Willdan Group (NASDAQ:WLDN) reported its quarterly earnings on Thursday, revealing a significant performance that surpassed analysts’ expectations. The construction and consulting firm announced earnings of $1.57 per share for the quarter, exceeding the consensus estimate of $0.79 by $0.78. The company generated $89.51 million in revenue during the same period, falling short of analyst projections of $174.50 million, as noted by FiscalAI.
The firm achieved a net margin of 6.37% and a return on equity of 20.23%. Following the earnings announcement, Willdan Group’s stock experienced a positive response, increasing by $2.50 to reach $119.60. The trading volume for the day was 255,723 shares, which was lower than its average volume of 303,563 shares.
Stock Performance and Analyst Ratings
Willdan Group’s financial metrics reveal a robust position in the market. The company boasts a current ratio of 1.48, a quick ratio of 1.48, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. With a market capitalization of $1.76 billion, the stock exhibits a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.02 and a beta of 0.98. Over the past year, the stock has fluctuated between a low of $30.43 and a high of $137.00. The company’s 50-day moving average stands at $118.59 while the 200-day moving average is $106.69.
Several analysts have recently provided insights on Willdan Group’s stock. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on December 29. Conversely, Zacks Research downgraded the stock from a “strong-buy” to a “hold” rating on January 6. On January 14, Wedbush raised its target price from $120.00 to $145.00 and rated the stock as “outperform.” Wall Street Zen also downgraded the stock from “strong-buy” to “buy” on January 11. Additionally, Compass Point set a price objective of $125.00 on January 2. Currently, three analysts rate the stock as a “buy” while one has assigned a “hold” rating, resulting in an average rating of “Moderate Buy” with a consensus price target of $124.33.
Institutional Trading Activity
Recent trading activity indicates that several large investors have adjusted their stakes in Willdan Group. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position by 0.6% during the fourth quarter, owning 343,000 shares valued at approximately $35.56 million. During the second quarter, Wasatch Advisors LP acquired a new position in the company valued at about $20.19 million. State Street Corp also raised its stake by 2.2% in the fourth quarter, holding 305,845 shares worth $31.70 million after purchasing an additional 6,523 shares. Notably, Two Sigma Investments LP boosted its position by 207.1% in the third quarter, now owning 302,380 shares valued at $29.24 million. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake by 1.1%, now holding 287,278 shares worth $29.79 million. Currently, institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.29% of Willdan Group’s stock.
Willdan Group, Inc. specializes in energy efficiency, infrastructure engineering, and technical consulting services for a diverse array of public and private sector clients. The firm collaborates with utilities, municipalities, state and federal agencies, and commercial enterprises to design and implement programs that promote sustainable energy use and resilient infrastructure. Its offerings include energy audits, project management, program design, and implementation, among other services.
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