Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) - 2026 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q2 FY 2026, gross revenue was $2.9 billion, an 8% decline year-over-year, with a 9% decline on a revenue ex-billable basis [31] - Adjusted EBITDA was $324 million, down 11% from the prior year, translating to an adjusted EBITDA margin of 11.2%, which is 40 basis points lower than the same period last year [37] - Net income was $175 million, down 55% year-over-year, with diluted earnings per share decreasing 53% to $1.42 [38] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The National Security portfolio grew by 5% year-over-year, while the Civil business revenue declined by 22% year-over-year [31][32] - The company anticipates that the National Security portfolio will grow revenue in the mid-single-digit range for the full fiscal year, while the Civil business revenue is expected to decline in the low 20% range [22][25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The funded backlog was down 6% year-over-year, while total backlog reached $40 billion, up 3% year-over-year [34] - Gross bookings totaled $7.2 billion in the quarter, with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.7 times [34] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on three strategic areas: reducing costs through AI, doubling down on strengths in key growth areas, and leading the transition to outcome-based contracting [16][19][20] - The company aims to maximize AI capabilities and commercial technology partnerships to drive growth in the Civil business [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed disappointment in the current results and lowered guidance across all key metrics due to a challenging procurement environment [5][14] - The company remains optimistic about medium-term growth vectors, particularly in national security, cyber, and AI [6][12][20] Other Important Information - The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.55 per share and increased its share repurchase authorization by $500 million [41] - The company is taking significant actions to adjust its cost structure and prepare for future growth [45] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the outlook for funding in the defense and intelligence business? - Management indicated that while there is friction in the funding process, the national security business environment remains stronger, with significant wins expected to ramp up more slowly than historical levels [51][52] Question: What assumptions are baked into the guidance for the federal civilian business? - Management stated that they do not anticipate further cuts and expect a competitive procurement environment with pricing pressures [58][60] Question: How does the company view the profitability profile of the Civil and National Security portfolios? - Management confirmed that the Civil portfolio has higher margins due to a larger share of fixed-price contracts, while the National Security portfolio operates at lower margins [69] Question: What is the company's long-term business model outlook? - Management emphasized the importance of flexibility in operations and the need to adapt to changing market conditions, particularly in technology integration and outcome-based models [72][73]