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Sabre Corp.: 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: 7 raised, 3 lowered, 1 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 3% to $738M: Revenue was $738 million, up 3% from the third quarter of 2025. Operating income rose 17% to $109 million, an operating margin of 14.8%. Source
  • Normalized Adjusted EBITDA up 13%: Normalized Adjusted EBITDA reached $170 million, up 13% from $150 million, the fifth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth on that measure. Source
  • Marketplace revenue up 3%: Marketplace revenue rose $19 million to $594 million, mainly from a $14 million rise in transaction-based revenue on favorable rate impacts, plus a $5 million rise in product-based revenue. Source
  • Total bookings flat year over year: Total Marketplace bookings, net of cancellations, were 95 million, roughly flat, while air bookings were 79,428, down 1%. Source
  • Operating margin rose to 14.8%: Operating margin was 14.8%, against 13.1%, as higher revenue and lower indirect taxes outweighed higher incentives and technology costs. Source
  • Free cash flow negative $48M: Free Cash Flow was negative $48 million, against $13 million a year earlier. The company said it would have been positive without about $15 million of refinancing fees and $40 million of accrued interest. Source

“We achieved our fifth consecutive quarter of double-digit year-on-year growth in Normalized Adjusted EBITDA and, for the second consecutive quarter, we are raising our full-year 2026 guidance for Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow”

Kurt Ekert, president and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Air marketplace bookings growth SourceFY 2026Low-to-mid-single-digit YoY growthKept
Revenue growth SourceFY 2026Low-to-mid-single-digit growthKept
Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY 2026~$610M, +14% YoYRaised from ~$600M, +12% YoY
Free Cash Flow SourceFY 2026~$(50M)Raised from ~($65M)
Cash provided by operating activities SourceFY 2026approximately $45 millionRaised from approximately $25 million
Additions to property and equipment SourceFY 2026approximately $95 millionRaised from approximately $90 million
Net loss from continuing operations (EBITDA bridge) SourceFY 2026approximately $133 millionKept
Acquisition-related amortization (EBITDA bridge) SourceFY 2026approximately $31 millionKept
Stock-based compensation (EBITDA bridge) SourceFY 2026approximately $71 millionRaised from approximately $67 million
Depreciation and amortization (EBITDA bridge) SourceFY 2026approximately $76 millionLowered from approximately $80 million
Interest expense, net (EBITDA bridge) SourceFY 2026approximately $494 millionLowered from approximately $497 million
Restructuring and other expenses (EBITDA bridge) SourceFY 2026approximately $18 millionRaised from approximately $5 million
Loss on debt extinguishment (EBITDA bridge) SourceFY 2026approximately $10 millionNew
Provision for income taxes (EBITDA bridge) SourceFY 2026approximately $16 millionLowered from approximately $28 million
Pro forma adjustments for Hospitality Solutions costs (EBITDA bridge) SourceFY 2026approximately $26 millionRaised from approximately $25 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA guidance raised, for the second consecutive quarter, to approximately $610 million from approximately $600 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year Free Cash Flow guidance raised to approximately negative $50 million from approximately negative $65 million. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year guidance for revenue and air marketplace bookings was reaffirmed at low-to-mid-single-digit growth. Source
  • New: Kenya Airways was added as a new Airline Technology customer and selected Sabre to modernize its core reservations and retailing platform. Source
  • New: The company completed a debt refinancing at a lower interest rate, extending certain maturities to 2032, with no large maturities until the third quarter of 2029. Source
  • Ended: Pro Forma Free Cash Flow is no longer reported as a measure, because no further adjustments remain for the Hospitality Solutions sale. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 3% to $738M: Revenue was $738 million, up 3% from the third quarter of 2025. Operating income rose 17% to $109 million, an operating margin of 14.8%. Source
  • Normalized Adjusted EBITDA up 13%: Normalized Adjusted EBITDA reached $170 million, up 13% from $150 million, the fifth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth on that measure. Source
  • Net loss reflects prior-year gain: Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $25 million, against income of $849 million a year earlier, which included $800 million from discontinued operations. Source
  • Continuing operations moved to a loss: Loss from continuing operations was $26 million, against income of $48 million a year earlier, reflecting a lower tax benefit, higher other expense and higher interest expense. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 16%: Adjusted EBITDA was $164 million, up 16%, a 22.2% margin, against 19.7% a year earlier. Source

