Laureate Education (LAUR) Q3 2026 Earnings Report
MX:LAUR Q3 2026 EPS Results
- Actual EPS
- MXN 9.77
- Consensus EPS
- MXN 9.02
- Beat/Miss
- Beat by +MXN 0.75
- One Year Ago EPS
- MXN 4.70
MX:LAUR Q3 2026 Revenue Results
- Actual Revenue
- MXN 9.11B
- Expected Revenue
- MXN 9.02B
- Beat/Miss
- Beat by +MXN 92.45M
- YoY Revenue Growth
- +21.20%
Earnings Announcement Details
- Quarter
- Q3 2026
- Date
- 10/29/2026
- Time
- Before Open
- Conference Call
- Thursday, October 29, 2026
Laureate Education's next earnings date is estimated for February 25, 2027, based on past reporting schedules.
Q3 2026 Earnings Call Audio
Q3 2026 Earnings Slide Deck
Q3 2026 Earnings Call Summary
The call was strongly positive overall. Laureate reported solid enrollment, revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted EPS growth; reaffirmed full-year guidance; highlighted continued expansion in Mexico, Peru, and online education; and increased its share-repurchase authorization. The main challenges were the reversal of favorable foreign exchange, unfavorable academic-calendar timing, higher expected online-related attrition, new-campus investment drag, competitive activity in Peru, and potential El Nino disruption.
Laureate reaffirmed 2026 guidance for total enrollments to be in the range of 518 thousand to 523 thousand students, reflecting growth of 4% to 5% versus 2025; revenues to be in the range of $1.92 billion to $1.93 billion, reflecting growth of 13% on an as reported basis and growth of 6% to 7% on a constant currency basis versus 2025; adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $593 million to $599 million, reflecting growth of 14 to 15% on an as reported basis and 8% to 9% on a constant currency basis versus 2025; adjusted EBITDA margins to increase approximately 50 basis points at the midpoint of guidance on a reported basis; adjusted EBITDA to unlevered free cash flow conversion of approximately 50% on a reported basis; and adjusted earnings per share guidance of $2.04 to $2.10 per share, reflecting growth of 19% to 22% versus 2025 on a reported basis, based on a weighted average share count of approximately 139 million shares. Fourth quarter 26 guidance includes an expected $20 million of unfavorable intra year academic calendar timing, with revenue in the range of $546 million to $556 million and adjusted EBITDA in the range of $198 million to $204 million. The current FX level holding implies the mid, FX improving implies the high end, and FX weakening implies the low end; margins are expected to expand on average around 30 to 50 basis points per year going forward, with 2 additional campuses opening in 2027 and new campus openings expected to accelerate in 2028.
- Strong Third-Quarter Financial PerformanceThird-quarter revenue was $485 million and adjusted EBITDA was $147 million, both ahead of the guidance provided three months earlier. The results benefited from favorable foreign exchange rates and strong new-enrollment intakes in Mexico and Peru.
- Enrollment Growth Across Both MarketsNew and total enrollment volumes increased 8% and 6%, respectively, for the current intake cycle versus the comparable prior-year period. New campuses contributed approximately 2% to overall new-enrollment growth and 1% to total-enrollment growth.
- Mexico Intake and Campus PerformanceMexico's primary intake produced 8% new-enrollment growth and 5% total-enrollment growth versus the comparable prior-year intake period. The new Puebla campus opened on time and on budget, performed slightly ahead of expectations, and contributed approximately 3% to year-over-year intake performance.
- Peru Enrollment and Digital DemandPeru's secondary new-enrollment intake grew 9% year over year, driven by fully online programs serving working adult students. Total enrollment increased 5%, supported by new-enrollment growth and the expansion of fully online programs.
- Constant-Currency Operating GrowthOn a constant-currency basis and adjusted for academic-calendar timing, third-quarter revenue increased 6% year over year and adjusted EBITDA increased 14%. For the first nine months of 2026, revenue grew 7% and adjusted EBITDA grew 9% on the same basis.
- Higher Adjusted EarningsThird-quarter net income was $101 million, reported EPS was $0.73, adjusted net income was $72 million, and adjusted EPS was $0.52. Adjusted EPS increased 100% compared with the third quarter of the prior year, aided by earnings momentum and favorable intra-year academic-calendar timing.
- Mexico and Peru Profitability GrowthAdjusted for academic-calendar timing, Mexico's third-quarter revenue grew 6% and adjusted EBITDA increased 12%. Peru's third-quarter revenue grew 6% and adjusted EBITDA increased 15%. Year to date, Mexico's revenue grew 6% and adjusted EBITDA increased 3%, while Peru's revenue increased 7% and adjusted EBITDA rose 14%.
