---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001880613-26-000057"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "DRCT"
cik: "0001880613"
company_name: "Direct Digital Holdings, Inc."
filed_at: "2026-05-11T12:35:31+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-11T18:35:54.838433+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Direct Digital Q1 revenue $6.7M (-18% YoY); net loss $5.6M

## Summary
- Revenue of $6.7M, down 18% YoY from $8.2M, driven by $2.0M drop in DSP spend.
- Gross profit $2.3M (34% margin) vs $2.4M (29%) in Q1 2025.
- Operating loss improved to $3.3M from $3.9M; net loss narrowed to $5.6M from $5.9M.
- Adjusted EBITDA loss improved to $2.6M from $3.0M in prior year.
- Cash $0.8M as of March 31, 2026; conference call set for May 11 at 11:00 AM ET.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001880613-26-000057
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: DRCT
- cik: 0001880613
- company_name: Direct Digital Holdings, Inc.
- filed_at: 2026-05-11T12:35:31+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1880613/000188061326000057/0001880613-26-000057-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1880613/000188061326000057/drct-20260511.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001880613-26-000057
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001880613-26-000057.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001880613-26-000057.txt

## Key facts
- Earnings Releases
  Direct Digital Holdings, Inc. reported three months ended March 31, 2026 results: revenue $6.7 million, net income Net loss was $5.6 million.
  - Period: three months ended March 31, 2026
  - Revenue: $6.7 million
  - Net income: Net loss was $5.6 million
  - Result: reported results
  source text: • Revenue of $6.7 million decreased 18% compared to $8.2 million in the first quarter of 2025. The decrease in revenue was driven primarily by a $2.0 million decrease in spending by demand side platform (“DSP”) customers during the first quarter of 2026. • Gross profit was $2.3 million, or 34% of revenue, compared to $2.4 million, or 29% of revenue, in the first quarter of 2025. • Operating expenses of $5.5 million decreased 13% compared to $6.3 million in the first quarter of 2025. • Operating loss was $3.3 million, compared to $3.9 million in the first quarter of 2025. • Net loss was $5.6 million compared to net loss of $5.9 million in the first quarter of 2025.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1880613/000188061326000057/0001880613-26-000057-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.