ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Our Company
We are a provider of professional, technical and consulting services to utilities, private industry, and public agencies at all levels of government. As resource and infrastructure needs undergo continuous change, we help organizations and their communities evolve and thrive by providing a wide range of technical services for energy solutions, greenhouse gas reduction, and government infrastructure. Through engineering, program management, policy advisory, and software and data analytics, we plan, design and deliver comprehensive, innovative, cost-effective, and proven solutions to improve efficiency, resiliency, and sustainability in energy and infrastructure to our clients.
Our broad portfolio of services operates within two financial reporting segments: (1) Energy and (2) Engineering and Consulting. The interfaces and synergies between these segments are important elements of our strategy to design and deliver trusted, comprehensive, innovative, and proven solutions and services for our customers.
Our Energy segment provides specialized, innovative, comprehensive energy solutions to businesses, utilities, state agencies, municipalities, and non-profit organizations. Our experienced engineers, consultants, and staff help our clients realize cost and energy savings by tailoring efficient and cost-effective solutions to assist in optimizing energy spend. Our energy services include comprehensive audit and surveys, program design, master planning, demand reduction, grid optimization, benchmarking analyses, design engineering, AI data center power solutions, construction management, performance contracting, installation, alternative financing, measurement and verification services, and advances in software and data analytics for long-term planning.
Our Engineering and Consulting segment provides civil engineering and construction management, building and safety services, city engineering and planning support, civil design, geotechnical services, and material testing. Our capabilities span traffic, bridges, rail, port, water systems, and other major infrastructure projects. In addition to technical expertise, we provide economic and financial consulting that helps agencies plan, fund, and maintain both daily operations and long-term capital programs. We also support the mandated reporting and other requirements associated with these financings. We provide financial advisory services for municipal securities but do not provide underwriting services.
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Results of Operations
Summary comparison of fiscal years 2025, 2024, and 2023
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, certain information derived from our consolidated statements of comprehensive income(1):
Fiscal Year
(in thousands, except percentages)
Direct costs of contract revenue:
General and administrative expenses:
Other income (expense):
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The following tables provides information about disaggregated revenue of our two segments, Energy and Engineering and Consulting by contract type, client type, and geographical region:
Energy Engineering andConsulting Total
(in thousands)
Contract Type
Client Type
Geography (3)
Energy Engineering andConsulting Total
(in thousands)
Contract Type
Client Type
Geography (3)
Energy Engineering andConsulting Total
(in thousands)
Contract Type
Client Type
Geography (3)
(1) Amounts may not add to the totals due to rounding.
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Fiscal Year 2025 Compared to Fiscal Year 2024
Contract revenue.Consolidated contract revenue increased $115.8 million, or 20.5%, in fiscal year 2025 compared to fiscal year 2024, reflecting increased demand for our services in both our Energy segment and our Engineering and Consulting segment.
Contract revenue in our Energy segment increased $102.7 million, or 21.7%, in fiscal year 2025 compared to fiscal year 2024, primarily as a result of higher construction management revenues, increased demand for energy efficiency and electrification services under utility programs, higher planning and advisory consulting revenues, and the incremental revenues from our acquisitions of Enica and APG.
Contract revenue in our Engineering and Consulting segment increased $13.1 million, or 14.1%, in fiscal year 2025 compared to fiscal year 2024, primarily due to increased demand for services provided to our clients, combined with the incremental revenues from our acquisition of Alpha.
Direct costs of contract revenue. Direct costs of consolidated contract revenue increased $62.9 million, or 17.3%, in fiscal year 2025 compared to fiscal year 2024, primarily as a result of the increase, and change of mix, in contract revenues as described above. As a percentage of contract revenue, subcontractor services and other direct costs decreased to 46.5% in fiscal year 2025, from 47.6% in fiscal year 2024, and direct salaries and wages decreased to 16.0% in fiscal year 2025, from 16.5% in fiscal year 2024.
Direct costs of contract revenue in our Energy segment increased $57.0 million, or 17.8%, in fiscal year 2025 compared to fiscal year 2024. Direct costs of contract revenue in our Engineering and Consulting segment increased $5.9 million, or 14.0%, in fiscal year 2025 compared to fiscal year 2024.
Subcontractor services and other direct costs increased $47.3 million, or 17.6%, in fiscal year 2025 compared to fiscal year 2024, primarily due to the increase in construction management revenues and utility program revenues, which utilize a higher percentage of material cost and installation subcontracting. Salaries and wages increased by $15.6 million, or 16.6%, in fiscal year 2025 compared to fiscal year 2024, primarily as a result of the increases in contract revenue as described above.
Gross Profit. Gross profit increased 26.1% to $255.7 million, or a 37.5% gross margin, for fiscal year 2025 compared to $202.8 million, or a 35.8% gross margin for fiscal year 2024. The increase in gross margin was primarily driven by changes in the mix of revenues as described above.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses increased by $40.1 million, or 23.4%, in fiscal year 2025 compared to fiscal year 2024. G&A expenses consisted of an increase of $30.3 million in the Energy segment combined with an increase of $3.8 million in the Engineering and Consulting segment, and the remaining increase in unallocated corporate expenses.
The overall increase in G&A expenses consisted of an increase of $20.4 million in salaries and wages, payroll taxes and employee benefits, an increase of $11.4 million in other general and administrative expenses, the increase of $4.4 million in stock-based compensation, and an increase of $3.9 million in depreciation and amortization. The increase in salaries and wages, payroll taxes and employee benefits was primarily due to increased staffing from acquisitions, an increase in incentive compensation to support revenue growth consistent with the improvement in operating profit, and higher fringe benefit costs consistent with the growth in direct and indirect labor costs. The increase in other general and administrative expenses was primarily due to increased professional service fees and computer-related expenses. The increase in stock-based compensation expenses was primarily related to new stock grants to current employees, executives and Board of Directors at a higher stock price. The increase in depreciation and amortization was primarily related to higher amortization of intangible assets from recent acquisitions.
Income (loss) from operations. Operating income increased 40.8% to $44.1 million for fiscal year 2025, compared to an operating income of $31.4 million for fiscal year 2024, as a result of the factors noted above.
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Total other expense, net. Total other expense, net, decreased $0.5 million, or 11.1%, in fiscal year 2025 compared to fiscal year 2024. The decrease in total other expense, net is primarily due to lower interest expense resulting from the reduced interest rate spread derived from lower debt leverage levels under our credit facilities combined with interest income from interest of our cash balances being partially offset by a one-time charge for unamortized debt issuance costs related to our prior credit facilities and a one-time charge related to a facilities lease modifications.
Income tax expense (benefit). We recorded a tax benefit of $12.6 million for fiscal year 2025, an effective tax benefit rate of 31.4% on income before income tax expense, compared to a tax expense of $4.1 million for fiscal year 2024, an effective tax rate of 15.4% on income before tax expense. The reduction in the effective tax rate resulted from increases in discrete items related to stock compensation deductions and additional energy-efficiency building deductions.
Net income (loss). Our net income was $52.6 million for fiscal year 2025, as compared to a net income of $22.6 million for fiscal year 2024. The increase in net income was primarily attributable to the increase in income from operations combined with a lower effective tax rate.
Fiscal Year 2024 Compared to Fiscal Year 2023
Contract revenue. Consolidated contract revenue increased $55.7 million, or 10.9%, in fiscal year 2024 compared to fiscal year 2023, due to incremental revenues in both our Energy segment and in our Engineering and Consulting segment.
Contract revenue in our Energy segment increased $46.3 million, or 10.9%, in fiscal year 2024 compared to fiscal year 2023, primarily as a result of higher construction management revenues for government clients and increased demand for energy efficiency and electrification services under utility programs. Contract revenue in our Engineering and Consulting segment increased $9.4 million, or 11.3%, in fiscal year 2024 compared to fiscal year 2023, primarily due to increased demand for services provided to our clients.
Direct costs of contract revenue. Direct costs of consolidated contract revenue increased $32.7 million, or 9.9%, in fiscal year 2024 compared to fiscal year 2023, primarily as a result of the increase, and change of mix, in contract revenues as described above. As a percentage of contract revenue, direct salaries and wages decreased to 16.5% in fiscal year 2024, from 17.6% in fiscal year 2023, while subcontractor services and other direct costs increased to 47.6% in fiscal year 2024, from 47.1% in fiscal year 2023.
Direct costs of contract revenue in our Energy segment increased $30.2 million, or 10.4%, in fiscal year 2024 compared to fiscal year 2023. Direct costs of contract revenue in our Engineering and Consulting segment increased $2.5 million, or 6.4%, in fiscal year 2024 compared to fiscal year 2023.
Subcontractor services and other direct costs increased $29.1 million, or 12.1%, in fiscal year 2024 compared to fiscal year 2023, primarily due to the increase in construction management revenues, which utilize a higher percentage of material cost and installation subcontracting. Salaries and wages increased by $3.6 million, or 4.0%, in fiscal year 2024 compared to fiscal year 2023, primarily as a result of the increases in contract revenue as described above.
Gross Profit. Gross profit increased 12.8% to $202.8 million, or a 35.8% gross margin, for fiscal year 2024 compared to $179.8 million, or a 35.2% gross margin for fiscal year 2023. The increase in gross margin was primarily driven by changes in the mix of revenues as described above.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses increased by $13.7 million, or 8.7%, in fiscal year 2024 compared to fiscal year 2023. G&A expenses consisted of an increase of $7.4 million in the Energy segment combined with an increase of $4.2 million in the Engineering and Consulting segment, and an increase of $2.1 million in unallocated corporate expenses.