Segments and revenue lines

  • Marketplace revenue up 3%: Marketplace revenue rose $19 million to $594 million, mainly from a $14 million rise in transaction-based revenue on favorable rate impacts, plus a $5 million rise in product-based revenue. Source
  • Airline Technology revenue up 3%: Airline Technology revenue rose $5 million to $144 million, with $2 million from volume growth and $3 million in other revenue. Source
  • Hotel-related revenue up 14%: Hotel-related revenue grew 14% in the third quarter, which the company tied to continued momentum in its lodging and media business. Source

“We are seeing expanded profitability as we drive consistent revenue growth, coupled with disciplined cost management.”

Kurt Ekert, president and CEO

Bookings and passenger volumes

  • Total bookings flat year over year: Total Marketplace bookings, net of cancellations, were 95 million, roughly flat, while air bookings were 79,428, down 1%. Source
  • Average booking fee up about 3%: Average booking fee totaled $6.24, up approximately 3% from the third quarter of 2025, alongside the Marketplace revenue increase. Source
  • Lodging bookings up 8%: Lodging and other bookings were 15,702, up 8%, and passengers boarded were 185,642, up 2%, in the quarter. Source
  • Nine-month bookings up 2%: For the nine months, total bookings were 288,008, up 2%, and air bookings were 242,477, up 2%. Source

Costs and margins

  • Operating margin rose to 14.8%: Operating margin was 14.8%, against 13.1%, as higher revenue and lower indirect taxes outweighed higher incentives and technology costs. Source
  • Labor costs rose from prior-year compensation: Labor and professional services costs rose, which the company tied to a reduction in variable compensation in the prior year. Source
  • Technology costs rose with volumes: Technology costs were $176 million, against $168 million a year earlier, reflecting higher transaction volumes. Source
  • Normalized margin at 23.0%: Normalized Adjusted EBITDA margin was 23.0%, against 21.0%, with the normalized measure adding back estimated costs historically allocated to Hospitality Solutions. Source
  • Inflation offset program restructuring: Restructuring and other costs of $3.3 million in the quarter primarily relate to the inflation offset program begun in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source

Cash flow and debt

  • Free cash flow negative $48M: Free Cash Flow was negative $48 million, against $13 million a year earlier. The company said it would have been positive without about $15 million of refinancing fees and $40 million of accrued interest. Source
  • Operating cash used in quarter: Cash used in operating activities was $25 million, against $34 million provided a year earlier. Source
  • Net debt rose year over year: Net debt, total debt less cash and cash equivalents, was $4,025,582 thousand at September 30, 2026, against $3,660,373 thousand a year earlier. Source
  • Restricted cash for Q4 debt payments: Cash balance ended the quarter at $688 million, of which $78 million is restricted for debt payments in Q4 2026 tied to the third quarter refinancings. Source

Portfolio, governance and strategy

  • AI-native positioning: The company describes itself as an AI-native technology leader backed by one of the world's largest travel data clouds. Source
  • Hospitality Solutions shown as discontinued: Hospitality Solutions, sold to a TPG affiliate with the sale closed in July 2025, is presented as discontinued operations for all periods shown. Source
  • Governance agreement costs incurred: Stockholder matter costs were $3.5 million for the nine months, tied to a strategic governance agreement, which the company calls non-recurring. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Positive free cash flow expected in 2027: Management said it expects to generate positive free cash flow in 2027. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Other, net expense was $15.9 million, including $19 million of debt modification costs tied to the third quarter financing. Source
  • Operational: An increase in incentive expense partly offset the Normalized Adjusted EBITDA gain; the release gives no dollar amount for it. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Third quarter revenue growth of 3% was reported as in line with the guidance given for the quarter. Source
  • Ahead: The company reported that third quarter Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA exceeded the quarter's guidance. 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.