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Stride, Inc.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 August 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year revenue grew 4.7%: Revenue rose $112.8 million to $2,518.1 million for fiscal 2026, from $2,405.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • Operating income rose 25.2%: Income from operations was $450.8 million against $360.1 million. Fiscal 2025 included a $59.5 million impairment of long-lived assets, and fiscal 2026 included none. Source
  • Q4 revenue fell 2.7%: Fourth-quarter revenue was $636.1 million, down $17.6 million from $653.6 million. General Education revenue fell 9.7% in the quarter. Source
  • Q4 adjusted operating income fell: Adjusted operating income was $117.8 million, down 9.8% from $130.6 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $149.8 million, down 5.4%, and adjusted EPS was $2.12 against $2.29. Source
  • Career Learning enrollments grew 13.9%: Career Learning revenue was $1,100.3 million, up 15.0%, with Middle-High School up 19.1% to $1,043.7 million. Q4 Career Learning revenue rose 8.0%. Source
  • Repurchases totaled $188.7 million: The company bought back about 2.3 million shares in fiscal 2026, with about $100 million of that in the fourth quarter. Treasury stock stood at $292.1 million at year end. Source
  • Robert Knowling named chief executive: Robert Knowling, a Stride board member for more than eight years, became CEO effective July 29, 2026. Knowling also serves as Chairman of Eagles Landing Partners.

“I am pleased to lead Stride as we position the Company for its next chapter of growth,”

Robert Knowling, Stride Chief Executive Officer

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Robert Knowling was appointed CEO effective July 29, 2026, succeeding James Rhyu, who ceased serving as CEO and as Chair of the Board.
  • New: The Board appointed lead independent director Steven Fink as Chair.
  • New: Brian Shepherd was appointed to the Board effective July 29, 2026.
  • New: The share repurchase authorization was extended through October 31, 2027. Source

Full-year results and growth drivers

  • Full-year revenue grew 4.7%: Revenue rose $112.8 million to $2,518.1 million for fiscal 2026, from $2,405.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • Operating income rose 25.2%: Income from operations was $450.8 million against $360.1 million. Fiscal 2025 included a $59.5 million impairment of long-lived assets, and fiscal 2026 included none. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose 20.0%: Net income was $338.2 million, up 17.5%, and diluted net income per share was $7.14 against $5.95. Source
  • Adjusted measures rose less: Adjusted operating income rose 6.9% to $498.4 million, adjusted EBITDA rose 8.2% to $617.6 million, and adjusted EPS rose 2.8% to $8.33. Source
  • Average enrollment rose 4.2%: Full-year enrollments averaged 243.9K, up from 234.0K in fiscal 2025. Source

Fourth-quarter results and trends

  • Q4 revenue fell 2.7%: Fourth-quarter revenue was $636.1 million, down $17.6 million from $653.6 million. General Education revenue fell 9.7% in the quarter. Source
  • Q4 adjusted operating income fell: Adjusted operating income was $117.8 million, down 9.8% from $130.6 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $149.8 million, down 5.4%, and adjusted EPS was $2.12 against $2.29. Source
  • Q4 operating income rose: Income from operations was $105.9 million against $56.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Q4 diluted EPS rose to $1.75: Net income was $81.4 million against $51.3 million in the quarter. Source
  • Q4 enrollment slipped 0.5%: Career Learning enrollments averaged 106.4K, up 9.7%, and Q4 revenue per enrollment was $2,620, down 0.4%. Source

“we will continue to prioritize investments in curriculum, technology and support services to improve student outcomes and drive growth and value creation.”

