greeksoup/ stock research

Ameresco, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 9 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 4 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 10% across business lines: Revenue was $580.3 million, up 10% on the prior-year quarter, with Projects, Energy Assets and O&M all higher. Source
  • GAAP and Non-GAAP EPS reported: Net income attributable to common shareholders was $31.9 million, or $0.59 diluted EPS. Non-GAAP EPS was $0.88, against $1.45 a year earlier. Source
  • Record $7.2 billion project backlog: Total project backlog grew 39% to a record $7.2 billion, with awarded backlog of $4.56 billion and contracted backlog of $2.59 billion. Source
  • $875 million of new awards: New awards totaled $875 million. Management said over $675 million came from Federal infrastructure and Europe. Source
  • $737 million moved to contracted: $737 million converted from awarded to contracted backlog, and 12-month contracted backlog was $1.23 billion. Source
  • Gross margin rose to 18.7%: Gross margin was 18.7%, up from 17.7% in the second quarter as stated in the prior release, and improved year over year. Source
  • Adjusted cash from operations positive: Q3 operating cash flow was $(8.9) million. Adding $12.6 million of Federal ESPC proceeds gave adjusted cash from operations of $3.7 million. Source
  • Tax credits now run through tax line: Transferable investment tax credits are now recognized in the income tax provision in the period generated, not as a reduction of asset cost basis. 2025 was recast. Source

“Our third quarter results represented another quarter of strong growth and disciplined execution.”

CEO George Sakellaris

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFourth quarter 2026$625 million to $650 millionNew
Gross margin SourceFourth quarter 202617.0% to 18.0%New
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFourth quarter 2026$80 million to $90 millionNew
Non-GAAP EPS SourceFourth quarter 2026$0.95 to $1.05New
Revenue SourceFull year 2026$2.13 billion to $2.15 billion
Gross margin SourceFull year 202617% to 18%Kept
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$295 million to $305 millionRaised from $250 million to $270 million
Depreciation and amortization SourceFull year 2026$115 million to $116 millionKept
Interest expense and other SourceFull year 2026$105 million to $110 millionRaised from $95 million to $100 million
Effective tax rate SourceFull year 2026Approximately (50%)Raised from (25)% to (40)%
Non-GAAP EPS SourceFull year 2026$1.85 to $1.95Raised from $1.15 to $1.35

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fourth quarter guidance ranges were provided for the first time in this release. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP EPS ranges were raised. Management says both would otherwise have been unchanged. Source
  • Guidance kept: Gross margin and depreciation ranges match the prior release. Management says the update does not change operational expectations. Source
  • New: Joint venture results are now included at 100% in Non-GAAP EPS and adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • New: Transferable investment tax credits are now recognized in the income tax provision when generated, applied retrospectively including 2025. Source
  • New: Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation now starts from consolidated net income rather than net income attributable to common shareholders. Source
  • New: HLBV accounting was adopted in Q3 for the Neogenyx Fuels transaction. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 10% across business lines: Revenue was $580.3 million, up 10% on the prior-year quarter, with Projects, Energy Assets and O&M all higher. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 24%: Adjusted EBITDA was $91.7 million, up 24% from the prior-year quarter as adjusted. Source
  • GAAP and Non-GAAP EPS reported: Net income attributable to common shareholders was $31.9 million, or $0.59 diluted EPS. Non-GAAP EPS was $0.88, against $1.45 a year earlier. Source
  • Non-controlling interests took larger share: Net income attributable to non-controlling and redeemable non-controlling interests was $14.9 million, against $3.2 million a year earlier. Source

Segments and regions

  • Projects revenue up 9%: Projects revenue was $446.0 million, up 9%, and Projects adjusted EBITDA was $41.5 million against $28.1 million a year earlier, as adjusted. Source
  • Energy Assets revenue up 21%: Energy Assets revenue was $75.4 million, up 21%, and Energy Assets adjusted EBITDA was $40.5 million against $40.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • O&M revenue up 20%: O&M revenue was $37.0 million, up 20%, and O&M adjusted EBITDA was $9.1 million against $2.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Renewable Fuels and Europe nine-month EBITDA: For nine months to September 30, 2026, Renewable Fuels adjusted EBITDA was $53.3 million. Europe was $45.0 million, of which AMRC Sunel JV was $45.2 million. Source

“This also was an excellent quarter for project contract conversion with $737 million converting from awarded into contracted backlog, building visibility as we head into 2027”

