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PTC Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 9 raised, 3 lowered, 7 new, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Constant currency ARR grew 9.1%: Constant currency ARR excluding divested businesses was $2,448 million against $2,245 million, up 9.1%, above the 8% to 9% Q3 guidance range. As reported ARR excluding divested businesses rose 7% to $2,412 million. Source
  • Revenue fell 7% as reported: Revenue was $600.0 million against $643.9 million, down 7%. Management said revenue declined 8% year over year on a constant currency basis. Source
  • Free cash flow up 3% in quarter: Free cash flow was $249.3 million, up 3% from $242.0 million and above the $240 million to $245 million Q3 guidance. Operating cash flow was $260.6 million, up 7%. Source
  • About $525 million repurchased in Q3: The company repurchased about $525 million of shares in Q3’26, including 4.3 million shares in the open market, bringing FY’26 repurchases above the high end of the target. Source
  • Operating margins fell year over year: GAAP operating margin was 27.7% against 32.6% a year earlier. Non-GAAP operating margin was 41.4% against 44.3%. Source
  • Intelligent Product Lifecycle vision: Management said customers increasingly recognize the Intelligent Product Lifecycle vision, which it links to the go-to-market and product strategy emphasis of recent quarters. Source
  • AI intelligence layer across products: PTC is establishing an intelligence layer over its trusted solutions across CAD, PLM, ALM and SLM to enable AI capabilities. Source

“AI has become a key discussion point in customer conversations, and PTC is uniquely positioned to take advantage of this growing customer interest in AI”

Neil Barua, President and CEO, PTC

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Constant currency ARR excluding divested businesses (growth) SourceFY’269% to 9.5% growthRaised from 7.5% to 9.5% growth
Revenue SourceFY’26$2,690 to $2,750 millionRaised from $2,580 to $2,820 million
Earnings per share (GAAP, diluted) SourceFY’26$8.46 to $9.18Raised from $7.21 to $9.70
Non-GAAP earnings per share SourceFY’26$7.87 to $8.42Raised from $6.65 to $8.90
Operating cash flow SourceFY’26~$880 millionKept
Free cash flow SourceFY’26~$850 millionKept
Share repurchases SourceFY’26~$1.625 billionRaised from $1.225 billion to $1.325 billion
Fully diluted shares SourceFY’26approximately 116 million sharesNew
Constant currency ARR excluding divested businesses (growth) SourceQ4’269% to 9.5% growthNew
Revenue SourceQ4’26$630 to $690 millionNew
Operating cash flow SourceQ4’26~$29 millionNew
Free cash flow SourceQ4’26~$15 millionNew
Earnings per share (GAAP, diluted) SourceQ4’26$0.94 to $1.70New
Non-GAAP earnings per share SourceQ4’26$1.63 to $2.21New
Cash tax payments SourceFY’26$230 million to $240 millionLowered from $240 million to $260 million
Cash interest payments SourceFY’26$60 million to $65 million
GAAP operating expenses (growth) SourceFY’26approximately 4%Raised from approximately 3%
Divestiture-related costs SourceFY’26approximately $50 millionRaised from approximately $40 million
Divestiture-related cash taxes SourceFY’26approximately $100 millionLowered from approximately $110 million
Acquisition and transaction-related charges SourceFY’26approximately $40 millionRaised from approximately $35 million
Net GAAP P&L credits from listed items SourceFY’26approximately $80 million to $110 millionLowered from approximately $90 million to $120 million
Capital expenditures SourceFY’26approximately $30 millionKept
Capital expenditures SourceQ4’26approximately $11 million (reconciliation table shows ~$14 million)Raised from approximately $10 million
GAAP and non-GAAP tax rates SourceQ4’26approximately 20% to 25%Kept
Non-operating credits SourceFY’26approximately $465 millionKept
Divestiture-related net free cash flow contribution SourceFY’26approximately $70 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: FY’26 constant currency ARR growth guidance midpoint was raised, with the range now 9% to 9.5%. Source
  • Guidance raised: The release states FY’26 guidance was raised for ARR, revenue and EPS, and that cash flow guidance was reaffirmed. Source
  • Guidance raised: Expected FY’26 share repurchases were raised to about $1.625 billion from $1.225 billion to $1.325 billion. Source
  • Guidance kept: FY’26 operating cash flow and free cash flow guidance were kept at about $880 million and $850 million. Source
  • New guidance: Guidance for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2026 was provided for the first time in this release. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Divestiture-related cash taxes for FY’26 were lowered to about $100 million from about $110 million. Source
  • New: The Q3’26 cash flow statement shows a $50.1 million contribution to a solar energy equity investment. The release does not describe it further. Source
  • New: The investor relations contact changed from Matt Shimao, SVP, in the Q2 release to Michael Maguire, CFA, VP, in the Q3 release. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Constant currency ARR grew 9.1%: Constant currency ARR excluding divested businesses was $2,448 million against $2,245 million, up 9.1%, above the 8% to 9% Q3 guidance range. As reported ARR excluding divested businesses rose 7% to $2,412 million. Source
  • Revenue fell 7% as reported: Revenue was $600.0 million against $643.9 million, down 7%. Management said revenue declined 8% year over year on a constant currency basis. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell 12%: Diluted EPS was $1.03 against $1.17, down 12%. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $1.58 against $1.64, down 4%. Source
  • Nine-month net income includes gain: Nine-month net income was $876.0 million against $386.2 million. The nine-month figures include a $463 million non-operating credit from the Kepware and ThingWorx sale recognized in Q2’26. Source

