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Planet Fitness, 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: 4 raised, 2 lowered, 1 narrowed, 1 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 9.0% to $360.0 million: Total revenue was $360.0 million, up $29.6 million from $330.3 million a year earlier, with increases in franchise, corporate-owned clubs and equipment. Source
  • Adjusted net income fell, per share rose: Adjusted net income decreased $5.1 million to $61.9 million, or $0.83 per diluted share, compared with $0.80 a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $146.2 million: Adjusted EBITDA increased $5.4 million to $146.2 million from $140.8 million in the prior year period. Source
  • System-wide same club sales up 1.5%: System-wide same club sales rose 1.5%, and system-wide sales rose $53.4 million to $1.3 billion. Source
  • Repurchased $50.0 million of stock: The company repurchased and retired about 1.0 million Class A shares for $50.0 million in the quarter, compared with $200.0 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Be-Fit acquisition adds 25 clubs: Be-Fit, a Portuguese platform with 25 clubs and about 80,000 members, has been acquired, establishing a presence in Portugal. Source
  • Strategic review of domestic clubs: Management began a strategic review of refranchising opportunities for its domestic corporate-owned clubs and expects to use any proceeds for capital allocation. Source

“We delivered same club sales growth ahead of our expectations and adjusted EBITDA margins of approximately 41%”

Colleen Keating, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
System-wide same club sales growth SourceYear ending December 31, 2026approximately 1.5% to 2%Raised from approximately 1%
Total revenue SourceYear ending December 31, 2026increase of approximately 8%Raised from approximately 7%
Adjusted EBITDA SourceYear ending December 31, 2026increase of approximately 6.5%Raised from approximately 6%
New equipment placements in franchisee-owned locations SourceYear ending December 31, 2026approximately 135 to 140Lowered from 150 to 160
System-wide new club openings SourceYear ending December 31, 2026approximately 190 to 195 locations, including the Be-Fit acquisitionRaised from 180 to 190
Capital expenditures SourceYear ending December 31, 2026increase of approximately 15%Narrowed, low end up from 10% to 15%
Depreciation and amortization SourceYear ending December 31, 2026increase of approximately 7%Lowered from increase of approximately 10%
Adjusted net income per share, diluted SourceYear ending December 31, 2026increase of approximately 6%Kept
Adjusted diluted weighted-average shares SourceYear ending December 31, 2026approximately 77.0 millionKept
Net interest expense SourceYear ending December 31, 2026approximately $115.0 millionKept
Adjusted net income SourceYear ending December 31, 2026decrease of approximately 3%Kept
Share repurchase authorization Sourcenot statedup to $500 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: System-wide same club sales growth expectation raised to approximately 1.5% to 2% from approximately 1%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Total revenue growth expectation raised to approximately 8% from approximately 7%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EBITDA growth expectation raised to approximately 6.5% from approximately 6%. Source
  • Guidance raised: System-wide club openings expectation raised to 190 to 195, which includes Be-Fit, from 180 to 190. Source
  • Guidance raised: Capital expenditure growth expectation set at approximately 15%, compared with a previous range of 10% to 15%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Expected new equipment placements in franchisee-owned locations lowered to 135 to 140 from 150 to 160. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Depreciation and amortization growth expectation lowered to approximately 7% from approximately 10%. Source
  • Guidance kept: Adjusted diluted EPS growth expectation reiterated at approximately 6%. Source
  • Guidance kept: Net interest expense expectation reiterated at approximately $115.0 million. Source
  • Guidance kept: Adjusted net income expectation reiterated at a decrease of approximately 3%. Source
  • New: Company acquired Be-Fit, a Portuguese fitness platform with 25 clubs, marking entry into Portugal. Source
  • New: Company began a strategic review of refranchising opportunities for its domestic corporate-owned clubs. Source
  • New: Board authorized a new share repurchase program of up to $500 million. Source
  • Ended: The 2026 program replaces the existing 2025 Share Repurchase Program. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 9.0% to $360.0 million: Total revenue was $360.0 million, up $29.6 million from $330.3 million a year earlier, with increases in franchise, corporate-owned clubs and equipment. Source
  • Diluted EPS unchanged at $0.70: Net income attributable to Planet Fitness was $52.0 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, against $58.8 million, or $0.70, a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted net income fell, per share rose: Adjusted net income decreased $5.1 million to $61.9 million, or $0.83 per diluted share, compared with $0.80 a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $146.2 million: Adjusted EBITDA increased $5.4 million to $146.2 million from $140.8 million in the prior year period. Source

