greeksoup/ stock research

Clear Secure, 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, 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 27.8% year over year: Revenue was $292.9 million, up from $229.2 million a year earlier. Revenue was above the $284-287 million guided in the second-quarter release. Source
  • Total Bookings grew 24.4%: Total Bookings were $323.5 million, compared with 32.8% growth reported for the second quarter. Bookings were above the $311-316 million guided for the quarter. Source
  • Total CLEAR Members reached 46.7 million: Total CLEAR Members were 46.7 million at September 30, up from 43.5 million at June 30 and 35.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • EGates live at 53 airports: eGates had launched across 53 airports as of the release date, up from 50 at the second-quarter release. Management expects coverage of the vast majority of its network by end-2026. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin was 35.5%: Adjusted EBITDA was $103.9 million, up from $70.1 million a year earlier. The second-quarter Adjusted EBITDA margin was 36.4%. Source
  • Operating cash flow reflects partner settlement: Net cash used in operating activities was $98.6 million, and free cash flow was $(103.8) million. Both reflect the approximately $315 million settlement of accrued partnership liabilities. Source
  • $191.4 million returned to shareholders: The company returned about $191.4 million: $20.5 million for the regular dividend and distributions, and $170.9 million for share repurchases. Source
  • Repurchase authorization increased $175.0 million: The board increased the Class A repurchase program by $175.0 million, leaving about $254.4 million remaining. Source

“With nearly 50 million Members and a network of partners, we are bringing safer and easier experiences to more people in more places.”

Caryn Seidman Becker, CLEAR’s CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFourth quarter 2026$299-302 millionNew
Total Bookings SourceFourth quarter 2026$335-340 millionNew
Free cash flow SourceFull year 2026at least $490 millionRaised from at least $480 million
Share repurchases SourceRemaining authorization at releaseapproximately $254.4 million remainingRaised

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 free cash flow guidance raised from at least $480 million to at least $490 million. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter revenue guidance of $299-302 million given in this release. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter Total Bookings guidance of $335-340 million given in this release. Source
  • New: Board increased the Class A share repurchase program by $175.0 million. Source
  • New: Pilot with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced in October. Source
  • New: Platform described as extending from homeland security to cybersecurity. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 27.8% year over year: Revenue was $292.9 million, up from $229.2 million a year earlier. Revenue was above the $284-287 million guided in the second-quarter release. Source
  • Total Bookings grew 24.4%: Total Bookings were $323.5 million, compared with 32.8% growth reported for the second quarter. Bookings were above the $311-316 million guided for the quarter. Source
  • Operating income margin was 28.3%: Operating income was $82.9 million, up from $52.6 million a year earlier. The second-quarter operating income margin was 29.9%. Source
  • Net income margin rose 600 basis points: Net income was $75.3 million, a 25.7% net income margin, compared with 19.7% a year earlier. Source
  • Diluted EPS was $0.52: Diluted net income per Class A share was $0.52, against $0.29 a year earlier. Basic net income per share was $0.53. Source

Members and subscriptions

  • Total CLEAR Members reached 46.7 million: Total CLEAR Members were 46.7 million at September 30, up from 43.5 million at June 30 and 35.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Active CLEAR+ Members grew 14.5%: Active CLEAR+ Members were 8.5 million, up from 8.3 million at June 30. The year-over-year gain was 14.5%, against 15.2% in the second quarter. Source
  • Upfront cash collection on subscriptions: The company says it generally collects cash from Members upfront for annual subscriptions, so free cash flow can serve as a real-time indicator when the business is growing. Source

“Identity is security and in today’s environment, that is more important than ever.”

Caryn Seidman Becker, CLEAR’s CEO

Airports, eGates and retail

  • EGates live at 53 airports: eGates had launched across 53 airports as of the release date, up from 50 at the second-quarter release. Management expects coverage of the vast majority of its network by end-2026. Source
  • Tampa launch brings network to 63: CLEAR+ airports numbered 62 at September 30 and at June 30. The Tampa International launch in early November brings the network to 63. Source
  • Retail and Concierge footprint expanded: Retail locations offering TSA PreCheck enrollment rose to 285 from 280 at June 30. CLEAR Concierge is now offered at 42 airports, up from 39. Source

Platform, government pilots and CLEAR1

  • Platform framed as homeland to cybersecurity: The company describes its secure identity platform as extending from homeland security to cybersecurity. Source
  • Veterans Affairs pilot announced in October: The pilot aims to reimagine the Veteran experience across digital and physical touchpoints. Source
  • CLEAR1 described as milestone quarter: The company described CLEAR1 as having delivered a milestone quarter, with demand across core verticals. Source
  • Government pilots named in forward-looking text: Forward-looking text refers to partnerships and pilot programs with government agencies, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Source

Costs and margins

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin was 35.5%: Adjusted EBITDA was $103.9 million, up from $70.1 million a year earlier. The second-quarter Adjusted EBITDA margin was 36.4%. Source
  • Revenue share fee and sales costs rose: Cost of revenue share fee was $43.0 million, up from $31.7 million. Sales and marketing was $17.7 million, up from $12.9 million. Source
  • G&A and stock compensation rose: General and administrative expense was $73.0 million, up from $58.8 million. Equity-based compensation expense was $13.7 million, against $9.6 million. Source
  • Non-controlling interests share rose: Net income attributable to Clear Secure was $53.2 million, up from $28.3 million. Non-controlling interests accounted for $22.2 million, up from $16.9 million. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow reflects partner settlement: Net cash used in operating activities was $98.6 million, and free cash flow was $(103.8) million. Both reflect the approximately $315 million settlement of accrued partnership liabilities. Source
  • Nine-month free cash flow was $270.6 million: Nine-month free cash flow was $270.6 million, against $155.7 million in the same period of 2025. Source
  • Accrued liabilities fell after settlement: Accrued liabilities were $96.4 million at September 30, down from $404.7 million at June 30 and $236.5 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Deferred revenue rose to $603.6 million: Deferred revenue was $603.6 million at September 30, up from $573.0 million at June 30 and $516.2 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Cash and securities declined: Cash and cash equivalents were $35.4 million, down from $128.2 million at June 30. Marketable securities were $597.6 million, down from $831.0 million. Source

Capital returns to shareholders

  • $191.4 million returned to shareholders: The company returned about $191.4 million: $20.5 million for the regular dividend and distributions, and $170.9 million for share repurchases. Source
  • Repurchase authorization increased $175.0 million: The board increased the Class A repurchase program by $175.0 million, leaving about $254.4 million remaining. Source
  • Quarterly dividend stays at $0.15: The board declared a $0.15 per share quarterly dividend, payable December 24, 2026, to holders of record at the close of business on December 10, 2026. Source
  • Diluted Class A share count increased: Diluted weighted-average Class A shares were 102.7 million for the quarter, up from 97.8 million a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Network-wide eGate coverage by end-2026: Management expects to cover the vast majority of its network with eGates by the end of 2026. Source
  • Quarterly free cash flow distribution from 2027: Forward-looking text refers to an expected quarterly distribution of free cash flow beginning in 2027. No amount or schedule is given. Source
  • Dividend payable December 24, 2026: The $0.15 per share dividend is payable December 24, 2026, to Class A holders of record at the close of business on December 10, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total CLEAR Members Source46.7 million
Active CLEAR+ Members Source8.5 million
Total Bookings Source$323.5 million

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The second-quarter release said the eGate rollout was on track for network-wide coverage in 2026. The third-quarter release says the company expects the vast majority of its network covered by end-2026. Source
  • Not stated: The prior full-year free cash flow guidance of at least $480 million was increased to at least $490 million. 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.