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Centuri Holdings, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 7 new, 7 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 31% year-over-year: Total revenue was $723.2 million, up $173.1 million or 31%. Base Revenue, excluding storm restoration services, was $688.7 million, up 29%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 34%: Adjusted EBITDA was $32.6 million against $24.2 million, a margin of 4.5% against 4.4%. Source
  • Bookings reached $1.3 billion: Bookings were about $1.3 billion, a 1.8x book-to-bill ratio, split 33% new awards and 67% MSA renewals. Source
  • Backlog reached a record $6.5 billion: Backlog was about $6.5 billion, up 10% from year-end 2025 and up 44% from the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • U.S. Gas revenue up 44%: U.S. Gas revenue was $284.5 million, up 43.9%. Gross loss narrowed to $6.3 million from $14.9 million, which management attributed to diversification and seasonality actions. Source
  • Gross profit rose 76%: Gross profit was $35.8 million, up 75.9%, at a 4.9% margin against 3.7% a year earlier. Source
  • Operating cash flow was negative: Net cash used in operating activities was $35.0 million, against $16.7 million provided a year earlier. Source
  • Strategy rests on core capabilities: Management said the strategy keeps core capabilities and long-standing customer relationships, uses defined adjacent markets, and pursues selective growth initiatives and tuck-in acquisitions. Source

“Our first quarter results reflect tremendous year-over-year growth, meaningful progress mitigating winter seasonality, and continued commercial momentum”

Centuri President & CEO Christian Brown

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Base Revenue Sourcefull year 2026$3.15 to $3.45 billionKept
Base Gross Profit Sourcefull year 2026$255 to $285 millionKept
Revenue Sourcefull year 2026$3.24 to $3.54 billionKept
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$280 to $310 millionKept
Adjusted Net Income Sourcefull year 2026$55 to $75 millionKept
Net Capital Expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$75 to $90 millionKept
Book-to-bill ratio Source20261.1x to 1.2xKept
Base Revenue growth target Source2025-2029 CAGR10% - 15%New
Base Gross Profit growth target Source2025-2029 CAGR12% - 19%New
Adjusted EBITDA growth target Source2025-2029 CAGR9% - 17%New
Adjusted EPS growth target Source2025-2029 CAGR30% - 45%New
Base Gross Profit Margin target Source20298.7% - 9.7%New
Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA target Source20291.0x - 2.0xNew
Free Cash Flow conversion target Source202940% - 50%New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Long-term financial targets were introduced for 2025-2029 growth and for 2029 margin, leverage and cash conversion. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full year 2026 guidance was reiterated, with no change to the figures. Source
  • New: A supplemental strategy presentation, Vision One Centuri, was made available on the company website. Source
  • Ended: The Adjusted EBITDA definition now adjusts only for non-cash stock-based compensation and separation-related costs. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 31% year-over-year: Total revenue was $723.2 million, up $173.1 million or 31%. Base Revenue, excluding storm restoration services, was $688.7 million, up 29%. Source
  • Net loss and adjusted loss narrowed: Net loss was $9.5 million, an $8.4 million improvement. Adjusted Net Loss was $2.0 million, an $8.6 million improvement. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 34%: Adjusted EBITDA was $32.6 million against $24.2 million, a margin of 4.5% against 4.4%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS improved to negative $0.02: Adjusted EPS was $(0.02) against $(0.12) a year earlier. Diluted loss per share was $(0.09) against $(0.20). Source

Bookings and order book

  • Bookings reached $1.3 billion: Bookings were about $1.3 billion, a 1.8x book-to-bill ratio, split 33% new awards and 67% MSA renewals. Source
  • Bid awards and renewals made up bookings: Bookings included more than $250 million of new bid awards, about $180 million of new or expanded MSA awards and nearly $900 million of MSA renewals. Source
  • Backlog reached a record $6.5 billion: Backlog was about $6.5 billion, up 10% from year-end 2025 and up 44% from the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Pipeline held at $13 billion: The unweighted pipeline stayed at $13 billion at quarter end. Source

“We are committed to delivering consistent, predictable results, with safety and high quality customer service remaining paramount”

