Marchex Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call
What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 10 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.
Key takeaways
- Revenue grew year over year: Revenue rose to $16.0 million from $15.2 million a year earlier. Nine-month revenue was $45.9 million, against $49.0 million in the prior-year nine months. Source
- Net income positive for the quarter: Net income was $1.3 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, against a net loss of $1.3 million, or $(0.03) per share, a year earlier. Nine-month net loss was $0.9 million. Source
- Adjusted EBITDA rose sharply: Adjusted EBITDA was $2.4 million against $0.5 million a year earlier, a margin of about 15% versus 3%. Before reorganization and acquisition costs it was $2.6 million, or 16%. Source
- AI Voice Agent moved to commercial use: An existing advertising and media customer moved to commercial deployment of the AI Voice Agent after a paid pilot. The deployment is expected to add revenue in 2026 and more than $200,000 in incremental annualized revenue in 2027. Source
- Operating expenses fell year over year: Total operating expenses were $14.5 million, against $16.3 million a year earlier. Sales and marketing, product development and general and administrative expense were each lower than in the prior-year quarter. Source
- Liabilities rose on related-party and earn-out lines: Total liabilities were $26.6 million, up from $13.9 million at December 31, 2025. Related party and contingent earn-out lines total about $16.1 million across current and non-current items. Source
- Fairchild named President: Fairchild became President effective November 9, 2026. He had led Archenia as CEO, which Marchex acquired in July 2026. Source
- Fourth quarter revenue guided lower: Fourth quarter 2026 revenue is guided at $15.0 million or more, below the third quarter's $16.0 million. The company said fourth-quarter conversational volumes are typically lower. Source
“Our third quarter results reflect a new phase of growth and meaningful progress in strengthening Marchex's financial performance, with year-over-year revenue growth, positive GAAP net income, and a significant improvement in Adjusted EBITDA,”
Russell Horowitz, Chairman of Marchex
Guidance
| Area | Period | Figure | Against last quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue Source | fourth quarter 2026 (three months ending December 31, 2026) | $15.0 or more | New |
| Adjusted EBITDA, net of reorganization and acquisition costs Source | fourth quarter 2026 (three months ending December 31, 2026) | $2.3 - $2.5 million | New |
What changed from last quarter
- New guidance: Fourth quarter 2026 guidance was given for the first time, after the August release gave guidance only for the third quarter. Source
- New: Travis Fairchild was appointed President of the combined company, effective November 9, 2026. Source
- New: Troy Hartless, previously President, moves to Chief Revenue Officer focused on new and emerging opportunities and sales channels. Source
- New: A major automotive OEM approved Engage for Service for its dealer portal, which lets dealers use OEM co-op funding for the solution. Source
Results and growth drivers
- Revenue grew year over year: Revenue rose to $16.0 million from $15.2 million a year earlier. Nine-month revenue was $45.9 million, against $49.0 million in the prior-year nine months. Source
- Net income positive for the quarter: Net income was $1.3 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, against a net loss of $1.3 million, or $(0.03) per share, a year earlier. Nine-month net loss was $0.9 million. Source
- Adjusted EBITDA rose sharply: Adjusted EBITDA was $2.4 million against $0.5 million a year earlier, a margin of about 15% versus 3%. Before reorganization and acquisition costs it was $2.6 million, or 16%. Source
- Adjusted per-share income turned positive: Adjusted non-GAAP income was $0.04 per share, against a loss of $0.01 a year earlier. Nine-month adjusted non-GAAP income was $0.01 per share. Source
Products and customers
- AI Voice Agent moved to commercial use: An existing advertising and media customer moved to commercial deployment of the AI Voice Agent after a paid pilot. The deployment is expected to add revenue in 2026 and more than $200,000 in incremental annualized revenue in 2027. Source
- Automotive OEM opens dealer-portal channel: Engage for Service was piloted with 75 dealerships. OEM approval lets dealers reach the solution through the dealer portal and use OEM co-op funding to pay for it. Source
“we are seeing encouraging early commercial traction following our combination with Archenia, including expanded customer relationships, new AI-powered solutions deployments, and increased opportunities to cross-sell our combined capabilities.”
Russell Horowitz, Chairman of Marchex
Archenia integration and products
- Combined products reach existing customers: Marchex is commercializing combined conversational intelligence, qualification and acquisition technologies. Management said recent deployments expand existing relationships and broaden distribution of its solutions. Source
- Archenia excluded from second-quarter results: Archenia acquisition closed July 1, 2026. Reported second-quarter results excluded it, and pro forma combined second-quarter revenue was $15.5 million.
