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8X8 Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 11 raised, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Total revenue rose year over year: Total revenue was $185.1 million, against $178.9 million a year earlier. Service revenue was $179.7 million, against $173.5 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating profit rose: Non-GAAP operating profit was $21.7 million, or 11.7% of total revenue, against $19.1 million, or 10.7%. GAAP operating income was $9.7 million, against $9.0 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP gross margin fell: Non-GAAP gross margin was 64.8% of total revenue, against 69.5% a year earlier. GAAP gross margin was 63.9%, against 67.7%. Source
  • Usage-based revenue grew year over year: The release says revenue from usage-based offerings, including AI-based solutions, grew year over year, but it gives no dollar figure. Source
  • Quarterly operating cash flow was lower: Cash flow from operations was $20.7 million, against $27.2 million a year earlier. Nine-month operating cash flow was $41.4 million, against $57.7 million. Source
  • Full-year ranges moved up: Full-year ranges for service and total revenue, operating margin, EPS, and cash flow moved up from the previous release. The gross margin range was kept. Source

“Our third quarter results reflect continued progress as our strategic investments translated into improving execution across the business”

Samuel Wilson, Chief Executive Officer at 8x8, Inc.

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Service revenue SourceFiscal year 2026, ending March 31, 2026$708.6 million to $713.6 millionRaised from $692 million to $706 million
Total revenue SourceFiscal year 2026, ending March 31, 2026$729.0 million to $734.0 millionRaised from $712 million to $726 million
Non-GAAP gross margin SourceFiscal year 2026, ending March 31, 202665% to 66%Kept
Non-GAAP operating margin SourceFiscal year 2026, ending March 31, 2026between 9.5% and 10.0%Raised from between 8.5% and 9.5%
Non-GAAP net income per share, diluted SourceFiscal year 2026, ending March 31, 2026$0.36 to $0.37Raised from $0.31 to $0.33
Cash flow from operations SourceFiscal year 2026, ending March 31, 2026$42 million to $45 millionRaised from $38 million to $42 million
Service revenue SourceFourth quarter of fiscal 2026, ending March 31, 2026$173.5 million to $178.5 millionRaised
Total revenue SourceFourth quarter of fiscal 2026, ending March 31, 2026$178.5 million to $183.5 millionRaised
Non-GAAP gross margin SourceFourth quarter of fiscal 2026, ending March 31, 2026approximately 64% to 65%Raised
Non-GAAP operating margin SourceFourth quarter of fiscal 2026, ending March 31, 2026approximately 8.5% to 9.5%Raised
Interest expense SourceFourth quarter of fiscal 2026, ending March 31, 2026approximately $4.0 million
Cash interest SourceFourth quarter of fiscal 2026, ending March 31, 2026approximately $6.1 million
Non-GAAP net income per share, diluted SourceFourth quarter of fiscal 2026, ending March 31, 2026$0.07 to $0.08Raised
Cash flow from operations SourceFourth quarter of fiscal 2026, ending March 31, 2026$1 million to $4 millionRaised

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Management raised fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal 2026 guidance; the release gives prior full-year ranges but no prior fourth-quarter ranges. Source
  • New: 8x8 Retail Nationwide was added as a product for frontline retail, not listed in the previous quarter's release. Source
  • New: Customer 360 was added to Agent Workspace, not listed in the previous quarter's release. Source
  • New: The company adopted ISO/IEC 27018 for personal data protection, not listed in the previous quarter's release. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Total revenue rose year over year: Total revenue was $185.1 million, against $178.9 million a year earlier. Service revenue was $179.7 million, against $173.5 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating profit rose: Non-GAAP operating profit was $21.7 million, or 11.7% of total revenue, against $19.1 million, or 10.7%. GAAP operating income was $9.7 million, against $9.0 million. Source
  • GAAP net income and EPS higher: GAAP net income was $5.1 million, against $3.0 million. Diluted GAAP EPS was $0.04, against $0.02. Non-GAAP net income was $17.1 million, against $14.5 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose: Adjusted EBITDA was $26.3 million, or 14.2% of total revenue, against $23.9 million, or 13.4%. Source
  • Nine-month net income improved: For the nine months, total revenue was $550.5 million, against $538.0 million. Net income was $1.5 million, against a net loss of $21.8 million. Source

Revenue mix and gross margin

  • Service revenue is most of total: Service revenue was $179.7 million of total revenue of $185.1 million. Other revenue was $5.4 million, with a negative gross margin on other revenue. Source
  • Non-GAAP gross margin fell: Non-GAAP gross margin was 64.8% of total revenue, against 69.5% a year earlier. GAAP gross margin was 63.9%, against 67.7%. Source
  • Service cost of revenue rose: GAAP cost of service revenue was $59.5 million, against $50.5 million, or 33.1% of service revenue against 29.1%. Non-GAAP service revenue margin was 67.4%, against 72.6%. Source

