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Lyft, 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: 3 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Gross Bookings rose 17%: Gross Bookings were $5.6 billion, up 17% year over year. The company reported record Gross Bookings for the quarter. Source
  • North American rides growth accelerated: Rides growth accelerated sequentially in North America, with momentum in both the U.S. and Canada, according to the company. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 47%: Adjusted EBITDA was $203.9 million, up from $138.9 million. Its margin on Gross Bookings was 3.6%, against 2.9% a year earlier. Source
  • Reserve changes excluded from EBITDA: Results include $117.9 million of legal, tax and regulatory reserve changes and settlements, of which $69.1 million reduced revenue. These amounts are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Free cash flow rose year over year: Free cash flow was $294.7 million, against $277.8 million. Net cash provided by operating activities was $328.4 million, against $291.3 million. Source
  • Lyft Go membership launched: Lyft Go was announced in the U.S. as a rideshare membership. The CEO said the company launched it on the release date, with up to 8% back in Lyft Credits per ride. Source
  • Michael Brous named CFO: Michael Brous is named as CFO in this release. The prior release named Erin Brewer as CFO. Source

“Neither rain nor heat nor the gloom of night can slow Lyft’s business. Our customer obsession drove our best financial performance ever.”

Lyft CEO David Risher

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Gross Bookings Sourcefourth quarter of 2026$5.74 billion to $5.94 billionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefourth quarter of 2026$188 million to $213 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA margin (percentage of Gross Bookings) Sourcefourth quarter of 20263.3% to 3.6%New
Rides Sourcefull year 2026more than 1 billion Rides

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Lyft Go was announced in the U.S. as a rideshare membership program, with members earning up to 8% back in Lyft Credits. Source
  • New: Alcove was introduced as a dedicated global premium chauffeuring brand for corporate travel programs, launching early 2027. Source
  • New: Since September, Lyft has matched riders to fully autonomous Waymo vehicles on its app in Nashville. Source
  • New: Michael Brous is named as CFO in this release. The prior release named Erin Brewer as CFO. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Gross Bookings rose 17%: Gross Bookings were $5.6 billion, up 17% year over year. The company reported record Gross Bookings for the quarter. Source
  • Revenue growth before reserve impact: Revenue was $1.8 billion, up 8% year over year. Excluding a $69.1 million reduction taken against revenue for reserve changes and settlements, revenue was $1.9 billion. Source
  • Net loss against prior-year profit: The company reported a net loss of $(9.7) million, against net income of $46.1 million a year earlier, and a net loss of 0.2% of Gross Bookings. Diluted EPS was $(0.03). Source

Rides, riders and partnerships

  • North American rides growth accelerated: Rides growth accelerated sequentially in North America, with momentum in both the U.S. and Canada, according to the company. Source
  • Partner-linked rideshare rides hit record: A record number of North American rideshare rides were linked to a partnership. Management described this as partner-of-choice positioning that creates more value for riders. Source
  • Core rideshare and Urban Solutions drove rides: Management attributed the rides increase to strength in the core rideshare business and an all-time high quarter for Lyft Urban Solutions. Source

“The next five years will change how the world moves, and Lyft is setting the standard.”

Lyft CEO David Risher

Costs, margins and reserve charges

  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 47%: Adjusted EBITDA was $203.9 million, up from $138.9 million. Its margin on Gross Bookings was 3.6%, against 2.9% a year earlier. Source
  • Reserve changes excluded from EBITDA: Results include $117.9 million of legal, tax and regulatory reserve changes and settlements, of which $69.1 million reduced revenue. These amounts are excluded from Adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Operating result moved to a loss: The company reported a loss from operations of $19.4 million, compared with operating income of $23.1 million in the year-earlier quarter. Source
  • Sales, marketing and G&A costs rose: Sales and marketing expense rose to $382.0 million from $243.3 million, and general and administrative expense to $344.7 million from $250.6 million. Cost of revenue fell to $871.4 million from $927.2 million. Source

Cash flow and capital returns

  • Free cash flow rose year over year: Free cash flow was $294.7 million, against $277.8 million. Net cash provided by operating activities was $328.4 million, against $291.3 million. Source
  • Trailing free cash flow reached $1.1 billion: Trailing twelve-month free cash flow was $1.1 billion, and net cash provided by operating activities over the same period was $1.2 billion. Source
  • Nine-month buybacks reached $450 million: Repurchases of Class A common stock totaled $450.0 million in the nine months, against $400.0 million a year earlier. Class A shares outstanding were 379.2 million at September 30. Source
  • Equipment and scooter spending rose: Purchases of property, equipment and scooter fleet were $84.5 million over nine months, against $34.2 million a year earlier. Source

“This durable growth in the core business combined with expansion into Europe shows our formula is working and positions us well for the road ahead.”

CFO Michael Brous

Products and autonomous vehicles

  • Lyft Go membership launched: Lyft Go was announced in the U.S. as a rideshare membership. The CEO said the company launched it on the release date, with up to 8% back in Lyft Credits per ride. Source
  • Waymo matching began in Nashville: Riders in Nashville have been matched on the Lyft app to fully autonomous Waymo vehicles since September. Source
  • Nashville AV depot opened: The company cut the ribbon on its 80,000-square-foot depot in October. Source

Strategy and people

  • Michael Brous named CFO: Michael Brous is named as CFO in this release. The prior release named Erin Brewer as CFO. Source
  • Hybrid operator positioning: The prior release described a transformation into a hybrid transportation platform. This release says AV partnerships are preparing Lyft to be the best hybrid operator in the business. Source
  • Europe expansion cited as formula: Management linked durable core growth with expansion into Europe to a formula it said is working and positions Lyft for the road ahead. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Alcove launch in early 2027: Alcove, a dedicated global premium chauffeuring brand for corporate travel programs, is set to launch in early 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Active Riders Source31.6 million
Rides Source273.5 million

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Legal, tax and regulatory reserve changes and settlements are unpredictable in magnitude and timing, and they drove $117.9 million of charges this quarter. Source
  • Financial: Management said reconciling items such as stock-based compensation, income tax, and legal reserves could have a significant effect on future GAAP results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said it is on track for more than 1 billion Rides for the full year. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release referred to gearing up for the depot opening in October. This release reports that the ribbon was cut in October. 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.