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7 best fintech ETFs to buy nowExponent NASDAQ: EXPO reported third-quarter 2026 revenue and earnings growth as demand remained strong for its engineering and scientific consulting services, particularly in user research, product safety, failure analysis and dispute-related work.

Total revenue increased 18% year over year to $173.7 million, while net revenue, which excludes reimbursable expenses, rose 12% to $153.1 million. Net income increased 10% to $30.9 million, and diluted earnings per share rose 16% to $0.64 from $0.55 a year earlier.

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How to Buy OpenAI Stock: A GuideChief Executive Officer Catherine Corrigan said the quarter reflected demand for the company’s specialized expertise as technology becomes more integrated with physical products, infrastructure and human behavior. She cited growth in user research as well as disputes, failure analysis and product-safety work involving chemicals, consumer products and transportation.

Utilization and operating results
Exponent generated third-quarter EBITDA of $45 million, up 16% from the prior-year period. EBITDA margin expanded to 29.4% of net revenue from 28.3% a year earlier.

How to Calculate Moving Average; How it Helps in Stock SelectionBillable hours increased 8% to approximately 405,000, while the company’s average technical full-time-equivalent workforce grew 4% to 1,016 employees. Utilization rose to 76.7% from 74.1%, and the realized billing-rate increase was approximately 4%.

During the call, Chief Financial Officer Eric Anderson said the higher utilization was driven by broad-based demand rather than calendar-related factors. He pointed to dispute-related activity across consumer products, chemicals and transportation, along with stronger-than-expected proactive study work.

A project that represented 4% of revenue in the second quarter declined to 2.5% in the third quarter. Anderson said the company expects that project to represent less than 1% of revenue in the fourth quarter.

Compensation expense, adjusted for deferred-compensation gains and losses, rose 11%. Stock-based compensation increased to $6.7 million from $5.3 million. Other operating expenses rose 9% to $13.8 million, reflecting investments in corporate infrastructure, while general and administrative expense declined 4% to $7.3 million, primarily because the company held a smaller firmwide principals meeting than the prior year’s managers meeting.

Over the past 12 months, Exponent used $171 million for common-stock repurchases, reducing average diluted shares outstanding by 5% to 48.4 million. The company did not repurchase shares during the third quarter. It also distributed $14.7 million through dividends during the quarter.

Segment performance and AI-related demand
The engineering and other scientific segment, which accounted for 85% of net revenue, posted 13% net-revenue growth. The company attributed the increase to user research involving health applications, dynamic real-world environments and sensory perception, as well as disputes concerning chemical facilities, consumer products and advanced transportation technologies.

The environmental and health segment, representing 15% of net revenue, grew 3%. Anderson said growth in that business was supported by projects assessing the effects of chemicals on human health and the environment.

President John Pye said Exponent estimates that artificial intelligence is a direct component of roughly 15% to 20% of its business this year. The company’s AI-related work spans infrastructure supporting AI systems, including data-center components and cooling systems, as well as applications involving data used to train systems and testing of AI performance in real-world conditions.

Pye said clients are increasingly asking Exponent to assess AI-generated recommendations, including recommendations related to materials and formulations, and to investigate why AI systems made certain decisions in vehicles, devices or equipment. He said such projects remain early but are growing.

In response to analyst questions, executives said AI-related reactive work already includes matters involving advanced driver-assistance systems and autonomous vehicles. Executive Vice President Rich Schlenker also cited work on data-center fires, liquid-cooling corrosion, router failures and construction disputes related to AI systems.

Corrigan said medical devices could represent another developing area for AI-related reactive work, particularly as wearable technologies make health-related assessments and decisions.

Hiring priorities and outlook
Management said it is increasing recruiting efforts in response to demand, including university recruiting, lateral hiring from competitors and industry, and hiring from regulatory organizations. Corrigan identified human factors, biomechanics, thermal science, polymers, metallurgy, energy storage, health and environmental expertise as areas of focus.

For the fourth quarter, Exponent expects net revenue growth of 8% to 10% year over year and EBITDA margin of 26.3% to 26.8% of net revenue. Anderson said the outlook assumes utilization of 69% to 70%, which is seasonally lower than the third quarter because of holidays and vacations but consistent with continued robust activity. He noted that the company faces a strong prior-year comparison, when fourth-quarter utilization was 69.2%.

For full-year 2026, Exponent raised its outlook and now expects:

Net revenue growth of 10% to 11%.
EBITDA margin of 28% to 28.3%, compared with 27.6% in 2025.
Average technical employee growth of 4.7% to 5%.
Full-year utilization of 73.5% to 74%, compared with 72.5% in 2025.
Realized rate growth of 3.7% to 4%.
Capital expenditures of $10 million to $12 million.

Management said it plans to continue paying dividends and may repurchase shares during stock-price pullbacks. Anderson said the company also will evaluate potential small acquisitions and other business investments while maintaining its existing capital-allocation approach.

About Exponent (NASDAQ:EXPO)Exponent, Inc is a science and engineering consulting company that helps clients investigate complex technical issues, manage risks, and develop solutions. Its consultants work across disciplines including engineering, materials science, biomechanics, human factors, environmental science, health, data sciences, and economics.

The company provides failure analysis, product safety and testing, accident reconstruction, environmental and health assessments, regulatory support, and expert testimony.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

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Exponent (NASDAQ:EXPO) reported third-quarter financial results on Thursday. The transcript from the company’s third-quarter earnings call has been provided below.

This transcript is brought to you by Benzinga APIs. For real-time access to our entire catalog, please visit https://www.benzinga.com/apis/ for a consultation.

Access the full call at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/xqcabu6b/

SummaryExponent Inc reported a strong Q3 2026, with an 18% increase in total revenues to $173.7 million and a 12% rise in net revenues to $153.1 million, driven by demand for engineering and scientific expertise.

Net income grew by 10% to $30.9 million, while diluted earnings per share increased by 16% to $0.64.

The company highlighted significant growth in user research, dispute, failure analysis, and product safety-related work, particularly in the technology, consumer products, chemicals, and transportation sectors.

AI-related work represents 15-20% of the business, with growing demand for AI system evaluations and problem-solving in real-world applications.

Future guidance for Q4 2026 anticipates 8-10% net revenue growth and EBITDA margins of 26.3% to 26.8%. Full-year guidance has been raised to 10-11% net revenue growth and EBITDA margins of 28% to 28.3%.

Exponent is enhancing recruiting efforts to meet increasing demand, particularly in human factors, biomechanics, thermal sciences, and health and environmental fields.

Management emphasized the company’s unique capabilities in addressing complex technological, regulatory, and safety challenges through integrated scientific and engineering expertise.

Full TranscriptOPERATOR

All participants will be in listen-only mode. Should you need assistance, please signal a conference specialist by pressing the star key followed by zero. After today’s presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. To ask a question, you may press star then one on your telephone keypad. To withdraw your question, please press star then two. Please note today’s event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to Joni Konsontellos with Investor Relations.

Please go ahead.

Joni Konsontellos (Investor Relations)

Thank you, operator. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for joining us on Exponent’s third quarter 2026 financial results conference call. Please note that this call will be simultaneously webcast on the Investor Relations section of the company’s corporate website at www.investors.exponent.com. This conference call is the property of Exponent and any taping or other reproduction is expressly prohibited without prior written consent.

Joining me on the call today are Dr. Katherine Corrigan, Chief Executive Officer, Dr. John Pye, President, Rich Schlenker, Executive Vice President, and Eric Anderson, Chief Financial Officer. Before we start, I would like to remind you that the following discussion contains forward-looking statements, including but not limited to Exponent’s market opportunities and future financial results, that involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed here. Additional information that could cause actual results to differ from forward-looking statements can be found in Exponent’s periodic SEC filings, including those factors discussed under the caption Risk Factors in Exponent’s most recent Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements and risks in this conference call are based on current expectations as of today and Exponent assumes no obligation to update or revise them, whether as a result of new developments. And now I will turn the call over to Dr. Katherine Corrigan, Chief Executive Officer. Katherine.

Katherine Corrigan (Chief Executive Officer)

Thank you, Joni. And thank you, everyone, for joining us today. I will start off by reviewing our third quarter 2026 business performance. John will then share his perspective on innovation and market trends, and Eric will then provide a more detailed review of our financial results and outlook, and we will then open the call for questions. Before I get into our results, I want to thank those of you who joined us in Phoenix last month for our first Investor Day. We focused that day on a theme that is increasingly central to our business: the convergence of technology, infrastructure, and humans, and the opportunities for Exponent that emerge where they intersect. For those of you who were not able to join us, you can view the non-demonstration portions of the Investor Day on the Investor section of Exponent’s website.

Our goal in Phoenix was not simply to tell you what makes Exponent different, but to bring that differentiation to life and to make it memorable. And in many ways, our third quarter results provide another illustration of that story. Exponent delivered a strong third quarter with double-digit growth in revenues and earnings, reflecting continued demand for our specialized, integrated engineering and scientific expertise. User research continued to be a strong contributor to our growth, and importantly, that work continues to broaden across clients, products, and real-world environments. We also saw growth on top of a strong prior-year quarter in disputes, failure analysis, and product safety-related work across chemicals, consumer products, and transportation.

While these engagements span broad areas of our business, they increasingly reflect the same underlying forces we discussed at our Investor Day. Technology is advancing rapidly, becoming more deeply embedded in physical products and systems, and interacting with people in increasingly complex and consequential ways. We see that convergence particularly clearly in our user research work. As organizations bring new technologies to market, they increasingly need to understand not only whether the technology works, but how it performs when people actually use it in the real world.

