Second Quarter 2026
Filed Aug 3, 2026Sterling Reports Record Second Quarter Results and Raises Full Year 2026 Guidance
Second-quarter revenue increased 90%, GAAP net income increased 120%, adjusted net income increased 118%, and the Company raised full-year 2026 guidance while reporting substantial backlog growth and $328.0 million of year-to-date operating cash flow.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| RevenuesGAAP | $1.17 billion | – | 90% |
| Acquisition revenue contributionother | $250.8 million | – | – |
| Net incomeGAAP | $155.8 million | – | 120% |
| Diluted EPSGAAP | $5.00 per diluted share | – | 116% |
| EBITDAnon-GAAP | $233.6 million | – | 101% |
| Adjusted net incomenon-GAAP | $180.8 million | – | 118% |
| Adjusted diluted EPSnon-GAAP | $5.80 per diluted share | – | 116% |
| Adjusted EBITDAnon-GAAP | $256.7 million | – | 104% |
| Adjusted EBITDA marginnon-GAAP | 22% | – | – |
| Cash flows from operationsGAAP | $328.0 million | – | – |
| Cash and cash equivalentsGAAP | $464.5 million | – | – |
| Backlogother | $4.33 billion | – | 116% |
| Organic backlog growthother | 50% | – | 50% |
| Combined Backlogother | $5.62 billion | – | 150% |
| Organic combined backlog growthother | 36% | – | 36% |
| Unsigned Awardsother | $1.28 billion | – | – |
| Unsigned Awards contributed from CEC and Stone Ridgeother | $1.24 billion | – | – |
| High-probability future phase work pipelineother | more than $1.4 billion | – | – |
| Total addressable pool of workother | more than $7.0 billion | – | – |
Segments
| Segment | Revenue | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-Infrastructure SolutionsStrong performance across both organic and acquired operations. The legacy site development business generated 111% revenue growth, while CEC’s electrical services revenue increased 140% compared to the pre-acquisition second quarter. | not disclosed | – | 192% |
| Transportation SolutionsThe revenue decline reflects the ongoing reallocation of resources from transportation projects to higher-margin E-Infrastructure opportunities. | not disclosed | – | (20%) |
| Building SolutionsRevenue declined 1%, reflecting relatively flat levels of homebuilder activity. | not disclosed | – | (1%) |
Full Year 2026 outlook
- Revenue$4.00 billion to $4.15 billion
- NoteNet Income of $536 million to $555 million
- NoteDiluted EPS of $17.25 to $17.85
- NoteEBITDA of $829 million to $854 million
- NoteAdjusted Net Income of $612 million to $631 million
- NoteAdjusted Diluted EPS of $19.70 to $20.30
- NoteAdjusted EBITDA of $891 million to $916 million
What drove it
- Acquisitions contributed $250.8 million of revenue in the quarter, and acquisitions include CEC and Stone Ridge.
- Revenue grew 90%, including organic growth of approximately 50%.
- Robust bidding and award activity supported demand across end markets.
- Mission-critical projects, including data centers, manufacturing, and semiconductor facilities, represented 92% of E-Infrastructure backlog at quarter end.
- E-Infrastructure signed backlog increased 165% over the prior year quarter.
- Second-quarter book-to-burn ratios were 1.4x for Backlog and 1.3x for Combined Backlog, exclusive of the impact of the Stone Ridge acquisition.
- Transportation resources are being reallocated to higher-margin E-Infrastructure opportunities.
Concerns
- Transportation Solutions revenue declined 20% compared to the prior year period.
- Building Solutions revenue declined 1% and adjusted operating income decreased 11%.
- The Company expects market conditions in Building Solutions to remain challenging through 2026 as housing affordability pressures continue to affect prospective homebuyers.
- The filing does not provide segment revenue dollars, segment margins, debt, free cash flow, capital-return activity, or a detailed reconciliation table in the provided text.
What to watch
- Execution against full-year 2026 revenue guidance of $4.00 billion to $4.15 billion.
- Conversion of $4.33 billion of Backlog, $1.28 billion of Unsigned Awards, and the pipeline that exceeds $1.4 billion.
- Sustained demand for mission-critical E-Infrastructure work, which represented 92% of E-Infrastructure backlog at quarter end.