Segments and revenue drivers

  • Franchise revenue up 14.0%: Franchise segment revenue was $129.6 million. National Advertising Fund revenue rose $10.4 million after a one-point contribution rate increase, and royalties rose $3.9 million. Source
  • Corporate-owned clubs revenue up 3.5%: Corporate-owned clubs revenue was $142.7 million. New clubs added $4.1 million and the same club base $3.4 million, partly offset by $2.5 million from eight California clubs sold in August 2025. Source
  • Equipment revenue up 11.1%: Equipment segment revenue was $87.6 million. Equipment sales to existing franchisee-owned clubs added $9.6 million, partly offset by $0.8 million less from new clubs. Source
  • Segment Adjusted EBITDA by segment: Franchise segment Adjusted EBITDA rose to $86.8 million and equipment to $25.5 million. Corporate-owned clubs was $53.5 million, down $0.2 million. Corporate and other costs were $19.7 million. Source

“Be-Fit is a profitable collection of 25 clubs with an established national presence, and we see great potential to drive efficiencies and future growth”

Colleen Keating, Chief Executive Officer

Demand and member base

  • System-wide same club sales up 1.5%: System-wide same club sales rose 1.5%, and system-wide sales rose $53.4 million to $1.3 billion. Source
  • Approximately 21.5 million members: The company reported approximately 21.5 million members and 2,962 clubs as of September 30, 2026, with clubs in all 50 states and several other countries. Source
  • 33 clubs opened in the quarter: The 33 openings comprised 25 franchisee-owned clubs and 8 corporate-owned clubs. Source
  • Equipment sales to new clubs fell: Equipment sales went to 21 new franchisee-owned clubs, against 27 in the same period last year. Source

Costs and operating results

  • Operating cost lines rose: Selling, general and administrative expense was $34.9 million, up from $30.5 million. Cost of revenue was $65.4 million and club operations $84.3 million, up from $79.8 million. Source
  • Interest expense rose to $34.1 million: Interest expense was $34.1 million against $26.3 million a year earlier, while interest income was $5.2 million. Source
  • Operating income fell to $101.5 million: Income from operations was $101.5 million against $107.1 million a year earlier. Source

Earnings adjustments and other items

  • Purchase accounting amortization excluded: Adjusted net income adds back purchase accounting amortization of $8.0 million, compared with $9.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Other losses against prior-year gain: Other losses (gains), net were $0.5 million in the quarter, against a gain of $5.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted tax rate set at 26.0%: Adjusted income taxes assume an effective tax rate of 26.0% for the quarter, compared with 25.9% a year earlier. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Repurchased $50.0 million of stock: The company repurchased and retired about 1.0 million Class A shares for $50.0 million in the quarter, compared with $200.0 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Cash and marketable securities $515.0M: Cash and marketable securities totaled $515.0 million at September 30, 2026, including $310.2 million of cash and cash equivalents and $72.8 million of restricted cash. Source
  • Nine-month operating cash flow $303.9M: Net cash provided by operating activities was $303.9 million for the nine months, against $309.4 million a year earlier. Source

Strategy, investment and leadership

  • Be-Fit acquisition adds 25 clubs: Be-Fit, a Portuguese platform with 25 clubs and about 80,000 members, has been acquired, establishing a presence in Portugal. Source
  • Purchase price about €102.5 million: The price is about €102.5 million, or about $114.8 million. About €100 million was paid in cash at closing, and up to €2.5 million is contingent on performance targets. Source
  • Be-Fit clubs to be operated directly: The company intends to operate the Be-Fit clubs after closing, working with the existing management team, and over time expects to pursue refranchising. Source
  • Strategic review of domestic clubs: Management began a strategic review of refranchising opportunities for its domestic corporate-owned clubs and expects to use any proceeds for capital allocation. Source
  • Executive transition costs in quarter: Executive transition costs were $2.6 million for the quarter, primarily from Chief Financial Officer transitions. Source
  • New CFO and President, International: The prior quarter release reported the appointment of Sudhanshu Priyadarshi as Chief Financial Officer and President, International.

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Be-Fit expected accretive in 2027: The company expects the Be-Fit acquisition to be accretive to earnings in 2027. Source
  • Be-Fit clubs to move to brand: Management plans to convert the Be-Fit clubs to the Planet Fitness brand and apply its best practices. Source
  • Be-Fit refranchising over time: The company expects over time to pursue refranchising of the Be-Fit business. Source
  • Club review proceeds for capital allocation: Any proceeds from refranchising domestic corporate-owned clubs are expected to further the company's capital allocation strategies. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
System-wide clubs Source2,962 as of September 30, 2026
Members Sourceapproximately 21.5 million
System-wide same club sales growth Source1.5%
Corporate-owned same club sales growth Source1.8%
New clubs opened in quarter Source33
Equipment sales to new franchisee-owned clubs Source21 in the quarter (27 a year earlier)

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Share repurchases at any particular time depend on the terms of the indenture governing the company's outstanding notes. Source
  • Demand: The company reduced its expected new equipment placements in franchisee-owned locations for 2026. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said same club sales growth came in ahead of its expectations for the quarter. Source
  • Not stated: Management cited progress on initiatives to accelerate member growth, reinforce affordability and generate long-term value. Source
  • Not stated: Management reiterated its adjusted EPS, net interest and adjusted net income expectations for 2026. 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.