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Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 7 raised, 1 lowered, 9 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net Bookings rose 28 percent: Total Net Bookings grew 28% to $1.76 billion from $1.37 billion a year earlier. Recurrent consumer spending grew 23% and made up 76% of Net Bookings. Source
  • GAAP net loss narrowed: GAAP net loss was $92.9 million, or $0.50 per share, against $125.2 million, or $0.71 per share. Nine-month net loss was $238.7 million, against $752.7 million. Source
  • Console revenue rose, mobile share fell: Mobile net revenue was $865.8 million, 51% of total, against $731.6 million and 54% a year earlier. Console net revenue was $652.1 million, up from $507.9 million. Source
  • Largest Net Bookings contributors named: Largest Net Bookings contributors were NBA 2K26, Grand Theft Auto Online and V, Toon Blast, Match Factory, Empires & Puzzles, Color Block Jam, Red Dead Redemption 2 and Red Dead Online. Source
  • Operating loss narrowed sharply: Loss from operations was $38.7 million against $132.1 million a year earlier. Business reorganization expense was $0.6 million, against $23.1 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP EBITDA rose: EBITDA was $174.8 million against $88.8 million a year earlier. Nine-month EBITDA was $516.9 million against $38.2 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow was positive: Nine-month net cash provided by operating activities was $388.9 million, against a use of $324.2 million a year earlier. Purchases of fixed assets were $126.0 million. Source

“Our outstanding third quarter results reflect outperformance from all of our labels, and we are once again raising our Net Bookings outlook for Fiscal 2026.”

Strauss Zelnick, Chairman and CEO of Take-Two Interactive

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net Bookings SourceFiscal year 2026$6.65 to $6.7 billionRaised from $6,400 to $6,500 million
GAAP total net revenue SourceFiscal year 2026$6,550 to $6,600 millionRaised from $6,380 to $6,480 million
GAAP operating expenses SourceFiscal year 2026$3,959 to $3,969 millionLowered from $3,984 to $4,004 million
GAAP (loss) income before income taxes SourceFiscal year 2026$(287) to $(263) millionRaised from $(370) to $(312) million
GAAP net loss SourceFiscal year 2026$(369) to $(338) millionRaised from $(414) to $(349) million
GAAP net loss per share SourceFiscal year 2026$(2.00) to $(1.84)Raised from $(2.25) to $(1.90)
Net cash provided by operating activities SourceFiscal year 2026approximately $450 millionRaised from approximately $250 million
Capital expenditures SourceFiscal year 2026approximately $180 millionKept
Non-GAAP EBITDA SourceFiscal year 2026$657 to $681 millionRaised from $579 to $637 million
Share count for GAAP net loss per share SourceFiscal year 2026183.9 millionKept
Share count for management diluted net income per share SourceFiscal year 2026186.3 millionKept
Management reporting tax rate SourceFiscal year 2026 and fiscal fourth quarter18%Kept
Net Bookings SourceFiscal fourth quarter ending March 31, 2026$1,510 to $1,560 millionNew
GAAP total net revenue SourceFiscal fourth quarter ending March 31, 2026$1,573 to $1,623 millionNew
GAAP operating expenses SourceFiscal fourth quarter ending March 31, 2026$973 to $983 millionNew
GAAP (loss) income before income taxes SourceFiscal fourth quarter ending March 31, 2026$(101) to $(78) millionNew
GAAP net (loss) income SourceFiscal fourth quarter ending March 31, 2026$(129) to $(99) millionNew
GAAP net (loss) income per share SourceFiscal fourth quarter ending March 31, 2026$(0.70) to $(0.54)New
Non-GAAP EBITDA SourceFiscal fourth quarter ending March 31, 2026$138 to $161 millionNew
Share count for GAAP net loss per share SourceFiscal fourth quarter ending March 31, 2026185.3 millionNew
Share count for management diluted net income per share SourceFiscal fourth quarter ending March 31, 2026187.6 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 Net Bookings range raised for the company. Source
  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 GAAP total net revenue range raised. Source
  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 Non-GAAP EBITDA range raised. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Fiscal 2026 GAAP operating expenses range lowered. Source
  • Guidance kept: Capital expenditures figure of approximately $180 million kept. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net Bookings rose 28 percent: Total Net Bookings grew 28% to $1.76 billion from $1.37 billion a year earlier. Recurrent consumer spending grew 23% and made up 76% of Net Bookings. Source
  • GAAP net revenue rose to $1.70 billion: GAAP net revenue was $1.70 billion against $1.36 billion a year earlier. Recurrent consumer spending rose 20% and was 77% of GAAP net revenue. Source
  • GAAP net loss narrowed: GAAP net loss was $92.9 million, or $0.50 per share, against $125.2 million, or $0.71 per share. Nine-month net loss was $238.7 million, against $752.7 million. Source
  • Nine-month revenue rose year over year: Nine-month total net revenue was $4,976.6 million against $4,051.1 million a year earlier. Source

