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People Inc (PPLI) stock

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NASDAQ: PPLI Nasdaq Publishing Next results ~February 1, 2027

People Inc is an American internet and media group built from a portfolio of consumer businesses. Its largest operation is a digital and print publishing arm spanning over 40 brands, including PEOPLE, Allrecipes, Better Homes & Gardens, Food & Wine, Investopedia and Travel + Leisure. It also owns Care.com, an online marketplace matching families with caregivers for children, older relatives, pets and homes, and Ask Media Group, which runs search sites such as Ask.com and Reference.com.

The company earns money chiefly from advertising, sold directly and programmatically, including an intent-based targeting product called D/Cipher. Other revenue comes from print magazine subscriptions, affiliate commerce commissions, and licensing its brands and content, including to artificial-intelligence and large-language-model providers. Care.com charges families, caregivers and employers subscription and contract fees.

Operations are grouped into three segments: People Inc., Care.com and Search. More than 175 million people use its publishing brands each month, and it held roughly 15.4 million active print subscriptions at the end of 2025. The company began over twenty-five years ago as a media and electronic retailing business and has since spun off firms such as Expedia, Match Group and Angi.

Based on People Inc's 10-K filed February 20, 2026.

Stock price today

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Third-party market data · may be delayed

Fair value per share

Under review: data-quality checks not passed.

Price vs value

Under review: data-quality checks not passed. We'll show the comparison once resolved.

People Inc valuation: adjust assumptions and compare models →

Who’s trading

What company insiders, investment funds and members of Congress have been doing with the stock, from their own filings.

  • Insiders1 buying, 1 selling3 purchases and 1 sale by directors and officers, last 12 monthsInsider trades
  • Funds150 adding, 164 cuttingOf 47 active managers that changed their stake, 24 added; quarter to June 30, 2026Fund buyers and sellers

Value diary

Our note on each quarter People files

10-Q filed November 2: People

People Inc's revenue reached $2.38bn in the twelve months to September 2026, a 13.8% increase on the prior year and a marked acceleration from the 4.8% growth seen a quarter earlier. Free-cash-flow margin improved to 5.8%, up from 4.4% a year earlier, even as the operating margin slipped to -5.9% from 1.8%. The diluted share count has fallen 6.3% year-on-year, which benefits each remaining share. Taken together, these shifts push our model value up from $30.47 to $39.44 a share, compared with a current share price of $36.88.

Our model value for People is under review, so past values are not shown until it is resolved.

Source: 10-Q filed November 2, 2026 on SEC EDGAR · Financials · Valuation

Earlier notes (1)

Where People stands after its latest 10-Q

Revenue for the twelve months to June 2026 was $2.10bn, down 8.4% on a year earlier, faster than -15.2% a quarter earlier. Free-cash-flow margin held at 5.9%. Operating margin narrowed to -9.0% from 3.2%. The diluted share count is down 5.9% on a year earlier, which lifts each remaining share. It passes 3 of our 6 financial-health checks.

10-Q on SEC EDGAR

Written from the company's filings and our models when each quarter's report arrives. Figures in older notes are as published at the time. Not investment advice.

The Fundamentalytics view

Next results ~February 1, 2027 (estimated)

People Inc's trailing-twelve-month revenue grew 13.8% year on year, with a free-cash-flow margin of 5.8%.

Our discounted-cash-flow model values the business at ~$39 per share in the base case (~$29–$54 across growth scenarios) — model values under stated assumptions, not a price target.

Current signal Free cash flow diverging from earnings: TTM free cash flow grew 49.1% while net income fell 45.6%: a 95pp divergence.

Assembled from SEC-filed figures — the full workings are on this page and in our methodology. Observations, not recommendations.

Highlights

How we pick these

Strengths

  • Growth speeding up. The growth rate is 9.0 points higher than a quarter earlier.
  • Shrinking share count. Diluted shares fell 6.3% in a year, so each share owns more of the business.

Things to watch

  • Loss-making. Operating margin is -5.9%: costs exceed revenue.
  • Margins narrowing. Operating margin is down 7.7 points on a year ago.
  • Heavily shorted. 22.2% of the shares available to trade are sold short (8.5 days of average volume to cover).
  • Earnings expected to fall. The consensus expects earnings per share to fall 82% next year.

