third quarter 2026
Filed Oct 19, 2026Werner reported preliminary third-quarter 2026 expectations of approximately $946 million to $951 million of total revenues, GAAP diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.10 to $0.11, and non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.15 to $0.16.
Preliminary third-quarter results were negatively impacted by approximately $0.18 per share of cumulative cost headwinds compared to the second quarter 2026, primarily from rapidly rising fuel prices, driver recruitment and retention investments, and a late-quarter insurance reserve adjustment related to past claims.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary total revenuesother | approximately $946 million to $951 million | – | – |
| Preliminary diluted earnings per shareGAAP | approximately $0.10 to $0.11 | – | – |
| Preliminary adjusted diluted earnings per sharenon-GAAP | approximately $0.15 to $0.16 | – | – |
| Amortization of intangible assets adjustment to diluted earnings per sharenon-GAAP | 0.03 to 0.03 | – | – |
| Acquisition expenses adjustment to diluted earnings per sharenon-GAAP | 0.03 to 0.03 | – | – |
| Loss (gain) on investments in equity securities adjustment to diluted earnings per sharenon-GAAP | — to — | – | – |
| Loss (earnings) from equity method investment adjustment to diluted earnings per sharenon-GAAP | — to — | – | – |
| Income tax effect of adjustments to diluted earnings per sharenon-GAAP | (0.01) to (0.01) | – | – |
Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 outlook
- Revenueapproximately $946 million to $951 million
- NoteGAAP diluted earnings per share: approximately $0.10 to $0.11
- NoteNon-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share: approximately $0.15 to $0.16
What drove it
- Rapidly rising fuel prices
- Driver recruitment and retention investments
- A late-quarter insurance reserve adjustment related to past claims
- In January 2026, Werner acquired FirstEnterprises, Inc. (“FirstFleet”), which generated more than $600 million in unaudited 2025 revenues.
Concerns
- Financial results for the third quarter 2026 were negatively impacted by approximately $0.18 per share of cumulative cost headwinds compared to the second quarter 2026.
- The company provided preliminary unaudited expectations rather than final third-quarter financial statements.
- Acquisition-related amortization and acquisition expenses are included in the reconciliation from GAAP diluted earnings per share to non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share.
What to watch
- Additional details when Werner reports its third-quarter earnings results on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, after market close.
- Final reported total revenues and GAAP and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share relative to the preliminary ranges.
- The extent and persistence of fuel, driver recruitment and retention, and insurance-reserve cost pressures.
Analysis
This filing is a preliminary earnings update rather than a complete quarterly release. Werner expects third-quarter 2026 total revenues of approximately $946 million to $951 million, GAAP diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.10 to $0.11, and non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.15 to $0.16. The company plans to provide additional details with its third-quarter earnings release on October 27, 2026.
The principal message is cost pressure. Werner said third-quarter results were negatively impacted by approximately $0.18 per share of cumulative cost headwinds compared to the second quarter 2026. The cited factors were rapidly rising fuel prices, driver recruitment and retention investments, and a late-quarter insurance reserve adjustment related to past claims.
The non-GAAP reconciliation identifies amortization of acquired intangible assets of 0.03 per diluted share and acquisition expenses of 0.03 per diluted share at both the low and high ends of the preliminary estimate. The reconciliation shows no adjustment for investments in equity securities or the equity method investment, and an income tax effect of (0.01) per diluted share at each end of the range.
The filing provides no segment revenues, profitability measures, cash flow, balance-sheet data, capital-return activity, or prior-year comparisons. It also provides no final results or outlook beyond the preliminary third-quarter ranges. The October 27 release is therefore the key next disclosure for final financial statements, operating detail, and management's discussion of the cost headwinds.
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Final third-quarter 2026 financial statements and final reported results
- Prior-year and prior-quarter revenue, earnings per share, and growth comparisons
- Segment revenue and segment profitability
- Gross profit, gross margin, operating income, operating margin, net income, and tax rate
- Operating cash flow, free cash flow, capital expenditures, cash, debt, and liquidity
- Share repurchases, dividends, and other capital-return activity
- Forward guidance beyond the preliminary third-quarter 2026 expectations
- Named executive commentary or attributable management quotes
- Prior outlook for comparison
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.