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Sprout Social, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 4 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 8% year over year: Revenue was $125.1 million, up from $115.6 million in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Large-customer revenue grew 18%: Approximated trailing twelve month subscription revenue from customers with $30,000 or more in ARR reached $301.5 million, 62.3% of total subscription revenue. Source
  • Remaining performance obligations up 10%: Remaining performance obligations were $393.9 million, up 10% year over year and below the $400.8 million reported at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin reached 21%: Non-GAAP operating income was $26.3 million, and non-GAAP operating margin was 21.0%, against 11.9% in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • GAAP operating loss narrowed: GAAP operating loss was $6.9 million against $9.1 million a year earlier; GAAP net loss per share was $0.11, against $0.16. Source
  • Free cash flow $26.7M, up 158%: Non-GAAP free cash flow was $26.7 million, against $10.3 million a year earlier; nine-month non-GAAP free cash flow was $59.8 million. Source
  • GAAP profitability targeted from Q4: Management is targeting GAAP profitability on a sustainable quarterly basis, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2026. Source

“We are pleased with our financial performance this quarter, highlighted by a record non-GAAP operating income of $26.3 million, equating to a 21% non-GAAP operating margin.”

Ryan Barretto, CEO of Sprout Social

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFourth quarter 2026$124.2 million to $125.2 millionNew
Non-GAAP operating income SourceFourth quarter 2026$21.4 million to $22.4 millionNew
Non-GAAP net income per share SourceFourth quarter 2026$0.36 to $0.38 on about 59.0 million basic weighted-average sharesNew
Revenue SourceFull year 2026$494.7 million to $495.7 millionRaised from $493.0 million to $495.6 million
Non-GAAP operating income SourceFull year 2026$77.8 million to $78.8 millionRaised from $68.3 million to $70.3 million
Non-GAAP net income per share SourceFull year 2026$1.29 to $1.31 on about 59.7 million basic weighted-average sharesRaised from $1.11 to $1.15 on about 60.6 million shares
Non-GAAP operating margin SourceExiting fourth quarter 2026approximately 18%Raised from approximately 17%
Rule of 40 SourceBy fourth quarter of fiscal 202730%Kept
Share repurchases SourceNot stated$50 million programNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year revenue range raised: low end $1.7 million higher, high end $0.1 million higher. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year non-GAAP operating income range raised; midpoint $9.0 million higher than the prior range. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year non-GAAP net income per share range raised; midpoint $0.17 higher, on about 0.9 million fewer basic shares. Source
  • Guidance raised: Exit-rate non-GAAP operating margin expectation raised from about 17% to about 18%. Source
  • Guidance kept: Rule of 40 target of 30% by fourth quarter of fiscal 2027 restated, as in the prior release. Source
  • New guidance: GAAP profitability on a sustainable quarterly basis targeted from the fourth quarter of 2026; no GAAP figure given. Source
  • New: Stock buyback program of $50 million initiated, with over $26 million repurchased in the quarter. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 8% year over year: Revenue was $125.1 million, up from $115.6 million in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Subscription and services split: Subscription revenue was $123.4 million, against $114.7 million; professional services and other revenue was $1.8 million, against $0.9 million. Source
  • Nine-month revenue rose about 10%: Nine-month revenue was $370.5 million, against $336.7 million a year earlier; subscription revenue was $365.3 million of the total. Source
  • Large-customer revenue grew 18%: Approximated trailing twelve month subscription revenue from customers with $30,000 or more in ARR reached $301.5 million, 62.3% of total subscription revenue. Source

Customers and products

  • Customers over $30K ARR flat on quarter: Customers with $30,000 or more in ARR reached 3,925, up 6% from a year earlier and essentially flat against 3,926 at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Customers over $50K ARR up 11%: Customers with $50,000 or more in ARR reached 2,155, up 11% from a year earlier and 28 above the 2,127 reported at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Named new and existing customers: Named new and existing customers this quarter included U.S. Department of Transportation, Freddie Mac, Stanley Black & Decker, Sheetz, and others. Source
  • Trellis AI agent powers platform: The company describes its platform as AI-powered and built around Trellis, its proprietary AI agent, across major social networks. Source

“Importantly, we are targeting GAAP profitability looking ahead, a significant milestone that reflects our focus on cost discipline.”

