Werner Enterprises Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 19 October 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

Revenue estimated at $946M - $951M: Preliminary total revenues for the third quarter 2026 are estimated at approximately $946 million to $951 million, unaudited. Source
GAAP diluted EPS estimated at $0.10 - $0.11: GAAP diluted earnings per share for the third quarter 2026 are estimated at approximately $0.10 to $0.11. Source
Adjusted diluted EPS estimated at $0.15 - $0.16: Non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share for the third quarter 2026 are estimated at approximately $0.15 to $0.16. Source
Cost headwinds of about $0.18: Compared with the second quarter 2026, cumulative cost headwinds were about $0.18 per share, the release says. Source
Late-quarter insurance reserve adjustment: A late-quarter insurance reserve adjustment related to past claims was listed among the primary cost headwinds. Source
Figures are unaudited and preliminary: The figures are preliminary unaudited results for the quarter ended September 30, 2026. Source

“The Company expects preliminary total revenues to be approximately $946 million to $951 million, GAAP diluted earnings per share to be approximately $0.10 to $0.11”
Werner Enterprises Inc., press release

Preliminary third-quarter figures

Revenue estimated at $946M - $951M: Preliminary total revenues for the third quarter 2026 are estimated at approximately $946 million to $951 million, unaudited. Source
GAAP diluted EPS estimated at $0.10 - $0.11: GAAP diluted earnings per share for the third quarter 2026 are estimated at approximately $0.10 to $0.11. Source
Adjusted diluted EPS estimated at $0.15 - $0.16: Non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share for the third quarter 2026 are estimated at approximately $0.15 to $0.16. Source

Cost headwinds in the quarter

Cost headwinds of about $0.18: Compared with the second quarter 2026, cumulative cost headwinds were about $0.18 per share, the release says. Source
Rapidly rising fuel prices named as headwind: Rapidly rising fuel prices were listed first among the primary cost headwinds named in the release. Source
Driver recruitment and retention spending: Driver recruitment and retention investments were listed among the primary cost headwinds for the quarter. Source
Late-quarter insurance reserve adjustment: A late-quarter insurance reserve adjustment related to past claims was listed among the primary cost headwinds. Source

“Financial results for the third quarter 2026 were negatively impacted by approximately $0.18 per share of cumulative cost headwinds compared to the second quarter 2026”
Werner Enterprises Inc., press release

Non-GAAP adjustments to EPS

Intangible amortization excluded: Amortization of intangible assets of $0.03 per share is excluded from non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS in both the low and high estimates. Source
Acquisition expenses excluded: Business acquisition-related expenses, including legal and professional fees, of $0.03 per share are excluded from the non-GAAP measure. Source
Tax effect on adjustments: The income tax effect of the non-GAAP adjustments is $(0.01) per share in both estimates, using the incremental rate excluding discrete items. Source

Comparison with second quarter

Second-quarter revenue of $933.9 million: Total revenues for the second quarter 2026 were $933.9 million, per the prior release.
Second-quarter GAAP and adjusted EPS: Second-quarter diluted EPS was $0.11 on a GAAP basis, and non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS was $0.22, per the prior release.
Second-quarter operating margin of 1.8%: Second-quarter operating margin was 1.8%, down 700 basis points from 8.8% a year earlier.

Company profile and FirstFleet

2025 revenue of nearly $3.0 billion: Werner reported 2025 revenues of nearly $3.0 billion, with more than 14,500 associates and a modern truck and trailer fleet. Source
FirstFleet acquired in January 2026: The company acquired FirstFleet, Inc. in January 2026; FirstFleet generated more than $600 million in unaudited 2025 revenues. Source
Dedicated, One-Way and Logistics services: Werner provides Dedicated and One-Way Truckload services, along with Logistics services including brokerage, freight management, intermodal and final mile. Source

Release timing and contact

Figures are unaudited and preliminary: The figures are preliminary unaudited results for the quarter ended September 30, 2026. Source
Release dated October 19, 2026: The release is dated October 19, 2026, from Omaha, Nebraska. Source
CFO named as contact: The release lists Christopher D. Wikoff, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer, as contact. Source

Coming up, as management said on 19 October 2026

Full third-quarter details on October 27: Additional details on third-quarter results are planned for release on October 27, 2026, after market close. Source

Risks management discussed

External: Fuel prices rose rapidly and were named as one of the cost headwinds in the quarter. Source
Operational: Investments in driver recruitment and retention were named as a cost headwind this quarter. Source
Financial: A late-quarter insurance reserve adjustment related to past claims was named as a cost headwind. 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.

