IT · 10-Q · 2026Q3 · Full report
Operating Income and Margins
GARTNER INC · 2026-11-03 · Importance 56 · Surprise 46 · From source text
Operating income increased to $281.1 million in the third quarter of 2026 from $86.3 million a year earlier, and to $975.7 million for the first nine months from $691.5 million. The improvement primarily reflected lower operating expenses and the absence of the $150.0 million Digital Markets goodwill impairment recorded in 2025. Cost of services and product development declined 9% year over year in both periods; the nine-month reduction included $71.6 million less in product and content delivery expenses and $63.1 million less in personnel expenses. Insights contribution margin increased to 78% from 77% in both the quarter and nine-month periods, while Conferences margin fell to 35% from 37% in the quarter as delivery expenses rose with three additional events.
Key facts
- Gartner's operating income was $281.111 million in Q3 2026, compared with $86.344 million in Q3 2025. source
- Gartner's operating income was $975.723 million in the first nine months of 2026, compared with $691.472 million in the first nine months of 2025. source
- Gartner's operating income increased $284.3 million year over year in the nine months ended September 30, 2026, of which $150.0 million related to the absence of the non-cash goodwill impairment recognized in 2025. source
- Gartner's operating income was $281.1 million in the third quarter of 2026 versus $86.3 million in 2025, and $975.7 million for the first nine months of 2026 versus $691.5 million in 2025. source
- Gartner recognized a $150.0 million goodwill impairment loss in the Digital Markets reporting unit during the three months ended September 30, 2025, following ongoing market weakness and a revision to its long-term earnings forecast. source
- Gartner's Consulting gross contribution margin was 34% for the three months ended September 30, 2026, versus 29% for the same period in 2025. source
- Gartner's Consulting gross contribution decreased $16.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2026, compared with 2025. source
- Gartner's Consulting gross contribution margin was 34% for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, versus 36% for the same period in 2025. source
Impact estimates
| metric | direction | stage | expected | basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| operating_income | positive | realized | +18.9% | Gartner's operating income was $975.723 million in the first nine months of 2026, compared with $691.472 million in the first nine months… |
| operating_income | positive | realized | +12.9% | Gartner's operating income was $281.111 million in Q3 2026, compared with $86.344 million in Q3 2025. |