New York, February 2, 2026, 15:29 EST — Regular session
- NIQ shares dropped almost 10% following a filing that revealed the COO’s resignation and reaffirmed the company’s guidance
- Company announced it won’t fill the COO position; responsibilities will move to the CEO and leadership team
- Attention shifts to the upcoming quarterly report and any revisions to the 2026 outlook
NIQ Global Intelligence plc (NYSE: NIQ) shares dropped 9.9% to $15.31 in Monday’s mid-afternoon session. The decline came after the company announced its chief operating officer would be stepping down and reiterated its guidance for Q4 and the full year ending December 31, 2025. (SEC)
This news is significant as the company approaches its next earnings report, with investors still adjusting to its status as a newly public stock and keeping an eye on whether management remains steady through year-end. In this environment, even a slight sign of execution risk can trigger sharp moves in lightly traded shares, particularly with guidance looming.
U.S. stocks gained broadly, making NIQ’s decline more noticeable amid the rally. The S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite, and Dow all rose roughly 0.7% to 1% in late trading. (Reuters)
In the filing, NIQ said Tracey Massey informed the company on January 30 that she would step down for personal reasons, stressing the decision wasn’t related to any disputes over operations, policies, or practices. The company added it won’t fill the COO position, with Jim Peck and the executive leadership team taking on those duties. Massey will continue as an adviser to the CEO until September 30, 2026.
NIQ outlined the terms of a transition and separation agreement related to Massey’s exit, which includes a severance payout of roughly $1.94 million spread over 12 months after the separation date, plus salary and benefits maintained until then.
Looking ahead, NIQ stuck to the guidance it put out with its Q3 results back in November. It had boosted its 2025 forecast then, aiming for 5.5% to 5.6% organic constant-currency revenue growth—that’s revenue growth excluding currency fluctuations and acquisitions. The company also targeted an adjusted EBITDA margin around 22% and expected free cash flow to roughly break even for the year. “Our raised 2025 guidance calls for Q4 to be another strong quarter,” CFO Mike Burwell said in that statement. (Q4Cdn)
NIQ provides consumer shopping and market-measurement data to brands, retailers, and other clients, positioning itself as a tool to improve pricing, promotion, and product strategies across various categories and regions. After merging with GfK, the company now claims a presence in over 90 countries. (Nielseniq)
The company launched its U.S. IPO in July 2025, with backing from Advent International and KKR. (Reuters)
Management shake-ups can unsettle investors, even if companies emphasize stability. Traders will watch closely for any strain on daily operations as the CEO takes on the COO’s duties, and for shifts—positive or negative—in the outlook when NIQ reports.
NIQ is set to report earnings on February 12, per Nasdaq data. Investors will be focused on the updated 2026 outlook and any new changes in leadership ahead of the release. (Nasdaq)
