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Cushman & Wakefield Ltd.: 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: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue up 8% on Services, Leasing: Revenue rose 8% to $2.8 billion, with Services up 5%, Leasing up 15% and Capital markets up 18%, per the company. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 15%: Adjusted EBITDA rose to $183.7 million. Net income rose 1% to $52.1 million, and diluted EPS was flat at $0.22. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 28%, diluted flat: Adjusted EPS was $0.37 against $0.29 a year earlier, up 28%. Diluted EPS stayed at $0.22 in both periods. Source
  • Americas Adjusted EBITDA up 18%: Americas revenue rose 7% to $2.05 billion. The segment's Adjusted EBITDA rose 18% to $146.1 million. Source
  • Leasing up 15%, led by Americas: Leasing rose 15%, with the Americas up 19% across all deal sizes, including continued office, industrial and data center leasing. Source
  • Client cost of services up 13%: Cost of services provided to clients rose 13%, mainly from about $119.0 million of higher employment costs, including commissions on brokerage revenue. Source
  • Trailing free cash flow $200.2 million: Over the trailing twelve months, operating cash flow was $281.7 million and free cash flow was $200.2 million. Nine-month free cash flow was negative $34.1 million. Source
  • 2026 Adjusted EPS range held: The company maintained its 2026 Adjusted EPS growth range of 18%-23%, the range set at the second quarter. Source

“Today we reported our seventh consecutive quarter of double-digit adjusted earnings per share growth, showcasing the power of our balanced platform and strategy.”

Michelle MacKay, Chief Executive Officer of Cushman & Wakefield

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EPS growth Sourcefull year 202618%-23% growthKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The 2026 Adjusted EPS growth range was maintained at 18%-23%, the level set in the second-quarter release. Source
  • New: The remaining $150.0 million of 2028 Notes was redeemed on October 21, 2026, after partial redemptions earlier in 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue up 8% on Services, Leasing: Revenue rose 8% to $2.8 billion, with Services up 5%, Leasing up 15% and Capital markets up 18%, per the company. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 15%: Adjusted EBITDA rose to $183.7 million. Net income rose 1% to $52.1 million, and diluted EPS was flat at $0.22. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 28%, diluted flat: Adjusted EPS was $0.37 against $0.29 a year earlier, up 28%. Diluted EPS stayed at $0.22 in both periods. Source
  • Nine-month net income down 17%: Nine-month net income was $92.2 million. Management named the pension settlement loss, the securitization servicing liability and higher income tax expense as drivers. Source
  • Nine-month revenue up 10%: Nine-month revenue reached $8.1 billion, with Adjusted EPS for the nine months at $0.87, up 28%. Source

Segments and regions

  • Americas Adjusted EBITDA up 18%: Americas revenue rose 7% to $2.05 billion. The segment's Adjusted EBITDA rose 18% to $146.1 million. Source
  • EMEA Adjusted EBITDA down 15%: EMEA revenue rose 4% to $269.5 million, while Adjusted EBITDA fell 15% to $17.0 million. EMEA Services revenue rose 13%. Source
  • APAC Adjusted EBITDA up 34%: APAC revenue rose 15% to $484.4 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose 34% to $20.6 million, or 41% in local currency. Source

“With $800 million in debt paydowns since 2024 our balance sheet has been transformed, and we enter this next stage of growth with increased strength, stability and optionality,”

Michelle MacKay, Chief Executive Officer of Cushman & Wakefield

Service lines and clients

  • Leasing up 15%, led by Americas: Leasing rose 15%, with the Americas up 19% across all deal sizes, including continued office, industrial and data center leasing. Source
  • Capital markets up 18%: Capital markets rose 18%, with the Americas up 24% and growth in all major asset classes. Valuation and other revenue was flat. Source
  • Facilities and project management growth: Facilities management rose about $53.0 million on new client wins and expanded mandates. Project management rose about $10.0 million in EMEA and $8.0 million in APAC. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Client cost of services up 13%: Cost of services provided to clients rose 13%, mainly from about $119.0 million of higher employment costs, including commissions on brokerage revenue. Source
  • Gross contract costs up 3%: Gross contract costs, which are reimbursed client costs shown gross, rose 3%, driven by client-dedicated labor, consumables and subcontractors. Source
  • Operating costs up 3%: Operating, administrative and other costs rose 3% to $329.6 million, mainly from employment costs for higher salaries and bonuses. Source
  • Costs of services steady at 82%: Total costs of services were 82% of total revenue in both the nine months of 2026 and 2025. Operating expenses were 13% of revenue in both periods. Source

“Our teams have consistently delivered, and we will continue to focus on converting the strength we have built into durable, profitable long-term growth.”

Michelle MacKay, Chief Executive Officer of Cushman & Wakefield

Interest, equity investments and other items

  • Interest expense down 12%: Net interest expense fell 12% to $49.2 million, reflecting lower principal after 2025 prepayments and 2026 note redemptions, plus lower term loan rates after repricings. Source
  • Greystone JV lifts equity earnings: Equity method earnings were $5.2 million, against an $8.6 million loss a year earlier. The Greystone JV recorded a $3.5 million loan-loss provision, of which the company's 40% share was $1.4 million. Source
  • Other expense on real estate losses: Other expense was $2.2 million, a $4.4 million swing from income, driven mainly by a larger unrealized loss on real estate investments. Source
  • Tax expense rose to $31.6 million: Income tax expense was $31.6 million on $83.7 million of pre-tax earnings, against a $6.3 million benefit a year earlier. Source
  • Pension buy-out settlement loss: The nine-month other expense included a non-cash $17.2 million settlement loss on a U.K. pension buy-out arrangement. Source

Cash, balance sheet and debt

  • Trailing free cash flow $200.2 million: Over the trailing twelve months, operating cash flow was $281.7 million and free cash flow was $200.2 million. Nine-month free cash flow was negative $34.1 million. Source
  • Liquidity of $1.5 billion: Liquidity at September 30 was $1.5 billion, made up of a $1.0 billion undrawn revolver and $0.5 billion of cash. Source
  • Net debt of $2.1 billion: At September 30 the company had $2.0 billion of term loans and $0.6 billion of senior secured notes, against $0.5 billion of cash, giving net debt of $2.1 billion. Source

Guidance and management view

  • 2026 Adjusted EPS range held: The company maintained its 2026 Adjusted EPS growth range of 18%-23%, the range set at the second quarter. Source
  • Management on delivery and focus: The CEO said the team has delivered consistently and that the company will keep converting its built strength into durable, profitable long-term growth. Source
  • Balance sheet transformed by paydowns: The CEO cited $800 million of debt paydowns since 2024 and said the company enters its next stage of growth with more strength, stability and optionality. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Servicing liability amortizes to 2029: The servicing liability from the March 2026 A/R Securitization amendment amortizes through March 2029. Source
  • No debt maturities before 2030: After the 2028 Notes redemption, no long-term debt arrangements mature before 2030. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management noted that changes in expectations and forecasts may materially affect the Greystone JV's future provisions for loan losses. Source
  • Operational: Management cited higher technology and occupancy costs, strategic investments and cost inflation as drivers of nine-month operating costs. Source
  • Regulatory: Other adjustments include legal fees for an antitrust dispute and legal costs from a cyber incident, which the company excludes from its non-GAAP measures. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management maintained the 2026 Adjusted EPS growth range and did not state progress against it in the release. Source
  • Met: Management stated that the 2028 Notes retirement was completed with the October 21, 2026 redemption. 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.