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Criteo S.A.: 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: 2 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue and Contribution ex-TAC both fell: Revenue was $416 million, down 11% (10% at constant currency). Contribution ex-TAC was $240 million, down 17% (15% at constant currency), against $470 million and $288 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net income and EPS declined sharply: Net income was $6 million, down 85%, or $0.11 per diluted share against $0.70. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.43 against $1.31 in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Retail Media revenue fell 23%: Retail Media revenue was $51.9 million, down 23%. Retail Media Contribution ex-TAC was $50.9 million, down 23%, which the company attributed to a $20 million headwind from scope changes with two clients. Source
  • Media spend reached $1.2 billion: Media spend was $1.2 billion in the third quarter, up 9% at constant currency, and $4.6 billion over the last twelve months. Source
  • Q4 guidance includes Retail Media scope change: Management said the fourth-quarter guidance reflects scope changes in Retail Media that it had communicated earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin fell to 27%: Adjusted EBITDA was $65 million, down 39%. The margin on Contribution ex-TAC was 27% against 36%, reflecting Performance Media softness and the Retail Media scope changes, partly offset by lower employee and share-based costs. Source
  • Operating cash flow and FCF fell: Cash flow from operating activities was $57 million, down from $90 million. Free Cash Flow was $21 million, down from $67 million, and $134 million on a trailing 12-month basis. Source
  • Cash and securities down $63 million: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $326 million, down $63 million from December 31, 2025, after $65 million of share repurchases in the nine months. Source

“Despite near-term headwinds, we are making tangible progress across our business, with momentum in newer channels and a growing pipeline of opportunities”

Michael Komasinski, Chief Executive Officer of Criteo

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Contribution ex-TAC, full year Sourcefiscal year 2026-12% to -10% year-over-year at constant currencyKept
Adjusted EBITDA margin, full year Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately 30% of Contribution ex-TACKept
Contribution ex-TAC, fourth quarter Sourcefourth quarter 2026between $292 million and $298 million, or -11% to -9% year-over-year at constant-currencyNew
Adjusted EBITDA, fourth quarter Sourcefourth quarter 2026between $105 million and $111 millionNew
Exchange-rate assumptions Sourcefiscal year 2026U.S. dollar-euro 0.87; U.S. dollar-Japanese Yen 159; U.S. dollar-British Pound 0.75; U.S. dollar-Korean Won 1,441; U.S. dollar-Brazilian Real 5.16

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Full-year Contribution ex-TAC guidance of a 12% to 10% constant-currency decrease was continued from the August release. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA margin guidance of about 30% of Contribution ex-TAC was continued from the August release. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter guidance for Contribution ex-TAC and Adjusted EBITDA was issued. The August release had given third-quarter guidance only. Source
  • New: Connor McGogney became Chief Financial Officer effective August 10, 2026, succeeding Sarah Glickman, who had served six years.
  • New: Former Google and Microsoft executive Jianchang “JC” Mao was added to the Board of Directors as an independent director. Source
  • New: ChatGPT advertising availability expanded to 89 countries. The August release cited seven countries. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue and Contribution ex-TAC both fell: Revenue was $416 million, down 11% (10% at constant currency). Contribution ex-TAC was $240 million, down 17% (15% at constant currency), against $470 million and $288 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net income and EPS declined sharply: Net income was $6 million, down 85%, or $0.11 per diluted share against $0.70. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.43 against $1.31 in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Nine-month revenue down 10%: For the nine months, revenue was $1,269 million against $1,404 million, down 10%. Contribution ex-TAC fell 12% to $746 million, and Adjusted EBITDA fell 29% to $203 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • Retail Media revenue fell 23%: Retail Media revenue was $51.9 million, down 23%. Retail Media Contribution ex-TAC was $50.9 million, down 23%, which the company attributed to a $20 million headwind from scope changes with two clients. Source
  • Retail Media grew 10% excluding scope change: Excluding the $20 million scope-change impact, Contribution ex-TAC grew 10% across the underlying client base. Management said this was expected given tougher year-over-year comparisons. Source
  • Performance Media revenue fell 9%: Performance Media revenue was $364.6 million, down 9% (8% at constant currency). Contribution ex-TAC fell 15% to $189.4 million, which management attributed to soft performance in Commerce Growth. Source
  • All three regions declined: Americas revenue was $174.0 million, down 14%. EMEA was $159.2 million, down 9%, and APAC was $83.3 million, down 11%, all compared with the third quarter of 2025. Source

“As we sharpen execution and operate with greater discipline, we remain focused on capturing the opportunities ahead and creating sustainable value for our shareholders.”

