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Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 3 lowered, 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue down 10.2 percent: Revenue was $2,620 million against $2,917 million a year earlier. Excluding billable expenses, revenue was $1,846 million against $1,978 million, down 6.7 percent. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS up 14.2 percent: Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.77 against $1.55. Diluted EPS was $1.63 against $1.45, up 12.4 percent. Adjusted net income was $215 million, up 8.6 percent from $198 million. Source
  • Civil revenue fell sharply: Civil revenue was $732 million against $1,012 million a year earlier, and $827 million in the second quarter. Nine-month Civil revenue was $2,482 million against $3,181 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin down 50 basis points: Adjusted EBITDA was $285 million, down 14.2 percent from $332 million, and the margin was 10.9 percent against 11.4 percent. Nine-month margin was 10.9 percent, down 20 basis points. Source
  • Backlog $38.5 billion; book-to-bill 0.3x: Total backlog was $38.5 billion, up 1.5 percent from $37.9 billion a year earlier and down from $40.2 billion in the second quarter. Quarterly book-to-bill was 0.3x against 0.6x. Source
  • Shutdown cost about $50 million: Management estimated the government shutdown cost about $50 million of revenue from work not performed. About $60 million of revenue was shifted from the third quarter into the fourth quarter. Source
  • Free cash flow up 85 percent: Free cash flow was $248 million against $134 million. Operating cash flow was $261 million against $151 million, and capital expenditure was $13 million against $17 million. Source

“Booz Allen’s third quarter results are on track and reflect disciplined execution in a dynamic environment.”

Horacio Rozanski, Booz Allen Chairman, CEO and President

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFiscal 2026$11.3 - $11.4 billionLowered from $11.3 - $11.5 billion
Revenue growth SourceFiscal 2026(5.0 - 6.0)%Raised from (4.0 - 6.0)%
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFiscal 2026$1,195 - $1,215 millionKept
Adjusted EBITDA margin on revenue SourceFiscal 2026Mid 10%Kept
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$5.95 - $6.15Raised from $5.45 - $5.65
Free cash flow SourceFiscal 2026$825 - $900 millionLowered from $850 - $950 million
Adjusted effective tax rate SourceFiscal 202616 - 19%Lowered from 23 - 25%
Average diluted shares outstanding SourceFiscal 2026122 - 123 millionKept
Capital expenditures SourceFiscal 2026approximately $100 millionKept
Cash tax benefit SourceFiscal 2026$235 million relative to initial guidanceKept
Quarterly dividend SourcePayable March 2, 2026$0.59 per shareRaised from $0.55 per share

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Fiscal 2026 revenue range top end lowered to $11.4 billion from $11.5 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Revenue growth range narrowed to 5.0 - 6.0 percent from 4.0 - 6.0 percent, with the low end raised. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted diluted EPS guidance raised to $5.95 - $6.15 from $5.45 - $5.65. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Free cash flow guidance lowered to $825 - $900 million from $850 - $950 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted effective tax rate assumption lowered to 16 - 19 percent from 23 - 25 percent. Source
  • New: Divestiture of a group of contracts recognized in the third quarter, with a gain recorded. Source
  • New: Adjusted net income definition now excludes gains associated with divestitures. Source

Quarterly results and growth

  • Revenue down 10.2 percent: Revenue was $2,620 million against $2,917 million a year earlier. Excluding billable expenses, revenue was $1,846 million against $1,978 million, down 6.7 percent. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS up 14.2 percent: Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.77 against $1.55. Diluted EPS was $1.63 against $1.45, up 12.4 percent. Adjusted net income was $215 million, up 8.6 percent from $198 million. Source
  • Net income up 7.0 percent: Net income was $200 million against $187 million. Nine-month net income was $646 million, down 12.9 percent, and nine-month adjusted diluted EPS was $4.74, flat with the prior year. Source
  • Nine-month revenue down 6.3 percent: Nine-month revenue was $8.4 billion against $9.0 billion. Nine-month revenue excluding billable expenses was $5.9 billion, down 4.7 percent from $6.2 billion. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance is $5.95 to $6.15, up from $5.45 to $5.65. Free cash flow guidance is $825 million to $900 million, down from $850 million to $950 million. Source

Segments and customers

  • Civil revenue fell sharply: Civil revenue was $732 million against $1,012 million a year earlier, and $827 million in the second quarter. Nine-month Civil revenue was $2,482 million against $3,181 million. Source
  • Defense flat, Intelligence lower: Defense revenue was $1,454 million against $1,453 million, and Intelligence was $434 million against $452 million. Nine-month Defense revenue rose to $4,551 million from $4,421 million. Source
  • Cost-reimbursable share rose: Cost-reimbursable contracts were 58 percent of revenue, against 57 percent, and time-and-materials 22 percent against 23 percent. Fixed-price was 20 percent in both periods. Source

