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LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 9% to $212M: Total revenue was $212 million, up 9%, with subscription revenue of $158 million, also up 9%. Source
  • GAAP operating margin reached 19%: GAAP operating margin was 19%, up 11 points; non-GAAP operating margin was 29%, up 6 points. Source
  • ARR reached $527M: ARR was $527 million, up 7%, against $516 million in the prior quarter. ARR is the last month's fixed subscription revenue annualized. Source
  • Remaining obligations up 9%: CRPO was $471 million, up 9% from a year earlier and up from $430 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Data Marketplace extended to AI: Customers can now license data to train AI and license third-party AI models, applications and agents through the Data Marketplace. Source
  • Publicis partnership announced: LiveRamp and Publicis announced a strategic partnership to advance data collaboration across their combined data and technology environments. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose to $67M: Operating cash flow was $67 million, against $45 million; free cash flow was $67.1 million after $0.2 million of capital expenditures. Source
  • Fourth-quarter revenue guided: Q4 revenue of $203 million to $207 million, up 8% to 10%, with GAAP operating income about $16 million and non-GAAP about $38 million. Source

“Beyond the numbers, we made notable progress with several growth initiatives: We debuted new AI tools in our Data Marketplace, added more AI partners to our network and expanded our partnership with Publicis.”

CEO Scott Howe

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFourth quarter of fiscal 2026$203 million to $207 million, an increase of 8% to 10%New
GAAP operating income SourceFourth quarter of fiscal 2026approximately $16 millionNew
Non-GAAP operating income SourceFourth quarter of fiscal 2026approximately $38 millionNew
Revenue SourceFiscal 2026$810 million to $814 million, an increase of 9%
GAAP operating income SourceFiscal 2026approximately $84 million
Non-GAAP operating income SourceFiscal 2026approximately $180 million

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter revenue and operating income guidance given; the prior release gave guidance for the third quarter only. Source
  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 revenue range moved to $810 million to $814 million from $804 million to $818 million; midpoint $812 million against $811 million. Source
  • New: Strategic partnership with Publicis announced to advance data collaboration across combined data and technology environments. Source
  • New: Data Marketplace expanded to include data and models for AI, letting customers license data to train AI and third-party AI models. Source
  • New: Uber Advertising launched Uber Intelligence, a data and insights platform powered by LiveRamp. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 9% to $212M: Total revenue was $212 million, up 9%, with subscription revenue of $158 million, also up 9%. Source
  • GAAP operating income rose to $40M: GAAP operating income was $40 million, against $15 million a year earlier; non-GAAP operating income was $62 million, up 36%. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose to $0.62: GAAP diluted EPS was $0.62 and non-GAAP diluted EPS $0.76, against $0.17 and $0.55 a year earlier; diluted shares were 64.3 million, against 66.7 million. Source

Margins and costs

  • GAAP operating margin reached 19%: GAAP operating margin was 19%, up 11 points; non-GAAP operating margin was 29%, up 6 points. Source
  • Non-GAAP gross margin down 1 point: Non-GAAP gross margin was 74%, down 1 point; GAAP gross margin was 72%, flat year over year. Source
  • R&D expense down 21%: Research and development expense was $33.8 million, down 20.9% from $42.7 million; sales and marketing and general and administrative expense also declined. Source
  • Stock compensation charges lower: Non-cash stock compensation was $18.1 million, against $26.8 million a year earlier; restructuring and merger charges were $1.3 million. Source

“As we look ahead to fiscal 2027, we are well-positioned for strong growth.”

CEO Scott Howe

Demand and order book

  • ARR reached $527M: ARR was $527 million, up 7%, against $516 million in the prior quarter. ARR is the last month's fixed subscription revenue annualized. Source
  • Remaining obligations up 9%: CRPO was $471 million, up 9% from a year earlier and up from $430 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Net retention at 101% and 103%: Subscription net retention was 101% and platform net retention 103%; the prior quarter showed 102% and 105%. Source
  • Customers above $1M rose: Customers with annualized subscription revenue above $1 million reached 140, against 125 a year earlier and 132 in the prior quarter. Source
  • Direct subscription customers lower: Direct subscription customers were 849, against 865 a year earlier and 834 in the prior quarter. Source

Products and customers

  • Subscription growth higher than prior quarter: Subscription revenue grew 9% this quarter, after 5% growth in the prior quarter.
  • Marketplace & Other growth 8%: Marketplace & Other revenue was $54 million, up 8%; GAAP gross profit was $153 million, up 9%. Source
  • Data Marketplace extended to AI: Customers can now license data to train AI and license third-party AI models, applications and agents through the Data Marketplace. Source

Partnerships and AI network

  • Publicis partnership announced: LiveRamp and Publicis announced a strategic partnership to advance data collaboration across their combined data and technology environments. Source
  • Publicis link to AI tools: The company says the link gives customers enterprise-grade connections between AI tools, insights without data movement and end-to-end measurement of advertising. Source
  • Uber Intelligence launched on platform: Uber Intelligence lets advertisers combine their own customer data with Uber's consented signals, powered by LiveRamp. Source

Capital, cash and returns

  • Operating cash flow rose to $67M: Operating cash flow was $67 million, against $45 million; free cash flow was $67.1 million after $0.2 million of capital expenditures. Source
  • Quarter buybacks $39M: Repurchases in the quarter totaled 1.4 million shares for $39 million. Source
  • Fiscal year buybacks $119M: Fiscal year-to-date repurchases through December 31, 2025 were 4.3 million shares for $119 million. Source
  • Cash balance lower than March: Cash and cash equivalents were $395.9 million at December 31, against $413.3 million at March 31, 2025. Source
  • Receivables rose 17.5%: Trade accounts receivable were $218.8 million, up from $186.2 million at March 31, 2025. Source

Guidance and upcoming events

  • Fourth-quarter revenue guided: Q4 revenue of $203 million to $207 million, up 8% to 10%, with GAAP operating income about $16 million and non-GAAP about $38 million. Source
  • Full-year revenue range narrowed: Fiscal 2026 revenue now $810 million to $814 million, up 9%; the previous range was $804 million to $818 million. Source
  • Full-year operating income ranges set: Fiscal 2026 GAAP operating income about $84 million, previously $83 million to $87 million; non-GAAP about $180 million, previously $178 million to $182 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 February 2026

  • RampUp 2026 customer conference: Annual customer and partner conference, scheduled for March 3-5 in San Francisco. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Annualized recurring revenue (ARR) Source$527 million, up 7%
Current remaining performance obligations (CRPO) Source$471 million, up 9%
Subscription net retention Source101%
Platform net retention Source103%
Customers with annualized subscription revenue above $1 million Source140, up from 125
Direct subscription customers Source849, down from 865
Subscription revenue Source$158 million, up 9%

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said third-quarter revenue and operating income were ahead of its expectations, with record operating margin and operating cash flow. 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.