Filing Flows › First Advantage (FA) › Q3 2026 › vs Q3 2025
First Advantage (FA) Q3 2026 vs Q3 2025 (year over year)
First Advantage's revenue rose $56.6M (+14%) from $409M in Q3 2025 to $466M in Q3 2026. The biggest changes: First Advantage Americas +$47.9M (+26%); Sterling +$11.2M (+6%); First Advantage International −$2.5M (-9%). Operating margin 12.9% against 10.3% (+2.6 pts).
First Advantage, Q3 2026: revenue $466M (+14% year over year), operating margin 12.9%, net earnings $20.5M, operating cash flow $63.8M. The chart draws each line against Q3 2025, the increases inside each band.
Margins
| Q3 2026 | Q3 2025 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating margin | 12.9% | 10.3% | +2.6 pts |
| Net margin | 4.4% | 0.6% | +3.8 pts |
| Free cash flow margin | 12.9% | 17.4% | -4.5 pts |
Every line
| Line | Q3 2026 | Q3 2025 | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Advantage Americas | $230M | $182M | $47.9M | +26% |
| Sterling | $210M | $199M | $11.2M | +6% |
| First Advantage International | $25.7M | $28.2M | −$2.5M | -9% |
| Revenue | $466M | $409M | $56.6M | +14% |
| Operating profit | $60.1M | $42.2M | $17.9M | +42% |
| Costs & expenses | $406M | $367M | $38.8M | +11% |
| Pre-tax earnings | $29.1M | $1.8M | $27.3M | 16× |
| Other expense, net | $31.1M | $40.4M | −$9.4M | -23% |
| Research & development | $27.3M | $25.1M | $2.2M | +9% |
| SG&A | $57.6M | $57.5M | $123K | +0.2% |
| Other operating costs | $321M | $284M | $36.5M | +13% |
| Net earnings | $20.5M | $2.6M | $17.9M | +690% |
| Income tax | $8.6M | −$798K | $9.4M | — |
| Depreciation & amortization | $28.3M | $28.0M | $300K | +1% |
| Share-based compensation | $5.1M | $5.7M | −$645K | -11% |
| Working capital & other | $9.9M | $36.1M | −$26.1M | -72% |
| Operating cash flow | $63.8M | $72.4M | −$8.6M | -12% |
| Free cash flow (OCF − capex) | $60.2M | $71.2M | −$11.0M | -15% |
| Capital expenditures | $3.6M | $1.1M | $2.5M | +218% |
Questions
How much did First Advantage's revenue grow year over year in Q3 2026?
First Advantage's revenue rose $56.6M (+14%) from $409M in Q3 2025 to $466M in Q3 2026.
What drove First Advantage's revenue change in Q3 2026?
First Advantage Americas +$47.9M (+26%); Sterling +$11.2M (+6%); First Advantage International −$2.5M (-9%).