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Axon Enterprise, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 1 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 35% to $904 million: Net sales were $904 million, up 35% year over year, the tenth consecutive quarter of revenue growth above 30%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up over 40%: Adjusted EBITDA was $242 million, a 26.8% margin, up more than 40% year over year on higher revenue and tariff refunds. Source
  • Tariff refunds received this quarter: Cash from tariff refunds totaled $47 million, of which $18 million related to 2025 expenses; the rest was largely tied to inventory and property and equipment. Source
  • Annual recurring revenue reached $1.6 billion: Annual recurring revenue was $1,639 million, up 39% year over year from $1,183 million a year earlier, reflecting demand for premium offerings. Source
  • Future contracted bookings up 41%: Future contracted bookings were $15.1 billion, up from $14.3 billion in the first quarter; the company expects to fulfill 20% to 25% within 12 months. Source
  • Operating cash flow turned positive: Operating cash flow was $20 million, compared with a $92 million outflow a year earlier, and free cash outflow was $1 million. Source

“Axon delivered another record quarter, with revenue increasing 35% year over year to $904 million - our 10th consecutive quarter of revenue growth above 30%.”

Axon Enterprise, Inc., press release

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue growth SourceFull-year 202632% to 34%Raised from 30% to 32%
Adjusted EBITDA margin SourceFull-year 2026approximately 25.5%Kept
Stock-based compensation expense SourceFull-year 2026$590 million to $620 millionKept
Stock-based compensation tied to Employee XSP and CEO Performance Award SourceFull-year 2026approximately $280 millionRaised from approximately $230 million
Capital expenditure Source2026$160 million to $190 millionKept
Five-year normalized new contract bookings growth Source2026, year over yeargreater than 30%New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 revenue growth guidance raised to 32% to 34% from 30% to 32%. Source
  • Guidance raised: The 2026 stock-based compensation component tied to Employee XSP and the CEO Performance Award rose to approximately $280 million from $230 million. Source
  • New guidance: Management started guidance for greater than 30% year-over-year growth in five-year normalized bookings for 2026. Source
  • Guidance kept: The Adjusted EBITDA margin guidance of approximately 25.5% was continued. Source
  • Guidance kept: Stock-based compensation guidance of $590 million to $620 million was described as in line with prior guidance. Source
  • Guidance kept: 2026 capital expenditure guidance of $160 million to $190 million was continued. Source
  • New: The company began sharing new contract bookings on a five-year normalized basis, which adjusts for a standard five-year contract duration. Source
  • New: Axon Body Mini became generally available in June in the U.S., Canada, UK, EU, Australia and New Zealand. Source
  • New: Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted gross margin now also exclude jurisdiction-specific compensation-related taxes from Employee XSP vesting, not only payroll taxes. Prior periods were not recast. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 35% to $904 million: Net sales were $904 million, up 35% year over year, the tenth consecutive quarter of revenue growth above 30%. Source
  • Operating income rose sharply: Operating income was $47 million, up $48 million year over year, on higher revenue and tariff refunds, partly offset by investment in future growth. Source
  • Net income declined on prior tax benefit: Net income was $29 million ($0.36 per diluted share) and non-GAAP net income $155 million ($1.88 per diluted share); both declined, which management attributed to a prior-year tax benefit. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up over 40%: Adjusted EBITDA was $242 million, a 26.8% margin, up more than 40% year over year on higher revenue and tariff refunds. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA definition widened: Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted gross margin now also exclude jurisdiction-specific compensation taxes tied to Employee XSP vesting; earlier periods were not recast and reflect payroll taxes only. Source

Segments and geography

  • Software & Services grew 36%: Software & Services revenue was $398 million, up 36% year over year, driven by new users and premium offerings such as Axon Fusus, the AI Era Plan and Axon 911. Source
  • Connected Devices grew 35%: Connected Devices revenue was $507 million, up 35% year over year, driven by Dedrone, TASER 10 and Axon Body 4. Source
  • Platform Solutions more than doubled: Platform Solutions revenue was $150 million, up 123% year over year, and Dedrone revenue surpassed $100 million. Source
  • Newer markets bookings roughly tripled: International and enterprise bookings each roughly tripled year over year. The United States accounted for 82% of net sales in the quarter, with other countries 18%. Source

“We now expect 2026 revenue growth of 32% to 34%, up from 30% to 32% previously, and continue to expect an Adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 25.5%.”

