Q3’26
Filed Jul 29, 2026PTC Announces Third fiscal Quarter 2026 Results Strategic focus on Intelligent Product Lifecycle vision
Constant currency ARR excluding divested businesses grew 9.1%, above the 8% to 9% growth guidance range, while operating cash flow and free cash flow both exceeded their guidance ranges. PTC raised FY’26 ARR, revenue and EPS guidance and repurchased $525 million of stock in Q3’26, although reported revenue, operating margin and EPS declined year over year.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARR excluding divested businesses, as reportedother | $2,412 | – | 7% |
| Constant currency ARR excluding divested businesses (FY’26 Plan FX rates)other | $2,448 | – | 9.1% |
| Operating cash flowother | $261 | – | 7% |
| Free cash flowother | $249 | – | 3% |
| RevenueGAAP | $600 | – | (7%) |
| Operating marginGAAP | 28% | – | (480 bps) |
| Non-GAAP operating marginnon-GAAP | 41% | – | (290 bps) |
| Earnings per shareGAAP | $1.03 | – | (12%) |
| Non-GAAP earnings per sharenon-GAAP | $1.58 | – | (4%) |
FY’26 and Q4’26 outlook
- RevenueFY’26: $2,690 to $2,750; Q4’26: $630 to $690
- Operating expensesFY’26 GAAP operating expenses are expected to increase approximately 4%. Apart from the divestiture-related expenses, GAAP and non-GAAP operating expenses are expected to be relatively flat.
- Tax rateQ4’26 GAAP and non-GAAP tax rates are expected to be approximately 20% to 25%.
- NoteConstant currency ARR excluding divested businesses (FY’26 Plan FX rates), FY’26: 9% to 9.5% growth; Q4’26: 9% to 9.5% growth.
- NoteOperating cash flow, FY’26: ~$880; Q4’26: ~$29.
- NoteFree cash flow, FY’26: ~$850; Q4’26: ~$15.
- NoteEarnings per share, FY’26: $8.46 to $9.18; Q4’26: $0.94 to $1.70.
- NoteNon-GAAP earnings per share, FY’26: $7.87 to $8.42; Q4’26: $1.63 to $2.21.
- NoteCapital expenditures, FY’26: ~($30); Q4’26: ~($14).
- NoteFY’26 cash interest payments are expected to be approximately $60 million to $65 million.
- NoteFY’26 cash tax payments are expected to be approximately $230 million to $240 million.
- NoteFY’26 cash flow guidance includes approximately $50 million of divestiture-related costs, approximately $100 million of divestiture-related cash taxes, and approximately $70 million of divestiture-related net free cash flow contribution.
- NoteFY’26 free cash flow guidance includes approximately $20 million of capital expenditures that are not expected to recur in future years.
- NoteQ4’26 cash flow guidance includes approximately $26 million of divestiture-related costs and approximately $92 million of divestiture-related cash taxes.
- NoteFY’26 GAAP EPS guidance includes a $463 million gain on the sale of the Kepware and ThingWorx businesses, partially offset by approximately $140 million of divestiture-related expenses and taxes.
- NoteFY’26 GAAP P&L results are expected to include credits of approximately $80 million to $110 million, as well as their related tax effects.
- NotePTC expects to repurchase approximately $1.625 billion of shares in FY’26 and expects a decrease in fully diluted shares to approximately 116 million shares for FY’26, compared to 121 million shares in FY’25.
Capital returns
- During Q3’26, PTC repurchased 4.3 million additional shares of PTC stock in the open market for $525 million.
- On March 17, 2026, PTC entered into an accelerated share repurchase agreement, under which it used $375 million of cash and received 2.7 million shares during Q2’26 and Q3’26.
- PTC expects to repurchase approximately $1.625 billion of shares in FY’26.
- PTC expects fully diluted shares of approximately 116 million shares for FY’26, compared to 121 million shares in FY’25.
What drove it
- Constant currency ARR excluding divested businesses grew 9.1%, exceeding the high end of PTC’s guidance range.
- PTC said customers increasingly recognize the importance of its Intelligent Product Lifecycle vision.
- PTC said AI has become a key discussion point in customer conversations and cited the need to modernize product data foundations to leverage AI.
- PTC expects churn to remain low.
- PTC cited improved demand capture and customer adoption in Q3’26.
Concerns
- Revenue was $600 in Q3’26, down (7%) year over year, and declined 8% year over year on a constant currency basis.
- GAAP operating margin declined to 28% from 33%, while non-GAAP operating margin declined to 41% from 44%.
- GAAP EPS declined to $1.03 from $1.17 and non-GAAP EPS declined to $1.58 from $1.64.
- Revenue, operating margin and earnings per share are impacted under ASC 606.
- FY’26 cash flow guidance includes divestiture-related costs and cash taxes that are not expected to recur in future years.
What to watch
- Execution against Q4’26 constant currency ARR excluding divested businesses guidance of 9% to 9.5% growth.
- Q4’26 revenue delivery within the $630 to $690 guidance range.
