Key Highlights

  • Third quarter Revenue was USD 553.9 million against an estimate of USD 532.67 million and USD 540.2 million last year.
  • Adjusted diluted EPS was USD 1.06 against an estimate of USD 0.95, while GAAP diluted EPS was USD 0.28.
  • Merchant Services revenue was USD 135.1 million against USD 98.0 million a year earlier, with Celero added mid-quarter.
  • Updated 2026 guidance lists revenue of USD 2.13 to 2.15 billion and adjusted EBITDA of USD 470 to 480 million.

Deluxe (NYSE:DLX) closed the Celero Acquisition partway through the third quarter, which the CEO said accelerated the company's growth and mix shift. Cash payments for acquisitions in the first nine months were USD 642.9 million, and Goodwill stood at USD 1,808.4 million at September 30, against USD 1,422.8 million at year end 2025. President and CEO Barry McCarthy said the mix shift toward the Payments and Data segments accelerated and that the company is executing against its Celero integration synergy targets.

How Celero Fits the Quarter

The CEO said revenue across the combined Payments and Data businesses grew by over 21%. Merchant Services revenue was USD 135.1 million against USD 98.0 million a year earlier, B2B Payments was USD 77.3 million against USD 73.1 million, and Data Solutions was USD 102.9 million against USD 89.2 million. Print revenue was USD 238.6 million against USD 279.9 million.

The company sold its Safeguard small Business distributor channel in the Print segment in March 2026, and it presents comparable figures that remove that business exit from the prior year. On that basis, comparable adjusted revenue grew 9.1%, from USD 507.9 million to USD 553.9 million.

Results Around the Deal

Reported revenue was USD 553.9 million against an estimate of USD 532.67 million, and USD 540.2 million in the third quarter of 2025. Net Income was USD 13.0 million against USD 33.7 million, which management attributed to acquisition-related costs and higher interest expense. Diluted EPS was USD 0.28 against USD 0.74. Adjusted diluted EPS of USD 1.06 compares with an estimate of USD 0.95 and USD 1.09 a year earlier, while comparable adjusted diluted EPS was USD 1.04 a year earlier.

Adjustments included acquisition Transaction Costs of USD 9.8 million. Interest expense was USD 35.0 million against USD 30.5 million. Adjusted EBITDA was USD 127.1 million with a Margin of 22.9%, and the Print segment's adjusted EBITDA margin was 35.3% against 33.4%.

Financing, Cash Flow and Updated Guidance

Total Debt was USD 2,004.1 million at September 30, against USD 1,429.4 million at December 31, and net debt was USD 1,929.2 million against USD 1,392.5 million. Cash and cash equivalents were USD 74.9 million. Dividends paid in the nine months were USD 43.0 million.

Cash from Operating Activities for the first nine months was USD 215.9 million, against USD 168.5 million, and free cash flow was USD 134.9 million, against USD 95.9 million. The CFO said the company remains focused on Capital allocation discipline.

For 2026, the company updated its guidance to revenue of USD 2.13 billion to USD 2.15 billion, adjusted EBITDA of USD 470 million to USD 480 million and adjusted diluted EPS of USD 3.80 to USD 4.00, while affirming free cash flow of approximately USD 200 million.

Next Reporting Checkpoints

Revenue of USD 553.9 million sits alongside adjusted diluted EPS of USD 1.06, net debt of USD 1,929.2 million and free cash flow of USD 134.9 million for the first nine months.

The board approved a regular quarterly Dividend of USD 0.30 per share, payable December 1, 2026, to holders of record on November 17, 2026. Management named the Celero integration synergy targets as its operating focus and the 2026 guidance ranges as its stated reference points. A webcast replay of the results discussion is available through November 11, 2026.