Alliance Entertainment Reports Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2026 Results

Net revenues increased 21% year-over-year

Net income increased 25% year-over-year to $2.3M; year-to-date net income grew 78% to $16.6M

Adjusted EBITDA increased to $5.1M in Q3; year-to-date Adjusted EBITDA up 47% to $35.7M

PLANTATION, Fla., May 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation (Nasdaq: AENT), a premier distributor, logistics provider, and omnichannel fulfillment partner to the entertainment and pop culture collectibles industry, supplying more than 340,000 unique SKUs across music, video, video games, licensed merchandise, and exclusive collectibles to over 35,000 retail and e-commerce storefronts, reported its financial and operational results for its fiscal third quarter ended March 31, 2026.

Third Quarter FY 2026 Highlights

• Revenue Growth and Sustained Profitability: Net revenues increased 21.2% year-over-year to $258.2 million, driven by broad-based strength across core physical product categories. Net income increased to $2.3 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, compared to $1.9 million, or $0.04 per share, in the prior-year period, reflecting continued execution against the Company’s profitability framework. Adjusted EBITDA was approximately $5.1 million, compared to $4.9 million in Q3 FY25. For the nine months ended March 31, 2026, net revenues increased 5% to $880.9 million, compared to $835.7 million in the prior-year period, while net income increased 78% to $16.6 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, compared to $9.3 million, or $0.18 per share. Adjusted EBITDA was approximately $35.7 million, up 47% from $24.4 million in the prior-year period.

• Launch of Endstate Authentic and Alliance Authentic™: The Company continued to advance its technology strategy following the acquisition of Endstate on December 31, 2025, establishing Endstate Authentic, an NFC-enabled authentication and digital product identity platform that supports authenticated ownership, provenance, and verified resale across premium physical goods. During the quarter, Alliance also launched Alliance Authentic™, representing the Company’s first application of these capabilities within its own product ecosystem, initially focused on premium vinyl collectibles. The platform has since expanded to include additional categories, including Handmade by Robots™ and select third-party collectibles such as Funko figures. These initiatives extend Alliance’s role beyond distribution into ownership and participation across the product lifecycle, while creating a scalable foundation for new authentication, collectibles, and platform revenue opportunities.

• Strength in Physical Media: Vinyl record sales increased 15% year-over-year to $99 million, driven by higher unit volumes and sustained interest in limited-edition releases. Compact disc (CD) sales increased 90% year-over-year to $39 million, reflecting both higher unit volumes and improved pricing, driven by strong demand for major releases and collectible formats, including continued strength in international and K-pop titles. Physical movie sales increased 5% year-over-year to $61 million, supported by a steady cadence of new releases and continued consumer demand for premium formats such as 4K Ultra HD and collectible editions. Performance in the category continued to benefit from the Company’s exclusive studio partnerships, including Paramount and Amazon MGM Studios Distribution, which expanded title availability and supported growth across key retail channels.

• Collectibles Growth Driven by Premium Mix: Collectibles revenue increased 48% year-over-year to $8 million, driven by increased average selling prices and a continued shift toward higher-value, premium products. Growth was supported by expanded sourcing efforts and the addition of new vendor relationships, which contributed incremental sales during the quarter. Performance also benefited from the transition of Handmade by Robots™ to an owned brand, as well as improved margins across certain legacy brands following prior inventory optimization initiatives, reflecting continued progress in enhancing product mix and profitability within the collectibles category.

• Growth in Gaming and Electronics: Gaming revenue increased 12% year-over-year to $33 million, supported by continued demand for next-generation consoles, including the Nintendo Switch II, along with related software and accessories. Electronics revenue increased 53% year-over-year to $4.0 million, driven by higher unit volumes and a favorable mix shift toward higher-priced audio playback devices and accessories, including turntables, CD players, headphones, and speakers. Growth in electronics continued to benefit from strong demand for vinyl and physical media, which drives attachment sales of complementary hardware. Performance in both categories reflects the Company’s ability to align product mix with evolving consumer preferences while capturing incremental demand across hardware and content ecosystems.

• Operating Leverage and Expense Discipline: Total operating expenses improved to 11.5% of net revenue, compared to 12.0% in the prior-year period. Selling, general and administrative expenses improved to 6.5% of net revenue, compared to 6.7% in the prior year, while distribution and fulfillment expenses declined to 4.3% of net revenue, compared to 4.7% in Q3 FY25. The improvement was driven by higher revenue scale, productivity gains, and the Company’s flexible labor model, which continues to support efficient fulfillment operations while enabling targeted investments in infrastructure, technology, and automation to support future growth.

