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WillScot Holdings Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose sequentially: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 38.8%, against 42.9% a year earlier, and the company reported a 160 basis point sequential increase from the second quarter. Source
  • Leasing revenue up 4%: Leasing revenue was $452 million, up 4.0% year over year; modular space leasing revenue was $256 million and portable storage leasing revenue was $74 million. Source
  • Modular activations up 12%: Activations rose 12% year over year, and modular units-on-rent rose 1.2%, which the company described as a positive inflection. Source
  • Operating cash flow and free cash flow: Operating cash flow was $198 million, up 4% year over year, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $78 million after $123 million of Net CAPEX. Source
  • Leverage at 3.7 times: Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA was 3.7x on last-twelve-month Adjusted EBITDA of $922 million; management stated a clear path to reduce leverage remains a priority. Source

“Our third quarter results exceeded our expectations for revenue and Adjusted EBITDA.”

Tim Boswell, President and Chief Executive Officer of WillScot

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Sourceexit of 2027approaching 3.0xNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Net CAPEX definition changed from 2026 to exclude proceeds from rental equipment sales tied to the Network Optimization Plan and real estate exits; prior periods recast. Source
  • New: Adjusted Free Cash Flow definition changed from 2026 to exclude cash paid to implement the Network Optimization Plan and related items; prior periods recast. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose sequentially: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 38.8%, against 42.9% a year earlier, and the company reported a 160 basis point sequential increase from the second quarter. Source
  • Diluted EPS higher, adjusted EPS lower: Diluted EPS was $0.28 against $0.24 a year earlier; Adjusted Diluted EPS was $0.29 against $0.30. Source
  • Nine-month Adjusted EBITDA below prior year: Nine-month revenue was $1,762 million against $1,715 million; nine-month Adjusted EBITDA was $672 million against $721 million, and gross profit margin was 50.9% against 51.2%. Source

Segments and revenue lines

  • Leasing revenue up 4%: Leasing revenue was $452 million, up 4.0% year over year; modular space leasing revenue was $256 million and portable storage leasing revenue was $74 million. Source
  • Delivery and installation revenue rose: Delivery and installation revenue was $121 million against $99 million, which the company linked to a higher mix of delivery, installation and activation activity. Source
  • Sales revenue lower year over year: New unit sales were $14.4 million against $18.4 million, and rental unit sales were $14.4 million against $15.7 million. Source
  • Other leasing revenue higher on lower write-offs: Other leasing-related revenue was $16.8 million against $3.5 million; write-offs of uncollectible lease receivables recorded against revenue were $7.0 million against $24.5 million. Source

“Margins and return on invested capital both increased sequentially in the quarter.”

Tim Boswell, President and Chief Executive Officer of WillScot

Customers and demand

  • Modular activations up 12%: Activations rose 12% year over year, and modular units-on-rent rose 1.2%, which the company described as a positive inflection. Source
  • Enterprise Accounts revenue up 15%: Revenue from Enterprise Accounts rose 15% year over year, which management linked to a shift in revenue mix toward its highest value offerings with top customers. Source
  • Order book growth keeps work orders elevated: Management cited continued growth in the order book and expects unit work order production levels to stay elevated. Source
  • Fourth quarter activations and delivery revenue higher: Expectations for fourth quarter modular activations and delivery and installation revenue rose meaningfully relative to prior guidance. Source
  • Large project demand continues: Capital spending supports growth in higher value products to meet ongoing large project demand. Source

Costs and margins

  • Gross profit margin rose from a year earlier: Gross profit margin was 50.7% against 49.7% a year earlier; the second quarter margin was 50.0%. Source
  • Fourth quarter margin expansion reduced: Management said the combination of higher volumes and variable costs reduces the seasonal sequential margin expansion typical in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Restructuring costs rose: Restructuring costs were $1.4 million in the quarter against a $0.1 million benefit a year earlier, and $18.1 million for nine months, tied to the Network Optimization Plan. Source
  • Selling and administrative expense higher: Selling, general and administrative expense was $154.5 million against $137.8 million a year earlier. Source

“Our improving operating trajectory and disciplined capital allocation provide us with both the opportunity to invest in growth and a clear path to reduce leverage, which remains a priority.”

Matt Jacobsen, Chief Financial Officer of WillScot

Capital, cash and returns

  • Operating cash flow and free cash flow: Operating cash flow was $198 million, up 4% year over year, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $78 million after $123 million of Net CAPEX. Source
  • Debt paid down in quarter: The company reported $57 million of debt paid down in the quarter; no debt matures until August 2028. Source
  • Leverage at 3.7 times: Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA was 3.7x on last-twelve-month Adjusted EBITDA of $922 million; management stated a clear path to reduce leverage remains a priority. Source
  • Interest rate and liquidity position: Weighted average pre-tax interest rate was about 5.6%, ABL availability about $1.6 billion, and estimated annual cash interest about $196 million. Source
  • Quarterly dividend paid: The company paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per share on September 16, 2026. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Fleet investment in highly utilized categories: Organic growth investment is directed to the most highly utilized fleet categories, where management sees returns and lease durations. Source
  • Field and central operations margin levers: Management said it is working across several levers in field and centralized operations to improve margins and the customer experience. Source
  • Leasing run-rate strengthened into 2027: Management said the investments are strengthening the leasing revenue run-rate heading into 2027. Source
  • Branch network about 230 locations: The company operates from approximately 230 branch locations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, compared with about 240 in the second quarter release. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Volume growth expected into 2027: Management expects its increased volume growth to continue through the fourth quarter and into 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Modular space units-on-rent growth Source+1.2% year-over-year
Modular activation growth Source+12% year-over-year
Enterprise Accounts revenue growth Source+15% year-over-year

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited the pace of data center build-outs as a potential risk to its initial 2027 view. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said modular units-on-rent growth turned year over year in the third quarter earlier than it had expected. Source
  • Not stated: The August release expected variable activation costs to taper and drive significant sequential margin expansion; this release describes a reduced seasonal fourth quarter expansion.

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.