The Honest Company Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results
The updated outlook raises the lower bounds for annual revenue and organic growth, alongside higher adjusted earnings expectations.
Sentiment and the balance of points
Rhea-AI Sentiment reads the wording of the document, how positive or negative its language is on a 1 to 5 scale. The balance of points shown with the takes weighs what the document actually discloses, so the two can disagree, for example when a trial that missed its main goal is described in upbeat language.
Rhea-AI Summary
The Honest Company (HNST) reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of $84.6 million, down year over year despite growth in wipes and personal care. Organic revenue, a non-GAAP measure, rose 9.2% to $79.3 million. Gross margin increased 770 basis points to 45.0%. Net income reached $91.3 million, primarily reflecting an $89.4 million income tax benefit from releasing a deferred-tax valuation allowance; underlying adjusted net income was $3.1 million.
The company raised its 2026 outlook to revenue of $322 million–$325 million and adjusted EBITDA, an adjusted earnings measure, of $25.0 million–$26.0 million. Its board authorized up to $30 million in new share repurchases after completing the prior $25 million program. September 30 cash totaled $103.0 million, with no debt outstanding. Nine-month operating cash flow was $33.3 million, versus $4.2 million used a year earlier.
How this balance works
Rhea-AI gives every point it takes from this document a weight. Minor counts 1, Moderate 3 and Major 9, so one Major point outweighs several Minor ones. The bar adds up the weights on each side, and when neither side holds more than 65% of the total the balance reads Mixed.
It reads the document as published, with the same rules for every company, and it does not look at what the market expected or at how the stock traded, so a point can be objectively good on a day the stock falls.
Rhea-AI Sentiment measures something else, the tone of the wording.
Hollow bars mark forward-looking points. How the balance works
Positive
- Major point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.2026 revenue outlook raised to $322 million–$325 million from $319 million–$325 million.
- Major point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.2026 adjusted EBITDA outlook raised to $25.0 million–$26.0 million from $23.0 million–$25.0 million.
- Moderate point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.New share repurchase authorization permits up to $30 million in common-stock purchases. 6.3% of market cap
- Moderate point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.2026 organic revenue growth outlook raised to 6%–7% from 5%–7%.
- Moderate point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.2026 adjusted gross margin outlook raised to 45.5%–46.5% from mid-40%s.
- Moderate pointThird-quarter organic revenue increased 9.2% year over year to $79.3 million, driven by wipes and personal care.
- Moderate pointThird-quarter gross margin increased 770 basis points year over year to 45.0%.
- Moderate pointThird-quarter net income rose to $91.3 million from $758,000, primarily reflecting an $89.4 million tax benefit. 19% of market cap
- Moderate pointThird-quarter underlying adjusted net income increased $2.3 million to $3.1 million; margin rose 290 basis points to 3.9%.
- Moderate pointThird-quarter underlying adjusted EBITDA reached $6.3 million; margin rose 300 basis points year over year to 7.9%.
- Moderate pointWipes and personal care consumption grew 13.2% combined, versus 3.3% for comparative categories in tracked channels.
- Moderate pointCash and cash equivalents reached $103.0 million at September 30, up $31.5 million year over year.
- Moderate pointNine-month operating cash flow improved to $33.3 million from $4.2 million used in the prior-year period.
- Moderate pointCompleted repurchases totaled approximately 7.2 million shares for $25.0 million at a $3.47 weighted-average price during nine months. 5.2% of market cap
7 minor points
- Minor pointThird-quarter adjusted gross margin increased 850 basis points year over year to 45.8%.
- Minor pointThird-quarter underlying adjusted gross margin increased 1,160 basis points year over year to 48.9%.
- Minor pointThird-quarter diluted earnings per share rose to $0.81 from $0.01 a year earlier.
- Minor pointThird-quarter operating income increased to $1.160 million from $313,000 a year earlier.
- Minor pointNo debt was outstanding at September 30, 2026.
- Minor pointNine-month free cash flow improved to $30.5 million from negative $4.5 million in the prior-year period.
