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Honest Company, 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, 2 narrowed, 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Organic Revenue grew while revenue fell: Revenue fell 8.6% to $84.6 million on strategic exits and diaper declines. Organic Revenue rose 9.2% to $79.3 million, led by wipes and personal care. Source
  • Underlying EBITDA margin rose 300 bps: Underlying Adjusted EBITDA was $6.3 million, a 7.9% margin on Organic Revenue, up 300 bps. The figure excludes the apparel inventory liquidation. Source
  • Wipes and personal care consumption outpaced categories: Consumption of wipes and personal care platforms rose 13.2% in aggregate, four times the 3.3% growth of their comparative categories. Source
  • Gross margin rose 770 bps to 45.0%: Gross margin was 45.0%, up from 37.3%, driven by supply chain rates, product mix and strategic exits, net of apparel liquidation and restructuring. Source
  • Underlying gross margin reached 48.9%: Excluding Powering Honest Growth costs and the apparel liquidation, gross margin was 48.9%, up 1,160 bps. The CEO called it a record. Source
  • Operating expenses rose $2.7 million: Operating expenses rose to $36.9 million, with marketing up to $17.7 million from $14.8 million, partly offset by lower SG&A from third-party service fees. Source
  • Free cash flow of $30.5 million: Operating cash flow was $33.3 million for nine months, against $4.2 million used a year earlier. Free cash flow was $30.5 million. Source

“Our third quarter results demonstrate what a modern personal care company can deliver when the brand, the portfolio, and the P&L are pointed in the same direction,”

Carla Vernón, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFull year 2026$322 million to $325 millionNarrowed, low end up from $319 million to $325 million
Organic Revenue growth SourceFull year 20266% to 7%Narrowed, low end up from 5% to 7%
Adjusted Gross Margin SourceFull year 202645.5% to 46.5%Raised from Mid 40%s
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$25.0 million to $26.0 millionRaised from $23.0 million to $25.0 million
Share repurchases SourceProgram approved October 30, 2026; no expiration dateUp to $30 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 guidance raised for revenue, Organic Revenue growth, Adjusted Gross Margin and Adjusted EBITDA compared with the second quarter ranges. Source
  • New: Valuation allowance released against net deferred tax assets, producing an $89.4 million discrete tax benefit this quarter. Source
  • New: Board approved a new share repurchase authorization of up to $30 million on October 30, 2026. Source
  • Ended: The prior $25 million repurchase program was completed as of August 6, 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Organic Revenue grew while revenue fell: Revenue fell 8.6% to $84.6 million on strategic exits and diaper declines. Organic Revenue rose 9.2% to $79.3 million, led by wipes and personal care. Source
  • Underlying EBITDA margin rose 300 bps: Underlying Adjusted EBITDA was $6.3 million, a 7.9% margin on Organic Revenue, up 300 bps. The figure excludes the apparel inventory liquidation. Source
  • Underlying net income reached $3.1 million: Underlying Adjusted Net Income was $3.1 million, up $2.3 million, excluding the apparel inventory liquidation. Source
  • Tax benefit lifted reported net income: Reported net income was $91.3 million, compared with $0.8 million a year earlier, mainly due to the $89.4 million discrete income tax benefit. Source

Platforms and consumption

  • Wipes and personal care consumption outpaced categories: Consumption of wipes and personal care platforms rose 13.2% in aggregate, four times the 3.3% growth of their comparative categories. Source
  • Company consumption trailed its categories: Tracked channel consumption for the company rose 1.3%, against 2.1% for its comparative categories. The prior quarter showed 7.7% against 2.3%. Source
  • Apparel, Honest.com and Canada revenue ended: Apparel revenue was $5.3 million against $10.4 million a year earlier. Honest.com and Canada revenue was nil, against $8.8 million and $0.8 million. Source

“We achieved over 9% Organic Revenue growth and a record Underlying Adjusted Gross Margin of 49%.”

Carla Vernón, Chief Executive Officer

Margins and cost drivers

  • Gross margin rose 770 bps to 45.0%: Gross margin was 45.0%, up from 37.3%, driven by supply chain rates, product mix and strategic exits, net of apparel liquidation and restructuring. Source
  • Underlying gross margin reached 48.9%: Excluding Powering Honest Growth costs and the apparel liquidation, gross margin was 48.9%, up 1,160 bps. The CEO called it a record. Source
  • Apparel liquidation added equal revenue and cost: The partial liquidation of remaining apparel inventory added $5.3 million to revenue and $5.3 million to cost of revenue, a 3.1% gross margin effect. Source
  • Restructuring costs of $1.1 million: Powering Honest Growth costs were $1.1 million: $0.7 million in cost of revenue for a warehouse closure and $0.4 million of restructuring costs. Source

Operating expenses and marketing

  • Operating expenses rose $2.7 million: Operating expenses rose to $36.9 million, with marketing up to $17.7 million from $14.8 million, partly offset by lower SG&A from third-party service fees. Source
  • Adjusted operating expenses at $36.5 million: Excluding restructuring costs for Powering Honest Growth, adjusted operating expenses were $36.5 million. Source
  • SG&A share of revenue rose: Selling, general and administrative expense as a percentage of revenue rose about 50 bps, despite lower third-party service fees. Source

“we believe Honest is well positioned to be the most iconic personal care brand of this generation.”

Carla Vernón, Chief Executive Officer

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Cash rose to $103.0 million, no debt: At September 30, 2026 the company had no debt and $103.0 million of cash and cash equivalents, up $31.5 million. Source
  • Free cash flow of $30.5 million: Operating cash flow was $33.3 million for nine months, against $4.2 million used a year earlier. Free cash flow was $30.5 million. Source
  • Cash gain tied to inventory cuts: Cash rose mainly on inventory reductions and higher net income, partly offset by buybacks compared with the prior year period. Source

Share repurchases and returns

  • Nine-month buybacks reached $25.0 million: The company bought about 7.2 million shares for $25.0 million over nine months, at a weighted average price of $3.47 per share. Source
  • Repurchases to draw on cash and operations: Management expects the new program to be funded from existing cash and operating cash flows. Source
  • Stock option proceeds added to equity: Proceeds from stock option exercises were $7.9 million over nine months, against none a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Repurchase timing depends on conditions: Timing and number of shares bought under the new $30 million program depend on stock price, trading volume and market conditions. Source
  • Program may be changed at any time: The program has no expiration date and may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time; the company is not obliged to buy shares. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Inventory Source$52.5 million at September 30, 2026; $72.5 million at December 31, 2025
Gross margin Source45.0% (37.3% prior year); underlying adjusted 48.9%

Risks management discussed

  • External: Full-year guidance assumes current tariff levels and mitigation measures, which management said may change with the macroeconomic environment. Source
  • Operational: Management said further charges or cash expenditures from Powering Honest Growth may arise that are not currently contemplated. Source
  • Financial: Restructuring and interest items are outside management's control and may vary between periods, affecting GAAP results. Source
  • Demand: Diaper revenue declined in the quarter, which management cited with strategic exits as the cause of the reported revenue decrease. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the prior $25 million repurchase program was completed as of August 6, 2026. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it is building on current investments to keep driving brand scale across baby, big kid and adult households. 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.