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ACI Worldwide, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 2 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue fell on renewal timing: Total revenue was $427 million, down 12% (11% in constant currency), attributed primarily to the timing of this year's license renewals. Year-to-date revenue was $1.3 billion, in line with last year. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 43%: Adjusted EBITDA was $98 million, down 43% (42% in constant currency). Net adjusted EBITDA margin was 35%, against 49%. Year-to-date adjusted EBITDA was $294 million, down 15%. Source
  • Payment Software revenue fell 24%: Payment Software revenue was $216 million, down 24%, reflecting expected concentration of 2026 renewals in the fourth quarter. Segment recurring revenue decreased 1%. Source
  • Net new ARR bookings up 86%: Net new ARR bookings were $24 million in the quarter, up 86%, with growth across both Payment Software and Biller segments. Source
  • First ACI Connetic customer went live: Management said the first ACI Connetic customer went live and two additional ACI Connetic wins were announced. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA guidance raised: Full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA is now $550 million to $565 million, up $5 million at each end. Full-year revenue of $1.895 billion to $1.925 billion was reiterated. Source
  • Operating cash flow up 26%: Operating cash flow for the first nine months was $254 million, up 26%. Third-quarter operating cash flow was $119 million. Source
  • Cranium Ventures acquisition added microservices: The Cranium Ventures acquisition adds multi-rail card switching microservices, which management said expands the addressable market. Source

“ARR bookings were particularly strong, reflecting healthy demand across the business”

Thomas Warsop, President and CEO of ACI Worldwide

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFull-year 2026$1.895 billion to $1.925 billionKept
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull-year 2026$550 million to $565 millionRaised from $545 million to $560 million
Revenue SourceQ4 2026$612 million to $642 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA SourceQ4 2026$257 million to $272 millionNew
Payment Software revenue growth SourceFull-year 2026upper-single-digit
Biller revenue growth SourceFull-year 2026upper-single-digitRaised from high single digits
Share repurchases SourceFull-year 202650-60% of operating cash flowKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA range raised by $5 million at each end, to $550 million to $565 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Biller full-year revenue growth stated as upper single digits, where the second-quarter release said high single digits. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter 2026 revenue and adjusted EBITDA ranges were not given in the second-quarter release and are given here. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 revenue range reiterated at $1.895 billion to $1.925 billion. Source
  • New: Acquisition of Cranium Ventures announced, adding multi-rail card switching microservices. Source
  • New: First ACI Connetic customer went live, and two additional ACI Connetic wins were announced. Source

Quarter results and drivers

  • Revenue fell on renewal timing: Total revenue was $427 million, down 12% (11% in constant currency), attributed primarily to the timing of this year's license renewals. Year-to-date revenue was $1.3 billion, in line with last year. Source
  • Recurring revenue rose 4%: Recurring revenue, covering SaaS and maintenance, was $309 million, up 4% on reported and constant currency bases. Year-to-date recurring revenue was $959 million, up 6%. Source
  • Net income and EPS declined: Net income was $33 million against $91 million a year earlier. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.32; adjusted diluted EPS was $0.54, down 50%. Year-to-date net income was $103 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 43%: Adjusted EBITDA was $98 million, down 43% (42% in constant currency). Net adjusted EBITDA margin was 35%, against 49%. Year-to-date adjusted EBITDA was $294 million, down 15%. Source

Segment performance

  • Payment Software revenue fell 24%: Payment Software revenue was $216 million, down 24%, reflecting expected concentration of 2026 renewals in the fourth quarter. Segment recurring revenue decreased 1%. Source
  • Payment Software margin fell to 49%: Payment Software adjusted EBITDA was $107 million, down 41%. Net adjusted EBITDA margin for the segment was 49%, against 64% a year earlier. Source
  • Biller revenue grew 6%: Biller revenue was $210 million, up 6%. Revenue net of interchange fees was $66 million, up 5%, which management linked to progress on interchange optimization. Source
  • Biller margin in line with last year: Biller adjusted EBITDA was $34 million, up 4%. Net adjusted EBITDA margin, net of interchange fees, was 51%, the same as in Q3 2025. Source

