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Adtran Holdings, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose slightly year over year: Revenue was $281.2 million, up 0.6% from $279.4 million a year earlier and level with the second quarter's $281.1 million. Nine-month revenue was $848.4 million, up 7.1%. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin reached 5.0%: Non-GAAP operating margin was 5.0%, against 3.8% in the second quarter and 5.4% a year earlier. GAAP operating margin was -0.3%, against -3.6% in the second quarter. Source
  • Gross margin helped by IEEPA refunds: Non-GAAP gross margin was 42.1%, including a benefit of approximately 200 basis points from IEEPA refunds. GAAP gross margin was 38.5%, against 37.0% in the second quarter. Source
  • Fourth-quarter revenue guided to $272-292 million: Fourth-quarter 2026 revenue guidance is $272.0 million to $292.0 million. The prior release gave third-quarter guidance of $275.0 million to $295.0 million. Source
  • Fourth-quarter margin guided to 1-5%: Non-GAAP operating margin guidance for the fourth quarter is 1.0% to 5.0%, against 1.5% to 5.5% guided for the third quarter. Source
  • Operating cash flow turned negative: Net cash used in operating activities was $24.5 million in the quarter, against $25.9 million provided in the second quarter. Free cash flow was -$39.4 million. Source
  • Revolver balance rose at quarter end: Non-current revolving credit borrowings were $83.0 million at September 30, against $25.0 million at June 30. Convertible senior notes, net, were $194.2 million. Source
  • AI infrastructure reshaping network spend: Management said rapid AI infrastructure expansion is reshaping network investment priorities, with effects in cloud infrastructure and traditional service provider markets. Source

“Third quarter revenue came in slightly below the midpoint of our guidance range as we continued to navigate a challenging supply environment.”

ADTRAN Holdings Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tom Stanton

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFourth quarter of 2026$272.0 million to $292.0 millionNew
Non-GAAP operating margin SourceFourth quarter of 20261.0% to 5.0%New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter 2026 revenue guidance of $272.0 million to $292.0 million was given. The prior release gave guidance only for the third quarter. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter 2026 non-GAAP operating margin guidance of 1.0% to 5.0% was given, following the prior third-quarter range of 1.5% to 5.5%. Source
  • Ended: The Wells Fargo Revolving Credit Agreement was extinguished on July 21, 2026, and unamortized debt issuance costs were written off. Source
  • New: A business transformation adjustment of $2.4 million, tied to the global ERP go-live, is excluded from non-GAAP operating income this quarter. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose slightly year over year: Revenue was $281.2 million, up 0.6% from $279.4 million a year earlier and level with the second quarter's $281.1 million. Nine-month revenue was $848.4 million, up 7.1%. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin reached 5.0%: Non-GAAP operating margin was 5.0%, against 3.8% in the second quarter and 5.4% a year earlier. GAAP operating margin was -0.3%, against -3.6% in the second quarter. Source
  • Per-share results, GAAP and non-GAAP: GAAP net loss attributable to ADTRAN Holdings was $9.2 million, against $10.9 million in the second quarter. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share were $0.09, against $0.04. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating income rose: Non-GAAP operating income was $14.1 million in the quarter and $44.6 million for nine months, against $32.9 million for nine months a year earlier. Source

Segments and customers

  • Network Solutions revenue slightly lower: Network Solutions revenue was $231.2 million, down about 0.6% from $232.5 million a year earlier. Nine-month Network Solutions revenue was $702.1 million, up from $654.3 million. Source
  • Services & Support grew faster: Services & Support revenue was $49.9 million, up about 6.5% from $46.9 million. Nine-month Services & Support revenue was $146.3 million, against $138.0 million. Source
  • Optical and hyperscale growth highlighted: Management said the company saw continued growth in optical networking and increasing growth with hyperscale customers, despite pressures in the quarter. Source

“Despite these pressures, we saw encouraging developments across the business, including continued growth in optical networking and increasing growth with hyperscale customers.”