That is making our studies both more diverse and more technically complex. Wearable devices, for example, are becoming much more sophisticated. A watch cannot directly measure many of the health variables we care about. Instead, it measures signals that it can directly access at the wrist and increasingly uses sophisticated analytics and machine learning to make predictions about things like cardiovascular health. That raises a much more complex question than whether the sensor itself works: Can those predictions be trusted as a basis for health decisions?

Answering that question requires novel methodologies, benchmarking performance against clinical reference standards, and an understanding of how performance changes across different people and real-world conditions. In consumer electronics, we are increasingly evaluating technology outside of controlled environments. Device users may be riding a bike, or driving a car, or navigating an airport. Our work in sensory perception is also expanding, analyzing how devices communicate information when users are already processing a complex physical environment. These are not simply questions about a device or algorithm. They are questions about the interaction among technology, human behavior, and the physical world.

Answering them takes a broader mix of expertise and requires us to design novel ways to measure both human performance and device behavior, and then interpret the results within the safety, regulatory, and business context our clients face. We see a similar convergence from a different vantage point when products and systems do not perform as intended. During the quarter, we saw increased dispute and failure analysis work across consumer products, chemicals, and transportation. In consumer products, we helped clients assess potential and actual product recalls tied to safety concerns, as expectations from consumers, regulators, and society continue to rise. As the race to embed AI into physical systems accelerates, the interaction among software, hardware, materials, human behavior, and the surrounding environment becomes more complex.

A single product safety investigation, for example, can bring together thermal scientists, mechanical engineers, and materials and polymer experts working together as one team. This is where Exponent’s differentiated position stands out. In transportation, we continue to see increased failure analysis work related to advanced driver assistance systems, another area where sophisticated technology must interact reliably with people and the physical environment. And in chemicals, we saw increased demand for dispute work tied to chemicals of concern, where evolving science, regulation, and societal expectations are creating increasingly complex questions for our clients. Across all these matters, the underlying need is remarkably consistent.

Clients need confidence that increasingly complex products, technologies, and infrastructure will perform safely and reliably in the real world. When they fall short, the consequences of failure are high, and they rely on Exponent for independent, evidence-based analysis and expert judgment that can withstand scrutiny, whether in a courtroom, before a regulator, or in the boardroom. That is why the people and capabilities we highlighted at our Investor Day really matter. We showed you firsthand what sets us apart: our integrated ecosystem of highly talented scientists and engineers, and our ability to bring the right combination of expertise together to solve complex, high-consequence challenges. I would now like to turn it over to our President, John Pye, to share his perspective on how AI is moving into the physical world and where he sees innovation heading across our markets.

John Pye (President)

Thank you, Kathryn. At Investor Day, we described AI as a stack with five layers, starting at the bottom with the electrons that power everything, the chips, the data centers that house them, the models, and at the top, the applications where AI interprets and acts on the physical world. Exponent has work at every layer of this stack. We draw upon our 60 years of science and engineering experience to help our clients extract the highest level of reliability out of supply chains that are under immense stress, delivering traditional products like generators, connectors, cables, even the concrete going into the buildings that make up a data center.

We are also helping those same clients deliver the innovative products that stretch the performance of technology in things like denser network switches and advanced cooling systems. Today, however, most of our AI-related work sits at the top of the stack, in the applications where we deliver the data that trains these systems and where we test how they perform in real-world conditions. In total, we estimate that AI is a direct element of roughly 15 to 20% of our business this year. That figure is an estimate because AI is embedded in so much of the technology our clients build that its influence reaches well beyond those engagements.

What we are seeing today is that questions that were hypothetical a year ago are becoming real projects. Clients using AI to design new materials and formulations are then asking us to evaluate those AI-generated recommendations that raise real safety questions. Others want to understand why an AI system made a particular decision in a vehicle, a device, or a piece of equipment. These engagements are still early, but they are real work, and the inquiries are growing as AI moves into the physical world.

The question is no longer whether it works, but it is what happened, why it happened, and, now more than ever, whether the answer can be trusted. When intelligent products behave unexpectedly, people turn to Exponent for explainability, clarity, and trust. I’ll now turn the call over to Eric to provide more detail on our third quarter results as well as discuss our outlook for the fourth quarter and the full year 2026.

Eric Anderson (Chief Financial Officer)

Thank you, John, and good afternoon, everyone. Let me start by saying all comparisons will be on a year-over-year basis unless otherwise noted. For the third quarter of 2026, total revenues increased 18% to $173.7 million, and revenues before reimbursements, or net revenues as I will refer to them from here on, increased 12% to $153.1 million as compared to the same period of 2025. Total revenues grew faster than net revenues due to a higher level of reimbursable expenses that are included in total revenues. Because reimbursable expenses can fluctuate quarter to quarter based on the mix and nature of client engagements, we believe that net revenue is a more meaningful measure of our underlying performance.

Net income for the third quarter increased 10% to $30.9 million as compared to $28 million during the same period in 2025. Diluted earnings per share increased 16% to $0.64 per share as compared to $0.55 per share during the same period last year. Over the past 12 months, we utilized $171 million for repurchases of our common stock, which resulted in a 5% decrease in our average diluted shares outstanding to 48.4 million shares during the third quarter of 2026 as compared to 51.2 million shares during the same period in 2025.

These repurchases also reduced our interest income. We did not repurchase any of our common stock during the third quarter of 2026. Exponent’s consolidated tax rate was 28% in the third quarter of 2026 compared to 27.4% for the same period in 2025. The tax impact associated with share-based awards was immaterial in both the third quarter of 2026 and 2025. EBITDA for the quarter increased 16% to $45 million, producing a margin of 29.4% of net revenues as compared to $38.8 million, or 28.3% of net revenues, in the same period of 2025.

Billable hours in the third quarter were approximately 405,000, an increase of 8% year over year. Average technical full-time equivalent employees in the third quarter were 1,016, up 4% as compared to one year ago. This increase was a result of our recruiting and retention efforts. Utilization in the third quarter was 76.7%, up from 74.1% in the same period of 2025. The realized rate increase during the third quarter was approximately 4%. In the third quarter, compensation expense, after adjusting for gains and losses in deferred compensation, increased 11%. Included in total compensation expense is a deferred compensation gain of $159,000 as compared to a gain of $7 million in the third quarter of 2025. As a reminder, gains and losses in deferred compensation are offset to miscellaneous income and have no impact on the bottom line. Stock-based compensation expense in the third quarter was $6.7 million as compared to $5.3 million in the prior-year period.

Other operating expenses in the third quarter were up 9% to $13.8 million due to investments in our corporate infrastructure. Included in other operating expenses is depreciation and amortization expense of $2.7 million. G&A expenses decreased 4% to $7.3 million for the third quarter, primarily reflecting lower travel and meal expenses associated with the smaller firmwide principals meeting held during the third quarter of 2026 as compared to the larger managers meeting held during the third quarter of 2025.

Interest income decreased to $668,000 for the third quarter driven by a decrease in cash. Regarding capital allocation during the quarter, capital expenditures were $1.2 million and we distributed $14.7 million to shareholders through dividend payments. Turning to our segments, Exponent’s Engineering and Other Scientific segment represented 85% of net revenues in the third quarter. Net revenues in this segment increased 13%, driven by strong user research activity spanning a broad set of challenges including health applications, dynamic and unstructured real-world environments, and sensory perception, along with dispute-related services involving chemical facilities, consumer products, and advanced transportation technologies.

Exponent’s Environmental Health segment represented 15% of net revenues in the third quarter. Net revenues in this segment increased 3%, driven by increased projects assessing the effects of chemicals on human health and the environment. Turning to our outlook for the fourth quarter of 2026 as compared to one year prior, we expect net revenues to grow 8% to 10% and EBITDA to be 26.3% to 26.8% of net revenues. For the full year of 2026, we are raising our net revenue and margin guidance. We now expect net revenue growth of 10% to 11% and EBITDA to be 28% to 28.3% of net revenues as compared to 27.6% in 2025. We expect our average technical full-time equivalent employees to increase approximately 4% to 5% year over year in the fourth quarter of 2026 and 4.7% to 5% for the full year.

We expect utilization in the fourth quarter to be 69% to 70% as compared to 69% in the same quarter last year. As a reminder, utilization is seasonally lower in the fourth quarter due to more holidays and vacations compared to other quarters. We expect the full-year utilization to be 73.5% to 74% as compared to 72.5% in 2025. We expect the year-over-year realized rate increase to be 3% to 3.5% for the fourth quarter of 2026 and 3.7% to 4% for the full year.

For the fourth quarter, we expect stock-based compensation to be $5.7 million to $5.9 million. For the full year 2026, we expect stock-based compensation to be $28.1 million to $28.4 million. We continue to believe that our stock-based compensation program is a key element to how we effectively attract, motivate, and retain our top talent. For the fourth quarter, we expect other operating expenses to be $13.5 million to $14 million. For the full year, we expect other operating expenses to be $53 million to $53.5 million.

For the fourth quarter, we expect G&A expense to be $7.2 million to $7.7 million, and for the full year we expect G&A expenses to be $28.1 million to $28.6 million. We expect interest income to be $700,000 to $900,000 for the fourth quarter. In addition, we anticipate miscellaneous income to be approximately $300,000. For the remainder of 2026, we do not anticipate any additional tax benefit associated with share-based awards. For the fourth quarter of 2026, we expect our tax rate to be approximately 28% as compared to 27.4% in the same quarter a year ago.