- Q4’26 operating cash flow guidance of ~$29 and free cash flow guidance of ~$15.
- The expected approximately $26 million of Q4’26 divestiture-related costs and approximately $92 million of Q4’26 divestiture-related cash taxes.
- PTC’s expected FY’26 repurchases of approximately $1.625 billion and expected fully diluted shares of approximately 116 million shares.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Operating cash flow was $261 in Q3’26, compared to $244 in Q3’25, a 7% increase.
- Free cash flow was $249 in Q3’26, compared to $242 in Q3’25, a 3% increase.
- Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $30 million in FY’26, including $9 million in Q3’26 and approximately $11 million in Q4’26 that is not expected to recur in future years, primarily related to moving a major R&D center to a new office.
- FY’26 cash flow guidance includes approximately $50 million of divestiture-related costs, approximately $100 million of divestiture-related cash taxes, and approximately $70 million of divestiture-related net free cash flow contribution.
- FY’26 cash interest payments are expected to be approximately $60 million to $65 million, and cash tax payments are expected to be approximately $230 million to $240 million.
Analysis
PTC reported strong operating execution in Q3’26, led by constant currency ARR excluding divested businesses of $2,448, up 9.1% year over year. The company stated that this result exceeded the high end of its 8% to 9% growth guidance range. Management attributed the performance to improved demand capture and customer adoption, with the Intelligent Product Lifecycle vision and AI-related customer discussions central to its strategic commentary.
Cash generation exceeded the company’s quarterly outlook. Operating cash flow was $261, up 7% year over year and above the $255 to $260 guidance range, while free cash flow was $249, up 3% and above the $240 to $245 guidance range. PTC reaffirmed FY’26 operating cash flow guidance of ~$880 and free cash flow guidance of ~$850, but Q4’26 cash flow guidance is ~$29 of operating cash flow and ~$15 of free cash flow. The FY’26 and Q4 outlooks include specified divestiture-related costs and cash taxes, as well as capital expenditures associated primarily with moving a major R&D center.
Reported GAAP revenue and profitability were weaker year over year. Revenue was $600 versus $644, a (7%) change, while the company said revenue declined 8% year over year on a constant currency basis. GAAP operating margin declined to 28% from 33%, non-GAAP operating margin declined to 41% from 44%, GAAP EPS was $1.03 versus $1.17, and non-GAAP EPS was $1.58 versus $1.64. PTC stated that revenue and, as a result, operating margin and earnings per share are impacted under ASC 606.
PTC raised FY’26 guidance for ARR, revenue and EPS. FY’26 constant currency ARR excluding divested businesses guidance is 9% to 9.5% growth, FY’26 revenue guidance is $2,690 to $2,750, GAAP EPS guidance is $8.46 to $9.18, and non-GAAP EPS guidance is $7.87 to $8.42. Capital allocation was notably aggressive: PTC repurchased 4.3 million shares in the open market for $525 million during Q3’26, in addition to the accelerated share repurchase agreement funded with $375 million of cash. The company expects approximately $1.625 billion of FY’26 repurchases and approximately 116 million fully diluted shares for FY’26.
The reported period reflects a divergence between ARR and cash-flow execution on one hand and reported revenue, margins and EPS on the other. The divestiture of Kepware and ThingWorx affects ARR comparability and the FY’26 outlook includes a gain on the sale, divestiture-related expenses and taxes, and cash-flow effects. Investors should focus on Q4 ARR delivery, the low Q4 cash-flow outlook, the impact of divestiture-related items, and whether customer adoption translates into revenue and margin performance within the stated guidance ranges.
Management, verbatim
PTC delivered strong financial execution in Q3’26. Customers increasingly recognize the importance of our Intelligent Product Lifecycle vision. This coincides with the go-to-market and product strategy emphasis the company has undertaken over the past several quarters and results in a more durable business model that positions PTC for long-term success.
Neil Barua, President and CEO, PTC
Our Q3 results reflect a focused business model, as the company’s execution resulted in improved demand capture and customer adoption. Our strong financial performance in Q3 highlights the consistent commitment to excellence we strive for, resulting in our key metrics landing above the high end of our guidance. This performance to date and the visibility we have into our Q4 pipeline gives us confidence in raising the midpoint of our ARR guidance for the full year.
Jen DiRico, CFO
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Segment revenue and segment operating metrics were not provided in the supplied filing text.
- GAAP gross profit, GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin were not provided in the supplied filing text.
- GAAP operating income, non-GAAP operating income, GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income were not provided in the supplied filing text.
- Q3’26 operating expenses, GAAP tax rate and non-GAAP tax rate were not provided in the supplied filing text.
- Cash balance, total debt and net debt were not provided in the supplied filing text.
- Prior-quarter comparisons for ARR, operating cash flow, free cash flow, revenue, margins and EPS were not provided in the supplied filing text.
- A separately supplied previous-release outlook was not provided, so no prior-guidance comparison is included.
AlphaAI 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.