“We remain focused on building and delivering tech that works for the most important U.S. missions,”

Horacio Rozanski, Booz Allen Chairman, CEO and President

Costs, margins and profitability

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin down 50 basis points: Adjusted EBITDA was $285 million, down 14.2 percent from $332 million, and the margin was 10.9 percent against 11.4 percent. Nine-month margin was 10.9 percent, down 20 basis points. Source
  • Operating income fell on higher interest: Operating income was $230 million against $291 million. Net interest expense was $47 million against $42 million, and other income was $4 million. Source
  • Other corporate expenses covered severance: Other corporate expenses were $15 million against $1 million, mainly nonrecoverable severance from cost management and restructuring, and divestiture transaction costs. Adjusted EBITDA excludes them. Source
  • Nine-month tax benefit from IRS agreement: Income tax was a $13 million benefit against $61 million of expense. Nine-month tax was a $10 million benefit, including an $86 million release of tax reserves under an agreement with the IRS. Source

Demand and order book

  • Backlog $38.5 billion; book-to-bill 0.3x: Total backlog was $38.5 billion, up 1.5 percent from $37.9 billion a year earlier and down from $40.2 billion in the second quarter. Quarterly book-to-bill was 0.3x against 0.6x. Source
  • Trailing book-to-bill 1.1x: Trailing twelve-month book-to-bill was 1.1x, against 1.4x a year earlier and 1.1x at the second quarter. Source
  • Demand strengthening in two portfolios: Management said demand strengthened across Civil and National Security portfolios. Funded backlog was $4,206 million against $4,658 million, and unfunded backlog was $10,059 million against $8,478 million. Source

“We continue to invest and accelerate our growth strategy as we position for the future.”

Horacio Rozanski, Booz Allen Chairman, CEO and President

Government shutdown and billing timing

  • Shutdown cost about $50 million: Management estimated the government shutdown cost about $50 million of revenue from work not performed. About $60 million of revenue was shifted from the third quarter into the fourth quarter. Source
  • Revenue adjusted decline about 6 percent: Adjusted for the shutdown, revenue declined about 6 percent year over year, compared with the 10.2 percent reported decline. Source
  • Billable expenses fell on timing: Billable expenses were $774 million against $939 million a year earlier, and $918 million in the second quarter. Management cited timing delays in billable expenses. Source

Cash flow and capital returns

  • Free cash flow up 85 percent: Free cash flow was $248 million against $134 million. Operating cash flow was $261 million against $151 million, and capital expenditure was $13 million against $17 million. Source
  • Capital deployment and share repurchases: Capital deployment in the quarter was $195 million, and 1.1 percent of outstanding shares were repurchased. Nine-month repurchases were $521 million and dividends paid were $205 million. Source
  • Net leverage 2.5 times: Net debt was $3,058 million, with total debt of $3,940 million and cash of $882 million. The net leverage ratio was 2.5 times, against 2.3 times a year earlier. Source
  • Cash tax benefit from new rules: Guidance assumes capital expenditures of about $100 million and a $235 million cash tax benefit relative to initial guidance, from new S174 rules under the One Big Beautiful Bill. Source

Divestiture and workforce

  • Gain on contract group divestiture: The company recognized a $7 million gain on the divestiture of a group of contracts in the third quarter. Source
  • Adjusted net income definition extended: Adjusted net income now also excludes gains associated with divestitures, alongside the items excluded in the prior release. Source
  • Headcount down about 4,300: Total headcount was 31,600 at December 31, 2025, against 35,900 a year earlier and 32,500 at September 30, 2025. Customer staff headcount was 29,000 against 32,700. Source

Coming up, as management said on 23 January 2026

  • Fourth-quarter revenue recovery: Management said about $60 million of revenue shifted from the third quarter will move into the fourth quarter, given billable expense timing. Source
  • Quarterly dividend payment in March: The $0.59 regular quarterly dividend is payable March 2, 2026, to stockholders of record on February 13, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total backlog Source$38,456 million
Quarterly book-to-bill Source0.3x
Trailing twelve-month book-to-bill Source1.1x

Risks management discussed

  • External: The government shutdown left work not performed and delayed billing, which reduced the quarter's revenue. Source
  • Operational: Severance and restructuring costs were recorded as other corporate expenses and excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Regulatory: Guidance depends on a cash tax benefit from new S174 rules under the One Big Beautiful Bill. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management described third-quarter results as on track. 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.