Edenred EBITDA guidance improves as AI plan shows early gains

Edenred raised its 2026 EBITDA guidance after first-half results came in ahead of its earlier expectations, the company said in a Thursday press release. The employee benefits, fleet and corporate payments group now expects EBITDA to decline by 7% to 10% this year, compared with a previous forecast for an 8% to 12% drop.

The French company, which operates digital platforms across 44 countries, also reaffirmed its outlook for EBITDA growth of 8% to 12% in both 2027 and 2028. Chairman and CEO Bertrand Dumazy said the expected 2026 decline remains linked to regulatory changes in Brazil and Italy, while describing first-half performance as stronger than anticipated.

Dumazy said in the release that Edenred continued to record growth in business volume in Brazil and Italy despite the regulatory reset, which he said showed the resilience of the company’s offer. He also pointed to double-digit growth in Edenred’s mobility business.

What is Edenred's EBITDA guidance?

Edenred’s latest guidance is for EBITDA to fall 7% to 10% in 2026, a narrower decline than the 8% to 12% range it previously projected. EBITDA, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, is a commonly used measure of operating profitability before financing, tax and certain accounting costs.

The company’s guidance update gives investors a clearer view of how management expects regulatory pressure to affect earnings this year. Edenred did not change its medium-term EBITDA growth expectations for 2027 and 2028, according to the release.

How Edenred says Amplify 25-28 is contributing

Edenred attributed part of the first-half progress to the early rollout of Amplify 25-28, a strategic plan announced in November. The plan is built around the company’s digital platform, data and artificial intelligence investment, a global efficiency program and continued adjustments to its product portfolio, according to Edenred.

In the first half, Edenred said generative engine optimization contributed to a 10% increase in new small and medium-sized business clients signed. The company also said it has been using agentic AI to redesign its lead-to-order process, which it said increased SMB acquisition at a lower cost.

Dumazy said in the Thursday release that spending on data and AI, efficiency measures and further portfolio rationalization are intended to lift performance under the Amplify 25-28 plan. In November, he said the company aimed to use data and AI to attract more clients, expand the number and value of solutions sold to them, and increase activity across its user base.

Edenred also cited its acquisition of TMH Solutions in Germany as a step that strengthened its electric vehicle offering. The company did not disclose financial terms for that acquisition in the release.

What Edenred does

Edenred provides digital tools for employee benefits, mobility and corporate payments. Its employee services include meal vouchers, commuting benefits, gift cards, wellness offers, rewards and preferential offers, according to the company.

For fleet managers, Edenred’s products include electric vehicle charging, maintenance services, VAT refund services, tolls and parking. In corporate payments, the company offers products including virtual cards.

The group said its mobile applications, online platforms and cards connect 60 million users with products and services from 2 million partner merchants. That network gives Edenred a large base for applying data, AI and merchant monetization initiatives described in its Amplify 25-28 plan.

This story draws on original reporting from PYMNTS.