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TKO Group Holdings, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 21% to $1.360 billion: Revenue was $1.360 billion, up $240.2 million. UFC added $194.0 million and IMG $54.6 million, while WWE declined $2.8 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 54%: Adjusted EBITDA was $555.7 million, against $360.2 million a year earlier. WWE rose $9.4 million and IMG $54.5 million over the same period. Source
  • UFC revenue up 60% on media fees: UFC revenue was $519.2 million, up 60%, with media rights, production and content revenue up $132.3 million. The release names Skydance; the second quarter release named Paramount for the January 2026 agreement. Source
  • WWE revenue down 1% on fewer events: WWE revenue was $399.3 million, down 1%. Live events and hospitality fell $24.8 million, while partnerships and marketing and media rights rose. Source
  • IMG revenue up 16% on World Cup hospitality: IMG segment revenue was $391.3 million, up 16%. On Location hospitality for FIFA World Cup 2026 drove live events revenue, and new tennis and soccer deals lifted partnerships. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 41%: Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA margin was 41%, up from 32%. Segment margins were UFC 55% (51% prior), WWE 54% (52%) and IMG 30% (18%). Source
  • Existing revenue locked in five to seven years: Mark Shapiro said the vast majority of existing revenues are locked in for five to seven years and that the business is durable. Source
  • Returned over $1.6 billion year to date: Year-to-date capital returned exceeds $1.6 billion, including a quarterly dividend of about $150 million, or $0.79 per share, paid September 30. Source

“Our third quarter performance reflects the secular tailwinds powering live events and experiences around the world, and TKO’s assets sit front and center of that premium ecosystem”

Mark Shapiro, President and COO of TKO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFull year 2026$5.790 billion to $5.830 billionRaised from $5.775 billion to $5.825 billion
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$2.295 billion to $2.315 billionRaised from $2.275 billion to $2.305 billion
Share repurchases SourceBalance of the existing authorizationRemaining balance of the authorization, about $936.0 million available as of November 4, 2026

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA targets raised again, the second raise this year. Source
  • New: A Rule 10b5-1 trading plan for up to $200 million of Class A common stock was entered on August 6, 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 21% to $1.360 billion: Revenue was $1.360 billion, up $240.2 million. UFC added $194.0 million and IMG $54.6 million, while WWE declined $2.8 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 54%: Adjusted EBITDA was $555.7 million, against $360.2 million a year earlier. WWE rose $9.4 million and IMG $54.5 million over the same period. Source
  • Net income rose to $277.9 million: Net income was $277.9 million against $106.8 million a year earlier. Higher revenue was partly offset by higher operating expenses. Source

Segments and regions

  • UFC revenue up 60% on media fees: UFC revenue was $519.2 million, up 60%, with media rights, production and content revenue up $132.3 million. The release names Skydance; the second quarter release named Paramount for the January 2026 agreement. Source
  • UFC 329 lifted ticket sales: Ticket sales rose on UFC 329 and two additional events, and live events and hospitality revenue rose $36.0 million. Source
  • WWE revenue down 1% on fewer events: WWE revenue was $399.3 million, down 1%. Live events and hospitality fell $24.8 million, while partnerships and marketing and media rights rose. Source
  • WWE media fees rose on ESPN deal: WWE media rights, production and content revenue rose $6.9 million, partly offset by fewer premium live events. WWE margin was 54%, up from 52%. Source
  • IMG revenue up 16% on World Cup hospitality: IMG segment revenue was $391.3 million, up 16%. On Location hospitality for FIFA World Cup 2026 drove live events revenue, and new tennis and soccer deals lifted partnerships. Source
  • Corporate loss narrowed; boxing benefit lapped: Corporate and Other revenue was $61.3 million, down 3%. Its Adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed to $62.7 million from $74.6 million, and PBR held fewer events under a strategic review. Source

“Macro trends are firmly in our favor, every facet of sports consumption is pointing north, and we see substantial runway ahead.”

