greeksoup/ stock research

Five9, Inc.: 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: 2 raised, 1 lowered, 3 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 13% to $323.3 million: Third-quarter revenue was $323.3 million, up 13% from $285.8 million. Nine-month revenue was $941.1 million, compared with $848.8 million in the same period of 2025. Source
  • Subscription revenue grew 16%: The headline gives subscription revenue growth of 16% year-over-year, above total revenue growth of 13%. The release does not state a subscription revenue dollar figure. Source
  • GAAP net income declined year-over-year: GAAP net income was $14.5 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, against $18.0 million, or $0.21, a year earlier. Income from operations was $14.3 million against $16.0 million. Source
  • GAAP gross margin declined: GAAP gross margin was 53.4%, against 55.0%. Adjusted gross margin was 61.7%, against 62.8%. Source
  • Subscription retention reached 109%: The LTM subscription dollar-based retention rate was 109% at September 30, 2026, up from 107% at June 30, 2026, as stated in the August release. Source
  • AI revenue growth stepped up: Management said AI revenue growth stepped up significantly in the quarter, alongside accelerating subscription revenue growth. The release gives no AI revenue dollar figure. Source
  • Level AI excluded from guidance: Management said guidance does not include any contribution from the pending Level AI acquisition. Source

“These results indicate that our Humantic CX strategy is working.”

Amit Mathradas, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefull year 2026$1.269 to $1.275 billionRaised from $1.260 to $1.272 billion
GAAP diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$0.75 to $0.83Raised from $0.71 to $0.82
Non-GAAP diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$3.17 to $3.21Lowered from $3.22 to $3.30
Revenue Sourcefourth quarter 2026$328.0 to $334.0 millionNew
GAAP diluted EPS Sourcefourth quarter 2026$0.28 to $0.36New
Non-GAAP diluted EPS Sourcefourth quarter 2026$0.88 to $0.92New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 revenue range rose to $1.269 to $1.275 billion from $1.260 to $1.272 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year GAAP diluted EPS range rose to $0.75 to $0.83 from $0.71 to $0.82. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year non-GAAP diluted EPS range fell to $3.17 to $3.21 from $3.22 to $3.30. Source
  • New guidance: Guidance for the fourth quarter of 2026 was not in the August release, which gave third-quarter and full-year ranges. Source
  • New: The company signed a definitive agreement to acquire Level AI for $325.0 million in cash. Source
  • New: The company is now described as the Genius CX Platform provider, previously the Intelligent CX Platform provider. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 13% to $323.3 million: Third-quarter revenue was $323.3 million, up 13% from $285.8 million. Nine-month revenue was $941.1 million, compared with $848.8 million in the same period of 2025. Source
  • Subscription revenue grew 16%: The headline gives subscription revenue growth of 16% year-over-year, above total revenue growth of 13%. The release does not state a subscription revenue dollar figure. Source
  • GAAP net income declined year-over-year: GAAP net income was $14.5 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, against $18.0 million, or $0.21, a year earlier. Income from operations was $14.3 million against $16.0 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP net income rose: Non-GAAP net income was $63.7 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, against $60.6 million, or $0.78. As a share of revenue it was 19.7%, against 21.2%. Source

Gross margin and cost of revenue

  • GAAP gross margin declined: GAAP gross margin was 53.4%, against 55.0%. Adjusted gross margin was 61.7%, against 62.8%. Source
  • Cost of revenue rose: Cost of revenue was $150.6 million, against $128.6 million a year earlier. Gross profit was $172.7 million, against $157.3 million. Source
  • Depreciation in cost of revenue rose: Depreciation within cost of revenue was $14.3 million, against $9.9 million. Total depreciation in the summary table was $16.7 million, against $12.3 million. Source

“As AI reshapes the customer experience landscape, we believe adding Level AI strengthens our competitive position, expands the customers we can serve, and deepens the AI talent behind our continuous innovation.”

