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Willdan Group (WLDN)
NASDAQ:WLDN

Willdan Group (WLDN) AI Stock Analysis

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WLDN

Willdan Group

(NASDAQ:WLDN)

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Neutral 67 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:67Neutral
Price Target:
$83.00
▲(5.06% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:02/28/26
Score is supported by strong financial momentum (profitability, cash generation, and deleveraging) and a generally positive earnings call with modest growth guidance. It is held back primarily by weak technicals (price below key moving averages and negative MACD) and a P/E that looks somewhat elevated without a dividend yield provided.
Positive Factors
Strong cash generation
Sustained high operating and free cash flow provides durable flexibility to fund working capital, pay down debt, invest in targeted acquisitions, and return capital to shareholders. Consistent cash conversion supports resilience through project timing swings and funds strategic growth without relying on external financing.
Negative Factors
Section 179D tax benefit uncertainty
Dependence on a significant tax deduction makes reported EPS and after-tax cash generation sensitive to legislative timing. If incentives lapse or are reduced, adjusted EPS and free cash flow can be materially lower, forcing management to rely more on operating improvements or deal returns to hit targets.
Read all positive and negative factors
Positive Factors
Negative Factors
Strong cash generation
Sustained high operating and free cash flow provides durable flexibility to fund working capital, pay down debt, invest in targeted acquisitions, and return capital to shareholders. Consistent cash conversion supports resilience through project timing swings and funds strategic growth without relying on external financing.
Read all positive factors

Willdan Group (WLDN) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Willdan Group Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description
Willdan Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides professional, technical and consulting services primarily in the United States. It operates in two segments, Energy, and Engineering and Consulting. The Energy segment offers comprehens...
How the Company Makes Money
Willdan primarily makes money by delivering professional services under contracts with government entities (e.g., cities, counties, and other public agencies), utilities, and commercial/industrial clients. Its revenue model is largely fee-for-serv...

Willdan Group Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 26, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 30, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call communicated a strongly positive operational and financial performance for fiscal 2025 — record revenue, sizable organic growth, meaningful margin expansion, robust free cash flow and a net cash position. Management highlighted a solid pipeline, large contract wins, and accelerating data-center-driven demand supported by strategic acquisitions. The primary negatives are a near-term tax incentive headwind (potential expiration of Section 179D) that reduces 2026 EPS guidance and some timing/ execution risks tied to program ramps and acquisition integration. Overall, the positives (broad-based growth, profitability, cash generation, and strategic positioning) outweigh the headwinds.
Positive Updates
Record revenue and strong top-line growth
Fiscal 2025 consolidated contract revenue grew 21% to $682M and net revenue grew 23% to $365M; Q4 contract revenue +21% to $174M and Q4 net revenue +13% to $89.5M. Of the 23% net revenue growth, 17% was organic and 6% from acquisitions.
Negative Updates
Tax incentive uncertainty (Section 179D) weighing on 2026 guidance
2026 guidance assumes a materially smaller tax benefit (~10% effective tax benefit) versus the ~31.4% tax benefit realized in 2025 driven by 179D. Management notes 179D is set to expire end of June unless renewed, reducing the potential full-year tax advantage and pressuring EPS guidance.
Read all updates
Q4-2025 Updates
Negative
Record revenue and strong top-line growth
Fiscal 2025 consolidated contract revenue grew 21% to $682M and net revenue grew 23% to $365M; Q4 contract revenue +21% to $174M and Q4 net revenue +13% to $89.5M. Of the 23% net revenue growth, 17% was organic and 6% from acquisitions.
Read all positive updates
Company Guidance
Willdan guided 2026 net revenue of $390–$405 million, adjusted EBITDA of $85–$90 million and adjusted adjusted EPS of $4.50–$4.70, assuming a full‑year effective tax benefit of ~10% and 15.8 million diluted shares outstanding; the guidance assumes no future acquisitions (management expects to make acquisitions and will update guidance if they occur). For context, fiscal 2025 was a record year with net revenue $365M (contract revenue $682M), adjusted EBITDA $79.5M and a 21.8% adjusted EBITDA margin (above the 20% target), adjusted EPS $4.89 (GAAP EPS $3.49), cash from operations $80M, free cash flow $71M, $66M unrestricted cash and a $17M net cash position—so 2026 targets imply modest revenue and EBITDA growth versus FY25 but a lower EPS run‑rate due primarily to a smaller 179D tax benefit.

Willdan Group Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Strong multi-year turnaround with rising revenue, materially improved profitability, reduced leverage, and robust recent free cash flow. Key risks are historical cyclicality and cash flow volatility tied to project timing.
Income Statement
74
Positive
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
Cash Flow
80
Positive
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue681.55M565.80M510.10M429.14M353.75M
Gross Profit255.68M202.78M179.77M143.58M135.87M
EBITDA64.43M49.23M40.44M11.37M8.61M
Net Income52.56M22.57M10.93M-8.45M-8.42M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets544.21M464.86M415.59M409.67M394.42M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments65.92M74.16M23.40M8.81M11.22M
Total Debt69.28M107.75M114.10M123.39M118.23M
Total Liabilities239.36M230.52M215.74M228.17M215.20M
Stockholders Equity304.85M234.34M199.84M181.50M179.22M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow70.70M63.66M29.29M-169.00K1.30M
Operating Cash Flow80.08M72.07M39.21M9.43M9.80M
Investing Cash Flow-45.63M-15.74M-11.46M-9.53M-8.45M
Financing Cash Flow-42.69M-5.57M-23.84M-2.32M-18.53M

Willdan Group Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price79.00
Price Trends
50DMA
101.58
Negative
100DMA
103.80
Negative
200DMA
97.43
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-6.09
Negative
RSI
38.58
Neutral
STOCH
30.96
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For WLDN, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 79 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 79.70, below the 50-day MA of 101.58, and below the 200-day MA of 97.43, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -6.09 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 38.58 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 30.96 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for WLDN.

Willdan Group Risk Analysis

Willdan Group disclosed 43 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Willdan Group reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Willdan Group Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
76
Outperform
$4.50B28.9219.65%-0.64%168.51%
72
Outperform
$1.14B11.9414.83%12.53%35.68%
72
Outperform
$936.69M18.6122.04%16.56%35.80%
67
Neutral
$1.17B29.3519.12%12.90%72.61%
63
Neutral
$10.79B15.437.44%2.01%2.89%-14.66%
60
Neutral
$505.31M44.334.94%16.73%
49
Neutral
$1.30B34.844.24%12.22%17.41%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
WLDN
Willdan Group
79.00
38.62
95.64%
AMRC
Ameresco
24.67
13.44
119.68%
GLDD
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock
17.00
8.43
98.37%
MYRG
MYR Group
289.31
178.74
161.65%
LMB
Limbach Holdings
80.20
7.02
9.59%
BWMN
Bowman Consulting Group
29.51
8.39
39.73%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 28, 2026