• Balance Sheet and Liquidity Strength: The Company ended the quarter with working capital of approximately $60.0 million, reflecting disciplined management of inventory and payables to support ongoing growth. The Company had approximately $56 million of availability under its revolving credit facility at quarter end, providing ample liquidity and financial flexibility to support working capital needs and strategic initiatives.
  

“Our third quarter results reflect continued strength across our core categories and the operating leverage inherent in our model,” said Jeff Walker, Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Entertainment. “We delivered over 21% revenue growth in the quarter and strong year-to-date earnings expansion, demonstrating that our platform is scaling and that improvements in product mix and cost structure are translating into durable profitability.”

“We are also seeing continued validation of the broader shift toward physical media as a collectible category, where ownership, scarcity, and premium formats are driving collector purchasing behavior,” Walker added. “This trend is increasingly supported by collector-driven discovery and community engagement across social media platforms, particularly among younger consumers who are prioritizing intentional listening, tangible ownership, and long-term value. Our exclusive partnerships and curated assortment position us at the center of that trend, while our direct-to-consumer and platform initiatives are enabling us to capture more value across the lifecycle of each product.”

“During the quarter, we advanced the next phase of our strategy with the launch of Alliance Authentic™, extending our platform into authenticated collectibles,” Walker continued. “Importantly, this represents the first commercial application of Endstate Authentic, our NFC-enabled authentication platform, and extends our role beyond distribution into ownership, provenance, and the full lifecycle of collectible products. Subsequent to quarter end, we further expanded our platform strategy with the relaunch of Movies Unlimited as a curated, collector-focused destination designed to deepen engagement and increase customer lifetime value. Together, these initiatives build on our existing scale to enhance product value, strengthen customer relationships, and create additional long-term growth opportunities.”

Amanda Gnecco, Chief Financial Officer of Alliance Entertainment, said, “We delivered strong financial performance in the third quarter, with revenue up 21% and net income increasing 25% year-over-year. For the first nine months of fiscal year 2026, net income increased 78% to $16.6 million, and Adjusted EBITDA increased 47% to $35.7 million, highlighting the growing earnings power and scalability of our platform.”

“We are seeing clear operating leverage across the business, with operating expenses declining as a percentage of revenue even as we continue to invest in infrastructure, technology, and growth initiatives. At the same time, we maintained a strong liquidity position, ending the quarter with approximately $60 million in working capital and $56 million of availability under our revolving credit facility. With a more efficient cost structure and continued momentum in higher-value categories, we believe we are well positioned to sustain both revenue growth and meaningful earnings expansion.”

Third Quarter FY 2026 Financial Results

• Net revenues for the fiscal third quarter ended March 31, 2026, were $258.2 million, up 21.1% from $213 million in the same period of fiscal 2025.

• Gross profit for the fiscal third quarter ended March 31, 2026, was $33.0 million, up 13.4% from $29.1 million in the same period of fiscal 2025.

• Gross margin for the fiscal third quarter ended March 31, 2026, was 12.8%, compared to 13.6% in the same period of fiscal 2025.

• Net income for the fiscal third quarter ended March 31, 2026, was $2.3 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, up 25.0% from net income of $1.9 million, or $0.04 per diluted share for the same period of fiscal 2025.

• Adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal third quarter ended March 31, 2026, was $5.1 million, up 4.1% from Adjusted EBITDA of $4.9 million for the same period of fiscal 2025.
  

Nine-Months FY 2026 Financial Results

• Net revenues for the nine months ended March 31, 2026, were $880.9 million, up 5.0% from $835.7 million in the same period of fiscal 2025.

• Gross profit for the nine months ended March 31, 2026, was $117.3 million, up 21.0% from $96.9 million in the same period of fiscal 2025.

• Gross margin for the nine months ended March 31, 2026, was 13.3%, up 170 basis points from 11.6% in the same period of fiscal 2025.

• Net income for the nine months ended March 31, 2026, was $16.6 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, up 78% from net income of $9.3 million, or $0.18 per diluted share for the same period of fiscal 2025.

• Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended March 31, 2026, was $35.7 million, up 47% from Adjusted EBITDA of $24.4 million for the same period of fiscal 2025.
  

Conference Call

Alliance Entertainment Chief Executive Officer Jeff Walker, Chief Financial Officer Amanda Gnecco, and Executive Chairman Bruce Ogilvie will host the conference call, which will be followed by a question-and-answer session. A presentation will accompany the call and can be viewed during the webcast or accessed via the investor relations section of the Company’s website here.

