Skillsoft Corp. (SKIL) Q3 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Revenue for TDS $100.8 million for the third quarter, down 2.1% year-over-year. Around 70% of the decline came from our B2C learner product, which represents around 9% of TDS revenue. The learner business struggles with changes in organic search algorithms, hampering lead generation and customer acquisition. The larger portion of our business, Enterprise Solutions, was down approximately 1%, reflecting customer churn earlier in the year.
Global Knowledge (GK) revenue $28.2 million in the quarter, down approximately $6 million or 17.6% year-over-year. The decline is due to softening demand, a shift in customer preferences towards blended learning, and spending reductions from the U.S. government shutdown.
Total revenue $129 million in the third quarter, down $8.2 million or 6% year-over-year. The decline is attributed to the performance of GK and the B2C learner product.
Cost of revenue $35.1 million in the third quarter or 27% of revenue, up 3.1% year-over-year. The increase is due to higher labs and certification spending and cloud-related costs resulting from higher customer utilization.
Content and software development expenses $13.7 million in the quarter or 11% of revenue, down approximately 2.4% year-over-year. The decrease is due to productivity gains from leveraging AI and sharper focus.
Selling and marketing expenses $35.2 million for the third quarter or 27% of revenue, down approximately 7.1% year-over-year. The reduction is due to lower headcount and improved productivity from transformation efforts.
General and administrative expenses $17.1 million in the third quarter or 13% of revenue, down approximately 11.9% year-over-year. The decrease is due to lower headcount and vendor spending, demonstrating improved productivity.
Total operating expenses $101 million in the third quarter or 78% of revenue, down $4.3 million or 4.1% year-over-year. The reduction reflects overall cost management and productivity improvements.
Adjusted EBITDA $28 million, down about 12% compared to $31.9 million last year. Adjusted EBITDA margin as a percentage of revenue for the quarter was 21.7% compared to 23.3% last year. GK contributed negative $3.3 million to EBITDA, driving most of the reduction.
GAAP net loss $41.3 million in the third quarter compared to $23.6 million in the prior year period. The increase is primarily due to a noncash goodwill impairment loss of $20.8 million related to GK.
Adjusted net income $14.3 million in the third quarter compared to $11.3 million in the prior year. Adjusted net income per share was $1.65 compared to $1.37 in the prior year.
Free cash flow Negative $23.6 million compared to a positive $4.1 million in the prior year period. About 3/4 of the cash utilization represented timing and reverses in Q4, with the remaining balance related to GK performance.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Analyst Views on SKIL
About SKIL
About the author

- Employee Skill Enhancement: Charter Communications has partnered with Guild to launch a tuition-free education benefit, with approximately 13% of employees enrolling in courses, primarily in frontline customer service roles, significantly enhancing employee skills and career advancement opportunities.
- Increased Promotion Rates: Employees who participate in the education program are promoted at a 20% higher rate than their peers, with a 19% increase in retention rates, indicating that investment in employee development directly contributes to loyalty and business objectives.
- Enhanced Corporate Competitiveness: CEO Bijal Shah emphasizes the need for companies to boost productivity in a tight labor market, ensuring that employees can adapt to changes, reflecting a strong commitment to talent development.
- Improved Employee Engagement: By establishing career ladders, employees feel a sense of belonging and engagement within the team, which fosters more communication and collaboration, ultimately driving the achievement of overall business goals.
- New Investment Position: AREX Capital Management disclosed in a February 17, 2026 SEC filing that it established a new position in Callaway Golf Company by acquiring 453,000 shares, valued at an estimated $5.29 million, indicating confidence in the company's prospects.
- Significant Holding Proportion: This acquisition positions Callaway to account for 15.03% of AREX's reportable 13F assets, marking its importance within the fund's top five holdings, which may influence future investment strategies.
- Strong Stock Performance: As of February 28, 2026, Callaway shares were priced at $14.06, reflecting a 115.3% increase over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 by 99.78 percentage points, suggesting optimistic market sentiment regarding its recovery.