Latest results: FY2026 Q3

Filed November 2, 2026
Earnings per share
-$9.15 against an average estimate of -$0.19: missed by 4603.4%
Revenue
$431m, down 3.6% on a year earlier
Guidance given
adjusted EBITDA $325m to $355m (full year 2026); adjusted EBITDA $10m to $15m (full year 2026)
Next report
November 2, 2026; average EPS estimate $0.35

People's figures from its SEC filings and results release; estimates are the analysts' average. Not a recommendation.

Price chart

  • 1 day+3.5%
  • 1 week-3.4%
  • 1 month-10.7%
  • This year-5.7%
  • 1 year+14.5%
  • 5 years-70.7%
  • S&P 500 this year+11.2%

Closing prices to 2026-11-02. Price change only, dividends excluded.

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Third-party market data · may be delayed

At a glance

Trailing twelve months, from SEC filings

Profitability

Revenue (TTM)
$2.4B
Operating margin
-5.9%
Net margin
-13.8%
EPS (TTM, diluted)
$-4.33

Growth

Revenue growth
+13.8%
Change in growth rate
+9.0 pts
Share count change
−6.3%

Cash

Free cash flow (TTM)
$138M
FCF margin
5.8%
Stock pay % of revenue
4.0%

Earnings

Last results
November 2, 2026
Next results (est.)
February 1, 2027

News & updates

Updated November 2, 2026

Company announcements, filed results and changes that matter to shareholders.

  1. Announcement
  2. Results
  3. Announcement
  4. Product
  5. Announcement
  6. Announcement
  7. Product
  8. Announcement
  9. Announcement
  10. Announcement
  11. Results
  12. Guidance
  13. Shareholder vote

Refreshed hourly when new source data is available. Summaries are checked against company releases and SEC filings. Company announcement headlines are labelled when a checked summary is unavailable.

Valuation

People Inc valuation models and calculator

Fundamentalytics rating

model v1.6 · 2026-11-03

Not rated: data-quality checks not passed.

Our value per share comes from a discounted-cash-flow model of People Inc's free cash flow after stock-based pay ( $207M, FY2026 Q3 TTM, with after-tax interest added back): growth for five years as below (the first two years from forecasts, guidance and the company's record), fading to 2.5%, discounted at 8.5%, then cash added and debt and other claims subtracted. These are model values under stated assumptions, not price targets or recommendations.

Valuation multiples over time Market data may be delayed

At fiscal year end 20182019202020212022202320242025Now
Share price$32.71$44.52$103.35$107.23$36.42$42.97$35.39$39.10$36.88
Market value$2.8bn$3.8bn$9.4bn$9.8bn$3.1bn$3.7bn$2.9bn$3.1bn$2.8bn
+ Net debt (− = net cash)−$884m−$592m−$2.6bn−$19m$974m$1.1bn$616m$500m$104m
Enterprise value$1.9bn$3.2bn$6.8bn$9.8bn$4.1bn$4.8bn$3.6bn$3.6bn$2.9bn
Multiples
Price / sales 1.1x1.5x3.4x2.7x0.6x0.9x1.1x1.3x1.2x
Price / earnings 11.3x165.5x34.8x16.5x—14.0x———
Price / free cash flow 8.8x24.2x100.1xn/m—38.7x8.7x69.8x20.4x
EV / EBITDA 24.3x52.2x————n/m——

Market value uses the period's diluted share count; figures for each fiscal year use that year's results and the price at year end. "Now" uses today's price and the last twelve months.

Moat

42 /100

Weak moat

How hard People's competitive advantage looks for rivals to wear away, judged from 7 years of its own filings: returns on capital, pricing power, profit durability, cash conversion and discipline.

  • Returns on capital 0 / 20

    Net income has been a median -2.7% of total assets over 7 years.

  • Pricing power 17 / 20

    Gross margin has been a median 68.2%, moving by 5.1 percentage points (standard deviation) across 7 years.

  • Durability 10 / 20

    Operating margin has been a median -5.9%; its worst year was -20.1%.

  • Cash conversion 11 / 20

    Free cash flow was positive in 6 of 7 years, at a median 4.4% of revenue.

  • Discipline 19 / 20

    The diluted share count fell 34.3% over five years; stock-based pay has been a median 2.6% of revenue.

AI disruption exposure: High. In this industry, the core product is information work that AI systems increasingly perform. The score above includes a 15-point deduction for that exposure (57 before it).

A rules-based reading of reported figures, not a forecast and not investment advice. How the score is built: methodology.