Mark Shapiro, President and COO of TKO

Costs and margins

  • Direct costs and SG&A rose: Direct operating costs were $489.0 million, up $49.3 million. SG&A was $400.6 million, up $21.4 million, and depreciation and amortization fell $36.1 million. Source
  • UFC costs rose on added events: UFC direct costs rose on athlete, production and event costs tied to two added events and UFC 329. SG&A rose on personnel and travel. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 41%: Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA margin was 41%, up from 32%. Segment margins were UFC 55% (51% prior), WWE 54% (52%) and IMG 30% (18%). Source
  • IMG costs flat as revenue rose: IMG Adjusted EBITDA rose $54.5 million to $115.9 million with expenses essentially flat. Direct operating costs fell on the absence of the biennial Ryder Cup event. Source
  • Legal costs excluded from EBITDA rose: Certain legal costs excluded from Adjusted EBITDA were $34.6 million, against $19.2 million a year earlier, including an estimated $2.4 million loss net of insurance recoveries. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Existing revenue locked in five to seven years: Mark Shapiro said the vast majority of existing revenues are locked in for five to seven years and that the business is durable. Source
  • UFC partner fees rose on renewals: UFC partnerships and marketing revenue rose $20.5 million, with new partners, renewal fees and two additional events contributing. Source
  • WWE partnerships grew despite fewer events: WWE partnerships and marketing revenue rose $11.1 million on new partners and renewal fees, despite fewer premium live events. Source
  • Consumer products royalties rose: UFC consumer products licensing rose $5.2 million on royalties. WWE consumer products revenue rose $4.0 million on trading cards and video games. Source

“As we close out what we’ve called our year of execution, our decision to raise full-year guidance for the second time this year is the clearest expression of our conviction across the entire portfolio.”

Mark Shapiro, President and COO of TKO

Full year 2026 guidance

  • Guidance raised for second time: February guidance was $5.675 billion to $5.775 billion of revenue and $2.240 billion to $2.290 billion of Adjusted EBITDA. August raised both, and the November update raises both again. Source
  • Guidance rests on nine-month performance: Management based the raise on performance through the first nine months and its visibility into and expectations for the rest of the year. Source
  • Non-GAAP guidance not reconciled: The release does not reconcile non-GAAP guidance to GAAP measures, citing the inherent difficulty in forecasting certain amounts. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Returned over $1.6 billion year to date: Year-to-date capital returned exceeds $1.6 billion, including a quarterly dividend of about $150 million, or $0.79 per share, paid September 30. Source
  • Repurchase timing at company discretion: Timing and amount of repurchases depend on management’s evaluation of market conditions, share price and other factors. Source
  • August plan bought 451,377 shares: In the quarter, the August plan bought 451,377 shares. A further 417,795 shares were bought from October 1 until the plan completed on October 30. Source
  • Free cash flow rose $51.0 million: Free cash flow was $449.9 million, up from $398.9 million, while capital expenditures were $22.2 million against $17.9 million. Source
  • Gross debt and cash at quarter end: Gross debt was $4.647 billion, against $4.659 billion at June 30. Cash and cash equivalents were $630.9 million at September 30, 2026. Source
  • World Cup escrow boosts nine-month cash: Nine-month operating cash flow includes $604.0 million of escrow pre-payments for FIFA World Cup 2026, against $253.6 million in the prior-year period. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Live events organized year-round SourceMore than 500
UFC Numbered Events and Fight Nights vs prior year Source+1 Numbered Event; +1 Fight Night
WWE Main Roster Premium Live Events vs prior year SourceThree fewer
PBR events vs prior year SourceThree fewer total events

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Litigation costs include UFC antitrust lawsuits and WWE and Endeavor stockholder litigation, shown net of insurance recoveries. Source
  • External: Guidance assumes all live events, including those in the Middle East region, are staged as currently planned. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management stated the ASR for $800 million, or 4,167,298 shares, was completed, as previously disclosed. Source
  • Met: Management stated the August plan completed on October 30, 2026, after repurchases in the quarter and in October. 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.