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Centuri Holdings, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 1 lowered, 3 narrowed, 3 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Record quarterly revenue, up 33%: Revenue was $962.0 million, up 33% from the second quarter of 2025, and the company reported record quarterly revenue. Base Revenue rose 36% to $959.5 million on new bid and MSA work. Source
  • Base Gross Profit up 21%: Gross profit was $69.1 million, up 2%. Base Gross Profit was $75.7 million, up 21% from $62.8 million, and Base Gross Profit Margin was 7.9%. Source
  • Base margin fell on fuel and labor: Base Gross Profit Margin fell to 7.9% from 8.9% a year earlier, which management attributed mainly to fuel costs and labor mobilization tied to headcount growth. Source
  • Q2 bookings near $850 million: The company secured nearly $850 million of bookings in the quarter, a 0.9x book-to-bill. Year-to-date bookings reached $2.2 billion, or 1.3x. Source
  • JJ White acquisition closed July 20: The company completed the JJ White acquisition on July 20, 2026, adding Union Electric scale and in-plant construction work, including for data centers. Source
  • Extra $3 million for U.S. Gas capacity: In the second quarter the company put a further $3 million into U.S. Gas resources, mobilization and ramp-up, aimed at higher margins and less seasonality. Source
  • Chicago receivables written down: The write-down reduced second-quarter U.S. Gas revenue by $9.0 million, and no receivables or contract assets tied to the matter remain. Source

“Our second quarter results reflect tremendous year-over-year growth, including record quarterly revenue and a 21% year-over-year increase in Base Gross Profit,”

Christian Brown, President & CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Base Revenue Sourcefull year 2026$3.5 to $3.7 billionRaised from $3.15 to $3.45 billion
Base Gross Profit Sourcefull year 2026$270 to $290 millionRaised from $255 to $285 million
Revenue (including storm restoration) Sourcefull year 2026$3.59 to $3.79 billionRaised from $3.24 to $3.54 billion
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$285 to $310 millionNarrowed, low end up from $280 to $310 million
Adjusted Net Income Sourcefull year 2026$60 to $75 millionNarrowed, low end up from $55 to $75 million
Net Capital Expenditures Source2026$60 to $75 millionLowered from $75 to $90 million
Book-to-bill ratio Sourcefull year 2026approximately 1.2xNarrowed, low end up from 1.1x to 1.2x
Incremental fuel expense Sourcefull year 2026approximately $5 millionNew
Base Gross Profit Margin Sourcesecond half of 2026approximately 9.0%New
JJ White annual gross profit contribution Sourceannualmore than $20 millionNew
Storm restoration services assumption Source2026 guidance (three-year 2023-2025 averages)$88 million revenue and $28 million gross profitKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Base Revenue and Base Gross Profit ranges were raised for full year 2026. Source
  • Guidance raised: Revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income ranges were raised for full year 2026, with lower ends moved up. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Net Capital Expenditures range for 2026 was lowered to $60 to $75 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year book-to-bill target narrowed to approximately 1.2x. Source
  • New guidance: A second-half 2026 Base Gross Profit Margin forecast of approximately 9.0% was provided. Source
  • New guidance: Guidance now includes about $5 million of incremental fuel expense. Source
  • New guidance: A JJ White annual gross profit contribution above $20 million was added to guidance. Source
  • Guidance kept: Storm restoration assumptions of $88 million revenue and $28 million gross profit were kept. Source
  • New: JJ White acquisition was completed on July 20, 2026. Source
  • New: A write-down of all remaining receivables and contract assets for pre-2020 City of Chicago work was recorded in the second quarter. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Record quarterly revenue, up 33%: Revenue was $962.0 million, up 33% from the second quarter of 2025, and the company reported record quarterly revenue. Base Revenue rose 36% to $959.5 million on new bid and MSA work. Source
  • Base Gross Profit up 21%: Gross profit was $69.1 million, up 2%. Base Gross Profit was $75.7 million, up 21% from $62.8 million, and Base Gross Profit Margin was 7.9%. Source
  • Adjusted Net Income up 44%: Adjusted Net Income was $24.4 million, up 44%. Net income attributable to common stock was $6.1 million against $8.1 million, and diluted EPS was $0.06 against $0.09. Source
  • Adjusted EBIT and EBITDA rose: Adjusted EBIT was $40.5 million, up 8% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA was $75.7 million against $71.8 million, a 5% increase. Source
  • Storm work excluded from Base measures: Base Revenue and Base Gross Profit exclude storm restoration services, which management describes as highly unpredictable. Source

Segments and regions

  • Canadian Operations and U.S. Gas led growth: Revenue growth by segment: Canadian Operations 48%, U.S. Gas 45%, Union Electric 23%, and Non-Union Electric 11%. Source
  • Base revenue growth from bids and MSAs: Base Revenue growth was primarily driven by new bid and MSA contracts in U.S. Gas and new bid work in Union Electric. Source
  • U.S. Gas base margin 5.9% excluding Chicago: Excluding the $9.0 million City of Chicago reversal, U.S. Gas Base Gross Profit Margin was 5.9%, compared with 7.8% a year earlier. Source

“The business has delivered a trailing 12-month Base Gross Profit Margin of 7.8%, compared to 7.4% a year ago, underscoring sustained improvement in profitability.”

