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Lamar Advertising Co.: 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: 6 raised, 2 lowered, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net revenue rose 6.6 percent: Net revenues were $624.5 million, up 6.6% from $585.5 million a year earlier. Net income was $165.0 million, up 14.5%, and diluted EPS was $1.59 versus $1.40. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA and AFFO grew: Adjusted EBITDA was $306.9 million, up 9.3%. AFFO was $249.3 million, up 10.1%, and diluted AFFO per share rose 9.5% to $2.41 from $2.20. Source
  • Outdoor operating income up 8.3%: Outdoor operating income was $333.4 million, up 8.3%. On an acquisition-adjusted basis, outdoor operating income rose 7.4%, and acquisition-adjusted net revenue rose 6.2%. Source
  • Operating cash flow and FCF rose: Operating cash flow was $284.1 million, up $48.4 million. Free cash flow was $220.1 million versus $189.2 million, a $30.9 million increase. Source
  • Liquidity stood at $721.1 million: Total liquidity of $721.1 million consisted of $667.0 million available under the revolving senior credit facility and $54.1 million of cash. Source
  • AFFO per share guidance moved up: Full-year diluted AFFO per share is now $8.87 to $8.97, versus $8.75 to $8.90 in August; the midpoint moved up by about $0.10. Source
  • Diluted EPS range moved up: Full-year diluted EPS is now $6.01 to $6.04, up from $5.95 to $5.99 in August. Source

“Our sales growth accelerated in the third quarter, buoyed by demand from national customers, our digital platform and political spend,”

Lamar chief executive Sean Reilly

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Diluted AFFO per share SourceFull year 2026$8.87 to $8.97Raised from $8.75 to $8.90
Diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026$6.01 to $6.04Raised from $5.95 to $5.99
Net income (projected, thousands of dollars) SourceFull year 2026$611,030 to $614,030Raised from $604,380 to $609,380
Funds from operations (thousands of dollars) SourceFull year 2026$874,270 to $877,270Lowered from $885,620 to $890,620
Adjusted funds from operations (thousands of dollars) SourceFull year 2026$916,170 to $926,170Raised from $902,970 to $917,970
Stock-based compensation expense (thousands of dollars) SourceFull year 2026$50,000 to $57,000Raised from $45,000 to $55,000
Maintenance capital expenditures (thousands of dollars) SourceFull year 2026$65,000Kept
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding SourceFull year 2026101,625,000Lowered from 101,650,000
Adjusted weighted average diluted common shares/units outstanding SourceFull year 2026103,300,000Raised from 103,185,000

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year diluted AFFO per share guidance rose to $8.87 to $8.97 from $8.75 to $8.90. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year diluted EPS guidance rose to $6.01 to $6.04 from $5.95 to $5.99. Source
  • Guidance raised: Projected net income rose to $611,030 to $614,030 thousand from $604,380 to $609,380 thousand. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Projected FFO fell to $874,270 to $877,270 thousand from $885,620 to $890,620 thousand. Source
  • Guidance kept: Projected maintenance capital expenditures stayed at $65,000 thousand. Source
  • New: The securitization program maturity was extended to October 1, 2029 under an amendment dated October 1, 2026. Source

Third-quarter and nine-month results

  • Net revenue rose 6.6 percent: Net revenues were $624.5 million, up 6.6% from $585.5 million a year earlier. Net income was $165.0 million, up 14.5%, and diluted EPS was $1.59 versus $1.40. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA and AFFO grew: Adjusted EBITDA was $306.9 million, up 9.3%. AFFO was $249.3 million, up 10.1%, and diluted AFFO per share rose 9.5% to $2.41 from $2.20. Source
  • FFO rose less than AFFO: FFO was $224.2 million, up 2.2%. The reconciliation shows non-real estate depreciation and amortization of $21.5 million against $9.4 million a year earlier, and stock-based compensation of $13.1 million against $7.6 million. Source
  • Operating income rose $20.4 million: Operating income was $209.4 million, against $189.1 million a year earlier. Income before income tax was $168.7 million versus $146.6 million. Source
  • Nine-month net income slipped: Nine-month net revenues were $1.77 billion, up 5.9%. Net income was $431.5 million versus $438.3 million, and diluted EPS $4.17 versus $4.27. Nine-month diluted AFFO per share rose 8.8% to $6.54. Source

Outdoor operations and acquisition effects

  • Outdoor operating income up 8.3%: Outdoor operating income was $333.4 million, up 8.3%. On an acquisition-adjusted basis, outdoor operating income rose 7.4%, and acquisition-adjusted net revenue rose 6.2%. Source
  • Prior-year base adjusted for acquisitions: Prior-year net revenue was adjusted up by $2.3 million for acquisitions and divestitures in the third quarter, and by $6.8 million for the nine months. Source
  • Nine-month outdoor operating income rose: Nine-month outdoor operating income was $917.6 million, up 8.0%. On an acquisition-adjusted basis the nine-month increase was 6.4%. Source

“With those results in hand and a strong start to the fourth quarter, we are raising our guidance for full-year AFFO per diluted share to a range of $8.87 to $8.97.”

