TransUnion Beats Earnings Estimates With $1.25 Per Share in Third Quarter
Key Facts
TransUnion reported adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.25 in the third quarter of 2026, beating the average analyst estimate of $1.21 by $0.04, according to Reuters via Investing.com. Revenue was $1.31 billion, matching analyst estimates, but rose 12% from $1.17 billion in the same period of 2025. The results therefore showed an earnings beat with revenue in line with expectations, after the company had previously announced a quarterly revenue target range of $1.292 billion to $1.310 billion. Adjusted net income was also $242 million, compared with $216 million a year earlier. Adjusted diluted earnings per share increased 14% year over year, according to the same source.
The results followed a second quarter in which revenue was $1.310 billion, up 15% year over year and 10% on an organic, constant-currency basis, according to the company. In that quarter, net income attributable to TransUnion rose to $143 million from $110 million, while diluted earnings per share climbed to $0.74 from $0.56. In the third quarter, U.S. markets revenue grew 7%, with financial services revenue up 11%; insurance was also among the activities driving growth, according to Reuters. International organic constant-currency growth accelerated to 10%, while India posted growth of 18%. These figures highlight the difference between U.S. market growth and international business growth during the quarter, alongside the leading roles of financial services and India in their respective regional results.
Chief Executive Chris Cartwright said the company kept its 2026 revenue outlook at the high end of its range and raised adjusted diluted earnings per share guidance. He added that the company is balancing business momentum with higher interest rates and market uncertainty, saying: "We are maintaining the high end of our 2026 revenue guidance and raising adjusted diluted earnings per share guidance, while balancing business momentum against higher interest rates and broad market uncertainty." The company had forecast annual revenue of $5.127 billion to $5.162 billion before reporting its third-quarter results. In September, it reaffirmed its third-quarter and full-year guidance for revenue, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted diluted earnings per share. The new results show that the company kept its annual revenue range while raising its adjusted earnings per share outlook, without the evidence provided including an updated numerical range for that item.
The company also announced changes to shareholder returns. It has repurchased $243 million of shares year to date and said it expects share repurchases in 2026 to reach $500 million. The board increased its share repurchase authorization by $1 billion, bringing the total authorization to $2 billion. The company also raised its quarterly cash dividend to $0.135 per share from $0.125. These decisions accompanied the updated earnings and revenue outlook, adding changes to its capital return policy to the quarterly results announcement.
For the fourth quarter of 2026, TransUnion expects revenue of $1.26 billion to $1.29 billion and adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.15 to $1.22, according to Reuters. The guidance follows third-quarter revenue of $1.31 billion, while the high end of the expected range for the next quarter is below the third-quarter result. The company's shares fell 0.28% in premarket trading after the results were announced, according to the same source. The company had announced that results for the quarter ended September 30 would be released at around 6:00 a.m. Central Time on October 27, with an investor call at 8:30 a.m. that day. Chief Financial Officer Todd Sello's resignation is scheduled to take effect on December 31, 2026, and he will provide transition services through March 1, 2027; the company said the resignation was not related to a disagreement.