“We continue to see strong momentum in our innovation agenda, reaching important milestones with ACI Connetic”

Thomas Warsop, President and CEO of ACI Worldwide

Bookings and demand

  • Net new ARR bookings up 86%: Net new ARR bookings were $24 million in the quarter, up 86%, with growth across both Payment Software and Biller segments. Source
  • License and services bookings fell 21%: New license and services bookings were $64 million, down 21%. The trailing 12-month total was $238 million, down 22%. Source
  • Trailing ARR bookings down 3%: Net new ARR bookings for the trailing 12 months to September 30, 2026 were $79 million, down 3% from 2025. Source

Products and customers

  • First ACI Connetic customer went live: Management said the first ACI Connetic customer went live and two additional ACI Connetic wins were announced. Source
  • Speedpay ONE work continues: Management said it continues to advance Speedpay ONE for its bill pay customers. Source
  • License revenue fell with renewal timing: License revenue was $95 million, against $162 million a year earlier. The company attributed the total revenue decline primarily to the timing of license renewals. Source

“ACI executed well in the third quarter, delivering results ahead of expectations”

Thomas Warsop, President and CEO of ACI Worldwide

Costs and margins

  • Year-to-date net margin fell to 36%: Year-to-date net adjusted EBITDA margin was 36%, down from 40% a year earlier. Source
  • Research and development costs rose: Research and development expense was $50 million, against $43 million; general and administrative expense was $42 million, against $34 million. Source
  • Interchange fees rose year over year: Interchange fees were $144 million in the quarter, up from $135 million, and $456 million year to date, up from $417 million. Source

Full-year and fourth-quarter guidance

  • Adjusted EBITDA guidance raised: Full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA is now $550 million to $565 million, up $5 million at each end. Full-year revenue of $1.895 billion to $1.925 billion was reiterated. Source
  • Fourth-quarter ranges given: Q4 2026 revenue is expected at $612 million to $642 million and adjusted EBITDA at $257 million to $272 million. Source
  • Payment Software growth weighted to Q4: Payment Software full-year revenue growth is expected in the upper single digits, with the strongest quarterly growth in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Biller growth now upper single digits: Biller full-year revenue growth is now expected in the upper single digits; the prior release had said high single digits. Source

Cash, balance sheet and returns

  • Operating cash flow up 26%: Operating cash flow for the first nine months was $254 million, up 26%. Third-quarter operating cash flow was $119 million. Source
  • Net debt leverage at 1.3x: Cash on hand was $219 million and debt was $821 million. Total cash and available credit facility liquidity was $587 million. Source
  • Repurchases totaled 3.4 million shares: About 935,000 shares were repurchased in Q3 for about $50 million. Year to date, 3.4 million shares were repurchased for about $157 million, at an average $45.69. Source
  • Repurchase authorization still available: The company said $299 million remained available under the existing repurchase authorization. Source

Acquisition and strategy

  • Cranium Ventures acquisition added microservices: The Cranium Ventures acquisition adds multi-rail card switching microservices, which management said expands the addressable market. Source
  • Modernization vision accelerated by acquisition: Management said the acquisition accelerated its modernization vision and expanded its addressable market. Source
  • Balanced capital allocation maintained: Management said it is maintaining a balanced, disciplined approach to capital allocation while investing in growth. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Fourth-quarter ranges given: Q4 2026 revenue and adjusted EBITDA ranges were given for the coming quarter. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
ARR bookings, third quarter 2026 Source$23.6 million
ARR bookings, trailing 12 months Source$78.6 million
Cloud or subscription revenue (SaaS and PaaS fees), third quarter 2026 Source$258.3 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Q3 revenue decline tied to renewal timing; management expects 2026 renewals to concentrate in the fourth quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the company is on track to allocate 50-60% of 2026 operating cash flow to share repurchases. Source
  • Ahead: Management said third-quarter results were ahead of expectations. The second-quarter release had given a Q3 adjusted EBITDA range of $90 million to $95 million; reported Q3 adjusted EBITDA was $98 million.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.