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Parsons Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue fell 4%, organic fell 8%: Revenue was $1.5 billion, down $63 million or 4%, and down 8% organically. Excluding the confidential contract, revenue rose 8% and organic revenue rose 3%. Source
  • Operating and net income declined: Operating income fell 12% to $96 million. Net income fell 20% to $53 million, which management tied to the same items. Source
  • Federal Solutions revenue fell 10%: Federal Solutions revenue was $758 million, down 10% and down 17% organically. Excluding the confidential contract, it rose 12%, or 4% organically. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin hit a Q1 record: Adjusted EBITDA rose 1% to $151 million, a first quarter record, and the margin rose 50 basis points to 10.1%. Source
  • Quarterly book-to-bill of 1.4x: Book-to-bill was 1.4x on net bookings of $2.1 billion for the quarter. Source
  • Total backlog reached a record: Total backlog was $9.3 billion, up $235 million from a year earlier. Funded backlog of $6.6 billion is 71% of total. Source
  • Operating cash use of $4 million: Cash used in operating activities was $4 million, against $12 million in the first quarter of 2025, which the release calls a first quarter record. Source

“Revenue performance was in line with our expectations, and we continued to complement our organic growth with strategic, accretive acquisitions that enhance our differentiation and drive long-term shareholder value,”

Carey Smith, chair, president, and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefiscal year 2026$6,500 million - $6,800 millionKept
Adjusted EBITDA including non-controlling interest Sourcefiscal year 2026$615 million - $675 millionKept
Cash flow from operating activities Sourcefiscal year 2026$470 million - $530 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: After quarter-end, Parsons received $400 million of previously unannounced Other Transaction Agreements, each with a three-year period of performance. Source
  • New: After quarter-end, Parsons received a single-award classified IDIQ contract with a seven-year, $184 million ceiling value. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue fell 4%, organic fell 8%: Revenue was $1.5 billion, down $63 million or 4%, and down 8% organically. Excluding the confidential contract, revenue rose 8% and organic revenue rose 3%. Source
  • Operating and net income declined: Operating income fell 12% to $96 million. Net income fell 20% to $53 million, which management tied to the same items. Source
  • Diluted EPS down, adjusted EPS up: GAAP diluted EPS was $0.49, against $0.60. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.79, against $0.78 a year earlier. Source

Segments and regions

  • Critical Infrastructure revenue rose 3%: Critical Infrastructure revenue was $733 million, up 3%, with 2% organic growth led by Global Transportation and contributions from TRS Group and Applied Sciences. Source
  • Critical Infrastructure margins set records: Critical Infrastructure adjusted EBITDA rose 8% to $79 million, and its margin rose 50 basis points to 10.8%. Source
  • Federal Solutions revenue fell 10%: Federal Solutions revenue was $758 million, down 10% and down 17% organically. Excluding the confidential contract, it rose 12%, or 4% organically. Source
  • Federal Solutions margin rose on EBITDA dip: Federal Solutions adjusted EBITDA fell 5% to $72 million, while its margin rose 40 basis points to 9.4%. Source

“There is increasing global demand for both defense and infrastructure.”

Carey Smith, chair, president, and chief executive officer

Contract wins and customers

  • Four single-award wins above $100 million: Four single-award contracts, each worth more than $100 million, were won during the quarter. Source
  • FAA contract extended through 2030: The $593 million FAA extension runs through 2030 under a $1.8 billion ceiling value, and $410 million was booked in the quarter. Source
  • Middle East transportation management award: A new five-year contract worth over $340 million covers program management for a major Middle East transportation project, with over $300 million booked. Source
  • Canadian mine remediation funding added: An additional $150 million was awarded for construction management on the Faro and Giant Mine remediation in Canada, and the full amount was booked in the quarter. Source

Margins and costs

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin hit a Q1 record: Adjusted EBITDA rose 1% to $151 million, a first quarter record, and the margin rose 50 basis points to 10.1%. Source
  • Execution and acquisitions lifted margin: Management attributed the EBITDA and margin increases to improved execution and accretive acquisitions, which offset lower revenue on the confidential contract. Source
  • Transaction costs rose to $8.4 million: Transaction-related costs were $8.4 million, against $3.7 million a year earlier, mainly fees for professional services and employee retention. Source

“Looking forward, we are very optimistic about our future.”

Carey Smith, chair, president, and chief executive officer

Demand and the order book

  • Quarterly book-to-bill of 1.4x: Book-to-bill was 1.4x on net bookings of $2.1 billion for the quarter. Source
  • Trailing book-to-bill at 1.1x: The trailing twelve-month book-to-bill was 1.1x on net bookings of $6.7 billion. Source
  • Total backlog reached a record: Total backlog was $9.3 billion, up $235 million from a year earlier. Funded backlog of $6.6 billion is 71% of total. Source
  • Ratio at or above 1.0x since IPO: Management said the trailing twelve-month book-to-bill has been at 1.0x or greater in every quarter since the IPO. Source

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash use of $4 million: Cash used in operating activities was $4 million, against $12 million in the first quarter of 2025, which the release calls a first quarter record. Source
  • Share repurchases and distributions: Repurchases of common stock were $35 million, against $25 million a year earlier. Distributions to noncontrolling interests were $34 million. Source

Acquisitions and strategy

  • Accretive acquisitions remain the strategy: Management said acquisitions are meant to complement organic growth, and that Altamira fits its aim of revenue growth and adjusted EBITDA margins of at least 10%. Source
  • Altamira adds classified intelligence customers: Altamira adds customer depth in classified intelligence work, including the National Air and Space Intelligence Center and the National Security Agency. Source

Recognition and awards

  • Ethics recognition for 17th year: Parsons was named by Ethisphere as one of the 2026 World's Most Ethical Companies, the 17th consecutive year of recognition. Source
  • Middle East project award honored: The Middle East team's King Abdullah Finance District project won a Big Project Middle East award, the third consecutive year for that team. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 April 2026

  • $11 billion of awards not yet booked: Management cited $11 billion in awarded contracts not yet booked, which it said positions the company to deliver for customers and shareholders. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Federal Solutions adjusted EBITDA was primarily affected by lower volume on the fixed-price confidential contract, which management cited for the decline. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said first quarter revenue performance was in line with its expectations. Source
  • Not stated: Management reiterated its fiscal 2026 revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and operating cash flow guidance ranges, without stating a status against them. 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.