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Aptiv plc: 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: 6 lowered, 1 narrowed, 6 new, 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 2% in quarter: Reported revenue was $3.2 billion, up 2%. Adjusted revenue growth was also 2%, after adjusting for currency, commodity movements and the EDS spin-off in prior periods. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $1.42 versus $1.48: Adjusted net income was $292 million, or $1.42 per diluted share, against $321 million and $1.48 a year earlier. Source
  • Intelligent Systems earnings fell 18%: Intelligent Systems adjusted EBITDA was $180 million, down from $219 million, on sales of $1,402 million, down 3%. Engineered Components adjusted EBITDA rose to $387 million from $379 million. Source
  • Non-automotive revenue and bookings grew: Management attributed growth in non-automotive revenue and bookings to the applicability of its products and capabilities across new and existing end markets. No dollar figures were given. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin fell to 17.7%: Adjusted EBITDA was $567 million, against $598 million. The release gives no cause for the margin change from 19.1%. Source
  • Third-quarter free cash flow $194 million: Operating cash flow from continuing operations was $320 million in the quarter, with free cash flow of $194 million. Source
  • Buybacks reached $558 million year to date: The company repurchased and retired 4.7 million shares for $233 million in the third quarter. $1.6 billion remained available under the authorization at September 30, 2026. Source

“During the third quarter, we delivered solid financial results and continued to execute against our strategic priorities,”

Kevin Clark, chair and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceQ4 2026$3,110 - $3,210 millionNew
Net sales SourceFull year 2026$12,650 - $12,750 millionKept
U.S. GAAP net income from continuing operations SourceQ4 2026$197 - $237 millionNew
U.S. GAAP net income from continuing operations SourceFull year 2026$825 - $865 millionLowered from $860 - $900 million
U.S. GAAP net income margin from continuing operations SourceFull year 20266.7%Lowered from 6.9%
Adjusted EBITDA SourceQ4 2026$582 - $642 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$2,310 - $2,370 millionKept
Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceQ4 202619.4%New
Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceFull year 202618.4%Kept
U.S. GAAP diluted net income per share from continuing operations SourceQ4 2026$0.95 - $1.15New
U.S. GAAP diluted net income per share from continuing operations SourceFull year 2026$3.95 - $4.15Lowered from $4.06 - $4.26
Adjusted net income per share SourceQ4 2026$1.35 - $1.55New
Adjusted net income per share SourceFull year 2026$5.60 - $5.80Kept
Cash flow from continuing operations SourceFull year 2026$1,154 - $1,204 millionLowered from $1,270 - $1,370 million
Free cash flow SourceFull year 2026$625 - $675 millionNarrowed, top end cut from $625 - $725 million
Capital expenditures SourceFull year 2026$575 million (estimate at midpoint)Lowered from $600 million
U.S. GAAP effective tax rate SourceFull year 2026~17%Lowered from ~18%
Adjusted effective tax rate SourceFull year 2026~18%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter 2026 guidance provided for the first time, with net sales, GAAP and adjusted EPS, and Adjusted EBITDA ranges. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year GAAP net income from continuing operations range lowered to $825 - $865 million from $860 - $900 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year GAAP diluted EPS range lowered to $3.95 - $4.15 from $4.06 - $4.26. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year cash flow from continuing operations range lowered to $1,154 - $1,204 million from $1,270 - $1,370 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year capital expenditures estimate lowered to $575 million from $600 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: GAAP effective tax rate guided to approximately 17%, from approximately 18%. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA range of $2,310 - $2,370 million and adjusted EPS range of $5.60 - $5.80 unchanged. Source

Quarter results and growth

  • Revenue rose 2% in quarter: Reported revenue was $3.2 billion, up 2%. Adjusted revenue growth was also 2%, after adjusting for currency, commodity movements and the EDS spin-off in prior periods. Source
  • Continuing operations net income compared with loss: Net income from continuing operations was $194 million, a 6.1% margin, compared with a $488 million loss in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $1.42 versus $1.48: Adjusted net income was $292 million, or $1.42 per diluted share, against $321 million and $1.48 a year earlier. Source
  • Nine-month revenue up 2%: Year-to-date revenue was $9.5 billion, up 2%, with adjusted growth of 1%. Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $2.95, against a loss of $1.64 a year earlier. Source

Segments and regions

  • Intelligent Systems earnings fell 18%: Intelligent Systems adjusted EBITDA was $180 million, down from $219 million, on sales of $1,402 million, down 3%. Engineered Components adjusted EBITDA rose to $387 million from $379 million. Source
  • Engineered Components sales up 7%: Engineered Components sales were $1,835 million, up 7% from $1,710 million. Intelligent Systems sales were $1,402 million, down 3% from $1,442 million. Source
  • Third-quarter regional growth mixed: Growth was 5% in North America and 5% in Asia Pacific, including 1% in China, and 3% in South America. EMEA declined 5%. Source

“Through operational execution and disciplined capital allocation, we remain focused on investing in long-term growth and delivering on our commitment to prioritize returning capital to shareholders.”

Kevin Clark, chair and chief executive officer

Non-automotive demand and bookings

  • Non-automotive revenue and bookings grew: Management attributed growth in non-automotive revenue and bookings to the applicability of its products and capabilities across new and existing end markets. No dollar figures were given. Source
  • Portfolio cited amid changing macro: Management said the portfolio, backed by a resilient supply chain, continues to deliver performance and cost benefits for customers in a changing macro environment. Source
  • Year-to-date China and EMEA declines: Year to date, North America grew 8% and Asia Pacific 2%. China fell 2%, EMEA declined 6% and South America fell 1%. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin fell to 17.7%: Adjusted EBITDA was $567 million, against $598 million. The release gives no cause for the margin change from 19.1%. Source
  • Cost of sales and SG&A changed: Cost of sales was $2,509 million, against $2,408 million. Selling, general and administrative expense was $294 million, against $333 million. Source
  • Depreciation rose on impairments: Depreciation and amortization was $247 million, including $56 million of non-cash intangible asset impairment, against $193 million. Restructuring was $8 million, against $39 million. Source
  • Interest and tax expense declined: Interest expense was $59 million, against $88 million. Tax expense was $36 million, against $59 million, in the third quarter. Source

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Third-quarter free cash flow $194 million: Operating cash flow from continuing operations was $320 million in the quarter, with free cash flow of $194 million. Source
  • Year-to-date free cash flow $44 million: Operating cash flow from continuing operations was $402 million year to date, and capital expenditures were $404 million. Adjustments for spin-off items brought free cash flow to $44 million. Source
  • Working capital absorbed cash: Year to date, accounts receivable rose $386 million and inventories rose $393 million. Accounts payable provided $194 million. Source
  • Buybacks reached $558 million year to date: The company repurchased and retired 4.7 million shares for $233 million in the third quarter. $1.6 billion remained available under the authorization at September 30, 2026. Source

Presentation and prior-year items

  • Prior-year goodwill charge recorded: The prior-year quarter's loss from continuing operations included a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $648 million. Source
  • Prior-year nine-month tax charge: Nine-month tax expense was $130 million in 2026, against $401 million in 2025. The 2025 figure primarily reflected valuation allowance increases of about $300 million. Source
  • Prior-period adjusted figures pro forma: Adjusted amounts for periods before the EDS spin-off are shown on a pro forma basis for the spin-off's impacts. Source

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management referred to a changing macro environment for customers as context for the quarter's results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it has implemented plans to eliminate these costs after the spin-off. Source
  • Not stated: The company said it repaid about $2.1 billion of debt in 2026 in connection with the spin-off. 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.