Dolby Laboratories Beats Q3 Revenue Expectations at $307 Million
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 31 2025
0mins
Should l Buy DLB?
Source: Yahoo Finance
- Revenue Performance: Dolby Laboratories reported Q3 revenue of $307 million, beating analyst expectations of $304.9 million by 0.7%, yet remained flat year-on-year, indicating a weak competitive position in the market.
- Profitability: The adjusted EPS of $0.99 exceeded analysts' expectations of $0.71 by 40.4%, but the operating margin dropped from 15.2% to 9.7%, highlighting increased cost pressures.
- Future Guidance: The company guided for Q4 revenue of $330 million, falling short of analysts' estimates of $366.3 million, with a projected 7.6% year-on-year decline, reflecting weakening market demand.
- Customer Acquisition Efficiency: Dolby's negative customer acquisition cost payback period indicates that its sales and marketing investments have not yielded expected returns, revealing a lack of product differentiation in a highly competitive environment.
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Analyst Views on DLB
Wall Street analysts forecast DLB stock price to rise
3 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 66.570
Low
85.00
Averages
87.50
High
90.00
Current: 66.570
Low
85.00
Averages
87.50
High
90.00
About DLB
Dolby Laboratories, Inc. is engaged in designing and manufacturing of audio and imaging hardware and software products for the cinema, television, broadcast and entertainment industries. The two primary components of its licensing business are Branded Technologies, which include Branded Audio Codecs, Dolby Atmos & Dolby Vision, and Patents, which include Audio Patents and Imaging Patents. The Company's cinema imaging products include digital cinema servers used to load, store, decrypt, decode, watermark, and playback digital film files for presentation on digital cinema projectors and software used to encrypt, encode and package digital media files for distribution. Its cinema audio products include cinema processors, amplifiers and loudspeakers used to decode, render, and optimally play back digital cinema soundtracks, including those using Dolby Atmos. It also offers various services to support theatrical and television production for cinema, broadcast, and home entertainment.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Neo Ivy Capital Acquires Stake in Dolby Laboratories
- New Investment Disclosure: On February 13, 2026, Neo Ivy Capital Management disclosed a new position in Dolby Laboratories (DLB), acquiring 117,964 shares valued at approximately $7.58 million, indicating confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Asset Management Proportion: This acquisition represents 1.2% of Neo Ivy's reportable U.S. equity AUM, comparable to its other major holdings like Ford and WELL, highlighting Dolby's significance within the investment portfolio.
- Market Performance Analysis: As of February 12, 2026, Dolby's shares were priced at $66.57, down 18.2% over the past year and underperforming the S&P 500 by 31.08 percentage points, reflecting market caution regarding its growth potential.
- Financial Health Status: Despite a slight revenue decline, Dolby's high-margin licensing revenue reached $319.8 million in Q1 FY2026, showcasing strong profitability and cash flow, with over $640 million in cash and equivalents supporting its ongoing share repurchase program.
See More
Source-Connect 4 Becomes First Dolby Atmos Certified Remote Collaboration Solution
- Industry First Certification: Source Elements announces that Source-Connect 4 is the first remote collaboration solution to achieve Dolby Atmos certification, marking a significant breakthrough in the audio industry for remote work and enhancing user collaboration experiences.
- Audio Channel Enhancement: The update supports 128 audio streaming channels, allowing for flexible handling of various audio beds and objects, greatly increasing the flexibility and creative freedom in audio production to meet high-end audio production demands.
- Metadata Integration: Source-Connect 4 achieves metadata connection with the Dolby Atmos Renderer, enabling mixers and directors to participate in Dolby Atmos playback and mixing sessions from any location, thus unlocking new possibilities for remote collaboration.
- Market Impact: This innovation not only enhances Source Elements' competitiveness in the audio industry but also opens new directions for the future development of audio production, attracting more professionals to focus on remote collaboration technologies.
See More
Source-Connect 4 Becomes First Dolby Atmos Certified Remote Collaboration Tool
- Industry First Certification: Source Elements announces that Source-Connect 4 is the first remote collaboration solution to achieve Dolby Atmos certification, supporting 128 audio streaming channels, which significantly enhances audio production flexibility and efficiency by enabling unprecedented immersive audio experiences.
- Seamless Remote Collaboration: With metadata connection to the Dolby Atmos Renderer, users can mix and playback audio from different locations, breaking geographical barriers and allowing clients in London to collaborate in real-time with mixing teams in Los Angeles, thereby improving efficiency for international projects.