Forecasts and guidance

Analysts' consensus

Fiscal yearEPSGrowthRevenueGrowth
Current $6.39 +591% $1.8bn −24%
Next $1.12 −83% $1.8bn +1%

Next year's EPS estimate has moved +2.9% in 90 days, across 8 analysts.

How the EPS forecast has moved

The consensus EPS forecast for the current fiscal year is −1336.3% on 90 days ago. In the last 30 days, 0 analysts raised People Inc's forecast and 0 cut it.

Consensus EPS forecast People Inc, last 90 days
−$2.00 $0.00 $2.00 $4.00 $6.00 $8.00 90 days ago 60 days ago 30 days ago 7 days ago Now Current fiscal year, 90 days ago: −$0.52 Current fiscal year, 60 days ago: $6.37 Current fiscal year, 30 days ago: $6.39 Current fiscal year, 7 days ago: $6.39 Current fiscal year, Now: $6.39 $6.39 Next fiscal year, 90 days ago: $1.08 Next fiscal year, 60 days ago: $1.05 Next fiscal year, 30 days ago: $1.12 Next fiscal year, 7 days ago: $1.12 Next fiscal year, Now: $1.12 $1.12

Average of analysts' published estimates (third-party data).

View chart data
Period Current fiscal yearNext fiscal year
90 days ago −$0.52$1.08
60 days ago $6.37$1.05
30 days ago $6.39$1.12
7 days ago $6.39$1.12
Now $6.39$1.12

Earnings against estimates

Quarter toEstimateActualSurprise
Sept 2026 −$0.19 −$9.15 −4603.4%
Mar 2026 −$0.21 −$0.94 −347.6%
Dec 2025 $0.71 −$0.99 −238.7%

Adjusted EPS as companies report it, against the average analyst estimate.

Management guidance

Earnings release, August 3, 2026
  • Adjusted EBITDA · People Inc. full year 2026 $325m to $355m Non-GAAP
    “People Inc. $325-$355” source
  • Adjusted EBITDA · Emerging & Other full year 2026 $10m to $15m Non-GAAP
    “Emerging & Other 10-15” source
  • Total Adjusted EBITDA full year 2026 $255m to $290m Non-GAAP
    “Total Adjusted EBITDA $255-$290” source
  • Stock-based compensation expense full year 2026 $85m to $90m
    “Stock-based compensation expense (a) (90-85)” source
  • Depreciation full year 2026 $25m to $30m
    “Depreciation (30-25)” source
  • Amortization of intangibles full year 2026 $70m to $75m
    “Amortization of intangibles (75-70)” source
Show 6 more items
  • Restructuring costs, including certain severance and employee separation benefits full year 2026 $10m to $15m
    “Restructuring costs, including certain severance and employee separation benefits (b) (15-10)” source
  • Transaction-related costs full year 2026 $5m to $10m
    “Transaction-related costs (c) (10-5)” source
  • Litigation matters full year 2026 $15m to $20m
    “Litigation matters (d) (20-15)” source
  • Total Operating income full year 2026 $15m to $80m GAAP
    “Total Operating income $15-$80” source
  • Corporate annual run-rate operating expense Q1 2027 about $45m
    “The Company's consolidation of its corporate functions with People Inc. remains on track with estimated Corporate annual run-rate operating expense of approximately $45 million and annual stock-based compensation expense of approximately $30 million following the completion of the transition in Q1 2027.” source
  • annual stock-based compensation expense · Corporate Q1 2027 about $30m
    “The Company's consolidation of its corporate functions with People Inc. remains on track with estimated Corporate annual run-rate operating expense of approximately $45 million and annual stock-based compensation expense of approximately $30 million following the completion of the transition in Q1 2027.” source

Figures and quotations are management's, copied from the company's own press release (SEC 8-K exhibit) and checked word for word against it. Forward-looking statements are the company's expectations, not ours and not advice; guidance can change or be missed.

How our valuation uses these forecasts

Our cash-flow model grows People Inc's revenue by -14.0% next year and +2.9% the year after, then fades back toward its own record by year five. Next year's rate weighs analysts' consensus (-23.0%, weight 67%) and the company's own record (+4.0%, weight 33%) . How the weights are set.

Analyst recommendations

12 analysts, Nov 2026
Buy867%
Hold433%
Sell00%

Monthly trend

  1. Nov 202626412
  2. Oct 202626412
  3. Sep 202616411

Counts of recommendations published by analysts covering People Inc, by month. Source: Aggregated broker recommendations (third-party data). Aggregated counts only: we do not reproduce any firm's recommendation or price target, and these are not Fundamentalytics ratings.

