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Willdan Group, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 4 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Contract revenue rose 17.9%: Third-quarter contract revenue was $214.5 million, up 17.9%. Net revenue was $112.2 million, up 18.1%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 22.4%: Third-quarter adjusted EBITDA was $28.3 million, up 22.4% from $23.1 million in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Subcontractor share of revenue rose: Subcontractor and other direct costs were 46.4% of contract revenue for the nine months ended October 2, 2026, versus 45.8% a year earlier. Fiscal 2025 was 46.5%. Source
  • Operating cash flow declined: Net cash provided by operating activities was $32.9 million for the nine months, down from $40.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Acquisition cash spending rose: Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired, was $55.8 million for the nine months, up from $33.4 million a year earlier. Source

“Willdan is well positioned to cross the $1 billion revenue threshold and grow adjusted EBITDA by more than 25 percent in FY2027.”

Mike Bieber, Willdan’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net revenue Sourcefiscal 2026$435 million to $445 millionRaised from $415 million to $430 million
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal 2026$109 million to $111 millionRaised from $103 million to $107 million
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$5.15 per share to $5.25 per shareRaised from $5.00 per share to $5.15 per share
Diluted shares and tax rate assumptions Sourcefiscal 202615.9 million diluted shares; 0% effective tax rateKept
Contract revenue Sourcefiscal 2027 (preliminary)> $1 billionNew
Net revenue Sourcefiscal 2027 (preliminary)> $0.5 billionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal 2027 (preliminary)> $140 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA growth Sourcefiscal 2027more than 25 percentNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 net revenue, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted diluted EPS targets were raised from the prior release. Source
  • New guidance: Preliminary fiscal 2027 targets were introduced for contract revenue, net revenue and adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • New: The Mantis Innovation acquisition closed; management called it the largest in the company's history, adding energy management services for commercial and industrial customers. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Contract revenue rose 17.9%: Third-quarter contract revenue was $214.5 million, up 17.9%. Net revenue was $112.2 million, up 18.1%. Source
  • Net income and GAAP EPS declined: Net income was $11.9 million, down 13.6%. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.76, down 15.6%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.20, down 0.8%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 22.4%: Third-quarter adjusted EBITDA was $28.3 million, up 22.4% from $23.1 million in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Nine-month contract revenue rose 18.3%: Nine-month contract revenue was $600.7 million, up 18.3% (up 21.3% normalized). Nine-month adjusted diluted EPS was $4.18, up 25.1%. Source
  • Week count shifts year-to-date comparison: The nine months had one fewer week than the prior-year period, so management also presented normalized results. Source

Segments and regions

  • Energy segment net revenue rose: Energy contract revenue was $184.8 million in the quarter, up from $154.8 million. Energy net revenue was $84.3 million, up from $69.2 million. Source
  • Engineering and Consulting grew modestly: Engineering and Consulting contract revenue was $29.7 million, up from $27.3 million. Its net revenue was $27.9 million, up from $25.8 million. Source
  • Customers span US and Canada: The company serves utilities, state and local governments, and commercial customers in the United States and Canada. Source

“Net revenue grew 18% and adjusted EBITDA margin expanded to 25.2% in the quarter.”

Mike Bieber, Willdan’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Products and customers

  • Listed service lines: The company lists its solutions as energy planning and analytics, consulting, software, public finance, engineering, and program implementation. Source
  • Subcontract costs passed to clients: Management said subcontractor services and other direct costs are generally passed through to clients, and are included in revenue when the company is responsible for procuring or managing them. Source

Costs, margins and tax

  • Subcontractor share of revenue rose: Subcontractor and other direct costs were 46.4% of contract revenue for the nine months ended October 2, 2026, versus 45.8% a year earlier. Fiscal 2025 was 46.5%. Source
  • Administrative salaries increased: Salaries, payroll taxes and employee benefits in general and administrative expenses were $39.5 million in the quarter, up from $31.7 million. Source
  • Quarterly tax expense increased: Income tax expense was $3.5 million in the quarter, up from $0.6 million. The nine-month line shows a tax benefit of $3.0 million. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Contract assets increased: Contract assets were $130.2 million at October 2, 2026, up from $107.3 million at January 2, 2026. Source
  • Contract liabilities increased: Contract liabilities were $26.3 million at October 2, 2026, up from $21.6 million at January 2, 2026. Source

Cash flow and debt

  • Operating cash flow declined: Net cash provided by operating activities was $32.9 million for the nine months, down from $40.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Equipment spending declined: Purchases of equipment, software, and leasehold improvements were $5.2 million for the nine months, down from $6.9 million. Source
  • Cash balance declined: Cash and cash equivalents were $39.2 million at October 2, 2026, down from $65.9 million at January 2, 2026, with restricted cash of $3.1 million. Source
  • Revolver borrowings exceeded repayments: The company borrowed $30.0 million under its revolving credit facility and repaid $15.0 million. Notes payable, less current portion, were $59.1 million. Source

Acquisitions and share count

  • Acquisition cash spending rose: Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired, was $55.8 million for the nine months, up from $33.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Goodwill and intangibles increased: Goodwill rose to $223.2 million from $179.5 million. Other intangible assets, net, rose to $59.8 million from $35.5 million. Source
  • Shares outstanding increased: Shares outstanding were 15.3 million at October 2, 2026, up from 14.8 million at January 2, 2026. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Formal FY2027 update in February: Management said a formal update follows in late February, after the preliminary fiscal 2027 targets introduced in this release. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Subcontractor costs can vary significantly from period to period, so revenue changes may not reflect business trends. Source
  • Operational: Management said subcontractor costs have increased recently. 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.