- High-Quality Audio Streaming: Source-Connect 4 enables users to stream complete Dolby Atmos projects without the need for additional re-renders, ensuring audio quality and synchronization, making it suitable for various physical speaker configurations and meeting modern audio production demands.
- Upgrade to Industry Standard: As the long-standing standard for remote audio recording and collaboration in broadcasting, music, and voiceover industries, the new features of Source-Connect 4 mark a significant shift towards higher quality and more flexible workflows in audio production.
See More
Dolby Laboratories Declares Quarterly Dividend
- Quarterly Dividend Announcement: Dolby Laboratories has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.36 per share, consistent with previous payouts, demonstrating the company's ongoing ability to maintain stable cash flow, which is likely to attract more income-focused investors.
- Dividend Yield: The forward yield of 2.28% reflects the company's relative attractiveness in the current market environment, potentially increasing investor interest in Dolby's stock.
- Shareholder Record Dates: The dividend will be payable on February 18, with a record date of February 10 and an ex-dividend date also on February 10, ensuring shareholders can receive their earnings promptly, thereby boosting shareholder confidence.
- Consistent Dividend Policy: Dolby has now announced a $0.36 dividend for two consecutive quarters, indicating consistency and stability in financial management, which may enhance market expectations regarding its future growth potential.
See More
Dolby Laboratories Exceeds Q1 Earnings Expectations
- Earnings Beat: Dolby Laboratories reported Q1 revenue of $347 million and non-GAAP EPS of $1.06, both exceeding the high end of prior guidance, primarily due to earlier deal timing and a $7 million shipment true-up, reflecting strong market performance.
- Cash Flow and Buybacks: The company generated approximately $55 million in operating cash flow, repurchased $70 million in stock, and declared a $0.36 dividend, up 9% year-over-year, indicating a proactive approach to capital management and shareholder returns.
- Growth Potential: Dolby raised its fiscal 2026 revenue guidance to $1.4 to $1.45 billion and non-GAAP EPS to $4.30 to $4.45, implying a 50 to 100 basis point improvement in operating margins, showcasing strong growth potential in automotive and television markets.
- Tech Partnerships and Innovation: Dolby's partnership with Qualcomm integrates its Atmos and Vision technologies into Qualcomm's automotive platform, expanding collaborations with over 35 OEMs, which is expected to enhance its market share in automotive entertainment and streaming.
See More
Dolby Laboratories Q1 2026 Earnings Call Highlights
- Financial Performance Exceeds Expectations: Dolby Laboratories reported Q1 revenue of $347 million, surpassing the high end of guidance, with non-GAAP earnings per share at $1.06, indicating strong revenue and cost management that boosts market confidence in future growth.
- Automotive Market Expansion: The partnership with Qualcomm to integrate Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision into the Gen 5 Snapdragon Automotive platform has increased OEM partnerships from 20 to over 35, demonstrating a significant foothold in the rapidly growing automotive sector.
- Television Product Innovation: Dolby Vision 2 received positive feedback at CES, with plans for launch by year-end alongside partners like Peacock and Canal+, which will create new revenue opportunities and strengthen its position in the home entertainment market.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: Management raised the full-year revenue guidance to $1.4 billion to $1.45 billion, reflecting strong early deal performance, with expectations for Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision to grow at 15% to 20% annually over the next few years.
See More
Neo Ivy Capital Acquires Stake in Dolby Laboratories
- New Investment Disclosure: On February 13, 2026, Neo Ivy Capital Management disclosed a new position in Dolby Laboratories (DLB), acquiring 117,964 shares valued at approximately $7.58 million, indicating confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Asset Management Proportion: This acquisition represents 1.2% of Neo Ivy's reportable U.S. equity AUM, comparable to its other major holdings like Ford and WELL, highlighting Dolby's significance within the investment portfolio.
- Market Performance Analysis: As of February 12, 2026, Dolby's shares were priced at $66.57, down 18.2% over the past year and underperforming the S&P 500 by 31.08 percentage points, reflecting market caution regarding its growth potential.
- Financial Health Status: Despite a slight revenue decline, Dolby's high-margin licensing revenue reached $319.8 million in Q1 FY2026, showcasing strong profitability and cash flow, with over $640 million in cash and equivalents supporting its ongoing share repurchase program.
See More
Source-Connect 4 Becomes First Dolby Atmos Certified Remote Collaboration Solution
- Industry First Certification: Source Elements announces that Source-Connect 4 is the first remote collaboration solution to achieve Dolby Atmos certification, marking a significant breakthrough in the audio industry for remote work and enhancing user collaboration experiences.
- Audio Channel Enhancement: The update supports 128 audio streaming channels, allowing for flexible handling of various audio beds and objects, greatly increasing the flexibility and creative freedom in audio production to meet high-end audio production demands.
- Metadata Integration: Source-Connect 4 achieves metadata connection with the Dolby Atmos Renderer, enabling mixers and directors to participate in Dolby Atmos playback and mixing sessions from any location, thus unlocking new possibilities for remote collaboration.
- Market Impact: This innovation not only enhances Source Elements' competitiveness in the audio industry but also opens new directions for the future development of audio production, attracting more professionals to focus on remote collaboration technologies.
See More
Source-Connect 4 Becomes First Dolby Atmos Certified Remote Collaboration Tool
- Industry First Certification: Source Elements announces that Source-Connect 4 is the first remote collaboration solution to achieve Dolby Atmos certification, supporting 128 audio streaming channels, which significantly enhances audio production flexibility and efficiency by enabling unprecedented immersive audio experiences.
- Seamless Remote Collaboration: With metadata connection to the Dolby Atmos Renderer, users can mix and playback audio from different locations, breaking geographical barriers and allowing clients in London to collaborate in real-time with mixing teams in Los Angeles, thereby improving efficiency for international projects.
- High-Quality Audio Streaming: Source-Connect 4 enables users to stream complete Dolby Atmos projects without the need for additional re-renders, ensuring audio quality and synchronization, making it suitable for various physical speaker configurations and meeting modern audio production demands.
- Upgrade to Industry Standard: As the long-standing standard for remote audio recording and collaboration in broadcasting, music, and voiceover industries, the new features of Source-Connect 4 mark a significant shift towards higher quality and more flexible workflows in audio production.
See More
Dolby Laboratories Declares Quarterly Dividend
- Quarterly Dividend Announcement: Dolby Laboratories has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.36 per share, consistent with previous payouts, demonstrating the company's ongoing ability to maintain stable cash flow, which is likely to attract more income-focused investors.
- Dividend Yield: The forward yield of 2.28% reflects the company's relative attractiveness in the current market environment, potentially increasing investor interest in Dolby's stock.
- Shareholder Record Dates: The dividend will be payable on February 18, with a record date of February 10 and an ex-dividend date also on February 10, ensuring shareholders can receive their earnings promptly, thereby boosting shareholder confidence.
- Consistent Dividend Policy: Dolby has now announced a $0.36 dividend for two consecutive quarters, indicating consistency and stability in financial management, which may enhance market expectations regarding its future growth potential.
See More
Dolby Laboratories Exceeds Q1 Earnings Expectations
- Earnings Beat: Dolby Laboratories reported Q1 revenue of $347 million and non-GAAP EPS of $1.06, both exceeding the high end of prior guidance, primarily due to earlier deal timing and a $7 million shipment true-up, reflecting strong market performance.
- Cash Flow and Buybacks: The company generated approximately $55 million in operating cash flow, repurchased $70 million in stock, and declared a $0.36 dividend, up 9% year-over-year, indicating a proactive approach to capital management and shareholder returns.
- Growth Potential: Dolby raised its fiscal 2026 revenue guidance to $1.4 to $1.45 billion and non-GAAP EPS to $4.30 to $4.45, implying a 50 to 100 basis point improvement in operating margins, showcasing strong growth potential in automotive and television markets.
- Tech Partnerships and Innovation: Dolby's partnership with Qualcomm integrates its Atmos and Vision technologies into Qualcomm's automotive platform, expanding collaborations with over 35 OEMs, which is expected to enhance its market share in automotive entertainment and streaming.
See More
Dolby Laboratories Q1 2026 Earnings Call Highlights
- Financial Performance Exceeds Expectations: Dolby Laboratories reported Q1 revenue of $347 million, surpassing the high end of guidance, with non-GAAP earnings per share at $1.06, indicating strong revenue and cost management that boosts market confidence in future growth.
- Automotive Market Expansion: The partnership with Qualcomm to integrate Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision into the Gen 5 Snapdragon Automotive platform has increased OEM partnerships from 20 to over 35, demonstrating a significant foothold in the rapidly growing automotive sector.
- Television Product Innovation: Dolby Vision 2 received positive feedback at CES, with plans for launch by year-end alongside partners like Peacock and Canal+, which will create new revenue opportunities and strengthen its position in the home entertainment market.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: Management raised the full-year revenue guidance to $1.4 billion to $1.45 billion, reflecting strong early deal performance, with expectations for Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision to grow at 15% to 20% annually over the next few years.
See More