For the full year 2026, the tax rate is expected to be 28.5% as compared to 28% in 2025. Capital expenditures for the full year 2026 are expected to be $10 million to $12 million. We are pleased with the momentum we are carrying into the fourth quarter, and we are well positioned to finish 2026 on a strong note. I will now turn the call back to Katherine for closing remarks.

Katherine Corrigan (Chief Executive Officer)

Thank you, Eric. At Investor Day, we asked you to keep three questions in mind: Why is this market growing? Why does Exponent win? And why can Exponent continue to grow with it? This quarter’s results reinforce the answers to those questions. The market is growing because more is being asked of technology, infrastructure, and the people who depend on them. Artificial intelligence and other digital technologies are moving into the physical world. Demand for power and critical infrastructure is rising, and expectations for safety, reliability, and performance continue to grow. As these worlds converge, our clients’ questions are getting harder, not easier.

And Exponent wins because we are built for hard questions. Our approximately 1,000 consultants, more than 700 of whom hold doctoral degrees, work as an integrated ecosystem across engineering and the sciences. We start with real-world evidence, bring together the expertise each problem requires, and apply independent judgment to deliver conclusions that stand up to scrutiny. And that same complexity gives us confidence in the opportunity ahead. The forces driving demand for our expertise are strengthening. The range of problems our clients bring to us continues to expand. And our investments in talent and capabilities keep us at the leading edge. That is the foundation of our long-term growth framework and our confidence in Exponent’s ability to deliver sustainable long-term value for our shareholders. Operator, we are now ready for questions.

OPERATOR

Thank you. We will now begin the question-and-answer session. To ask a question, you may press star then one on your telephone keypad. If you are using a speakerphone, we ask that you please pick up your handset before pressing the keys. If at any time your question has been addressed and you’d like to withdraw your question, please press star then two. Today’s first question comes from Josh at UBS. Please go ahead. Hello, Josh. Is your line on mute, perhaps?

Josh (Analyst at UBS)

Hi, I’m sorry for that. Thanks for taking my question. I guess utilization was really strong in Q3, even though it’s usually a strong quarter anyways. Is it a function of kind of a structural productivity that you’ve been able to generate, or is there some calendar effects that kind of contribute into the utilization in the quarter?

Eric Anderson (Chief Financial Officer)

Yeah, Josh, this is Eric. It wasn’t really a structural calendar type thing. It was really just broad-based demand across the business. So the third quarter, it’s very few holidays and vacations like we have in the fourth quarter. So that utilization really just reflected, you know, dispute-related services across a broad set of industries, the ones we talk about in the press release—consumer products, chemicals, transportation—and just, you know, good business flow across most areas of our business.

On the proactive side, you know, on the studies, we did a little bit better than expected there. You know, we had talked about a large project that represents 4% of revenues in the second quarter. That project stepped down to 2.5% of revenues in the third quarter. We were expecting it to drop below 2%. So a little bit better than expected there. But that’s really what’s driving it. So it’s not associated with the calendar or holidays, vacations—just the business flow.

Josh (Analyst at UBS)

Okay, okay, that’s helpful. Thank you. And I think you made a comment on the prepared remarks about 15% to 20% of your business being directly related to AI. Now, I was wondering what that percentage would have been like a few years ago, and just kind of curious how the trajectory of this business has been kind of evolving. Thank you.

Katherine Corrigan (Chief Executive Officer)

I’m going to defer to Eric on the few years ago since I’m newer to the seat here. But I can tell you as you look into the future, you talk about the five layers of the stack. All of those layers are growing, Josh. Whether it’s the traditional work where it’s coding or a building catching on fire or an HVAC system not working, or whether it’s the newer stuff as you’re pressing on the technology, all of that is working. And then of course, our user research work that Katherine talked about fits in there too, where we’re delivering the data and helping think about what is the right data to push forward on those new applications.

So looking forward, you see continued growth there and perhaps even some accelerated growth in certain areas. But I’ll defer to Eric on the looking backward piece of what that might.

Eric Anderson (Chief Financial Officer)

Yeah, looking back, Josh, we’ve been doing work in this area for a number of years. So it wasn’t a small number two, three, four, or five years ago. Our work with advanced driver assistance systems and autonomous vehicles—we’ve been doing that for many years. And our risk management work for the utilities, machine learning, you know, that’s also a flow of work that’s been going on for probably the last five to ten years. So I don’t, I don’t have a number to give you.

But it wasn’t something close to zero. You know, we’ve been doing this work and building these capabilities over time.

Josh (Analyst at UBS)

Sure. That makes a lot of sense. And thanks for the color and congrats on the quarter.

Katherine Corrigan (Chief Executive Officer)

Thanks, Josh.

Eric Anderson (Chief Financial Officer)

Thanks, Josh.

OPERATOR

Thank you. And our next question today comes from Andrew Nicholas at William Blair. Please go ahead. Hi, good—

Andrew Nicholas (Analyst at William Blair)

Afternoon. Appreciate you taking my questions. I wanted to circle back to the utilization number in the quarter, I think highest you’ve had for several years, if I’m not mistaken. Curious on kind of how you view that from a headcount growth ambitions perspective or maybe even a pricing perspective. Obviously demand is really good. Your talent is in demand, as are the specialties that you focused on. Just wondering if this is an opportunity to really lean into the higher end of your kind of headcount growth aspirations or maybe lean a little bit further into pricing in ’27.

Any comments on kind of the interplay of utilization and pricing and headcount growth would be great.

Katherine Corrigan (Chief Executive Officer)

Yeah. Thank you, Andrew. And I think you’ve really hit the nail on the head. I mean, you can see the demand that is pushing on the business and you see that in the utilization and that’s very typically the first place where it shows up. But we are, what we say about the drivers is not a short term thing. Right. We see the demand drivers continuing to be strong and so we’re absolutely pushing that recruiting effort, those hiring efforts. We always want to balance the headcount growth with the demand.

In a perfect world, you sort of bring them along perfectly calibrated together. But look, our practices and our teams are very motivated to hire right now, as you might imagine. They are very busy and they see even more opportunity on the horizon. So it does give us an opportunity to say, hey, as we go into planning and as we’re doing now, we’re bringing the people in for the interviews. We’re out at the schools, especially in the fall recruiting season. This is a very important time of year for, for us when we talk about our university recruiting.

You know, we are looking at lateral type of hires from competitors, from industry, from the regulators. And so it’s really all those facets of our, of our recruiting strategy. We are, you know, we have turned up the dials on those and so are working to, you know, sort of balance those things. And I think, look, we’re still heading into the, you know, we’re in the midst of the planning process. We will obviously have more to say about things like pricing and, and specific headcount growth. But those are things that we are working very hard with our different business units on and look forward to sharing with you in another quarter.

Andrew Nicholas (Analyst at William Blair)

Very helpful, thank you. And then I was hoping you could maybe break out the growth between proactive and reactive in the quarter, at least at a high level quantitatively. I think as you mentioned in the release, it was a pretty tough compare, reactive in particular. So any color on how both of those parts of your business grew would be helpful. Thank you.

Eric Anderson (Chief Financial Officer)

Yep, I can give you a little color on that. So on the proactive side, it grew in the, call it the high teens, and the reactive side in the high single digits. And like you said, and like Katherine said in prepared remarks, that number on the reactive side was on top of a very strong quarter in Q3 of last year.

Katherine Corrigan (Chief Executive Officer)

Yeah. And I would add, Andrew, you know, the reactive work, the disputes work, it’s not a scenario where we had sort of one big project or two big projects. It really was kind of diversified across a number of these different areas and seeing that strong utilization in our disputes folks.

Andrew Nicholas (Analyst at William Blair)

Thank you very much.

OPERATOR

Thank you. Our next question today comes from Toby Sommer at Truist. Please go ahead.

Toby Sommer (Analyst at Truist)

Thanks. I want to start with just a small tactical question. The 4% project that went to two and a half, what’s the assumption in 4Q for the contribution from that project?

Eric Anderson (Chief Financial Officer)

Yeah, Toby, that project we expect to wind down to under 1% of revenues in the fourth quarter. So it’s not a big part of our forecast.

Toby Sommer (Analyst at Truist)

Sure, I appreciate that. Thank you. I wanted to ask a question about AI. Specific work in reactive engagements that look like at the investor day it sounded like more opportunity currently exists in early. We heard more examples about sort of proactive opportunities. But on the reactive side, as AI breaks something in the physical world and causes damages and creates exposures, is that already out there in the market? Is that something you’re involved in or is that a prospective opportunity?

John Pye (President)

Hey Toby, this is John. No, I think AI has been in products in one shape or form for several years now. You saw it probably most early in the transportation industry as you started getting into advanced driver assistance systems and then in automated vehicles. And there’s a large portion of what we do in that industry that is reactive. And so what did the machine do? When did it see what it was supposed to see? Did it do the right thing upon seeing that, did it turn right or left as Kathryn always is fond of saying in her examples.

That part of the work is not a future-looking expectation, that’s here right now. And then as AI makes it into other areas where decisions are being made and there’s safety consequences. The example I gave around chemical formulations and things like that, those are examples that are happening right now. Have they moved into the litigation stage where there’s a dispute around them? Well, that’s maybe a little bit early, but you can continue to see the pace of that moving forward.