Christian Brown, President & CEO

Costs, fuel and margins

  • Base margin fell on fuel and labor: Base Gross Profit Margin fell to 7.9% from 8.9% a year earlier, which management attributed mainly to fuel costs and labor mobilization tied to headcount growth. Source
  • Fuel and resource costs in quarter: Management estimated higher fuel prices cost about $6 million across the business, and resource investment tied to headcount growth cost about $3 million. Source
  • Total margin effect of 95 basis points: Management said the two items together had an approximately 95 basis point impact on Base Gross Profit Margin. Source
  • Selling, general and administrative costs rose: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $37.2 million, up from $29.0 million in the prior-year quarter. Source

Demand, bookings and backlog

  • Q2 bookings near $850 million: The company secured nearly $850 million of bookings in the quarter, a 0.9x book-to-bill. Year-to-date bookings reached $2.2 billion, or 1.3x. Source
  • New awards included $125 million data center: Bookings included nearly $400 million of new bid awards, including a $125 million data center award, and about $250 million of MSA renewals. Source
  • Backlog reached $6.4 billion: Backlog was about $6.4 billion at quarter-end, up 8% from year-end 2025 and up 21% from the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Pipeline up 23% to $16 billion: The pipeline reached $16 billion at quarter-end, up 23% from the first quarter, and about $2.5 billion of bids were outstanding, up 15%. Source

“Notably, trailing 12-month margins expanded even as higher fuel prices created an estimated $6 million headwind in the second quarter, highlighting the strength and resilience of the underlying business.”

Christian Brown, President & CEO

Acquisition of JJ White

  • JJ White acquisition closed July 20: The company completed the JJ White acquisition on July 20, 2026, adding Union Electric scale and in-plant construction work, including for data centers. Source
  • Cash consideration about $62 million: Cash consideration paid was about $62 million, subject to customary post-closing adjustments. Source
  • JJ White backlog and pipeline at closing: At closing JJ White had nearly 1,000 employees, about $315 million of backlog and about $2.8 billion of pipeline. Source

Workforce and U.S. Gas capacity

  • Workforce up 18% in first half: The company added about 1,700 employees, or 18%, in the first half of 2026, in line with backlog and Base Revenue growth. Source
  • Extra $3 million for U.S. Gas capacity: In the second quarter the company put a further $3 million into U.S. Gas resources, mobilization and ramp-up, aimed at higher margins and less seasonality. Source
  • Chicago receivables written down: The write-down reduced second-quarter U.S. Gas revenue by $9.0 million, and no receivables or contract assets tied to the matter remain. Source

Cash, debt and capital

  • Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA at 2.6x: Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA was 2.6x at June 28, 2026, against 3.7x a year earlier. Source
  • Cash down and operating cash outflow: Cash and cash equivalents were $40.5 million at June 28, 2026, against $126.6 million at December 28, 2025. Net cash used in operating activities was $15.0 million for the six months. Source
  • Interest expense fell year over year: Net interest expense was $12.1 million in the quarter, against $18.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $0.24 versus $0.19: Adjusted EPS was $0.24 for the quarter, against $0.19 a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 August 2026

  • JJ White expected accretive: Management expects JJ White to be immediately accretive to Adjusted Net Income. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net capital expenditures, 2026 guidance Source$60 to $75 million

Risks management discussed

  • External: Higher fuel prices are a cost pressure, with about $5 million of full-year expense assumed if current prices persist. Source
  • Operational: Labor mobilization and headcount-related costs weighed on margin in the first half of 2026. Source
  • Financial: A court order led to a write-down of pre-2020 City of Chicago receivables and contract assets. Source
  • External: Storm restoration revenue varies from period to period because of weather-related events, and is excluded from Base measures. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said the forecast fully aligns with expectations set in its Vision One Centuri strategy. Source
  • Met: The company said the JJ White acquisition was completed, as previously announced. Source
  • Not stated: Management described the JJ White acquisition as consistent with its strategy laid out earlier this year. Source
  • Not stated: Management said the planned U.S. Gas investment is expected to affect gross profit and margins in the third quarter and later. 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.