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Shopify Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

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

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 32% to 3,742: Revenue was 3,742 against 2,844 a year earlier. The prior quarter reported revenue growth of 34%. Source
  • Gross profit and operating income rose: Gross profit was 1,781 against 1,391. Operating income was 568 against 343, up 66%. Source
  • Merchant solutions revenue grew 35%: Merchant solutions revenue was 2,906 against 2,145, an increase of 35%. Source
  • GMV rose to $119 billion: GMV was 119,145 against 92,013, up 29%, or 30% in constant currency. Source
  • Operating expenses rose 16%: Total operating expenses were 1,213 against 1,048, up 16%. Research and development rose 122 to 497, the largest increase among operating expense lines. Source
  • Free cash flow reached 816: Free cash flow was 816 against 507. The free cash flow margin was 22%, against 18% a year earlier. Source
  • Share repurchases of 562: Repurchases of common stock were 562, against 1,420 in the June quarter and none a year earlier. Source

“We powered $119 billion in GMV, while continuing to build commerce into every surface, every agent, and increasingly, everywhere,”

Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Operating expenses as a percentage of revenue Sourcefourth quarter of 202629% to 30%
Stock-based compensation Sourcefourth quarter of 2026$155 million
Free cash flow margin Sourcefourth quarter of 2026consistent with the fourth quarter of 2025

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Revenue growth guidance wording matches the prior release, which gave it for the third quarter.
  • New: Non-GAAP net income reconciliation and diluted EPS now appear in this release; the prior release pointed to a Financial Supplemental for per-share figures.
  • New: The definition of net income excluding equity investments now also removes the embedded derivative related to convertible note. Source
  • New: A line for acquisition of intangible assets of 99 appears in investing cash flows; the prior release's cash flow table had no such line. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 32% to 3,742: Revenue was 3,742 against 2,844 a year earlier. The prior quarter reported revenue growth of 34%. Source
  • Gross profit and operating income rose: Gross profit was 1,781 against 1,391. Operating income was 568 against 343, up 66%. Source
  • Net income rose to 462: Net income was 462 against 264. Net other expense including taxes was 106 against 79. Source

Segments and revenue mix

  • Merchant solutions revenue grew 35%: Merchant solutions revenue was 2,906 against 2,145, an increase of 35%. Source
  • Subscription solutions revenue grew 20%: Subscription solutions revenue was 836 against 699, an increase of 20%. Source
  • Constant-currency segment growth: On a constant-currency basis, merchant solutions revenue grew 36% and subscription solutions grew 20%. Source

“We extended our track record of consistent execution, with 32% revenue growth and a 22% free cash flow margin,”

Jeff Hoffmeister, Chief Financial Officer of Shopify

Demand, GMV and recurring revenue

  • GMV rose to $119 billion: GMV was 119,145 against 92,013, up 29%, or 30% in constant currency. Source
  • Monthly recurring revenue reached 230: MRR was 230 against 193, up about 19%. The company describes MRR as a directional indicator of subscription solutions revenue going forward. Source
  • GMV rose sequentially from June: GMV was 115,567 in the June quarter, so the September quarter added 3,578 sequentially.

Costs and operating expenses

  • Operating expenses rose 16%: Total operating expenses were 1,213 against 1,048, up 16%. Research and development rose 122 to 497, the largest increase among operating expense lines. Source
  • Transaction and loan losses fell: Transaction and loan losses were 120 against 148 a year earlier. Source
  • Cost of revenues rose: Cost of revenues was 1,961 against 1,453. Merchant solutions cost of revenues was 1,786 against 1,325. Source
  • Sales and marketing spend rose: Sales and marketing expense was 466 against 410. Source

“Delivering these results at our scale speaks to the strength of our model, our multiple growth drivers, and our expanding addressable market.”

Jeff Hoffmeister, Chief Financial Officer of Shopify

Cash flow and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow reached 816: Free cash flow was 816 against 507. The free cash flow margin was 22%, against 18% a year earlier. Source
  • Operating cash flow was 818: Net cash provided by operating activities was 818 against 513. Capital expenditures were 2 against 6. Source
  • Share repurchases of 562: Repurchases of common stock were 562, against 1,420 in the June quarter and none a year earlier. Source
  • Investing cash flow turned negative: Investing activities used net cash of 60, against a provision of 335 a year earlier. Source
  • Merchant cash advance flows reclassified: From April 2026 merchant cash advance cash flows sit in investing activities, a net use of $30 million this quarter. Source

Balance sheet and investments

  • Cash and marketable securities declined: Cash and cash equivalents were 1,868 and marketable securities 2,859, together 4,727, against 4,947 at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Loans and merchant advances grew: Loans and merchant cash advances, net, were 2,350, against 2,184 at June 30, 2026 and 1,784 at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Equity and other investments rose: Equity and other investments were 4,911, against 4,582 at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Shareholders equity declined: Shareholders’ equity was 12,749, against 12,684 at June 30, 2026 and 13,473 at December 31, 2025. Source

Strategy and platform

  • Two realities for merchants: Finkelstein said Shopify operates in the world merchants exist in today and the one they are moving towards. Source
  • Platform as commerce infrastructure: The company describes its platform as infrastructure that helps businesses start, run and grow, selling online, in-store and elsewhere. Source
  • Merchant base across 175 countries: The release says millions of businesses in 175+ countries use Shopify, including several named brands. Source

Non-GAAP and share count

  • Non-GAAP net income rose to 638: Non-GAAP net income was 638 against 441. Source
  • GAAP and non-GAAP EPS reported: Diluted EPS was $0.36 GAAP against $0.20 a year earlier, and $0.49 non-GAAP against $0.34. Source
  • Diluted share count fell: Diluted weighted average shares were 1,290,726,742, against 1,312,872,709 a year earlier. Source
  • Net income excluding equity investments rose: Net income excluding equity investments was 584 against 367. The equity investments marked-to-market line was (122) against (103). Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 November 2026

  • Form 10-Q to be filed: The Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 will be posted on the company website and filed on EDGAR and SEDAR+. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Subscription solutions revenue Source836 against 699
Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) Source230 against 193

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.