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Jacobs Solutions Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Gross revenue rose 12.3% year on year: Gross revenue was $3.3 billion, up 12.3% year on year. Adjusted net revenue, which excludes pass-through billings, was $2.3 billion, up 8.2%. Source
  • GAAP earnings compared with prior-year loss: GAAP net earnings were $125.0 million, against a net loss of $17.1 million a year earlier. GAAP diluted EPS was $1.11, against a loss of $0.10. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 15.0% year on year: Adjusted EPS was $1.53 against $1.33 a year earlier, an increase of $0.20. Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations were $181.9 million against $165.8 million. Source
  • PA Consulting revenue up 16%: PA Consulting revenue was $354,433 thousand against $306,748 thousand. Segment operating profit was $84,893 thousand against $66,738 thousand. Source
  • Backlog reached $26.3 billion: Backlog was $26.3 billion, up 20.6% year on year. Q1 book-to-bill was 2.0x, and the trailing twelve-month book-to-bill was 1.4x. Source
  • Share repurchases of $252 million: Share repurchases were $252,082 thousand, against $201,626 thousand a year earlier. Management described the repurchases as sequentially higher than the prior quarter. Source
  • Operating cash flow was $380.8 million: Net cash provided by operating activities was $380,760 thousand, against $107,456 thousand. Additions to property and equipment were $15,821 thousand. Source
  • Plan to own all of PA Consulting: Management said the recently announced transaction advances its strategy to redefine the asset lifecycle, through full ownership of PA Consulting. Source

“We delivered excellent first quarter results driven by revenue strength in both Infrastructure & Advanced Facilities (I&AF) and PA Consulting.”

Bob Pragada, Chair and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted net revenue growth Sourcefiscal 2026, over fiscal 20256.5% to 10.0%Raised from 6.0% to 10.0%
Adjusted EBITDA margin Sourcefiscal 202614.4% to 14.7%Kept
Adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$6.95 to $7.30Raised from $6.90 to $7.30
Free cash flow margin Sourcefiscal 20267.0% to 8.5%Raised from 7.0% to 8.0%

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Adjusted net revenue growth range for fiscal 2026 raised at its low end, from 6.0% to 6.5%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EPS range for fiscal 2026 raised at its low end, from $6.90 to $6.95. Source
  • Guidance raised: Free cash flow margin range for fiscal 2026 raised at its high end, from 8.0% to 8.5%. Source
  • New: Company announced acquisition of the remaining stake in PA Consulting; the prior release did not mention it. Source
  • New: Quarterly dividend increased 12.5%; the prior release did not mention a dividend change. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Gross revenue rose 12.3% year on year: Gross revenue was $3.3 billion, up 12.3% year on year. Adjusted net revenue, which excludes pass-through billings, was $2.3 billion, up 8.2%. Source
  • GAAP earnings compared with prior-year loss: GAAP net earnings were $125.0 million, against a net loss of $17.1 million a year earlier. GAAP diluted EPS was $1.11, against a loss of $0.10. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 15.0% year on year: Adjusted EPS was $1.53 against $1.33 a year earlier, an increase of $0.20. Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations were $181.9 million against $165.8 million. Source

Segment results

  • I&AF revenue and profit both higher: I&AF adjusted net revenue was $1,898,195 thousand against $1,775,749 thousand a year earlier. Segment operating profit was $214,740 thousand against $210,275 thousand. Source
  • PA Consulting revenue up 16%: PA Consulting revenue was $354,433 thousand against $306,748 thousand. Segment operating profit was $84,893 thousand against $66,738 thousand. Source
  • I&AF pass-through revenue higher: I&AF pass-through revenue was $1,040,653 thousand against $850,459 thousand. Pass-through amounts are excluded from adjusted net revenue. Source

“We exceeded expectations across key financial metrics, including revenue, margin, EPS and cash from operations and believe we are well positioned to build on this momentum”

Venk Nathamuni, CFO

Sectors, products and customers

  • Sector drivers named for I&AF growth: Management named the Life Sciences, Data Center, Semiconductor, Water and Transportation sectors as the drivers of I&AF growth in the quarter. Source
  • Sector list changed from fourth quarter: The fourth quarter release named Life Sciences, Data Center, Water, Energy & Power and Transportation as FY25 drivers. This release adds Semiconductor and does not name Energy & Power.
  • Digital consulting demand at PA Consulting: Management tied PA Consulting's revenue growth in the quarter to demand for its digital consulting services. Source

Costs, margins and tax

  • Operating profit up on higher gross profit: Gross profit was $765,250 thousand against $721,267 thousand. SG&A was $532,689 thousand against $512,849 thousand, and operating profit was $232,561 thousand against $208,418 thousand. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin 13.4% vs 13.5%: Adjusted EBITDA was $302.6 million, up 7.3% year on year. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 13.4%, against 13.5% a year earlier. Source
  • Restructuring and transaction charges reported: Footnoted charges were $2.2 million for the Separation Transaction, $1.8 million for the PA Consulting transaction and $22.7 million for subsidiary-level compensation agreements. Source
  • GAAP tax rate above adjusted rate: The GAAP effective tax rate was 35.5%, against 107.5% a year earlier. The adjusted effective tax rate was 26.5%, against 27.5%. Source

“Our ability to return significant amounts of capital to shareholders, while selectively engaging in M&A is a testament to our balance sheet quality”

Venk Nathamuni, CFO

Demand and order book

  • Backlog reached $26.3 billion: Backlog was $26.3 billion, up 20.6% year on year. Q1 book-to-bill was 2.0x, and the trailing twelve-month book-to-bill was 1.4x. Source
  • Backlog growth by segment: I&AF backlog was $25,902 million, against $21,484 million a year earlier. PA Consulting backlog was $406 million, against $331 million. Source
  • Contract liabilities higher at quarter end: Contract liabilities were $1,160,967 thousand at quarter end, against $940,616 thousand at September 26, 2025. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Share repurchases of $252 million: Share repurchases were $252,082 thousand, against $201,626 thousand a year earlier. Management described the repurchases as sequentially higher than the prior quarter. Source
  • Operating cash flow was $380.8 million: Net cash provided by operating activities was $380,760 thousand, against $107,456 thousand. Additions to property and equipment were $15,821 thousand. Source
  • Borrowings and long-term debt increased: Net proceeds from borrowings were $245,000 thousand. Long-term debt was $2,486,022 thousand, against $2,236,456 thousand at September 26, 2025. Source
  • Cash balance higher at quarter end: Cash and cash equivalents were $1,552,913 thousand, against $1,235,448 thousand at September 26, 2025. Source
  • Cash dividends and tax withholding paid: Cash dividends to shareholders were $38,558 thousand. Taxes paid on vested restricted stock were $16,329 thousand. Source

Strategy and PA Consulting

  • Plan to own all of PA Consulting: Management said the recently announced transaction advances its strategy to redefine the asset lifecycle, through full ownership of PA Consulting. Source
  • Transaction charges at PA Consulting: The PA Consulting transaction carried $1.8 million of restructuring and other charges in the quarter, mainly professional services and dedicated internal personnel. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Backlog, Infrastructure & Advanced Facilities Source$25,902 million (December 26, 2025); $21,484 million a year earlier
Backlog, PA Consulting Source$406 million (December 26, 2025); $331 million a year earlier
Total backlog Source$26.3 billion, up 20.6% year on year
Book-to-bill, first quarter Source2.0x
Book-to-bill, trailing twelve months Source1.4x

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management said it cannot predict with sufficient certainty the costs of transaction expenses, restructuring and integration for fiscal 2026, so some non-GAAP reconciliations are not available. 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.