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Life Time Group Holdings, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 raised, 5 lowered, 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted income rose: Adjusted EBITDA was $256.3 million, up 16.5%, and adjusted net income was $115.9 million, up 24.6%. Management attributed this to greater flow-through of higher revenue. Source
  • In-center revenue reached $249.0 million: In-center revenue was $249.0 million against $213.6 million a year earlier, and 28.6% of center revenue. Source
  • Center memberships up 2.2% year on year: Center memberships ended the quarter at 858,747, up 2.2% from September 30, 2025. Source
  • Insurance-administered memberships reduced: Management cited about 21,500 fewer qualified memberships administered through medical insurance providers, which carry significantly lower average dues, as part of the mix change. Source
  • Center operating costs rose 14.5%: Center operations expenses were $474.5 million against $414.3 million, attributed to new and ramping centers, higher utilization of mature centers and in-center business support. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 28.7%: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 28.7% against 28.1%. Net income margin was 11.9% against 13.1%, and adjusted net income margin was 13.0% against 11.9%. Source
  • Comparable center revenue growth was 8.7%: Comparable center revenue growth was 8.7% against 10.6% a year earlier. Nine-month comparable growth was 8.8% against 11.5%. Source
  • Revenue per membership up 12.0%: Average center revenue per center membership was $1,016, up 12.0%. The nine-month figure was $2,914, up 10.5%. Source
  • Capital spending up 29.8% in quarter: Total capital expenditures were $288.7 million in the quarter, up 29.8%, and $812.0 million for nine months, up 38.3%. Growth capital expenditures were $216.5 million, up 38.8%. Source
  • Free cash flow was lower: Free cash flow was $35.7 million in the quarter against $62.5 million, and $120.9 million for nine months against $216.4 million. Source
  • Net debt leverage at 1.3 times: The net debt leverage ratio was 1.3 times, against 1.6 times a year earlier. Source
  • Seven clubs open through September: Seven new clubs had opened as of September 30, 2026, and one more opened in October. The company operated 196 centers at quarter end, with one opened in the quarter. Source

“Our third quarter results reflect our continued delivery of exceptional member experiences and the strength of our brand.”

Bahram Akradi, Founder, Chairman and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total revenue SourceFY2026$3,380 - $3,390 millionRaised from $3,350 - $3,375 million
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY2026$958 - $962 millionRaised from $940 - $955 million
Adjusted net income SourceFY2026$408 - $412 millionRaised from $394 - $402 million
Net income SourceFY2026$358 - $360 millionLowered from $358 - $363 million
Rent SourceFY2026$378 - $382 millionLowered from $378 - $384 million
Comparable center revenue growth SourceFY20268.5% to 8.7%Raised from 7.9% to 8.3%
Cash income tax expense SourceFY2026$82 million to $83 millionLowered from $103 million to $105 million
Interest expense, net of interest income SourceFY2026approximately $59 million to $62 millionLowered from $59 million to $63 million
Capitalized interest on construction in progress SourceFY2026$27 million to $29 millionLowered from $28 million to $30 million
Non-cash rent expense within rent SourceFY2026$33 million to $35 millionRaised from $32 million to $35 million
Year-end weighted-average diluted shares SourceYear-end 2026228 million to 229 millionRaised from 227 million to 229 million
Provision for income tax rate SourceFY202627%Kept
New clubs opened SourceFY202614Kept
Sale-leaseback transactions SourceFY2026 and Q4 2026approximately $400 million for the year; approximately $135 million in Q4Kept
Capital expenditures SourceFY2026maintenance $140 - $150 million; modernization and technology $140 - $150 million; growth $885 - $910 millionKept
Net debt to Adjusted EBITDA leverage SourceFY2026at or below 2.00 timesKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year total revenue guidance raised to $3,380 - $3,390 million from $3,350 - $3,375 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA guidance raised to $958 - $962 million from $940 - $955 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year adjusted net income guidance raised to $408 - $412 million from $394 - $402 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Comparable center revenue growth guidance raised to 8.5% - 8.7% from 7.9% - 8.3%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Cash income tax expense guidance lowered to $82 - $83 million from $103 - $105 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Capitalized interest guidance lowered to $27 - $29 million from $28 - $30 million; interest expense range is about $59 - $62 million. Source
  • Guidance kept: Capital expenditure, club opening, sale-leaseback and leverage expectations are reiterated from the second quarter release. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted income rose: Adjusted EBITDA was $256.3 million, up 16.5%, and adjusted net income was $115.9 million, up 24.6%. Management attributed this to greater flow-through of higher revenue. Source
  • Net income rose on sale-leaseback gain: Net income was $106.5 million, up 4.0%, including a $2.3 million tax-effected gain on a sale-leaseback. The prior-year quarter included $16.2 million of employee retention credit proceeds. Source
  • Diluted and adjusted EPS reported: Diluted EPS was $0.46 against $0.45 a year earlier. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.51 against $0.41, on 229,055 thousand weighted-average diluted shares. Source

Revenue mix and in-center business

  • In-center revenue reached $249.0 million: In-center revenue was $249.0 million against $213.6 million a year earlier, and 28.6% of center revenue. Source
  • Membership dues grew to $622.1 million: Membership dues and enrollment fees were $622.1 million against $547.3 million, 71.4% of center revenue. Source
  • Dues and in-center use drove revenue: Management attributed revenue growth to higher average dues from improved membership mix, growth at new and ramping centers, and higher member use of in-center offerings, mainly Dynamic Personal Training. Source

“Member engagement continues to rise and our in-center businesses are performing very well, resulting in higher revenue per membership.”

