greeksoup/ stock research

Universal Technical Institute Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 6.7% in quarter: Revenue for the quarter was $221.4M, up from $207.4M a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA down 51.0%: Adjusted EBITDA was $14.1M against $28.9M, with about $11M of strategic growth investments in the quarter. Source
  • Average full-time students up 7.2%: Average full-time active students were 26,385, with UTI at 15,556 (up 5.3%) and Concorde at 10,829 (up 10.2%). Source
  • AI driving skilled-labor demand: The CEO said advancements in artificial intelligence are accelerating demand for workers who build, maintain and operate infrastructure. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell: Net cash from operating activities was $7.1M for six months, against $22.2M a year earlier. Source
  • Capex drove negative free cash flow: Cash capital expenditures were $52.7M for six months, mainly for new campus and program investments; free cash flow was negative $45.6M. Source
  • Debt rose with revolver draws: Total debt was $130.7M, including $65.0M drawn on the revolver, up from $101.4M at December 31, 2025. Source

“Our new campus launches are providing further validation that our growth model is both repeatable and scalable.”

Jerome Grant, CEO of Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
RevenueFiscal 2026 full year$905 million to $915 millionKept
Baseline adjusted EBITDAFiscal 2026 full yearapproximately $156 millionKept
Reported adjusted EBITDAFiscal 2026 full year$114 million to $119 millionKept
Total new student startsFiscal 2026 full year31,500 to 33,000Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The UTI division is now described as operating 16 campuses in nine states, up from 15 in the first-quarter release. Source
  • New: The non-GAAP adjustments now include acquisition-related costs; the first-quarter release listed integration and restructuring items only. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 6.7% in quarter: Revenue for the quarter was $221.4M, up from $207.4M a year earlier. Source
  • Net income fell on growth spending: Net income was $0.4M against $11.4M, and diluted EPS was $0.01 against $0.21; management attributed the decline primarily to strategic growth expenses. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA down 51.0%: Adjusted EBITDA was $14.1M against $28.9M, with about $11M of strategic growth investments in the quarter. Source
  • Six-month operating income down: Six-month operating income was $16.0M against $44.3M; six-month net income was $13.3M against $33.6M. Source

Segments: UTI and Concorde

  • Both divisions reported higher revenue: UTI revenue was $142.7M against $134.2M, and Concorde revenue was $78.7M against $73.2M. Source
  • Concorde moved to a net loss: Concorde posted a net loss of $0.2M against net income of $3.7M; UTI net income was $3.4M against $16.5M, and corporate was a $2.7M loss. Source
  • Six-month segment net income lower: Six-month net income was $18.4M for UTI against $37.9M, and $3.6M for Concorde against $10.5M. Source
  • Corporate costs allocated by revenue: Since October 1, 2025, most Corporate segment costs are allocated to UTI and Concorde by percentage of revenue, and prior-year segment figures were recast. Source

“Based on our performance through the first six months of the year and the visibility we have into the remainder of fiscal 2026, we are reaffirming our full-year guidance across all metrics.”

Bruce Schuman, CFO of Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

Students and new starts

  • Average full-time students up 7.2%: Average full-time active students were 26,385, with UTI at 15,556 (up 5.3%) and Concorde at 10,829 (up 10.2%). Source
  • Quarter new starts up 13.8%: New student starts were 7,569 against 6,650; UTI starts rose 14.5% to 4,110 and Concorde starts rose 13.1% to 3,459. Source
  • Six-month new starts up 8.8%: Six-month new starts were 13,018 against 11,963, with UTI at 7,003 and Concorde at 6,015. Source

Costs and margins

  • Operating expenses rose faster than revenue: Operating expenses rose to $221.1M from $190.6M, a 16.0% increase, against revenue growth of 6.7%. Source
  • Growth costs tied to campus launches: Management tied the higher expenses to growth costs for new campus launches and program expansions over the past year. Source
  • Six-month operating expenses up 16.9%: Six-month operating expenses were $426.2M, which the company tied to growth in active students and costs for new campus launches. Source

“With our strategic growth investments progressing on schedule, we remain confident in our ability to deliver against our North Star objectives”

Bruce Schuman, CFO of Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

Demand and workforce needs

  • AI driving skilled-labor demand: The CEO said advancements in artificial intelligence are accelerating demand for workers who build, maintain and operate infrastructure. Source
  • Energy, manufacturing, healthcare named: The CEO listed data centers, energy systems, advanced manufacturing and healthcare delivery among areas needing skilled workers. Source
  • Sustained demand across both divisions: Management credited first-half performance to sustained demand across both divisions and progress on North Star initiatives. Source

Capital, cash and liquidity

  • Operating cash flow fell: Net cash from operating activities was $7.1M for six months, against $22.2M a year earlier. Source
  • Capex drove negative free cash flow: Cash capital expenditures were $52.7M for six months, mainly for new campus and program investments; free cash flow was negative $45.6M. Source
  • Liquidity stood at $202.4M: Available liquidity was $202.4M at March 31, 2026, including $40.4M available under the revolving credit facility. Source
  • Debt rose with revolver draws: Total debt was $130.7M, including $65.0M drawn on the revolver, up from $101.4M at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow negative: Adjusted free cash flow was negative $44.2M for six months, against $8.0M a year earlier. Source

Campus openings and corporate changes

  • San Antonio campus opened above plan: The UTI-San Antonio campus opened in March; management said initial student starts were about 60% above plan. Source
  • Corporate functions centralized: Accounting, finance, IT, HR and real estate were centralized to leverage economies of scale and support continued growth. Source
  • Operating model refined for growth: Management said the refined operating model is meant to pursue future growth goals and support the business. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 May 2026

  • UTI-Atlanta opens in July: UTI-Atlanta is scheduled to open in July, and management said early enrollments are on track ahead of the opening. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Average full-time active students Source26,385, up 7.2%
Total new student starts Source7,569, up 13.8%
End of period full-time active students Source26,405, up 6.3%

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Opening timing for four announced campus locations depends on regulatory approvals, according to the first-quarter release.

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The first-quarter release said the company was delivering on its commitments for revenue, student levels and adjusted EBITDA.
  • Met: Management said first-half performance continued to meet and exceed 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.