William Blair Raises Exponent Rating to Outperform from Market Perform
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Nov 17 2025
0mins
Should l Buy EXPO?
Analyst Upgrade: William Blair analyst Andrew Nicholas upgraded Exponent from Market Perform to Outperform, indicating positive expectations for the company's performance.
Revenue Growth Forecast: The firm anticipates that Exponent will achieve "at least" high-single-digit revenue growth by 2026, driven by reactive demand, headcount growth, and price realization.
AI Beneficiary: Exponent is expected to benefit from advancements in artificial intelligence in the medium term, enhancing its market position.
Valuation and Outlook: The firm views Exponent's current valuation as attractive and is optimistic about its prospects over the next 12 months.
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Analyst Views on EXPO
Wall Street analysts forecast EXPO stock price to rise
3 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 67.130
Low
81.00
Averages
85.50
High
90.00
Current: 67.130
Low
81.00
Averages
85.50
High
90.00
About EXPO
Exponent, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, is a science and engineering consulting firm that provides solutions to complex problems. The Company’s segments include Engineering and Other Scientific and Environmental and Health. The Engineering and Other Scientific segment is a broad service group providing technical consulting in different practices, primarily in engineering. The Environmental and Health segment provides services in the area of environmental, epidemiology and health risk analysis. This segment provides a wide range of consulting services relating to environmental hazards and risks and their impact on both human health and the environment. It serves clients in chemicals, construction, consumer products, energy, food, beverage and nutrition, government, life sciences, insurance, manufacturing, technology, industrial equipment, transportation and other sectors of the economy. The Company’s service offerings are provided on a project-by-project basis.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Exponent, Inc. Reports Strong Q4 2025 Earnings with AI-Driven Growth
- Significant Revenue Growth: In Q4 2025, Exponent reported an 8% increase in total revenues to $147.4 million, with net income of $24.8 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.49, reflecting strong demand in user research and risk management sectors.
- Diversified Client Base: CEO Catherine Corrigan highlighted ongoing growth in regulatory and safety consulting for medical devices, particularly in failure analysis for electrification and battery systems, which enhances the company's competitive edge in the market.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: CFO Richard Schlenker projected high single-digit growth in net revenues for Q1 and full year 2026, with EBITDA margins expected to remain between 27.5% and 28.5%, indicating strong confidence in future growth prospects.
- Robust Cash Flow: At year-end 2025, cash and cash equivalents stood at $221.9 million, with $131.7 million generated from operations, and the company distributed $14.9 million in dividends while repurchasing $25.1 million in common stock during the quarter, enhancing shareholder returns.
See More
Exponent Reports Q4 2025 Earnings with Positive Outlook
- Earnings Highlights: Exponent's Q4 2025 GAAP EPS of $0.49 exceeded expectations by $0.02, with revenue of $147.4 million reflecting a 7.7% year-over-year increase, surpassing estimates by $15.41 million, indicating strong market performance.
- Headcount Growth: The company achieved approximately 4% growth in headcount for 2025, with improved utilization rates in Q4 year-over-year, demonstrating Exponent's effective alignment of resources with market demand, thereby enhancing operational efficiency.
- Future Outlook: As Exponent enters 2026, it anticipates high-single-digit revenue growth for Q1, with EBITDA projected to be 27.5% to 28.5% of revenues, reflecting a positive outlook on market opportunities and reinforcing confidence in long-term growth.
- Annual Projections: For the full fiscal year 2026, Exponent expects high-single-digit revenue growth, with EBITDA anticipated to be 27.6% to 28.1% of revenues, further solidifying the company's competitive position and sustainable growth potential.
See More
Exponent Reports Q4 2025 Earnings with Strong Growth Outlook
- Strong Earnings Report: Exponent's Q4 2025 GAAP EPS of $0.49 exceeded expectations by $0.02, with revenue of $147.4 million reflecting a 7.7% year-over-year increase, surpassing estimates by $15.41 million, indicating robust market performance.
- Headcount Growth: The company achieved approximately 4% growth in headcount for 2025, with improved resource utilization in Q4 year-over-year, demonstrating Exponent's effective alignment of resources with market demand, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and competitive positioning.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: As Exponent enters 2026, it anticipates high-single-digit revenue growth for Q1, with EBITDA projected to be 27.5% to 28.5% of revenues before reimbursements, reflecting confidence in market opportunities and sustainable long-term growth.
- Positive Annual Projections: For the full fiscal year 2026, Exponent expects high-single-digit revenue growth and EBITDA margins of 27.6% to 28.1%, indicating continued strong financial performance and growth potential in the upcoming year.
See More
Exponent Set to Release Q4 Earnings on February 5th
- Earnings Announcement Date: Exponent is scheduled to announce its Q4 earnings on February 5th after market close, with investors keenly awaiting the results to assess future growth potential.
- EPS Expectations: The consensus EPS estimate stands at $0.47, reflecting a 2.2% year-over-year increase, indicating stability in the company's profitability.
- Revenue Forecast Changes: The consensus revenue estimate is $131.99 million, representing a 3.5% year-over-year decline, which suggests a cautious market sentiment regarding the company's revenue growth and may impact investor confidence.
- Estimate Revision Trends: Over the past three months, EPS estimates have seen two upward revisions and one downward revision, while revenue estimates have experienced one upward and one downward revision, highlighting analysts' differing views on the company's performance.