Segments and regions

  • Console revenue rose, mobile share fell: Mobile net revenue was $865.8 million, 51% of total, against $731.6 million and 54% a year earlier. Console net revenue was $652.1 million, up from $507.9 million. Source
  • PC and other revenue grew: PC and other net revenue was $181.1 million, 11% of total, up from $120.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • United States and international split: United States net revenue was $1,012.2 million, 60% of total. International net revenue was $686.8 million, 40%, against $534.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Digital online was 97 percent: Digital online net revenue was $1,654.5 million, 97% of total, against $1,310.7 million. Physical retail and other net revenue was $44.5 million, 3%. Source

“we continue to project record levels of Net Bookings in Fiscal 2027, which we believe will establish a new financial baseline for our business”

Strauss Zelnick, Chairman and CEO of Take-Two Interactive

Products and customers

  • Largest Net Bookings contributors named: Largest Net Bookings contributors were NBA 2K26, Grand Theft Auto Online and V, Toon Blast, Match Factory, Empires & Puzzles, Color Block Jam, Red Dead Redemption 2 and Red Dead Online. Source
  • Largest net revenue contributors: Largest GAAP net revenue contributors included NBA 2K26 and NBA 2K25, Grand Theft Auto Online and V, Toon Blast, and Borderlands 4. Source
  • Releases in the quarter: Releases in the quarter included WWE 2K Mobile for Netflix on November 19, 2025, Red Dead Redemption and Undead Nightmare on December 2, 2025, and a Grand Theft Auto Online title on December 10, 2025. Source

Costs, margins and profitability

  • Operating loss narrowed sharply: Loss from operations was $38.7 million against $132.1 million a year earlier. Business reorganization expense was $0.6 million, against $23.1 million. Source
  • Gross profit rose to $945.5 million: Gross profit was $945.5 million against $759.9 million. Total cost of revenue was $753.5 million, against $599.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Selling, marketing and R&D rose: Selling and marketing was $433.2 million against $388.9 million. Research and development was $282.7 million against $240.9 million. Source
  • Royalty and license costs grew: Licenses cost $118.3 million against $88.8 million, internal royalties $167.4 million against $103.1 million, and software development costs and royalties $86.8 million against $36.7 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP EBITDA rose: EBITDA was $174.8 million against $88.8 million a year earlier. Nine-month EBITDA was $516.9 million against $38.2 million. Source

Demand and deferred revenue

  • Deferred revenue increased: Deferred revenue was $1,292.7 million at December 31, 2025, against $1,083.5 million at March 31, 2025. Source
  • Net Bookings above GAAP revenue: Net Bookings were $1,757.1 million against GAAP net revenue of $1,699.0 million. The reconciliation shows a $58.0 million change in deferred net revenue. Source
  • Digital online Net Bookings share: Digital online Net Bookings were $1,711.7 million, 97% of total, against $1,324.0 million. Physical retail and other Net Bookings were $45.4 million. Source
  • Nine-month Net Bookings grew: Nine-month Net Bookings were $5,140.7 million against $4,066.5 million a year earlier. Source

Capital, cash and debt

  • Operating cash flow was positive: Nine-month net cash provided by operating activities was $388.9 million, against a use of $324.2 million a year earlier. Purchases of fixed assets were $126.0 million. Source
  • Cash and equivalents increased: Cash and cash equivalents were $2,160.0 million at December 31, 2025, against $1,456.1 million at March 31, 2025. Short-term investments were $199.0 million. Source
  • Common stock issuance brought in cash: Nine-month issuance of common stock was $1,247.0 million against $55.0 million. Repayment of debt was $600.0 million. Source
  • Short-term debt declined: Short-term debt, net was $582.2 million against $1,148.5 million. Long-term debt, net was $2,487.0 million against $2,512.6 million. Source
  • Treasury stock unchanged: Treasury stock stayed at $1,020.6 million, with 23.7 million shares, at both balance sheet dates. Shares outstanding were 185.1 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Strategy and pipeline

  • Strategy: hit experiences on every platform: Management describes the strategy as creating hit entertainment experiences on every relevant platform through a variety of sound business models. Source
  • Creativity, innovation and efficiency pillars: Management names creativity, innovation and efficiency as the pillars guiding the company's work. Source
  • Live services and pipeline focus: Stated assumptions cite an ongoing focus on the live services portfolio and new game pipeline. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 February 2026

  • Grand Theft Auto VI launch: Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19, 2026. Source
  • WWE 2K26 release: WWE 2K26 is scheduled for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2 and PC on March 13, 2026. Source
  • Civilization VII on Apple Arcade: Sid Meier's Civilization VII is scheduled for Apple Arcade on iOS on February 5, 2026. Source
  • PGA TOUR 2K25 on Switch 2: PGA TOUR 2K25 is scheduled for Switch 2 on February 6, 2026. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Financial figures assume titles included in them are delivered on time. Source
  • Demand: Figures assume continued growth in PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S installed bases and engagement on older consoles. Source
  • Demand: Mobile performance depends on player acquisition costs, which are listed as a factor affecting results. Source
  • External: Figures assume the current economic backdrop continues. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management states third quarter Net Bookings came in above the company's guidance range. 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.