Within G&A expenses, the increase of $9.8 million in salaries and wages, payroll taxes and employee benefits, combined with the increase of $3.4 million in other general and administrative expenses, and the increase of $2.1 million
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in stock-based compensation was partially offset by a decrease of $1.7 million in depreciation and amortization. The increase in salaries and wages, payroll taxes and employee benefits was primarily due to an increase in incentive compensation, consistent with the improvement in operating profit, and higher fringe benefit costs, combined with increases in employee headcount. The increase in other general and administrative expenses was primarily due to increased professional service fees and computer-related expenses. The increase in stock-based compensation expenses was primarily related to new stock grants to current employees and executives at a higher stock price. The decrease in depreciation and amortization was primarily related to lower amortization of intangible assets from acquisitions prior to fiscal year 2024.
Income (loss) from operations. Operating income increased 42.0% to $31.4 million for fiscal year 2024, compared to an operating income of $22.1 million for fiscal year 2023, as a result of the factors noted above.
Total other expense, net. Total other expense, net, decreased $2.8 million, or 37.5%, in fiscal year 2024 compared to fiscal year 2023. The decrease in total other expense, net is primarily due to lower interest expense resulting from the reduced interest rate spread derived from lower debt leverage levels under our Credit Facilities, combined with increased income from interest as a result of our higher cash balances.
Income tax expense (benefit). We recorded an income tax expense of $4.1 million for fiscal year 2024, compared to a tax expense of $3.7 million for fiscal year 2023. The tax expense is primarily attributable to the income before income tax combined with increases in discrete items related to stock compensation and additional energy efficiency building deductions. Compared to prior year, the lower effective tax rate in fiscal year 2024 resulted from increased deductions for energy efficiency building deductions.
Net income (loss). Our net income was $22.6 million for fiscal year 2024, as compared to a net income of $10.9 million for fiscal year 2023. The increase in net income was primarily attributable to the increase in income from operations combined with the decrease in total other expense and lower effective tax rate.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Fiscal Year
(in thousands)
Net cash provided by (used in):
Sources of Cash
Our primary sources of liquidity for the next 12 months and beyond are cash generated from operations, cash and cash equivalents, and available borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility and Delayed Draw Term Loan under the Credit Agreement (the “Credit Facilities”). We believe that these sources will be sufficient to finance our operating activities for at least the next 12 months.
As of January 2, 2026, we had a fully drawn $50.0 million term loan with $48.8 million outstanding, a $100.0 million Revolving Credit Facility with no borrowed amounts and $1.6 million in letters of credit issued, and a $50.0 million Delayed Draw Term Loan which has not been drawn on. The Delayed Draw Term Loan must be drawn before May 2027. The Credit Facilities are each scheduled to mature on May 5, 2030. In addition to the Credit Facilities, as of January 2, 2026, we had $65.9 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents.
As of January 2, 2026, we were in compliance with the covenants contained in the Credit Agreement and unhedged borrowings under our Credit Facilities, exclusive of the effects of upfront fees, undrawn fees and issuance cost amortization, bore interest at an annual rate of 5.3%. See Part II, Item 8, Note 5, “Debt Obligations”, of the Notes to
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Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, for information regarding our indebtedness, including information about new borrowings and repayments, principal repayment terms, interest rates, covenants, and other key terms of our outstanding indebtedness.
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Cash flows provided by operating activities were $80.1 million, $72.1 million, and $39.2 million for fiscal years 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively. Cash flows from operating activities primarily consists of net income, adjusted for non-cash charges, such as depreciation and amortization and stock-based compensation, plus or minus changes in current operating assets and liabilities. Cash flows provided by operating activities for fiscal year 2025 resulted primarily from the increase in earnings supplemented by lower working capital requirements to support the expansion and changing mix of revenue. Cash flows provided by operating activities for fiscal year 2024 resulted primarily from the increase in earnings, and lower working capital requirements resulting from more robust billing and payment terms and the timing of collections at the end of the fiscal year. Cash flows provided by operating activities for fiscal year 2023 resulted primarily from the increase in earnings, combined with lower working capital requirements.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Cash flows used in investing activities were $45.6 million, $15.7 million, and $11.5 million for fiscal years 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively. Cash flows used in investing activities for fiscal year 2025 were primarily due to cash paid for acquisitions, combined with cash paid for the internal development of proprietary software and the purchase of computers and equipment. Cash flows used in investing activities for fiscal year 2024 were primarily due to cash paid for an acquisition, combined with cash paid for the internal development of proprietary software and the purchase of computers and equipment. Cash flows used in investing activities for fiscal year 2023 were primarily due to cash paid for the development of proprietary software and the purchase of computers and other equipment.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Cash flows used in financing activities were $42.7 million, $5.6 million and $23.8 million for fiscal years 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Cash flows used in financing activities for fiscal year 2025 were primarily attributable to the $39.7 million cash used to pay down our Revolving Credit Facility, $5.5 million cash used to pay withholding taxes on stock grants, $1.5 million principal payments on finance leases, partially offset by $3.2 million of proceeds from sales of common stock under employee stock purchase plan and $2.8 million in proceeds from stock option exercises. Cash flows used in financing activities for fiscal year 2024 were primarily attributable to the repayments of $8.1 million under our Term Loan, $1.4 million principal payments on finance leases, and $1.4 million cash used to pay withholding taxes on stock grants, partially offset by $2.8 million of proceeds from sales of common stock under employee stock purchase plan and $2.8 million in proceeds from stock option exercises. Cash flows used in financing activities for fiscal year 2023 were primarily attributable to the disbursement of $10.7 million in restricted cash for utility rebate incentives, payments of $4.0 million for contingent consideration related to prior acquisitions, combined with principal reductions of $7.9 million under our term loan facility and line of credit, which resulted primarily from refinancing our Prior Credit Facility.
Under certain utility contracts, we periodically receive cash deposits to be held in trust for the payment of energy incentive rebates to be sent directly to the utility’s end-customer on behalf of the utility. We act solely as the utility’s agent to distribute these funds to the end-customer and, accordingly, we classify these contractually restricted funds as restricted cash. Because these funds are held in trust for pass through to the utility’s customers and have no impact on our working capital or operating cash flows, these cash receipts are presented in the consolidated statement of cash flows as financing cash inflows, “Receipt of restricted cash”, with the subsequent payments classified as financing cash outflows, “Payment of restricted cash.”
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet financing arrangements or liabilities. In addition, our policy is not to enter into futures or forward contracts. Finally, we do not have any majority-owned subsidiaries or any interests in, or
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relationships with, any special-purpose entities that are not included in the consolidated financial statements. We have, however, an administrative services agreement with Genesys in which we provide Genesys with ongoing administrative, operational and other non-professional support services. We manage Genesys and have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Genesys’ performance, in addition to being obligated to absorb expected losses from Genesys. Accordingly, we are the primary beneficiary of Genesys and consolidate Genesys as a variable interest entity.
Short and Long-term Uses of Cash
General
Our principal uses of cash are to fund operating expenses, support working capital requirements, finance capital expenditures, and pay down outstanding debt. From time to time, we also use cash to help fund business acquisitions. Our cash and cash equivalents are impacted by the timing of when we are paid by our customers for services rendered and when we pay expenses as reflected in the change in our outstanding accounts payable and accrued expenses.
Contractual Obligations
The following table sets forth our known contractual obligations as of January 2, 2026:
Less than More than
Contractual Obligations Total 1 Year 1 - 3 Years 3 - 5 Years 5 Years
(in thousands)
We have contingent obligations to make earnout payments in connection with our acquisitions of Enica Engineering, PLLC. (“Enica”), Alternative Power Generation, Inc. (“APG”) and Compass Municipal Advisors, LLC. (“Compass”), subject to their future financial performance. We are obligated to pay up to $6.0 million in cash if Enica exceeds certain financial targets during the two years after the Enica closing date of October 23, 2024. We are obligated to pay up to $18.0 million in cash if APG exceeds certain financial targets during the three years after the APG closing date of March 3, 2025. We are obligated to pay up to $1.0 million in cash if Compass exceeds certain financial targets during the one year after the Compass closing date of January 2, 2026. As of January 2, 2026, we had contingent consideration payable of $20.4 million related to the acquisitions of Enica, APG, and Compass. Through the twelve months ended January 2, 2026, our statement of operations includes $3.2 million of interest accretion (excluding fair value adjustments) related to the contingent consideration.
Outstanding Indebtedness
See Part II, Item 8, Note 5, “Debt Obligations”, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for information regarding our indebtedness, including information about new borrowings and repayments, principal repayment terms, interest rates, covenants, and other key terms of our outstanding indebtedness.
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Insurance Premiums
We have also financed, from time to time, insurance premiums by entering into unsecured notes payable with insurance companies. See part II, Item 8, Note 5, “Debt Obligations”, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for information regarding our financing arrangements related to our insurance premiums.
Interest Rate Swap
From time to time, we enter into interest rate swap agreements to moderate our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates underlying our variable rate debt. For more information, see Part I, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk”, and Note 4, “Derivatives”, to the Notes of Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Impact of Inflation
Due to the average duration of our projects and our ability to negotiate prices as contracts end and new contracts begin, historically, our operations have not been materially impacted by inflation. While immaterial to our results of operations and financial condition, we have experienced higher cost of materials and delays in our supply chain for equipment. The prices of finished products from manufacturers are subject to fluctuation and increases. It is difficult to accurately measure the impact of inflation, tariffs, price escalation, raw material costs, and other factors that impact the cost of finished goods due to the imprecise nature of the estimates required.
We are often able to mitigate the impact of future price increases by entering into fixed price purchase orders for materials and equipment, and subcontracts on our projects, as well as, when appropriate, including cost escalation factors into our proposals. Despite our best mitigation efforts, significant price increases in equipment and disruptions to our supply chain could materially impact our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, inflationary pressures, including expectations of future inflation, may impact the customers of our utility clients, which may lead to delayed or deferred decisions regarding expenditures to improve energy efficiency, and therefore potentially impact our future revenues.
