Skillsoft (NYSE:SKIL) Q3 2026 Earnings Call December 10, 2025 05:00 PM ET Company ParticipantsJohn Frederick - CFOStephen Poe - Head of Investor RelationsRon Hovsepian - Executive Chair and CEOConference Call ParticipantsKen Wong - AnalystOperatorThank you for standing by, and welcome to Skillsoft's third quarter fiscal 2026 results conference call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. After the speakers present, there will be a question-and-answer session. Please note that today's call ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for the third quarter was $129 million, down $8.2 million or 6% year over year [15] - Adjusted EBITDA was $28 million, down about 12% compared to $31.9 million last year, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 21.7% compared to 23.3% last year [17] - GAAP net loss was $41.3 million, compared to a GAAP net loss of $23.6 million in the prior year period, primarily due to a non-cash Goodwill Impairment loss of $20.8 million related to GK [18] - Free Cash Flow for the quarter was negative $23.6 million, compared to a positive $4.1 million in the prior year period [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Talent Development Solutions (TDS) was $100.8 million, down 2.1% year over year, with around 70% of the decline coming from the B2C learner product [14] - Global Knowledge (GK) revenue was $28.2 million, down approximately $6 million or 17.6% year over year, impacted by a shift in customer purchasing preferences and spending reductions from the U.S. government shutdown [15][16] - TDS's dollar retention rate (DRR) improved to 99% from 98% year over year, while GK accounted for 73% of the revenue decline despite representing only 22% of total revenue [16][10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The enterprise portion of TDS, which represents around 91% of TDS, was down slightly due to customer churn from earlier in the year [12] - The public sector business showed signs of recovery with a DRR of around 103-104, indicating stabilization after the government shutdown [36] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on the talent development market, aiming to reach revenue inflection and return to growth while maintaining strong profitability and cash flow [5] - A strategic review of the GK segment has been initiated, with a shift towards a partnership-driven model rather than continued ownership [10] - The company is investing in AI-driven skills management solutions, anticipating a market shift towards AI-powered skills solutions [7][11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted the importance of skills visibility as a top investment priority for organizations, with over 70% of CHROs citing it as critical [5] - The company is optimistic about its positioning for growth in FY27, with a focus on product innovation and a leaner cost structure [8][9] - Management acknowledged the challenges faced in the GK segment but expressed confidence in the overall transformation and future growth potential [11][22] Other Important Information - The company expects full fiscal 2026 year revenue for TDS to be between $400-$410 million and adjusted EBITDA of between $112-$116 million [22] - GAAP cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash were $77.5 million at quarter end, with total gross debt at $578 million [20][21] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the timeline for the strategic review of GK? - Management indicated that it is inappropriate to speculate on the exact timing but emphasized the urgency to improve cash flow for the company overall [24] Question: How does GK's underperformance affect TDS margins? - Management noted that TDS is currently the flagship for growth and profitability, and they are focused on maintaining profitability while investing in growth [26][29] Question: How is the public sector business shaping up post-government shutdown? - Management reported that the public sector business is stabilizing, with positive signs in the federal business and a healthy DRR [36] Question: What is the approach to investment cadence moving forward? - Management stated that they will continue to drive productivity improvements and shift economic benefits into growth investments as they prove their model [52][53]