Shopify Inc (TSX:SH., NYSE:SHOP) shares fell sharply on Wednesday, dropping 13.5% after the company reported mixed first quarter 2026 results that paired strong revenue growth with a sizeable loss and guidance that largely met expectations rather than exceeding them.
For the quarter ended March 31, Shopify reported revenue of $3.17 billion, up 34% year over year and ahead of analyst expectations of $3.09 billion.
Adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.36, also ahead of estimates of roughly $0.32.
Despite the beat on revenue and adjusted earnings, investor sentiment weakened after the company posted a GAAP net loss of $581 million, or $0.45 per share, compared with expectations for a smaller loss or potential profit.
Gross merchandise volume (GMV) reached $100.74 billion, exceeding the $98.56 billion forecast.
The company also reported free cash flow of $476 million, up from $363 million a year earlier, with a free cash flow margin of 15%, unchanged year over year.
“Shopify has entered the AI era with a clear edge: strong, durable growth and two decades of commerce intelligence,” President Harley Finkelstein said in the earnings release. “That puts us in a category of one, and we’re about to see that advantage compound throughout 2026.”
Chief Financial Officer Jeff Hoffmeister highlighted broad-based growth across the platform. “Q1 delivered broad-based growth across geographies, merchant sizes, and channels, with over $100 billion of GMV in the first quarter alone,” he said. “That is the platform compounding.”
Looking ahead, Shopify said it expects second quarter revenue to grow at a high-twenties percentage rate year over year, with gross profit dollars rising in the mid-twenties range.
Operating expenses are projected to be 35% to 36% of revenue, while free cash flow margin is expected to remain in the mid-teens.
The company also guided to stock-based compensation of approximately $145 million for the quarter.