Q2FY27
Filed Sep 10, 2026Descartes Announces Fiscal 2027 Second Quarter Financial Results Record Revenues and Income from Operations
Q2FY27 revenue increased 12% year over year and 4% sequentially, while income from operations increased 36% year over year and Adjusted EBITDA margin reached 47%, compared to 45% in Q2FY26 and 46% in Q1FY27.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| RevenuesGAAP | $201.1 million | 4% | 12% |
| Services revenuesGAAP | $188.6 million | 4% | 13% |
| Professional services and other revenuesGAAP | $12.4 million | – | – |
| License revenuesGAAP | $0.1 million | – | – |
| Gross marginGAAP | 78% | – | – |
| Gross marginGAAP | 156,710 | – | – |
| Sales and marketing expenseGAAP | 24,338 | – | – |
| Research and development expenseGAAP | 28,286 | – | – |
| General and administrative expenseGAAP | 19,284 | – | – |
| Other chargesGAAP | 1,259 | – | – |
| Amortization of intangible assetsGAAP | 18,072 | – | – |
| Income from operationsGAAP | $65.5 million | 5% | 36% |
| Net incomeGAAP | $50.0 million | 3% | 32% |
| Net income as a percentage of revenueGAAP | 25% | – | – |
| Earnings per share on a diluted basisGAAP | $0.57 | 4% | 33% |
| Earnings per share on a basic basisGAAP | 0.58 | – | – |
| Cash provided by operating activitiesGAAP | $81.3 million | 8% | 28% |
| Adjusted EBITDAnon-GAAP | $94.4 million | 5% | 18% |
| Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenuesnon-GAAP | 47% | – | – |
| Six-month revenuesGAAP | $394.7 million | – | 13% |
| Six-month income from operationsGAAP | $128.0 million | – | 36% |
| Six-month net incomeGAAP | $98.5 million | – | 33% |
| Six-month earnings per share on a diluted basisGAAP | $1.13 | – | 33% |
| Six-month cash provided by operating activitiesGAAP | $156.4 million | – | 34% |
| Six-month Adjusted EBITDAnon-GAAP | $184.1 million | – | 19% |
Segments
| Segment | Revenue | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Services revenuesServices revenues were the largest reported revenue category. | $188.6 million (94% of total revenues) | 4% | 13% |
| Professional services and other revenuesProfessional services and other revenues were 6% of total revenues. | $12.4 million (6% of total revenues) | – | – |
| License revenuesLicense revenues were less than 1% of total revenues. | $0.1 million (less than 1% of total revenues) | – | – |
Capital returns
- In Q2FY27, Descartes repurchased and cancelled 346,800 common shares under the NCIB for an aggregate cost of $24.3 million, including costs associated with the repurchase.
- In the first half of fiscal 2027, Descartes repurchased and cancelled 651,800 common shares under the NCIB for an aggregate cost of $45.1 million, including costs associated with the repurchase.
- The NCIB commenced on December 11, 2025 and permits Descartes to purchase up to approximately 8.6 million common shares for cancellation on or before December 10, 2026.
What drove it
- Revenue growth was led by services revenues, which increased 13% year over year to $188.6 million and represented 94% of total revenues.
- Gross margin was 78%, compared to 77% in Q2FY26.
- Income from operations and cash provided by operating activities in Q2FY26 were negatively impacted by the Fiscal 2026 Restructuring Plan.
- The company cited the need for agile supply chains in an increasingly dynamic global trade environment and described investments to add capabilities and data to its Global Logistics Network.
Concerns
- Descartes identified risks from tariffs, sanctions, export controls, protectionist measures and other restrictions affecting cross-border trade.
- The company cited potential disruption in freight movement and a decline in shipment volumes arising from geopolitical conflicts, trade barriers or contagious illness outbreaks.
- The company identified acquisition execution, integration, realization of anticipated benefits and synergies, cybersecurity threats, third-party cloud and technology-provider dependence, and foreign-exchange movements as risks.