Components of Revenue and Expense
Contract Revenue
We generally provide our services under contracts, purchase orders or retainer letters. The agreements we enter into with our clients typically incorporate one of three principal types of pricing provisions: time-and-materials, unit-based, and fixed price. Revenue on our time-and-materials and unit-based contracts are recognized as the work is performed in accordance with specific terms of the contract. As of January 2, 2026, 18% of our contracts are time-and-materials contracts, 35% are unit-based contracts, and 47% are fixed price contracts, compared to 18% for time-and-materials contracts, 40% for unit-based contracts, and 42% for fixed price contracts, as of December 27, 2024.
Some of these contracts include maximum contract prices, but contract maximums are often adjusted to reflect the level of effort to achieve client objectives and thus the majority of these contracts are not expected to exceed the maximum. Contract revenue on our fixed price contracts is determined on the percentage of completion method based generally on the ratio of direct costs incurred to date to estimated total direct costs at completion. Many of our fixed price contracts involve a high degree of subcontracted fixed price effort and are relatively short in duration, thereby lowering the risks of not properly estimating the percent complete.
Adjustments to contract cost estimates are made in the periods in which the facts requiring such revisions become known. When the revised estimate indicates a loss, such loss is recognized in the current period in its entirety. Claims and change orders that have not been finalized are evaluated to determine whether or not a change has occurred in the enforceable rights and obligations of the original contract. If these non-finalized changes qualify as a contract modification, a determination is made whether to account for the change in contract value as a modification to the
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existing contract, or a separate contract and revenue under the claims or change orders is recognized accordingly. Costs related to un-priced change orders are expensed when incurred, and recognition of the related revenue is based on the assessment above of whether or not a contract modification has occurred. Estimated profit for un-priced change orders is recognized only if collection is probable.
Our contracts come up for renewal periodically and at the time of renewal may be subject to renegotiation, which could impact the profitability on that contract. In addition, during the term of a contract, public agencies may request additional or revised services which may impact the economics of the transaction. Most of our contracts permit our clients, with prior notice, to terminate the contracts at any time without cause. While we have a large volume of contracts, the renewal, termination or modification of a contract, in particular contracts with Consolidated Edison, the Dormitory Authority-State of New York, the New York City Housing Authority, and utility programs associated with Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and Duke Energy Corp., may have a material effect on our consolidated operations.
Some of our contracts include certain performance guarantees, such as a guaranteed energy saving quantity. Such guarantees are generally measured upon completion of a project. In the event that the measured performance level is less than the guaranteed level, any resulting financial penalty, including any additional work that may be required to fulfill the guarantee, is estimated and charged to direct expenses in the current period. We have not experienced any significant costs under such guarantees.
Direct Costs of Contract Revenue
Direct costs of contract revenue consist primarily of that portion of salaries and wages that have been incurred in connection with revenue producing projects. Direct costs of contract revenue also include material costs, subcontractor services, equipment and other expenses that are incurred in connection with revenue producing projects. Direct costs of contract revenue exclude that portion of salaries and wages related to marketing efforts, vacations, holidays and other time not spent directly generating revenue under existing contracts. Such costs are included in general and administrative expenses. Additionally, payroll taxes, bonuses and employee benefit costs for all of our personnel are included in general and administrative expenses since no allocation of these costs is made to direct costs of contract revenue.
Other companies may classify as direct costs of contract revenue some of the costs that we classify as general and administrative costs. We expense direct costs of contract revenue when incurred.
General and Administrative Expenses
G&A expenses include the costs of the marketing and support staff, other marketing expenses, management and administrative personnel costs, payroll taxes, bonuses and employee benefits for all of our employees and the portion of salaries and wages not allocated to direct costs of contract revenue for those employees who provide our services. G&A expenses also include facility costs, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, professional services, legal and accounting fees and administrative operating costs. Within G&A expenses, “Other” includes expenses such as professional services, legal and accounting, computer costs, travel and entertainment, marketing costs and acquisition costs, including interest accretion on contingent consideration. We expense general and administrative costs when incurred.
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Critical Accounting Policies
This discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (“GAAP”). To prepare these financial statements in conformity with GAAP, we must make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenue and expenses in the reporting period. Our actual results may differ from these estimates. We have provided a summary of our significant accounting policies in Part II, Item 8, Note 1, “Organization and Operations of the Company”, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We describe below those accounting policies that require material subjective or complex judgments and that have the most significant impact on our financial condition and results of operations. Our management evaluates these estimates on an ongoing basis, based upon information currently available and on various assumptions management believes are reasonable as of the date of this report.
Contract Assets and Liabilities
Billing practices are governed by the contract terms of each project based upon costs incurred, achievement of milestones or pre-agreed schedules. Billings in any given fiscal period do not necessarily correlate with revenue recognized for that period. Contract assets include unbilled amounts typically resulting from revenue under contracts where the percentage-of-completion method of revenue recognition is utilized and revenue recognized exceeds the amount billed to the customer and right to repayment is not unconditional. Contract assets also include retainage amounts withheld from billings to our clients pursuant to provisions in our contracts and other revenues earned but not billed in the current period. Contract liabilities consist of advance payments and billings in excess of revenue recognized and deferred revenue.
Contract Accounting
We enter into contracts with our clients that contain various types of pricing provisions, including fixed price, time-and-materials, and unit-based provisions. We recognize revenues in accordance with ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customer, codified as ASC Topic 606 and the related amendments (collectively, “ASC 606”). As such, we identify a contract with a customer, identify the performance obligations in the contract, determine the transaction price, allocate the transaction price to each performance obligation in the contract and recognize revenue when (or as) we satisfy a performance obligation.
The following table reflects our two reportable segments and the types of contracts that each most commonly enters into for revenue generating activities.
Segment Contract Type Revenue Recognition Method
Time-and-materials Time-and-materials
Energy Unit-based Unit-based
Software license Unit-based
Fixed price Percentage-of-completion
Time-and-materials Time-and-materials
Engineering and Consulting Unit-based Unit-based
Fixed price Percentage-of-completion
Revenue on the vast majority of our contracts will continue to be recognized over time because of the continuous transfer of control to the customer. Revenue on fixed price contracts is recognized on the percentage-of-completion method based generally on the ratio of direct costs incurred-to-date to estimated total direct costs at completion. We use the percentage-of-completion method to better match the level of work performed at a certain point in time in relation to our effort that will be required to complete a project. In addition, the percentage-of-completion method is a common method of revenue recognition in our industry.
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Many of our fixed price contracts involve a high degree of subcontracted fixed price effort and are relatively short in duration, thereby lowering the risks of not properly estimating the percent complete. Revenue on time-and-materials and unit-based contracts is recognized as the work is performed in accordance with the specific rates and terms of the contract. We recognize revenues for time-and-materials contracts based upon the actual hours incurred during a reporting period at contractually agreed upon rates per hour and also includes in revenue all reimbursable costs incurred during a reporting period. Certain of our time-and-materials contracts are subject to maximum contract values and, accordingly, when revenue is expected to exceed the maximum contract value, these contracts are generally recognized under the percentage-of-completion method, consistent with fixed price contracts. For unit-based contracts, we recognize the contract price of units of a basic production product as revenue when the production product is delivered during a period. Revenue for amounts that have been billed but not earned is deferred, and such deferred revenue is referred to as contract liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. We also derive revenue from software licenses and professional services and maintenance fees. In accordance with ASC 606, we perform an assessment of each contract to identify the performance obligations, determine the overall transaction price for the contract, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations, and recognize the revenue when the performance obligations are satisfied. In cases where the standalone selling price of the software license is not present, we utilize the residual approach by which we estimate the standalone selling price by reference to the total transaction price less the sum of the observable standalone selling prices of other goods or services promised in the contract. The software license revenue is typically recognized at a point in time when control is transferred to the client, which is defined as the point in time when the client can use and benefit from the license. The software license is delivered before related services are provided and is functional without services, updates, or technical support. Related professional services include training and support services in which the standalone selling price is determined based on an input measure of hours incurred to total estimated hours and is recognized over time, usually which is the life of the contract.
To determine the proper revenue recognition method for contracts, we evaluate whether two or more contracts should be combined and accounted for as one single contract and whether the combined contract should be accounted for as one performance obligation. With respect to our contracts, it is rare that multiple contracts should be combined into a single performance obligation. This evaluation requires significant judgment and the decision to combine a group of contracts or separate a single contract into multiple performance obligations could change the amount of revenue and profit recorded in a given period. Contracts are considered to have a single performance obligation if the promise to transfer the individual goods or services is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contracts, which is mainly because we provide a significant service of integrating a complex set of tasks and components into a single project or capability.
We may enter into contracts that include separate phases or elements. If each phase or element is negotiated separately based on the technical resources required and/or the supply and demand for the services being provided, we evaluate if the contracts should be segmented. If certain criteria are met, the contracts would be segmented which could result in revenues being assigned to the different elements or phases with different rates of profitability based on the relative value of each element or phase to the estimated total contract revenue. Segmented contracts may comprise up to approximately 2.0% to 3.0% of our consolidated contract revenue.
Contracts that cover multiple phases or elements of the project or service lifecycle (development, design, construction and maintenance and support) may be considered to have multiple performance obligations even when they are part of a single contract. For contracts with multiple performance obligations, we allocate the transaction price to each performance obligation using the best estimate of the standalone selling price of each distinct good or service in the contract. For the periods presented, the value of the separate performance obligations under contracts with multiple performance obligations (generally measurement and verification tasks under certain energy performance contracts) were not material. In cases where we do not provide the distinct good or service on a standalone basis, the primary method used to estimate standalone selling price is the expected cost plus a margin approach, under which we forecast our expected costs of satisfying a performance obligation and then adds an appropriate margin for the distinct good or service.
