Kakao Corp. (A035720) Earnings Call Transcripts

Kakao Corp.'s Latest Earnings Call - Q1 FY2026

In the first quarter of 2026, Kakao Corp. reported consolidated revenue of KRW 1,942.1 billion, reflecting an 11% year-over-year increase, marking a return to double-digit growth for the first time in eight quarters. Operating profit surged 66% year-over-year to KRW 211 billion, with an operating margin improvement to 11%. Management maintained its annual guidance, citing strong growth in the platform business, particularly in Talk Biz and Kakao Pay, despite some anticipated impacts from regulatory changes in the taxi sector.

Reported metrics

Guidance from management

Management expects solid revenue trends in the second quarter, driven by the platform business, and maintains its annual guidance, projecting continued growth in Talk Biz and Kakao Pay despite some regulatory impacts.

What management said

[Interpreted] Hello. I'm Jeffrey from Kakao IR. We'll now begin Kakao's 2026 First Quarter Earnings Conference Call. Today, I am joined by Shina Chung, the CEO; and Jayden Shin, the CFO. Please be reminded that the earnings results are consolidated estimates under the K-IFRS basis and are subject to change upon the auditor's review. Also, forward-looking estimates are based on assumptions, so actual results may diffe...

What analysts pressed on

Analysts expressed concerns regarding the slower-than-expected user base expansion for AI services and the potential impact of regulatory changes on revenue. There is also apprehension about sustaining growth in the advertising segment amid high base effects in the second half of the year.

Main topics on the call

• AI Service Rollout Strategy — Kakao is adopting a phased approach to the rollout of its AI services, which has resulted in slower-than-expected user base expansion. CEO Shina Chung stated, "We wanted to secure user retention and provide more complete...
• Advertising Revenue Growth — Kakao's advertising revenue structure has diversified, with display ads now accounting for 30% of total Talk Biz display ad revenue, up from 10% a year ago. The company expects solid double-digit growth in Talk Biz adver...
• Agentic AI Platform Development — Kakao is focused on developing its agentic AI platform, with plans to onboard 31 million users by year-end. The CEO emphasized that the company is "already ahead of others in securing the necessary technologies" to captu...
• Content Consumption Trends — KakaoTalk has seen a significant increase in video and feed content consumption, which is evolving the platform beyond messaging. The average daily valid views have more than doubled since the service launch, indicating ...

Read the full Kakao Corp. transcript (Q1 FY2026) → Summary generated from the call transcript; every figure above is stated by management on the record.

Earnings Call History

EarningsCalls.dev has 23 Kakao Corp. earnings call transcripts on record, spanning February 13, 2020 to May 7, 2026. Based on this history, Kakao Corp. reports quarterly. The most recent call on file is dated May 7, 2026. The full list is below — each row opens the complete, free-to-read transcript.

Ticker

A035720

Exchange

KOSE

Country

KR

Sector

Communication Services

Industry

Interactive Media and Services

Calls on record

23

First call

February 13, 2020

Most recent

May 7, 2026

Reporting cadence

quarterly