greeksoup/ stock research

First Advantage Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

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

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 13.8% year over year: Revenue was $465.8 million, up 13.8% from $409.2 million a year earlier. Management cited growth across its revenue growth algorithm. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 26.7%: Adjusted net income was $67.3 million, up 28.6%; adjusted diluted EPS was $0.38 against $0.30, up 26.7%. Source
  • Revenue guidance raised for 2026: Full-year revenue range moved to $1,720 million - $1,745 million from $1,670 million - $1,710 million. Source
  • Profit guidance raised on every line: Adjusted EBITDA moved to $488 million - $498 million from $472 million - $486 million; Adjusted Net Income moved to $227 million - $232 million from $214 million - $225 million. Source
  • Low end now above prior high end: The CFO said the low end of each updated range exceeds the high end of the prior range across every metric. Source
  • Pipeline described as strong into 2027: Management said go-to-market momentum and pipeline remain strong as the company approaches 2027. Source
  • Operating cash flow reached $186.8M: Nine-month operating cash flow was $186.8 million against $129.2 million; quarterly cash flows from operations were $63.8 million. Source
  • Data Diver Technologies deal announced: The company announced the acquisition of Data Diver Technologies, LLC on the day of its results release. Source

“We delivered another quarter of outstanding performance, highlighted by nearly 14% revenue growth, increasing margins, strong cash flow, and robust earnings per share growth.”

Scott Staples, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenues Sourcefull year 2026$1,720 million - $1,745 millionRaised from $1,670 million - $1,710 million
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$488 million - $498 millionRaised from $472 million - $486 million
Adjusted Net Income Sourcefull year 2026$227 million - $232 millionRaised from $214 million - $225 million
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share Sourcefull year 2026$1.30 - $1.33Raised from $1.23 - $1.29

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 guidance was raised for revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS, based on year-to-date performance and fourth-quarter expectations. Source
  • New: The company announced the acquisition of Data Diver Technologies, LLC, which was not in the prior quarter's documents. Source

Quarterly results and growth

  • Revenue grew 13.8% year over year: Revenue was $465.8 million, up 13.8% from $409.2 million a year earlier. Management cited growth across its revenue growth algorithm. Source
  • Growth came from base and new logos: Management pointed to excellent base growth, solid new logo contribution, successful upsell and cross-sell activity, and consistently high retention. Source
  • Net income and EPS both rose: Net income was $20.5 million, a 4.4% margin, against $2.6 million a year earlier; diluted EPS was $0.12 against $0.01. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 26.7%: Adjusted net income was $67.3 million, up 28.6%; adjusted diluted EPS was $0.38 against $0.30, up 26.7%. Source

Full-year guidance raised

  • Revenue guidance raised for 2026: Full-year revenue range moved to $1,720 million - $1,745 million from $1,670 million - $1,710 million. Source
  • Profit guidance raised on every line: Adjusted EBITDA moved to $488 million - $498 million from $472 million - $486 million; Adjusted Net Income moved to $227 million - $232 million from $214 million - $225 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS range moved up: Adjusted diluted EPS range moved to $1.30 - $1.33 from $1.23 - $1.29, as shown in the updated guidance table. Source
  • Low end now above prior high end: The CFO said the low end of each updated range exceeds the high end of the prior range across every metric. Source

“We are executing well and realizing benefits far exceeding our original expectations.”

Scott Staples, Chief Executive Officer

Costs and margins

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin at 29.3%: Adjusted EBITDA was $136.5 million, a 29.3% margin against 29.0% a year earlier, up 15.2% in dollars. Source
  • Cost of services rose: Cost of services was $253.9 million against $222.0 million in the year-earlier quarter. Source
  • Depreciation and amortization rose: Total depreciation and amortization was $66.9 million against $62.3 million; acquisition-related amortization was $53.8 million against $51.5 million. Source
  • Integration charges fell year over year: Integration, restructuring and other charges were $3.8 million against $6.7 million, with Sterling integration expense of $1.3 million against $3.8 million. Source
  • Interest expense fell year over year: Interest expense, net was $30.4 million against $40.0 million; loss on extinguishment of debt was $0.6 million against $0.4 million. Source

Demand and customers

  • Pipeline described as strong into 2027: Management said go-to-market momentum and pipeline remain strong as the company approaches 2027. Source
  • Broad growth across Americas verticals: Management said growth was broad across diverse verticals, with strong performance from nearly every vertical in the Americas business. Source
  • AI products cited as differentiators: Management said AI-enabled products help customers mitigate human capital risks and prevent fraud, and called them key differentiators. Source
  • Large customer base and reach: The company reported over 80,000 customers worldwide, including approximately two-thirds of the Fortune 100. Source

“While deleveraging remains a high priority for capital allocation, as evidenced by our $45 million debt prepayment during the quarter, our consistent cash flow provides us flexibility”

Steven Marks, Chief Financial Officer

Cash, debt and share repurchases

  • Operating cash flow reached $186.8M: Nine-month operating cash flow was $186.8 million against $129.2 million; quarterly cash flows from operations were $63.8 million. Source
  • Software capitalization rose: Capitalized software development costs were $47.6 million for nine months against $34.5 million; purchases of property and equipment were $11.1 million against $2.8 million. Source
  • Long-term debt declined: Long-term debt was $1,990.9 million at September 30, against $2,080.0 million at December 31; nine-month First Lien repayments were $95.0 million. Source
  • Receivables rose on higher balances: Accounts receivable were $350.3 million at September 30, against $297.3 million at December 31; cash was $240.9 million against $240.0 million. Source
  • Nine-month repurchases of $38.4M: Share repurchases were $38.4 million for nine months, against $38.2 million reported for the six months in the second quarter release. Source
  • Shares outstanding declined: Shares outstanding were 171,983,905 at September 30, 2026, against 174,190,461 at December 31, 2025. Source

Acquisition and strategy

  • Data Diver Technologies deal announced: The company announced the acquisition of Data Diver Technologies, LLC on the day of its results release. Source
  • Data Diver adds court records: Management described Data Diver's platform as collecting, aggregating, retaining and delivering high-volume criminal and court records to speed screening. Source
  • Deal framed under FA 5.0 strategy: Management called the acquisition another step in its FA 5.0 growth strategy, focused on data and technology assets. Source
  • Sterling closed two years earlier: The company marked the second anniversary of the Sterling acquisition closing on October 31. Source
  • Company described as larger, diversified: The CEO said the company is larger and more diversified, with a broader portfolio of technologies backed by greater scale. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Cash flow to fund capital deployment: The CFO said cash flow allows disciplined capital deployment, including the Data Diver acquisition, alongside organic growth and shareholder returns. Source
  • Sterling synergy target by year-end: Management expects the Sterling synergy program to finish 2026 near or at the top end of its run-rate target range. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Integration, restructuring and other charges include nonrecurring legal exposures, currency losses, asset sale results and capitalized software impairments. Source
  • Operational: Sterling integration expense of $1.3 million was recorded within integration, restructuring and other charges in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: The CEO said Sterling benefits are being realized well beyond the original expectations. Source
  • Ahead: The CFO said the low end of each updated guidance range exceeds the high end of the prior ranges. 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.