Positioning

Short interest
22.2%
of tradable shares
Days to cover
8.52
at average volume
Short interest, 1 month
+11%
to October 15, 2026
Held by institutions
—
of shares
Held by insiders
3.5%
of shares
Employees
5,156
full time

Consensus figures average analysts' published estimates (third-party data); guidance is the company's own. Neither is our forecast. Short interest is reported twice a month and lags. Market data may be delayed.

This section is general information, not investment advice or a personal recommendation, and it does not take account of your objectives or circumstances. Forecasts and guidance are estimates, not promises: companies miss their own guidance and analysts' figures are often revised. Prices can fall as well as rise, and you can lose money. See our disclaimer.

Share-price performance

Market data may be delayed

What moved the share price

Last 12 months +14.5%

$32.22 on October 31, 2025 to $36.88

ThenNowEffect
Revenue (last 12 months) $2.3bn $2.4bn +4.8%
P/S multiple 1.2x 1.2x +2.8%
Share count 82m 77m +6.3%

Biggest factor: share count. Loss-making at one end, so the split uses price/sales.

Last 3 years +0.3%

$36.75 on November 3, 2023 to $36.88

ThenNowEffect
Revenue (last 12 months) $4.7bn $2.4bn −49.4%
Net margin 5.6% 14.0% +152.4%
P/E multiple 14.6x 8.5x −42.0%
Share count 105m 77m +35.6%

Biggest factor: net margin.

The effects multiply back to the price change exactly. Results are the last 12 months as known on each date (filings assumed public 45 days after quarter end).

Return and risk by year

Calendar year 202120222023202420252026 to date
Return
PPLI+4%−66%+18%−18%+11%−6%
Industry peers (median)+27%−31%+5%+42%−9%+20%
S&P 500+29%−18%+26%+25%+18%+11%
Months that ended higher
PPLI33%25%58%33%50%64%
S&P 50075%42%67%75%75%46%
Largest fall from a high during the year
PPLI−30%−70%−40%−28%−24%−25%
S&P 500−5%−25%−10%−8%−19%−9%

Worst fall since November 3, 2015: 78% from February 17, 2021 to November 20, 2025. Getting back needed a 356% gain, and the shares have not yet recovered.

Price behaviour

52-week range
$31.52 – $47.62
From 52-week high
−22.6%
vs 50-day average
−4.9%
vs 200-day average
−8.9%
Volatility (1 year)
34%
Beta vs S&P 500
0.91

Volatility is the annualised standard deviation of daily returns. Beta 1.5 means the shares typically moved 1.5% for each 1% move in the S&P 500 over the past year. Prices to November 2, 2026.

Share price after results

Next day
3 up, 8 down
typical move ±6.1%
After a week
5 up, 6 down
typical move ±8.2%
After a month
6 up, 5 down
typical move ±8.1%
Results releasedNext dayS&P 500 next day5 days21 days
August 3, 2026 +11.7% +3.3% −2.2% −7.3%
May 4, 2026 −8.0% +0.4% −7.5% −6.1%
April 28, 2026 0.0% −0.5% −7.3% +0.8%
February 3, 2026 −3.6% −1.3% −1.5% +4.7%
November 3, 2025 −0.7% −1.0% +5.6% +13.7%
August 4, 2025 −11.5% +1.0% −12.3% −6.5%
May 5, 2025 −3.5% −1.4% +11.4% +3.6%
February 11, 2025 +4.9% −0.2% +12.7% +5.2%
November 12, 2024 −14.7% −0.3% −13.5% −16.1%
August 6, 2024 +7.6% +0.2% +12.4% +14.4%
May 7, 2024 −1.2% +0.1% +3.4% −10.2%

From the close before the release date to the close 1, 5 and 21 trading days after it, so releases before the open and after the close are both captured. Past moves don't predict future ones.

Fundamentals

Revenue (TTM) People Inc
$2B $3B $4B $5B FY23 Q4 FY24 Q3 FY25 Q2 FY26 Q3 Revenue (TTM), FY23 Q4: $4.4B Revenue (TTM), FY24 Q1: $4.2B Revenue (TTM), FY24 Q2: $3.7B Revenue (TTM), FY24 Q3: $3.3B Revenue (TTM), FY24 Q4: $2.9B Revenue (TTM), FY25 Q1: $2.5B Revenue (TTM), FY25 Q2: $2.3B Revenue (TTM), FY25 Q3: $2.1B Revenue (TTM), FY25 Q4: $2.5B Revenue (TTM), FY26 Q1: $2.4B Revenue (TTM), FY26 Q2: $2.4B Revenue (TTM), FY26 Q3: $2.4B $2.4B

Source: SEC EDGAR filings. Retrieved November 2, 2026.

