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Lemonade, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: letter to shareholders. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • In Force Premium grew 34%: IFP reached $1.55 billion, up 34%. Management called it the twelfth consecutive quarter of accelerating growth. Customer count and premium per customer also rose. Source
  • Revenue grew 73% on retention: Revenue rose $141.6 million to $336.1 million. Management attributed it mainly to gross earned premium growth and a higher premium retention rate from reduced quota share cession rates. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed: Adjusted EBITDA loss was $20.4 million, against $25.6 million a year earlier. Management cited a $38.2 million gross profit increase, partly offset by higher operating expense including growth spend. Source
  • Car now in 14 states: Car is available in 14 states after recent Missouri, Florida and Pennsylvania launches, covering more than 50% of the U.S. population. Management expects several notable new state launches. Source
  • Growth spend raised for acquisition: Growth spend and interest expense rose $28.0 million. Management said this reflects a decision to lean into customer acquisition given strong marketing efficiency. Growth spend was $70.6 million in Q3 2026. Source
  • Gross loss ratio rose to 65%: Gross loss ratio was 65% in Q3 2026 and 63% excluding catastrophe losses. The trailing twelve month gross loss ratio was 60%. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow $27 million: Adjusted free cash flow was $27.0 million in Q3 2026, against $18.1 million, and $63.2 million for nine months, against $12.1 million. It adds net borrowings to operating cash flow less capex. Source
  • Personal AI agents may reshape distribution: Management said personal AI agents may transform insurance distribution, with competition shifting toward price, coverage and service quality. Source

“Our third quarter results were excellent, once again characterized by accelerating topline growth and healthy underwriting performance.”

Lemonade, Inc., letter to shareholders

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
In force premium (IFP) SourceQ4 2026 and full year 2026$1,632-$1,639Kept
Gross earned premium (GEP) SourceQ4 2026$379-$383Raised
Gross earned premium (GEP) SourceFull year 2026$1,382-$1,386Raised
Revenue SourceQ4 2026$342-$346Raised
Revenue SourceFull year 2026$1,231-$1,235Raised
Adjusted EBITDA SourceQ4 2026$5-$9Kept
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026($51)-($47)
Stock-based compensation expense SourceQ4 2026 and full year 2026$24 and $93
Weighted average common shares (millions) SourceQ4 2026 and full year 202678 and 77

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Management raised gross earned premium and revenue guidance for Q4 and full-year 2026, and reiterated full-year IFP guidance. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year IFP guidance was reiterated, with no change to the range given in the table. Source
  • New: Renters became available nationwide, described as a first across the product portfolio. Management linked this to possible nationwide distribution partnerships. Source
  • New: Autonomous Car eligibility was broadened to Tesla vehicles with earlier-generation HW3 hardware and the latest software, at a 30% lower rate on miles driven with FSD (supervised) engaged. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • In Force Premium grew 34%: IFP reached $1.55 billion, up 34%. Management called it the twelfth consecutive quarter of accelerating growth. Customer count and premium per customer also rose. Source
  • Revenue grew 73% on retention: Revenue rose $141.6 million to $336.1 million. Management attributed it mainly to gross earned premium growth and a higher premium retention rate from reduced quota share cession rates. Source
  • Gross profit reached a record: Gross profit rose 48% to $118.1 million, which management described as a record. Gross profit margin was 35%, against 41% a year earlier. Adjusted gross profit was $120.5 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed: Adjusted EBITDA loss was $20.4 million, against $25.6 million a year earlier. Management cited a $38.2 million gross profit increase, partly offset by higher operating expense including growth spend. Source
  • Net loss widened on stock pay and interest: Net loss was $43.7 million, or $0.56 per share, against $37.5 million or $0.51 per share a year earlier. Management cited higher stock-based compensation and interest expense. Source

