08/10/2026
q.beyond accelerates AI transformation
- Q2 2026: Adjusted EBITDA margin of 6% at previous year’s level
- New outlook for 2026 accounts for one-off transformation expenses of around
€ 5 million to€ 6 million - Share buybacks planned from end of August
Cologne, 10 August 2026. The resilient business model of IT services provider q.beyond, with its high share of recurring revenues and clear sector focus, proved its worth once again in the second quarter of 2026 despite ongoing massive reluctance on the part of German SMEs to make capital investments. In parallel, the widespread deployment of artificial intelligence is providing access to significantly greater efficiency potential within the company than originally planned. In view of this, q.beyond is accelerating its AI transformation and consistently aligning the organisation to the new technological and macroeconomic conditions.
Thies Rixen, q.beyond’s CEO, explains: “We now have the opportunity to make even greater use of the potential harboured by AI, market this expertise, and thus position ourselves as the leading AI operating partner for European SMEs.” This accelerated AI transformation requires one-off expenses of around
Operating earnings prior to transformation at previous year’s level
Excluding the initial transformation-related provision of
Nora Wolters, q.beyond’s CFO, points to the success of the company’s strategic alignment: “Our consult-to-operate approach is paying off in a challenging climate. As planned, in the first stage we are increasing revenues and earnings in the Consulting business.” Once the economy regains momentum, this will generate increasing leads for new Managed Services orders. q.beyond is already seeing its first sales success, which is a direct consequence of the steps taken to realign sales activities.
Next stage of AI transformation should sustainably improve earnings from 2027
For Nora Wolters, the current reluctance on the part of companies to invest offers a further reason to act now to accelerate the AI transformation: “The current structures no longer fit market circumstances. With the assistance of AI, we now have the opportunity to make our organisational structures fit for the future.” To this end, in the months ahead the company will cut jobs, above all in the Managed Services business and in its administration.
The accelerated AI transformation and associated one-off expenses have impacted on the company’s full-year outlook, as has the ongoing unwillingness of German SMEs to invest. The company now expects to generate revenues of between
Thies Rixen stresses: “We will show absolute determination in pursuing our 2028 Strategy.” By taking over a majority stake in the SAP healthcare specialist GITG AG and establishing a new location in Romania, q.beyond has already achieved major milestones in implementing this strategy. In the months ahead, the focus will be above all on expanding the AI portfolio. Since the third quarter of 2026, q.beyond has been marketing AI-assisted automated business processes to third parties as well.
Net liquidity of
A further key pillar of the 2028 Strategy involves optimising the allocation of capital. The Management Board has repeatedly stressed that buying treasury shares offers a particularly attractive possibility of using available funds to create additional value. The statutory six-month period following the entry in the Commercial Register of the orderly capital reduction approved by an Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting at the end of January 2026 is due to expire on 17 August 2026. This means that the key conditions for an approach of this nature will have been met. Subject to resolutions adopted by the Management and Supervisory Boards, q.beyond will be able to act from this time onwards. The company’s net liquidity of
Key figures at a glance
| € million | Q2 2026 | Q2 2025 | H1 2026 | H1 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues | 43.0 | 44.4 | 85.9 | 90.8 |
| - Managed Services | 27.0 | 29.2 | 54.5 | 60.8 |
| - Consulting | 16.0 | 15.2 | 31.3 | 30.0 |
| Gross profit | 8.4 | 8.7 | 16.0 | 17.7 |
| - Managed Services | 4.2 | 6.5 | 9.2 | 13.4 |
| - Consulting | 4.2 | 2.3 | 6.8 | 4.3 |
| EBITDA | 1.6 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 5.1 |
| EBIT | (0.9) | 0.2 | (1.7) | (0.2) |
| Consolidated net income | (0.9) | 0.0 | (2.0) | (0.4) |
| Free cash flow | (1.6) | 1.1 | (1.0) | 1.9 |
| Net liquidity at 30 June | 41.0 | 39.6 | ||
| Equity ratio at 30 June | 70% | 68% | ||
| Employees at 30 June | 1,133 | 1,151 |
Notes:
This Corporate News contains forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations and forecasts on the part of the management with regard to future events. Due to risks or erroneous assumptions, actual results may deviate materially from these forward-looking statements. The complete Half-Year Financial Statement is available at www.qbeyond.de/investor-relations.
About q.beyond AG:
q.beyond is the leading IT partner for SMEs. We solve the technological challenges our European customers face and make their business models fit for the future. This way, we sustainably enhance our customers’ business value. We do so by implementing sovereign IT solutions and drawing on our proprietary, certified AI data centres. Our strong team of more than 1,000 specialists combines sector expertise with technical excellence. Core focuses of our activities include public and private clouds, operating business-critical applications based on Microsoft and SAP technologies, artificial intelligence, and IT security. Publicly listed, q.beyond is present across Germany and has locations in Latvia, Spain, Romania, India, and the USA.
Contact
q.beyond AG
Arne Thull
Head of Investor Relations/Mergers & Acquisitions
T +49 221 669 8724
invest@qbeyond.de
