Exponent earnings date
Exponent (EP5) Q3 2026 Earnings Report
DE:EP5 Q3 2026 EPS Results
- Actual EPS
- EUR 0.58
- Consensus EPS
- EUR 0.54
- Beat/Miss
- Beat by +EUR 0.04
- One Year Ago EPS
- EUR 0.50
DE:EP5 Q3 2026 Revenue Results
- Actual Revenue
- EUR 157.60M
- Expected Revenue
- EUR 135.74M
- Beat/Miss
- Beat by +EUR 21.86M
- YoY Revenue Growth
- +18.09%
Earnings Announcement Details
- Quarter
- Q3 2026
- Date
- 10/29/2026
- Time
- After Close
- Conference Call
- Thursday, October 29, 2026
Exponent's next earnings date is estimated for February 4, 2027, based on past reporting schedules.
Q3 2026 Earnings Call Audio
Q3 2026 Earnings Slide Deck
No slide deck is available for this earnings event.
Q3 2026 Earnings Call Summary
The call was strongly positive. Exponent delivered double-digit revenue and earnings growth, improved EBITDA margin and utilization, raised full-year guidance, and described broad demand across user research, disputes, failure analysis, AI, data centers, transportation and chemicals. The main negatives were slower growth in Environmental and Health, the expected wind-down of a large project, higher tax and operating costs, lower interest income and no third-quarter repurchases; management nevertheless characterized demand as robust and the company as well positioned to finish 2026 strongly.
For the fourth quarter of 2026, as compared to 1 year prior, Exponent expects net revenues to grow 8% to 10% and EBITDA to be 26.3% to 26.8% of net revenues; average technical full-time equivalent employees are expected to increase approximately 4% to 5% year-over-year, utilization to be 69% to 70% as compared to 69% in the same quarter last year, and the year-over-year realized rate increase to be 3% to 3.5%; stock-based compensation is expected to be $5.7 million to $5.9 million, other operating expenses $13.5 million to $14 million, G&A expense $7.2 million to $7.7 million, interest income $700,000 to $900,000, miscellaneous income approximately $300,000, and the tax rate approximately 28% as compared to 27.4% in the same quarter a year ago. For the full year of 2026, Exponent expects net revenue growth of 10% to 11%, EBITDA to be 28% to 28.3% of net revenues as compared to 27.6% in 2025, average technical full-time equivalent employees to increase 4.7% to 5%, utilization to be 73.5% to 74% as compared to 72.5% in 2025, the year-over-year realized rate increase to be 3.7% to 4%, stock-based compensation $28.1 million to $28.4 million, other operating expenses $53 million to $53.5 million, G&A expenses $28.1 million to $28.6 million, the tax rate 28.5% as compared to 28% in 2025, and capital expenditures $10 million to $12 million; the project is expected to wind down to under 1% of revenues in the fourth quarter, and for the remainder of 2026 Exponent does not anticipate any additional tax benefit associated with share-based awards.
- Strong Third-Quarter Revenue and Earnings GrowthThird-quarter total revenues increased 18% year over year to $173.7 million, while net revenues increased 12% to $153.1 million. Net income rose 10% to $30.9 million, and diluted earnings per share increased 16% to $0.64 from $0.55.
- Improved EBITDA PerformanceThird-quarter EBITDA increased 16% to $45.0 million, with EBITDA margin expanding to 29.4% of net revenues from 28.3% in the prior-year period.
- Broad-Based Demand and High UtilizationBillable hours increased 8% year over year to approximately 405,000. Utilization rose to 76.7% from 74.1%, reflecting broad-based demand across dispute-related services and good business flow across most areas of the business.
- Growth in Technical WorkforceAverage technical full-time equivalent employees increased 4% year over year to 1,016, supported by recruiting and retention efforts.
- User Research and Reactive Services ExpandedUser research remained a strong growth contributor, broadening across clients, products and real-world environments. Proactive work grew in the high teens, while reactive work grew in the high single digits despite a very strong comparable quarter in the prior year.
- Engineering and Other Scientific Segment GrowthThe Engineering and Other Scientific segment, representing 85% of net revenues, increased net revenues 13%. Growth was driven by user research covering health applications, dynamic and unstructured real-world environments and sensory perception, as well as dispute-related services involving chemical facilities, consumer products and advanced transportation technologies.