View chart data
Period Revenue (TTM)
FY23 Q4 $4.4B
FY24 Q1 $4.2B
FY24 Q2 $3.7B
FY24 Q3 $3.3B
FY24 Q4 $2.9B
FY25 Q1 $2.5B
FY25 Q2 $2.3B
FY25 Q3 $2.1B
FY25 Q4 $2.5B
FY26 Q1 $2.4B
FY26 Q2 $2.4B
FY26 Q3 $2.4B
Revenue growth, TTM YoY People Inc
-60% -40% -20% 0% 20% FY23 Q4 FY24 Q3 FY25 Q2 FY26 Q3 Revenue growth, TTM YoY, FY23 Q4: -16.6% Revenue growth, TTM YoY, FY24 Q1: -15.7% Revenue growth, TTM YoY, FY24 Q2: -21.3% Revenue growth, TTM YoY, FY24 Q3: -28.3% Revenue growth, TTM YoY, FY24 Q4: -32.9% Revenue growth, TTM YoY, FY25 Q1: -41.1% Revenue growth, TTM YoY, FY25 Q2: -38.7% Revenue growth, TTM YoY, FY25 Q3: -35.9% Revenue growth, TTM YoY, FY25 Q4: -15.8% Revenue growth, TTM YoY, FY26 Q1: -3.0% Revenue growth, TTM YoY, FY26 Q2: 4.8% Revenue growth, TTM YoY, FY26 Q3: 13.8% 13.8%

Source: SEC EDGAR filings. Retrieved November 2, 2026.

View chart data
Period Revenue growth, TTM YoY
FY23 Q4 -16.6%
FY24 Q1 -15.7%
FY24 Q2 -21.3%
FY24 Q3 -28.3%
FY24 Q4 -32.9%
FY25 Q1 -41.1%
FY25 Q2 -38.7%
FY25 Q3 -35.9%
FY25 Q4 -15.8%
FY26 Q1 -3.0%
FY26 Q2 4.8%
FY26 Q3 13.8%
Operating margin (TTM) People Inc
-10% -5% 0% 5% FY23 Q4 FY24 Q3 FY25 Q2 FY26 Q3 Operating margin (TTM), FY23 Q4: -5.4% Operating margin (TTM), FY24 Q1: -3.9% Operating margin (TTM), FY24 Q2: -3.5% Operating margin (TTM), FY24 Q3: -2.8% Operating margin (TTM), FY24 Q4: -1.0% Operating margin (TTM), FY25 Q1: 2.4% Operating margin (TTM), FY25 Q2: 3.2% Operating margin (TTM), FY25 Q3: 1.8% Operating margin (TTM), FY25 Q4: -3.8% Operating margin (TTM), FY26 Q1: -6.6% Operating margin (TTM), FY26 Q2: -6.9% Operating margin (TTM), FY26 Q3: -5.9% -5.9%

Source: SEC EDGAR filings. Retrieved November 2, 2026.

View chart data
Period Operating margin (TTM)
FY23 Q4 -5.4%
FY24 Q1 -3.9%
FY24 Q2 -3.5%
FY24 Q3 -2.8%
FY24 Q4 -1.0%
FY25 Q1 2.4%
FY25 Q2 3.2%
FY25 Q3 1.8%
FY25 Q4 -3.8%
FY26 Q1 -6.6%
FY26 Q2 -6.9%
FY26 Q3 -5.9%
FCF margin (TTM) People Inc
0% 5% 10% 15% FY23 Q4 FY24 Q3 FY25 Q2 FY26 Q3 FCF margin (TTM), FY23 Q4: 2.2% FCF margin (TTM), FY24 Q1: 3.7% FCF margin (TTM), FY24 Q2: 5.9% FCF margin (TTM), FY24 Q3: 9.6% FCF margin (TTM), FY24 Q4: 11.6% FCF margin (TTM), FY25 Q1: 10.0% FCF margin (TTM), FY25 Q2: 6.7% FCF margin (TTM), FY25 Q3: 4.4% FCF margin (TTM), FY25 Q4: 1.8% FCF margin (TTM), FY26 Q1: 3.3% FCF margin (TTM), FY26 Q2: 5.2% FCF margin (TTM), FY26 Q3: 5.8% 5.8%

Source: SEC EDGAR filings. Retrieved November 2, 2026.

