Grindr Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2026 Revenue Growth of 22%, Raises 2026 Guidance and Provides Initial 2027 Outlook
Grindr Inc. (GRND) filed an SEC Form 8-K — Results of Operations and Financial Condition. Exhibit 99.1 Grindr Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2026 Revenue Growth of 22%, Raises 2026 Guidance and Provides Initial 2027 Outlook Third Quarter 2026 Revenue of $141 Million Increases expectation of full-year 2026 Revenue to $560 Million and Adjusted EBITDA to $236 Million Provide
How this was made
The 30-second read
Why it matters
The guidance raise is a fresh primary disclosure that can trigger immediate price movement.
Market read
First‑report earnings and guidance raise for Grindr, a material catalyst for the stock.
What to watch
Potential regulatory scrutiny of telehealth services and data‑privacy concerns could dampen growth.
Grindr Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2026 Revenue Growth of 22%, Raises 2026 Guidance and Provides Initial 2027 Outlook
Third-quarter revenue grew 22% to $141,377, while Adjusted EBITDA reached $61,747. GAAP net loss of $(6,599) and operating income of $4,086 reflected $32,288 of litigation-related costs and $3,471 of transaction-related costs. The company raised full-year 2026 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA expectations and issued initial 2027 outlook.
Key metrics
shortened, hover for the filing’s print| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue, three months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | $141.4M | – | 22% |
| Revenue, nine months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | $409.5M | – | – |
| Net (loss) income, three months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | −$6.60M | – | – |
| Net (loss) income, nine months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | $37.89M | – | – |
| Net (loss) income margin, three months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | (4.7) % | – | – |
| Net (loss) income margin, nine months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | 9.3 % | – | – |
| Income from operations, three months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | $4.09M | – | – |
| Income from operations, nine months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | $79.31M | – | – |
| Operating margin, three months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | 2.9 % | – | – |
| Operating margin, nine months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | 19.4 % | – | – |
| Adjusted EBITDA, three months ended September 30, 2026non-GAAP | $61.75M | – | – |
| Adjusted EBITDA, nine months ended September 30, 2026non-GAAP | $177.9M | – | – |
| Adjusted EBITDA margin, three months ended September 30, 2026non-GAAP | 43.7 % | – | – |
| Adjusted EBITDA margin, nine months ended September 30, 2026non-GAAP | 43.4 % | – | – |
| Net income excluding litigation-related and transaction-related costs, three months ended September 30, 2026non-GAAP | $20.98M | – | – |
| Net income excluding litigation-related and transaction-related costs, nine months ended September 30, 2026non-GAAP | $68.18M | – | – |
| Net income margin excluding litigation-related and transaction-related costs, three months ended September 30, 2026non-GAAP | 14.8 % | – | – |
| Net income margin excluding litigation-related and transaction-related costs, nine months ended September 30, 2026non-GAAP | 16.7 % | – | – |
| Operating expenses excluding cost of revenue, three months ended September 30, 2026other | $102.7M | – | – |
| Operating expenses excluding cost of revenue, nine months ended September 30, 2026other | $228.4M | – | – |
| Operating expenses excluding cost of revenue, litigation-related costs and transaction-related costs, three months ended September 30, 2026non-GAAP | $66.22M | – | – |
| Operating expenses excluding cost of revenue, litigation-related costs and transaction-related costs, nine months ended September 30, 2026non-GAAP | $188.3M | – | – |
| Operating income excluding litigation-related and transaction-related costs, three months ended September 30, 2026non-GAAP | $40.57M | – | – |
| Operating income excluding litigation-related and transaction-related costs, nine months ended September 30, 2026non-GAAP | $119.4M | – | – |
| Operating margin excluding litigation-related and transaction-related costs, three months ended September 30, 2026non-GAAP | 28.7 % | – | – |
| Operating margin excluding litigation-related and transaction-related costs, nine months ended September 30, 2026non-GAAP | 29.2 % | – | – |
| Interest expense, net, three months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | $6.81M | – | – |
| Interest expense, net, nine months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | $19.94M | – | – |
| Income tax (benefit) provision, three months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | −$922K | – | – |
| Income tax (benefit) provision, nine months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | $13.40M | – | – |
| Depreciation and amortization, three months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | $1.79M | – | – |
| Depreciation and amortization, nine months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | $3.67M | – | – |
| Litigation-related costs, three months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | $32.29M | – | – |
| Litigation-related costs, nine months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | $35.77M | – | – |
| Transaction-related costs, three months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | $3.47M | – | – |
| Transaction-related costs, nine months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | $3.62M | – | – |
| Stock-based compensation expense, three months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | $19.29M | – | – |
| Stock-based compensation expense, nine months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | $54.92M | – | – |
| Employee transition costs, three months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | $273K | – | – |
| Employee transition costs, nine months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | $710K | – | – |
| Equity method investee losses and related credit losses, three months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | $1.68M | – | – |
| Equity method investee losses and related credit losses, nine months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | $3.59M | – | – |
| Other expense, three months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | $3.67M | – | – |
| Other expense, nine months ended September 30, 2026GAAP | $4.35M | – | – |
Amounts quoted below without a unit are in thousands, as in the filing’s tables. Per-share figures are as printed.
full-year 2026 and initial 2027 outlook outlook
- Revenue$560 Million (full-year 2026); at least $705 Million (2027)
- NoteAdjusted EBITDA of $236 Million (full-year 2026)
- NoteAdjusted EBITDA of at least $275 Million (2027)
What drove it
- The company reported that user engagement remained strong and cited continued momentum across its core business.
