Laureate Posts $888.5 Million in First-Half 2026 Revenue
Key Facts
Laureate Education generated about $888.5 million in revenue in the first half of 2026, up 17% on a reported basis and 6% on a constant-currency basis from the same period in 2025, according to the company’s second-quarter results statement. The company had announced that it would release third-quarter results on October 29, for the period ended September 30, before the market opened. It also scheduled its conference call for 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time that day. But the available information on first-half results does not substantiate the third-quarter figures in the previous draft, so they cannot be used here. The company operates five higher-education institutions in Mexico and Peru and has about 500,000 students.
Reported revenue growth in the first half exceeded constant-currency growth, at 17% and 6%, respectively, compared with the first half of 2025. Second-quarter revenue alone was $615.9 million, up 17% on a reported basis and 8% on a constant-currency basis from the year-earlier quarter. Second-quarter operating income was $223.4 million, compared with $193.3 million a year earlier. Net income rose to $137.1 million from $97.4 million. Chief Executive Eleif Serck-Hanssen said the second-quarter results "reflect strong operating momentum," citing the launch of a new campus and continued expansion of digital capabilities.
Enrollment data for the first half of 2026 showed new enrollments at the company rose 10%, while total enrollments increased 6% from the same period in 2025. In Peru, new enrollments rose 14% and total enrollments 8%, while in Mexico they increased 7% and 5%, respectively. This coincided with an estimated negative impact of about $9 million on first-half revenue from academic-calendar timing, after classes began later in 2026 than in 2025. These figures provide context for the company’s operating performance before the third quarter, but do not identify the drivers of that quarter’s revenue.
Following its second-quarter results, Laureate raised its fiscal 2026 total enrollment outlook to a range of 518,000 to 523,000 students, equivalent to expected growth of 4% to 5% compared with 2025. Its annual revenue guidance also ranged from $1.920 billion to $1.930 billion, with expected reported growth of 13% and constant-currency growth of 6% to 7%. Previous guidance included adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $593 million to $599 million, and adjusted earnings per share of $2.04 to $2.10. These figures reflect the company’s outlook after its second-quarter results; the available information does not include documented confirmation of them in the third-quarter results.
On capital returns, the company said on July 30 that its board had approved a $150 million increase to its existing share repurchase authorization, with no fixed expiration date for the program. Laureate had repurchased about $76 million of shares during the six months ended June 30, using most of the authorization remaining at the time. At the end of June, the company reported $161.7 million in cash and equivalents, total debt of $223.2 million and net debt of $61.5 million. The chief executive linked the higher annual guidance and the value of repurchases to the strength of the balance sheet and returning capital to shareholders. According to the earlier announcement, third-quarter results were scheduled for release before the market opened on October 29, followed by the conference call set for that morning.