- Minor pointNine-month operating income increased to $10.079 million from $5.708 million a year earlier.
Negative
- Moderate pointThird-quarter revenue fell 8.6% to $84.6 million, reflecting business exits and diaper revenue declines.
- Moderate pointThird-quarter operating expenses increased $2.7 million to $36.9 million, driven by increased marketing investment.
- Minor pointNine-month revenue fell to $246.015 million from $283.280 million a year earlier.
- Minor pointSelling, general and administrative expenses increased approximately 50 basis points as a percentage of third-quarter revenue.
- Minor pointThird-quarter restructuring expense was $418,000, versus none a year earlier.
2 minor points
- Minor pointTracked-channel consumption growth of 1.3% trailed comparative category growth of 2.1% over the measured 13 weeks.
- Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.2026 outlook assumptions depend on current tariff levels and tariff mitigation measures, which are subject to change.
News Explained
Although The Honest Company authorized up to
Details
Market Reaction – HNST
On Nov 5, the day this news came out, the latest delayed price for HNST is 5.18% above the previous close. Our momentum scanner has recorded 9 alerts for this stock so far that day. The latest delayed price is $4.67. Relative volume is elevated at 2.5x what this stock usually trades by this time of day.
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Key Figures
- Q3 revenue
- $84.6 million, decreased 8.6%
- Third quarter 2026 versus prior-year period
- Organic Revenue
- Increased 9.2%
- Third quarter 2026 versus prior-year period
- Gross margin
- 45.0%, increased 770 bps
- Third quarter 2026 versus prior-year period
- Share repurchase authorization
- Up to $30 million
- New authorization; purchases are not obligated
- FY2026 revenue outlook
- $322 million to $325 million
- Updated outlook; prior range was $319 million to $325 million
- FY2026 Organic Revenue growth outlook
- 6% to 7%
- Updated outlook; prior range was 5% to 7%
- FY2026 Adjusted Gross Margin outlook
- 45.5% to 46.5%
- Updated outlook; prior outlook was mid 40%s
- FY2026 Adjusted EBITDA outlook
- $25.0 million to $26.0 million
- Updated outlook; prior range was $23.0 million to $25.0 million
Previous Earnings Reports
-
Organic revenue and gross margin improved, and the company raised full-year guidance.
-
Revenue declined year over year and gross margin fell amid the transformation plan.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Key Terms
non-gaap financial measures financial
rule 10b5-1 trading plans regulatory
valuation allowance financial
deferred tax assets financial
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Underlying Business Momentum Drives Strong Third Quarter Performance
Announces New
Raises Full Year 2026 Financial Outlook
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Honest Company (Nasdaq: HNST), a personal care company dedicated to creating cleanly-formulated and sustainably-designed products for everyone from babies to adults, today reported financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2026.
Third Quarter 2026 Financial Highlights Compared to Prior Year Period:
- Revenue of
$84.6 million decreased8.6% ; Organic Revenue(1) increased9.2% - Gross margin of
45.0% increased 770 bps; Underlying Adjusted Gross Margin(1) of48.9% increased 1,160 bps - Net income was
$91.3 million (2); Underlying Adjusted Net Income(1) of$3.1 million increased$2.3 million - Underlying Adjusted EBITDA(1) was
$6.3 million ; Underlying Adjusted EBITDA Margin(1) of7.9% increased 300 bps - Cash and cash equivalents of
$103.0 million increased$31.5 million
“Our third quarter results demonstrate what a modern personal care company can deliver when the brand, the portfolio, and the P&L are pointed in the same direction,” said Carla Vernón, Chief Executive Officer. “We achieved over
Share Repurchase Program
On October 30, 2026, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program for up to
Under the program, share repurchases may be made at the Company’s discretion from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions, or by other means, including through Rule 10b5-1 trading plans. The timing and number of shares repurchased under the new program will depend on a variety of factors, including, without limitation, stock price, trading volume, and general business and market conditions. The share repurchase program does not obligate the Company to purchase any shares, has no expiration date and may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time. The Company expects to fund repurchases with a combination of existing cash and cash equivalents and cash flows from operations.