Products, segments and customers

  • Pet IFP passed homeowners: Pet IFP reached $603 million, above homeowners multi-peril at $573 million. Car was $265 million, Europe $83 million and other products $27 million. Source
  • Customers rose 23%: Customer count reached 3,520,555, up 23% from Q3 2025. Premium per customer was $440, up 9% from a year earlier. Source
  • Premium per customer up 9%: Premium per customer is defined as IFP divided by customers. At $440 it was up 9% from Q3 2025, when it was $403. Source
  • Annual dollar retention rose one point: Annual dollar retention was 86%, up one percentage point from Q3 2025 and from Q2 2026. Source

“We reiterate our expectation of generating positive Adjusted EBITDA for the first time in Q4 2026, an expectation we first outlined for investors in 2022.”

Lemonade, Inc., letter to shareholders

Geographic and product expansion

  • Car now in 14 states: Car is available in 14 states after recent Missouri, Florida and Pennsylvania launches, covering more than 50% of the U.S. population. Management expects several notable new state launches. Source
  • 25 new product-geography launches: Management said 25 new product-geography combinations launched in 2026, supported by Lemonade OS, which it said enables entry into new markets with less incremental overhead. Source
  • Autonomous Car in six states: Lemonade Autonomous Car expanded to six states. Tesla HW3 eligibility gives a 30% lower rate on FSD-supervised miles, against 50% for HW4 vehicles. Source
  • Early Car conversion above two times: Management said early conversion rates for the autonomous product are particularly strong and more than twice those of the broader Car product. Source

Operating expense and growth spend

  • Operating expense rose 36%: Operating expense excluding loss adjustment expense was $191.9 million, up $50.7 million. Management listed growth spend, stock-based compensation and other insurance expense as the main drivers. Source
  • Growth spend raised for acquisition: Growth spend and interest expense rose $28.0 million. Management said this reflects a decision to lean into customer acquisition given strong marketing efficiency. Growth spend was $70.6 million in Q3 2026. Source
  • Stock pay from founder awards: Stock-based compensation rose $6.1 million, mainly from multi-year awards to founders and executives in Q1 2026. Management does not expect it to be a material driver of expense growth from Q2 2027. Source
  • Other insurance expense tracks premium: Other insurance expense rose $5.1 million, from payment processing fees, premium taxes and underwriting data costs. Management said these are variable and expected to grow roughly in line with gross earned premium. Source
  • Growth spend to trail IFP growth: From Q4 2026 management expects IFP growth to notably outpace growth spend, which it describes as a key driver of operating leverage and profitability. Source

“The emergence of personal AI agents represents a potentially transformative shift in insurance distribution, and one we believe plays directly to our strengths.”

Lemonade, Inc., letter to shareholders

Loss ratios, margins and pricing

  • Gross loss ratio rose to 65%: Gross loss ratio was 65% in Q3 2026 and 63% excluding catastrophe losses. The trailing twelve month gross loss ratio was 60%. Source
  • Net loss ratio held at 64%: Net loss ratio was 64% in Q3 2026, the same as in Q3 2025. Attritional gross loss ratio was 60%, against 56% a year earlier. Source
  • Prior period development impact (2%): Prior period development impact on the gross loss ratio was (2%) in Q3 2026, compared with (5%) in Q3 2025 and (7%) in Q2 2026. Source
  • Catastrophe losses at 2 points: CAT losses excluding PPD were 2% of the gross loss ratio in Q3 2026, against 4% a year earlier and 3% in Q2 2026. Source
  • Europe loss ratio reached 104%: Europe's gross loss ratio across all products was 104% in Q3 2026, against 71% in Q2 2026. Car was 63% and Pet was 75% in the same quarter. Source
  • Gross profit margin fell to 35%: Gross profit margin was 35% in Q3 2026, against 41% a year earlier. Adjusted gross profit margin was 36%, against 42%. Management did not state a cause in these figures. Source