We provide quality of workmanship warranties to customers that are included in the sale and are not priced or sold separately or do not provide customers with a service in addition to assurance of compliance with agreed-upon
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specifications and industry standards. We do not consider these types of warranties to be separate performance obligations.
In some cases, we have a master service or blanket agreement with a customer under which each task order releases us to perform specific portions of the overall scope in the service contract. Each task order is typically accounted for as a separate contract because the task order establishes the enforceable rights and obligations, and payment terms.
Under ASC 606, variable consideration should be considered when determining the transaction price and estimates should be made for the variable consideration component of the transaction price, as well as assessing whether an estimate of variable consideration is constrained. For certain of our contracts, variable consideration can arise from modifications to the scope of services resulting from unapproved change orders or customer claims. Variable consideration is included in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. Our estimates of variable consideration and determination of whether to include estimated amounts in the transaction price are based largely on assessments of legal enforceability, our performance, and all information (historical, current and forecasted) that is reasonably available to us.
Due to the nature of the work required to be performed on many of our performance obligations, the estimation of total revenue and cost at completion is complex, subject to many variables and requires significant judgment. As a significant change in one or more of these estimates could affect the profitability of our contracts, we review and update our contract-related estimates regularly through a company-wide disciplined project review process in which management reviews the progress and execution of our performance obligations and the estimate at completion (“EAC”). As part of this process, management reviews information including, but not limited to, any outstanding key contract matters, progress towards completion and the related program schedule and the related changes in estimates of revenues and costs. Management must make assumptions and estimates regarding labor productivity and availability, the complexity of the work to be performed, the cost and availability of materials, the performance of subcontractors, and the availability and timing of funding from the customer, among other variables.
We recognize adjustments in estimated profit on contracts under the cumulative catch-up method. Under this method, the impact of the adjustment on profit recorded to date is recognized in the period the adjustment is identified. Revenue and profit in future periods of contract performance is recognized using the adjusted estimate. If at any time the estimate of contract profitability indicates an anticipated loss on the contract, we recognize the total loss in the period it is identified.
Contracts are often modified to account for changes in contract specifications and requirements. We consider contract modifications to exist when the modification either creates new rights or obligations or changes the existing enforceable rights or obligations. Most of our contract modifications are for goods or services that are not distinct from existing contracts due to the significant integration provided in the context of the contract and are accounted for as if they were part of the original contract. The effect of a contract modification that is not distinct from the existing contract on the transaction price and our measure of progress for the performance obligation to which it relates is recognized as an adjustment to revenue (either as an increase in or a reduction of revenue) on a cumulative catch-up basis.
For contract modifications that result in the promise to deliver goods or services that are distinct from the existing contract and the increase in price of the contract is for the same amount as the standalone selling price of the additional goods or services included in the modification, we account for such contract modifications as a separate contract.
We include claims to vendors, subcontractors and others as a receivable and a reduction in recognized costs when enforceability of the claim is established by the contract and the amounts are reasonably estimable and probable of being recovered. The amounts are recorded up to the extent of the lesser of the amounts management expects to recover or to costs incurred.
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Billing practices are governed by the contract terms of each project based upon costs incurred, achievement of milestones or pre-agreed schedules. Billings do not necessarily correlate with revenue recognized using the percentage-of-completion method of revenue recognition.
Accounts receivable are carried at original invoice amount less an estimate made for doubtful accounts based upon our review of all outstanding amounts on a quarterly basis. Management determines allowances for doubtful accounts through specific identification of amounts considered to be uncollectible and potential write-offs, plus a non-specific allowance for other amounts for which some potential loss has been determined to be probable based on current and past experience. Historical credit losses have been minimal with governmental entities and large public utilities, but disputes may arise related to these receivable amounts. Accounts receivable are written off when deemed uncollectible. Recoveries of accounts receivable previously written off are recorded when received.
For further information on the types of contracts under which we perform our services, see Part II, Item 8, Note 1, “Organization and Operations of the Company”, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Goodwill
We test our goodwill at least annually for possible impairment. We complete our annual testing of goodwill as of the last day of the first month of our fourth fiscal quarter each year to determine whether there is impairment. In addition to our annual test, we regularly evaluate whether events and circumstances have occurred that may indicate a potential impairment of goodwill. We did not recognize any goodwill impairment charges in fiscal years 2025, 2024, or 2023.
We test our goodwill for impairment at the level of our reporting units, which are components of our operating segments. In January 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) Update No. 2017-04 (“ASU 2017-04”), Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment. This accounting guidance eliminates the requirement to compare the implied fair value of reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill (commonly referred to as Step 2) from the goodwill impairment test. The new standard does not change how a goodwill impairment is identified. We will continue to perform our quantitative and qualitative goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying amount, but if we are required to recognize a goodwill impairment charge, under the new standard the amount of the charge will be calculated by subtracting the reporting unit’s fair value from its carrying amount. Under the prior standard, if we were required to recognize a goodwill impairment charge, Step 2 required us to calculate the implied value of goodwill by assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of its assets and liabilities as if that reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination and the amount of the charge was calculated by subtracting the reporting unit’s implied fair value of goodwill from its actual goodwill balance.
To estimate the fair value of our reporting units, we use both an income approach based on management’s estimates of future cash flows and other market data and a market approach based upon multiples of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, earned by similar public companies. Once the fair value is determined, we then compare the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit is determined to be less than the carrying value, we perform an additional assessment to determine the extent of the impairment based on the implied fair value of goodwill compared with the carrying amount of the goodwill. In the event that the current implied fair value of the goodwill is less than the carrying value, an impairment charge is recognized.
Inherent in such fair value determinations are significant judgments and estimates, including but not limited to assumptions about our future revenue, profitability and cash flows, our operational plans and our interpretation of current economic indicators and market valuations. To the extent these assumptions are incorrect or economic conditions that would impact the future operations of our reporting units change, any goodwill may be deemed to be impaired, and an impairment charge could have in a material impact on our financial position or results of operation. Almost all of our goodwill is contained in our Energy segment, with the remainder in our Engineering and Consulting segment. At our measurement date, the estimated fair value of our Energy segment exceeded its carrying value. Any reduction in the
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estimated fair value of our Energy segment could result in an impairment charge of goodwill associated with this segment in future periods.
Business Combinations
The acquisition method of accounting for business combinations requires us to use significant estimates and assumptions, including fair value estimates, as of the business combination date. For reporting periods prior to the completion of our procedures to value assets and liabilities, the acquisition method requires us to refine those estimates as necessary during the measurement period (defined as the period, not to exceed one year, in which we may adjust the provisional amounts recognized for a business combination) based upon new information about facts that existed on the business combination date.
Under the acquisition method of accounting, we recognize separately from goodwill the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interests in an acquiree, at the acquisition date fair value. We measure goodwill as of the acquisition date as the excess of consideration transferred over the net of the acquisition date amounts of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Costs that we incur to complete the business combination such as investment banking, legal and other professional fees are not considered part of consideration. We charge these acquisition costs to other general and administrative expense as they are incurred.
Should the initial accounting for a business combination be incomplete by the end of a reporting period that falls within the measurement period, we report provisional amounts in our financial statements. During the measurement period, we adjust the provisional amounts recognized at the acquisition date to reflect new information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date that, if known, would have affected the measurement of the amounts recognized as of that date and we record those adjustments to our financial statements. We recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined, including the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization or other income effects, if any, as a result of the change to the provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date.
During fiscal year 2025, we acquired all the equity of Compass Municipal Advisors, LLC. (“Compass”), acquired all of the capital stock of Alternative Power Generation, Inc. (“APG”) and acquired all of the capital stock of Alpha Inspections, Inc. (“Alpha”). As of January 2, 2026, had completed our final estimate of fair value of the assets acquired relating to the acquisition of APG and Alpha but had not yet completed our final estimate of fair value of the assets acquired relating to the acquisition of Compass due to the timing of the transactions and lack of complete information necessary to finalize such estimates of fair value. Accordingly, we have preliminarily estimated the fair values of the Compass assets acquired and will finalize such fair value estimates within twelve months of the Compass Closing Date. During fiscal year 2024, we acquired substantially all of the assets of Enica on October 23, 2024. During fiscal year 2023, we did not have any material acquisitions.
For further discussion of our acquisitions, see Part II, Item 8, Note 13, “Business Combinations” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Recent Accounting Standards
For a description of recently issued and adopted accounting pronouncements, including adoption dates and expected effects on our results of operations and financial condition, see Part II, Item 8, Note 2, “Recent Accounting Pronouncements”, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Interest Rate Risk
Market risk is the risk of loss to future earnings, to fair values or to future cash flows that may result from changes in the price of a financial instrument. The value of a financial instrument may change as a result of changes in interest rates, exchange rates, commodity prices, equity prices and other market changes. Market risk is attributed to all market risk sensitive financial instruments, including long-term debt.
As of January 2, 2026, we had cash and cash equivalents of $65.9 million. This amount represents cash on hand in business checking accounts with our banks. We do not engage in trading activities and do not participate in foreign currency transactions.
We are subject to interest rate risk in connection with our Term Loan A (“TLA”) and borrowings, if any, under our Revolving Credit Facility, each of which bears interest at variable rates. As of January 2, 2026, the Company had a fully drawn $50.0 million TLA with $48.8 million outstanding, a $100.0 million Revolving Credit Facility with no borrowed amounts, and $1.6 million in letters of credit issued, and a $50.0 million Delayed Draw Term Loan with no borrowed amounts. Each of our TLA, Revolving Credit Facility and Delayed Draw Term Loan mature on May 5, 2030 and are governed by our Credit Agreement.
Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, (as described in Part II, Item 8, Note 5, “Debt Obligations,” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K), borrowings under the Amended and Restated Credit Facilities bear interest at either a Base Rate (as defined in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement) or the adjusted Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), at the Company’s option, and in each case, plus an applicable margin, which applicable margin ranges from 0.50% to 1.50% with respect to Base Rate borrowings and 1.50% to 2.50% with respect to SOFR borrowings, depending on the Company’s Total Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement); provided, that SOFR and the Base Rate cannot be less than 0.00%, with the specific pricing reset on each date on which the Administrative Agent receives the required financial statements under the Credit Agreement for the fiscal quarter then ended. The Company must also pay a commitment fee for the unused portion of the Revolving Credit Facility, which ranges from 0.15% to 0.35% per annum depending on the Company’s Total Net Leverage Ratio, and fees on the face amount of any letters of credit outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility, which range from 1.125% to 1.875% per annum, in each case, depending on the Company’s Total Net Leverage Ratio, as well as customary fronting fees payable to BMO as letter of credit issuer. Based upon the amount of our outstanding indebtedness as of January 2, 2026, a one percentage point increase in the effective interest rate, inclusive of our interest rate swap agreement, would change our annual interest expense by approximately $0.5 million in fiscal year 2025.
The TLA will amortize quarterly in an amount equal to 5.0% per annum beginning with the first full fiscal quarter ending after the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement Closing Date, with a final payment of all then remaining principal and interest due on the maturity date of May 5, 2030. Each borrowing under the Delayed Draw Term Loan will amortize in an amount equal to 5.0% per annum of the aggregate outstanding borrowings under the Delayed Draw Term Loan, beginning with the first full fiscal quarter ending after the initial borrowing date, with a final payment of all then remaining principal and interest due on the maturity date of May 5, 2030. The amounts outstanding under the Amended and Restated Credit Facilities may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time without penalty (other than customary breakage costs).
On November 30, 2023, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement for $50.0 million notional amount. The interest swap agreement was designated as a cash flow hedge to fix the variable interest rate on a portion of the outstanding principal amount under our Term Loan. The interest rate swap fixed rate is 4.77% and expires on September 29, 2026.
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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 173) 54
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 2, 2026 and December 27, 2024 56
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 60
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Willdan Group, Inc.
Anaheim, California
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Willdan Group, Inc. (the "Company") as of January 2, 2026 and December 27, 2024, the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended January 2, 2026, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2026, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework: (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of January 2, 2026 and December 27, 2024, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended January 2, 2026 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2026, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework: (2013) issued by COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. As permitted, the Company has excluded the operations of Compass Municipal Advisors, LLC, Alternative Power Generation, Inc., and Alpha Inspections, Inc., acquired during the fiscal year ended January 2, 2026, which is described in Note 13 of the consolidated financial statements, from the scope of management’s report on internal control over financial reporting. As such, they have also been excluded from the scope of our audit of internal control over financial reporting. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with
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generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Estimated costs to complete on fixed price contracts
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, revenues from fixed price contracts are recognized over time since control of the services is transferred continuously to the client. Generally, revenue is recognized using costs incurred to date relative to total estimated costs at completion to measure progress toward satisfying the Company’s performance obligations.
We identified auditing management’s estimates of costs to complete on select fixed price contracts to be a critical audit matter. The critical audit matter relates to select long-term fixed price construction contracts, based on magnitude of estimated costs to complete and the stage of completion of the contract. These estimates require management to make assumptions about future events and, as a result, a high degree of auditor judgment is involved in auditing these estimates. Due to the factors above, auditing management’s estimates of costs to complete required extensive audit procedures.
Our audit procedures related to the evaluation of estimated costs at completion for fixed price contracts included the following:
● Agreed a sample of contract costs incurred to supporting documentation.
● Recalculated revenue recognition based on the percentage of completion.
/s/Crowe LLP
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2018.
Los Angeles, California
February 26, 2026
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WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except par value)
January 2, December 27,
Assets
Current assets:
Restricted cash — —
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 7,528 4,979
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net 31,491 29,534
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Contingent consideration payable 3,732 2,500
Finance lease obligations 1,225 1,138
Contingent consideration payable, less current portion 16,651 1,713
Notes payable, less current portion 45,962 79,350
Finance lease obligations, less current portion 1,162 1,379
Lease liability, less current portion 13,762 9,939
Other noncurrent liabilities 69 462
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (270) (314)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 544,211 $ 464,863
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Fiscal Year
General and administrative expenses:
Other income (expense):
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Earnings (Loss) per share:
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in thousands)
Accumulated
Additional Other
Common Stock Paid-in Comprehensive Retained
Stock-based compensation expense — — 5,323 — — 5,323
Net income (loss) — — — — 10,926 10,926
Stock-based compensation expense — — 7,388 — — 7,388
Net income (loss) — — — — 22,570 22,570
Stock issued to acquire businesses 177 2 5,555 — — 5,557
Stock-based compensation expense — — 11,825 — — 11,825
Net income (loss) — — — — 52,557 52,557
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
Fiscal Year
Cash flows from operating activities:
Other non-cash items 637 (73) 1,445
(Gain) loss on sale/disposal of equipment (29) (15) (63)
Provision for doubtful accounts 237 740 825
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (2,488) (1,091) 2,566
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities 80,084 72,073 39,214
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of equipment 46 34 68
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on contingent consideration — — (4,000)
Payment on restricted cash — — (10,679)
Payments on notes payable (137) (190) (1,631)
Payments on debt issuance costs (332) — (1,114)
Borrowings under prior term loan and line of credit — — 5,000
Borrowing to fund new credit agreement 88,414 — 100,000
Principal payments on outstanding debt (39,664) (8,125) (1,875)
Principal payments on finance leases (1,497) (1,444) (1,304)
Proceeds from stock option exercise 2,759 2,759 182
Cash used to pay taxes on stock grants (5,483) (1,407) (205)
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Equipment acquired under finance leases 1,400 1,605 961
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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WILLDAN GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS OF THE COMPANY
Willdan Group, Inc. (“Willdan” or the “Company”) is a provider of professional, technical and consulting services to utilities, private industry, and public agencies at all levels of government. As resources and infrastructures undergo continuous change, the Company helps organizations and their communities evolve and thrive by providing a wide range of technical services for energy solutions and government infrastructure. Through engineering, program management, policy advisory, and software and data management, the Company designs and delivers trusted, comprehensive, innovative, and proven solutions to improve efficiency, resiliency, and sustainability in energy and infrastructure.
Basis of Presentation
The Company has prepared its Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”).
The consolidated statement of stockholders' equity includes repurchases of shares of the Company’s common stock from employees to satisfy tax withholding obligations incurred in connection with the vesting of restricted stock or performance stock units, which amount is presented as a reduction of additional paid-in capital and common stock.
Fiscal Years
The Company operates and reports its annual financial results based on 52 or 53-week periods ending on the Friday closest to December 31. The Company operates and reports its quarterly financial results based on the 13-week period ending on the Friday closest to June 30, September 30, and December 31 and the 13 or 14-week period ending on the Friday closest to March 31, as applicable. Fiscal year 2025, which ended on January 2, 2026, was comprised of 53 weeks, with the first quarter consisting of 14 weeks and the remaining quarters consisting of 13 weeks each. Fiscal year 2024 and fiscal year 2023, which ended on December 27, 2024, December 29, 2023, respectively, were both comprised of 52 weeks, with all quarters presented consisting of 13 weeks.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Willdan Group, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries and their respective subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Reclassifications
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified in the consolidated financial statements to conform to the current year presentation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements. Estimates also affect the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
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WILLDAN GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Cash and Cash Equivalents
All highly liquid investments purchased with a remaining maturity of three months or less are considered to be cash equivalents. The Company from time to time may be exposed to credit risk with its bank deposits in excess of the FDIC insurance limits and with uninsured money market investments. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalents.
Restricted Cash
The Company, from time to time, has restricted cash that represents amounts not readily available for current operations due to contractual restrictions which designate these restricted cash balances for specific purposes.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company uses the three-tier hierarchy of fair value measurement, which prioritizes the inputs. These tiers include: Level 1 (the highest priority), defined as observable inputs, such as quoted prices in active markets, Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3 (the lowest priority), defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.
The Company’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents, accounts receivable, contract assets, other receivables, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable, accrued liabilities and contract liabilities. The carrying amounts of certain other assets and contingent consideration are discounted to their present value because the time between the origination of these instruments and their expected realization or payment is greater than one year.
As of January 2, 2026 and December 27, 2024, the carrying amounts of the Company's cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, contract assets, other receivables, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable, accrued liabilities and contract liabilities, approximate their fair values because of the relatively short period of time between the origination of these instruments and their expected realization or payment. The carrying amounts of debt obligations approximate their fair values since the terms are comparable to terms currently offered by local lending institutions for loans of similar terms to companies with comparable credit risk.
The carrying amounts of the derivative financial instrument is valued based on Level 2 inputs and the fair value of the contingent consideration liability is valued on Level 3 inputs.
Variable Interest Entities
The Company accounts for variable interest entities in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810, Consolidation. Under ASC 810, a variable interest entity (“VIE”) is created when any of the following criteria are present: (a) the equity investment at risk in the entity is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support provided by other parties, including the equity holders; (b) the entity’s equity holders as a group either (i) lack the direct or indirect ability to make decisions about the entity, (ii) are not obligated to absorb expected losses of the entity or (iii) do not have the right to receive expected residual returns of the entity; or (c) the entity’s equity holders have voting rights that are not proportionate to their economic interests, and the activities of the entity involve or are conducted on behalf of the equity holder with disproportionately few voting rights. If an entity is deemed to be a VIE pursuant to ASC 810, the enterprise that has both (i) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and (ii) the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the entity or right to receive benefits from the entity that could be potentially significant to the VIE is considered the primary beneficiary and must consolidate the VIE. In accordance with ASC 810, the Company performs ongoing reassessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a VIE.
