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Elanco Animal Health Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 raised, 1 lowered, 5 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 11% to $1.265 billion: Revenue was $1,265 million, up 11% reported and 9% organic constant currency; International Pet Health rose 17% and U.S. Pet Health rose 13%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 23%: Adjusted EBITDA was $243 million, up from $198 million; adjusted EBITDA margin was 19.5%, against 17.5% a year earlier. Source
  • Pet Health up 14%: Pet Health revenue was $608 million, up 14% reported and organic constant currency; volume rose 9%, led by Zenrelia, Credelio Quattro and AdTab. Source
  • Zenrelia posted largest quarter: U.S. JAK market share grew 7 points year-over-year, with September its highest share month; the company said efficacy is driving use. Source
  • Credelio Quattro passes Seresto: Credelio Quattro became Elanco’s largest U.S. Pet Health branded product; U.S. share grew 9 points and September was its largest sales month. Source
  • Adjusted gross margin up 300 basis points: Adjusted gross margin was 56.1%, up from 53.1%; reported gross margin was 56.9%, up 350 basis points. Source
  • Price rose 4%, volume 5%: Price was led by global Pet Health at 5%; U.S. Pet Health showed sequential price acceleration versus Q2. Source
  • Net leverage reached 2.9x: Net leverage ratio was 2.9x, down 0.7x from December 31, 2025 and from 3.1x at June 30, 2026. Source

“Third quarter results demonstrate Elanco is a consistent, reliable growth company, delivering our diverse portfolio of innovation along with accelerating cash flow,”

Jeff Simmons, President and CEO of Elanco

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Full-year revenue Sourcefull year 2026$5.155 billion to $5.18 billionRaised from $5.09 billion to $5.14 billion
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$1.05 billion to $1.065 billionRaised from $1.01 billion to $1.035 billion
Adjusted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$1.17 to $1.20Raised from $1.10 to $1.16
Innovation revenue target Sourcefull year 2026$1.275 billionRaised from $1.25 billion
Adjusted gross margin Sourcefull year 202655.8% to 56.0%, an increase of 100 basis points versus 2025Raised from 55.2% to 55.6%
Organic constant currency revenue growth Sourcefull year 2026approximately 8%Raised from 6% to 7%
FX tailwind to revenue Sourcefull year 2026approximately $60 millionKept
Year-end net leverage ratio target Sourceyear-end 2026approximately 2.9x Adjusted EBITDALowered from approximately 3.0x
Fourth-quarter revenue Sourcefourth quarter of 2026$1,190 to $1,215 millionNew
Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefourth quarter of 2026$185 to $200 millionNew
Fourth-quarter Adjusted EPS Sourcefourth quarter of 2026$0.16 to $0.19New
Fourth-quarter organic constant currency revenue growth Sourcefourth quarter of 20264% to 6%New
Fourth-quarter operating expenses Sourcefourth quarter of 2026up approximately 11% year-over-year in constant currencyNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS guidance raised. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year adjusted gross margin expansion raised to 100 basis points from 50 basis points. Source
  • Guidance raised: Innovation revenue target raised to $1.275 billion from $1.25 billion. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter 2026 guidance given for revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS. Source
  • New: Jamie Preston named Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, effective November 3. Source
  • New: Credelio Quattro received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency for EU expansion. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 11% to $1.265 billion: Revenue was $1,265 million, up 11% reported and 9% organic constant currency; International Pet Health rose 17% and U.S. Pet Health rose 13%. Source
  • Reported net income of $18 million: Reported net income was $18 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, against a net loss of $34 million a year earlier; adjusted net income was $136 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 23%: Adjusted EBITDA was $243 million, up from $198 million; adjusted EBITDA margin was 19.5%, against 17.5% a year earlier. Source

Segments and species

  • Pet Health up 14%: Pet Health revenue was $608 million, up 14% reported and organic constant currency; volume rose 9%, led by Zenrelia, Credelio Quattro and AdTab. Source
  • Farm Animal up 6%, cattle up 17%: Farm Animal revenue was $631 million, up 6% reported and 4% organic; cattle rose 17% to $339 million while poultry fell 7% to $201 million. Source
  • Global ruminants fastest growing species: Global ruminants, the fastest growing species, rose 12% year-to-date organic constant currency, or 17% including AHV International and foreign exchange. Source
  • Contract manufacturing revenue rose: Contract Manufacturing and Other revenue was $26 million, against $11 million; royalty and milestones sold to a third party totaled $21 million. Source

