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Universal Technical Institute Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 9.6%: Revenue was $220.8 million against $201.4 million a year earlier. Operating expenses rose 17.9% to $205.2 million, reflecting enrollment growth and strategic growth expenses. Source
  • Net income fell on growth spending: Operating income was $15.7 million against $27.5 million. Net income was $12.8 million against $22.2 million, which the company attributed to strategic growth expenses. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA down 23.5%: Adjusted EBITDA was $27.1 million against $35.5 million, a decrease the company attributed to $7.6 million in strategic growth expenses. Source
  • Average active students up 7.2%: Average full-time active students were 26,858, up 7.2%. UTI averaged 16,347, up 5.7%, and Concorde averaged 10,511, up 9.5%. Source
  • Operating expenses rose 17.9%: Operating expenses were $205.2 million against $174.0 million. Management attributed the increase to enrollment growth and strategic growth expenses for new campus launches and program expansions. Source
  • Revenue and EBITDA ranges kept: Management said it continues to expect fiscal 2026 revenue of $905 million to $915 million and reported adjusted EBITDA of $114 million to $119 million. Source
  • Operating and free cash flow negative: Operating cash flow was $3.1 million against $23.0 million. Free cash flow was negative $19.2 million, and adjusted free cash flow was negative $19.1 million. Source
  • Cash capex rose to $22.2 million: Cash capex was $22.2 million, against $3.3 million a year earlier, driven by new campus and program investments for both divisions, plus equipment, facilities and IT spending. Source
  • Four new campuses announced: Four new planned campus locations were announced across both divisions. Opening timing depends on regulatory approvals. Source

“the first quarter tracked in line with our plans and exceeded our expectations for disciplined execution on our North Star strategy”

Jerome Grant, CEO of Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFiscal 2026$905 million to $915 millionKept
Baseline adjusted EBITDA (before growth investments) SourceFiscal 2026approximately $156 million
Reported adjusted EBITDA SourceFiscal 2026$114 million to $119 million, including about $40 million of growth investmentsKept
Total new student starts SourceFiscal 202631,500 to 33,000Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Fiscal 2026 revenue, baseline adjusted EBITDA and reported adjusted EBITDA guidance were reiterated, with the baseline stated as approximately $156 million. Source
  • Guidance kept: The fiscal 2026 new student starts range of 31,500 to 33,000 was reiterated. Source
  • New: Four new planned campus locations were announced across both divisions, with opening timing subject to regulatory approval. Source
  • New: Corporate segment costs are now mostly allocated to UTI and Concorde by percentage of revenue, and prior-year segment figures were recast to match. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 9.6%: Revenue was $220.8 million against $201.4 million a year earlier. Operating expenses rose 17.9% to $205.2 million, reflecting enrollment growth and strategic growth expenses. Source
  • Net income fell on growth spending: Operating income was $15.7 million against $27.5 million. Net income was $12.8 million against $22.2 million, which the company attributed to strategic growth expenses. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell to $0.23: Basic EPS was $0.24 against $0.41, and diluted EPS was $0.23 against $0.40. Diluted weighted shares were 55,744 thousand against 55,406 thousand. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA down 23.5%: Adjusted EBITDA was $27.1 million against $35.5 million, a decrease the company attributed to $7.6 million in strategic growth expenses. Source

Segments: UTI and Concorde

  • UTI revenue rose to $142.8 million: UTI revenue was $142.8 million against $131.5 million. UTI net income was $15.0 million against $21.4 million. Source
  • Concorde revenue rose to $78.0 million: Concorde revenue was $78.0 million against $70.0 million. Concorde net income was $3.8 million against $6.8 million, and corporate net loss was $6.0 million in both periods. Source
  • Segment adjusted EBITDA lower: UTI adjusted EBITDA was $22.7 million against $29.0 million, and Concorde was $6.2 million against $8.6 million. Corporate adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $1.8 million. Source
  • Prior segment figures recast: Corporate costs are now mostly allocated to the two segments by percentage of revenue, and prior-year segment disclosures were recast for comparability. Source

“Based on our first quarter performance, we are reiterating our fiscal 2026 guidance and remain confident in our full-year outlook.”

