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Corpay, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 raised, 1 lowered, 1 narrowed, 2 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue up 18% to $1.38 billion: Revenue was $1,381.9 million, up 18%. Pro forma and macro-adjusted revenue was $1,320.9 million, up 11%. Acquisitions added $28.6 million, fuel prices $16.8 million and FX $15.6 million. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS up 32%: Adjusted net income was $500.7 million, up 24%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $7.54, up from $5.70 a year earlier. Source
  • Corporate Payments revenue up 41%: Corporate Payments revenue was $571.3 million, up 41% as reported. Pro forma and macro-adjusted revenue was $567.5 million, up 18%. Segment operating income was $226.6 million, up 31%. Source
  • Corporate spend volume up 45%: Corporate Payments spend volume was $95.3 billion, up 45%, or 24% pro forma. Revenue per spend dollar was 0.60%, against 0.62% a year earlier. Source
  • Margin tied to flow-through: Walker tied the 57.4% EBITDA margin to the high flow-through rate on revenue. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 57.7% in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • FX and fuel lifted revenue: Exhibit 5 says FX moves added about $16 million to revenue and fuel prices about $22 million. Fuel price spreads took about $5 million off. Source

“Our third quarter results were excellent, with revenue growth of 18% and adjusted net income per diluted share growth of 32%, both ahead of our expectations,”

Ron Clarke, chairman and chief executive officer, Corpay, Inc.

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total revenues SourceFull year 2026between $5.340 billion and $5.360 billionRaised from between $5.290 billion and $5.330 billion
Net income SourceFull year 2026between $1.337 billion and $1.357 billionRaised from between $1.285 billion and $1.325 billion
Net income per diluted share SourceFull year 2026between $20.03 and $20.23Raised from between $19.50 and $19.90
Adjusted net income SourceFull year 2026between $1.847 billion and $1.867 billionRaised from between $1.790 billion and $1.830 billion
Adjusted net income per diluted share SourceFull year 2026between $27.90 and $28.10, growing 31% at the midpointRaised from between $27.15 and $27.55, growing 28% at the midpoint
Interest expense SourceFull year 2026between $435 million and $455 millionNarrowed, top end cut from between $435 million and $465 million
Adjusted effective tax rate SourceFull year 2026approximately 24% to 26%Lowered from approximately 25% to 27%
Fully diluted shares SourceFull year 2026approximately 66 millionKept
Fuel price spreads SourceRest of 2026approximately flat with the 2025 full year averageKept
Revenue SourceFourth quarter of 2026approximately $1.37 billionNew
Adjusted net income per diluted share SourceFourth quarter of 2026$7.65 at the midpoint (Exhibit 7 range $7.55 to $7.75)New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 revenue, net income, diluted EPS and adjusted measures raised, versus the second-quarter release. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted effective tax rate range lowered to 24% to 26% from 25% to 27%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Interest expense range upper end lowered to $455 million from $465 million. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter 2026 guidance given for the first time, with revenue and adjusted EPS midpoints. Source
  • New: Use of proceeds from the maintenance business sale changed to debt reduction from share repurchases. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue up 18% to $1.38 billion: Revenue was $1,381.9 million, up 18%. Pro forma and macro-adjusted revenue was $1,320.9 million, up 11%. Acquisitions added $28.6 million, fuel prices $16.8 million and FX $15.6 million. Source
  • GAAP net income up 36%: Net income attributable to Corpay was $378.4 million, up 36%. Diluted EPS was $5.66, up 45% from $3.91 a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 17%: Adjusted EBITDA was $793.8 million, up 17%. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 57.4%, against 57.7% a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS up 32%: Adjusted net income was $500.7 million, up 24%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $7.54, up from $5.70 a year earlier. Source
  • Nine-month revenue and EPS higher: Nine-month revenue was $3,981.7 million, up 21%. Nine-month diluted EPS was $14.44, up 28%. Nine-month adjusted diluted EPS was $20.34, against $15.34. Source

Segments and regions

  • Corporate Payments revenue up 41%: Corporate Payments revenue was $571.3 million, up 41% as reported. Pro forma and macro-adjusted revenue was $567.5 million, up 18%. Segment operating income was $226.6 million, up 31%. Source
  • Corporate Payments growth drivers: Walker attributed the 18% organic growth to spend management and cross-border performance. Source
  • Vehicle Payments revenue up 8%: Vehicle Payments revenue was $579.8 million, up 8%. Pro forma and macro-adjusted revenue was $522.7 million, also up 8%. Segment operating income was $297.4 million, up 16%. Source
  • Lodging Payments revenue up 3%: Lodging Payments revenue was $131.1 million, up 3%, with pro forma revenue of $130.8 million. Segment operating income was $57.8 million, up 2%. Source
  • Other segment revenue down 2%: Other revenue, covering Gift, Outsourced Card Processing and Payroll Card, was $99.7 million, down 2%. Pro forma it was $99.9 million, down 1%. Source
  • UK and Other regions grew fastest: Revenue by geography: US $624 million, up about 8.5%; Brazil $227 million, up 24%; UK $208 million, up 31%; Other $324 million, up 27%. Growth computed from reported figures. Source

“We've delivered 11% organic growth for five of the last six quarters,”

Ron Clarke, chairman and chief executive officer, Corpay, Inc.