Centuri President & CEO Christian Brown

Segment performance

  • U.S. Gas revenue up 44%: U.S. Gas revenue was $284.5 million, up 43.9%. Gross loss narrowed to $6.3 million from $14.9 million, which management attributed to diversification and seasonality actions. Source
  • Union Electric growth from bid work: Union Electric revenue was $204.1 million, up 16.3%. Gross profit was $18.2 million at an 8.9% margin, against 6.7%. Management cited increased bid work for base revenue growth. Source
  • Canadian Operations grew on acquisition: Canadian Operations revenue was $60.0 million, up 50.9%, including the acquired Connect Atlantic Utility Services. Gross profit was $9.1 million at a 15.2% margin, against 17.8%. Source
  • Non-Union Electric margin declined: Non-Union Electric revenue was $174.6 million, up 27.3%. Gross profit fell 9.4% to $14.8 million, a margin of 8.5% against 11.9%. Source

Gross profit and margins

  • Gross profit rose 76%: Gross profit was $35.8 million, up 75.9%, at a 4.9% margin against 3.7% a year earlier. Source
  • Base margin rose to 4.1%: Base Gross Profit Margin was 4.1% against 2.7%. Management attributed the change primarily to U.S. Gas and Union Electric performance. Source
  • Base gross profit rose 96%: Base Gross Profit was $28.0 million, against $14.3 million a year earlier. Source

“supported by excellent 2026 revenue coverage, with business development efforts now focused on securing higher margin work and growing the backlog for 2027”

Centuri President & CEO Christian Brown

Operating costs and interest

  • SG&A rose, operating loss narrowed: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $32.7 million against $26.4 million. Operating loss narrowed to $4.7 million from $12.7 million. Source
  • Interest expense declined: Interest expense, net was $12.4 million against $17.9 million. Source
  • Stock compensation rose, separation costs ended: Non-cash stock-based compensation was $2.2 million against $1.6 million. Separation-related costs were nil against $1.6 million in the prior year quarter. Source

Storm work and seasonality

  • Storm revenue rose to $34.5 million: Storm restoration services revenue was $34.5 million against $18.2 million. These amounts are excluded from Base Revenue. Source
  • Storm gross profit rose to $7.7 million: Storm restoration services gross profit was $7.7 million against $6.0 million, excluded from Base Gross Profit. Source
  • Storm work described as unpredictable: Management described storm restoration work as highly unpredictable, which is why Base measures exclude it. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow was negative: Net cash used in operating activities was $35.0 million, against $16.7 million provided a year earlier. Source
  • Capital spending and investment: Capital expenditures were $20.2 million against $24.4 million. Proceeds from sale of property and equipment were $1.6 million. A $2.0 million equity method investment was purchased. Source
  • Cash balance declined: Cash and cash equivalents were $60.3 million, down from $126.6 million at year-end 2025. Total debt was $743.2 million at quarter end. Source
  • Leverage ratio fell to 2.7x: Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Ratio was 2.7x, against 3.5x a year earlier. Source
  • Shares outstanding increased: Shares issued and outstanding were 100,844,515 at March 29, 2026, against 100,724,862 at December 28, 2025. Source

Strategy and long-term plan

  • Strategy rests on core capabilities: Management said the strategy keeps core capabilities and long-standing customer relationships, uses defined adjacent markets, and pursues selective growth initiatives and tuck-in acquisitions. Source
  • Resource delivery and support functions: Management is committed to developing a world-class resource delivery program and strengthening operating and support functions. Source
  • Durable end markets seen as tailwind: Management expects durable end markets to provide a long-term tailwind for the business. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
EPS growth target SourceAdjusted EPS CAGR 30% - 45%, 2025-2029
Capital plan SourceNet Capital Expenditures $75 to $90 million in 2026

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Storm restoration revenue varies from period to period with weather-related events, which management described as unpredictable. Source
  • Operational: Management cited winter seasonality in U.S. Gas as a factor it is working to reduce through diversification actions. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management reiterated full year 2026 guidance in this release. Source
  • Not stated: Management said the quarter reflected meaningful progress mitigating winter seasonality. 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.