ADTRAN Holdings Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tom Stanton

Gross margin and operating costs

  • Gross margin helped by IEEPA refunds: Non-GAAP gross margin was 42.1%, including a benefit of approximately 200 basis points from IEEPA refunds. GAAP gross margin was 38.5%, against 37.0% in the second quarter. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating expenses rose slightly: Non-GAAP operating expenses were $104.2 million, up from $103.9 million in the second quarter. GAAP operating expenses fell to $109.0 million from $114.0 million. Source
  • Deferred compensation adjustments swung: Deferred compensation adjustments reduced the operating income reconciliation by $2.0 million this quarter, after adding $5.5 million in the second quarter. The company describes them as non-cash fair value changes. Source

Demand, supply and guidance

  • Fourth-quarter revenue guided to $272-292 million: Fourth-quarter 2026 revenue guidance is $272.0 million to $292.0 million. The prior release gave third-quarter guidance of $275.0 million to $295.0 million. Source
  • Fourth-quarter margin guided to 1-5%: Non-GAAP operating margin guidance for the fourth quarter is 1.0% to 5.0%, against 1.5% to 5.5% guided for the third quarter. Source
  • Supply environment cited for revenue: Management said third-quarter revenue came in slightly below the guidance midpoint while it navigated a challenging supply environment. Source

“Our focus is on addressing the supply and cost pressures affecting our business, maintaining financial discipline and translating these opportunities into stronger revenue growth, profitability and cash generation.”

ADTRAN Holdings Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tom Stanton

Cash flow and capital spending

  • Operating cash flow turned negative: Net cash used in operating activities was $24.5 million in the quarter, against $25.9 million provided in the second quarter. Free cash flow was -$39.4 million. Source
  • Nine-month free cash flow fell: Nine-month free cash flow was -$34.0 million, against $38.0 million a year earlier, after $48.1 million of purchases of property, plant and equipment and developed technologies. Source
  • Receivables and inventory increased: Accounts receivable rose to $235.1 million and inventory to $227.4 million at September 30, from $205.8 million and $208.8 million at June 30. Unearned revenue fell to $72.5 million from $78.7 million. Source
  • Capital spending and development costs: Nine-month purchases of property, plant and equipment were $22.2 million, against $20.1 million a year earlier. Internally developed technology was $25.9 million, against $29.5 million. Source

Debt, revolver and cash

  • Revolver balance rose at quarter end: Non-current revolving credit borrowings were $83.0 million at September 30, against $25.0 million at June 30. Convertible senior notes, net, were $194.2 million. Source
  • Cash balance lower than in June: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totalled $71.7 million at September 30, against $79.2 million of cash and cash equivalents at June 30. Source
  • Nine-month revolver draws and repayments: Nine-month revolver draws were $88.0 million and repayments were $30.0 million, against $24.0 million of draws and $189.0 million of repayments a year earlier. Source

Non-controlling interest and shares

  • Non-controlling interest redemptions and payments: Nine-month redemptions of redeemable non-controlling interest were $31.9 million. Annual recurring compensation paid to non-controlling interest holders was $8.9 million, against $10.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Non-controlling income is recurring compensation: The company accrued $2.1 million of net income attributable to non-controlling interest in the quarter, representing recurring cash compensation after the DPLTA. Source
  • Weighted share count increased: Weighted average basic and diluted shares were 81.2 million in the quarter, against 79.8 million a year earlier. Source

Strategy and AI demand

  • AI infrastructure reshaping network spend: Management said rapid AI infrastructure expansion is reshaping network investment priorities, with effects in cloud infrastructure and traditional service provider markets. Source
  • Customers investing in capacity and security: Management said it expects customers to keep investing in network capacity, performance and security, which it cited as a basis for continued momentum. Source
  • Focus on supply, cost and discipline: Management named its focus as addressing supply and cost pressures and maintaining financial discipline, and turning these into revenue growth, profitability and cash generation. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 November 2026

  • Craig-Hallum conference in November: Management listed the Craig-Hallum Alpha Select Conference in New York for November 17, 2026. Source
  • Needham conference in January: Management listed the Needham 29th Annual Growth Conference in New York for January 12, 2027. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management cited a challenging supply environment as a factor in third-quarter revenue landing slightly below the midpoint of guidance. Source
  • Operational: Management named supply and cost pressures affecting the business as its focus. Source
  • Demand: Fourth-quarter margin guidance reflects historical seasonality, supply availability and timing of large customer projects, which management cited. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said third-quarter revenue came in slightly below the midpoint of the guidance range given in the prior release. 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.