Cash, capital and balance sheet

  • Cash and investments near $1.2 billion: Cash, cash equivalents and investments totalled approximately $1.2 billion at September 30, 2026, per the company. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow $27 million: Adjusted free cash flow was $27.0 million in Q3 2026, against $18.1 million, and $63.2 million for nine months, against $12.1 million. It adds net borrowings to operating cash flow less capex. Source
  • Operating cash flow positive for nine months: Net cash provided by operating activities was $3.3 million for the nine months, against an outflow of $37.2 million a year earlier. Capital expenditures were $13.5 million. Source
  • Borrowings and interest costs rose: Cash paid for interest on borrowings was $19.9 million for nine months, against $11.2 million. Quarterly interest expense was $8.1 million, against $4.6 million. Source
  • Premium receivable increased: Premium receivable, net, was $561.2 million at September 30, 2026, against $402.3 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Strategy, AI and people

  • Personal AI agents may reshape distribution: Management said personal AI agents may transform insurance distribution, with competition shifting toward price, coverage and service quality. Source
  • Agentic insurance experience in development: Management said it has a decade of AI-native infrastructure and is building more capabilities for an agentic insurance experience, to be detailed at the investor day. Source
  • Headcount down 1% to 1,321: The company ended Q3 2026 with 1,321 employees, down 1% from Q2. Management said operating leverage is powered in part by AI efficiencies across the organization. Source
  • Premium base grew while headcount fell: Management said four years ago the business had more employees than today. Since then the premium base grew more than 2.5 times and the customer count roughly doubled. Source

Guidance and dated events

  • Positive Adjusted EBITDA in Q4 2026: Management reiterated its expectation of positive Adjusted EBITDA for the first time in Q4 2026, an expectation first outlined for investors in 2022. Source
  • Investor day on November 17: The investor day in New York is set for November 17 at 9:00 am ET, with updates on strategy, growth aspirations and AI capabilities. Online access is available. Source
  • Earnings call on November 5: The company said it would discuss Q3 2026 results and business plans on a teleconference on November 5, 2026, at 8:00 AM ET. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Investor day on November 17: Management will give a comprehensive update on strategy, growth aspirations, AI capabilities and personal agents at the investor day in New York. Source
  • Positive Adjusted EBITDA in Q4 2026: Management expects positive Adjusted EBITDA in Q4 2026, followed by the first full year of positive Adjusted EBITDA in FY 2027. Source
  • Renters distribution partnerships: Management said nationwide Renters availability may enable distribution partnerships previously unavailable to the company. Source
  • Further Car state launches: Management said several notable new state launches for Car are on the horizon, after the recent Missouri, Florida and Pennsylvania launches. Source
  • Growth spend expected to moderate: Management said most drivers of the operating expense increase are expected to moderate materially going forward. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net premiums written Source$387.9 million in Q3 2026, against $276.6 million in Q3 2025
Prior-year reserve development Source(2%) impact on gross loss ratio in Q3 2026
Catastrophe losses Source2% of gross loss ratio (excl. PPD) in Q3 2026
Investment income Source$10.3 million net investment income in Q3 2026, against $9.7 million

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Interest expense was cited as a driver of the Q3 2026 net loss. Quarterly interest expense was $8.1 million, against $4.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Financial: Growth spend is a large component of operating expense, and management chose to increase customer acquisition spending in the quarter. Source
  • Operational: The Europe gross loss ratio reached 104% in Q3 2026, the highest of the segments listed in the insurance supplement for the quarter. Source
  • Regulatory: The company was required to hold about $350 million of regulatory surplus at its insurance subsidiaries at September 30, 2026. Source
  • Operational: Catastrophe losses excluding PPD were 2% of the gross loss ratio in Q3 2026, against 5% in Q1 2026. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said it is remaining on track with its profitability commitments, including positive Adjusted EBITDA in Q4 2026. Source
  • Met: Management said it has consistently delivered against its financial ambitions since 2022, amid macroeconomic volatility and uncertainty. Source
  • Met: Management said the Q3 2026 Adjusted EBITDA loss was in line with its expectations. 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.