Executive Summary

FuboTV (NYSE: FUBO) is undergoing a massive transformation in early 2026 following its strategic combination with Disney’s Hulu + Live TV operations. According to recent financial disclosures, the company reported Q1 2026 revenue of $1.54 billion—a significant surge driven by the merger—but missed earnings per share (EPS) estimates due to heavy integration costs. Trending data indicates this topic is surging with over Unknown traffic searches, reflecting intense investor scrutiny over the company’s planned reverse stock split and its new status as a dominant North American streaming aggregator.

The Disney-Hulu Combination: A New Streaming Giant

Sources indicate that the landscape of live sports streaming shifted fundamentally in January 2025 when Disney agreed to merge its Hulu + Live TV service with Fubo’s operations. This deal, which effectively ended the contentious antitrust lawsuit regarding the “Venu Sports” joint venture, has positioned Fubo as the operational lead of a combined entity with significant scale.

According to reporting from various financial outlets, the new structure involves Disney shareholders holding a majority stake (approximately 70%) while Fubo manages the day-to-day operations of the combined platform. This consolidation was designed to create a “consumer-first” live TV giant capable of competing with YouTube TV. For Canadian and U.S. subscribers, this move signals a potential streamlining of services, though the integration process has proven costly in the short term.

Q1 2026 Financial Performance: Revenue Scale vs. Integration Costs

In its fiscal Q1 2026 report released on February 3, Fubo posted mixed results that sparked market volatility. While top-line growth was explosive due to the inclusion of Hulu + Live TV assets, profitability remains a challenge.

• Revenue Surge: North American revenue hit $1.543 billion, beating analyst consensus estimates significantly. This represents a massive leap from the prior year, validating the scale of the combined entity.
• Earnings Miss: The company reported an EPS loss of $0.02, missing the street consensus of a $0.02 profit. Analysts attribute this miss to $36.8 million in one-time transaction and litigation expenses related to the merger.
• Subscriber Base: The combined entity reported ending the quarter with 6.2 million North American subscribers, solidifying its position as a top-tier vMVPD (virtual Multichannel Video Programming Distributor).

Strategic Adjustments: Reverse Split and Market Outlook

Following the earnings report, Fubo’s stock experienced significant volatility, dropping over 25% in pre-market trading on February 3 before seeing a partial recovery later in the month. To stabilize its share price and ensure continued listing compliance, management has announced plans for a reverse stock split, with ratios estimated between 1-for-8 and 1-for-12.

Financial filings reveal that despite the immediate earnings miss, the company’s cash position is robust, with nearly $460 million on hand. The “bull case” for Fubo now rests on its ability to synergize the Hulu and Fubo tech stacks, strip out redundant corporate costs (estimated at $14 million in quarterly savings), and leverage its massive 6.2 million subscriber base for better ad monetization.

FAQ

Q: Why did Fubo stock drop after the Q1 2026 earnings report?
A: Despite beating revenue targets, Fubo missed earnings per share (EPS) estimates due to high transaction costs associated with the Disney/Hulu merger. Additionally, the announcement of a reverse stock split often triggers short-term negative sentiment among retail investors.

Q: Is Fubo still a standalone company?
A: Fubo remains a publicly traded company (NYSE: FUBO), but it now operates as a joint entity where Disney shareholders own approximately 70% of the venture following the Hulu + Live TV combination. Fubo management runs the operations.

Q: How does this affect Canadian subscribers?
A: The merger strengthens Fubo’s content library and financial stability in North America. While specific Canadian plan changes haven’t been detailed recently, the operational scale allows Fubo to secure better content deals, such as the recent addition of NBCUniversal FAST channels to Canadian plans.