Earning Preview: ICF International Inc Q4 revenue is expected to decrease by 10.80%, and institutional views are mixed with a cautious tilt

Earnings Agent
Feb 19

Abstract

ICF International Inc will report its quarterly results on February 26, 2026 Post Market, with investors watching revenue, margins, and adjusted EPS amid a softer near-term demand backdrop and project timing across federal and commercial contracts.

Market Forecast

Consensus modeling implies ICF International Inc’s current-quarter revenue estimate is $440.94 million, with forecast adjusted EPS of 1.49 and EBIT of $33.87 million. The year-over-year forecast growth rates should be interpreted as ratios: revenue at -0.108 (a 10.80% decline), EPS at -0.19893 (a 19.89% decline), and EBIT at -0.23376 (a 23.38% decline). Company-level margin color from the latest reported quarter suggests a gross profit margin of 37.57% and a net profit margin of 5.11%, while the quarter-on-quarter change in net profit was 0.44 (a 44.00% increase). The main business mix remains anchored by Energy, Environment and Infrastructure at $246.24 million revenue, Health, Education and Social Programs at $151.98 million, and Security and Other Civilian and Commercial at $67.19 million, with Energy, Environment and Infrastructure continuing to provide solid backlog visibility and multi-year contract support. The most promising segment by scale and multi-year contract flow is Energy, Environment and Infrastructure at $246.24 million, underpinned by public-sector decarbonization programs and grid modernization demand, while pacing is sensitive to award timing and project ramp cycles.

Last Quarter Review

ICF International Inc delivered last quarter revenue of $465.41 million, a gross profit margin of 37.57%, GAAP net profit attributable to the parent company of $23.77 million, a net profit margin of 5.11%, and adjusted EPS of 1.67, with year-over-year adjusted EPS growth of -0.1117 (an 11.17% decline). One notable highlight was the sequential net profit change of 0.44 (a 44.00% increase), reflecting mix and execution improvements despite year-over-year pressure. The main business contribution was led by Energy, Environment and Infrastructure at $246.24 million, followed by Health, Education and Social Programs at $151.98 million, and Security and Other Civilian and Commercial at $67.19 million, with year-over-year compares influenced by contract award timing and federal fiscal cycles.

Current Quarter Outlook (with major analytical insights)

Main Business: Energy, Environment and Infrastructure

This area is the largest revenue contributor at $246.24 million last quarter and represents the backbone of ICF International Inc’s public-sector consulting and implementation services. Near-term revenue expectations mirror a softer pattern as some awards shift and implementation ramps stagger, creating a forecast top-line decline of 10.80% year over year for the quarter. The margin context from the last quarter’s 37.57% gross profit margin and 5.11% net profit margin indicates stable delivery economics, but EBIT is expected to trend down 23.38% year over year based on modeling, pointing to incremental overhead from staffing to support pipeline and timing of milestone recognition. The primary stock-price drivers within this unit are the visibility of federal climate and infrastructure programs, the cadence of task-order releases, and the speed of conversion from awarded backlog to revenue; any acceleration of grid modernization work or decarbonization advisory could offset the headline decline.

Most Promising Business: Health, Education and Social Programs

While smaller than Energy, Environment and Infrastructure, Health, Education and Social Programs generated $151.98 million last quarter and maintains multi-year engagement stability across program evaluation, digital services, and public health advisory. This segment can provide relative resilience when capital-intensive infrastructure pacing slows, as demand for analytics, beneficiary services, and program modernization often persists through budget cycles. Forecast headwinds at the consolidated level (-19.89% EPS and -10.80% revenue year over year) suggest earnings sensitivity to project mix and ramp timing, yet this segment’s backlog and expansion opportunities in health analytics and digital modernization could support margins through utilization and fixed-fee engagements. For equity narratives, investors will weigh visibility in health and social contracts and whether the company’s delivery capacity aligns with forthcoming task orders to stabilize quarterly compares into midyear.

Key Factors Impacting the Stock This Quarter

The headline variables are the company’s projected declines in revenue and EPS versus the prior-year quarter, reflecting timing effects rather than underlying demand erosion, alongside lower EBIT forecasts implying near-term margin compression. The last quarter’s 44.00% sequential net profit increase provides evidence that execution can improve quickly when milestones are reached and project delivery peaks, so investors will monitor whether similar dynamics carry into the current quarter. The revenue composition—anchored in Energy, Environment and Infrastructure—means federal appropriations, award finalizations, and the conversion rate of contract backlog will be critical; any update on backlog size, win rates, or pipeline conversion could shift sentiment more than the headline prints. Additionally, commentary on hiring and cost structure, which affect EBIT sensitivity, will shape expectations for the pace of margin recovery into the next half.

Analyst Opinions

Among recent institutional views on ICF International Inc, the balance of commentary has leaned cautious, reflecting expectations for a near-term top-line decline and EPS pressure driven by award timing and project ramp cycles. Analysts focusing on professional services and government contractors highlight the forecast revenue decline of 10.80% year over year and a 23.38% EBIT drop as indicators of temporary margin headwinds rather than structural weakness, with the core thesis depending on public-sector backlog conversion. A commonly cited upside scenario is the acceleration of federal climate, infrastructure, and health program task orders, which could stabilize growth in the second half and improve quarterly EPS trajectory. The cautious consensus emphasizes monitoring the revenue mix, backlog conversion cadence, and EBIT leverage, expecting a measured trajectory rather than a rapid inflection in the current quarter.

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