying subscribers increased by 11k during the quarter to 2.75m (2.56), up 7.2% YoY.
- ARPU (SEK/month) amounted to 116.4 (116.5).
- The acquisition of Overamstel was completed in May.
- Transfer of listing to Nasdaq Stockholm Main Market in June.
Half-year 2026
- Net sales amounted to SEK 2,049m (1,911).
- Net sales growth of 10.3% CER, of which 9.3% organic.
- Gross margin amounted to 45.7% (44.8%).
- Adjusted EBITDA margin amounted to 18.1% (15.5%).
- Operating profit increased 51% to 207m (137).
- Net profit amounted to 186m (66), with earnings per share of 2.24 (0.74).
- Paying subscribers increased by 83k during H1'26.
- Net debt amounted to 14m (115), corresponding to 0.02x adjusted EBITDA (R12M).
Outlook 2026
Full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance is raised to SEK 900m (previously 870m).
Financial summary
| SEKm | Q2 2026 | Q2 2025 | Change | Jan-Jun 2026 | Jan-Jun 2025 | Change | R12M | FY 2025 |
| Net sales | 1,070 | 958 | 12% | 2,049 | 1,911 | 7% | 4,161 | 4,023 |
| Net sales growth, % | 11.7 | 3.6 | 8.1pp | 7.2 | 5.2 | 2.0pp | - | 5.9 |
| Net sales growth CER, %³ | 12.7 | 8.0 | 4.7pp | 10.3 | 7.5 | 2.8pp | - | 9.2 |
| Organic growth CER, %³ | 10.7 | 7.1 | 3.6pp | 9.3 | 6.9 | 2.4pp | - | 8.3 |
| Streaming Net sales¹ | 960 | 890 | 8% | 1,874 | 1,789 | 5% | 3,741 | 3,656 |
| Publishing Net sales² | 347 | 299 | 16% | 634 | 583 | 9% | 1,325 | 1,274 |
| Gross profit | 495 | 434 | 14% | 937 | 857 | 9% | 1,913 | 1,833 |
| Gross margin % | 46.3 | 45.3 | 1.0pp | 45.7 | 44.8 | 0.9pp | 46.0 | 45.6 |
| Adjusted EBITDA³ | 205 | 161 | 27% | 371 | 296 | 26% | 823 | 748 |
| Adjusted EBITDA margin %³ | 19.2 | 16.8 | 2.3pp | 18.1 | 15.5 | 2.6pp | 19.8 | 18.6 |
| EBITDA | 198 | 161 | 23% | 360 | 296 | 22% | 812 | 747 |
| EBITDA margin % | 18.5 | 16.8 | 1.6pp | 17.6 | 15.5 | 2.1pp | 19.5 | 18.6 |
| Operating profit (EBIT) | 118 | 82 | 45% | 207 | 137 | 51% | 492 | 423 |
| EBIT margin % | 11.1 | 8.6 | 2.5pp | 10.1 | 7.2 | 2.9pp | 11.8 | 10.5 |
| Net profit | 100 | 47 | 113% | 186 | 66 | 184% | 625 | 504 |
| Earnings per share, basic (SEK) | 1.19 | 0.55 | 116% | 2.25 | 0.75 | 200% | 7.76 | 6.26 |
| Earnings per share, diluted (SEK) | 1.18 | 0.54 | 117% | 2.24 | 0.74 | 201% | 7.71 | 6.22 |
| Cash flow from operating activities | 150 | 155 | -4% | 285 | 184 | 55% | 673 | 573 |
| Net Debt ³ | 14 | 115 | - | 14 | 115 | - | 14 | -136 |
| Net debt/adjusted R12M EBITDA ratio³ | 0.02 | 0.17 | - | 0.02 | 0.17 | - | 0.02 | -0.18 |
| End of period subscribers (thousands) | 2,749 | 2,564 | 7% | 2,749 | 2,564 | 7% | ||
| ARPU (SEK/month) | 116 | 116 | 0% | 115 | 119 | -3% | ||
| ¹ Streaming net sales includes 100% of Storytel Norway’s net sales. | ||||||||
| ² Publishing net sales includes both external and group-internal net sales. | ||||||||
| ³ Alternative Performance Measure (APM). See “Alternative Performance Measures” for definitions, purpose and reconciliation. | ||||||||