View chart data
Period FCF margin (TTM)
FY23 Q4 2.2%
FY24 Q1 3.7%
FY24 Q2 5.9%
FY24 Q3 9.6%
FY24 Q4 11.6%
FY25 Q1 10.0%
FY25 Q2 6.7%
FY25 Q3 4.4%
FY25 Q4 1.8%
FY26 Q1 3.3%
FY26 Q2 5.2%
FY26 Q3 5.8%

Data: SEC EDGAR XBRL company facts (as filed in 10-K/10-Q); forms 10-K, 10-Q. Generated November 3, 2026. Definitions in our methodology.

Financial statements

US$ millions unless shown otherwise. Fiscal years, plus the last twelve months (LTM) when newer.

Fiscal year 2018 Dec 2018 2019 Dec 2019 2020 Dec 2020 2021 Dec 2021 2022 Dec 2022 2023 Dec 2023 2024 Dec 2024 2025 Dec 2025 LTM Sept 2026
Income
Revenue 2,533 2,510 2,765 3,700 5,235 4,365 2,622 2,393 2,382
Gross profit 2,032 1,910 1,950 2,403 3,302 3,146 1,620 1,583 —
EBITDA 78 61 −469 −62 −344 −157 12 −60 −106
Operating income 36 6 −538 −137 −475 −238 −29 −97 −141
Net income 247 23 270 598 −1,170 266 −540 −104 −329
Diluted EPS $2.90 $0.27 $2.97 $6.31 −$13.55 $2.97 −$6.49 −$1.30 −$4.33
Growth (year on year)
Revenue — −0.9% +10.1% +33.8% +41.5% −16.6% −39.9% −8.7% +13.8%
EBITDA — −21.8% −866.0% — — — — — −243.1%
Net income — −90.7% — +121.5% −295.8% — −303.0% — —
Diluted EPS — −90.7% — +112.5% −314.7% — −318.5% — —
Margins
Gross margin 80.2% 76.1% 70.5% 65.0% 63.1% 72.1% 61.8% 66.2% —
EBITDA margin 3.1% 2.4% −17.0% −1.7% −6.6% −3.6% 0.5% −2.5% −4.5%
Operating margin 1.4% 0.2% −19.4% −3.7% −9.1% −5.4% −1.1% −4.1% −5.9%
Net margin 9.7% 0.9% 9.8% 16.2% −22.4% 6.1% −20.6% −4.3% −13.8%
Free-cash-flow margin 12.4% 6.2% 3.4% 0.8% −4.3% 2.2% 12.9% 1.9% 5.8%
Cash flow
Cash from operations 369 252 155 119 −83 190 355 64 170
Capital spending 55 95 61 90 140 94 15 19 32
Free cash flow 315 157 94 29 −223 96 340 45 138
Stock-based pay 148 134 197 79 123 74 78 32 96
Free cash flow after stock pay 166 22 −103 −51 −346 22 262 13 42
Balance sheet
Cash 884 838 3,366 2,119 1,096 933 1,364 941 1,319
Total debt 0 246 720 2,100 2,070 2,040 1,980 1,441 1,423
Net debt (negative = net cash) −884 −592 −2,646 −19 974 1,107 616 500 104
Diluted shares 85m 85m 91m 92m 86m 86m 83m 80m 76m
Returned to shareholders
Buybacks — 57 64 35 — 166 0 315 148
Total returned — 57 64 35 — 166 0 315 148

Source: SEC EDGAR XBRL company facts (US and foreign periodic filings); column headings link to the filing. EBITDA is operating income plus depreciation and amortisation. Free cash flow is cash from operations minus capital spending. Growth is left blank when last year's figure was a loss or under 2% of revenue. Share counts and EPS are restated for stock splits. A dash means the company didn't report the figure.

