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Openlane, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 1 lowered, 1 narrowed. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue up 13% on auction fees: Total operating revenues were $561.2 million against $498.4 million a year earlier. Auction and related fees rose to $253.2 million from $215.2 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 23%: Adjusted EBITDA was $106.8 million against $87.1 million. Net income was $44.7 million against $47.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Marketplace Adjusted EBITDA $57.8M: Marketplace Adjusted EBITDA was $57.8 million and Finance was $49.0 million, totaling $106.8 million for the quarter. Source
  • Cost of services grew faster: Cost of services was $309.3 million against $270.2 million, an increase larger in percentage terms than the 13% growth in total revenue. Source
  • GMV reached $10.0 billion: Gross merchandise value was approximately $10.0 billion, up 38% year over year. Source
  • Operating cash flow up 34%: Cash flow from operating activities was $97.1 million against $72.2 million. Nine-month operating cash flow was $309.5 million against $266.4 million. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow $124.2M: Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $124.2 million against $4.6 million. Free Cash Flow was $83.3 million against $57.6 million. Source
  • Competitive changes cited for share gains: Management said recent changes to the competitive landscape provide a route to gain additional market share. Source

“The positive momentum OPENLANE sustained in the third quarter reinforces the strength of our strategy and the differentiated value we deliver to the market,”

Peter Kelly, CEO of OPENLANE

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net income SourceFull year 2026$169 - $177 millionRaised from $163 - $176 million
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$390 - $400 millionNarrowed, low end up from $385 - $400 million
Net income per share, diluted SourceFull year 2026$1.27 - $1.34Raised from $1.23 - $1.33
Operating Adjusted EPS SourceFull year 2026$1.45 - $1.52Raised from $1.40 - $1.50
Operating adjusted income SourceFull year 2026$182 - $191 millionRaised from $176 - $189 million
Weighted average diluted shares SourceFull year 2026125 millionLowered from 126 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 ranges for net income, Adjusted EBITDA, diluted EPS and Operating Adjusted EPS were narrowed, with low ends raised. Previous guidance was dated August 4, 2026. Source
  • New: Share repurchase authorization increased by $150 million to $400 million and extended through December 31, 2027. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue up 13% on auction fees: Total operating revenues were $561.2 million against $498.4 million a year earlier. Auction and related fees rose to $253.2 million from $215.2 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 23%: Adjusted EBITDA was $106.8 million against $87.1 million. Net income was $44.7 million against $47.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Per-share earnings higher: Diluted EPS was $0.36 against $0.25. Operating Adjusted EPS was $0.43 against $0.35, with acquired amortization and other listed items excluded. Source

Segments: Marketplace and Finance

  • Marketplace Adjusted EBITDA $57.8M: Marketplace Adjusted EBITDA was $57.8 million and Finance was $49.0 million, totaling $106.8 million for the quarter. Source
  • Finance supplied most net income: Marketplace net income was $14.1 million and Finance net income was $30.6 million, summing to the consolidated $44.7 million. Source
  • Finance interest expense flat: Finance revenue was $114.7 million against $109.0 million. Finance interest expense was $28.2 million against $28.1 million. Source

“Our US dealer volumes grew 22%, meaningfully outpacing the industry, while our commercial business accelerated from the upward inflection of off-lease volumes.”

Peter Kelly, CEO of OPENLANE

Products and customers

  • SaaS and other revenue higher: SaaS and other revenue was $73.9 million against $65.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • Purchased vehicle sales higher: Purchased vehicle sales were $119.4 million against $108.9 million. Nine-month purchased vehicle sales were $346.5 million against $293.1 million. Source

Costs and margins

  • Cost of services grew faster: Cost of services was $309.3 million against $270.2 million, an increase larger in percentage terms than the 13% growth in total revenue. Source
  • Selling and admin costs up 11%: Selling, general and administrative expense was $123.4 million against $110.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Operating profit up to $70.4M: Operating profit was $70.4 million against $55.0 million. Income before income taxes was $60.1 million against $56.1 million. Source
  • Interest expense increased: Interest expense was $10.0 million against $1.1 million a year earlier. Provision for credit losses fell to $8.4 million from $11.5 million. Source

“We are successfully leveraging OPENLANE’s unique advantages with AFC’s independent dealers and the franchise dealers in our private label programs.”

Brad Herring, CFO of OPENLANE

Demand and order book

  • GMV reached $10.0 billion: Gross merchandise value was approximately $10.0 billion, up 38% year over year. Source
  • Commercial vehicle sales up 46%: Marketplace commercial vehicles sold grew 46% year over year, the largest volume gain in the marketplace segment reported. Source
  • Dealer vehicles up 10%: Marketplace dealer vehicles sold rose 10% year over year, with US dealer vehicles sold as the driver of that growth. Source

Capital, cash and returns

  • Operating cash flow up 34%: Cash flow from operating activities was $97.1 million against $72.2 million. Nine-month operating cash flow was $309.5 million against $266.4 million. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow $124.2M: Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $124.2 million against $4.6 million. Free Cash Flow was $83.3 million against $57.6 million. Source
  • Nine-month buybacks $91.5M: Repurchases and retirements of common stock, including excise taxes, were $91.5 million in the nine months against $35.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • About $250M buyback capacity left: After the increase and previous repurchases, approximately $250 million remains available under the share repurchase program at October 31, 2026. Source
  • Cash balance rose to $244.9M: Cash and cash equivalents were $244.9 million at September 30, 2026, against $141.5 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Strategy, technology and competition

  • Competitive changes cited for share gains: Management said recent changes to the competitive landscape provide a route to gain additional market share. Source
  • Technology lead and customer focus: Management said the company is extending its lead in technology, improving the customer experience and gaining brand preference. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Stephens fireside chat: CFO Brad Herring and EVP and President, Marketplace, James Coyle are scheduled for a fireside chat on November 17 at 8:45 a.m. CT. Source
  • UBS conference appearance: CEO Peter Kelly and CFO Brad Herring are scheduled to attend the UBS Global Technology and AI Conference, November 30 to December 3, 2026. Source
  • Wells Fargo fireside chat: CEO Peter Kelly and CFO Brad Herring are scheduled for the Wells Fargo TMT Summit, December 7 to 9, 2026, with a fireside chat on December 8 at 12:45 p.m. PT. 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.