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ADT Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 November 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 4%: Total revenue was $1,349 million, up from $1,298 million a year earlier, with installation and product sales rising while monitoring revenue declined. Source
  • Monitoring revenue fell 1%: Monitoring and related services revenue was $1,084 million, down 1%. Management cited lower sales volume, the October 2025 multifamily divestiture, partly offset by higher average prices. Source
  • Core operating metrics held steady: End-of-period RMR was $360 million against $362 million a year earlier. Trailing gross attrition was 13.1%, up 10 basis points, and revenue payback was 2.3 years. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell $40 million: Operating cash flow was $440 million, down $40 million, on higher net subscriber acquisition spend for outright sales, higher G&A and lower M&S margins, partly offset by lower cash taxes and working capital timing. Source
  • Year-to-date free cash flow up 46%: Adjusted Free Cash Flow including swaps was $217 million this quarter, up $8 million, and $1,037 million year to date. Year-to-date operating cash flow was $1,745 million, up 16%. Source
  • ADT operates independently until close: ADT remains a public company and operates independently until the Thrive Holdings transaction closes. Source

“We are making meaningful progress in transforming ADT into a more intelligent and connected platform through investments in AI, next-generation sensing technologies, and expanded digital and retail distribution.”

ADT Chairman, President and CEO, Jim DeVries

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance withdrawn: The company withdrew its previously issued 2026 guidance. The July release had projected Adjusted Free Cash Flow (including swaps) growth of about 30%, total revenue growth of about 2%, and Adjusted EPS growth of about 2%. Source
  • New: Agreement announced October 29, 2026 for Thrive Holdings to acquire ADT in an all-cash transaction at $10.00 per share. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 4%: Total revenue was $1,349 million, up from $1,298 million a year earlier, with installation and product sales rising while monitoring revenue declined. Source
  • GAAP EPS rose 18%: GAAP diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.20, against $0.17 a year earlier, on income from continuing operations of $153 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 4%: Adjusted EPS was $0.24 against $0.23 a year earlier. Diluted weighted-average shares fell to 737 million from 828 million. Source

Segments and discontinued operations

  • Installation revenue up 32%: Security installation, product and other revenue rose 32% to $265 million, while the cost of that line rose 50% to $133 million. Source
  • Monitoring revenue fell 1%: Monitoring and related services revenue was $1,084 million, down 1%. Management cited lower sales volume, the October 2025 multifamily divestiture, partly offset by higher average prices. Source
  • Commercial and solar shown separately: The former commercial and solar businesses are reported as discontinued operations, with a $2 million loss in the quarter against $2 million of income a year earlier. Source

“As we look ahead to our next chapter, our focus remains on serving our customers and providing peace of mind.”

ADT Chairman, President and CEO, Jim DeVries

Products, customers and demand

  • Core operating metrics held steady: End-of-period RMR was $360 million against $362 million a year earlier. Trailing gross attrition was 13.1%, up 10 basis points, and revenue payback was 2.3 years. Source
  • Activity alerts added to ADT+: ADT+ now sends customers alerts when connected devices and sensors detect meaningful changes in household activity. Source
  • ADT Blu added on Walmart.com: The self-installed DIY ADT Blu offering is now available on Walmart.com, adding to the Amazon channel launched in the second quarter. Source
  • Partner Services launched: The new offering installs and services select products for other companies and their customers, using ADT's brand, field expertise and national reach. Source
  • Origin AI sensing progressing: Origin AI presence sensing advanced with ADT+ integration and planned security and aging-in-place use cases, with commercialization planning for a 2027 launch. Source
  • Bulk account purchase completed: About 8,000 customer accounts were bought for $9 million cash, compared with about 10,000 accounts for $18 million in the second quarter. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • SG&A rose 4%: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $400 million, up 4%. Management said the comparison includes the prior-year goodwill impairment tied to the multifamily divestiture. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin fell to 49%: Adjusted EBITDA was $665 million, down 2%, with margin at 49% against 52%. Adjusted income moved on the same factors, excluding the prior-year impairment and swap effects. Source
  • Lower interest aided GAAP income: Interest expense, net was $102 million against $113 million a year earlier, which management links to lower interest and the effect of interest rate swaps. Source

Cash, liquidity and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow fell $40 million: Operating cash flow was $440 million, down $40 million, on higher net subscriber acquisition spend for outright sales, higher G&A and lower M&S margins, partly offset by lower cash taxes and working capital timing. Source
  • Year-to-date free cash flow up 46%: Adjusted Free Cash Flow including swaps was $217 million this quarter, up $8 million, and $1,037 million year to date. Year-to-date operating cash flow was $1,745 million, up 16%. Source
  • Quarterly capital returns of $64 million: The company returned $64 million this quarter: $23 million for 3 million shares repurchased and retired, and $41 million in dividend payments. Source
  • Year-to-date repurchases of 89 million shares: Year to date, 89 million shares were repurchased and retired for $617 million, and total returns through repurchases and dividends reached $748 million. Source
  • Cash $228 million, revolver undrawn: Cash and cash equivalents were $228 million at September 30, against $81 million at December 31, 2025, with nothing outstanding on the First Lien Revolving Credit Facility. Source
  • $100 million term loan added: An additional $100 million of First Lien Term Loan A due 2030 was secured in August. Proceeds may support general purposes, including repaying part of the 2027 notes. Source

Strategy and investment

  • AI expands across sales and service: AI-enabled sales and service expanded to intelligent call routing, AI-driven inbound and outbound pilots, and advanced transcription and agent assist tools. Source
  • ADT+ rolls out to dealer sales: The phased ADT+ rollout continued for new customers added through dealers, with the aim of a more consistent experience across channels. Source
  • Community events in Houston: The Life Saver program was expanded with a community event in Houston, and National Night Out support continued across the country. Source

Pending Thrive Holdings transaction

  • ADT operates independently until close: ADT remains a public company and operates independently until the Thrive Holdings transaction closes. Source
  • Stock to cease trading on NYSE: On completion, ADT becomes privately held and its common stock ceases trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Source
  • No questions taken on call: Because of the proposed acquisition, management did not take questions on the third quarter call, which was hosted at 10 a.m. ET. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 November 2026

  • Thrive transaction expected to close: Completion of the Thrive Holdings transaction is targeted for the first quarter of 2027. Source
  • Apple Retail installations begin this fall: Partner Services will start installing and servicing select products for Apple Retail and its U.S. customers this fall. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Recurring monthly revenue (RMR), end of period Source$360 million
Trailing twelve-month gross customer revenue attrition Source13.1%
Trailing twelve-month revenue payback Source2.3 years

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Closing of the Thrive Holdings transaction depends on stockholder approval and U.S. antitrust approval, subject to customary closing conditions. Source

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.