Bruce Schuman, CFO of Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

Students and new starts

  • Average active students up 7.2%: Average full-time active students were 26,858, up 7.2%. UTI averaged 16,347, up 5.7%, and Concorde averaged 10,511, up 9.5%. Source
  • New starts reached 5,449: Total new student starts were 5,449, up 2.6% from 5,313. UTI starts rose 5.1%, while Concorde starts were flat, down 0.2%. Source
  • Period-end active students up 6.7%: End-of-period full-time active students were 26,233, up 6.7%. UTI ended at 15,823, up 5.1%, and Concorde at 10,410, up 9.3%. Source
  • Newer campuses cited as validation: Management cited the performance of Austin and Miramar, rapid demand at Fort Myers, and early momentum in San Antonio and Atlanta as validating site selection and program mix. Source

Costs, margins and credit losses

  • Operating expenses rose 17.9%: Operating expenses were $205.2 million against $174.0 million. Management attributed the increase to enrollment growth and strategic growth expenses for new campus launches and program expansions. Source
  • Compensation and advertising higher: Compensation and benefits were $108.4 million against $94.8 million, and advertising was $25.2 million against $21.2 million. Source
  • Credit loss provision higher: The provision for credit losses was $7.8 million against $2.1 million in the year-earlier quarter. The documents give no management commentary on it. Source
  • Depreciation and amortization higher: Depreciation and amortization was $8.9 million against $8.0 million in the year-earlier quarter. Source

“Our financial position provides the flexibility to fund this growth without compromise”

Bruce Schuman, CFO of Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

Fiscal 2026 guidance reiterated

  • Revenue and EBITDA ranges kept: Management said it continues to expect fiscal 2026 revenue of $905 million to $915 million and reported adjusted EBITDA of $114 million to $119 million. Source
  • Growth investments included in EBITDA: Reported adjusted EBITDA includes approximately $40 million of growth investments. Baseline adjusted EBITDA, excluding those investments, is stated as approximately $156 million. Source
  • Starts range kept: Total new student starts are still expected between 31,500 and 33,000 for fiscal 2026. Source

Capital, cash and liquidity

  • Operating and free cash flow negative: Operating cash flow was $3.1 million against $23.0 million. Free cash flow was negative $19.2 million, and adjusted free cash flow was negative $19.1 million. Source
  • Cash capex rose to $22.2 million: Cash capex was $22.2 million, against $3.3 million a year earlier, driven by new campus and program investments for both divisions, plus equipment, facilities and IT spending. Source
  • Liquidity of $233.2 million: Total available liquidity was $233.2 million. This included $93.6 million of cash, $69.2 million of short-term investments and $70.4 million of revolver availability. Source
  • Debt rose with revolver draw: Total debt was $101.4 million at quarter end, including $35.0 million drawn on the revolver. The cash flow statement shows $35.0 million drawn and $20.0 million repaid in the quarter. Source

Strategy and campus expansion

  • Four new campuses announced: Four new planned campus locations were announced across both divisions. Opening timing depends on regulatory approvals. Source
  • Repeatable operating model described: Management said new and optimized campuses and program expansions are scaling a durable, repeatable operating model under the North Star strategy. Source
  • Partnerships cited for skilled labor gap: Management cited policymaker engagement, employer partnerships and the Heartland Dental co-branded campus as new pathways to address the skilled labor gap. Source

Reporting and non-GAAP items

  • Non-GAAP adjustment list differs: This release lists integration-related costs and restructuring costs as adjustments. The prior release also listed acquisition-related costs and facility lease accounting adjustments. Source
  • Stock compensation and share withholding: Stock-based compensation was $2.6 million against $0.7 million. Payroll taxes paid on stock compensation through shares withheld were $7.5 million. Source
  • Prior-year escrow settlement noted: Integration-related costs were $51 thousand this quarter. The prior-year quarter included a $0.7 million receipt from a final escrow settlement. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 February 2026

  • Campus openings subject to approval: Four new planned campus locations are announced, with openings dependent on regulatory approvals; no opening dates are given. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Average full-time active students (total) Source26,858, up 7.2%
Average full-time active students (UTI and Concorde) SourceUTI 16,347 (up 5.7%); Concorde 10,511 (up 9.5%)
Total new student starts Source5,449, up 2.6%
End-of-period full-time active students Source26,233, up 6.7%

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Strategic growth expenses tied to new campus launches and program expansions reduced operating income and adjusted EBITDA this quarter. Source
  • Regulatory: Opening timing for the four planned campus locations depends on appropriate regulatory approvals. Source
  • Financial: Operating and free cash flow were negative in the quarter while capex rose, and the company drew $35.0 million on its revolver. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the company is delivering on its commitments across revenue, average full-time active students and adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • On track: Management said the first quarter tracked in line with its plans and exceeded its expectations. 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.