Cash flow and share repurchases

  • Free cash flow up 3% in quarter: Free cash flow was $249.3 million, up 3% from $242.0 million and above the $240 million to $245 million Q3 guidance. Operating cash flow was $260.6 million, up 7%. Source
  • Nine-month free cash flow $835 million: Nine-month free cash flow was $835.0 million against $756.2 million. The nine-month cash flow statement shows $523.3 million from divestiture of businesses. Source
  • About $525 million repurchased in Q3: The company repurchased about $525 million of shares in Q3’26, including 4.3 million shares in the open market, bringing FY’26 repurchases above the high end of the target. Source
  • Accelerated buyback delivered 2.7 million shares: The accelerated share repurchase entered March 17, 2026 used $375 million of cash. The release says it delivered 2.7 million shares across Q2’26 and Q3’26. Source
  • Debt rose in quarter: Net borrowings on debt were $225.0 million in Q3. Debt, net of issuance costs, was $1,423.3 million at June 30, 2026, against $1,197.4 million at September 30, 2025. Source

“Specific to Q3, we identified what we viewed as a compressed valuation of our stock and acted accordingly by repurchasing more than two times what we previously targeted for the quarter”

Jen DiRico, CFO

Costs, margins and operating expenses

  • Operating margins fell year over year: GAAP operating margin was 27.7% against 32.6% a year earlier. Non-GAAP operating margin was 41.4% against 44.3%. Source
  • Operating expenses flat in quarter: Total operating expenses were $324.0 million against $324.1 million. General and administrative rose to $60.0 million from $54.1 million, while sales and marketing fell to $136.3 million from $141.8 million. Source
  • Stock-based compensation rose: Stock-based compensation was $59.4 million in Q3 against $54.0 million. Nine-month stock-based compensation was $185.8 million against $161.4 million. Source
  • Acquisition charges rose for nine months: Acquisition and transaction-related charges were $2.9 million in Q3 and $40.0 million for nine months, against $2.4 million a year earlier. Source

Revenue mix and recurring revenue

  • Recurring revenue down in quarter: Recurring revenue was $576.0 million against $613.6 million. Nine-month recurring revenue was $1,976.7 million against $1,739.4 million. Source
  • License revenue fell in quarter: License revenue was $205.8 million against $251.5 million. Professional services revenue was $23.3 million against $22.6 million. Source
  • Support and cloud revenue edged up: Support and cloud services revenue was $370.9 million against $369.9 million in Q3. Nine-month support and cloud services revenue was $1,151.7 million against $1,083.8 million. Source
  • Revenue timing differs from ARR: The company said ARR is not affected by variability in revenue timing under ASC 606, particularly for on-premises license subscriptions where much of contract value is recognized at one point. Source

AI and customer demand

  • AI discussions with customers: In the prior release the CEO said customer interest in AI was growing and that discussions showed AI driving momentum in the business.
  • Product data modernization becoming clear: The release says the need to modernize product data foundations to use AI is becoming clear to organizations. Source
  • Customer base described at scale: The company describes itself as employing over 7,000 people and supporting more than 30,000 customers globally. Source

Strategy and Intelligent Product Lifecycle vision

  • Intelligent Product Lifecycle vision: Management said customers increasingly recognize the Intelligent Product Lifecycle vision, which it links to the go-to-market and product strategy emphasis of recent quarters. Source
  • AI intelligence layer across products: PTC is establishing an intelligence layer over its trusted solutions across CAD, PLM, ALM and SLM to enable AI capabilities. Source
  • Improved demand capture cited: The CFO said Q3 results reflect a focused business model, with improved demand capture and customer adoption from the company's execution. Source
  • Kepware and ThingWorx divestiture completed: The divestiture took effect March 13, 2026. FY’26 includes those businesses only until then, and ARR figures exclude them. Source

Measures and disclosure notes

  • ARR defined as annualized contract value: ARR covers active subscription, SaaS, hosting and support contracts at period end. The company says it is not annualized recurring revenue. Source
  • Non-GAAP measures exclude stock compensation: Non-GAAP measures exclude stock-based compensation, amortization of acquired intangibles, acquisition and transaction charges, impairment and other items, non-operating credits and income tax adjustments. Source
  • Investor relations contact changed: The Q3 release names Michael Maguire, CFA, VP, Investor Relations. The Q2 release named Matt Shimao, SVP, Investor Relations. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 July 2026

  • Q4 divestiture costs and cash taxes: Q4’26 cash flow guidance includes about $26 million of divestiture-related costs and about $92 million of divestiture-related cash taxes, not expected to recur. Source
  • Q4 capital spending for R&D move: Q4’26 free cash flow guidance includes about $11 million of capital expenditures tied to moving a major R&D center. The reconciliation table shows about $14 million. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
ARR excluding divested businesses, as reported Source$2,412 million, up 7% year over year
Constant currency ARR growth excluding divested businesses Source9.1%
Recurring revenue Source$576.0 million in Q3; $1,976.7 million nine months
Support and cloud services revenue Source$370.9 million in Q3; $1,151.7 million nine months
Customers Sourcemore than 30,000

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Reported ARR was flat year over year in Q3’26, while ARR excluding divested businesses rose 7%. Source
  • Financial: FY’26 cash flow guidance carries about $50 million of divestiture-related costs and about $100 million of divestiture-related cash taxes. Source
  • Financial: Revenue, operating margin and EPS are affected by ASC 606 accounting, according to the footnote to the key metrics table. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: The May release targeted about $250 million of Q3 repurchases. The July release says Q3 repurchases were more than two times the target.
  • Ahead: Q3 constant currency ARR growth was 9.1%, which the release says exceeded the high end of the guidance range. Source
  • Not stated: The May release said the company was on track to deliver full-year guidance. The July release raised the ARR, revenue and EPS ranges.

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.