- Strategic Restructuring Signal: Following the merger with Topgolf, Leonard Green & Partners acquired a 60% stake in Topgolf in early 2026, and this spinoff aims to help Callaway sharpen its strategic focus, indicating potential for future growth despite inherent risks.
- New Investment Position: On February 17, 2026, AREX Capital Management established a new position in Callaway Golf Company by acquiring 453,000 shares valued at $5.29 million, representing 15.03% of its reportable 13F assets.
- Portfolio Structure Shift: This acquisition positions Callaway as the second-largest holding for AREX, following EHAB, which is valued at $22.99 million and constitutes 65.36% of its AUM, reflecting AREX's confidence in the golf sector.
- Stock Price Recovery: As of February 28, 2026, Callaway's stock price reached $14.06, marking a 115.3% increase over the past year and outperforming the S&P 500 by 99.78 percentage points, indicating optimistic market expectations for future growth.
- Strategic Restructuring Signal: Following its merger with Topgolf in 2021, the acquisition of a 60% stake in Topgolf by Leonard Green & Partners in early 2026 suggests that Callaway is focusing on core operations, potentially enhancing growth prospects, although structural changes may lead to increased volatility.
- Executive Inducement: On February 18, 2026, Skillsoft granted 25,000 restricted stock units (RSUs) to newly appointed SVP David Koehn as a material inducement for his hiring on January 5, 2026, highlighting the company's commitment to attracting top talent.
- Vesting Schedule: The RSUs will vest ratably over four years, contingent upon Koehn's continued employment through each vesting date, aiming to enhance executive retention and align leadership with the company's long-term strategic goals.
- Compliance Announcement: This stock grant is made under the employment inducement exemption per NYSE Listed Company Manual Rule 303A.08, ensuring compliance with regulations and public disclosure of such incentives, thereby enhancing corporate transparency.
- Company Overview: Skillsoft is a global leader in AI-native skills management, serving over 105 million learners and helping enterprises close critical skill gaps while accelerating transformation, underscoring its significance in the rapidly evolving AI era.
- Executive Incentive: On February 18, 2026, Skillsoft granted 95,000 restricted stock units (RSUs) to newly appointed Chief Technology Officer Bernard Barbour as a significant inducement for his hiring on December 8, 2025, reflecting the company's commitment to attracting top executive talent.
- Stock Unit Structure: Of the RSUs granted, 50% will vest ratably over four years, while the remaining 50% will vest based on the achievement of specified annual revenue growth targets by January 1, 2029, with a potential maximum of 175%, incentivizing Barbour's long-term contributions to the company.
- Compliance Announcement: Skillsoft issued this announcement in accordance with NYSE Listed Company Manual Rule 303A.08, ensuring transparency and adherence to regulatory requirements, thereby enhancing investor confidence.
- Company Overview: As a global leader in AI-native skills management, Skillsoft focuses on personalized learning and real-time skills intelligence to help enterprises close critical skill gaps, supporting over 105 million learners and solidifying its market leadership position.
- Market Uncertainty Intensifies: The U.S. market faces increased volatility in early 2026 due to trade threats from the Trump administration and rising geopolitical risks, which diminishes investor confidence and elevates the importance of value investing.
- Positive Outlook for Centerra Gold: Centerra Gold anticipates a 48% year-over-year growth in EPS for 2026, with estimates raised by 17 cents over the past week, reflecting strong performance driven by rising gold prices and effective cost control.
- Strategic Restructuring at Plains GP Holdings: Plains GP Holdings plans to exit the Canadian NGL business, expected to enhance cash flow and financial flexibility, with a projected 27% growth in EPS for 2026 and a 30-cent increase in estimates over the past 60 days.
- Expansion of Angi's Digital Marketplace: Angi forecasts a 36% year-over-year growth in EPS for 2026, with estimates raised by 16 cents in the past week, as it aims to launch a modern AI platform to improve operational efficiency, showcasing its growth potential in essential home services.











