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Sterling Infrastructure, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 9 raised, 1 lowered, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 92% on CEC: Revenue reached $825.7 million, against $430.9 million a year earlier; the recently acquired CEC business contributed $156.1 million of it. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS reached $3.59: Adjusted net income was $111.3 million after excluding stock-based compensation, intangible amortization, acquisition costs and earn-out expense. Source
  • E-Infrastructure revenue up 174%: E-Infrastructure revenue reached $597.7 million, with adjusted operating income up 177%, reflecting organic growth and CEC contributions. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin reached 19.2%: Total adjusted operating income was $158.2 million, a 19.2% margin, up from 16.4%; segment margins rose except in Building Solutions. Source
  • Future phase pipeline exceeds $1.3 billion: The high-probability future phase pipeline exceeds $1.3 billion; with signed backlog and unsigned awards, management cites a pool approaching $6.5 billion, up about $2 billion since year-end 2025. Source
  • Midpoint implies 51% revenue growth: Management said the midpoint of 2026 guidance represents 51% revenue growth, 72% adjusted EPS growth and 70% adjusted EBITDA growth. Source

“We are off to an exceptional start in 2026”

Joe Cutillo, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFull year 2026$3.70 billion to $3.80 billionRaised from $3.05 billion to $3.20 billion
Net income SourceFull year 2026$513 million to $533 millionRaised from $365 million to $384 million
Diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026$16.50 to $17.15Raised from $11.65 to $12.25
EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$801 million to $831 millionRaised from $587 million to $620 million
Adjusted net income SourceFull year 2026$572 million to $592 millionRaised from $422 million to $441 million
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026$18.40 to $19.05Raised from $13.45 to $14.05
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026$843 million to $873 millionRaised from $626 million to $659 million
Depreciation and amortization SourceFull year 2026$104 million to $107 millionRaised from $96 million to $99 million
Interest expense, net SourceFull year 2026$5 million to $7 millionKept
Income tax expense SourceFull year 2026$179 million to $184 millionRaised from $121 million to $130 million
Weighted diluted shares SourceFull year 202631.0 million (approximate)Lowered from 31.3 million (approximate)

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 guidance ranges for revenue, net income, EPS, EBITDA and the adjusted measures were raised from the February ranges. Source
  • New: The company was awarded the initial phase of site development work for a large, multi-year semiconductor fabrication campus during the quarter. Source
  • New: Two data center campuses are in active construction, with site and electrical services delivered in an integrated capacity. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 92% on CEC: Revenue reached $825.7 million, against $430.9 million a year earlier; the recently acquired CEC business contributed $156.1 million of it. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS rose: Net income attributable to common stockholders was $96.0 million, or $3.09 per diluted share, against $39.5 million and $1.28 a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS reached $3.59: Adjusted net income was $111.3 million after excluding stock-based compensation, intangible amortization, acquisition costs and earn-out expense. Source
  • Organic growth above 55%: Management said organic growth was over 55% within the 92% revenue increase, and that adjusted EBITDA margins were above 20%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 107%: Adjusted EBITDA of $166.6 million rose 107%; unadjusted EBITDA of $155.2 million rose 115%. Source

Segments, customers and cross-selling

  • E-Infrastructure revenue up 174%: E-Infrastructure revenue reached $597.7 million, with adjusted operating income up 177%, reflecting organic growth and CEC contributions. Source
  • Legacy site development margins expanded: Legacy site development revenue rose 102%; operating margins expanded from the prior year and from the prior quarter. Source
  • Electrical revenue up 78%: Electrical revenue rose 78% against the pre-acquisition first quarter, with margins in line with management's expectations. Source
  • Transportation revenue up 10%: Transportation revenue rose 10% and adjusted operating income rose 26%, citing Rocky Mountain performance and a mix shift toward higher-margin projects. Source
  • Building revenue rose, profit fell: Building Solutions revenue rose 3% on higher homebuilder activity, while adjusted operating income fell 42% against a year-ago quarter management called challenging. Source
  • Cross-selling CEC electrical with site work: Management said it is gaining traction cross-selling CEC mission-critical electrical services alongside Sterling site development services. Source

“strengthen our conviction that 2026 will be another outstanding year for Sterling”

Joe Cutillo, Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Adjusted operating margin reached 19.2%: Total adjusted operating income was $158.2 million, a 19.2% margin, up from 16.4%; segment margins rose except in Building Solutions. Source
  • Building margin fell to 8.7%: Building Solutions adjusted margin fell to 8.7% from 15.5%; Transportation adjusted margin rose to 12.9% from 11.3%. Source
  • G&A expense rose: General and administrative expense was $47.9 million, against $34.6 million a year earlier, while intangible asset amortization was $7.1 million. Source

Demand, backlog and pipeline

  • CEC added $592.0 million to backlog: CEC contributed $592.0 million to backlog; excluding it, backlog rose 51%, and combined backlog excluding CEC rose 46%. Source
  • Future phase pipeline exceeds $1.3 billion: The high-probability future phase pipeline exceeds $1.3 billion; with signed backlog and unsigned awards, management cites a pool approaching $6.5 billion, up about $2 billion since year-end 2025. Source
  • CEC awards raised combined backlog: CEC awards during the quarter raised its combined backlog by $1.2 billion. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Operating cash flow of $165.6 million: Operating cash flow was $165.6 million for the quarter, against $84.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Cash balance rose to $511.9 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $511.9 million at quarter end, up from $390.7 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Share buybacks at $305.14 average: Share repurchases were $12.3 million at an average $305.14 per share, against $43.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Capital spending with no acquisitions: Capital expenditures were $19.6 million, against $17.9 million a year earlier, with no acquisitions in the quarter. Source

Guidance and implied growth

  • Midpoint implies 51% revenue growth: Management said the midpoint of 2026 guidance represents 51% revenue growth, 72% adjusted EPS growth and 70% adjusted EBITDA growth. Source
  • Management cites momentum behind raise: Management said the raise reflects momentum across the business, expanded backlog, the future phase position and visibility into future work. Source
  • Stock compensation included in guidance: Full-year 2026 guidance includes non-cash stock-based compensation of $32 million, against $24 million in 2025, and intangible amortization of $36 million. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Signed backlog Source$3.80 billion, up 78%
Combined backlog Source$5.15 billion, up 131%
Book-to-burn ratio Source2.1x backlog; 3.5x combined backlog
Unsigned awards Source$1.36 billion
Mission-critical share of E-Infrastructure backlog Sourceover 90%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management expects Building Solutions conditions to remain challenging through 2026, citing homebuyer affordability constraints. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the planned downsizing remains on track and is expected to support margin expansion as the year progresses. Source
  • Ahead: Management said 2025 adjusted diluted EPS surpassed the upper end of the range it had previously guided.

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.