Amit Mathradas, Chief Executive Officer

Operating expenses and adjusted EBITDA

  • Operating expenses rose in each line: Research and development was $41.2 million, against $35.2 million. Sales and marketing was $80.7 million, against $71.7 million. General and administrative was $36.5 million, against $34.4 million. Source
  • Reduction in force costs rose: Costs related to reduction in force plans were $4.3 million in the quarter, against $0.4 million a year earlier. The company excludes these costs from non-GAAP results. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $81.2 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $81.2 million, or 25.1% of revenue, against $71.7 million, also 25.1%. Nine-month adjusted EBITDA was $225.8 million, or 24.0% of revenue. Source
  • Advisory fees excluded from non-GAAP: One-time advisory fees were $2.2 million for research and development transformation in the quarter, and $0.6 million for long-term strategy. Both are excluded from non-GAAP measures. Source

Customers, retention and recognition

  • Subscription retention reached 109%: The LTM subscription dollar-based retention rate was 109% at September 30, 2026, up from 107% at June 30, 2026, as stated in the August release. Source
  • Telecom-inclusive retention rate rose: The subscription and telecom dollar-based retention rate was 107% at September 30, 2026, up from 106% at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Enterprise base cited above 4,000: The company says its platform powers contact centers for more than 4,000 enterprises across 140+ countries. The August release cited more than 3,000 organizations worldwide. Source
  • Analyst firms named company Leader: The company was named a Leader in the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Contact Center as a Service, and recognized as a Leader in the 2026 IDC MarketScape. Source
  • Best Workplaces list recognition: The company was named to the 2026 Best Workplaces in Technology list, published by Fortune Media and Great Place To Work. Source

AI, platform and Level AI

  • AI revenue growth stepped up: Management said AI revenue growth stepped up significantly in the quarter, alongside accelerating subscription revenue growth. The release gives no AI revenue dollar figure. Source
  • Platform described as Genius AI-powered: The company describes its platform as powered by Genius AI, serving every channel and workflow, with governance and control for regulated enterprises. Source
  • Level AI excluded from guidance: Management said guidance does not include any contribution from the pending Level AI acquisition. Source

Balance sheet and debt

  • Cash and investments at quarter-end: Cash and cash equivalents were $263.8 million at September 30, 2026, against $232.1 million at December 31, 2025. Marketable investments were $433.8 million. Source
  • Convertible notes carried at $738.2 million: Convertible senior notes were $738.2 million at September 30, 2026, against $735.5 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Accounts receivable increased: Accounts receivable were $158.5 million, against $131.0 million at December 31, 2025. Total assets were $1.92 billion, against $1.79 billion. Source

Cash flow and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow was $58.4 million: Operating cash flow was $58.4 million in the quarter, against $59.2 million. Nine-month operating cash flow was $164.4 million, against $142.6 million. Source
  • No repurchase cash paid in quarter: Cash paid for share repurchases was $100.0 million in the nine months, the same as in the six months to June 30, so none was paid in the third quarter. Source
  • Capital spending and capitalized software: Purchases of property and equipment were $27.9 million for nine months, against $18.7 million. Capitalized software development costs were $28.5 million, against $29.1 million. Source
  • Diluted share count fell year-over-year: Weighted diluted shares were 77.3 million in the quarter, against 87.3 million a year earlier. Basic shares were 75.0 million, against 77.5 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Level AI closing expected in Q4 2026: The company expects the pending Level AI acquisition to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Subscription revenue growth Source16% year-over-year
LTM subscription dollar-based retention rate Source109% as of September 30, 2026
LTM subscription and telecom dollar-based retention rate Source107% as of September 30, 2026
Customers Sourcemore than 4,000 enterprises across 140+ countries
AI revenue growth Sourcestepped up significantly (not quantified)

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Stock-based compensation guidance assumes a share price approximately consistent with current levels, so the non-GAAP bridge depends on that assumption. 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.