Maximus (NYSE: MMS) shares are soaring 5.61% in pre-market trading on Thursday, despite reporting fourth-quarter earnings that fell short of analyst expectations. The government services provider's strong fiscal 2026 guidance appears to be overshadowing the earnings miss, fueling investor optimism.

For the fourth quarter, Maximus reported adjusted earnings of $1.62 per share, missing the analyst consensus estimate of $1.67. However, quarterly revenue came in at $1.318 billion, only slightly below the expected $1.341 billion. Despite the minor shortfall, the company's forward-looking statements have captured the market's attention.

Maximus provided an upbeat outlook for fiscal 2026, projecting adjusted earnings per share in the range of $7.95 to $8.25, surpassing the FactSet analyst estimate of $7.63. The company also anticipates revenue between $5.23 billion and $5.43 billion for the upcoming fiscal year. While this range falls slightly below the current analyst expectations of $5.57 billion, investors seem to be focusing on the strong earnings projection and the company's strategic priorities. Maximus has indicated that it will be prioritizing expansion in U.S. Federal markets for fiscal 2026, which could be a key driver for future growth.