Michael Komasinski, Chief Executive Officer of Criteo

Products, channels and partners

  • Retail network added new partners: Retail Media adoption spanned about 4,700 brands. New retail partners include Notino in EMEA, El Puerto de Liverpool in Mexico, ONIGO in Japan, Adore Beauty in Australia and PayU in India. Source
  • Media spend reached $1.2 billion: Media spend was $1.2 billion in the third quarter, up 9% at constant currency, and $4.6 billion over the last twelve months. Source
  • First advertising partner on ChatGPT: Criteo became OpenAI's first advertising technology partner in March 2026. The company said the offering now reaches thousands of brands in 89 countries. Source
  • Sponsored products into AI search: Criteo is working with THG Ingenuity to bring sponsored products into AI-powered conversational search, which the company said adds discovery and monetization channels. Source

Demand, clients and Q4 guidance

  • Q4 guidance includes Retail Media scope change: Management said the fourth-quarter guidance reflects scope changes in Retail Media that it had communicated earlier. Source
  • Foreign exchange headwind larger in Q4: Management said foreign exchange will be a greater headwind in the fourth quarter than in its prior guidance, because exchange rates became less favorable over the past three months. Source
  • Client count down 2%: Clients were 16,703 at the end of the third quarter, down about 2% from 16,977 a year earlier. Source

“We maintained cost discipline in the third quarter while investing in our growth priorities, and we see further opportunities to improve efficiency.”

Connor McGogney, Chief Financial Officer

Costs and operating expenses

  • Operating expenses down 9%: Operating expenses were $187 million, down 9%. Management attributed the decline to disciplined resource allocation, productivity gains, lower share-based compensation and a lower bonus accrual, partly offset by planned growth investments. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating expenses down 3%: Non-GAAP operating expenses were $153 million, down 3% from $158 million a year earlier, after excluding depreciation, amortization and equity-related compensation. Source
  • Restructuring costs rose over nine months: Restructuring, integration and transformation costs were $5.4 million in the third quarter, against $6.9 million, and $25.5 million for the nine months, against $9.3 million. Source

Margins and profitability

  • Gross margin fell to 50%: Gross profit margin was 50% against 55% a year earlier, and gross profit was $208 million, down 19%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin fell to 27%: Adjusted EBITDA was $65 million, down 39%. The margin on Contribution ex-TAC was 27% against 36%, reflecting Performance Media softness and the Retail Media scope changes, partly offset by lower employee and share-based costs. Source
  • Q3 results against prior guidance: Contribution ex-TAC of $240 million sat within the prior third-quarter range of $237 million to $241 million. Adjusted EBITDA of $65 million was above the $54 million to $58 million range given in August.

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow and FCF fell: Cash flow from operating activities was $57 million, down from $90 million. Free Cash Flow was $21 million, down from $67 million, and $134 million on a trailing 12-month basis. Source
  • Nine-month free cash flow near zero: Free Cash Flow was $(0.4) million for the nine months, against $76 million a year earlier, as capital spending on intangibles, property and equipment rose to $126.9 million from $75.3 million. Source
  • Cash and securities down $63 million: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $326 million, down $63 million from December 31, 2025, after $65 million of share repurchases in the nine months. Source
  • Share repurchases of $65 million: The company repurchased $4 million of shares in the third quarter and $65 million in the first nine months of 2026. Source
  • Liquidity of about $788 million: Total financial liquidity was about $788 million at September 30, 2026, including $275 million of cash, $51 million of marketable securities and $462 million available under the revolving credit facility. Source

People and corporate matters

  • Connor McGogney became CFO: Connor McGogney became Chief Financial Officer effective August 10, 2026, succeeding Sarah Glickman, who remained an advisor through September.
  • Jianchang Mao joins board: Former Google and Microsoft executive Jianchang “JC” Mao was appointed to the Board of Directors as an independent director. Source
  • Headcount down 4% year over year: Headcount was 3,504 at the end of the third quarter, down 4% from a year earlier and 1% from the second quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Performance CTV launches in Brazil and Mexico: Performance Connected TV is to start in Brazil and Mexico by year-end 2026, followed by Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia and select additional markets in 2027. Source
  • Redomicile to the United States planned: The transfer of legal domicile from Luxembourg to the United States is expected to complete on January 1, 2027, subject to shareholder approval and other customary conditions. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Clients Source16,703 at September 30, 2026
Media spend, third quarter 2026 Source$1.2 billion, up 9% at constant currency
Media spend, last 12 months Source$4.6 billion
Retail Media brands Sourceapproximately 4,700

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited soft performance in Commerce Growth as the main driver of the Performance Media Contribution ex-TAC decline. Source
  • Demand: Scope changes with two Retail Media clients were a $20 million headwind in the third quarter, and the fourth-quarter guidance reflects their impact. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The August release called the third-quarter scope-change impact temporary. The November release describes the impact of the same scope changes without that word.
  • Not stated: Management continued the full-year Adjusted EBITDA margin guidance given in August. 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.