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Cbiz, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 19 October 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 1.2% in quarter: Third-quarter revenue was $702.2 million versus $693.8 million a year earlier. Financial Services revenue was $597.8 million, up 1.2%; Benefits and Insurance Services was $104.4 million. Source
  • GAAP net income and EPS rose: Third-quarter net income was $47.2 million versus $30.1 million, and diluted EPS was $0.79 versus $0.48. Operating income was $90.2 million, or 12.8% of revenue, versus 8.5%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA and EPS grew: Adjusted EBITDA was $131.9 million, up 6.3%, with a margin of 18.8% versus 17.9%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.21 versus $1.06. Source
  • Nine-month adjusted EBITDA fell: Nine-month revenue was $2,233.0 million, up 0.8%, and GAAP EPS was $3.62 versus $3.06. Adjusted EBITDA was $479.3 million, down 1.2%; adjusted diluted EPS rose 5.9% to $4.64. Source
  • Grant Thornton merger agreement: Grant Thornton, backed by New Mountain Capital, agreed to acquire CBIZ in an all-cash deal with a $5.0 billion enterprise value, or $55.00 per share. Source
  • Closing expected in fourth quarter: Closing is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to shareholder approval, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Source
  • Free cash flow reached $125.2M: Free cash flow for nine months was $125.2 million versus $33.8 million, after property and equipment additions of $21.8 million versus $15.0 million. Source

“Due to the proposed transaction and as previously disclosed, the Company will not be providing financial guidance for the full year 2026 or hosting a conference call to discuss third quarter results.”

Cbiz, Inc., press release

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 guidance remains not provided, as in the prior release, which withdrew fiscal 2026 guidance. Source

Third-quarter and nine-month results

  • Revenue rose 1.2% in quarter: Third-quarter revenue was $702.2 million versus $693.8 million a year earlier. Financial Services revenue was $597.8 million, up 1.2%; Benefits and Insurance Services was $104.4 million. Source
  • GAAP net income and EPS rose: Third-quarter net income was $47.2 million versus $30.1 million, and diluted EPS was $0.79 versus $0.48. Operating income was $90.2 million, or 12.8% of revenue, versus 8.5%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA and EPS grew: Adjusted EBITDA was $131.9 million, up 6.3%, with a margin of 18.8% versus 17.9%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.21 versus $1.06. Source
  • Nine-month adjusted EBITDA fell: Nine-month revenue was $2,233.0 million, up 0.8%, and GAAP EPS was $3.62 versus $3.06. Adjusted EBITDA was $479.3 million, down 1.2%; adjusted diluted EPS rose 5.9% to $4.64. Source

Proposed transaction and guidance

  • Grant Thornton merger agreement: Grant Thornton, backed by New Mountain Capital, agreed to acquire CBIZ in an all-cash deal with a $5.0 billion enterprise value, or $55.00 per share. Source
  • Closing expected in fourth quarter: Closing is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to shareholder approval, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Source
  • Delisting and private status on closing: On completion, CBIZ common stock will no longer be listed on the NYSE and CBIZ will become a private company. Source

“Following the completion of the proposed transaction, CBIZ’s common stock will no longer be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and CBIZ will become a private company.”

Cbiz, Inc., press release

Segment revenue and margins

  • Financial Services margin rose: Financial Services gross margin was $109.9 million versus $95.9 million, and its adjusted EBITDA margin was 22.2% versus 21.5%. Source
  • Benefits and Insurance margin fell: Benefits and Insurance Services gross margin was $18.3 million versus $19.3 million, and its adjusted EBITDA margin was 19.4% versus 21.0%. Source
  • Nine-month segment margins: For nine months, Financial Services adjusted EBITDA margin was 25.2% versus 24.6%, and Benefits and Insurance Services was 20.0% versus 22.8%. Source

Operating costs and taxes

  • Corporate G&A fell in quarter: Third-quarter corporate G&A was $23.9 million, or 3.4% of revenue, down from $31.3 million. For nine months it rose to $103.8 million from $87.0 million. Source
  • Integration costs declined: Integration costs related to acquisitions were $17.3 million in the third quarter versus $28.6 million, and $56.0 million for nine months versus $63.5 million. Source
  • Deferred compensation moved expenses: The deferred compensation plan reduced third-quarter operating expenses by $0.6 million, versus $7.8 million of expense a year earlier. Source
  • Income tax expense rose: Third-quarter income tax expense was $20.4 million versus $10.3 million, and nine-month tax expense was $87.2 million versus $76.2 million. Source

Adjustments and one-time items

  • Nine-month gain on Marcum adjustment: Nine-month results include a $58.0 million gain from acquisition-related adjustments, tied to finalizing Marcum working capital and purchase price. Source
  • ESPP correction income in quarter: The third quarter includes $5.9 million of ESPP correction income, which is excluded from adjusted net income along with related tax effects. Source
  • Legal loss recorded in nine months: An estimated $7.2 million loss on a legal matter was recorded in the nine months, and the company plans to settle it. Source
  • Pending-transaction costs excluded: Corporate projects costs of $2.1 million in the quarter, tied to the pending transaction, are excluded from adjusted results as unusual and one-time. Source
  • Non-GAAP measures exclude Marcum items: Adjusted measures exclude the Marcum Transaction, integration costs, amortization of acquired intangibles, and non-operating gains and losses management does not consider ongoing. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow rose $98M: Nine-month operating cash flow was $147.1 million versus $48.8 million. Accounts receivable, net, rose to $782.4 million from $556.0 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Free cash flow reached $125.2M: Free cash flow for nine months was $125.2 million versus $33.8 million, after property and equipment additions of $21.8 million versus $15.0 million. Source
  • Debt to equity ratio fell: Debt to equity was 66.8% at September 30, 2026, down from 75.5% at December 31, 2025. Treasury stock rose to $(1,156.5) million from $(1,078.5) million. Source
  • Financing outflows rose: Net cash used in financing activities was $185.9 million for nine months versus $75.2 million. Current term loan portion was $96.3 million and revolver balance $176.5 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 19 October 2026

  • Closing expected in Q4 2026: Management expects the transaction to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to shareholder approval, regulatory approvals and customary conditions. Source
  • Delisting after closing: On completion, CBIZ stock would no longer be listed on the NYSE and CBIZ would be a private company. Source

Risks management discussed

  • External: Closing depends on shareholder approval, required regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions being satisfied. Source
  • Financial: Unusual, one-time legal and professional costs tied to the pending transaction were $2.1 million in the quarter and are excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Regulatory: An estimated $7.2 million loss on a legal matter was recorded, and the company plans to settle the matter. Source
  • Operational: Integration costs tied to the Marcum Transaction include consulting, technology and personnel costs, which continued in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The release describes the Grant Thornton merger agreement as previously disclosed and announced on July 29, 2026. Source
  • Not stated: Full-year 2026 financial guidance is not provided, as previously disclosed, and no earnings call is held for the third quarter. 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.