Bahram Akradi, Founder, Chairman and CEO

Memberships and member mix

  • Center memberships up 2.2% year on year: Center memberships ended the quarter at 858,747, up 2.2% from September 30, 2025. Source
  • Insurance-administered memberships reduced: Management cited about 21,500 fewer qualified memberships administered through medical insurance providers, which carry significantly lower average dues, as part of the mix change. Source
  • Total subscriptions up 1.9%: Total subscriptions, including on-hold memberships, were 908,454, up 1.9%. On-hold memberships were 49,707. Source

Costs and margins

  • Center operating costs rose 14.5%: Center operations expenses were $474.5 million against $414.3 million, attributed to new and ramping centers, higher utilization of mature centers and in-center business support. Source
  • Rent and overhead costs increased: Rent was $96.1 million, up 9.8%. General, administrative and marketing expenses were $65.8 million, up 10.0%, on incentive, benefit-related and marketing costs. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 28.7%: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 28.7% against 28.1%. Net income margin was 11.9% against 13.1%, and adjusted net income margin was 13.0% against 11.9%. Source
  • Pre-opening costs increased: Pre-opening expenses were $2.9 million against $1.1 million in the quarter, and $7.0 million against $3.5 million for nine months. Source

Demand and member revenue

  • Comparable center revenue growth was 8.7%: Comparable center revenue growth was 8.7% against 10.6% a year earlier. Nine-month comparable growth was 8.8% against 11.5%. Source
  • Revenue per membership up 12.0%: Average center revenue per center membership was $1,016, up 12.0%. The nine-month figure was $2,914, up 10.5%. Source
  • Seasonal dip in memberships: Center memberships fell by 1,294, or 0.2%, from June 30, 2026, which the release says is consistent with seasonality expectations. Source

Cash flow, capital spending and liquidity

  • Operating cash flow up 6.3%: Net cash from operations for nine months was $670.5 million, up 6.3%. The prior-year period included $27.2 million of employee retention credit proceeds. Source
  • Capital spending up 29.8% in quarter: Total capital expenditures were $288.7 million in the quarter, up 29.8%, and $812.0 million for nine months, up 38.3%. Growth capital expenditures were $216.5 million, up 38.8%. Source
  • Free cash flow was lower: Free cash flow was $35.7 million in the quarter against $62.5 million, and $120.9 million for nine months against $216.4 million. Source
  • Sale-leaseback proceeds in quarter: One sale-leaseback covering one property produced $62.3 million of net proceeds in the quarter. Nine-month proceeds were $262.5 million across six properties. Source

Capital, leverage and shareholder returns

  • Net debt leverage at 1.3 times: The net debt leverage ratio was 1.3 times, against 1.6 times a year earlier. Source
  • Liquidity of $919.1 million: Total available liquidity was $919.1 million, including $286.2 million of cash and $632.9 million of revolver availability. No revolver borrowings were outstanding, and $17.1 million of letters of credit were. Source
  • Nine-month repurchases unchanged from June: The nine-month cash flow statement shows common stock share repurchases of $73.4 million, the same as the six-month figure in the prior release. Source

Club openings and pipeline

  • Seven clubs open through September: Seven new clubs had opened as of September 30, 2026, and one more opened in October. The company operated 196 centers at quarter end, with one opened in the quarter. Source
  • Six clubs remain for fourth quarter: Management expects to open the remaining six 2026 clubs in the fourth quarter. The prior release had said seven remained. Source
  • 2026 club class is larger in size: The 2026 class totals about 1.3 million square feet, nearly double the square footage of each of the 2024 and 2025 classes. Source
  • 2027 clubs already under construction: Management said nearly all clubs planned for 2027 are already under construction. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 October 2026

  • Remaining 2026 clubs open in Q4: Six remaining 2026 clubs are expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2026. Source
  • Fourth-quarter sale-leaseback transactions: About $135 million of additional sale-leaseback transactions are planned for Q4, for about $400 million in the fiscal year. Source
  • Supplement on revenue strategy posted: Supplemental material on revenue growth strategy and memberships is posted on the investor relations website. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management noted that the number of centers under construction, center types and costs per opening can vary significantly between periods. Source
  • Financial: Full-year net income guidance includes the effect of net losses from sale-leaseback transactions. 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.