Electronic Arts Q3 Net Bookings Jump 38% to $3.05B as EPS Tops Estimates
Electronic Arts reported Q3 net bookings of $3.05 billion, up 38% year-over-year to a new record, driven by the blockbuster launch of Battlefield 6. The company delivered adjusted EPS of $4.82, surpassing the $4.77 consensus and rising from $2.83 per share a year ago.
1. Record Q3 Net Bookings Driven by New Release
Electronic Arts reported net bookings of $3.05 billion for its fiscal third quarter, a 38% increase compared with the $2.21 billion booked in the same period last year. This marks the highest quarterly net bookings total in the company’s history and was driven largely by the launch of Battlefield 6, which sold more than 12 million copies across all platforms in its first six weeks on the market.
2. Earnings Per Share Exceed Estimates
EA delivered non-GAAP earnings per share of $4.82 for the quarter, surpassing the consensus estimate of $4.77 and representing a 70% year-over-year increase from the $2.83 EPS reported in Q3 of the prior fiscal year. The beat reflects strong digital full-game sales and higher microtransaction revenue associated with live services across major franchises.
3. Operating Income and Margin Pressure
Despite the surge in revenue, GAAP operating income declined by 5% to $915 million, with the operating margin contracting to 22.8% from 25.3% in the year-ago quarter. The margin compression was attributed to a 15% year-over-year increase in marketing and promotional expenses and higher development costs related to upcoming titles in the EA Sports and Apex Legends franchises.
4. Battlefront and Live Services Fuel Long-Term Growth
EA highlighted that recurring net bookings from live services rose by 25% year-over-year, accounting for $1.8 billion or nearly 60% of total net bookings. Apex Legends and FIFA Ultimate Team together generated $1.2 billion in bookings during the quarter, underscoring the company’s strategic shift toward sustained player engagement through in-game content updates and seasonal events.