Plby Group Inc

Playboy has joined the small-cap Russell 2000 Index and the broad-market Russell 3000 Index, effective as of the opening of U.S. equity markets on Monday, June 29, 2026. The inclusion follows five consecutive quarters of positive adjusted EBITDA and renewed operating momentum. Membership in the Russell 3000 Index, which captures up to the 4,000 largest U.S. stocks by market capitalization as of April 30, 2026, means automatic inclusion in the Russell 2000 Index. CEO Ben Kohn stated that the addition reflects meaningful progress in strengthening operating performance and the balance sheet, and is expected to increase visibility among institutional investors, broaden the shareholder base, and enhance trading liquidity. Approximately $12.2 trillion in assets were benchmarked against Russell US indexes as of the end of June 2025.

Playboy has agreed to repurchase Fortress Investment Group's entire stake of about 16.6 million shares at $1.05 per share, a 28% discount to market value, for roughly $17.4 million. The buyback covers nearly 15% of Playboy's outstanding shares and will be completed through scheduled payments by the end of 2026. Playboy said the transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to earnings per share and provides Fortress with an orderly exit from its position. Shares of Playboy jumped 10% to $1.45 in premarket trading.

Playboy Group is repositioning as an asset-light brand platform built on high-margin licensing and a rebuilt Honey Birdette direct-to-consumer business, management told investors this week. The company has posted five consecutive quarters of positive adjusted EBITDA and recently sold half its China business for roughly $112 million, posting its first quarterly profit since its 2021 Nasdaq listing. As part of the strategy, Playboy plans to open a new Playboy Club in Miami Beach and relocate its headquarters from Los Angeles. Shares have risen 12% over the last six weeks.