Laureate earnings rose in the third quarter of 2026 as revenue increased 21% from a year earlier to $485.1 million. The education company reaffirmed its full-year outlook and increased its share repurchase authorization by $150 million.
Key Takeaways
- Third-quarter net income rose to $101.2 million, helped by higher operating income and a $25.4 million tax benefit.
- Academic calendar timing boosted quarterly revenue, but Laureate expects the timing effects to reverse in the fourth quarter.
- The company had repurchased approximately $256 million of stock in the first nine months of 2026.
Laureate earnings and calendar timing
Laureate, which operates five higher education institutions across Mexico and Peru, reported third-quarter operating income of $119.1 million, up from $71.5 million a year earlier. Net income increased from $34.4 million, while diluted earnings per share were $0.73.
Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, rose to $146.8 million from $94.8 million. Laureate said semester start dates boosted quarterly revenue by approximately $29 million and adjusted EBITDA by approximately $26 million compared with the prior-year period.
Revenue rose 14% on a constant-currency basis. Laureate’s constant-currency methodology excludes the period-over-period impact of currency fluctuations, allowing the company to present growth without that effect.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 2026 enrollment guidance | 518,000–523,000 students |
| 2026 revenue guidance | $1,920 million–$1,930 million |
| 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance | $593 million–$599 million |
| 2026 adjusted EPS guidance | $2.04–$2.10 per share |
Enrollment and nine-month results
For the nine months ended September 30, revenue rose 18% to $1,373.6 million and net income increased to $216.7 million from $112.3 million. New enrollments grew 9%, while total enrollments rose 6% from a year earlier.
Chief Executive Eilif Serck-Hanssen said the primary intake in Mexico included the launch of a new campus in Puebla and growth at existing campuses. In Peru, he said, the company continued to use its online capabilities to serve working adults.
Full-year outlook and buybacks
On October 29, Laureate reaffirmed its 2026 forecasts for enrollment, revenue, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted earnings per share. These are management projections rather than completed results and depend in part on assumed foreign exchange rates.
The board approved a $150 million increase to the existing share repurchase program. Taking account of repurchases through September 30, the company said it could buy back up to approximately $225.2 million under the program, which has no fixed expiration date. An authorization does not mean those purchases have already occurred.
At September 30, Laureate held $189.9 million in cash and cash equivalents and had $204.2 million in gross debt.
Next milestone
Laureate scheduled an earnings conference call for October 29 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time.
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