Dolphin Entertainment, Inc. (DLPN) Earnings
Dolphin Entertainment, Inc. is expected to report next earnings on August 12, 2026 (in NaN days), with a consensus EPS estimate of $-0.07. DLPN has beaten EPS estimates in 4 of its last 12 reported quarters (average surprise +142.5% over the last four).
| Report date | EPS est | EPS actual | Surprise | Revenue | Rev. surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 14, 2026 | $-0.10 | $-0.22 | -120.0% | $13M | -5.9% |
| Mar 25, 2026 | $0.01 | $0.09 | +800.0% | $16M | +4.0% |
| Nov 12, 2025 | $-0.06 | $-0.03 | +50.0% | $15M | -1.4% |
| Aug 13, 2025 | $-0.05 | $-0.13 | -160.0% | $14M | +0.6% |
| Mar 27, 2025 | $-0.10 | $-0.15 | -50.0% | $12M | +1.8% |
| Nov 14, 2024 | $-0.10 | $-0.09 | +10.0% | $13M | +4.8% |
| Aug 14, 2024 | $-0.09 | $-0.16 | -77.8% | $11M | +8.9% |
| Nov 14, 2023 | $-0.16 | $-0.54 | -237.5% | $10M | -22.5% |
| Aug 14, 2023 | $-0.06 | $-0.22 | -266.7% | $11M | +2.7% |
| May 15, 2023 | $-0.09 | $-0.46 | -411.1% | $10M | +2.0% |
| Nov 14, 2022 | $-0.05 | $-0.28 | -460.0% | $10M | -2.0% |
| Aug 15, 2022 | $-0.15 | $0.08 | +153.3% | $10M | -0.1% |
Source: company filings + earnings calendar. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
Earnings call summary
Q1 FY2026 · May 14, 2026
AI summary of management’s prepared remarks and analyst Q&A. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
Management highlights
- General Business Context & Seasonality * The business has natural seasonality, with Q1 historically being the lowest revenue quarter, and revenue building through the year to peak in Q4. * The company completed a multi-year period of aggressive acquisitions and growth investments, and now has the full infrastructure in place to capture profitability and free cash flow benefits from this work. - Operational & Marketing Highlights * The company's agency subsidiaries led major brand activations during Super Bowl 60, and had major presences across the 2026 awards circuit and SXSW. 42S and Shorefire Media clients won Grammys, and a client won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. The company hosted a record 16 world premieres at SXSW, with strong cross-agency collaboration on new projects like the Pawn Shop Los Angeles hospitality concept launch. - Profitability and Cash Flow * Adjusted EBITDA loss for Q1 2026 was $467,000, a 25% year-over-year improvement from the $625,000 adjusted EBITDA loss in Q1 2025, driven by improved core operating efficiency. * Full year 2025 adjusted EBITDA was positive $2.9 million, in line with the company's seasonal business profile. Management targets beating this 2025 adjusted EBITDA result in 2026. * The company holds approximately $127 million in federal and state net operating loss carry-forwards, resulting in very low cash tax payments, so EBITDA growth translates almost directly to free cash flow. Management and insiders hold a substantial company stake, aligning them with shareholder value creation. * The business has very low capital expenditure requirements, so profitability growth is expected to translate directly into significant free cash flow generation.
Guidance
- Revenue growth and margin expansion are expected to continue throughout 2026, with incremental revenue expected to flow disproportionately to the bottom line. - Management targets launching the first deal from the company's Dealmaker partnership by the end of 2026, with this initiative expected to become a meaningful growth driver starting in 2027. - Approximately $1 million in annualized lease savings are expected to be realized after legacy New York and Los Angeles leases expire by the end of 2027. - Paying off the company's maturing bank debt in approximately two and a half years will save almost $2.2 million annually in principal and interest payments. - Combined, the lease and debt savings will add over $3 million in annual free cash flow that will flow almost entirely to the bottom line.
Segment performance
No breakdown of financial performance by individual product segment is provided in the transcript. Total company revenue for Q1 2026 was $12.8 million, a 5.2% increase from $12.2 million in Q1 2025. The only segment-level revenue disclosed is $450,000 in Q1 2026 revenue from the Youngblood movie distribution.
Risks & headwinds
- The call noted that all forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations, referencing risk disclosures in recent SEC filings and the published earnings release. - Q1 2026 operating expenses included $900,000 in unusual legal/professional fees related to outstanding active litigation. - The Youngblood distribution included a one-time $700,000 direct cost guarantee in Q1 2026. - Early-stage new initiatives (Dealmaker partnerships, publishing venture, AI intelligence service) have unproven growth trajectories, with revenue dependent on client adoption that has not yet been fully demonstrated.
Analyst Q&A
Q: Derek Greenberg (Maxim Group) asked for an update on the Dealmaker partnership, confirming the expected six-figure per-deal fee and long-term deal volume expectations. /
A: Management confirmed they expect the first Dealmaker deal to launch by the end of 2026 (potentially before the next earnings call), with each deal generating six-figure annual marketing revenue for Dolphin. The company will launch one deal first to establish processes, then target multiple deals per year, with the initiative expected to drive meaningful growth starting in 2027.
Q: Greenberg asked for clarification on the 15% revenue share for the new Copper Books/Simon & Schuster publishing venture, how the model works, and growth expectations. /
A: Management explained the 15% revenue share applies to the author's net proceeds from book sales and any required consulting fees to bring the book to market. Dolphin contributes zero capital to the venture, which is a natural extension of existing marketing services for current clients who want to publish, creating net incremental revenue and improving client retention. The partnership leverages existing marketing experience launching and promoting books.
Q: Greenberg asked for an update on the Youngblood movie, including Q1 revenue, pay-per-view performance, and streaming deal expectations. /
A: The company recognized $450,000 in Q1 2026 revenue from U.S. Youngblood sales. After theatrical release, the film entered pay-per-view via a Universal sub-distribution deal, with early first-month results indicating a few hundred thousand in sales. A full results report will be available in 30 days, and the company will use strong pay-per-view results to negotiate a favorable streaming deal, with an update expected on the Q2 2026 earnings call. Dolphin receives 40-50% of pay-per-view revenue after Universal takes its distribution fee.
Q: Greenberg asked for an update on the Dolphin Intelligence AI marketing initiative launched in late 2025. /
A: The initiative, which offers audits to check if clients appear correctly in AI search results and provides remedial fixes, has signed its first two clients and generated strong client interest. The company will present the service at the major Cannes Marketing Conference in June 2026, where AI and influencer marketing are the top conversation topics, and management expects increased momentum after the event.
Q: Greenberg asked about future M&A plans after the company's historical period of aggressive acquisition growth. /
A: Management does not rule out M&A entirely, but there are no current acquisition targets in the pipeline. The company now prioritizes organic growth and capital-light new venture opportunities (including the Dealmaker partnership) over incremental acquisitions, as these opportunities have potential for 10X or greater upside, making them a better use of management time and capital.