- The pace and margin effect of resource reallocation from Transportation Solutions to E-Infrastructure.
- Housing affordability pressures and homebuilder activity affecting Building Solutions.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Cash flows from operations totaled $328.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026.
- Cash and cash equivalents totaled $464.5 million at June 30, 2026.
Analysis
Sterling reported a strong second quarter, led by revenues of $1.17 billion, up 90%, and GAAP net income of $155.8 million, up 120%. Diluted EPS was $5.00 per diluted share, up 116%. Non-GAAP results also accelerated, with adjusted net income of $180.8 million, adjusted diluted EPS of $5.80 per diluted share, and adjusted EBITDA of $256.7 million. The Company cited an adjusted EBITDA margin of 22%.
Growth reflected both acquired and organic operations. Acquisitions contributed $250.8 million of quarterly revenue, while management described organic revenue growth of approximately 50%. E-Infrastructure Solutions was the principal growth engine, with revenue increasing 192% and adjusted operating income growing 148%. Management attributed this to strong organic and acquired performance, including 111% revenue growth in the legacy site development business and a 140% increase in CEC electrical-services revenue compared with the pre-acquisition second quarter.
The backlog indicators point to continued demand visibility. Backlog was $4.33 billion, up 116%, while Combined Backlog was $5.62 billion, up 150%. Organic growth was 50% for Backlog and 36% for Combined Backlog. The Company also reported $1.28 billion of Unsigned Awards, a high-probability future phase work pipeline that exceeds $1.4 billion, and a total addressable pool of work of more than $7.0 billion. Mission-critical projects represented 92% of E-Infrastructure backlog, concentrating the backlog base in data centers, manufacturing, and semiconductor facilities.
Portfolio mix remains uneven. Transportation Solutions revenue declined 20% as Sterling reallocates resources toward higher-margin E-Infrastructure work, although segment adjusted operating income increased 8%. Building Solutions revenue declined 1% and adjusted operating income decreased 11%, with management citing relatively flat homebuilder activity and expecting housing-affordability pressures to keep conditions challenging through 2026. Cash flows from operations totaled $328.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026, and cash and cash equivalents were $464.5 million at quarter end.
Sterling raised full-year 2026 guidance to revenue of $4.00 billion to $4.15 billion, net income of $536 million to $555 million, diluted EPS of $17.25 to $17.85, EBITDA of $829 million to $854 million, adjusted net income of $612 million to $631 million, adjusted diluted EPS of $19.70 to $20.30, and adjusted EBITDA of $891 million to $916 million. Management stated that midpoint guidance represents 64% year-over-year revenue growth, 84% growth in adjusted diluted earnings per share, and 79% growth in adjusted EBITDA. The prior outlook was not provided, so the magnitude of the guidance increase cannot be compared with prior ranges from the supplied documents.
Management, verbatim
We delivered an outstanding second quarter, with adjusted net income increasing 118% to deliver adjusted diluted EPS of $5.80. Revenue grew 90%, including organic growth of approximately 50%, and strong adjusted EBITDA margins of 22%. Year-to-date operating cash flow generation totaled $328 million.
Joe Cutillo, Chief Executive Officer
Demand across our end markets remains strong, as reflected in robust bidding and award activity during the quarter and continued expansion of our multi-year visibility.
Joe Cutillo, Chief Executive Officer
Our strong second quarter results strengthen our conviction that 2026 will be another exceptional year for Sterling.
Joe Cutillo, Chief Executive Officer
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Prior-year dollar amounts for revenues, net income, diluted EPS, EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted EPS, and adjusted EBITDA.
- Prior-quarter amounts and quarter-over-quarter comparisons for company-level results.
- GAAP gross profit and gross margin.
- GAAP operating income and operating margin.
- Segment revenue dollars, segment adjusted operating income dollars, and segment margins.
- Debt and other balance-sheet liabilities.
- Free cash flow.
- Capital returns, including share repurchases and dividends.
- Tax rate.
- Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding.
- Depreciation and amortization.
- Detailed GAAP-to-non-GAAP reconciliation tables.
- Prior full-year 2026 guidance ranges for comparison.
AlphaAI analysis generated from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure was cross-checked against the filing text; consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.