“Elanco achieved significant adjusted gross margin expansion in the third quarter, up 300 basis points reflecting accelerating price gains to 4% year-over-year and beneficial mix”

Bob VanHimbergen, Executive Vice President and CFO of Elanco Animal Health

Products and customers

  • Zenrelia posted largest quarter: U.S. JAK market share grew 7 points year-over-year, with September its highest share month; the company said efficacy is driving use. Source
  • Credelio Quattro passes Seresto: Credelio Quattro became Elanco’s largest U.S. Pet Health branded product; U.S. share grew 9 points and September was its largest sales month. Source
  • Befrena access now open: Befrena access is now open across clinics, including corporates. Source

Costs, margins and interest

  • Adjusted gross margin up 300 basis points: Adjusted gross margin was 56.1%, up from 53.1%; reported gross margin was 56.9%, up 350 basis points. Source
  • Operating expenses up 12%: Total operating expenses were $492 million; marketing, selling and administrative rose 12% to $393 million on compensation and launch investment. Source
  • Interest expense and tax rate: Reported net interest expense rose mainly from the September 2025 swap maturity and imputed interest on the future revenue liability; reported tax rate was 25.7%. Source

“Reaching this key milestone earlier than anticipated now unlocks accelerated capital allocation flexibility.”

Bob VanHimbergen, Executive Vice President and CFO of Elanco Animal Health

Demand, price and volume

  • Price rose 4%, volume 5%: Price was led by global Pet Health at 5%; U.S. Pet Health showed sequential price acceleration versus Q2. Source
  • Zenrelia and Credelio hit share highs: Both products reported their highest share months in September, based on Kynetec data the company cited for U.S. JAK and U.S. share. Source
  • Competitive activity seen as no impact: Management said competitive activity had no fundamental impact on the trajectory of its innovation. Source

Cash, balance sheet and capital

  • Net leverage reached 2.9x: Net leverage ratio was 2.9x, down 0.7x from December 31, 2025 and from 3.1x at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Operating cash flow broadly flat: Cash provided by operations was $216 million, against $219 million in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Capital allocation flexibility accelerated: Management said reaching 2.9x earlier than anticipated accelerates capital allocation flexibility. Source
  • Net debt and gross debt totals: Net debt was $3,005 million: gross debt of $3,728 million, less cash of $465 million and finance lease liabilities of $258 million. Source

Strategy and launches

  • Befrena and Zenrelia portfolio effect: About 20% of clinics that bought Befrena had never used Zenrelia, which the company cited as the portfolio effect working. Source
  • Launch and pipeline investment continues: Adjusted EBITDA guidance includes incremental strategic investment in global launches of the innovation portfolio and R&D pipeline advancement. Source
  • Ascend productivity progress noted: The CFO cited early progress on Elanco Ascend productivity initiatives as one contributor to adjusted gross margin expansion in the quarter. Source

People and leadership

  • Jamie Preston named chief people officer: Jamie Preston joins from Eli Lilly and Company, most recently as Vice President of HR, Global Compensation and Workforce Innovation. Source
  • Dave Kinard to retire year-end: Dave Kinard, who is succeeded by Preston, intends to retire at the end of the year. Source
  • Engagement highest since IPO: Employee engagement reached its highest level since the IPO, with all functions growing engagement; Great Place To Work certifications in 11 markets. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 November 2026

  • Credelio Quattro EU launch: Credelio Quattro is expected to launch in the EU in Q1 2027, ahead of the season. Source
  • Befrena full launch: Befrena is set to move into full launch in Q1 2027, after outstanding orders are filled. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Advantage and Seresto Family revenue SourceAdvantage $115 million; Seresto $49 million
Research and development expense Source$99 million, up 11%
Regulatory milestone SourcePositive opinion received from European Medicines Agency
Zenrelia U.S. clinics Sourceapproximately 19,000
Credelio Quattro clinic penetration Sourceover 16,500 clinics, ~55%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Seresto was affected by a U.S. retailer inventory draw down in the quarter; underlying performance was in line with expectations. Source
  • External: Management referred to a competitive entrant in Europe, with Zenrelia share gains described as five times the entrant's. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: The August release described Ascend savings as on track; the November release cites early progress on the initiatives.
  • Ahead: The August release targeted reaching below 3x next year; the company reported 2.9x at quarter-end and called it earlier than anticipated.
  • Ahead: Management said the price increase exceeded its expectation for acceleration. 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.