CEO George Sakellaris

Demand and the order book

  • Record $7.2 billion project backlog: Total project backlog grew 39% to a record $7.2 billion, with awarded backlog of $4.56 billion and contracted backlog of $2.59 billion. Source
  • $875 million of new awards: New awards totaled $875 million. Management said over $675 million came from Federal infrastructure and Europe. Source
  • Data center award expanded existing project: Management reported a $200 million data center award as an expanded scope of work at an existing project, alongside the other awards. Source
  • $737 million moved to contracted: $737 million converted from awarded to contracted backlog, and 12-month contracted backlog was $1.23 billion. Source
  • O&M and energy visibility totals: Total O&M revenue backlog was $1.51 billion and Energy Asset visibility $3.19 billion, giving total revenue visibility of $11.85 billion. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin rose to 18.7%: Gross margin was 18.7%, up from 17.7% in the second quarter as stated in the prior release, and improved year over year. Source
  • Mix, execution and useful lives drove margin: Management attributed the margin gain to favorable business mix, execution, and lower depreciation from an adjustment to energy asset useful lives. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin reached 15.8%: Adjusted EBITDA margin was 15.8% against 14.0% a year earlier. Projects margin was 9.3%. Source
  • Operating income and SG&A rose: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $47.6 million, against $43.4 million, and operating income was $61.3 million against $40.3 million. Source

“Our rapidly growing project backlog together with the strength of our recurring revenue businesses position us for continued growth in 2027 and beyond”

CEO George Sakellaris

Cash, debt and financing

  • Adjusted cash from operations positive: Q3 operating cash flow was $(8.9) million. Adding $12.6 million of Federal ESPC proceeds gave adjusted cash from operations of $3.7 million. Source
  • Eight-quarter rolling cash near $26 million: On an eight-quarter rolling basis, adjusted cash from operations was about $26 million, against $30 million last quarter. Management attributed the change to timing and mix of activity. Source
  • Corporate leverage 2.9x below covenant: Corporate leverage was 2.9x against a 3.5x covenant. Total corporate debt was $380.4 million and unrestricted cash $128.5 million. Source
  • $106 million of financing secured: Management said the company secured $106 million of financing and financing commitments in Q3. Source
  • Energy Asset debt at 62% advance rate: Total Energy Asset debt was $1.60 billion against $2.57 billion of book value, a 62% advance rate, down from 69% at June 30. Source

Accounting changes behind the guidance

  • Tax credits now run through tax line: Transferable investment tax credits are now recognized in the income tax provision in the period generated, not as a reduction of asset cost basis. 2025 was recast. Source
  • Joint ventures now included at 100%: Non-GAAP EPS and adjusted EBITDA now include 100% of consolidated joint ventures, which management said aids comparability across quarters. Source
  • Prior method showed $77.9 million: Had the AMRC Sunel JV and Neogenyx non-controlling interests not been consolidated, Q3 adjusted EBITDA would have been $77.9 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA starts at net income: The adjusted EBITDA reconciliation now begins at consolidated net income, removing the step that deducted the non-controlling interest portion. Source
  • HLBV accounting adopted for Neogenyx: HLBV allocates income among partners by change in hypothetical liquidation amounts. Management cited its quarter-to-quarter variability as the reason for the non-GAAP change. Source

Strategy and technology

  • Positioned in data center and C&I power: Management said Ameresco is positioned for emerging power infrastructure in data center and C&I markets, alongside federal, municipal, university, school and hospital work. Source
  • Fuel cells, microgrids and nuclear added: Management said it is integrating fuel cells, microgrids, small and micro nuclear reactors and other technologies into its solution portfolio. Source
  • Recurring O&M and energy asset growth: Management said recurring O&M and Energy Asset businesses are continuing to grow, adding to long-term revenue visibility. Source

Coming up, as management said on 9 November 2026

  • Fourth quarter guidance ranges: Management gave fourth quarter 2026 ranges for revenue, gross margin, adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP EPS in this release. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total project backlog Source$7,154 million
New awards Source$875 million
Energy assets placed into operation Source3 MWe
Total operating energy assets Source827 MWe
Net assets in development Source500 MWe
Total revenue visibility Source$11,850 million

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Guidance excludes one-time charges, impairments and certain other items, which management said could have a material impact on GAAP results. Source
  • Financial: On an eight-quarter rolling basis, adjusted cash from operations was about $26 million, which management tied to timing and mix of activity. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said the tax-based policy was adopted in Q3, as discussed last quarter. 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.