To access the call, please use the following information:

Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact RedChip Companies at 1-407-644-4256.

The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay at https://viavid.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1760227&tp_key=0154ad6f3e and via the investor relations section of the Company’s website here.

A telephone replay of the call will be available approximately three hours after the call concludes and can be accessed through June 14, 2026, using the following information:

About Alliance Entertainment

Alliance Entertainment (NASDAQ: AENT) is a premier distributor and fulfillment partner for the entertainment and pop culture collectibles industry. With more than 340,000 unique in-stock SKUs — including over 57,300 exclusive titles across compact discs, vinyl LPs, DVDs, Blu-rays, and video games — Alliance offers the largest selection of physical media in the market. Our vast catalog also includes licensed merchandise, toys, retro gaming products, and collectibles, serving over 35,000 retail locations and powering e-commerce fulfillment for leading retailers. Alliance also owns and operates proprietary collectibles brands, including Handmade by Robots™, a stylized vinyl figure line featuring licensed characters from leading entertainment franchises, and Alliance Authentic™, a premium platform for authentic, certified, and individually numbered entertainment collectibles. In addition, Alliance operates Endstate Authentic, a dedicated NFC-enabled authentication and digital product identity platform supporting authenticated collectibles, resale, and brand protection. Leveraging decades of operational expertise, exclusive sourcing relationships, and a capital-light, scalable infrastructure, Alliance connects fans and collectors to the products, franchises, and experiences they value across formats and generations. For more information, visit www.aent.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this Press Release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding estimates and forecasts of other financial and performance metrics and projections of market opportunity. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether identified in this Press Release, and on the current expectations of Alliance’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as and must not be relied on by an investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction, or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Alliance. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including risks relating to the anticipated growth rates and market opportunities; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the ability of Alliance to execute its business model, including market acceptance of its systems and related services; Alliance’s reliance on a concentration of suppliers for its products and services; increases in Alliance’s costs, disruption of supply, or shortage of products and materials; Alliance’s dependence on a concentration of customers, and failure to add new customers or expand sales to Alliance’s existing customers; increased Alliance inventory and risk of obsolescence; Alliance’s significant amount of indebtedness; our ability to refinance our existing indebtedness; our ability to continue as a going concern absent access to sources of liquidity; risks that a breach of the revolving credit facility could result in the lender declaring a default and that the full outstanding amount under the revolving credit facility could be immediately due in full, which would have severe adverse consequences for the Company; known or future litigation and regulatory enforcement risks, including the diversion of time and attention and the additional costs and demands on Alliance’s resources; Alliance’s business being adversely affected by increased inflation, uncertainty regarding tariffs, higher interest rates and other adverse economic, business, and/or competitive factors; geopolitical risk and changes in applicable laws or regulations; as well as our financial condition and results of operations; substantial regulations, which are evolving, and unfavorable changes or failure by Alliance to comply with these regulations; product liability claims, which could harm Alliance’s financial condition and liquidity if Alliance is not able to successfully defend or insure against such claims; availability of additional capital to support business growth; and the inability of Alliance to develop and maintain effective internal controls.

For investor inquiries, please contact:

Dave Gentry
RedChip Companies, Inc.
1-800-REDCHIP (733-2447)
1-407-644-4256
AENT@redchip.com

Non-GAAP Financial Measures: For the three months ended March 31, 2026, we had non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $5.1 million compared with Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $4.9 million in the prior year period, or a year-over-year improvement of $0.2 million. For the nine months ended March 31, 2026, we had non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $35.7 million compared with Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $24.4 million in the prior year period, or a year-over-year improvement of $11.3 million. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) adjusted to exclude: (i) income tax expense; (ii) interest expense; (iii) depreciation and amortization; (iv) changes in the fair value of warrant liabilities; and (v) other non-recurring or non-cash items, including transaction costs and stock-based compensation. Our method of calculating Adjusted EBITDA may differ from other companies and accordingly, this measure may not be comparable to measures used by other companies. We use Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate our own operating performance and as an integral part of our planning process. We present Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure because we believe such a measure is useful to investors as a reasonable indicator of operating performance. We believe this measure is a financial metric used by many investors to compare companies. This measure is not a recognized measure of financial performance under GAAP in the United States and should not be considered as a substitute for operating earnings (losses), net earnings (loss) from continuing operations or cash flows from operating activities, as determined in accordance with GAAP. See the table below for a reconciliation, for the periods presented, of our GAAP net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA.