Pague Menos stock draws focus after Q3 margin and cash gains
Published on 11/10/2026 at 02:22 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSProfit Growth Meets Stronger Cash Flow
- Adjusted third-quarter net income increased as Pague Menos expanded its margin.
- Operating cash flow strengthened and leverage declined during the quarter.
- Store expansion, digital channels and continuous-care customers remain central to the next growth phase.
Pague Menos reported stronger profitability and cash generation in the third quarter of 2026, according to a Quartr summary published on November 6. Adjusted net income rose 19.5% from a year earlier to R$96.3 million, while gross revenue increased 6.9% to R$4.429 billion.
Profitability Outpaces Sales Growth
Adjusted EBITDA reached R$278.8 million, up 7.2% year over year, with a 6.3% margin. Adjusted net margin expanded to 2.2%, while gross margin reached 30.0%, its highest third-quarter level since 2018.
Same-store sales grew 5.6%, showing that profitability advanced faster than the pace of comparable-store sales. Selling expenses increased 8.5%, although growth was 7.4% excluding R$9.6 million in one-off severance costs.
Cash Generation Supports Deleveraging
Operating cash flow reached R$164.8 million, more than three times the level recorded in the third quarter of 2025. Adjusted net debt to EBITDA declined to 1.8x from 2.5x a year earlier, improving the company's financial flexibility.
For the next phase, Pague Menos is preparing more than 20 stores for fourth-quarter openings, with expansion focused on Brazil's North and Northeast regions and popular-income areas. Management priorities also include digital conversion, private-label penetration, customer relationship management and productivity improvements.
Business Model And Competitive Position
Pague Menos operates a pharmacy retail business in Brazil, with physical stores supported by digital channels and continuous-care services. Its operating focus includes medicines, health products, private labels and customer engagement programs. The company is positioned as a nationally expanding pharmacy chain with particular exposure to Brazil's North and Northeast regions.
Pague Menos At A Glance
- Company: Empreendimentos Pague Menos S.A.
- ISIN: BRPGMNACNOR8
- Ticker: PGMN3
- Reporting period: Third quarter of 2026
- Adjusted net income: R$96.3 million
- Adjusted EBITDA: R$278.8 million
- Operating cash flow: R$164.8 million
- Adjusted net debt to EBITDA: 1.8x
Brazil's broader equity market remains the relevant backdrop for investors following the stock. See current market developments.