Katherine Corrigan (Chief Executive Officer)

Yeah, and I would just add the next place where we’re starting to see more is going to be the medical device arena. When you think about that wearable or that technology that’s giving a health-related decision, that is not at the level of the advanced driver assistance piece that John was talking about. But that’s kind of as I see it, on the reactive side, maybe the next kind of sort of ramp that we have to think about.

Rich Schlenker (Executive Vice President)

Yeah, Toby, this is Rich, just a little bit to add here. That’s really the related part that we’ve been talking of traditional parts of the AI stack which are that we are already seeing construction disputes related to AI systems. We are already working on significant events that have occurred, fires. And at data centers around the world we are being called in to help clients on failure analysis of components. So that’s everything from corrosion related to liquid cooling systems.

It is failures of routers. Those have really been helping people at that level just get over the hump and push the thing aside and, and get the feedback into their vendors. History tells us eventually those end up with, when people slow down a little, they end up with the dispute between the supplier and the OEM that needs to be worked out as a, you know, where the finances get paid for those corrections. We saw that across almost every automotive manufacturer in the electric vehicle area.

Every one of them had product recalls around the battery systems that were out there, eventually worked through it. Many of them ended up having to work things out financially with their suppliers related to that. So these are the things that are in the early days that are building up, but they’re all the things that we’ve been working on, as John said, for 16 years.

Toby Sommer (Analyst at Truist)

Is there much of a track record of examples of reactive projects where the actual AI firms developing the models and new models, as those models sometimes go rogue or do something unintended? Is that kind of stuff percolating in the judicial system or in the regulatory environment?

Rich Schlenker (Executive Vice President)

Well, I mean it’s every news article you read these days. And that makes it certainly through the regulatory side as you try to figure out where it’s going and ultimately into the disputes world. I think it shows up in all of those things, Toby. Our exposure to that is I think more on the earlier stages rather than in the dispute that will ultimately come up when the AI shuts down your travel reservation system or the cybersecurity is maybe not where you wanted it to and something happens there.

But I think that’s just a matter of time how it works its way into a more significant portion of our workflow. And I think, look, the perfect example, which Exponent has been executing on here for a number of years but is now cases that are related to fully autonomous is in the vehicle area. This is where these systems have come in. There is actual product liability suits. There are actual regulatory investigations into each of these questions of why the vehicle didn’t stop or why did the, you know, the Cruise vehicle make the decision it made nearly two years ago in San Francisco.

Those are the questions Exponent’s being asked to answer. We’ve written the reports that are public in some of these matters. Others are maybe a litigation matter and might not be out there, but some of these are out there in the public. So that is what’s happened in that environment. It will play out across the rest of the products areas over time.

Toby Sommer (Analyst at Truist)

Thank you. You’ve been generous with your time. I’d like to ask one more. In your hiring outlook, what other areas of the business or practices or even scientific specialties do you expect to hire the most in?

Katherine Corrigan (Chief Executive Officer)

Yeah, I can jump in on that. Look, it’s a lot of different areas. Human factors is one example. When you think about the human-machine interface and that convergence that we’ve been talking about, that’s going to pull in your human factors, it’s pulling in your biomechanics as well. When you think about the data center infrastructure side of what’s going on and also the energy side of the market drivers for us there, you’re talking about your thermal scientists, you’re talking about your polymer folks, you’re talking about your metallurgists, you’re also talking about people with energy storage type of experience.

And look, we also have to think about that health and environmental side. You know, this has been a place where we have invested in senior talent and we will continue to do that. When you think about things like PFAS, you think about other emerging chemicals and you know, those are places where we not only are hiring in health and environmental, but we’re hiring on the engineering side and the material side, because it’s those questions of, you know, where are the replacements for these materials and why are they useful in products are the kinds of questions that are arising.

So, you know, those are some of the examples of places where, you know, when we’re at the universities, we’re looking at the different laboratories, the different departments where we’re very focused.

Toby Sommer (Analyst at Truist)

Thank you.

OPERATOR

Thank you. And our next question today comes from Tomo Sano at JPMorgan. Please go ahead.

Tomo Sano (Analyst at JPMorgan)

Hi, good afternoon everyone. Thank you. Maybe on the Q4 outlook, you’re guiding to 8% to 10% growth versus 4% in Q3, despite the easier year-over-year comps. Could you talk about what’s driving that moderation? Is it project timing or are there any areas where you see assuming some slowing in demand?

Eric Anderson (Chief Financial Officer)

Yeah, Tomo, it’s not on a sequential basis. It’s not really moderating. So we guided to 69% to 70% utilization. Josh earlier asked a question about the holidays and vacations or the structural part of that. That 69% to 70% utilization in the fourth quarter is roughly equivalent to the 77% that we just did in the third quarter. So we’re expecting this, you know, robust level of activity to continue into the fourth quarter. When I look back at the fourth quarter last year, that was also a very busy quarter, you know, 69.2% utilization, the fourth quarter strong.

So we’ve got a tough comparable is why you’re seeing that at 8% to 10%, you know, versus low double digits like we just did in the third quarter.

Tomo Sano (Analyst at JPMorgan)

Okay, thank you. And if you could talk about environmental and health, that was actually up 3%, well below engineering and then scientific. What would you say need to change for the growth in that segment to reaccelerate? And are you seeing any signs of that today?

Katherine Corrigan (Chief Executive Officer)

Yeah, thanks, Tomo. And I was alluding to that a little bit in my comments just a minute ago. You know, this is a place where we are very focused on recruiting, and in particular senior recruiting. We’ve brought on some principal-level folks in the last 12 to 18 months. They continue to ramp and we continue to make those investments. So that’s a key element of making sure that we can see sustainable growth over time. Because what you can then do when you have those principals is you are building additional teams underneath them.

You’re able to expand your capabilities, maybe across different emerging chemicals and different issues, both on the reactive and the proactive side. And look, this business very much splits across those two pieces, right? We have the dispute-related work around chemicals in the environment, but there’s also the proactive regulatory piece of that business. And that is a place where, again, we continue to seed with hires. You know, we are taking those out of regulators, for example, and we continue to work with clients on what their latest technologies are. So it’s a, you know, look, it’s about building the capability, envisioning what the emerging trends are, and positioning ourselves with the talent to then capture that work.

Tomo Sano (Analyst at JPMorgan)

Thank you, Katherine. And if I can squeeze just one more on capital allocations. So you repurchased about $146 million of the stock year-to-date. How are you thinking about the pace of buybacks from here versus preserving capital for investment or M&A?

Eric Anderson (Chief Financial Officer)

Yeah, our philosophy on that hasn’t changed. You know, we are going to continue to pay a dividend. We’re going to buy back shares when there’s pullbacks in the stock price like we did during the first half of this year. We’ve still got that $50 million that the board authorized for share repurchases. So going forward, our, you know, our philosophy is not going to change. We’re obviously going to evaluate opportunities for maybe a small acquisition here or there and other, you know, investments that we can make into the business and deploy cash, you know, consistent with how we have in the past.

Tomo Sano (Analyst at JPMorgan)

Right. Thank you, Eric. That’s all from me.

Katherine Corrigan (Chief Executive Officer)

Thanks so much.

OPERATOR

Thanks, everyone. That concludes today’s question and answer session and today’s conference call. We thank you all for attending today’s presentation. You may now disconnect your lines and have a wonderful day.

Disclaimer: This transcript is provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, there may be errors or omissions in this automated transcription. For official company statements and financial information, please refer to the company’s SEC filings and official press releases. Corporate participants’ and analysts’ statements reflect their views as of the date of this call and are subject to change without notice.

© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

 | Source: Exponent, Inc.

MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Exponent, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPO) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.31 per share of common stock to be paid on December 18, 2026 to all common stockholders of record as of December 4, 2026.

Exponent has paid, and expects to continue to pay, quarterly dividends each year in March, June, September, and December. Future declarations of quarterly dividends and the establishment of future record and payment dates are subject to the final determination of Exponent’s Board of Directors.

“Our quarterly cash dividend reflects the consistency of Exponent’s cash generation and our continued commitment to returning capital to shareholders,” commented Dr. Catherine Corrigan, Chief Executive Officer. “Our disciplined approach to capital allocation, supported by a strong balance sheet, allows us to return capital to shareholders while continuing to invest in the people and capabilities that drive long-term growth.”

About Exponent

Exponent brings together 90+ technical disciplines and 950+ consultants to help our clients navigate the increasing complexity of more than a dozen industries, connecting decades of pioneering work in failure analysis to develop solutions for a safer, healthier, more sustainable world.

Exponent’s consultants deliver the highest value by leveraging multidisciplinary expertise and resources from across Exponent’s offices in North America, Asia, and Europe. Exponent’s consultants, laboratories, databases, and computing resources work seamlessly together around the globe, enabling us to produce the breakthrough insights needed to help multinational companies, startups, law firms, insurance companies, governments, and society respond to incidents and push their products and processes forward.

Exponent may be reached at (888) 656­-EXPO, [email protected], or www.exponent.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains, and incorporates by reference, certain “forward-looking” statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and the rules promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that are based on the beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company’s management. When used in this document and in the documents incorporated herein by reference, the words “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, identify such forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company or its management with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, the Company’s actual results, performance, or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, any such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such material differences include the possibility that the demand for our services may decline as a result of changes in generally applicable and industry-specific economic conditions, the timing of engagements for our services, the effects of competitive services and pricing, the absence of backlog related to our business, our ability to attract and retain key employees, the effect of tort reform and government regulation on our business, and liabilities resulting from claims made against us. Additional risks and uncertainties are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the report. The inclusion of such forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that the future events, plans, or expectations contemplated by the Company will be achieved. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such forward-looking statements.