Financial health

2 of 6 checks passed · September 30, 2026
What it owns · $6.6bn
Short-term assets $1.8bnLonger-term assets $4.8bn
What it owes, and who funded it · $4.8bn
Short-term liabilities $438mShareholders' equity $4.4bn
  • Short-term assets cover short-term liabilities $1.8bn of assets due within a year against $438m of liabilities due within a year.
  • Short-term assets cover long-term liabilities Not assessable from the reported split. Not assessable.
  • More cash than debt $1.3bn of cash against $1.4bn of debt.
  • Debt below 40% of shareholders' equity Debt is 32% of equity.
  • Debt burden no higher than five years ago Debt to equity moved from 29% to 32% over five years.
  • A year's operating cash flow covers at least 20% of debt $170m of operating cash flow against $1.4bn of debt.
  • Operating profit covers interest at least five times over Operating income of −$141m against $105m of interest.

From People Inc's latest balance sheet as filed. Checks are fixed, documented rules (methodology), counted only where the company reports the figures — a dot means the filing doesn't break the item out. Descriptions of reported data, not advice.

Dividends, buybacks and capital spending

FY2026 Q3 TTM
Buybacks (TTM)
$148M
Returned to shareholders
108%
of free cash flow
Buybacks, last 3 fiscal years
$481M
Diluted share count
−6.3%
year over year
Total shareholder yield
5.3%
dividends 0.0% + buybacks 5.3% of market value
R&D spending
8.5%
of revenue
Days sales outstanding
51 days
receivables vs revenue

Competitors: side by side with peers

Closest by revenue in publishing
Last 12 months unless stated PPLI TDAY NYT WLY SCHL NWSA Median
Revenue, last 12 months $2.4bn $2.2bn $3.0bn $1.7bn $1.6bn $9.0bn $1.6bn
Revenue growth, last 12 months 13.8% −6.7% 10.8% −0.3% −2.5% 6.8% −1.4%
Revenue growth, 3-year average −19.4% −7.2% 8.0% −5.6% −2.0% 4.1% −5.6%
Revenue growth, latest quarter −3.6% −8.3% 11.2% −2.6% −3.9% 10.8% −3.6%
Gross margin 68.2% 39.5% 73.4% 74.6% 56.5% — 60.1%
Operating margin −5.9% 0.7% 16.0% 14.9% 1.0% — 2.5%
Operating margin, 3-year average −2.3% 0.3% 14.4% 11.2% 1.1% — 2.0%
Net margin −13.8% −1.8% 13.2% 11.9% 3.6% 6.3% 0.9%
Cash from operations / revenue 7.1% 5.1% 22.1% 17.4% 2.4% 13.7% 6.1%
Free-cash-flow margin 5.8% 2.8% 20.9% 14.4% −0.9% 9.0% 4.3%
Free-cash-flow margin, 3-year average 6.6% 2.2% 17.3% 10.1% 2.4% 8.2% 7.6%
Stock pay / revenue 4.0% 0.4% 2.6% 1.2% 0.6% 0.5% 0.5%
Change in share count −6.3% 19.8% −0.6% −4.2% −15.7% −2.0% −0.3%

Median of all 10 companies we cover in publishing. Shaded: best of the six on that line (lowest for stock pay and share-count growth). 3-year figures average the last three 12-month periods; 3-year growth is compound annual. Source: SEC filings.

Where the revenue comes from

Fiscal year to December 31, 2025
Geography
Region Revenue Share YoY
United States $2.2B 92.9% ▼ 4.1%
Outside the US $169M 7.1% ▼ 44.3%

From People Inc's 10-K filed February 20, 2026, as tagged in the filing. View filing. Indented rows are part of the line above; their share is of that line. In the bars, the faint bar behind is the year before.

Who owns it

Funds buying and selling
Reported value
$3.2B
Institutions reporting
337
Shares held vs prior quarter
▼ 2.1%
Positions opened / closed
53 / 46

Top buyers and sellers, Q2 2026: 150 institutions bought and 164 sold ; the biggest buyer was Helikon Investments Ltd (+2.1M shares) and the biggest seller Bank Of Montreal (−1.2M). See which funds bought and sold →

Largest reported holders, June 30, 2026
Manager Value Shares Share of 13F value Shares QoQ
Blackrock, Inc. $356M 7.7M 11.2% ▼ 2.8%
Aristeia Capital, L.L.C. $282M 6.1M 8.9% ▲ 3.3%
Helikon Investments Ltd $261M 5.7M 8.2% ▲ 60.7%
Vanguard Portfolio Management LLC $159M 3.4M 5.0% ▼ 4.1%
Southeastern Asset Management Inc $145M 3.1M 4.5% ▼ 22.1%
Vanguard Capital Management LLC $130M 2.8M 4.1% ▼ 3.6%
Corvex Management LP $129M 2.8M 4.1% ▼ 16.7%
AQR Capital Management LLC $125M 2.7M 3.9% ▲ 23.6%
Patient Capital Management, LLC $112M 2.4M 3.5% ▼ 10.2%
Davis Selected Advisers $111M 2.4M 3.5% ▼ 0.8%
State Street Corp $99.7M 2.2M 3.1% ▼ 4.2%
Goldman Sachs Group Inc $67.6M 1.5M 2.1% ▲ 195.6%