Axon Enterprise, Inc., press release

Products and customers

  • Large city and state orders: Two nine-figure agreements with major U.S. cities were reported, including the largest individual TASER order in company history. Source
  • First full-scope Axon 911 agreement: The company reported its first full-scope Axon 911 customer agreement, alongside two eight-figure state corrections agreements. Source
  • Integrated and premium adoption: Over 80% of customers deploy at least one integrated hardware-and-software solution, and over 40% subscribe to at least one premium solution. Source
  • Body Mini enterprise launch: Axon Body Mini became generally available in June; early trials covered 300+ cameras across eight retail and healthcare organizations. Source

Costs, margins and tariff refunds

  • Total gross margin flat year over year: Total gross margin was 60.4%, flat year over year and up 130 basis points sequentially; adjusted gross margin was 62.9%, down 40 basis points year over year. Source
  • Software margin fell on services mix: Software & Services gross margin was 71.3%, down from 75.6% a year earlier, driven by professional services mix and scaling new product offerings. Source
  • Devices margin lifted by refunds: Connected Devices gross margin was 51.9%, up from 48.6% a year earlier; tariff refunds drove the gain, partly offset by higher Dedrone revenue mix. Source
  • Tariff refunds received this quarter: Cash from tariff refunds totaled $47 million, of which $18 million related to 2025 expenses; the rest was largely tied to inventory and property and equipment. Source
  • Operating expense levels: SG&A was $291 million, or 32.2% of revenue, and R&D was $209 million, or 23.1%, both including stock-based compensation. Source

“we are beginning to share new contract bookings on a five-year normalized basis to provide a more comparable view of underlying demand across end markets”

Axon Enterprise, Inc., press release

Demand and order book

  • Annual recurring revenue reached $1.6 billion: Annual recurring revenue was $1,639 million, up 39% year over year from $1,183 million a year earlier, reflecting demand for premium offerings. Source
  • Net revenue retention at 126%: Net revenue retention was 126%, up from 125% in the first quarter and 124% a year earlier, with de minimis attrition. Source
  • Future contracted bookings up 41%: Future contracted bookings were $15.1 billion, up from $14.3 billion in the first quarter; the company expects to fulfill 20% to 25% within 12 months. Source
  • Five-year normalized bookings introduced: Newer markets carry shorter contract durations, so the company began sharing five-year normalized bookings; on that basis, new contract bookings grew more than 30%. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow turned positive: Operating cash flow was $20 million, compared with a $92 million outflow a year earlier, and free cash outflow was $1 million. Source
  • Inventory and billing timing weighed: Cash flow was partly offset by continued inventory investment to support customer demand and by the timing of customer billing and collections. Source
  • Net debt rose to $1.1 billion: Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $685 million, against $1.8 billion of senior notes, left net debt at $1.1 billion. Source

Ecosystem, deployments and strategy

  • Strategy centers on customer outcomes: Management described a strategy rooted in a relentless focus on customer outcomes, supported by disciplined investment and execution. Source
  • Vision is public safety operating system: Management framed the work as building the operating system for public safety while advancing the mission to protect life. Source
  • Brookhaven drone response time: With DFR covering 96% of the city, Brookhaven achieved a 53-second average drone response time. Source
  • World Cup stadium coverage: Dedrone supported all 11 U.S. World Cup stadiums, and more than 50 additional sites, including fan zones and team facilities, were also supported. Source
  • Event capabilities remain after tournament: Real-time operations, DFR, counter-drone, ALPR and communications capabilities stay in place after the tournament for routine patrol and daily needs. Source
  • Cosentino's grocery deployment: Cosentino's Food Stores, across 31 grocery locations, used body-worn cameras and related workflows that helped reduce physical confrontations. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Annual recurring revenue Source$1.6 billion, up 39% year over year
Net revenue retention Source126%
Future contracted bookings Source$15.1 billion, up 41% year over year
New contract bookings, five-year normalized growth Sourcemore than 30% year over year
Customers deploying at least one integrated solution Sourceover 80%
Customers subscribing to at least one premium solution Sourceover 40%

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Gross margin reflects professional services mix and scaling of new products, which tariff refunds partly offset. Source
  • Financial: Cash flow faces continued inventory investment and the timing of customer billing and collections. Source
  • Demand: Newer international and enterprise markets carry shorter contract durations, which the company says changes how bookings compare with state and local public safety. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the stock-based compensation expense range is in line with prior guidance. 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.