The Business Services group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Is Exponent (EXPO - Free Report) one of those stocks right now? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.

Exponent is a member of our Business Services group, which includes 244 different companies and currently sits at #6 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank gauges the strength of our 16 individual sector groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups.

The Zacks Rank is a successful stock-picking model that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions. The system highlights a number of different stocks that could be poised to outperform the broader market over the next one to three months. Exponent is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EXPO's full-year earnings has moved 1.1% higher within the past quarter. This means that analyst sentiment is stronger and the stock's earnings outlook is improving.

According to our latest data, EXPO has moved about 3.4% on a year-to-date basis. At the same time, Business Services stocks have lost an average of 10.3%. This means that Exponent is outperforming the sector as a whole this year.

Another stock in the Business Services sector, NTT (NTTYY - Free Report) , has outperformed the sector so far this year. The stock's year-to-date return is 9.8%.

The consensus estimate for NTT's current year EPS has increased 9.9% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Looking more specifically, Exponent belongs to the Consulting Services industry, a group that includes 13 individual stocks and currently sits at #66 in the Zacks Industry Rank. This group has lost an average of 19.3% so far this year, so EXPO is performing better in this area.

NTT, however, belongs to the Technology Services industry. Currently, this 123-stock industry is ranked #85. The industry has moved -21.5% so far this year.

Going forward, investors interested in Business Services stocks should continue to pay close attention to Exponent and NTT as they could maintain their solid performance.

End-to-end service program combines fuel cell module performance guarantee with committed service response and resolution times, to enable transit operators to plan maintenance and fuel cell lifecycle costs.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Ballard Power Systems is launching the first-of-its-kind fuel cell lifecycle programme – Ballard Fleet360 – at APTA TRANSform & EXPO 2026 in Chicago.

Available with new FCmove®-HD+ module sales in North America, the program connects intelligent fuel cell data, tailored technical support, parts assurance, technician training and refurbishment options. Fleet360's FCcare+ coverage package provides a fuel cell module performance guarantee for power output up to 250,000 miles of fuel cell operation.

Ballard Fleet360 fuel cell lifecycle program "Transit operators want confidence in how their fuel cells perform today and as their fleets age," said Ralph Robinett, Chief Operating Officer of Ballard. "With Fleet360, we are backing our technology with a defined performance guarantee, supported by the information, parts and technical support maintenance teams need. This capability gives customers a clearer basis for planning fuel cell maintenance and lifecycle budgets, with performance commitments from Ballard."

Turning fuel cell data into maintenance decisions

At the center of Fleet360 is FCpulse, Ballard's digital platform for visibility into fuel cell health, performance and service-part trends. Its state of health dashboard helps maintenance teams proactively identify modules needing attention, prioritise investigations and prepare workshop resources. Its data visualizer access supports deeper technical investigation, while quarterly performance reports inform service and lifecycle planning.

Defined guarantees for module performance

The FCcare service package combines full parts coverage with commitments for response, spare part delivery and resolution, alongside FCpulse state of health dashboard access. The FCcare+ package adds a fuel cell module performance guarantee for power output power up to 250,000 miles of fuel cell operation. Guarantees and service commitments are defined by the package and agreement selected. Core+ refurbishment, Ballard Academy training and the full version of FCpulse are available alongside either package.

Service support built around fleet operations

The program is supported by Ballard's Remote Operations Centre in Vancouver, which coordinates triage, diagnostics and engineering escalation, together with expanded field service capability and US parts inventory in Bend, Oregon. The Ballard Academy builds customers' in-house maintenance capability and diagnostic skills, while Core+ connects stack condition assessment with refurbishment planning.

"Data creates value when it helps a maintenance team decide what to do next," Robinett added. "By connecting FCpulse insights with parts support, technical expertise and refurbishment planning, we can help operators prepare for maintenance and budget for the fuel cell module over its life. Our role is to give their teams the information and practical support to make those decisions with greater confidence."

Fleet360 builds on Ballard's experience across more than 186 million miles (300 million kilometers) of operational service and more than 3,000 fuel cell engines on the road. Today, Ballard has deployed nearly 330 fuel cell buses across North America, including over 225 buses in California and a fleet of more than 30 in Nevada.

Together, the market-leading FCmove® range of fuel cell engines and Ballard Fleet360 demonstrate Ballard's focus on the complete customer journey – from vehicle integration and deployment to reliable operation throughout the fleet lifecycle.

Ballard's presence at APTA EXPO 2026 also comes just weeks after the completion of its acquisition of GeoPura. The acquisition broadens Ballard's capabilities beyond fuel cell engines to include hydrogen production, logistics, refueling, and integrated Energy-as-a-Service solutions. These expanded capabilities strengthen Ballard's ability to support customers with the technology, services, and hydrogen solutions needed to deploy and operate zero-emission fleets at scale.

Meet Ballard at APTA EXPO 2026

Transit operators and bus manufacturers can meet Ballard's team at APTA EXPO 2026 to discuss Fleet360 coverage and service options. Visit us at Booth 462 from October 5-7.

About Ballard

Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) is a global leader in zero-emission hydrogen energy solutions and an integrated Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) provider. Together, with its wholly owned subsidiary, GeoPura Ltd., Ballard delivers turnkey, vertically integrated hydrogen ecosystem solutions spanning hydrogen production, logistics, refuelling, zero-emission fuel cell engines, and stationary Hydrogen Power Units.

Ballard powers critical off-grid, stationary applications - including construction, events, film sets, healthcare, defense, temporary power infrastructure, and supplies fuel cell engines for heavy-duty mobility applications such as bus, rail, and marine. With an EaaS model, combined with cutting-edge technology across the hydrogen value chain, Ballard decarbonizes mission-critical operations worldwide. To learn more about Ballard, visit www.ballard.com.

Further Information

Sumit Kundu – Investor Relations, +1.604.360.3517 or [email protected]

SOURCE Ballard Power Systems Inc.

SINGAPORE, Sept. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- From September 24 to 25, the Tourism EXPO Japan 2026 took place at Tokyo Big Sight. Aurora Mobile Limited (NASDAQ: JG) (“Aurora Mobile” or the “Company”), a leading provider of customer engagement and marketing technology services, was invited to co-exhibit as a sponsor of the Japan Web3 Tourism Association, demonstrating how AI technology is empowering the digital transformation of the tourism sector.

The Tourism Paradox: Booming Inbound Travel vs. Overstretched Staff
As inbound tourism to Japan reaches record highs, the industry is grappling with an unprecedented staffing crisis. Throughout the exhibition, frontline hospitality professionals voiced consistent operational frustrations: the inability to manage overnight inquiry backlogs, severe front-desk bottlenecks caused by language barriers with non-English-speaking groups, and a lack of manpower to produce dynamic video content for international marketing.

These challenges illustrate that the tourism sector's demand for AI has moved far beyond basic chatbots. What is urgently needed are "digital employees" capable of handling real workloads and executing complex operations.

Live on Site: AI Solutions Integrated into Real Workflows
At this exhibition, the Aurora Mobile Japan team presented EngageLab (customer engagement platform), GPTBots.ai (enterprise-grade AI agent platform), and Modellix.ai (unified AI media generation platform), conducting live demonstrations tailored to tourism scenarios:

Moving Beyond Translation Apps with 24/7 Multilingual AI Guides: By scanning QR codes at scenic spots or hotels, tourists can converse smoothly with AI in their native language (supporting 100+ languages). Whether searching for local cuisine or booking unique experiences, the AI provides precise recommendations based on real-time operational status and seamlessly guides the user to complete the booking process.Alleviating Customer Service Overload via EngageLab LiveDesk and GPTBots.ai: For high-frequency standard inquiries like "Are you open today?" or "Where is the parking lot?" as well as after-hours support gaps, AI Agents powered by GPTBots.ai provide 24/7 precise automated responses. When encountering highly complex or personalized needs, the system seamlessly routes the conversation to human agents via EngageLab LiveDesk. This efficient collaboration between AI agents and human staff within a single platform ensures an uninterrupted traveler experience while significantly reducing the strain on frontline employees.Eliminating Tedious Editing as Modellix.ai Brings Landscape Photos to Life: Addressing the promotional bottlenecks of local tourism boards and hotels, the site showcased Modellix.ai's video generation capabilities. By simply uploading a few static landscape or hotel room photos—and without needing a professional editing team—the AI automatically generates exquisite PR videos ready for social media distribution.
From Standalone Tools to End-to-End Workflows
As we have consistently emphasized at previous exhibitions, what enterprises truly need is not just another isolated AI tool, but a practical starting point that integrates smoothly into existing workflows. At this event, Aurora Mobile showcased not only cutting-edge technology but also deep synergy with current tourism service systems—allowing AI to handle standardized, high-frequency tasks, and freeing humans to provide deeper, more empathetic hospitality.

Moving forward, Aurora Mobile will continue to deepen its localized support, helping the global tourism industry accelerate its embrace of digital transformation.

About EngageLab
EngageLab is an AI-first customer engagement platform that helps you build stronger customer relationships with AI agents, unified customer data, and reliable delivery across channels.

EngageLab's global customers include Dhgate, HelloRide, The Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE) of Ecuador, J&T Cargo, Blurams and many more.

For more information, please contact: [email protected]

About GPTBots.ai
GPTBots.ai is an enterprise-grade AI agent platform under Aurora Mobile (NASDAQ: JG), offering no-code/low-code AI agent development, deployment, and management for enterprise clients. Through multi-model LLM integration and intelligent workflow automation, GPTBots.ai empowers organizations to enhance customer service, optimize knowledge management, and automate business processes, driving digital innovation and transformation worldwide.

