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Aecom: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 9 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 2 lowered, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Reported revenue, operating income and EPS fell: On a GAAP continuing-operations basis, revenue fell 5% to $3.8 billion, operating income 7% to $222 million, net income 21% to $140 million and diluted EPS 20% to $1.06. Source
  • Net service revenue up 2%, 5% adjusted: Net service revenue rose 2% as reported and 5% after adjusting for fewer working days, with the Americas segment up 9%. Source
  • Total backlog up 9% to record: Total backlog reached $25,962 million, up 9%, with a 1.5 book-to-burn ratio in the quarter. Source
  • Free cash flow fell to $42 million: Free cash flow was $42 million, and more than $340 million was returned to shareholders through repurchases and dividends in the quarter. Source
  • Construction Management review concluded: The strategic alternatives review, which had included a possible sale, is complete; the company will continue to own and operate the business. Source
  • Design outperformance drove guidance raise: Management attributed the raised fiscal 2026 earnings guidance first to outperformance in the design business in the first quarter. Source
  • Legacy settlement produced $61.8m non-cash loss: A $61.8 million non-cash loss was recorded in discontinued operations in the first quarter. Source

“Year after year we have expanded our productivity, which is evident in the persistent NSR and profit per employee growth we have delivered for the past six years.”

Gaurav Kapoor, AECOM’s chief financial and operations officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$5.85 to $6.05Raised from $5.65 to $5.85
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal 2026$1,270 million to $1,305 millionRaised from $1,265 million to $1,305 million
GAAP diluted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$4.18 to $4.89Raised from $4.01 to $4.84
Organic NSR growth Sourcefiscal 20266% to 8%Kept
Segment adjusted operating margin Sourcefiscal 202616.8%Kept
Adjusted EBITDA margin Sourcefiscal 202617.0%Kept
Free cash flow Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $400 millionKept
Average fully diluted share count Sourcefiscal 2026131 millionLowered from 133 million
Adjusted effective tax rate Sourcefiscal 2026approximately 20 - 22%Lowered from 22 - 23%
Adjusted net interest expense Sourcefiscal 2026$140 millionRaised from $135 million
Segment margin exit rate Sourcefiscal 202820%+Kept
Adjusted EPS CAGR Sourcefiscal 2026 to fiscal 202915%+Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EPS guidance for fiscal 2026 raised to $5.85 to $6.05 from $5.65 to $5.85. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EBITDA guidance low end raised to $1,270 million from $1,265 million; high end kept at $1,305 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted effective tax rate guidance lowered to 20 to 22 percent from 22 to 23 percent. Source
  • Ended: The Construction Management strategic alternatives review, which had included a possible sale, is complete; the company will keep the business. Source
  • New: Construction Management is now reported as a continuing operation; the prior release had expected held-for-sale and discontinued operations reporting. Source
  • New: Board approved an increase to the share repurchase authorization to $1 billion after the quarter ended. Source
  • New: Agreement in principle reached after the quarter to settle a legacy project-related matter from the 2014 URS acquisition. Source

Quarter results and growth

  • Reported revenue, operating income and EPS fell: On a GAAP continuing-operations basis, revenue fell 5% to $3.8 billion, operating income 7% to $222 million, net income 21% to $140 million and diluted EPS 20% to $1.06. Source
  • Net service revenue up 2%, 5% adjusted: Net service revenue rose 2% as reported and 5% after adjusting for fewer working days, with the Americas segment up 9%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 6%, adjusted EPS down 2%: Adjusted EBITDA rose 6% to $287 million and adjusted EPS fell 2% to $1.29. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 8% excluding tax change: Excluding the lower tax rate in the prior-year period, management said adjusted EPS would have risen 8%. Source

Segments and regions

  • Americas net service revenue grew 9%: Americas NSR was $1.1 billion, up 9% after adjusting for fewer working days and 6% as reported at constant currency; growth was in both the U.S. and Canada. Source
  • Americas margin hit first-quarter high: Americas adjusted operating margin on net service revenue rose to 19.9%, a new first-quarter high for the segment. Source
  • International net service revenue flat adjusted: International NSR was $736 million, materially unchanged after adjusting for working days and down 3% as reported at constant currency. Source
  • International margin up 20 basis points: International adjusted operating margin on net service revenue rose to 11.0%; management attributed the gain to execution, efficiencies and a focus on high-return markets and clients. Source

“These advantages are enhanced by our AI and technology investments, which have been instrumental in key wins and favorable commercial model discussions with clients.”

