Spotify Shares Tank As Earnings Outlook Misses Expectations

BreakingBusinessSpotify Shares Tank As Earnings Outlook Misses ExpectationsByConor Murray,Forbes Staff. Murray is a Forbes news reporter covering entertainment trends.Follow AuthorApr 28, 2026, 09:41am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.ToplineSpotify shares dropped as much as 12% early Tuesday after the leading streaming service reported its first quarter earnings, which included a forecast for Q2 that is below analysts’ expectations despite the platform adding subscribers and boosting revenue in the first months of 2026.Spotify shares fell early Tuesday. (Photo Illustration by Piotr Swat/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesKey FactsSpotify shares are down more than 10% as of 9 a.m. EST in premarket trading, though the stock price fell as much as 12% after the Swedish streaming company reported its first quarter earnings.The company projected operating income of €630 million ($736 million) for the second quarter of 2026, below analysts’ expectations, which Reuters reported stood at €684 million (nearly $800 million).The streaming service projects it will total 299 million paid subscribers as of Q2 2026, which Reuters reported is below analysts’ expectations of about 302 million subscribers.Spotify shares have declined throughout the year, shedding about 15% in value as of Monday’s close price. if (!window.cnxel) { window.cnxel = {}; window.cnxel.cmd = []; var iframe = document.createElement('iframe'); iframe.style.display = 'none'; iframe.onload = function() { var iframeDoc = iframe.contentWindow.document; var script = iframeDoc.createElement('script'); script.src = '//cd.elements.video/player.js?cid=62cec241-7d09-4462-afc2-f72f8d8ef40a'; script.setAttribute('defer', '1'); script.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript'); iframeDoc.body.appendChild(script); }; document.head.appendChild(iframe); const preloadResourcesEndpoint = 'https://c...