Key Highlights
- Pinterest shares rallied approximately 16% during after-hours trading following a strong first-quarter earnings report
- First-quarter revenue reached $1.01 billion, representing an 18% annual increase and surpassing the $965 million expectation
- Adjusted earnings per share of $0.27 exceeded the projected $0.23; adjusted EBITDA climbed 20% to $207 million
- The platform achieved a record 631 million monthly active users, marking the tenth consecutive quarter of double-digit user expansion
- Second-quarter revenue outlook of $1.133B–$1.153B topped the analyst forecast of $1.12 billion
Pinterest (PINS) shares surged approximately 16% in extended trading Monday evening following the release of first-quarter financial results that exceeded Wall Street projections across virtually all key performance indicators.
First-quarter revenue totaled $1.01 billion, marking an 18% increase from the prior-year figure of $855 million and surpassing the Street consensus estimate of $965 million. Adjusted earnings per share reached $0.27, beating forecasts by four cents and exceeding the expected $0.23.
Adjusted EBITDA expanded 20% on a year-over-year basis to $207 million. Free cash flow registered at $312 million, representing a 13% decline compared to the $356 million generated in the first quarter of 2025.
Under generally accepted accounting principles, Pinterest reported a net loss of $74 million, contrasting with net income of $9 million during the comparable period in the previous year.
The platform’s worldwide monthly active users reached an unprecedented 631 million, reflecting 11% year-over-year growth. This achievement represents the tenth consecutive quarter of double-digit user base expansion — a trend the company has prominently highlighted in communications with investors.
“Q1 revenue surpassing $1 billion, up 18% year over year, and global monthly active users growing to 631 million,” said CEO Bill Ready in a statement following the results.
The company also executed $2 billion in stock buybacks throughout the quarter, consistent with its prior announcement.
Artificial Intelligence-Powered Advertising and SMB Momentum
The platform has been implementing enhancements to its Performance+ advertising platform, which streamlines creative asset development and delivers enhanced targeting personalization. These capabilities are successfully drawing small and medium-sized business advertisers, helping compensate for reduced spending from certain major advertisers navigating elevated costs associated with tariff policies.
Analyst Lenny Zéphirin of The Zéphirin Group observed that while major advertisers continue to provide stability, they no longer represent the principal engine of growth.
In February, Pinterest finalized its purchase of tvScientific, a connected television advertising platform, designed to unlock additional advertising budgets beyond conventional social media channels.
Competitor Reddit similarly reported robust revenue performance recently, attributing success to AI-enhanced advertising solutions — suggesting that artificial intelligence-driven advertising technology is benefiting multiple platforms simultaneously.
Second Quarter Outlook Exceeds Projections
For the upcoming second quarter, Pinterest projected revenue ranging from $1.133 billion to $1.153 billion, indicating 14%–16% year-over-year expansion. The midpoint estimate of $1.143 billion exceeds the analyst consensus projection of $1.12 billion.
Management also forecasted second-quarter adjusted EBITDA between $256 million and $276 million.
From a geographic perspective, the Rest of World segment delivered the strongest performance, surging 59% year-over-year to reach $72 million. European revenue advanced 27% to $186 million.
In April, activist investment firm Elliott revealed a $1 billion equity position in Pinterest, endorsing the company’s advertising revenue approach and supporting its newly announced $3.5 billion share buyback initiative.