Third Quarter Results
(All comparisons are versus the third quarter of 2025)
| For the three months ended September 30, | ||||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | Change | ||||||||
| (In thousands, except percentages) | ||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 84,613 | $ | 92,571 | (8.6 | ) | % | |||
| Organic Revenue(1) | $ | 79,270 | $ | 72,577 | 9.2 | % | ||||
| Gross margin | 45.0 | % | 37.3 | % | 770 | bps | ||||
| Underlying Adjusted Gross Margin(1) | 48.9 | % | 37.3 | % | 1,160 | bps | ||||
| Net income(2) | $ | 91,319 | $ | 758 | $ | 90,561 | ||||
| Underlying Adjusted Net Income(1) | $ | 3,056 | $ | 758 | $ | 2,298 | ||||
| Underlying Adjusted Net Income Margin(1) | 3.9 | % | 1.0 | % | 290 | bps | ||||
| Underlying Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $ | 6,285 | $ | 3,523 | $ | 2,762 | ||||
| Underlying Adjusted EBITDA Margin(1) | 7.9 | % | 4.9 | % | 300 | bps | ||||
_____________
(1) These are non-GAAP financial measures. See tables below under “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for information on how we calculate and define these non-GAAP financial measures, including a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures.
(2) Includes an income tax benefit of
Revenue decreased
Organic Revenue(1) increased
Tracked channel consumption(2) for the Company increased
Gross margin was
Operating expenses increased
Net income increased
Adjusted EBITDA(1) increased
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
As of September 30, 2026, the Company had no debt outstanding and
Net cash provided by operating activities was
Free Cash Flow(1) was
During the nine months ended September 30, 2026, the Company repurchased approximately 7.2 million shares of its common stock for
______________
(1) These are non-GAAP financial measures. See tables below under “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for information on how we calculate and define these non-GAAP financial measures, including a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures.
(2) According to Circana, Inc. MULO+ tracked channel consumption data for the 13 weeks ended September 27, 2026 compared to the prior year period. Comparative category growth represents the retail consumption growth of the categories in which the Company competes, weighted by the Company’s consumption dollars in each such category.
(3) Refer to the table below under “Transformation 2.0: Powering Honest Growth” for additional information on costs incurred in connection with Powering Honest Growth for the three months ended September 30, 2026.
Raising Full Year 2026 Financial Outlook
The Company is raising its full year 2026 financial outlook for Revenue, Organic Revenue growth, Adjusted Gross Margin and Adjusted EBITDA.
| Updated | Prior | |||
| Revenue | ||||
| Organic Revenue Growth(1) | ||||
| Adjusted Gross Margin(2) | Mid | |||
| Adjusted EBITDA(2) |
Our financial outlook reflects assumptions, including current tariff levels and our tariff mitigation measures, which are subject to change given the macroeconomic environment. Additional information on the Company’s strategic plans and long-term financial algorithm can be found in its Investor Presentation on its Investor Relations website at http://investors.honest.com.
______________
(1) Represents the current outlook for Organic Revenue growth excluding (i) product revenue from our apparel line of
(2) We do not provide guidance for the most directly comparable GAAP measures, gross margin and net income, as applicable, and similarly cannot provide a reconciliation between our Adjusted Gross Margin outlook and gross margin and Adjusted EBITDA outlook and net income without unreasonable effort due to the unavailability of reliable estimates for certain components of gross margin and net income, including restructuring-related costs, and interest and other (income) expense, net, and the respective reconciliations. These items are not within our control and may vary greatly between periods and could significantly impact our financial results calculated in accordance with GAAP.
