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Matrix Service Co.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 lowered. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose to $206.7 million: Revenue was $206.7 million against $200.2 million a year earlier. The increase came from Storage and Terminal Solutions, partly offset by lower Process and Industrial Facilities revenue and the delays and weather. Source
  • Net income returned after prior-year loss: The company reported net income of $0.8 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, against a net loss of $3.4 million, or $(0.12) per share, a year earlier. The nine-month net loss was $3.7 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS of $0.13: Adjusted net income was $3.8 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, excluding $3.0 million of restructuring costs and other expenses. Adjusted EBITDA was $4.9 million, against $0.01 million a year earlier. Source
  • Client and weather delays shifted work: Management said the project activities affected by the delays will move into later periods, which is the reason given for the lower full-year revenue guidance. Source
  • Storage and Terminal revenue rose 16%: Storage and Terminal Solutions revenue rose to $111.6 million, due to higher LNG project activity. Its gross margin was 7.0%, against 3.9% a year earlier. Source
  • Gross margin rose to 8.3%: Gross profit was $17.2 million, or 8.3% of revenue, against $12.9 million, or 6.4%, a year earlier. The company attributed the increase to higher margins in Storage and Terminal Solutions and Utility and Power Infrastructure. Source
  • Awards of $108.3 million, 0.5x book-to-bill: Project awards totaled $108.3 million, a book-to-bill ratio of 0.5x. Utility and Power Infrastructure drove the awards, at a 0.8x book-to-bill ratio. Source
  • Backlog fell to $1.0 billion: Backlog was $1.0 billion at March 31, 2026, down from $1.1 billion at December 31, 2025, as revenue recognized of $206.7 million exceeded awards of $108.3 million. Source

“During the fiscal third quarter, our team demonstrated strong project execution and operational focus, culminating in a return to profitability,”

John Hewitt, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFiscal year 2026$870 - $890 millionLowered from $875 - $925 million
Revenue growth versus fiscal 2025 SourceFiscal year 202613% - 16%Lowered from 14% - 20%

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Management lowered fiscal 2026 revenue guidance, citing client and weather-related delays on booked work. Source
  • New: Shawn P. Payne is named as incoming President and CEO, under whose leadership the business is undertaking further streamlining. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose to $206.7 million: Revenue was $206.7 million against $200.2 million a year earlier. The increase came from Storage and Terminal Solutions, partly offset by lower Process and Industrial Facilities revenue and the delays and weather. Source
  • Net income returned after prior-year loss: The company reported net income of $0.8 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, against a net loss of $3.4 million, or $(0.12) per share, a year earlier. The nine-month net loss was $3.7 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS of $0.13: Adjusted net income was $3.8 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, excluding $3.0 million of restructuring costs and other expenses. Adjusted EBITDA was $4.9 million, against $0.01 million a year earlier. Source
  • Client and weather delays shifted work: Management said the project activities affected by the delays will move into later periods, which is the reason given for the lower full-year revenue guidance. Source

Segments and regions

  • Storage and Terminal revenue rose 16%: Storage and Terminal Solutions revenue rose to $111.6 million, due to higher LNG project activity. Its gross margin was 7.0%, against 3.9% a year earlier. Source
  • Storage margin rose on project activity: Management attributed the Storage and Terminal Solutions margin increase to higher project activity, improved project execution and fixed cost absorption. Source
  • Utility and Power revenue edged higher: Utility and Power Infrastructure revenue rose to $60.0 million. Gross margin was 13.6%, against 9.4%, which management attributed to improved project execution across the segment. Source
  • Process and Industrial revenue declined: Process and Industrial Facilities revenue fell to $35.1 million from $45.4 million, on lower thermal vacuum chamber, refinery and industrial facility volumes. Gross margin was 2.5%, against 8.3%, citing work mix and a legacy legal settlement. Source

“Our return to profitability marks an important inflection point as we remain focused on continuous improvement.”

