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Fastly, Inc.: 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: 4 raised, 4 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 20% to $190.2 million: Revenue was $190.2 million, up from $158.2 million a year earlier. Nine-month revenue was $546.5 million, against $451.4 million. Source
  • Operating loss narrowed; non-GAAP income rose: GAAP loss from operations was $11.3 million, or 5.9% of revenue, against $28.8 million, or 18.2%. Non-GAAP income from operations was $31.2 million, or 16.4% of revenue, against $11.6 million. Source
  • Security revenue grew 32%: Security, which covers protection of websites, apps, APIs and users, reached $44.7 million, up 32%. Source
  • Large customers adopt more product suites: Share of large customers using four or more product suites reached 34%, up 15 points. Source
  • Gross margin rose to 63.3%: GAAP gross margin was 63.3%, against 58.4%. Non-GAAP gross margin was 65.8%, against 62.8%. Source
  • Net retention rose to 119%: Last-twelve-month net retention rose to 119% from 117% in the second quarter, reaching its highest level since 2022. Source
  • Remaining obligations up 24%: RPO was $334 million, up 24% from $268 million a year earlier, under the company's definition that includes committed revenue and invoiced deferred revenue. Source
  • Free cash flow was $25.2 million: Free cash flow was $25.2 million, against $18.1 million. Operating cash flow was $40.0 million, against $28.9 million a year earlier. Source

“Our record third quarter results reflect strong execution as customers continued to adopt more of our products and deepen their use of our platform”

Kip Compton, CEO of Fastly

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total revenue SourceFull year 2026$744.0 - $748.0 millionRaised from $732.0 - $746.0 million
Total revenue SourceQ4 2026$198.0 - $202.0 millionNew
Non-GAAP income from operations SourceFull year 2026$107.0 - $111.0 millionRaised from $88.0 - $96.0 million
Non-GAAP income from operations SourceQ4 2026$30.0 - $34.0 millionNew
Non-GAAP net income per share SourceFull year 2026$0.61 - $0.63Raised from $0.50 - $0.54
Non-GAAP net income per share SourceQ4 2026$0.16 - $0.18New
Weighted average diluted shares (assumption) SourceQ4 2026184.1 millionNew
Weighted average diluted shares (assumption) SourceFull year 2026180.7 millionRaised from 180.3 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 revenue range raised to $744.0 to $748.0 million from $732.0 to $746.0 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year non-GAAP income from operations range raised to $107.0 to $111.0 million from $88.0 to $96.0 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year non-GAAP net income per share range raised to $0.61 to $0.63 from $0.50 to $0.54. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter 2026 guidance added: revenue, non-GAAP income from operations and non-GAAP net income per share. Source
  • New: Partnership with Comcast to integrate Fastly software into its nationwide network. Source
  • New: Tricia Yankovich appointed Chief People Officer. Source
  • New: Fastly for AI portfolio expanded with AI Runtime Control, AI Firewall and new API Security capabilities. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 20% to $190.2 million: Revenue was $190.2 million, up from $158.2 million a year earlier. Nine-month revenue was $546.5 million, against $451.4 million. Source
  • Operating loss narrowed; non-GAAP income rose: GAAP loss from operations was $11.3 million, or 5.9% of revenue, against $28.8 million, or 18.2%. Non-GAAP income from operations was $31.2 million, or 16.4% of revenue, against $11.6 million. Source
  • GAAP net loss narrowed year over year: GAAP net loss was $11.3 million, against $29.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP diluted EPS rose to $0.17: Non-GAAP diluted net income per share was $0.17, against $0.07 a year earlier. Source

Segments and revenue lines

  • Security revenue grew 32%: Security, which covers protection of websites, apps, APIs and users, reached $44.7 million, up 32%. Source
  • Network Services grew 16%: Network Services, covering performance of websites, apps, APIs and digital media, was $138.0 million, up 16%. Source
  • Other revenue grew 37%: Other revenue, which includes Compute and Observability, was $7.4 million, up 37%. Source

“Delivering record revenue and free cash flow demonstrates our value proposition as we help customers achieve critical business outcomes and build for AI scale.”

Kip Compton, CEO of Fastly

Products and customers

  • Large customers adopt more product suites: Share of large customers using four or more product suites reached 34%, up 15 points. Source
  • Top ten customers hold more revenue: Top ten customers accounted for 39% of revenue, up from 32% a year earlier. Source
  • AI runtime and firewall products added: The Fastly for AI portfolio gained AI Runtime Control, AI Firewall and new API Security capabilities, for visibility and control of AI applications and agent interactions. Source

Margins and costs

  • Gross margin rose to 63.3%: GAAP gross margin was 63.3%, against 58.4%. Non-GAAP gross margin was 65.8%, against 62.8%. Source
  • Operating expenses rose to $131.7 million: Total operating expenses were $131.7 million, up from $121.1 million, including a $1.0 million impairment expense. Source
  • Non-GAAP now excludes payroll taxes on stock pay: Non-GAAP measures from the first quarter of 2026 also exclude related employer payroll taxes; prior periods were not recast as the amount was immaterial. Source
  • Non-GAAP net income rose to $31.6 million: Non-GAAP net income was $31.6 million, against $11.1 million a year earlier. Source

Demand and retention

  • Net retention rose to 119%: Last-twelve-month net retention rose to 119% from 117% in the second quarter, reaching its highest level since 2022. Source
  • Remaining obligations up 24%: RPO was $334 million, up 24% from $268 million a year earlier, under the company's definition that includes committed revenue and invoiced deferred revenue. Source
  • Retention metric described as supplemental: Management said the LTM net retention rate is supplemental because it removes some volatility inherent in a usage-based business model. Source

Cash flow and capital

  • Free cash flow was $25.2 million: Free cash flow was $25.2 million, against $18.1 million. Operating cash flow was $40.0 million, against $28.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Capital spending rose to $14.8 million: Capital expenditures were $14.8 million in the quarter, against $10.8 million; nine-month capital expenditures were $75.3 million, against $34.8 million. Source
  • Cash fell while marketable securities rose: Cash and equivalents were $113.5 million at September 30, 2026, against $180.6 million at December 31, 2025. Marketable securities were $251.7 million, against $181.2 million. Source
  • Convertible notes repaid in 2026: Repayment of convertible senior notes was $38.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2026. Source

Partnerships, recognition and people

  • Comcast integrates Fastly into network: Fastly software is integrated into Comcast's nationwide network for hyper-local content and application delivery, including Xfinity streaming. Source
  • Ingram Micro partnership in Singapore: Partnership with Ingram Micro in Singapore aims to help organizations modernize digital infrastructure for AI-ready applications and APIs. Source
  • Joined DIMPACT carbon measurement group: Fastly joined DIMPACT as the first edge cloud platform provider, for media and publishing companies measuring digital carbon footprints. Source
  • Gartner Customers' Choice recognition: Named a 2026 Gartner Peer Insights Customers' Choice for Edge Distribution Platforms, with a 4.8 of 5 overall rating. Source
  • Tricia Yankovich named Chief People Officer: Yankovich was appointed; management said the role aligns talent strategy with financial outcomes as Fastly grows. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Form 10-Q for the third quarter: The company said further information will be set forth in its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
LTM net retention rate Source119%, up from 117% in the second quarter
Remaining performance obligations Source$334 million, up 24%
Top ten customers share of revenue Source39%, up from 32%
Large customers on two or more product suites Source74%, up 7 percentage points
Large customers on four or more product suites Source34%, up 15 percentage points

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.