Webcast and Conference Call Information
A webcast and conference call to discuss third quarter 2026 results is scheduled for today, November 5, 2026, at 1:45 p.m. Pacific time/4:45 p.m. Eastern time. Those interested in participating in the conference call by phone, please go to the Q3 2026 Earnings Call and you will be provided with dial-in details. A live webcast of the conference call will be available online at: http://investors.honest.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Company’s website for one year.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and earnings call referencing this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, about us and our industry that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Such statements may address the Company’s expectations regarding revenue, profit margin or other future financial performance and liquidity, other performance measures and cost savings, strategic initiatives and future operations or operating results. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will” or “would” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning our expectations regarding future results of operations and financial condition, including our revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, Organic Revenue and Adjusted Gross Margin outlook for full year 2026 and our growth potential; the implementation of our share repurchase program and any share repurchases thereunder; the durability of the growth in our fastest-growing product platforms; our ability to drive shareholder value in line with our long-term algorithm; our ability to continue to benefit from our Transformation Pillars of Brand Maximization, Margin Enhancement, and Operating Discipline; our ability to successfully implement, execute, and derive benefits from Powering Honest Growth, including transforming Honest into a more strategically focused, financially resilient and profitably built enterprise; our ability to remain profitable, reinvest in our brand, our Transformation Pillars, and accelerate household penetration; our ability to scale efficiently across our categories and grow the Honest Brand and our market share; our ability to accelerate or continue growth in the high-margin categories and to offset declines in other categories; our ability to navigate and manage the impact of evolving macroeconomic conditions and consumer demand or behaviors; our expectations on the impact of tariffs on our business; our ability to achieve or sustain profitability and continue generating positive cash flow; the strength of the Honest brand; our tariff mitigation strategy; our pricing, marketing, new product launches, and distribution strategies; and plans and objectives of management for future operations.
You should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We have based the forward-looking statements contained in this press release and the earnings call referencing this press release primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Annual Report, on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2026, as updated by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the earnings call referencing this press release. The results, events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur, and actual results, events or circumstances could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
In addition, statements that contain “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this press release. While we believe that information provides a reasonable basis for these statements, that information may be limited or incomplete. Our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain, and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on these statements.
The forward-looking statements made in this press release and the earnings call referencing this press release relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments.
About The Honest Company
Founded in 2012, The Honest Company (Nasdaq: HNST) is on a mission to create personal care that raises the standards of clean and brings joy to each and every moment. By combining thoughtful design with science-based innovation, the Company delivers cleanly-formulated and sustainably-designed personal care products for everyone from babies to adults – showing you don’t have to compromise between performance and peace of mind.
The Honest Standard, the Company’s rigorous set of guiding principles that shape every step of product innovation and development, reflects Honest’s ongoing dedication to safety, transparency and integrity. As a leader in Clean Conscious® products, Honest continues to set a new standard for clean formulations, bringing joy to a community that seeks authenticity, transparency and efficacy in everyday essentials. Honest products are available nationwide at major retailers, including Amazon, Target and Walmart. For more information about the Honest Standard and the Company, please visit www.honest.com.