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WILLDAN GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
As of January 2, 2026, the Company had one VIE — Genesys Engineering, P.C. (“Genesys”). Pursuant to New York law, the Company does not own capital stock of Genesys and does not have control over the professional decision making of Genesys’s engineering services. The Company, however, has entered into an administrative services agreement with Genesys pursuant to which WES, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, will provide Genesys with ongoing administrative, operational and other non-professional support services. The Company manages Genesys and has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Genesys’s performance, in addition to being obligated to absorb expected losses from Genesys. Accordingly, the Company is the primary beneficiary of Genesys and consolidates Genesys as a VIE.
Management also concluded there is no noncontrolling interest related to the consolidation of Genesys because management determined that (i) the shareholder of Genesys does not have more than a nominal amount of equity investment at risk, (ii) WES absorbs the expected losses of Genesys through its deferral of Genesys’s service fees owed to WES and the Company has, since entering into the administrative services agreement, had to continuously defer service fees for Genesys, and (iii) the Company believes Genesys will continue to have a shortfall on payment of its service fees for the foreseeable future, leaving no expected residual returns for the shareholder. For more information regarding Genesys, see Note 8 “Commitments and Variable Interest Entities.”
Segment Information
The Company presents segment information externally consistent with the manner in which the Company’s chief operating decision maker reviews information to assess performance and allocate resources. The Company’s two segments are (i) Energy, and (ii) Engineering and Consulting.
Willdan Group, Inc. (“WGI”) is a holding company and performs administrative functions on behalf of its subsidiaries, such as treasury, legal, accounting, information systems, human resources and certain business development activities, and earns revenue that is only incidental to the activities of the enterprise. As a result, WGI does not meet the definition of an operating segment.
Contract Assets and Liabilities
Billing practices are governed by the contract terms of each project based upon costs incurred, achievement of milestones or pre-agreed schedules. Billings do not necessarily correlate with revenue recognized using the percentage-of-completion method of revenue recognition. Contract assets include unbilled amounts typically resulting from revenue under contracts where the percentage-of-completion method of revenue recognition is utilized and revenue recognized exceeds the amount billed to the customer. In addition, contract assets include retainage amounts withheld from billings to the Company’s clients pursuant to provisions in our contracts. Contract liabilities consist of advance payments and billings in excess of revenue recognized and deferred revenue.
Contract Accounting
The Company enters into contracts with its clients that contain various types of pricing provisions, including fixed price, time-and-materials, and unit-based provisions. The Company recognizes revenues in accordance with ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customer, codified as ASC Topic 606 and the related amendments (collectively “ASC 606”). As such, the Company identifies a contract with a customer, identifies the performance obligations in the contract, determines the transaction price, allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation in the contract and recognizes revenues when (or as) the Company satisfies a performance obligation.
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The following table reflects the Company’s two reportable segments and the types of contracts that each most commonly enters into for revenue generating activities.
Segment Contract Type Revenue Recognition Method
Time-and-materials Time-and-materials
Energy Unit-based Unit-based
Software license Unit-based
Fixed price Percentage-of-completion
Time-and-materials Time-and-materials
Engineering and Consulting Unit-based Unit-based
Fixed price Percentage-of-completion
Revenue on the vast majority of the Company’s contracts is recognized over time because of the continuous transfer of control to the customer. Revenue on fixed price contracts is recognized on the percentage-of-completion method based generally on the ratio of direct costs incurred-to-date to estimated total direct costs at completion. The Company uses the percentage-of-completion method to better match the level of work performed at a certain point in time in relation to the effort that will be required to complete a project. In addition, the percentage-of-completion method is a common method of revenue recognition in the Company’s industry. Many of the Company’s fixed price contracts involve a high degree of subcontracted fixed price effort and, usually, are relatively short in duration, thereby lowering the risks of not properly estimating the percent complete. As of January 2, 2026, the Company had $179.7 million related to fixed price contract obligations of which $107.9 million related to fixed price contract obligations in excess of twelve months.
Revenue on time-and-materials and unit-based contracts is recognized as the work is performed in accordance with the specific rates and terms of the contract. The Company recognizes revenues for time-and-materials contracts based upon the actual hours incurred during a reporting period at contractually agreed upon rates per hour and also includes in revenue all reimbursable costs incurred during a reporting period. Certain of the Company’s time-and-materials contracts are subject to maximum contract values and, accordingly, when revenue is expected to exceed the maximum contract value, these contracts are generally recognized under the percentage-of-completion method, consistent with fixed price contracts. For unit-based contracts, the Company recognizes the contract price of units of a basic production product as revenue when the production product is delivered during a period. Revenue for amounts that have been billed but not earned is deferred, and such deferred revenue is referred to as contract liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company also derives revenue from software licenses and professional services and maintenance fees. In accordance with ASC 606, the Company performs an assessment of each contract to identify the performance obligations, determine the overall transaction price for the contract, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations, and recognize the revenue when the performance obligations are satisfied. In cases where the standalone selling price of the software licenses is not present, the Company utilizes the residual approach by which it estimates the standalone selling price by reference to the total transaction price less the sum of the observable standalone selling prices of other goods or services promised in the contract. The software license revenue is typically recognized at a point in time when control is transferred to the client, which is defined as the point in time when the client can use and benefit from the license. The software license is delivered before related services are provided and is functional without services, updates, or technical support. Related professional services include training and support services in which the standalone selling price is determined based on an input measure of hours incurred to total estimated hours and is recognized over time, which usually is the life of the contract.
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To determine the proper revenue recognition method for contracts, the Company evaluates whether two or more contracts should be combined and accounted for as one single contract and whether the combined contract should be accounted for as one performance obligation. With respect to the Company’s contracts, it is rare that multiple contracts should be combined into a single performance obligation. This evaluation requires significant judgment and the decision to combine a group of contracts or separate a single contract into multiple performance obligations could change the amount of revenue and profit recorded in a given period. Contracts are considered to have a single performance obligation if the promise to transfer the individual goods or services is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contracts, which is mainly because the Company provides a significant service of integrating a complex set of tasks and components into a single project or capability.
The Company may enter into contracts that include separate phases or elements. If each phase or element is negotiated separately based on the technical resources required and/or the supply and demand for the services being provided, the Company evaluates if the contracts should be segmented. If certain criteria are met, the contracts would be segmented which could result in revenues being assigned to the different elements or phases with different rates of profitability based on the relative value of each element or phase to the estimated total contract revenue. Segmented contracts may comprise up to approximately 1.0% to 2.0% of the Company’s consolidated contract revenue.
Contracts that cover multiple phases or elements of the project or service lifecycle (development, construction and maintenance and support) may be considered to have multiple performance obligations even when they are part of a single contract. For contracts with multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation using the best estimate of the standalone selling price of each distinct good or service in the contract. For the periods presented, the value of the separate performance obligations under contracts with multiple performance obligations (generally measurement and verification tasks under certain energy performance contracts) were not material. In cases where the Company does not provide the distinct good or service on a standalone basis, the primary method used to estimate standalone selling price is the expected cost plus a margin approach, under which the Company forecasts the Company’s expected costs of satisfying a performance obligation and then adds an appropriate margin for the distinct good or service.
The Company provides quality of workmanship warranties to customers that are included in the sale and are not priced or sold separately or do not provide customers with a service in addition to assurance of compliance with agreed-upon specifications and industry standards. The Company does not consider these types of warranties to be separate performance obligations.
In some cases, the Company has a master service or blanket agreement with a customer under which each task order releases the Company to perform specific portions of the overall scope in the service contract. Each task order is typically accounted for as a separate contract because the task order establishes the enforceable rights and obligations, and payment terms.
Under ASC 606, variable consideration should be considered when determining the transaction price and estimates should be made for the variable consideration component of the transaction price, as well as assessing whether an estimate of variable consideration is constrained. For certain of the Company’s contracts, variable consideration can arise from modifications to the scope of services resulting from unapproved change orders or customer claims. Variable consideration is included in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. The Company estimates of variable consideration and determination of whether to include estimated amounts in the transaction price are based largely on assessments of legal enforceability, the Company’s performance, and all information (historical, current and forecasted) that is reasonably available to the Company.
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Due to the nature of the work required to be performed on many of the Company’s performance obligations, the estimation of total revenue and cost at completion is complex, subject to many variables and requires significant judgment. As a significant change in one or more of these estimates could affect the profitability of the Company’s contracts, the Company reviews and updates the Company’s contract-related estimates regularly through a company-wide disciplined project review process in which management reviews the progress and execution of the Company’s performance obligations and the estimate at completion (“EAC”). As part of this process, management reviews information including, but not limited to, any outstanding key contract matters, progress towards completion and the related program schedule and the related changes in estimates of revenues and costs. Management must make assumptions and estimates regarding labor productivity and availability, the complexity of the work to be performed, the cost and availability of materials, the performance of subcontractors, and the availability and timing of funding from the customer, among other variables.
The Company recognizes adjustments in estimated profit on contracts under the cumulative catch-up method. Under this method, the impact of the adjustment on profit recorded to date is recognized in the period the adjustment is identified. Revenue and profit in future periods of contract performance is recognized using the adjusted estimate. If at any time the estimate of contract profitability indicates an anticipated loss on the contract, the Company recognizes the full amount of estimated loss in the period it is identified.
Contracts are often modified to account for changes in contract specifications and requirements. The Company considers contract modifications to exist when the modification either creates new rights or obligations or changes the existing enforceable rights or obligations. Most of the Company’s contract modifications are for goods or services that are not distinct from existing contracts due to the significant integration provided in the context of the contract and are accounted for as if they were part of the original contract. The effect of a contract modification that is not distinct from the existing contract on the transaction price and the Company’s measure of progress for the performance obligation to which it relates is recognized as an adjustment to revenue (either as an increase in or a reduction of revenue) on a cumulative catch-up basis.