As filed with the SEC

Open the filing on EDGAR

WERNER® REPORTS PRELIMINARY THIRD QUARTER 2026 FINANCIAL RESULTS

OMAHA, NEBRASKA, October 19, 2026 - Werner Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq: WERN), a premier transportation and logistics provider, today announced preliminary unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026.

The Company expects preliminary total revenues to be approximately $946 million to $951 million, GAAP diluted earnings per share to be approximately $0.10 to $0.11, and non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share to be approximately $0.15 to $0.16 for the third quarter 2026. Financial results for the third quarter 2026 were negatively impacted by approximately $0.18 per share of cumulative cost headwinds compared to the second quarter 2026, primarily consisting of:

Rapidly rising fuel prices;
Driver recruitment and retention investments; and
A late-quarter insurance reserve adjustment related to past claims.

Werner plans to provide additional details when reporting its third quarter earnings results on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, after market close.

Werner Enterprises, Inc. (“Werner”) delivers superior truckload transportation and logistics services to customers across the United States, Mexico and Canada. With Werner® 2025 revenues of nearly $3.0 billion, a modern truck and trailer fleet, more than 14,500 talented associates and our innovative Werner EDGE® technology, we are an essential solutions provider for customers who value the integrity of their supply chain and require safe and exceptional on-time service. In January 2026, Werner acquired FirstEnterprises, Inc. (“FirstFleet”), which generated more than $600 million in unaudited 2025 revenues. Werner provides Dedicated and One-Way Truckload services as well as Logistics services that include truckload brokerage, freight management, intermodal and final mile. Werner embraces inclusion as a core value and manages key risks and opportunities through a balanced sustainability strategy.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such forward-looking statements are based on information presently available to Werner’s management and are current only as of the date made. Actual results could also differ materially from those anticipated as a result of a number of factors, including, but not limited to, those discussed in the Company’s latest available Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

For those reasons, undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking statement. Werner assumes no duty or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, although it may do so from time to time as management believes is warranted or as may be required by applicable securities law. Any such updates or revisions may be made by filing reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, through the issuance of press releases or by other methods of public disclosure.

Christopher D. Wikoff

(1) Non-GAAP Financial Measure and Reconciliation:

	Three Months Ended September 30, 2026
Non-GAAP Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share	Low-End Estimate	High-End Estimate
Diluted earnings per share - (GAAP)	$0.10	$0.11
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Amortization of intangible assets	0.03	0.03
Acquisition expenses	0.03	0.03
Loss (gain) on investments in equity securities	-	-
Loss (earnings) from equity method investment	-	-
Income tax effect of above adjustments	(0.01)	(0.01)
Non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share	$0.15	$0.16

(a) Non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share should be considered in addition to, rather than as substitutes for GAAP diluted earnings per share, which is its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

(b) Amortization expense related to intangible assets acquired in our business acquisitions is excluded because management does not believe the expense is indicative of our core operating performance.

(c) We incurred business acquisition-related expenses including legal and professional fees. Acquisition-related expenses are excluded as management believes these expenses are not representative of the costs of managing our on-going business.

(d) Management believes excluding the effect of gains/losses on our investments in equity securities and earnings/losses from our equity method investments provides a more useful comparison of our performance from period to period.

(e) The income tax effect of the non-GAAP adjustments is calculated using the incremental income tax rate excluding discrete items.

Source: Werner Enterprises, Inc.

Contacts
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer
(402) 894-3700