Stantec's Backlog Surge Points to Revenue Acceleration Ahead

Core Insights - Stantec (STN) is on a strong growth trajectory, with increasing backlog figures indicating high visibility into near-term revenue gains and multi-year momentum [2][7] Group 1: U.S. Market Performance - In the U.S., backlog increased by 12.6% to $4.8 billion, driven by anticipated new water projects starting in Q2 2025 and easing policy uncertainty [3][7] - Although first-quarter organic growth was modest at 2.4% due to project timing, management highlighted a pipeline ready to accelerate [3] Group 2: Canadian Market Dynamics - Canada's infrastructure initiatives in energy, housing, and healthcare are creating robust project pipelines, particularly in wastewater and high-intensity industrial segments [4] - Transit and airport-related projects are also gaining momentum, providing a solid growth runway for Stantec [4] Group 3: Global Market Opportunities - The Global segment shows promise with the U.K.'s AMP8 program launching with 75% more funding than the previous cycle, allowing Stantec to ramp up capacity [5] - Australia and New Zealand are steady performers in water due to framework agreements, while Germany's €500 billion infrastructure fund positions Stantec for broader market penetration [5] Group 4: Stock Performance and Valuation - Stantec has achieved a 42% year-to-date gain, significantly outperforming the industry's 3% decline, while U.S. peers have shown mixed results [6] - Stantec's forward 12-month Price/Earnings (P/E) ratio is 27.02, above its five-year median of 23.74, compared to Tetra Tech at 24.54 and AECOM at 20.17 [8] Group 5: Earnings Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Stantec's 2025 earnings has been rising over the past 60 days, indicating positive market sentiment [10]