- Management noted that acquisition-related expenses and restructuring charges may continue as it pursues its consolidation strategy.
What to watch
- The contribution and integration of the TAI acquisition completed on August 21, 2026 and the Extensiv acquisition completed on September 1, 2026.
- Whether services revenues, which were 94% of Q2FY27 total revenues, sustain their reported growth rate.
- Adjusted EBITDA margin, which was 47% in Q2FY27 compared to 45% in Q2FY26 and 46% in Q1FY27.
- Further NCIB activity before December 10, 2026.
- The effect of global shipment volumes, trade restrictions and geopolitical conditions on demand for Descartes' solutions.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- At July 31, 2026, Descartes had $401.1 million in cash.
- Cash increased by $24.1 million in Q2FY27 and increased by $44.6 million in 1HFY27.
- Q2FY27 additions to property and equipment were $(2.0) million.
- Q2FY27 acquisitions of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired, were $(29.5) million.
- On August 21, 2026, Descartes acquired TAI for approximately $99.3 million, net of cash acquired, funded from cash on hand.
- On September 1, 2026, Descartes acquired Extensiv for approximately $119.9 million, net of cash acquired, funded from cash on hand.
- No debt balance was reported in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Analysis
Descartes reported Q2FY27 revenue of $201.1 million, up 12% from Q2FY26 and 4% from Q1FY27. Services revenue was $188.6 million, up 13% year over year and 4% sequentially, and accounted for 94% of total revenue. Professional services and other revenue was $12.4 million, or 6% of total revenue, while license revenue was $0.1 million, or less than 1% of total revenue.
Profitability improved across the reported measures. Gross margin was 78%, compared with 77% in Q2FY26 and 78% in Q1FY27. GAAP income from operations was $65.5 million, up 36% year over year and 5% sequentially. GAAP net income rose 32% year over year to $50.0 million and 3% sequentially, while diluted GAAP earnings per share increased 33% to $0.57. The company stated that Q2FY26 operating income and net income were negatively impacted by its Fiscal 2026 Restructuring Plan.
Adjusted EBITDA was $94.4 million, up 18% from Q2FY26 and 5% from Q1FY27. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 47%, compared with 45% in Q2FY26 and 46% in Q1FY27. For the six-month period ended July 31, 2026, revenue was $394.7 million, income from operations was $128.0 million, net income was $98.5 million, and Adjusted EBITDA was $184.1 million, with each measure increasing from 1HFY26.
Operating cash flow was $81.3 million in Q2FY27, up 28% year over year and 8% sequentially. Cash ended the quarter at $401.1 million after $29.5 million of acquisitions of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired, and $24.3 million of common-share repurchases in the quarter. Subsequent to quarter-end, the company completed the TAI acquisition for approximately $99.3 million and the Extensiv acquisition for approximately $119.9 million, both funded from cash on hand. The release provided no quantitative forward guidance.
Management, verbatim
Today’s supply chains and logistics operations need to be agile in the face of an increasingly dynamic global trade environment.
Edward J. Ryan, CEO
Having a broad scope of solutions on our Global Logistics Network is imperative to help isolate our customers from complexity, bringing together the data and domain expertise required to efficiently manage the lifecycle of shipments.
Edward J. Ryan, CEO
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Quantitative forward guidance for revenue, gross margin, operating expenses, tax rate, earnings, cash flow or Adjusted EBITDA was not provided.
- Previous-period outlook was not provided.
- Free cash flow was not reported.
- Debt balance was not reported.
- Dividend declaration or dividend payment was not reported.
- Non-GAAP earnings per share was not reported.
- A GAAP tax rate was not reported.
- Formal operating-segment revenue disclosure was not provided.
- Year-over-year and sequential comparisons for professional services and other revenues and license revenues were not reported.
- Year-over-year and sequential comparisons for individual operating expense line items were not reported.
AlphAI analysis generated 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 cross-checked against the filing text; consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.