Lara Poloni, AECOM’s president

Backlog, pipeline and wins

  • Total backlog up 9% to record: Total backlog reached $25,962 million, up 9%, with a 1.5 book-to-burn ratio in the quarter. Source
  • Book-to-burn above 1.0 for 21 quarters: The company reported its 21st consecutive quarter with a book-to-burn ratio above 1.0. Source
  • Government shutdown delayed Americas awards: Americas design book-to-burn was 1.0 despite award delays from the 43-day federal shutdown, which management described as now resolved. Source
  • Pipeline reached new record: The pipeline rose by double digits to a record, with growth in both segments and the fastest growth in earlier stages. Source
  • Scottish Water and Brisbane 2032 selections: Management cited selection as preferred bidder on a Scottish Water investment program and as Delivery Partner for the Brisbane 2032 Games. Source

Margins, costs and amortization

  • Segment margin rose 100 basis points: Segment adjusted operating margin was 16.4%, up 100 basis points; adjusted EBITDA margin was also 16.4%, up 80 basis points. Source
  • AI, Advisory and business development costs included: Management said margins include investment in AI and technology teams, growth of Advisory teams, and record business development. Source
  • Restructuring costs fell, amortization rose: Restructuring and acquisition costs were $27.9 million against $59.4 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025; intangible amortization was $12.9 million. Source

Cash flow and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow fell to $42 million: Free cash flow was $42 million, and more than $340 million was returned to shareholders through repurchases and dividends in the quarter. Source
  • Operating cash flow lower year on year: Operating cash flow was $70.2 million against $151.1 million a year earlier; net capital expenditures were $28.3 million. Source
  • $1 billion repurchase authorization approved: After the quarter, the board raised the share repurchase authorization to $1 billion; nearly $3.4 billion has been returned since September 2020. Source
  • Net debt rose after the quarter: Net debt was $1,491.8 million at December 31, 2025, against $1,158.0 million at September 30, 2025; management stated net leverage of 1.0x. Source

Construction Management and strategy

  • Construction Management review concluded: The strategic alternatives review, which had included a possible sale, is complete; the company will continue to own and operate the business. Source
  • Construction Management now a continuing operation: Reported results include Construction Management as a continuing operation, not held for sale in discontinued operations as the prior release expected. Source
  • Advisory, program management and AI investment: Management said investments in Advisory, Program Management, technology and AI are intended to scale the company's attributes and addressable market. Source

Reasons given for raised guidance

  • Design outperformance drove guidance raise: Management attributed the raised fiscal 2026 earnings guidance first to outperformance in the design business in the first quarter. Source
  • Capital allocation and lower tax rate: Management also cited the benefits of its capital allocation strategy and a lower than previously expected tax rate. Source
  • Record backlog and pipeline gives visibility: Management cited a record backlog and pipeline across the enterprise as a basis for full-year visibility. Source

Tax rate and legacy matter

  • Reported tax rate 19.7%, adjusted 21.5%: The effective tax rate was 19.7% as reported and 21.5% on an adjusted basis, derived by re-computing the quarterly rate on adjusted net income. Source
  • Legacy settlement agreed in principle: After the quarter, AECOM agreed in principle to settle a legacy project-related matter from its 2014 URS acquisition. Source
  • Legacy settlement produced $61.8m non-cash loss: A $61.8 million non-cash loss was recorded in discontinued operations in the first quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 9 February 2026

  • Legacy settlement cash receipt: Management expects to receive about $50 million in cash this fiscal year from the legacy settlement. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total backlog Source$25,962 million
Total book-to-burn ratio Source1.5x
Americas book-to-burn ratio Source1.0x
International book-to-burn ratio Source2.3x
Consecutive quarters with book-to-burn above 1.0 Source21

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: A 43-day U.S. federal government shutdown caused award delays in the quarter, which management described as now resolved. Source
  • Operational: Fewer working days in fiscal 2026 are expected to reduce NSR growth by about 200 basis points, which is excluded from the organic growth range. Source
  • Financial: The legacy settlement produced a non-cash loss in discontinued operations, separate from continuing results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said results outperformed its expectations on every key financial metric in the quarter. Source
  • Not stated: Management described the fiscal 2026 margin guidance as materially consistent with prior expectations. Source
  • Not stated: Management reiterated its long-term financial targets, including a 20%+ margin exit rate by fiscal 2028. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.