- Environmental and Health Segment IncreasedThe Environmental and Health segment, representing 15% of net revenues, increased net revenues 3%, driven by increased projects assessing the effects of chemicals on human health and the environment.
- AI-Related Business Reached 15% to 20%Management estimated that AI is a direct element of roughly 15% to 20% of Exponent's business in 2026. AI-related work includes evaluating AI-generated materials and formulations, explaining AI decisions in vehicles and devices, supplying data for AI applications and testing performance in real-world conditions.
- Growing AI and Autonomous-Systems EngagementsManagement stated that AI-related projects and inquiries are growing, with current work involving advanced driver assistance systems, autonomous vehicles, AI-generated chemical formulations, medical devices and other products where AI decisions have safety consequences. Exponent is already involved in product liability suits and regulatory investigations concerning autonomous vehicles.
- Demand Drivers Remain Broad and ComplexManagement cited increasing demand as technology and digital systems move into the physical world, demand for power and critical infrastructure rises, and expectations for safety, reliability and performance continue to grow. The company is seeing work across data centers, advanced cooling systems, sensor networks, transportation, consumer products, chemicals and energy storage.
- Continued Investment in Talent and CapabilitiesExponent is increasing recruiting efforts across university, lateral, industry and regulatory channels. Targeted areas include human factors, biomechanics, thermal sciences, polymers, metallurgy, energy storage, PFAS and other emerging chemicals, as well as senior talent for the Health and Environmental business.
- Raised Full-Year 2026 GuidanceExponent raised its full-year 2026 outlook to net revenue growth of 10% to 11% and EBITDA margin of 28% to 28.3%, compared with 27.6% in 2025.
- Positive Fourth-Quarter Operating OutlookFor the fourth quarter of 2026, management expects net revenue growth of 8% to 10% and EBITDA margin of 26.3% to 26.8%. Expected utilization of 69% to 70% is described as roughly equivalent to the third quarter's 77% after considering seasonal holidays and vacations.
- Improved Full-Year Utilization and Headcount OutlookFull-year 2026 utilization is expected to be 73.5% to 74%, compared with 72.5% in 2025. Average technical full-time equivalent employees are expected to increase 4.7% to 5% for the full year, while fourth-quarter headcount is expected to increase approximately 4% to 5% year over year.
- Realized Rate IncreasesThe realized rate increase was approximately 4% in the third quarter. Management expects a year-over-year realized rate increase of 3% to 3.5% in the fourth quarter and 3.7% to 4% for the full year.
- Share Repurchases Reduced Diluted Share CountOver the past 12 months, Exponent used $171 million for common-stock repurchases, reducing average diluted shares outstanding by 5% to 48.4 million from 51.2 million. The company also distributed $14.7 million to shareholders through dividends during the quarter.
- Differentiated Scientific and Engineering PlatformManagement highlighted approximately 1,000 consultants, more than 700 of whom hold doctoral degrees, working as an integrated ecosystem across engineering and the sciences to address complex safety, reliability, regulatory and litigation questions.
DE:EP5 Earnings History
| Report Date | Fiscal Quarter | Forecast / EPS | Last Year's EPS | EPS YoY Change | Press Release |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 04, 2027 | 2026 (Q4) | 0.48- | 0.44 | ― | ― |
| Oct 29, 2026 | 2026 (Q3) | 0.540.58 | 0.5 | 16.36% (+0.08) | |
| Jul 30, 2026 | 2026 (Q2) | 0.500.54 | 0.47 | 15.38% (+0.07) | |
| Apr 30, 2026 | 2026 (Q1) | 0.520.54 | 0.47 | 13.46% (+0.06) | |
| Feb 05, 2026 | 2025 (Q4) | 0.430.44 | 0.42 | 6.52% (+0.03) | |
| Oct 25, 2025 | 2025 (Q3) | 0.460.50 | 0.45 | 10.00% (+0.05) | |
| Jul 31, 2025 | 2025 (Q2) | 0.450.47 | 0.52 | -8.77% (-0.05) | |
| May 01, 2025 | 2025 (Q1) | 0.440.47 | 0.54 | -11.86% (-0.06) | |
| Feb 06, 2025 | 2024 (Q4) | 0.370.42 | 0.37 | 12.20% (+0.05) | |
| Oct 24, 2024 | 2024 (Q3) | 0.440.45 | 0.44 | 4.17% (+0.02) |
The table shows recent earnings report dates and whether the forecast was beat or missed. See the change in forecast and EPS from the previous year.