- Three Growth Levers Continuing to WorkManagement said same-store growth from rising participation rates and market-share gains, new-campus expansion into new ZIP codes and cities, and the rapidly scaling fully online portfolio for working adult learners are all working well.
- Campus Expansion PipelineLaureate has opened three new campuses since the start of 2025 and expects two additional campuses to open in 2027: Southern Lima in the first quarter and a new Mexican campus in Merida before the September 2027 main intake. Management has secured multiple sites, expects to accelerate campus openings in 2028, and said campus construction can take about 18 to 24 months.
- Online Scale and Competitive PositionLaureate said its fully online offering leverages its back office, brands, and shared teaching infrastructure with the hybrid portfolio. Peru has more than 40,000 fully online students, and management described the segment as experiencing very robust growth while offering high-quality education at an affordable price.
- Reaffirmed Full-Year 2026 GuidanceManagement reaffirmed total enrollment guidance of 518 thousand to 523 thousand students, reflecting growth of 4% to 5% versus 2025. Revenue guidance remains $1.92 billion to $1.93 billion, representing 13% growth as reported and 6% to 7% growth on a constant-currency basis. Adjusted EBITDA guidance remains $593 million to $599 million, representing 14% to 15% growth as reported and 8% to 9% on a constant-currency basis.
- Margin and Free-Cash-Flow OutlookThe 2026 guidance implies an adjusted EBITDA margin increase of approximately 50 basis points at the midpoint on a reported basis. Adjusted EBITDA to unlevered free-cash-flow conversion is expected to be approximately 50% on a reported basis, and adjusted EPS guidance is $2.04 to $2.10, reflecting 19% to 22% growth versus 2025.
- Long-Term Margin Expansion CommitmentManagement said margin expansion of more than 500 basis points has been achieved over the last couple of years, with a commitment to expand margins by an average of around 30 to 50 basis points per year going forward, supported by scale and a highly scaled back office.
- Strong Balance Sheet and Capital ReturnsLaureate ended September with $204 million of gross debt, $190 million of cash, and a net debt position of $14 million. Through September, the company repurchased $256 million of common stock, including $75 million in the third quarter, and authorized an additional $150 million increase to its share-repurchase program. Pro forma for the increased authorization, $225 million remains available, and full execution would bring capital returned to shareholders since 2019 to more than $3.5 billion.
- Improving Market ConditionsMexico's second-quarter GDP grew 2.1% year over year, described as its strongest gain since 2024, while foreign direct investment reached a record level for the first half of the year. In Peru, management cited an election result providing greater clarity on economic policy, strong domestic demand, mining investment, elevated commodity prices, and GDP growth momentum above 3%.
- Continued Investment in Academic and Digital CapabilitiesManagement said investments in academic innovation, AI capabilities, digital offerings, and accretive campus expansions are strengthening Laureate's competitive position.
- Fourth-Quarter GuidanceFourth-quarter 2026 revenue is expected to be $546 million to $556 million, and adjusted EBITDA is expected to be $198 million to $204 million.
MX:LAUR Earnings History
| Report Date | Fiscal Quarter | Forecast / EPS | Last Year's EPS | EPS YoY Change | Press Release |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25, 2027 | 2026 (Q4) | 14.60- | 14.28 | ― | ― |
| Oct 29, 2026 | 2026 (Q3) | 9.029.77 | 4.7 | 108.00% (+5.07) | |
| Jul 30, 2026 | 2026 (Q2) | 18.1118.79 | 14.84 | 26.58% (+3.95) | |
| Apr 30, 2026 | 2026 (Q1) | -4.57-3.19 | -2.07 | -54.55% (-1.13) | |
| Feb 19, 2026 | 2025 (Q4) | 14.7114.28 | 9.62 | 48.44% (+4.66) | |
| Oct 30, 2025 | 2025 (Q3) | 5.284.70 | 10.5 | -55.28% (-5.80) | |
| Jul 31, 2025 | 2025 (Q2) | 13.5614.84 | 15.52 | -4.36% (-0.68) | |
| May 01, 2025 | 2025 (Q1) | -3.61-2.07 | -0.94 | -120.00% (-1.13) | |
| Feb 20, 2025 | 2024 (Q4) | 7.899.62 | 5.79 | 66.23% (+3.83) | |
| Oct 31, 2024 | 2024 (Q3) | 2.9110.50 | 3.89 | 170.05% (+6.61) |
The table shows recent earnings report dates and whether the forecast was beat or missed. See the change in forecast and EPS from the previous year.