Ryan Barretto, CEO of Sprout Social

Demand and order book

  • Remaining performance obligations up 10%: Remaining performance obligations were $393.9 million, up 10% year over year and below the $400.8 million reported at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Current RPO up 8%, below June: Current remaining performance obligations were $280.2 million, up 8% year over year and below the $282.7 million at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Receivables and deferred revenue shifts: In the cash flow statement, accounts receivable added $8.3 million to operating cash in the quarter, and the deferred revenue line used $8.9 million. Source
  • Deferred revenue lower than year-end: Deferred revenue on the balance sheet was $184.6 million at September 30, 2026, against $205.6 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Costs, margins and profitability

  • Non-GAAP operating margin reached 21%: Non-GAAP operating income was $26.3 million, and non-GAAP operating margin was 21.0%, against 11.9% in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • GAAP operating loss narrowed: GAAP operating loss was $6.9 million against $9.1 million a year earlier; GAAP net loss per share was $0.11, against $0.16. Source
  • Operating expenses rose; G&A fell: Total operating expenses were $102.7 million against $98.9 million, while general and administrative expense was $24.9 million, down from $26.8 million. Source
  • Restructuring charges of $17.5M: Restructuring and related charges were $17.5 million in the quarter and $18.3 million for the nine months; restructuring payments were $15.9 million in the quarter. Source
  • Workforce reduction plan from July: The prior release listed the workforce reduction plan approved in July 2026 among its forward-looking topics; this release names the plan only within its forward-looking statements.

“We also initiated our $50 million stock buyback program with over $26 million of repurchases in Q3, which allows us to return value to shareholders and offset dilution”

Ryan Barretto, CEO of Sprout Social

Cash, capital and buybacks

  • Free cash flow $26.7M, up 158%: Non-GAAP free cash flow was $26.7 million, against $10.3 million a year earlier; nine-month non-GAAP free cash flow was $59.8 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow $10.7M: Net cash from operating activities was $10.7 million, against $9.3 million a year earlier; expenditures for property and equipment were $0.5 million. Source
  • Cash balance down on quarter: Cash and cash equivalents were $103.7 million, from $119.9 million at June 30, 2026; cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash decreased $16.2 million in the quarter. Source
  • Financing outflow mainly buybacks: Financing activities used $26.4 million in the quarter, mainly repurchases of $26.3 million of common stock. Source
  • Revolver balance down from year-end: The revolving credit facility balance was $32.5 million at September 30, 2026, against $40.0 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Targets and profitability path

  • Revenue guidance range narrowed: The full-year revenue range is $1.0 million wide, against $2.6 million in the prior release, with the low end higher. Source
  • GAAP profitability targeted from Q4: Management is targeting GAAP profitability on a sustainable quarterly basis, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2026. Source
  • Rule of 40 target reiterated: The 30% Rule of 40 target by fiscal 2027 was restated; the release defines it as year-over-year revenue growth plus current quarter non-GAAP operating margin. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 November 2026

  • Q3 Form 10-Q to be filed: The quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 is to be filed with the SEC. Source
  • Q4 2026 expectations given as ranges: Expectations for fourth quarter 2026 revenue, non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP net income per share are given as ranges. Source
  • GAAP profitability from Q4 2026: The company targets GAAP profitability on a sustainable quarterly basis, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2026. Source
  • Rule of 40 target by fiscal 2027: The 30% Rule of 40 target is set for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Remaining performance obligations (RPO) Source$393.9 million
Current remaining performance obligations (cRPO) Source$280.2 million
Customers contributing $30,000 or more in ARR Source3,925
Customers contributing $50,000 or more in ARR Source2,155
Approximated TTM subscription revenue, customers at or above $30K ARR Source$301.5 million
Cohort share of total subscription revenue Source62.3%
Subscription revenue (quarter) Source$123.4 million

Risks management discussed

  • External: Guidance rests on assumptions that may change, many of them outside the company's control. Source
  • Financial: Items excluded from non-GAAP results are outside company control, could vary greatly between periods, and could affect future results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The earlier Rule of 40 target is reiterated, with its definition restated. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release referred to the workforce reduction plan approved in July 2026; no status is given in either release.

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.