- Integration aims at automated actions: Management said the combined capabilities move beyond analyzing consumer interactions toward automated actions meant to improve customer acquisition, appointment conversion and revenue generation. Source
Operating costs
- Operating expenses fell year over year: Total operating expenses were $14.5 million, against $16.3 million a year earlier. Sales and marketing, product development and general and administrative expense were each lower than in the prior-year quarter. Source
- Cost of revenue rose: Cost of revenue rose to $7.7 million from $7.0 million. Amortization of capitalized software development costs rose to $129 thousand from $29 thousand. Source
- Stock-based compensation declined: Stock-based compensation was $0.6 million, against $1.0 million a year earlier. Income tax expense was nil in the quarter, against $27 thousand. Source
“Travis brings a unique combination of deep institutional knowledge of Marchex, entrepreneurial leadership, and hands-on experience building and scaling AI-powered customer engagement solutions,”
Russell Horowitz, Chairman of Marchex
Operating income and other expense
- Operating income turned positive: Income from operations was $1.4 million, against an operating loss of $1.1 million a year earlier. The nine-month operating loss was $0.1 million. Source
- Interest and other expense higher: Interest and other expense, net was $0.2 million, against $0.1 million a year earlier. Source
Balance sheet and cash
- Cash lower than December: Cash and cash equivalents were $8.7 million at September 30, down from $10.3 million at December 31, 2025, and up from $8.2 million at June 30, 2026. Source
- Liabilities rose on related-party and earn-out lines: Total liabilities were $26.6 million, up from $13.9 million at December 31, 2025. Related party and contingent earn-out lines total about $16.1 million across current and non-current items. Source
- Receivables rose: Accounts receivable rose to $9.5 million from $8.7 million at December 31, 2025. Deferred revenue and deposits fell to $0.4 million. Source
- Equity fell, goodwill unchanged: Stockholders’ equity fell to $14.7 million from $28.3 million at December 31, 2025. Goodwill stayed at $17.6 million. Source
Leadership change
- Fairchild named President: Fairchild became President effective November 9, 2026. He had led Archenia as CEO, which Marchex acquired in July 2026. Source
- Hartless moves to revenue role: Troy Hartless, previously President, continues as Chief Revenue Officer. Source
- Fairchild's prior Marchex tenure: Fairchild spent 18 years at Marchex before leading Archenia from 2021, in strategy and business development roles. Source
Fourth quarter guidance and seasonality
- Fourth quarter revenue guided lower: Fourth quarter 2026 revenue is guided at $15.0 million or more, below the third quarter's $16.0 million. The company said fourth-quarter conversational volumes are typically lower. Source
- Fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA guided range: Adjusted EBITDA, net of reorganization and acquisition costs, is guided at $2.3 million to $2.5 million for the fourth quarter. Source
- Offset to seasonality possible: Management believes its pipeline and cost efficiencies may offset typical fourth-quarter seasonality, with timing and formalization of deals determining the result. Source
Strategy and 2027 plans
- 2027 growth and leverage expected: Management said combining conversational intelligence with Archenia's technologies may accelerate revenue growth and expand operating leverage in 2027. Source
- Strategy moves from insights to actions: The Archenia acquisition was described as advancing the strategy of extending conversational intelligence from insights to actions and measurable outcomes.
- Focus on AI-powered solutions: The company stays focused on expanding adoption of its AI-powered solutions, deepening existing customer relationships, and keeping expense management disciplined. Source
Coming up, as management said on 10 November 2026
- Selective 2027 investment planned: The company intends to invest selectively in sales and product development while keeping expense management disciplined. Source
Figures management reported
| Figure | Reported |
|---|---|
| Top 100 customers share of revenue | approximately 90% |
| Advertising and media customer annualized revenue Source | approximately $400,000 |
| Home services customer annualized revenue | approximately $500,000, rising to more than $1 million |
Risks management discussed
- Financial: Third-quarter Adjusted EBITDA included $0.2 million of reorganization and acquisition-related costs, which management included in the reported figure. Source
Earlier plans management reported on
- Not stated: The August release said fourth quarter and initial 2027 guidance would come with third quarter results. This release gives fourth quarter guidance; 2027 guidance is deferred to early March 2027.
- Not stated: The August release gave third-quarter pro forma guidance of $16.0 to $16.5 million revenue and $2.3 to $2.5 million Adjusted EBITDA. Reported third-quarter figures are shown in this release.
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.