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Aramark: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 11 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 9% to $5.1 billion: Revenue was $5,057,909 thousand, up 9% from $4,626,451 thousand. Organic revenue also rose 9%, and currency translation added about $33 million. Management cited net new business and base business growth across sectors and geographies. Source
  • Operating income and AOI both grew: Operating income rose 18% to $216 million. Adjusted operating income (AOI) rose 13% to $261 million, or 13% on a constant currency basis. AOI margin rose nearly 20 basis points on a constant currency basis. Source
  • Diluted and adjusted EPS grew: Diluted EPS was $0.36, up 34% from $0.27. Adjusted EPS was $0.52, up 30% as reported and 29% on a constant currency basis, from $0.40. Source
  • Calendar shift reduced reported growth: Without the 53rd-week calendar shift, management estimated revenue growth would have been about 11%, operating income growth about 29%, and constant currency AOI growth about 21%. Source
  • New client wins above $1.6 billion: New client wins totaled more than $1.6 billion fiscal year to date, 51% higher than the prior-year period. Source
  • Quarterly operating and free cash flow rose: Quarterly operating cash flow was $117 million, up $41 million. Free cash flow was $9 million, up $42 million. Source
  • Second hyperscaler site being mobilized: Management said it is mobilizing a second site for the hyperscaler client and anticipates supporting additional locations. Source

“we’ve once again raised our Organic Revenue growth expectations for fiscal 2026. Our performance is a testament to the dedication of our teams,”

John Zillmer, Aramark’s Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Organic Revenue growth SourceFiscal 2026 full year+9% to +10%Raised from high end of +7% to +9%
Adjusted Operating Income growth SourceFiscal 2026 full year+12% to +17%Kept
Adjusted EPS growth SourceFiscal 2026 full year+20% to +25%Kept
Leverage ratio (net debt to Covenant Adjusted EBITDA) SourceEnd of fiscal 2026under 3xKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year organic revenue growth expectation raised to +9% to +10% from the high end of +7% to +9%. Source
  • Guidance kept: AOI growth, adjusted EPS growth and the leverage ratio expectations were reaffirmed without change. Source
  • New: Operations began at the first Texas-based site serving a top global hyperscaler, late in the third quarter. Source
  • New: Multi-year engagement announced with an AI data center colocation provider covering several locations. Source

Third quarter results and growth

  • Revenue rose 9% to $5.1 billion: Revenue was $5,057,909 thousand, up 9% from $4,626,451 thousand. Organic revenue also rose 9%, and currency translation added about $33 million. Management cited net new business and base business growth across sectors and geographies. Source
  • Operating income and AOI both grew: Operating income rose 18% to $216 million. Adjusted operating income (AOI) rose 13% to $261 million, or 13% on a constant currency basis. AOI margin rose nearly 20 basis points on a constant currency basis. Source
  • Diluted and adjusted EPS grew: Diluted EPS was $0.36, up 34% from $0.27. Adjusted EPS was $0.52, up 30% as reported and 29% on a constant currency basis, from $0.40. Source
  • Calendar shift reduced reported growth: Without the 53rd-week calendar shift, management estimated revenue growth would have been about 11%, operating income growth about 29%, and constant currency AOI growth about 21%. Source

Segments and regions

  • FSS United States revenue rose 8%: FSS United States revenue reached $3,496 million, up 8%, led by Sports, Leisure & Corrections, Business & Industry and Healthcare. Sports growth came from higher per cap spending and fan attendance, including FIFA World Cup matches and NBA/NHL playoffs. Source
  • FSS International revenue rose 13%: FSS International revenue reached $1,562 million, up 13% and 11% organic. Growth was across all geographies, largely from Spain, Canada, the U.K. and Germany. Source
  • United States AOI margin rose: FSS United States AOI rose 12% to $211 million, a 6.0% margin against 5.8% a year earlier. Management cited higher base and new business revenue, supply chain efficiencies and productivity gains. Source
  • International AOI rose 26%: FSS International AOI rose 26% to $85 million, or 24% on a constant currency basis. Management attributed this to base business and net new business expansion and stronger supply chain economics. Source

“We continue to build on the momentum across the portfolio, including industry-leading client retention, broad-based revenue growth in the U.S. and International,”

John Zillmer, Aramark’s Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and profit drivers

  • Supply chain and productivity lifted profit: Management attributed higher profit to revenue levels, supply chain efficiencies and productivity gains from effective cost management. AOI margin was 5.2% against 5.0% a year earlier. Source
  • Operating margin rose over 30 basis points: Operating income margin was 4.3% against 3.9%, and AOI margin was 5.2% against 5.0%, per the reconciliation tables. Source
  • Corporate costs rose on share compensation: Corporate AOI expense was $35 million against $27 million, up 33%, driven by higher share-based compensation. Source

Clients and new business

  • New client wins above $1.6 billion: New client wins totaled more than $1.6 billion fiscal year to date, 51% higher than the prior-year period. Source
  • Client retention near record levels: Client retention was approximately 98%, which management described as at record levels. Source
  • Business & Industry grew double digits: Business & Industry grew at a sustained double-digit rate, with significant new business, high client retention and continued base business performance. Source

“position us well to realize the benefits of the significant value-creating actions underway.”

John Zillmer, Aramark’s Chief Executive Officer

Cash flow, debt and shareholder returns

  • Quarterly operating and free cash flow rose: Quarterly operating cash flow was $117 million, up $41 million. Free cash flow was $9 million, up $42 million. Source
  • Nine-month free cash flow still negative: Nine-month free cash flow was negative $588 million, compared with negative $597 million a year earlier. Source
  • Large fourth-quarter cash inflow expected: Management expects a large cash inflow in the fourth quarter, consistent with the business's typical seasonality. Source
  • Debt repaid and leverage reduced: About $100 million of 2028 Term Loans was repaid after quarter-end. Cash availability exceeded $1.4 billion at quarter-end, and net debt to Covenant Adjusted EBITDA was 3.5x, against 4.0x a year earlier. Source
  • Quarterly dividend declared at $0.12: The Board approved a $0.12 quarterly dividend per share. Aramark has repurchased more than 5 million shares since inception, for about $194 million in aggregate. Source

Aramark Nexus and hyperscale sites

  • Second hyperscaler site being mobilized: Management said it is mobilizing a second site for the hyperscaler client and anticipates supporting additional locations. Source
  • Talks continue with other hyperscalers: Aramark remains in active dialogue with other leading hyperscalers, citing demand for its integrated suite of capabilities. Source
  • Nexus early profit contribution cited: Management cited an early profitability contribution from Aramark Nexus as a driver of fourth-quarter AOI growth and margin expansion. Source

Coming up, as management said on 11 August 2026

  • Fourth-quarter AOI growth to accelerate: Management expects AOI growth and margin expansion to accelerate in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Fourth-quarter results expected consistent with estimates: Management said fourth-quarter results are anticipated to be consistent with Wall Street estimates. Source
  • Dividend payment date set: The $0.12 dividend is payable September 9, 2026, to holders of record at the close of business on August 19, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Inventories Source$433,618 thousand at July 3, 2026 (October 3, 2025: $418,766 thousand)

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management cited mobilizing a record level of new business and adding growth resources as appropriate, alongside demand for Aramark Nexus. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it remains committed to this leverage level; no status was given for the quarter. Source
  • Met: Said in May that service was set to begin this fiscal year. In August, management reported operations began late in the third quarter.
  • Not stated: Said in May as an expectation for the fiscal year. In August, management said it expects acceleration in the fourth quarter.

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.