Robert Knowling, Stride Chief Executive Officer

Segments and enrollment mix

  • General Education per-enrollment revenue rose: General Education revenue was $1,417.8 million for the year, down 2.1%, while its revenue per enrollment rose 1.6% to $10,243. Source
  • Career Learning enrollments grew 13.9%: Career Learning revenue was $1,100.3 million, up 15.0%, with Middle-High School up 19.1% to $1,043.7 million. Q4 Career Learning revenue rose 8.0%. Source
  • Adult revenue declined sharply: Adult revenue was $56.6 million for the year, down 29.6%. The company does not report Adult enrollments, so the segment is shown on revenue alone. Source
  • Full-year revenue per enrollment rose 2.4%: Full-year revenue per enrollment was $9,914, up 2.4%. Career Learning revenue per enrollment was $9,512, up 4.5%. Source

Costs, margins and other income

  • Q4 gross margin fell, full year rose: Q4 gross margin was $217.3 million against $238.9 million. Full-year gross margin was $950.6 million against $943.9 million, with instructional costs at $1,567.5 million against $1,461.4 million. Source
  • Selling and administrative costs fell: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $499.8 million for the year against $524.3 million, and $111.4 million in the fourth quarter against $122.6 million. Source
  • Other income declined: Other income, net was $2.2 million for the year against $33.6 million, and $1.4 million in the fourth quarter against $10.2 million. Source
  • Income tax expense rose: Income tax expense was $102.8 million for the year against $93.0 million, and $22.8 million in the fourth quarter against $12.9 million. Source

“Bob is a proven executive with significant technology and public education expertise.”

Steven Fink, the Chair of the Board

Cash flow and capital spending

  • Operating cash flow held near prior level: Operating cash flow was $433.8 million against $432.8 million. Accounts receivable rose to $664.8 million from $559.6 million. Source
  • Capital spending rose to $78.8 million: Capital expenditures were $78.8 million against $60.0 million, including $0.6 million for property and equipment. Source
  • Cash and securities rose modestly: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $1,034.1 million, compared with $1,011.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Other investments and acquisitions rose: Other acquisitions, loans and investments, net of distributions, used $55.5 million against $20.7 million in the prior year. Deposits and other assets rose to $207.9 million. Source

Share repurchases and capital returns

  • Repurchases totaled $188.7 million: The company bought back about 2.3 million shares in fiscal 2026, with about $100 million of that in the fourth quarter. Treasury stock stood at $292.1 million at year end. Source
  • $311.3 million authorization remaining: About $311.3 million remained available under the current authorization at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Shares outstanding fell: Shares outstanding were 41.5 million at June 30, 2026, against 43.5 million a year earlier. Diluted weighted average shares were 47.3 million for the year against 48.4 million. Source

Leadership and board changes

  • Robert Knowling named chief executive: Robert Knowling, a Stride board member for more than eight years, became CEO effective July 29, 2026. Knowling also serves as Chairman of Eagles Landing Partners.
  • Rhyu's tenure at Stride ended: Rhyu had served more than 13 years at Stride, the last five as CEO.
  • Brian Shepherd joined the board: Brian Shepherd, former President and CEO of CSG Systems, joined the board effective July 29, 2026, and will serve on two committees.
  • Knowling's prior executive roles: Knowling previously held CEO roles at Telwares and SimDesk Technologies, and led Covad Communications as chairman, president and CEO.

Strategy and investment priorities

  • Next phase of growth described: Knowling described Stride as entering its next phase of growth, citing its scale, expertise and longstanding customer relationships.
  • Capitalized software spending rose: Capitalized software development was $61.6 million against $36.4 million, while capitalized curriculum development was $16.6 million against $21.8 million. Source
  • Roadmap execution and long-term growth: Chair Fink tied the leadership change to accelerating execution of the roadmap and driving long-term growth.

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Full-year average enrollments Source243.9K
Full-year Career Learning enrollments Source109.7K
Fourth-quarter average enrollments Source234.2K
Fourth-quarter Career Learning enrollments Source106.4K
Full-year revenue per enrollment Source$9,914
Fourth-quarter revenue per enrollment Source$2,620

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management noted that a shift in enrollment mix would affect revenue to the extent that revenue per enrollment differs significantly between programs. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The company said it would report results and file its Form 10-K for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year on that date.

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.