Investor Contact:
Chris Mandeville
investors@thehonestcompany.com
Media Contact:
Brenna Israel Mast
media@honest.com
| The Honest Company, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) | |||||||||||||
| For the three months ended September 30, | For the nine months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 84,613 | $ | 92,571 | $ | 246,015 | $ | 283,280 | |||||
| Cost of revenue | 46,543 | 58,082 | 134,314 | 173,369 | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 38,070 | 34,489 | 111,701 | 109,911 | |||||||||
| Operating expenses | |||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 16,619 | 17,679 | 49,055 | 59,072 | |||||||||
| Marketing | 17,724 | 14,796 | 46,193 | 39,617 | |||||||||
| Restructuring | 418 | — | 641 | — | |||||||||
| Research and development | 2,149 | 1,701 | 5,733 | 5,514 | |||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 36,910 | 34,176 | 101,622 | 104,203 | |||||||||
| Operating income | 1,160 | 313 | 10,079 | 5,708 | |||||||||
| Interest and other income (expense), net | 763 | 555 | 2,601 | 2,370 | |||||||||
| Income before benefit (provision) for income taxes | 1,923 | 868 | 12,680 | 8,078 | |||||||||
| Income tax benefit (provision) | 89,396 | (110 | ) | 89,284 | (195 | ) | |||||||
| Net income | $ | 91,319 | $ | 758 | $ | 101,964 | $ | 7,883 | |||||
| Net income per share attributable to common stockholders: | |||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 0.84 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.92 | $ | 0.07 | |||||
| Diluted | $ | 0.81 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.90 | $ | 0.07 | |||||
| Weighted-average shares used in computing net income per share attributable to common stockholders: | |||||||||||||
| Basic | 108,820,109 | 111,839,451 | 110,776,950 | 110,802,832 | |||||||||
| Diluted | 112,478,599 | 113,709,908 | 113,052,167 | 114,115,977 | |||||||||
| Comprehensive income | $ | 91,319 | $ | 758 | $ | 101,964 | $ | 7,883 | |||||
| The Honest Company, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) | |||||||
| September 30, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||
| Assets | |||||||
| Current assets | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 102,954 | $ | 89,581 | |||
| Accounts receivable, net | 44,930 | 33,761 | |||||
| Inventories | 52,501 | 72,501 | |||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 5,564 | 6,590 | |||||
| Total current assets | 205,949 | 202,433 | |||||
| Operating lease right-of-use asset | 6,467 | 11,351 | |||||
| Property and equipment, net | 7,729 | 7,477 | |||||
| Goodwill | 2,269 | 2,269 | |||||
| Intangible assets, net | 110 | 162 | |||||
| Deferred tax assets, net | 89,426 | — | |||||
| Other assets | 733 | 1,715 | |||||
| Total assets | $ | 312,683 | $ | 225,407 | |||
| Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | |||||||
| Current liabilities | |||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 16,332 | $ | 15,134 | |||
| Accrued expenses | 32,010 | 35,685 | |||||
| Total current liabilities | 48,342 | 50,819 | |||||
| Long term liabilities | |||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion | 1,325 | 4,919 | |||||
| Total liabilities | 49,667 | 55,738 | |||||
| Commitments and contingencies | |||||||
| Stockholders’ equity | |||||||
| Preferred stock, | — | — | |||||
| Common stock, | 12 | 11 | |||||
| Treasury stock, at cost, 7,214,231 and 0 shares as of September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively | (25,240 | ) | — | ||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 687,158 | 670,536 | |||||
| Accumulated deficit | (398,914 | ) | (500,878 | ) | |||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 263,016 | 169,669 | |||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 312,683 | $ | 225,407 | |||
| The Honest Company, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (in thousands) | |||||||
| For the nine months ended September 30, | |||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities | |||||||
| Net income | $ | 101,964 | $ | 7,883 | |||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | |||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 2,021 | 2,180 | |||||
| Stock-based compensation | 8,622 | 7,526 | |||||
| Amortization of operating ROU assets | 4,884 | 4,957 | |||||
| Deferred income taxes | (89,426 | ) | — | ||||
| Other | 2,283 | 2,679 | |||||
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | |||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | (11,262 | ) | 437 | ||||
| Inventories | 20,070 | (10,828 | ) | ||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | (758 | ) | 2,747 | ||||
| Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other long-term liabilities | 1,776 | (15,102 | ) | ||||
| Deferred revenue | — | (288 | ) | ||||
| Operating lease liabilities | (6,891 | ) | (6,378 | ) | |||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | 33,283 | (4,187 | ) | ||||
| Cash flows from investing activities | |||||||
| Purchases of property and equipment | (2,767 | ) | (263 | ) | |||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (2,767 | ) | (263 | ) | |||
| Cash flows from financing activities | |||||||
| Repurchase of common stock | (25,143 | ) | — | ||||
| Proceeds from exercise of stock options | 7,892 | 384 | |||||
| Proceeds from 2021 ESPP | 108 | 85 | |||||
| Payments on finance lease liabilities | — | (1 | ) | ||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | (17,143 | ) | 468 | ||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 13,373 | (3,982 | ) | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | |||||||
| Beginning of the period | 89,581 | 75,435 | |||||
| End of the period | $ | 102,954 | $ | 71,453 | |||
| Supplemental disclosures of noncash activities | |||||||
| Capital expenditures included in accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 143 | $ | — | |||
The Honest Company, Inc.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(Unaudited)
We prepare and present our consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP. However, management believes that Organic Revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, Underlying Adjusted EBITDA, Underlying Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Gross Margin, Underlying Adjusted Gross Margin, Adjusted Operating Expenses, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Net Income Margin, Underlying Adjusted Net Income, Underlying Adjusted Net Income Margin and Free Cash Flow, which are non-GAAP financial measures, provide investors with additional useful information in evaluating our performance.