GPTBots.ai's global customers include Axios Management, GP Batteries, Echosens China, and many more.

For more information, please contact: [email protected]

About Modellix
Modellix is Aurora Mobile’s premier unified platform for AI media generation. It enables developers and enterprises to generate, track, and scale content using world-class models through a single, secure, and transparent API.

For more information, please contact: [email protected]

About Aurora Mobile
Founded in 2011, Aurora Mobile (NASDAQ: JG) is a leading provider of customer engagement and marketing technology services. The Company is dedicated to empowering global enterprises with stable, efficient, and intelligent customer interaction solutions. Leveraging its first-mover advantage in mobile messaging, Aurora Mobile has evolved into a comprehensive platform that integrates Omnichannel Engagement, AI-Driven Marketing, Advanced AI Customer Support, and Frictionless Identity Security. Through its flagship brand EngageLab and its robust AI infrastructure GPTBots.ai, the Company helps businesses achieve seamless customer reach, automate complex marketing journeys, and optimize service efficiency with AI agents, accelerating digital transformation for clients worldwide.

For more information, please visit: https://ir.aurora-mobile.com/

Media contact: [email protected]

Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Among other things, the Business Outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Aurora Mobile's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Aurora Mobile may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about Aurora Mobile's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Aurora Mobile's strategies; Aurora Mobile's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Aurora Mobile's ability to attract and retain customers; its ability to develop and effectively market data solutions, and penetrate the existing market for developer services; its ability to transition to the new advertising-driven SAAS business model; its ability to maintain or enhance its brand; the competition with current or future competitors; its ability to continue to gain access to mobile data in the future; the laws and regulations relating to data privacy and protection; general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of the press release, and Aurora Mobile undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

For more information, please contact:
Aurora Mobile Limited
E-mail: [email protected]

Christensen Advisory
Ms. Xiaoyan Su
E-mail: [email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7ec171bc-8971-4167-8b83-6f8d0c56a7b5

Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec purchased a new stake in Exponent, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPO – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 20,200 shares of the business services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $1,187,000.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Bell Investment Advisors Inc grew its position in Exponent by 423.6% during the 1st quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc now owns 377 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 305 shares in the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Exponent in the second quarter valued at $26,000. Allworth Financial LP lifted its holdings in shares of Exponent by 86.1% in the fourth quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 469 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 217 shares in the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Exponent by 37.1% in the first quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 717 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 194 shares during the period. Finally, Hantz Financial Services Inc. boosted its position in shares of Exponent by 129.0% in the fourth quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 907 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $63,000 after buying an additional 511 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.37% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In EXPO has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of Exponent in a report on Friday, July 17th. UBS Group set a $72.00 price objective on Exponent and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Exponent from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Exponent currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $81.00.

Get Our Latest Analysis on Exponent Insider Transactions at Exponent In other Exponent news, CEO Catherine Corrigan sold 1,707 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.28, for a total value of $113,139.96. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 129,108 shares in the company, valued at $8,557,278.24. The trade was a 1.30% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders own 1.70% of the company’s stock.

Exponent Stock Performance Exponent stock opened at $71.53 on Monday. Exponent, Inc. has a twelve month low of $51.91 and a twelve month high of $81.95. The firm has a market cap of $3.40 billion, a PE ratio of 32.08 and a beta of 0.68. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $64.33 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $64.43.

Exponent (NASDAQ:EXPO – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The business services provider reported $0.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.55 by $0.05. Exponent had a net margin of 17.67% and a return on equity of 31.48%. The company had revenue of $171.61 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $144.99 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.52 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 12.0% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Exponent, Inc. will post 2.31 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Exponent Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 18th. Investors of record on Friday, September 4th will be given a dividend of $0.31 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 4th. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.7%. Exponent’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 55.61%.

About Exponent (Free Report)

Exponent, Inc (NASDAQ: EXPO) is an engineering and scientific consulting firm that offers multidisciplinary analysis and advisory services to clients across a range of industries. The company’s expertise spans mechanical, materials and corrosion engineering, civil and structural engineering, electrical engineering, industrial hygiene, toxicology and health sciences, and failure analysis. Exponent provides support for product design, performance evaluation, litigation consulting, and regulatory compliance, helping manufacturers, insurers, law firms and government agencies address complex technical challenges.

Founded in 1967 in Menlo Park, California, Exponent has grown from a small failure-analysis laboratory into a global consulting practice.

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Investors interested in Business Services stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Exponent (EXPO - Free Report) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.

Exponent is a member of our Business Services group, which includes 246 different companies and currently sits at #8 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different groups, measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the sector to gauge the strength of each group.

The Zacks Rank is a proven system that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions, highlighting a variety of stocks that are displaying the right characteristics to beat the market over the next one to three months. Exponent is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Within the past quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for EXPO's full-year earnings has moved 1.1% higher. This signals that analyst sentiment is improving and the stock's earnings outlook is more positive.

Based on the most recent data, EXPO has returned 0.7% so far this year. At the same time, Business Services stocks have lost an average of 8.5%. As we can see, Exponent is performing better than its sector in the calendar year.

One other Business Services stock that has outperformed the sector so far this year is Gen Digital (GEN - Free Report) . The stock is up 1.3% year-to-date.

In Gen Digital's case, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year increased 2.3% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

To break things down more, Exponent belongs to the Consulting Services industry, a group that includes 13 individual companies and currently sits at #45 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have lost about 14.4% so far this year, so EXPO is performing better this group in terms of year-to-date returns.

On the other hand, Gen Digital belongs to the Technology Services industry. This 121-stock industry is currently ranked #150. The industry has moved -11.2% year to date.

Investors with an interest in Business Services stocks should continue to track Exponent and Gen Digital. These stocks will be looking to continue their solid performance.

Exponent, Inc. (EXPO) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

7 best fintech ETFs to buy nowExponent NASDAQ: EXPO reported double-digit revenue and earnings growth for the second quarter of 2026, supported by demand for user research involving artificial intelligence-enabled products, utility-sector risk management work, and dispute-related consulting across consumer products, chemicals and transportation.

Total revenue increased 21% year over year to $171.6 million, while revenue before reimbursements, which the company calls net revenue, rose 12% to $148.9 million. Net income increased 11% to $29.4 million, and diluted earnings per share rose 15% to $0.60 from $0.52 a year earlier.

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How to Buy OpenAI Stock: A GuideChief Executive Officer Catherine Ford Corrigan said the company’s proactive work was led by demand for user research as clients accelerated development of AI-enabled products across a wider range of hardware formats and applications. Reactive work also grew, with clients seeking dispute-related expertise in consumer products, chemicals and transportation.

AI-Enabled Product Research Drives Growth Corrigan said Exponent’s user research engagements are becoming broader and more complex, often requiring a combination of human factors, biomechanics, engineering and data-science expertise. The company conducts studies designed to assess how people interact with products and technologies, including smart glasses, immersive technologies and health and wellness wearables.

How to Calculate Moving Average; How it Helps in Stock SelectionThe second quarter also benefited from one large user research study that represented about 4% of net revenue, above Exponent’s prior expectation that the project would account for roughly 2% of net revenue. Chief Financial Officer Eric Anderson said the project expanded in scope during the quarter, moderated toward the end of the period, and is expected to continue at a level of approximately 2% of net revenue through the rest of the year.

Anderson said the broader user-research business has expanded in the number of clients, projects and types of devices being evaluated. Corrigan said the company is seeing the work diversify beyond consumer electronics and into life sciences, including health-related wearables and more sophisticated medical-device applications.

During the question-and-answer session, Corrigan said AI is contributing to both proactive and reactive demand. In reactive work, she cited advanced driver-assistance technologies, where automotive product-liability matters increasingly involve questions around system performance, automated braking, driver distraction and driver monitoring. She also identified data-center infrastructure as a potential source of failure-analysis work involving cooling systems, power inverters and battery energy-storage systems.

Utility, Chemical and Transportation Demand Exponent said proactive activity was also supported by risk-management and infrastructure engagements in the utility sector. The company said clients are assessing the resilience and reliability of critical systems amid higher power demand, extreme weather and increasing electric-grid complexity.

In its reactive business, the company cited demand for product-safety, recall, incident-investigation and dispute work in consumer products. Chemical-sector activity included evaluating legacy substances and emerging chemicals of concern, while transportation work included failure analysis related to advanced driver-assistance systems.

President John Pye said AI is moving beyond purely digital applications and into physical products and systems such as vehicles, wearables, infrastructure and robotic systems. He said these technologies must operate reliably in unpredictable real-world conditions, creating a need for expertise across engineering, physical sciences, data science and human factors.

Corrigan identified consumer electronics, chemicals and utilities as key current verticals for proactive work. She said Exponent also sees opportunities in transportation and medical devices as regulation, product complexity and AI integration increase.

Margins, Utilization and Capital Returns Second-quarter EBITDA rose 16% to $42.7 million. EBITDA margin was 28.7% of net revenue, compared with 27.8% in the prior-year quarter.

Billable hours increased 8% to approximately 390,000. Average technical full-time employees increased 6% to 1,012, while utilization rose to 74% from 72% a year earlier. The company’s realized rate increase was about 4% during the quarter.