John Hewitt, President and Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin rose to 8.3%: Gross profit was $17.2 million, or 8.3% of revenue, against $12.9 million, or 6.4%, a year earlier. The company attributed the increase to higher margins in Storage and Terminal Solutions and Utility and Power Infrastructure. Source
  • SG&A fell on realignment savings: SG&A expenses were $15.2 million, against $17.7 million a year earlier. Management attributed the decrease mainly to costs removed through the organizational realignment over the last 12 months. Source
  • Restructuring and lease costs of $3.0 million: The company incurred $3.0 million of restructuring costs and other expenses in the quarter, tied to the CEO leadership transition and a lease impairment. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Awards of $108.3 million, 0.5x book-to-bill: Project awards totaled $108.3 million, a book-to-bill ratio of 0.5x. Utility and Power Infrastructure drove the awards, at a 0.8x book-to-bill ratio. Source
  • Backlog fell to $1.0 billion: Backlog was $1.0 billion at March 31, 2026, down from $1.1 billion at December 31, 2025, as revenue recognized of $206.7 million exceeded awards of $108.3 million. Source
  • Backlog by segment: Storage and Terminal Solutions held $747.3 million of backlog, Utility and Power Infrastructure $189.4 million and Process and Industrial Facilities $91.9 million. Source
  • Storage awards below segment revenue: Storage and Terminal Solutions awards were $37.5 million, a book-to-bill ratio of 0.3x, against segment revenue of $111.6 million. Source

“among the awards are an increasing number that are related to high-demand verticals including more than $30 million in increased electrical infrastructure and grid-related investments being driven in part by data center demand.”

John Hewitt, President and Chief Executive Officer

Capital, cash and liquidity

  • Liquidity of $297.2 million: Liquidity was $297.2 million, made up of $233.0 million of unrestricted cash and $64.2 million of credit facility availability. A further $25.0 million of restricted cash supports the facility. Source
  • No debt outstanding: The company had no outstanding debt at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Operating cash flow in the quarter: Net cash provided by operating activities was $34.2 million in the quarter and $15.7 million for the nine months. Capital expenditures were $0.9 million in the quarter. Source
  • Tax withholding payments on equity awards: Payments for tax withholding on stock-based compensation were $4.2 million over the nine months, compared with $1.2 million a year earlier. Source

Leadership, streamlining and costs

  • Streamlining under incoming CEO: Management said the business is undertaking further streamlining, so that it is well positioned for sustainable profitable growth and long-term value creation. Source
  • Payne listed as COO and incoming CEO: The conference call participants were John R. Hewitt, President and CEO, Shawn P. Payne, COO and incoming President and CEO, and Kevin S. Cavanah, Vice President and CFO. Source
  • Executive separations cut stock compensation: Stock compensation expense fell by $1.0 million, which management attributed mainly to executive separations during the period. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 May 2026

  • Mining project starts in Q4: A limited notice to proceed was received after quarter end for a major west coast mining project, which begins in the fourth quarter and supports revenue through fiscal 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total backlog Source$1.0 billion
Book-to-bill ratio Source0.5x
Project awards Source$108.3 million

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Client-related engineering and permitting delays, along with weather, affected third quarter revenue and moved booked work into later periods. Source
  • Demand: Management said the pace of new awards was subdued during the third quarter. Source
  • Financial: Process and Industrial Facilities gross margin was reduced by work mix and the settlement of a legacy legal matter. Source
  • Regulatory: The company listed federal trade and environmental policy uncertainty, along with permitting and client decision-making, among factors that may affect project timing and revenue. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The February release said the business remained on track for the $875 million to $925 million range. The May release lowered the range to $870 million to $890 million.
  • Not stated: The February release expected improving profitability in the second half of fiscal 2026 from higher Storage and Terminal Solutions volumes. The May release reports a third quarter net income of $0.8 million.
  • Not stated: The February release expected overhead cost absorption to improve as activity on backlog awards increased through fiscal 2026.

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.