We calculate Organic Revenue as net revenue, adjusted to exclude revenue from exited operations in connection with Powering Honest Growth including: (1) product revenue from our apparel line; (2) revenue from our Honest.com website as a fulfillment center; and (3) revenue from sales to Canadian retailers or channels and (4) in certain periods, revenue from other acquisitions, divestitures and product or channel exits.
We calculate Adjusted EBITDA as net income, adjusted to exclude: (1) interest and other (income) expense, net; (2) income tax provision; (3) depreciation and amortization; (4) stock-based compensation expense, including payroll tax; (5) litigation and settlement fees associated with certain non-ordinary course securities litigation claims; (6) executive officer transition expenses; and (7) restructuring-related expenses in connection with Powering Honest Growth. We calculate Underlying Adjusted EBITDA as Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted to exclude tariff refunds and the partial liquidation of the remaining apparel inventory. We calculate Underlying Adjusted EBITDA Margin by dividing Underlying Adjusted EBITDA by Organic Revenue.
We calculate Adjusted Operating Expenses as total operating expenses, adjusted to exclude restructuring expenses in connection with Powering Honest Growth. We calculate Adjusted Net Income as net income, adjusted to exclude restructuring-related expenses in connection with Powering Honest Growth, and the impact of the discrete income tax benefit. We calculate Underlying Adjusted Net Income as Adjusted Net Income, adjusted to exclude tariff refunds and the partial liquidation of the remaining apparel inventory.
We calculate Adjusted Gross Margin as gross margin, adjusted to exclude the restructuring-related expenses that are included in cost of revenue in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income in connection with Powering Honest Growth. We calculate Underlying Adjusted Gross Margin as Adjusted Gross Margin, adjusted to exclude tariff refunds and the partial liquidation of the remaining apparel inventory.
We calculate Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures. Capital expenditures is equivalent to the amount included in "Purchases of property and equipment" on our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.
Our non-GAAP financial measures are not required by, or presented in accordance with GAAP. We believe that our non-GAAP financial measures, when taken together with our financial results presented in accordance with GAAP, provides meaningful supplemental information regarding our operating performance and facilitates internal comparisons of our historical operating performance on a more consistent basis by excluding certain items that may not be indicative of our business, results of operations or outlook. In particular, we believe that the use of these non-GAAP measures are helpful to our investors as they are measures used by management in assessing the health of our business, determining incentive compensation and evaluating our operating performance, as well as for internal planning and forecasting purposes.
Additionally, we believe Organic Revenue, Adjusted Gross Margin, Adjusted Operating Expenses and Adjusted Net Income are helpful to our investors as these measures adjust for revenue sources that we exited in connection with Powering Honest Growth. We anticipate disclosing these measures until these costs/exited revenue streams are removed from the comparable prior period and when no additional costs are expected to be incurred in connection with Powering Honest Growth.