“Our third quarter performance reflected improved execution across revenue, non-GAAP operating margin, and cash flow, enabling us to raise our guidance for the fourth quarter and the full fiscal year”

Kevin Kraus, Chief Financial Officer of 8x8

Operating costs and expenses

  • Sales and R&D spending declined: Sales and marketing was $60.5 million, against $65.6 million. Research and development was $27.2 million, against $29.8 million. Source
  • General and administrative expense rose: General and administrative expense was $20.8 million, against $16.6 million. Total operating expenses were $108.5 million, against $112.1 million. Source
  • Severance and exit costs rose: Severance, transition and contract exit costs were $2.8 million, against $1.8 million. These costs are excluded from non-GAAP operating profit. Source

Products and customers

  • Customer 360 added to agent workspace: Customer 360 adds interaction history, profile details, and AI-driven sentiment and topic insights to Agent Workspace, so agents work without switching tools. Source
  • Retail Nationwide product launched: 8x8 Retail Nationwide adds device management and shared handhelds for frontline retail, with remote configuration across stores, headquarters, and warehouses. Source
  • Large-meeting controls added to 8x8 Work: Presenters can manage speakers and promote attendees in real time for town halls and webinars. A WCAG-compliant site map and a real-time User Status report were also added. Source
  • Native Mitel desk phone support: Native SIP support for Mitel desk phones lets enterprises keep existing hardware, cut costs, and move to the cloud, according to the release. Source
  • 8x8 Engage gaining traction: Management said 8x8 Engage is spreading to more frontline and customer-facing teams. Source
  • ISO privacy certification adopted: The company adopted ISO/IEC 27018 certification, which covers personal data protection across the 8x8 Platform for CX. Source

“Voice continues to be the preferred way to communicate when interactions are complex, time-sensitive, or high value”

Samuel Wilson, Chief Executive Officer at 8x8, Inc.

Demand and customer interest

  • Usage-based revenue grew year over year: The release says revenue from usage-based offerings, including AI-based solutions, grew year over year, but it gives no dollar figure. Source
  • Customer interest in AI products rose: Management said it is seeing increased customer interest in its new products and AI capabilities. Source
  • Digital channels gaining importance: Management said digital channels play a growing role as customers expect faster, more flexible ways to connect, while voice stays preferred for complex interactions. Source

Operating cash flow and investment

  • Quarterly operating cash flow was lower: Cash flow from operations was $20.7 million, against $27.2 million a year earlier. Nine-month operating cash flow was $41.4 million, against $57.7 million. Source
  • Capitalized software spending continued: Nine-month capitalized internal-use software costs were $9.7 million, and purchases of property and equipment were $3.1 million. Source
  • Cash balance reflects voluntary prepayment: Ending cash and equivalents, including restricted cash, was $88.2 million, after a voluntary $5 million principal prepayment on the 2024 Term Loan. Source

Debt and share count

  • Debt reduced $224 million since 2022: The company has repaid $224 million of debt, reducing total debt outstanding by 41% since August 2022. Source
  • Term loan balance declined: The non-current term loan was $94.9 million at December 31, 2025, against $139.6 million at March 31, 2025. The current portion was $26.7 million. Source
  • Cash and equivalents at quarter end: Cash and cash equivalents were $86.9 million, and restricted cash was $1.3 million, at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Share repurchases and share count: Nine-month payments for repurchases of common stock were $1.8 million. Shares outstanding were 139.3 million, against 134.4 million at March 31, 2025. Source

Strategy and recognition

  • Cost discipline and deleveraging cited: The CFO cited disciplined cost management, ongoing deleveraging, and a continued focus on durable profitability and cash flow as support for the momentum. Source
  • AI reshaping customer engagement: Management said AI is changing how organizations approach customer engagement, alongside more emphasis on security, privacy, and vendor consolidation. Source
  • Unified secure platform positioning: Management said the unified, secure platform helps organizations simplify environments and modernize as engagement models change. Source
  • Analyst recognition in AI contact center: 8x8 was named a Major Player in an IDC MarketScape assessment of AI-enabled contact center workforce engagement management. Source

Guidance ranges

  • Full-year ranges moved up: Full-year ranges for service and total revenue, operating margin, EPS, and cash flow moved up from the previous release. The gross margin range was kept. Source
  • Fourth-quarter ranges provided: Ranges were given for the fourth quarter, covering service and total revenue, margins, interest, EPS, and cash flow from operations. Source
  • Share count assumptions updated: Guidance EPS is based on about 145 million fully-diluted shares for the fourth quarter and about 142 million for the full year. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 February 2026

  • Fourth quarter ends March 31: The fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, which the new ranges cover, ends March 31, 2026. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management said the increased emphasis on profitability and cash flow generation may not be successful. Source
  • Demand: Management said reducing total costs as a share of revenue may affect revenue and the business in ways not anticipated. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management reported positive cash flow from operations for a 20th consecutive quarter. Source
  • Not stated: Management said strategic investments translated into improving execution; no target or date is given. 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.