New York, Feb 6, 2026, 05:13 EST — Premarket trading underway.
- Roblox shares were marked roughly 15% higher in premarket action.
- Looking ahead to 2026, the company projected bookings in the range of $8.3 billion to $8.6 billion, with free cash flow expected to reach up to roughly $1.8 billion.
- Investors are balancing rapid user growth with rising costs for safety, servers, and developer payments.
Roblox shares jumped 15.3% to $69.84 in premarket trading Friday, following the videogame platform’s 2026 outlook, which surpassed Wall Street expectations.
This move is crucial as Roblox aims to prove to investors that strong engagement growth can drive lasting revenue, despite ongoing heavy spending on safety and infrastructure. The stock looks poised for a significant gap at the open, though such gaps often fail to hold.
Much of the discussion again centers on “bookings” — a measure of user spending on virtual currency, subscriptions, and similar items. These figures can outpace reported revenue since purchases get recognized over time.
Roblox projects fiscal 2026 bookings between $8.28 billion and $8.55 billion, beating analysts’ $7.87 billion estimates, per LSEG data. CFO Naveen Chopra noted that forecasting remains tricky due to “the virality of content,” which can cause swings in results. The company also signaled margins will hold steady or dip slightly as it ramps up spending on safety, servers, and creator payouts. Reuters
A recent filing revealed Roblox’s 2026 revenue forecast sits between $6.019 billion and $6.290 billion, with free cash flow expected to range from $1.598 billion to $1.816 billion. The company also projects first-quarter bookings between $1.69 billion and $1.74 billion. For the December quarter, Roblox posted bookings of $2.222 billion and revenue of $1.415 billion, alongside free cash flow of $307 million.
Roblox is still forecasting a net loss in 2026, but the company is pushing its cash-flow target hard in the pitch. It wants investors to zero in on cash generation and operating leverage as it continues developing the platform.
Roblox informed investors that 2026 will be its final year offering full-year guidance. Starting in 2027, the company plans to shift to quarterly updates, shifting focus toward engagement and spending on a quarter-by-quarter basis rather than the annual picture.
Safety is still a pressing concern. The company has introduced age-check and similar features, acknowledging they cause some short-term friction. At the same time, regulators and policymakers continue to tighten scrutiny on platforms popular with children.
That said, the business remains highly sensitive to whatever trends catch on within its ecosystem. If viral hits lose steam or expenses spike—particularly in areas like trust-and-safety and infrastructure—the stock’s gains after earnings might evaporate just as fast.