The engineering and other scientific segment, representing 85% of net revenue, recorded 13% net revenue growth. The environmental and health segment, representing 15% of net revenue, grew net revenue 9%, driven by work evaluating chemicals’ effects on human health and the environment.

Exponent repurchased $67.4 million of common stock during the quarter at an average price of $59.88 per share and paid $14.8 million in dividends. Over the past 12 months, the company returned $272 million to shareholders, including $211 million in share repurchases and $61 million in dividends. Its board approved a further $50 million increase to the stock-repurchase program.

Anderson said the company expects to remain active in repurchasing stock when shares pull back, though at a lower pace than in the first half of 2026 or the second half of 2025. He said Exponent expects to generate more than $100 million of free cash flow in the second half of 2026.

Full-Year Outlook Raised Exponent raised its 2026 outlook and now expects net revenue growth of 9% to 10%, with EBITDA representing 27.8% to 28.1% of net revenue. The company previously did not state its earlier full-year targets during the call.

For the third quarter, Exponent expects net revenue growth of 8% to 10% year over year and EBITDA margin of 28.0% to 28.5%. It expects average technical full-time-equivalent employees to rise 4% to 5% in the quarter and utilization of 74% to 75%.

For the full year, Exponent expects technical employee growth of 4.5% to 5%, utilization of 72.5% to 73%, and realized rate increases of 3.5% to 4%. Capital expenditures are projected at $12 million to $14 million.

About Exponent (NASDAQ:EXPO)Exponent, Inc NASDAQ: EXPO is an engineering and scientific consulting firm that offers multidisciplinary analysis and advisory services to clients across a range of industries. The company's expertise spans mechanical, materials and corrosion engineering, civil and structural engineering, electrical engineering, industrial hygiene, toxicology and health sciences, and failure analysis. Exponent provides support for product design, performance evaluation, litigation consulting, and regulatory compliance, helping manufacturers, insurers, law firms and government agencies address complex technical challenges.

Founded in 1967 in Menlo Park, California, Exponent has grown from a small failure-analysis laboratory into a global consulting practice.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

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July 30, 2026 16:05 ET  | Source: Exponent, Inc.

MENLO PARK, Calif., July 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Exponent, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPO) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.31 per share of common stock to be paid on September 18, 2026, to all common stockholders of record as of September 4, 2026.

Exponent has paid, and expects to continue to pay, quarterly dividends each year in March, June, September, and December. Future declarations of quarterly dividends and the establishment of future record and payment dates are subject to the final determination of Exponent’s Board of Directors.

In addition, Exponent’s Board of Directors increased the Company’s authority to repurchase shares of its common stock by $50 million.

“Our quarterly dividend and increased share repurchase authorization reflects the strength and durability of Exponent’s business model and our disciplined approach to capital allocation,” commented Dr. Catherine Corrigan, Chief Executive Officer. “Supported by our strong financial foundation and differentiated market position, we remain committed to returning capital to shareholders while investing in long-term growth opportunities.”

About Exponent

Exponent brings together 90+ technical disciplines and 950+ consultants to help our clients navigate the increasing complexity of more than a dozen industries, connecting decades of pioneering work in failure analysis to develop solutions for a safer, healthier, more sustainable world.

Exponent’s consultants deliver the highest value by leveraging multidisciplinary expertise and resources from across Exponent’s offices in North America, Asia, and Europe. Exponent’s consultants, laboratories, and integrated technical platform work seamlessly together around the globe, enabling us to produce the breakthrough insights needed to help multinational companies, startups, law firms, insurance companies, governments, and society respond to incidents and push their products and processes forward at speed.

Exponent may be reached at (888) 656­-EXPO, [email protected], or www.exponent.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains, and incorporates by reference, certain “forward-looking” statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and the rules promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that are based on the beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company’s management. When used in this document and in the documents incorporated herein by reference, the words “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, identify such forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company or its management with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, the Company’s actual results, performance, or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, any such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such material differences include the possibility that the demand for our services may decline as a result of changes in generally applicable and industry-specific economic conditions, the timing of engagements for our services, the effects of competitive services and pricing, the absence of backlog related to our business, our ability to attract and retain key employees, the effect of tort reform and government regulation on our business, and liabilities resulting from claims made against us. Additional risks and uncertainties are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the report. The inclusion of such forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that the future events, plans, or expectations contemplated by the Company will be achieved. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such forward-looking statements.

Exponent Inc. receives a buy rating, driven by its expert consulting model in high-stakes, complex technical domains. EXPO's value proposition lies in its deep technical talent, critical for problems where failure is costly and regulatory scrutiny is high. The AI debate is a catalyst: rising complexity in physical systems should increase demand for EXPO's services, not diminish it.

First Trust Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Exponent, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPO) by 135.8% in the undefined quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 580,134 shares of the business services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 334,154 shares

Economic strength, encouraging service activities, and the success of the work-from-home trend enable Zacks Consulting Services industry players to meet demand.
Driven by these positives, investors interested in the industry would do well to consider including stocks like Stantec Inc. (STN - Free Report) , FTI Consulting, Inc. (FCN - Free Report) and Exponent, Inc. (EXPO - Free Report) in their portfolios.

About the Industry Companies grouped under the Consulting Services category offer professional advice in management, IT, human resources, environmental regulations, logistics, marketing and real estate, serving multiple end markets. The space includes prominent names such as Accenture and Gartner. The industry focuses on channeling money and efforts toward more effective operational components, such as technology, digital transformation and data-driven decision-making. To position themselves suitably in the post-pandemic era and better utilize the opportunities that an economic recovery will bring, service providers are increasing their efforts to formulate and reassess strategic initiatives, identify sources of demand and target end markets.

What's shaping the Future of the Consulting Services Industry? Exponential Growth: This multi-billion-dollar industry has entered a trajectory of exponential expansion since the 2008 financial crisis, fueled by digital transformation and innovation-driven efficiencies. The trend has sustained steady revenues, profits and cash-flow growth, enabling most industry players to distribute stable dividends.

Economic Recovery: The sector is a major beneficiary of the broader economy and increasingly digital-driven service activities. According to the second estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the economy remained resilient, with GDP growing 0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2025 against a 4.4% increase in the third quarter. Non-manufacturing activities remained strong, as reflected in the February Services PMI, which stayed above the 50% threshold for the 20th consecutive month.

Strong Demand Environment: The consulting services industry remains among the least disrupted by recent global uncertainties. Even in volatile conditions, organizations seek extensive guidance on safeguarding their workforce while strengthening ties with consumers and shareholders. The industry was an early pioneer of remote collaboration, now embedded in the new normal. Its work model allows players to operate efficiently, increasingly powered by AI-driven insights, digital platforms, and agile delivery frameworks.

Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bright Prospects The Consulting Services industry, which is housed within the broader Business Services sector, currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank of #70. This rank places it in the top 29% of 243 Zacks industries.

The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates solid near-term growth prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than two to one.

Before we present a few stocks that you may want to consider for your portfolio, let’s take a look at the industry’s recent stock market performance and current valuation.

Industry's Price Performance The Consulting Services industry has underperformed the S&P 500 composite and the broader sector in the past year. The industry has declined 37.4% against the S&P 500 composite’s growth of 20% and the broader sector’s 19.3% decline.

One-Year Price Performance

Industry's Current Valuation On the basis of the forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E), which is a commonly used multiple for valuing consulting services companies, we see that the industry is currently trading at 15.55X, above the S&P 500’s 21.39X and the sector’s 17.53X.

Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 31.53X and as low as 15.55X, with a median of 26.58X, as the charts below show.

Price to Forward 12 Months P/E Ratio

3 Consulting Services Stocks to Consider FTI Consulting: The company’s diversified offerings and international operations strengthen top-line growth prospects. In 2025, the company generated nearly 34% of its revenues from its international operations. The broad range of practices and services, diversified revenue streams, specialized industry expertise and global reach differentiate FTI Consulting from its competitors. This diversification enables the company to mitigate the impacts of economic cycles, crises, events, and changes in a particular practice, industry, or country.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2026 EPS has increased 2.2% in the past 60 days to $9.33. FCN currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The stock gained 6% in the past month. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. 

Price and Consensus: FCN

Exponent: Technological innovation continues to raise both complexity and safety expectations, and Exponent is well-positioned to capitalize on these shifts. With a strong foundation of talent and deep multidisciplinary expertise, the company delivered growth in dispute-related activities across construction, automotive and medical devices.

Proactive risk management work in the utilities sector further supported performance, offsetting softer demand in chemical regulatory engagements. Encouragingly, momentum is building in early-stage work tied to digital health, AI usability and distributed energy systems, areas with substantial growth potential. These drivers underscore Exponent’s ability to achieve sustainable growth and create long-term shareholder value.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2026 EPS has increased by nearly 1% in the past 60 days to $2.27. The stock has surged 8% in the past month. EXPO currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.

Price and Consensus: EXPO

Stantec: The company provides professional services in the areas of infrastructure and facilities. It remains well-positioned for continued success, supported by industry resilience and effective internal strategies. The company benefits from strong macroeconomic and structural drivers while maintaining sharp execution on its projects, enabling margin expansion and earnings growth.

Stantec operates in a resilient sector shaped by long-term global needs, including water security, aging infrastructure, climate change response, advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies. These trends are expected to sustain strong project demand across regions.

Stantec’s consistent focus on high-quality project execution and addressing clients’ most urgent infrastructure and sustainability challenges supports steady growth. This disciplined approach continues to drive margin improvement and robust earnings performance.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2025 EPS increased 6.4% in the past 60 days to $4.48. STN currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.