For contract modifications that result in the promise to deliver goods or services that are distinct from the existing contract and the increase in price of the contract is for the same amount as the standalone selling price of the additional goods or services included in the modification, the Company accounts for such contract modifications as a separate contract.
The Company includes claims to vendors, subcontractors and others as a receivable and a reduction in recognized costs when enforceability of the claim is established by the contract and the amounts are reasonably estimable and probable of being recovered. The amounts are recorded up to the extent of the lesser of the amounts management expects to recover or to costs incurred.
Billing practices are governed by the contract terms of each project based upon costs incurred, achievement of milestones or pre-agreed schedules. Billings do not necessarily correlate with revenue recognized using the percentage-of-completion method of revenue recognition.
Direct costs of contract revenue consist primarily of that portion of technical and nontechnical salaries and wages that has been incurred in connection with revenue producing projects. Direct costs of contract revenue also include production expenses, subcontractor services and other expenses that are incurred in connection with revenue producing projects.
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Direct costs of contract revenue exclude that portion of technical and nontechnical salaries and wages related to marketing efforts, vacations, holidays and other time not spent directly generating revenue under existing contracts. Such costs are included in general and administrative expenses. Additionally, payroll taxes, bonuses and employee benefit costs for all Company personnel are included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive income since no allocation of these costs is made to direct costs of contract revenue. No allocation of facilities costs is made to direct costs of contract revenue. Other companies may classify as direct costs of contract revenue some of the costs that the Company classifies as general and administrative costs. The Company expenses direct costs of contract revenue when incurred.
Included in revenue and costs are all reimbursable costs for which the Company has the risk or on which the fee was based at the time of bid or negotiation. No revenue or cost is recorded for costs in which the Company acts solely in the capacity of an agent and has no risks associated with such costs.
Accounts receivable are carried at original invoice amount less an estimate made for doubtful accounts based upon a review of all outstanding amounts on a quarterly basis. Management determines allowances for doubtful accounts through specific identification of amounts considered to be uncollectible and potential write-offs, plus a non-specific allowance for other amounts for which some potential loss has been determined to be probable based on current and past experience. The Company’s historical credit losses have been minimal with governmental entities and large public utilities, but disputes may arise related to these receivable amounts. Accounts receivable are written off when deemed uncollectible. Recoveries of accounts receivable previously written off are recorded when received.
Retainage, included in contract assets, represents amounts withheld from billings to the Company’s clients pursuant to provisions in the contracts and may not be paid to the Company until specific tasks are completed or the project is completed and, in some instances, for even longer periods. As of January 2, 2026 and December 27, 2024, contract assets included retainage of $29.5 million and $22.0 million, respectively.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses include the costs of the marketing and support staff, other marketing expenses, management and administrative personnel costs, payroll taxes, bonuses and employee benefits for all of the Company’s employees and the portion of salaries and wages not allocated to direct costs of contract revenue for those employees who provide the Company’s services. General and administrative expenses also include facility costs, depreciation and amortization, professional services, legal and accounting fees and administrative operating costs. Within general and administrative expenses, “Other” includes expenses such as provision for billed or unbilled receivables, professional services, legal and accounting, computer costs, travel and entertainment, marketing costs and acquisition costs. The Company expenses general and administrative costs when incurred.
Leases
The Company accounts for leases in accordance with ASC 842 which requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet measured as the net present value of future lease payments, with the exception of short-term leases which are defined as those less than 12 months. The lease expense is then recognized over the term of the lease.
The Company elected the ‘package of practical expedients’ permitted under the transition guidance of ASC 842, which among other things, allowed the Company to carry forward the historical lease classification. In addition, the Company elected not to utilize the hindsight practical expedient to determine the lease term for existing leases. The Company also elected the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components for its facilities leases.
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The Company also leases certain equipment under financing leases. The economic substance of the leases is a financing transaction for acquisition of equipment and leasehold improvements. Accordingly, the right-of-use assets for these leases are included in the balance sheets in equipment and leasehold improvements, net of accumulated depreciation, with a corresponding amount recorded in current portion of financing lease obligations or noncurrent portion of financing lease obligations, as appropriate. The financing lease assets are amortized over the life of the lease or, if shorter, the life of the leased asset, on a straight-line basis and included in depreciation expense in the statements of comprehensive income. The interest associated with financing lease obligations is included in interest expense in the statements of comprehensive income. For more information, see Note 7, “Leases”.
Equipment and Leasehold Improvements
Equipment and leasehold improvements are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Equipment under finance leases is stated at the present value of the minimum lease payments as of the acquisition date. Depreciation and amortization on equipment are calculated using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of two to five years. Leasehold improvements and assets under capital leases are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of estimated useful lives or the term of the related lease.
Following are the estimated useful lives used to calculate depreciation and amortization:
Category Estimated Useful Life
Furniture and fixtures 5 years
Computer hardware 3 years
Computer software 3 years
Automobiles and trucks 3 years
Field equipment 5 years
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of costs over fair value of the assets acquired. The Company completes its annual testing of goodwill as of the last day of the first month of its fourth fiscal quarter each year to determine whether there is impairment. Goodwill, which has an indefinite useful life, is not amortized, but instead tested for impairment at least annually or more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. Impairment losses for reporting units are recognized to the extent that a reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value.
Long-lived assets
Long-lived assets, such as equipment, leasehold improvements and purchased intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.
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Accounting for Claims against the Company
The Company accrues an undiscounted liability related to claims against it for which the incurrence of a loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The Company discloses the amount accrued and an estimate of any reasonably possible loss in excess of the amount accrued, if such disclosure is necessary for its financial statements not to be misleading. The Company does not accrue liabilities related to claims when the likelihood that a loss has been incurred is probable but the amount cannot be reasonably estimated, or when the liability is believed to be only reasonably possible or remote. Losses related to recorded claims are included in general and administrative expenses.
Determining probability and estimating claim amounts is highly judgmental. Initial accruals and any subsequent changes in the Company’s estimates could have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.
Stock-based Compensation
The Company accounts for all stock-based compensation under the fair value recognition provisions of the accounting standard entitled “Compensation—Stock Compensation.” Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense over the requisite vesting period. The fair values of all stock options granted and the fair values of all Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) purchase rights are estimated using the Black-Scholes option-valuation model. The Black-Scholes option-valuation model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions. Performance-based restricted stock unit awards (“PBRSUs”) are granted to certain employees and vest only after the achievement of pre-determined performance metrics. Once the performance metrics are met, vesting of PBRSUs is subject to continued service by the employee. At the end of each reporting period, the Company evaluates the probability that PBRSUs will be earned. The Company records stock-based compensation expense based on the probability that the performance metrics will be achieved over the vesting period. Restricted stock awards (“RSAs”) and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) are time-based equity awards that are granted to certain employees and vest based on time, subject to continued service by the employee.
Business Combinations
During fiscal year 2025, the Company completed three acquisitions: Compass Municipal Advisors, LLC. (“Compass”), Alternative Power Generation, Inc. (“APG”), and Alpha Inspections, Inc. (“Alpha”). During the fiscal year 2024, the Company completed one acquisition: Enica Engineering, PLLC. (“Enica”). During fiscal year 2023, the Company did not have any material acquisitions.
The acquisition method of accounting for business combinations requires the Company to use significant estimates and assumptions, including fair value estimates, as of the business combination date and to refine those estimates as necessary during the measurement period (defined as the period, not to exceed one year, in which the Company may adjust the provisional amounts recognized for a business combination based upon new information about facts that existed on the business combination date).
Under the acquisition method of accounting, the Company recognizes separately from goodwill the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interests in an acquiree, at the acquisition date fair value. The Company measures goodwill as of the acquisition date as the excess of consideration transferred over the net of the acquisition date amounts of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed.
Generally, the Company engages a third-party independent valuation specialist to assist in management’s determination of fair values of tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed.
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In circumstances where an acquisition involves a contingent consideration arrangement, the Company recognizes a liability equal to the fair value of the contingent payments it expects to make as of the acquisition date. The contingent consideration fair value measurement is based on significant inputs not observable in the market and therefore constitute Level 3 inputs within the fair value hierarchy. The Company determines the initial fair value of contingent consideration liabilities using a Monte Carlo (“Monte Carlo”) valuation model, which involves a simulation of future revenues during the earn out-period using management’s best estimates, or a probability-weighted discounted cash flow analysis. Changes in the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out payments are included in general and administrative expenses.
As of January 2, 2026, the Company had contingent consideration payable of $20.4 million related to the acquisitions of Enica, APG, and Compass. The Company has contingent obligations to make earnout payments in connection with its acquisitions of Enica, APG, and Compass, subject to their future financial performance. The Company is obligated to pay up to $6.0 million in cash if Enica exceeds certain financial targets during the two years after the Enica closing date of October 23, 2024. The Company is obligated to pay up to $18.0 million in cash if APG exceeds certain financial targets during the three years after the APG closing date of March 3, 2025. The Company is obligated to pay up to $1.0 million in cash if Compass exceeds certain financial targets during the one year after the Compass closing date of January 2, 2026. Through the twelve months ended January 2, 2026, the Company’s statement of operations includes $3.2 million of interest accretion related to the contingent consideration.
In circumstances where an acquisition involves acquiring customer relationships, the fair value for customer relationships is determined as of the acquisition date using the excess earnings method. Under this methodology, the fair value is determined based on the estimated future after-tax cash flows arising from the acquired customer relationships over their estimated useful lives after considering customer attrition and contributory asset charges. The assumptions that have the most significant effect on the fair value calculations are the customer attrition rates, projected customer revenue growth rates, margins, contributory asset charges, and discount rates.