Volumes, products and customers

  • Corporate spend volume up 45%: Corporate Payments spend volume was $95.3 billion, up 45%, or 24% pro forma. Revenue per spend dollar was 0.60%, against 0.62% a year earlier. Source
  • Vehicle transactions down on sale: Vehicle transactions were 152.4 million, down 26%. Pro forma and macro-adjusted they were 148.2 million, up 9%. PayByPhone parking transactions of 65.3 million a year earlier are not included after the March 2026 sale. Source
  • Vehicle revenue per transaction rose: Reported revenue per vehicle transaction was $3.80, up 47% from $2.60. Pro forma and macro-adjusted it was $3.53, down 1% from $3.56. Source
  • Room nights fell, rate per night rose: Lodging room nights were 7.7 million, down 14%. Revenue per room night was $17.06, up 20% from $14.20. Source
  • Tag, fleet and other transaction counts: Tag transactions were 23.9 million, up 4%, with average monthly tag subscriptions at 8.0 million. Fleet transactions were 102.6 million, flat. Other vehicle transactions were 25.9 million, up 58%. Source

Costs and margins

  • Several cost lines outpaced revenue: Processing expense rose 20%, selling 24%, general and administrative 14% and depreciation and amortization 24%. Operating income was $621.3 million, up 19%. Source
  • Margin tied to flow-through: Walker tied the 57.4% EBITDA margin to the high flow-through rate on revenue. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 57.7% in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Tax provision fell 16%: Provision for income taxes was $120.0 million, down 16%. Nine-month provision was $364.3 million, up 8%. Source
  • Interest expense up 9%: Interest expense, net was $108.8 million, up 9%. Nine-month interest expense was $333.6 million, up 15%. Source
  • Integration costs excluded from adjusted: Integration and deal costs were $17.2 million, excluded from adjusted net income. Amortization of $81.3 million and stock-based compensation of $33.4 million were also excluded. Source

“We are raising our full-year 2026 outlook to reflect our strong third quarter results and improved expectations for the fourth quarter,”

Peter Walker, chief financial officer, Corpay, Inc.

Macro and portfolio effects on revenue

  • FX and fuel lifted revenue: Exhibit 5 says FX moves added about $16 million to revenue and fuel prices about $22 million. Fuel price spreads took about $5 million off. Source
  • Alpha added to Corporate Payments: The consolidated reconciliation shows acquisitions and dispositions adding $28.6 million. Alpha Group, acquired in the fourth quarter of 2025, is reported in Corporate Payments. Source
  • PayByPhone and maintenance in Vehicle: The Vehicle Payments reconciliation includes the PayByPhone and BP fuel card disposals, and the maintenance business held for sale, in 2026 and 2025. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow higher for nine months: Nine-month operating cash flow was $716.3 million, against $687.2 million. Purchases of property and equipment were $143.4 million, against $148.3 million. Source
  • Buyback cash outflow rose sharply: Nine-month cash paid for share repurchases was $1,819.1 million, against $282.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Cash balance rose at quarter end: Cash and cash equivalents were $3,073.0 million at September 30, against $2,408.1 million at December 31. Restricted cash was $6,339.9 million. Source
  • Diluted share count lower: Third-quarter diluted weighted shares were 66.4 million, against 71.1 million a year earlier. Nine-month diluted shares were 67.0 million. Source

Portfolio, legal items and positioning

  • PayByPhone disposal gain recorded: Gain on disposition, net was $125.5 million for nine months and $3.0 million in the quarter. Disposition gains are excluded from adjusted net income. Source
  • Equity method investment adjustments: Adjustments at the equity method investment, net of tax, were $19.4 million in the quarter and $55.1 million for nine months. These are excluded from adjusted net income. Source
  • Legal settlement charges in nine months: Legal settlements and litigation adjustments were $0.6 million in the quarter and $102.2 million for nine months. The nine-month cash flow shows a $100 million provision for legal settlement. Source
  • Company now described as spend management: The About section describes Corpay as the Global Spend Management Company. The second-quarter release used Corporate Payments and Expense Management Company. Source
  • Spend Management solution described: Spend Management is described as providing corporate and virtual card programs and AP automation solutions. The prior release said it automates procure-to-pay. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • FTC settlement conclusion expected later: The preliminary settlement with the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection is subject to customary approval. The second-quarter release expected this to conclude later this year.

In management's words

“Through the end of the quarter we've repurchased 5.25 million shares for $1.85 billion, inclusive of the 1.9 million shares repurchased for $747 million in the third quarter,”

Peter Walker, chief financial officer, Corpay, Inc.

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Corporate Payments spend volume Source$95,301 million
Vehicle Payments transactions Source152.4 million
Tag transactions Source23.9 million
Average monthly tag subscriptions Source8.0 million
Fleet transactions Source102.6 million
Lodging room nights Source7.7 million
Other segment transactions Source398.0 million

Risks management discussed

  • External: Fuel price spreads reduced third-quarter revenue by about $5 million, per the Exhibit 5 footnote. Source
  • External: Guidance assumes exchange rates from Bloomberg consensus as of October 26. FX added about $16 million to third-quarter revenue. Source
  • Financial: Interest expense guidance assumes the SOFR forward curve. Third-quarter interest expense, net rose 9%. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: The second-quarter release gave a third-quarter revenue midpoint of $1.355 billion. The third-quarter release said results were ahead of expectations.
  • Not stated: Management kept free cash flow use for debt paydown as a guidance assumption. 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.