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Rxo, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 October 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Profit exceeded the third-quarter range: Adjusted EBITDA was $51 million, up from $32 million, and adjusted EBITDA margin was 2.7%. Revenue was $1.9 billion against $1.4 billion; management said profit exceeded the high end of its third-quarter range. Source
  • Truckload volume up 3%: Brokerage volume rose 2% year over year, with truckload up 3% and less-than-truckload up 2%. Truckload volume improved in each month of the quarter. Source
  • Spot mix reached 51% of volume: Truckload spot mix was 51% of volume, up from 29% in the third quarter of 2025 and 42% in the second quarter of 2026. Source
  • Gross profit per load up 31%: Gross profit per load rose 31% sequentially. The release describes this as the largest sequential growth rate in more than four years, driven by spot mix. Source
  • Managed Transportation won $140 million: Managed Transportation was awarded about $140 million of freight under management in the quarter, after about $100 million in the second quarter. Its revenue was $163 million, against $137 million. Source
  • Gross margin 14.6% versus 16.5%: Gross margin was 14.6%, compared with 16.5% a year earlier. Gross margin dollars were $273 million, against $234 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow was negative: For the nine months, operating cash flow was negative $22 million, against $44 million provided a year earlier. Accounts receivable rose, a $261 million use of cash in the period. Source
  • C.H. Robinson agreed to acquire RXO: On October 5, 2026, RXO entered a definitive agreement to be acquired by C.H. Robinson in a stock-and-cash deal with an implied value of $5.8 billion at announcement. Source

“We exceeded the high end of our third-quarter profit outlook, demonstrating the momentum we’re building across RXO.”

RXO Chairman and CEO Drew Wilkerson

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDAthird quarter of 2026$35 million to $45 million
Brokerage overall volumethird quarter of 2026low-to-mid-single-digit percentage growth year over year

What changed from last quarter

  • New: RXO agreed on October 5, 2026 to be acquired by C.H. Robinson. The prior quarter's release does not mention this transaction. Source
  • Ended: No earnings conference call is held for this quarter. The prior quarter's release announced a call and webcast. Source

Quarter results and profit

  • Profit exceeded the third-quarter range: Adjusted EBITDA was $51 million, up from $32 million, and adjusted EBITDA margin was 2.7%. Revenue was $1.9 billion against $1.4 billion; management said profit exceeded the high end of its third-quarter range. Source
  • GAAP net income turned positive: GAAP net income was $3 million against a $14 million loss a year earlier, after $7 million of transaction, integration, restructuring and other costs. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.02; adjusted EPS was $0.09. Source
  • Nine-month net loss narrowed: For the nine months, net loss was $42 million against $54 million, revenue was $5,070 million against $4,273 million, and adjusted EBITDA was $97 million against $92 million. Source

Brokerage volume and pricing

  • Truckload volume up 3%: Brokerage volume rose 2% year over year, with truckload up 3% and less-than-truckload up 2%. Truckload volume improved in each month of the quarter. Source
  • Spot mix reached 51% of volume: Truckload spot mix was 51% of volume, up from 29% in the third quarter of 2025 and 42% in the second quarter of 2026. Source
  • Gross profit per load up 31%: Gross profit per load rose 31% sequentially. The release describes this as the largest sequential growth rate in more than four years, driven by spot mix. Source
  • Brokerage gross margin at 12.6%: Brokerage gross margin was 12.6%, against 13.5% a year earlier and 10.7% in the second quarter of 2026. Brokerage gross margin dollars were $180 million, against $140 million. Source

“We continued to take market share in Brokerage, and achieved a 3 percent increase in truckload volume, outperforming the market.”

RXO Chairman and CEO Drew Wilkerson

Complementary services and Last Mile

  • Last Mile stops rose 5%: Last Mile stops increased 5% year over year. Last Mile revenue was $334 million, compared with $305 million in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Managed Transportation won $140 million: Managed Transportation was awarded about $140 million of freight under management in the quarter, after about $100 million in the second quarter. Its revenue was $163 million, against $137 million. Source
  • Complementary margin at 18.7%: Complementary services gross margin was 18.7%, against 21.3% a year earlier and 21.1% in the second quarter of 2026. Its gross margin dollars were $93 million, against $94 million. Source

Costs and margins

  • Gross margin 14.6% versus 16.5%: Gross margin was 14.6%, compared with 16.5% a year earlier. Gross margin dollars were $273 million, against $234 million. Source
  • Carrier and service costs rose: Cost of transportation and services was $1,538 million, against $1,137 million. SG&A was $223 million against $208 million, and direct operating expense was $58 million against $48 million. Source
  • Transaction costs fell, restructuring rose: Transaction and integration costs were $1 million, against $5 million. Restructuring costs were $6 million, against $4 million. Interest expense, net was $10 million, against $9 million. Source

“As we move toward the pending acquisition by C.H. Robinson, our priorities remain unchanged.”

RXO Chairman and CEO Drew Wilkerson

Cash, debt and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow was negative: For the nine months, operating cash flow was negative $22 million, against $44 million provided a year earlier. Accounts receivable rose, a $261 million use of cash in the period. Source
  • Long-term debt rose to $461 million: Long-term debt and finance leases were $461 million at September 30, 2026, against $387 million at December 31, 2025. Short-term debt and current maturities were $35 million. Source
  • Cash and receivables both higher: Cash and cash equivalents were $25 million, against $17 million at December 31, 2025. Accounts receivable were $1,478 million, against $1,226 million. Source

Pending C.H. Robinson acquisition

  • C.H. Robinson agreed to acquire RXO: On October 5, 2026, RXO entered a definitive agreement to be acquired by C.H. Robinson in a stock-and-cash deal with an implied value of $5.8 billion at announcement. Source
  • Customer focus during pending deal: Chairman and CEO Drew Wilkerson said RXO is staying close to customers, listening to their needs and helping them navigate an evolving freight market. Source
  • Priorities described as unchanged: Chairman and CEO Drew Wilkerson said priorities are unchanged as the company moves toward the pending acquisition, with focus on service, solutions, innovation and relationships. Source

Reporting format and disclosures

  • No earnings call this quarter: The company will not host an earnings conference call, given the proposed transaction with C.H. Robinson. The prior quarter's release announced a call and webcast. Source
  • Non-GAAP reconciliations in tables: Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS are reconciled to the most comparable GAAP measure in the attached tables, which management uses for planning and evaluation. Source
  • Adjusted measures exclude certain costs: Adjusted measures exclude items such as transaction and integration costs, restructuring costs and amortization of acquisition-related intangibles, which management says do not reflect core operating activities. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 October 2026

  • Deal closing in first half 2027: Closing is expected in the first half of 2027, subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory and shareholder approval. Source
  • Detail in Form 10-Q: The release points readers to the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 for further detail on financial performance. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Brokerage volume growth Source+2% year over year
Brokerage truckload volume growth Source+3% year over year
Truckload spot mix Source51% of volume
Gross profit per load Sourceup 31% sequentially
Brokerage gross margin Source12.6%
Complementary services gross margin Source18.7%
Last Mile stops Source+5% year over year
Managed Transportation freight under management awarded Sourceabout $140 million

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Completion of the C.H. Robinson transaction depends on customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval and shareholder approval. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management says profit exceeded the high end of the prior range; reported adjusted EBITDA was $51 million. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release expected positive Brokerage volume and gross profit per load growth in the third quarter. This release reports Brokerage volume up 2% and gross profit per load up 31% sequentially.

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.