Adjusted EBITDA, Underlying Adjusted EBITDA and Underlying Adjusted EBITDA Margin are presented for supplemental informational purposes only, have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. Some of the limitations of Adjusted EBITDA, Underlying Adjusted EBITDA and Underlying Adjusted EBITDA Margin include that (1) they do not reflect capital commitments to be paid in the future; (2) although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the underlying assets may need to be replaced and Adjusted EBITDA, Underlying Adjusted EBITDA and Underlying Adjusted EBITDA Margin do not reflect these capital expenditures; (3) they do not consider the impact of stock-based compensation expense; (4) they do not reflect other non-operating expenses, including interest expense; (5) they do not reflect tax payments that may represent a reduction in cash available to us; and (6) they do not include certain non-ordinary cash expenses that we do not believe are representative of our business on a steady-state basis, such as executive officer transition expenses. In addition, our use of non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies because they may not calculate these non-GAAP measures in the same manner, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures. Because of these limitations, when evaluating our performance, you should consider these non-GAAP financial measures alongside other financial measures, including our revenue, net income and other results stated in accordance with GAAP.
Reconciliation of Revenue to Organic Revenue
The following table presents a reconciliation of revenue, the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with GAAP, to Organic Revenue, for each of the periods presented:
| For the three months ended September 30, | |||||
| (In thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | |||
| Revenue | $ | 84,613 | $ | 92,571 | |
| Less revenue from: | |||||
| Apparel | 5,342 | 10,397 | |||
| Honest.com | — | 8,845 | |||
| Canada | — | 752 | |||
| Organic Revenue | $ | 79,270 | $ | 72,577 | |
Reconciliation of Gross Margin to Adjusted Gross Margin and Underlying Adjusted Gross Margin
The following table presents a reconciliation of gross margin, the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with GAAP, to Adjusted Gross Margin and Underlying Adjusted Gross Margin, for each of the periods presented:
| For the three months ended September 30, | ||||
| (percent of revenue) | 2026 | 2025 | ||
| Gross margin | 45.0 | % | 37.3 | % |
| Restructuring-related costs(1) | 0.8 | % | — | % |
| Adjusted Gross Margin | 45.8 | % | 37.3 | % |
| Apparel liquidation(2) | 3.1 | % | — | % |
| Underlying Adjusted Gross Margin | 48.9 | % | 37.3 | % |
______________
(1) Represents restructuring-related expenses that are included in cost of revenue on the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income in connection with Powering Honest Growth. Refer to the table below for additional information on the restructuring costs incurred in connection with Powering Honest Growth for the three months ended September 30, 2026.
(2) Represents the gross margin impact of the
Reconciliation of Operating Expenses to Adjusted Operating Expenses
The following table presents a reconciliation of total operating expenses, the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with GAAP, to Adjusted Operating Expenses, for each of the periods presented:
| For the three months ended September 30, | |||||
| (In thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | |||
| Total Operating Expenses | $ | 36,910 | $ | 34,176 | |
| Restructuring costs(1) | 418 | — | |||
| Adjusted Operating Expenses | $ | 36,492 | $ | 34,176 | |
______________
(1) Refer to the table above for additional information on the restructuring costs incurred in connection with Powering Honest Growth for the three months ended September 30, 2026.
Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA and Underlying Adjusted EBITDA
The following table presents a reconciliation of net income, the most directly comparable financial measures stated in accordance with GAAP, to Adjusted EBITDA, Underlying Adjusted EBITDA and Underlying Adjusted EBITDA Margin, for each of the periods presented:
| For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||
| (In thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | |||||
| Net income | $ | 91,319 | $ | 758 | |||
| Interest and other (income) expense, net | (763 | ) | (555 | ) | |||
| Income tax provision | (89,396 | ) | 110 | ||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 677 | 722 | |||||
| Stock-based compensation | 3,142 | 2,399 | |||||
| Securities litigation expense | 86 | 45 | |||||
| Restructuring-related costs(1) | 1,133 | — | |||||
| Payroll tax expense related to stock-based compensation | 87 | 44 | |||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 6,285 | $ | 3,523 | |||
| Apparel liquidation(2) | — | — | |||||
| Underlying Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 6,285 | $ | 3,523 | |||
| Revenue | $ | 84,613 | $ | 92,571 | |||
| Organic Revenue(3) | $ | 79,270 | $ | 72,577 | |||
| Underlying Adjusted EBITDA Margin | 7.9 | % | 4.9 | % | |||
______________
(1) Refer to the table below for additional information on the restructuring costs incurred in connection with Powering Honest Growth for the three months ended September 30, 2026.