Lamar chief executive Sean Reilly

Network, digital inventory and capital spending

  • Network spans over 360,000 displays: The company reports over 360,000 displays across the United States and Canada, offering billboard, interstate logo, transit and airport formats. Source
  • Digital network over 5,900 displays: Lamar describes its digital billboard network as the largest in the United States, with over 5,900 displays, up from over 5,700 in the second-quarter release. Source
  • Digital billboard capex declined: Digital billboard capital expenditures were $22.9 million in the quarter against $25.2 million, and $57.6 million for the nine months against $63.5 million. Source
  • Total capital spending $45.0 million: Total capital expenditures were $45.0 million in the quarter, down from $49.9 million, and $120.8 million for the nine months, up from $117.9 million. Source

Costs, stock compensation and gains

  • Direct and G&A costs rose: Direct advertising expenses were $195.8 million versus $187.7 million, up 4.3%. General and administrative expenses were $95.3 million versus $90.0 million. Source
  • Depreciation and stock comp increased: Depreciation and amortization was $100.6 million versus $86.3 million, and stock-based compensation was $13.1 million versus $7.6 million. Source
  • Disposition gains rose in quarter: Gains on disposition of assets and investments were $16.9 million in the quarter, against $2.2 million, and $32.2 million for the nine months, against $76.1 million. Source
  • Acquisition-adjusted expense up 4.4%: Acquisition-adjusted consolidated expense was $317.6 million, up 4.4%, and $932.7 million for the nine months, up 4.2%. Source

Cash flow, liquidity and debt

  • Operating cash flow and FCF rose: Operating cash flow was $284.1 million, up $48.4 million. Free cash flow was $220.1 million versus $189.2 million, a $30.9 million increase. Source
  • Nine-month free cash flow increased: Nine-month free cash flow was $591.2 million versus $509.4 million, and nine-month operating cash flow was $683.9 million, up $91.0 million. Source
  • Liquidity stood at $721.1 million: Total liquidity of $721.1 million consisted of $667.0 million available under the revolving senior credit facility and $54.1 million of cash. Source
  • Revolver and securitization borrowings: At quarter end, $75.0 million was borrowed under the revolving credit facility and $250.0 million was outstanding under the Accounts Receivable Securitization Program. Total debt, net, was $3,501.1 million versus $3,418.9 million at year-end. Source
  • Investing and financing outflows rose: Cash used in investing activities was $114.6 million in the quarter versus $94.3 million, and cash used in financing activities was $183.3 million versus $175.0 million. Source

Full-year 2026 guidance

  • AFFO per share guidance moved up: Full-year diluted AFFO per share is now $8.87 to $8.97, versus $8.75 to $8.90 in August; the midpoint moved up by about $0.10. Source
  • Diluted EPS range moved up: Full-year diluted EPS is now $6.01 to $6.04, up from $5.95 to $5.99 in August. Source
  • FFO projection lowered: Projected FFO is $874.3 million to $877.3 million, down from $885.6 million to $890.6 million, while projected net income rose to $611.0 million to $614.0 million. Source
  • Guidance based on November 5 expectations: Management said the guidance rests on assumptions it believes reasonable and reflects expectations as of November 5, 2026, and that actual results may differ materially. Source

Recent developments and share count

  • Securitization maturity extended to 2029: On October 1, 2026 the Eighth Amendment to the Receivables Financing Agreement extended the Accounts Receivable Securitization Program maturity to October 1, 2029. Source
  • Receivable eligibility flexibility added: The amendment also provides additional flexibility for eligibility of certain receivables under the securitization program. Source
  • Diluted share count edged up: Weighted average diluted shares were 101,663,105 in the quarter, versus 101,309,203 a year earlier; nine-month diluted shares were 101,581,005. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
FFO Source$224.2 million
Diluted AFFO per share Source$2.41
Acquisitions and dispositions SourceGain on disposition of $16.9 million in the quarter
Leverage (total debt) Source$3,501.1 million total debt, net

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it is updating the 2026 guidance issued in August 2026, with revised figures given in this release. 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.