Appier (エイピア) [Q1 FY2026 Financial Results Announcement] Agent-based AI Drives Revenue and Profit Beyond Targets

Appier Group Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Chih-Han Yu; TSE Prime: 4180; hereinafter "Appier") today announced its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026. The deployment of agent-based AI has been a major driving force behind our growth.

Appier Group (4180)

Q1 FY2026 Performance Highlights

Gross profit increased by 35.9% year-on-year to ¥6.5 billion, and the gross profit margin rose from 51.4% to 53.9% (54.7% based on assumed exchange rates).

Revenue increased by 29.4% year-on-year to ¥12.1 billion, reaching the upper end of the performance forecast range. This is the highest Q1 revenue ever, significantly exceeding targets.

Revenue in the US and EMEA increased by 49% year-on-year, Northeast Asia grew steadily by 28% year-on-year from a high base, and Southeast Asia grew fourfold, accelerating global growth momentum. By industry, e-commerce increased by over 35% year-on-year, and other internet services, including the travel sector (such as Trip.com and Omio, as featured in recent customer case studies), increased by over 40% year-on-year, both contributing significantly to growth.

Operating income increased by 153% year-on-year to ¥185 million, with the operating income margin expanding to 1.5% (¥418 million, up 473% year-on-year, with an operating income margin of 3.5% based on assumed exchange rates).

Strong Q1 performance exceeding our forecasts provides a solid foundation, with Q2 revenue expected to be ¥12.5 billion to ¥12.7 billion, an upward revision from initial forecasts, indicating a pace exceeding plans.

Strong Q1 results driven by agent-based AI, achieving structural profitability expansion

Our sales strategy focused on key industries and important customers, along with the deployment of scalable agent-based AI solutions, proved successful, leading to a strong expansion in Q1 profitability. Furthermore, by applying agent-based AI to internal operations, operating leverage has also improved. Both revenue and operating income surpassed initial plans, establishing a strong foundation for profit expansion from Q2 onwards.

Growth momentum is accelerating with expansion in key regions and industries. The US and Europe (20% of revenue composition) surged by 49% year-on-year, while Northeast Asia (70% of revenue composition) grew steadily by 28% year-on-year from a high base. Southeast Asia saw an astonishing fourfold increase year-on-year.

By industry, e-commerce grew by over 35% year-on-year, and other internet services, including the travel sector (featuring Trip.com and Omio in recent customer case studies), grew by over 40% year-on-year. Momentum is building among high-value customer segments across diverse industries and regions, achieving revenue growth rates significantly above the company average.

As a global AI-native company, strengthening operating leverage with agent-based AI

Operating income increased by 153% year-on-year to ¥185 million, with the operating income margin expanding to 1.5%. Based on assumed exchange rates, operating income was ¥418 million, a 473% increase year-on-year, with the operating income margin significantly growing to 3.5%.

This strong performance underscores continuous profitable growth and the steady success of AI-driven operational efficiency improvements. As our company transitions to an "autonomous organization," initiatives to automate with agent-based AI have led to dramatic productivity gains across departments, resulting in a 27% year-on-year increase in gross profit per employee. We have simultaneously expanded revenue and global presence while maintaining headcount. This acceleration in structural profitability improvement symbolizes the efficiency of our AI-native business model.

Customer churn rate reached a 7-quarter low of 0.275%. This reflects the strong continuity and high customer retention of our agent-based AI solutions. The ratio of recurring revenue increased to over 95% of total revenue, further solidifying the foundation for improved customer loyalty and scalable long-term growth.

Average revenue per customer (ARPC) also showed strong momentum, increasing by 15% year-on-year (excluding the impact of exchange rate fluctuations). This represents significant growth compared to the 10% increase in the previous year.

Appier is the only Japanese-listed company selected in "Gartner® Product Leader Insight: Leverage AI-Native Startups for Cost-Effective Innovation, 1 May 2026" in the AI-native applications and solutions category. This selection highlights a series of technologies supporting the latest AI.