From Form 13F filings with the SEC ( quarterly data sets), as reported by each manager for June 30, 2026 and filed up to 45 days later. 13F reports cover long US-listed positions of managers above $100M only, so this is not People Inc's complete shareholder register. Values are as reported by the filers .

Insider trading activity

Full insider history and chart
Insider purchases History → $77.1M 3 trades by 1 insider, last 12 months Insider sales History → $278,801 1 trade by 1 insider · 0% under pre-set plans
Net ▲ $76.8M net buying
Insider Date Trade Shares Price Value
Schwerdtman Michael H SVP and CAO May 12, 2026 Sell 6,878 $40.54 $278,801
Iac Inc. 10% owner March 24, 2026 Buy 450,000 $37.13 $16.7M
Iac Inc. 10% owner March 23, 2026 Buy 550,000 $37.30 $20.5M
Iac Inc. 10% owner December 5, 2025 Buy 1,098,748 $36.30 $39.9M

From insiders' Form 4 filings with the SEC. Excludes awards, option exercises and shares withheld for tax. "Pre-set plan" means the filing marks the trade as made under a Rule 10b5-1 plan. See every insider trade since five years ago, on a price chart.

Earnings dates and SEC filings

Results announcements

Next expected around February 1, 2027 estimated from the company's past filing pattern, not announced

  • November 2, 2026
  • August 3, 2026
  • May 4, 2026
  • April 28, 2026
  • February 3, 2026
  • November 3, 2025

Recent SEC filings

Data status

When each part of this page on People Inc was last updated.

DataLast updatedSource
Share priceExchange closing prices
Financial statementsSEC 10-K and 10-Q filings
News and updatesCompany releases and SEC 8-K filings
Analyst estimatesAggregated analyst estimates
Valuation and scoresOur models, from the filed figures

How we build and check these figures: methodology and data sources.

People Inc in brief

What does People Inc do?
People Inc is a US-listed company in the publishing industry. Its financial year ends in December.
What is People Inc's stock ticker?
People Inc trades under the ticker PPLI on Nasdaq. This page brings together its financial statements, valuation models, ownership and recent company updates.
What is People Inc's revenue, and how fast is it growing?
Over its most recent trailing twelve months, People Inc reported revenue of $2.4B, 13.8% higher than a year earlier, according to its SEC filings.
What is People Inc's free cash flow?
People Inc's free-cash-flow margin is 5.8% of revenue over the trailing twelve months.
Who are People Inc's largest institutional shareholders?
By value reported in 13F filings for June 30, 2026, the largest reported holders are Blackrock, Inc., Aristeia Capital, L.L.C. and Helikon Investments Ltd. 13F reports cover long US-listed positions of managers above $100M, filed up to 45 days after quarter end.
Is People Inc buying back stock, and does it pay a dividend?
People Inc spent $148M on share repurchases over the trailing twelve months, and its diluted share count fell 6.3% over the year.
What is People Inc's market cap?
On November 2, 2026, People Inc's market capitalisation was about $2.8B and net debt of $104M. Market figures come from third-party market data and may be delayed.
How much debt does People Inc have?
People Inc's debt-to-equity ratio is 32.1%, from its latest balance sheet (29.5% five years earlier). The financial health section below sets out its other solvency checks.
Who are People Inc's competitors?
In our Publishing peer group, the companies closest to People Inc are USA Today Co., Inc., NEW York Times Co, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Scholastic Corp and News Corp (Class A). The side-by-side comparison below sets their revenue, margins and growth against People Inc's.
Are insiders buying or selling People Inc stock?
Over the last 12 months, People Inc's directors and officers reported 3 open-market purchases and 1 sales on Form 4. The insider trading page charts every trade.
When is People Inc's next earnings date?
Around February 1, 2027, estimated from the spacing of its past results announcements (8-K filings). That is an estimate, not a confirmed date — People Inc announces its own schedule.