Key highlights

  • Vista Group reported 1H26 Revenue of $86.3 million, up 12%, with ARR of $170.1 million, up 17%.
  • 2026 revenue guidance was raised to $179–184 million from $176–182 million, with EBITDA Margin on track at 18–20%.
  • Contracted Enterprise Market Share rose from 46% to 48%.

During the Trading session on 21 October 2026, Vista Group International Ltd (ASX:VGL) was priced at $2.16, down 2.70%. The S&P/ASX 200 Info Tech [XIJ] traded at 1,614.00 (−3.38%, −56.50 points) and the S&P/ASX 200 [XJO] at 8,811.10 (−0.066%, −5.80 points) at 3:12 pm GMT+11. In US trading on Tuesday, the Dow rose 1.02% to 52,495.88 and the S&P 500 added 0.28% to 7,712.57, while the Nasdaq Composite eased roughly 0.02% to 26,424.82 as some large technology names declined on a reassessment of valuations and coming earnings. Vista Group is an Auckland-based provider of software for the global film industry, including cinema management and cloud platforms.

What Vista Group does

Vista Group International Limited provides software to cinemas, film distributors and studios, including cinema management systems, the Vista Cloud platform, data and audience solutions, and the Vista Payments embedded payments product. It is listed on both the NZX and ASX and is based in Auckland.

1H26 financial results

In a release dated 3 August 2026 for the six months to 30 June 2026, Vista Group reported total revenue of $86.3 million, up 12%, with Recurring Revenue of $80.1 million, up 14%, and SaaS revenue of $43.5 million, up 38%. ARR was $170.1 million, up 17% from 30 June 2025. EBITDA was $12.4 million, up 24%, and the foreign-exchange-adjusted EBITDA margin was 13.8%, up from 11.9%. Operating Cash Flow increased 25% to $9.2 million, after adjusting for a $6.8 million favourable Working Capital movement.

Customers and operations

Contracted Enterprise Market Share expanded from 46% to 48% after Cinemex returned with 312 sites. Vista Cloud agreements were signed with Cinépolis Mexico (504 sites), Cineworld (88 sites) and Cineplexx (59 sites). The company reported that 37% of sites are contracted to Operational Excellence and 44% to the Vista Cloud Platform. Vista Payments has more than $2 million of contracted ARR, with 11 clients live at 30 June 2026.

Guidance and industry backdrop

Vista raised 2026 revenue guidance to $179–184 million from $176–182 million, citing first-half performance and favourable foreign exchange. EBITDA margin guidance remains 18–20% for FY26, and free cash flow is expected to be neutral in 2H26. The release also notes that domestic box office in 1H26 was up 15% year on year and that second-half activity includes six Franchise tentpoles.

Sector context

Technology shares are being assessed against Earnings and valuations. During the session, the S&P/ASX 200 Info Tech index was at 1,614.00, down 3.38%, and the broader S&P/ASX 200 was at 8,811.10. In the United States, the Nasdaq is described as sensitive to corporate earnings and forward guidance and to artificial intelligence infrastructure spending. Cinema software providers are exposed to box office conditions, exhibitor technology spending and currency movements, and the company’s guidance upgrade refers to favourable foreign exchange.

Risks and uncertainties

Part of the guidance upgrade reflects favourable foreign exchange, which can reverse. Free cash flow is expected to be neutral in the second half, so cash generation depends on timing of cloud migration costs. Results depend on box office conditions, exhibitor Investment and the speed of Vista Cloud adoption, and the first-half margin of 13.8% was below the full-year 18–20% target.

Catalysts to watch

Items to watch include second-half cloud site go-lives, the Operational Excellence target, box office results, Vista Payments growth and the full-year result against the raised guidance.

Final word

Vista Group’s 3 August 2026 release recorded higher revenue, ARR and margin and raised guidance. The full-year result will show how the second half compares.