Booz Allen Q3 Revenue Falls 10% but Adjusted EPS Rises 14%
Booz Allen Hamilton reported Q3 fiscal 2026 revenue of $2.6 billion, down 10% YoY (6% ex-shutdown impacts), with adjusted EPS rising 14% to $1.77, aided by $150 million in run-rate cost reductions. The company ended with a record $38 billion backlog and $53 billion FY27 pipeline, while tightening FY26 revenue, EBITDA and EPS guidance.
1. Treasury Contract Cancellations and Data Breach Fallout
The U.S. Treasury Department has terminated all contracts with Booz Allen Hamilton following the massive IRS data breach orchestrated by a former employee, Charles Edward Littlejohn. The cancellations affect multiple ongoing engagements across tax administration and cybersecurity advisory services, representing approximately $120 million in annual revenue. Management has initiated a client remediation program and is reallocating resources to reinforce data protection protocols, acknowledging that failure to safeguard sensitive taxpayer information led to a material reputational hit and could influence future bid success rates for federal contracts.
2. Third-Quarter Fiscal 2026 Financial Performance
For the quarter ended December 31, 2025, Booz Allen reported gross revenues of $2.6 billion, down 10% year-over-year, and down 7% on a revenue ex-billables basis due primarily to the prolonged government shutdown. Adjusted EBITDA was $285 million, yielding a margin of 10.9%, consistent with the first nine months of the fiscal year. Net income rose 7% to $200 million, while adjusted net income increased 9% to $215 million. Diluted EPS grew 12% to $1.63, and adjusted diluted EPS climbed 14% to $1.77, driven by a lower effective tax rate and share count reductions. Cost-savings initiatives delivered $150 million in run-rate reductions, with full earnings benefits expected next fiscal year.
3. Updated Full-Year Guidance and Capital Allocation
Booz Allen narrowed its full-year revenue outlook to a range of $11.3 billion to $11.4 billion and raised adjusted EPS guidance to $5.95 to $6.15, reflecting successful cost actions and improved funding trends. Annual adjusted EBITDA is projected at $1.195 billion to $1.215 billion, while free cash flow targets were lifted to $825 million–$900 million. During the quarter, the company returned $192 million to shareholders through $125 million in share repurchases and $67 million in dividends, and maintains a quarterly dividend of $0.59 per share. The board also committed up to $400 million over the fund’s life to technology venture investments, underscoring a balanced approach between shareholder returns and strategic growth funding.