(2) Represents
(3) Refer to the table above for the reconciliation of revenue to Organic Revenue.
Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted Net Income and Underlying Adjusted Net Income
The following table presents a reconciliation of net income, the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with GAAP, to Adjusted Net Income, Underlying Adjusted Net Income, Net Income Margin and Underlying Adjusted Net Income Margin for each of the periods presented:
| For the three months ended September 30, | |||||||
| (In thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | |||||
| Net income | $ | 91,319 | $ | 758 | |||
| Restructuring-related costs(1) | 1,133 | — | |||||
| Income tax benefit(2) | (89,396 | ) | — | ||||
| Adjusted Net Income | $ | 3,056 | $ | 758 | |||
| Apparel liquidation(3) | — | — | |||||
| Underlying Adjusted Net Income | $ | 3,056 | $ | 758 | |||
| Revenue | $ | 84,613 | $ | 92,571 | |||
| Net Income Margin | 107.9 | % | 0.8 | % | |||
| Organic Revenue(4) | $ | 79,270 | $ | 72,577 | |||
| Underlying Adjusted Net Income Margin | 3.9 | % | 1.0 | % | |||
______________
(1) Refer to the table below for additional information on the restructuring costs incurred in connection with Powering Honest Growth for the three months ended September 30, 2026.
(2) Represents the discrete income tax benefit related to the release of the valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets in the current period.
(3) Represents
(4) Refer to the table above for the reconciliation of revenue to Organic Revenue.
Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow
The following table presents a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with GAAP, to Free Cash Flow, for each of the periods presented:
| For the nine months ended September 30, | |||||||
| (In thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | |||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities(1) | $ | 33,283 | $ | (4,187 | ) | ||
| Capital expenditures(1) | (2,767 | ) | (263 | ) | |||
| Free Cash Flow | $ | 30,516 | $ | (4,450 | ) | ||
| Net cash used in investing activities | $ | (2,767 | ) | $ | (263 | ) | |
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | $ | (17,143 | ) | $ | 468 | ||
______________
(1) Capital expenditures is equivalent to the amount included in "Purchases of property and equipment" on our condensed consolidated statements of cash
flows. Refer to the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2026 for more information.
Transformation 2.0: Powering Honest Growth
Costs associated with Powering Honest Growth were as follows (in thousands):
| For the three months ended September 30, 2026 | |||
| Cost of Revenue(1) | $ | 715 | |
| Restructuring Costs(2) | 418 | ||
| Total Restructuring-Related Costs | $ | 1,133 | |
______________
(1) Represents costs incurred in connection with a warehouse closure for the three months ended September 30, 2026.
(2) Represents restructuring costs for the three months ended September 30, 2026.
In future periods, we may incur other charges or cash expenditures not currently contemplated that may occur as a result of or in connection with Powering Honest Growth.
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
What were The Honest Company's third-quarter 2026 earnings?
The Honest Company reported $91.3 million in net income and diluted earnings per share of $0.81. Net income primarily reflected an $89.4 million income tax benefit related to releasing the valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets. Underlying adjusted net income was $3.1 million.
How does HNST define organic revenue growth in its 2026 outlook?
The 6%–7% organic revenue growth outlook excludes 2025 product revenue of $38.5 million from apparel, $35.3 million from Honest.com as a fulfillment center, and $3.4 million from sales to Canadian retailers or channels.
What adjustments distinguish HNST's underlying adjusted gross margin from its reported gross margin?
Underlying adjusted gross margin excludes discrete Powering Honest Growth costs and the partial liquidation of remaining apparel inventory. Adjusted gross margin excludes only the discrete Powering Honest Growth costs. For the third quarter of 2026, these measures were 48.9% and 45.8%, respectively, compared with reported gross margin of 45.0%.