During the fiscal year 2025, the accounting for the consideration for Enica was finalized. In addition, the Company did not make any adjustments to the consideration for Enica, and as a result, there were no adjustments to the purchase price allocation for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2026.
Costs that the Company incurs to complete the business combination such as investment banking, legal and other professional fees are not considered part of consideration. The Company charges these acquisition costs to general and administrative expense as they are incurred.
For more information regarding current year acquisitions, see Note 13, “Business Combinations”, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities, subject to a judgmental assessment of the recoverability of deferred tax assets. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more-likely-than-not that some of the deferred tax assets may not be realized. Significant judgment is applied when assessing the need for valuation allowances. Areas of estimation include the Company’s consideration of future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. Should a change in circumstances lead to a change in judgment about the utilization of deferred tax assets in future years, the Company would adjust the related valuation allowances in the period that the change in circumstances occurs, along with a corresponding increase or charge to income.
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During each fiscal year, management assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate if sufficient future taxable income will be generated to utilize existing deferred tax assets. At the start of fiscal year 2024, the Company had a total valuation allowance related to its deferred tax assets of $1.2 million. During fiscal year 2024, the Company released $0.1 million of the valuation allowance due to expected future utilization of deferred tax assets, leaving a total valuation allowance of $1.1 million at the end of fiscal year 2024. During fiscal year 2025, no changes were made to tax valuation allowance as the available positive and negative evidence did not warrant a revision.
For acquired business entities, if the Company identifies changes to acquired deferred tax asset valuation allowances or liabilities related to uncertain tax positions during the measurement period and they relate to new information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date, those changes are considered a measurement period adjustment and the Company records the offset to goodwill. The Company records all other changes to deferred tax asset valuation allowances and liabilities related to uncertain tax positions in current period income tax expense.
The Company recognizes the tax benefit from uncertain tax positions if it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on examination by the tax authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit is measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.
Discrete tax items are specific tax-related events or adjustments that are recognized in the period in which they occur, rather than being tied to ongoing operating income or recurring earnings. Unlike regular income tax expense, which is typically calculated as a percentage of pre-tax income, discrete tax items arise from one-time or event-driven transactions. The Company’s income tax expense can be significantly impacted by these discrete tax items, such as energy-efficiency building deductions or stock compensation windfalls and shortfalls. As a result, these discrete tax items can generate substantial tax benefits or expenses that vary by reporting period and cause fluctuations from initially estimated effective tax rates.
For further information, see Note 11, “Income Taxes”, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Earnings (loss) per Share
The Company computes basic income per common share using net income and the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted income per common share is computed using net income and the weighted average number of common shares and potentially dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive common shares include dilutive outstanding employee stock options, RSAs, RSUs, and PBRSUs, and rights to purchase shares of common stock under the Company’s ESPP.
Other Comprehensive Income (loss), Net of Tax
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax refers to revenue, expenses, gains and losses that are recorded as an element of shareholders’ equity but are excluded from net income (loss). The Company’s other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax is comprised of unrealized gains or losses on its interest rate swap agreement designated as cash flow hedges.
Derivatives
From time to time, the Company uses certain interest rate derivatives contracts to hedge interest rate exposures on its variable rate debt. The Company recognizes derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities on its consolidated balance sheets at fair value. The Company records changes in the fair value (i.e., gains or losses) of the derivatives that have been designated as cash flow hedges in its consolidated balance sheets as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and in its consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income as a loss or gain on cash flow hedge valuation.
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Operating Cycle
In accordance with industry practice, amounts realizable and payable under contracts that extend beyond one year are included in current assets (included in contract assets) and current liabilities.
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2.RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted
In July 2025, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2025-05, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses for Accounts Receivable and Contract Assets” (“ASU 2025-05”). ASU 2025-05 allows an entity to elect a practical expedient to assume that current conditions as of the balance sheet date do not change for the remaining life of the asset in the development of a reasonable and supportable forecast as part of estimating expected credit losses. The amendments are effective for the annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2025, and interim periods within those fiscal year reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2025, with early adoption permitted. The Company elected to early adopt this standard in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 amends the rules on income tax disclosures to require entities to disclose specific categories in the rate reconciliation, the income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense or benefit (separated between domestic and foreign) and income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations (separated by federal, state, and foreign). In addition, ASU 2023-09 requires entities to disclose their income tax payments to international, federal, state, and local jurisdictions, among other changes. The amendments can be applied on a prospective basis although retrospective application is permitted. The amendments are effective for the annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2023-09 for its fiscal year 2025 annual reporting period, and as permitted by ASU 2023-09, the Company adopted this standard on a prospective basis. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements or disclosures.
Accounting Pronouncements Recently Issued
In December 2025, the FASB issued ASU No. 2025-12, “Codification Improvements” (“ASU 2025-12”). ASU 2025-12 addresses suggestions received from stakeholders on the Accounting Standards Codification and to make other incremental improvements to generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). ASU 2025-12 provides changes to the Codification that (1) clarify, (2) correct errors, or (3) make minor improvements. The amendments are effective for the annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within those fiscal year reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not believe the amendments in ASU 2025-12 will have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
In December 2025, the FASB issued ASU No. 2025-11, “Interim Reporting" (Topic 270): Narrow-Scope Improvements” (“ASU 2025-11”). The ASU 2025-11 amendments are intended to improve the guidance in Topic 270, Interim Reporting, by improving the navigability of the required interim disclosures and clarifying when that guidance is applicable. The amendments also provide additional guidance on what disclosures should be provided in interim reporting periods. The amendments are effective for the annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, and interim periods within those fiscal year reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted either (1) prospectively or (2) retrospectively. The Company does not believe the amendments in ASU 2025-11 will have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
In November 2025, the FASB issued ASU No. 2025-09, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Hedge Accounting Improvements” (“ASU 2025-09”). The ASU 2025-09 amendments are intended to simplify the application of hedge accounting and to more closely align hedge accounting with the economics of an entity's risk management activities in the following five areas: (1) similar risk assessment for cash flow hedges, (2) hedging forecasted interest payments on choose-your-rate debt instruments, (3) cash flow hedges of nonfinancial forecasted transactions, (4) net written options as hedging instruments, and (5) foreign-currency-denominated debt instrument as hedging instrument and hedged item (dual hedge). The amendments are effective for the annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within those fiscal year reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, with early
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adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this update will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU No. 2025-06, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal Software” (“ASU 2025-06”). ASU 2025-06 removes references to prescriptive and sequential software development stages which are referred to as “project stages” throughout Subtopic 350-40. The amendment introduces a principles-based approach to capitalization of internal-use software costs and requires capitalization of software costs to begin when management has authorized and committed to funding the project and it is probable the project will be completed and used to perform the intended function. The amendments do not change what internal-use software costs can be capitalized or when such capitalization ceases. The amendments are effective for the annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, and interim periods within those fiscal year reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not believe the amendments in ASU 2025-06 will have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
In May 2025, the FASB issued ASU No. 2025-03, “Business Combinations (Topic 805) and Consolidation (Topic 810): Determining the Accounting Acquirer in the Acquisition of a Variable Interest Entity” (“ASU 2025-03”). ASU 2025-03 requires an entity involved in an acquisition transaction effected primarily by exchanging equity interests when the legal acquiree is a Variable Interest Entity (“VIE”) that meets the definition of a business to consider the factors in paragraphs 805-10-55-12 through 55-15 to determine which entity is the accounting acquirer, rather than defaulting to the conclusion that the primary beneficiary is always the acquirer. The amendments are effective for the annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within those fiscal year reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not believe the amendments in ASU 2025-03 will have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, “Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40)” (“ASU 2024-03”). ASU 2024-03 requires entities to disclose, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, specified information about certain costs and expenses at each interim and annual reporting period. Specific disclosures include the amounts of (a) purchases of inventory; (b) employee compensation; (c) depreciation; (d) intangible asset amortization; and (e) depreciation, depletion, and amortization recognized as part of oil- and gas-producing activities (or other amounts of depletion expense) included in each relevant expense caption, as well as a qualitative description of the amounts remaining in relevant expense captions that are not separately disaggregated quantitatively. Additionally, entities will need to disclose the total amount of selling expenses and, in annual reporting periods, an entity’s definition of selling expenses. The amendments are effective for the annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this update will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In October 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-06, “Disclosure Improvements: Codification Amendments in Response to the SEC’s Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative” (“ASU 2023-06”). ASU 2023-06 amends U.S. GAAP to reflect updates and simplifications to certain disclosure and presentation requirements referred to FASB by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The targeted amendments incorporate 14 of the 27 disclosures referred by the SEC into codification. Each amendment in ASU 2023-06 is effective on either the date on which the SEC’s removal of the related disclosure requirement from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K becomes effective, or on June 30, 2027, if the SEC has not removed the requirements by that date. The Company does not believe the amendments in ASU 2023-06 will have a material impact in any of the Company’s current disclosures.
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WILLDAN GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
3. SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT DATA
Restricted Cash
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets for fiscal years 2025, 2024 and 2023, to the total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows for fiscal years 2025, 2024, and 2023:
January 2, December 27, December 30,
(in thousands)
Restricted cash — — —
Under certain utility contracts, the Company periodically receives cash deposits to be held in trust for the payment of energy incentive rebates to be sent directly to the utility’s end-customer on behalf of the utility. The Company acts solely as the utility’s agent to distribute these funds to the end-customer and, accordingly, the Company classifies these contractually restricted funds as restricted cash. Because these funds are held in trust for pass through to the utility’s customers and have no impact on the Company’s working capital or operating cash flows, these cash receipts are presented in the consolidated statement of cash flows as financing cash inflows, “Receipt of restricted cash”, with the subsequent payments classified as financing cash outflows, “Payment of restricted cash.”
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable consisted of the following:
January 2, December 27,
(in thousands)