Price and Consensus: STN

MENLO PARK, Calif., April 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Exponent, Inc. (Nasdaq:EXPO), a leading engineering and scientific consulting firm, today announced its appointment of John Pye to President and Eric Anderson to Chief Financial Officer, both effective May 1, 2026 and reporting to Catherine Corrigan, Chief Executive Officer; nomination of Richard Schlenker, Executive Vice President and current Chief Financial Officer to stand for election to the Board of Directors; and the appointment of Karen Richardson as Chairman of the Board upon the retirement of Paul Johnston effective as of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on June 4, 2026.

Catherine Corrigan, the president and CEO of Exponent (EXPO +2.29%), reported the sale of 7,821 shares of common stock for approximately $529,000 via open-market transactions between March 16, 2026 and April 15, 2026, according to a SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summaryMetricValueShares sold (direct)7,821Transaction value~$529,000Post-transaction shares (direct)104,359Post-transaction value (direct ownership)~$7.13 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average purchase price ($67.59); post-transaction value based on April 15, 2026 market close ($67.59).

Key questionsHow does the transaction affect Corrigan's ownership in Exponent?
The sale reduced Corrigan's direct common stock holdings by 6.97%, leaving her with 104,359 directly owned shares; she retains non-qualified stock options that may be exercised in the future.What was the nature of the transaction from a derivative perspective?
The shares sold were created through the exercise of options, with 7,821 shares immediately sold in the open market, indicating the transaction was primarily for liquidity following option vesting rather than a reduction in core investment.How does the transaction size compare to Corrigan's recent trading activity?
While Corrigan's prior trades were mostly administrative and smaller in size, this event is consistent with routine annual or periodic exercises and sales, and reflects the available share capacity after recent option-related activity.What is the context of Exponent's stock performance at the time of sale?
Exponent shares were priced at around $67.59 on the transaction dates and closed at $68.29 on April 15, 2026; the stock had declined 11.58% over the prior year, providing a neutral backdrop for option-driven insider sales.Company overviewMetricValueRevenue (TTM)$582.01 millionNet income (TTM)$106.01 millionDividend yield1.72%1-year price change-11.58%* 1-year price change calculated as of April 15, 2026.

Company snapshotExponent offers specialized consulting services across approximately 90 technical disciplines, including engineering, environmental sciences, and health sciences.The company generates revenue by providing scientific and engineering consulting services to address complex client challenges.It serves a diversified client base spanning chemical, construction, consumer products, energy, food and nutrition, government, life sciences, insurance, manufacturing, technology, transportation, and related sectors.Exponent operates as a global consulting firm with a focus on science and engineering solutions. The company’s strategy centers on delivering high-value, multidisciplinary expertise to address technically demanding problems for a broad range of industries. Exponent’s competitive edge lies in its ability to integrate advanced scientific knowledge with practical industry experience, supporting clients in risk management, regulatory compliance, and innovation.

What this transaction means for investorsCorrigan is navigating a meaningful leadership transition while still holding more than 104,000 common shares directly and retaining unexercised options, which keeps her skin in the game despite this sale. Effective May 1, John Pye steps into a newly created president role, and Eric Anderson takes over as CFO. The changes are interesting given that the stock has pulled back significantly from its 52-week high, trading around $67.85, or 15% below highs from this past year and highlighting the uncertainty around the latest executive changes and potentially even stock sales like this one.

Nevertheless, fundamentals have been holding up even if lackluster growth has disappointed investors. Fiscal year 2025 revenues before reimbursements came in at $536.8 million, up 3.5%, with net income up 5% to $106 million, or $2.07 per diluted share. Management guided for high single-digit net revenue growth in 2026, and the board raised the quarterly dividend to $0.31 per share. Ultimately, investors should watch whether management meets these goals.

Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

, /PRNewswire/ -- iQIYI International showcases AI-powered storytelling, Chinese anime, and VIP giveaways at the Las Vegas Convention Center on April 24–26, 2026, in partnership with premium Canadian immersive ecosystem brand, Blacklyte.

Founded in 2010, iQIYI (NASDAQ: IQ) is one of Asia's largest online entertainment platforms, and iQIYI International, launched in 2019, now serves over 100 million users across 190+ territories with a user interface and subtitles in 13 languages.

Characters from iQIYI and Blacklyte's collaborative projects, including The Great Ruler, In Search of God, and Embers. Experience the Future of AI Storytelling

At this year's LVL UP EXPO, iQIYI debuts the Peter Pau × iQIYI AI Theater, celebrating the Oscar-winning cinematographer of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.  Attendees will experience three AI-generated short films that demonstrate real-world applications of AI-driven storytelling and were completed with the assistance of iQIYI's proprietary AI technology and under the guidance of human creators and artists.

Day 1 - Celestial Quest: The first work from the AI Theater delivers sci-fi action as survivors fight back. Day 2 - Shrouded Hamet: A mysterious sound-transmitting stone binds the fates of two young girls. Day 3 - A tale of the snake-catcher: A decree to hunt snakes forces a human to transform into a giant serpent. "We are thrilled to return to LVL UP EXPO for our second consecutive year," said Mr. Leo Geng, Senior Vice President of iQIYI. "Our AI Theater offers a new way to experience storytelling, and thanks to our amazing partner Blacklyte, we can offer an immersive experience unlike anywhere else at the expo."

Global Success & 2026 Lineup

Following the global success of iQIYI's original Pursuit of Jade, iQIYI continues to demonstrate its ability to deliver high-performing content in international markets. iQIYI's 2026 original lineup features over 400 new titles, strengthening its content pipeline and long-term content supply. Highlights include fantasy romance Fate Chooses You starring Ren Jialun, and the highly anticipated romance drama Overdo starring Zhang Linghe and Wang Churan.

Visit the Blacklyte Booth co-presented with iQIYI for immersive AI Theater, VIP giveaways, free merch, and a photo booth.

Event Details: April 24–26, Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall. Booth 317

Badges at https://lvlupexpo.com/ 

SOURCE iQIYI

April 30, 2026 16:05 ET  | Source: Exponent, Inc.

MENLO PARK, Calif., April 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Exponent, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPO) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.31 per share of common stock to be paid on June 18, 2026 to all common stockholders of record as of June 5, 2026.

Exponent has paid, and expects to continue to pay, quarterly dividends each year in March, June, September, and December. Future declarations of quarterly dividends and the establishment of future record and payment dates are subject to the final determination of Exponent’s Board of Directors.

In addition, Exponent’s Board of Directors increased the Company’s authority to repurchase shares of its common stock by $50 million. This is in addition to the $17.7 million available for repurchase as of April 3, 2026.

“Exponent’s quarterly cash dividend and increased share repurchase authorization reflects our continued commitment to returning capital to our shareholders,” commented Dr. Catherine Corrigan, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Supported by strong profitability and the strength of our balance sheet, we are well positioned to continue our disciplined capital allocation strategy and drive long-term value to shareholders.”

About Exponent

Exponent brings together 90+ technical disciplines and 950+ consultants to help our clients navigate the increasing complexity of more than a dozen industries, connecting decades of pioneering work in failure analysis to develop solutions for a safer, healthier, more sustainable world.

Exponent’s consultants deliver the highest value by leveraging multidisciplinary expertise and resources from across Exponent’s offices in North America, Asia, and Europe. Exponent’s consultants, laboratories, databases, and computing resources work seamlessly together around the globe, enabling us to produce the breakthrough insights needed to help multinational companies, startups, law firms, insurance companies, governments, and society respond to incidents and push their products and processes forward.

Exponent may be reached at (888) 656­-EXPO, [email protected], or www.exponent.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains, and incorporates by reference, certain “forward-looking” statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and the rules promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that are based on the beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company’s management. When used in this document and in the documents incorporated herein by reference, the words “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, identify such forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company or its management with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, the Company’s actual results, performance, or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, any such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such material differences include the possibility that the demand for our services may decline as a result of changes in generally applicable and industry-specific economic conditions, the timing of engagements for our services, the effects of competitive services and pricing, the absence of backlog related to our business, our ability to attract and retain key employees, the effect of tort reform and government regulation on our business, and liabilities resulting from claims made against us. Additional risks and uncertainties are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the report. The inclusion of such forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that the future events, plans, or expectations contemplated by the Company will be achieved. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such forward-looking statements.

Exponent (EXPO - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.59 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.56 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.52 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +5.36%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this engineering and scientific consulting company would post earnings of $0.47 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.49, delivering a surprise of +4.26%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.

Exponent, which belongs to the Zacks Consulting Services industry, posted revenues of $151.82 million for the quarter ended March 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.40%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $137.44 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Exponent shares have lost about 4.7% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 4.2%.

What's Next for Exponent?While Exponent has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Exponent was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.57 on $142.6 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $2.27 on $581.31 million in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Consulting Services is currently in the top 39% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

One other stock from the same industry, Hackett Group (HCKT - Free Report) , is yet to report results for the quarter ended March 2026. The results are expected to be released on May 5.

This consulting company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.35 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -14.6%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

Hackett Group's revenues are expected to be $71.65 million, down 6% from the year-ago quarter.

Exponent is a market leader in scientific and engineering consulting, boasting a 13-year dividend growth streak and a fortress balance sheet. EXPO's fiscal 2026 outlook signals rising top and bottom lines, with AI-related demand driving proactive and reactive service growth. The stock trades at ~26.5x FY26E EPS, well below its 5-year average, suggesting undervaluation with a fair value estimate of $73.80 versus a ~$65 share price.