- Grindr is launching Edge, described as an AI-native premium tier built for power users who want more value.
- On November 2, 2026, Grindr acquired PurposeMed Inc., the parent company of the Freddie brand, including its partnerships with affiliated clinical networks.
Concerns
- Litigation-related costs were $32,288 in the three months ended September 30, 2026, compared with $779 in the prior-year period.
- GAAP net (loss) income was $(6,599) and GAAP operating margin was 2.9 % in the third quarter.
- Adjusted EBITDA margin was 43.7 % in the third quarter, compared with 47.4 % in the prior-year period.
- Interest expense, net was $6,808 in the third quarter, compared with $4,668 in the prior-year period.
- Transaction-related costs were $3,471 in the third quarter and relate to ongoing or potential transactions, including the acquisition of PurposeMed Inc.
What to watch
- Execution and market acceptance of the Edge AI-native premium tier.
- Integration of PurposeMed Inc. and Grindr Health's expansion of access to PrEP.
- Litigation-related costs, which primarily represent settlement expenses accrued and external legal fees associated with outstanding litigation or regulatory matters outside of the ordinary course.
- Delivery against full-year 2026 revenue of $560 Million and Adjusted EBITDA of $236 Million.
- Progress toward the initial 2027 outlook for revenue of at least $705 Million and Adjusted EBITDA of at least $275 Million.
Analysis
Grindr reported third-quarter revenue of $141,377, compared with $115,766 in the prior-year period, and the release characterized third-quarter revenue growth as 22%. For the nine months ended September 30, 2026, revenue was $409,456, compared with $313,924 a year earlier. Management attributed the quarter's performance to strong user engagement and continued momentum across its core business.
Profitability was substantially affected by litigation-related and transaction-related costs. GAAP net (loss) income was $(6,599), versus $30,834 in the prior-year quarter, while income from operations was $4,086, versus $45,241. Litigation-related costs were $32,288 and transaction-related costs were $3,471. The related GAAP operating margin was 2.9 %, compared with 39.1 %, and net (loss) income margin was (4.7) %, compared with 26.6 %.
The company's non-GAAP operating measures remained positive but showed lower margins than the prior-year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA was $61,747, compared with $54,826, while Adjusted EBITDA margin was 43.7 %, compared with 47.4 %. Operating income excluding litigation-related and transaction-related costs was $40,567, compared with $46,020, and the corresponding operating margin was 28.7 %, compared with 39.8 %. Stock-based compensation expense was $19,290, compared with $6,019.
Management raised its full-year 2026 outlook to revenue of $560 Million and Adjusted EBITDA of $236 Million. It also provided initial 2027 outlook for revenue of at least $705 Million and Adjusted EBITDA of at least $275 Million. The company launched Edge, an AI-native premium tier, during the month of the release and completed its acquisition of PurposeMed Inc. on November 2, 2026, following the September 30 quarter-end. These initiatives extend the company's premium-product and telehealth strategy, while integration, litigation-related costs and the lower reported margin profile are key areas for attention.
Management, verbatim
Q3 2026 was another outstanding quarter for Grindr, with user engagement remaining strong and continued momentum across our core business.
George Arison, Chairman and CEO of Grindr
We are raising our full-year 2026 guidance, which puts us within our 2024 Investor Day financial targets nearly a full year early. We are carrying that momentum straight into 2027, where we are providing our initial outlook a quarter earlier than usual.
George Arison, Chairman and CEO of Grindr
This execution sets the stage for our next phase of growth. This month, we are launching Edge – our AI-native premium tier built for power users who want more value. At the same time, we closed our acquisition of Freddie (1), bringing an established, profitable telehealth business into Grindr Health to dramatically expand access to PrEP.
George Arison, Chairman and CEO of Grindr
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- GAAP and non-GAAP earnings per share
- Gross profit and gross margin
- Segment revenue and segment profitability
- Operating cash flow
- Free cash flow
- Cash and cash equivalents
- Debt balance
- Share repurchases and dividends
- Prior-quarter comparisons
- Prior full-year guidance, which was not provided
- Reconciliation of forward-looking Adjusted EBITDA guidance to GAAP net income
Written by an AI language model from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure was checked against the filing text, and a metric whose value, prior period and change do not add up is dropped from the metrics. The model can still misread a table, in the metrics or in the text, so check a number in the filing before you rely on it. Consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.
Background
Grindr filed an 8‑K reporting Q3 results, revenue growth, and a new AI‑native premium tier.
Ticker impact
Grindr Inc. raised its full-year 2026 revenue guidance to $560M and adjusted EBITDA to $236M, and provided an initial 2027 outlook.
likely upward pressure as investors price in higher revenue and earnings expectations
The company reported 22% Q3 revenue growth and lifted guidance, a material new fact that can move the stock immediately.
Market effects
Positive for the online dating and telehealth niche, may lift peer valuations.
Limited to U.S. tech and health‑tech segments.
Modest; reflects broader trend of AI‑driven subscription growth.
Counterpoint
If the AI premium tier fails to gain traction, the raised guidance could be unsustainable.
Key entities
- ExecutiveGeorge Arison
Chairman and CEO of Grindr, quoted on growth and guidance.