See More
Latest Wall Street Ratings Overview
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- Tesla Neutral Rating: Goldman Sachs reiterates a Neutral rating on Tesla, expressing concerns that increasing competition in the self-driving sector may limit profit growth, although they remain optimistic about the long-term prospects of its full self-driving and robotaxi operations.
- Apple Price Target Increase: JPMorgan raises its price target for Apple (AAPL) from $305 to $315 ahead of earnings, anticipating a positive setup for the stock as it approaches a key iPhone product cycle, which could enhance its performance.
- Meta Upgrade: Rothschild & Co Redburn upgrades Meta from Neutral to Buy, arguing that its potential in AI is not fully appreciated, raising the price target from $740 to $900, making it an opportune time for investors to build positions.
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- Strong Earnings Momentum: These companies have shown exceptional performance in recent earnings estimate revisions, suggesting improving fundamentals, particularly for AAR Corp (AIR) and Atmus Filtration Technologies (ATMU), which are expected to benefit from market focus on their growth potential.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: According to FIDU's 2026 outlook for the industrial sector, the overall industry is viewed positively with further upside anticipated, providing investors with attractive investment opportunities.
- Market Focus Shift: As the earnings season kicks off, investor attention on these A+ rated industrial stocks is likely to increase, potentially driving their stock prices higher and influencing overall market sentiment.
See More
Exponent, Inc. Reports Strong Q4 2025 Earnings with AI-Driven Growth
- Significant Revenue Growth: In Q4 2025, Exponent reported an 8% increase in total revenues to $147.4 million, with net income of $24.8 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.49, reflecting strong demand in user research and risk management sectors.
- Diversified Client Base: CEO Catherine Corrigan highlighted ongoing growth in regulatory and safety consulting for medical devices, particularly in failure analysis for electrification and battery systems, which enhances the company's competitive edge in the market.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: CFO Richard Schlenker projected high single-digit growth in net revenues for Q1 and full year 2026, with EBITDA margins expected to remain between 27.5% and 28.5%, indicating strong confidence in future growth prospects.
- Robust Cash Flow: At year-end 2025, cash and cash equivalents stood at $221.9 million, with $131.7 million generated from operations, and the company distributed $14.9 million in dividends while repurchasing $25.1 million in common stock during the quarter, enhancing shareholder returns.
See More
Exponent Reports Q4 2025 Earnings with Positive Outlook
- Earnings Highlights: Exponent's Q4 2025 GAAP EPS of $0.49 exceeded expectations by $0.02, with revenue of $147.4 million reflecting a 7.7% year-over-year increase, surpassing estimates by $15.41 million, indicating strong market performance.
- Headcount Growth: The company achieved approximately 4% growth in headcount for 2025, with improved utilization rates in Q4 year-over-year, demonstrating Exponent's effective alignment of resources with market demand, thereby enhancing operational efficiency.
- Future Outlook: As Exponent enters 2026, it anticipates high-single-digit revenue growth for Q1, with EBITDA projected to be 27.5% to 28.5% of revenues, reflecting a positive outlook on market opportunities and reinforcing confidence in long-term growth.
- Annual Projections: For the full fiscal year 2026, Exponent expects high-single-digit revenue growth, with EBITDA anticipated to be 27.6% to 28.1% of revenues, further solidifying the company's competitive position and sustainable growth potential.
See More
Exponent Reports Q4 2025 Earnings with Strong Growth Outlook
- Strong Earnings Report: Exponent's Q4 2025 GAAP EPS of $0.49 exceeded expectations by $0.02, with revenue of $147.4 million reflecting a 7.7% year-over-year increase, surpassing estimates by $15.41 million, indicating robust market performance.
- Headcount Growth: The company achieved approximately 4% growth in headcount for 2025, with improved resource utilization in Q4 year-over-year, demonstrating Exponent's effective alignment of resources with market demand, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and competitive positioning.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: As Exponent enters 2026, it anticipates high-single-digit revenue growth for Q1, with EBITDA projected to be 27.5% to 28.5% of revenues before reimbursements, reflecting confidence in market opportunities and sustainable long-term growth.
- Positive Annual Projections: For the full fiscal year 2026, Exponent expects high-single-digit revenue growth and EBITDA margins of 27.6% to 28.1%, indicating continued strong financial performance and growth potential in the upcoming year.
See More
Exponent Set to Release Q4 Earnings on February 5th
- Earnings Announcement Date: Exponent is scheduled to announce its Q4 earnings on February 5th after market close, with investors keenly awaiting the results to assess future growth potential.
- EPS Expectations: The consensus EPS estimate stands at $0.47, reflecting a 2.2% year-over-year increase, indicating stability in the company's profitability.
- Revenue Forecast Changes: The consensus revenue estimate is $131.99 million, representing a 3.5% year-over-year decline, which suggests a cautious market sentiment regarding the company's revenue growth and may impact investor confidence.
- Estimate Revision Trends: Over the past three months, EPS estimates have seen two upward revisions and one downward revision, while revenue estimates have experienced one upward and one downward revision, highlighting analysts' differing views on the company's performance.
See More
Latest Wall Street Ratings Overview
- Dutch Bros Rating: Citi initiates coverage of Dutch Bros (BROS) with a Buy rating, citing its proven portability across the U.S. and a fast-growing marketing budget that is expected to drive sales growth over the next 12-24 months, indicating strong growth potential.
- Tesla Neutral Rating: Goldman Sachs reiterates a Neutral rating on Tesla, expressing concerns that increasing competition in the self-driving sector may limit profit growth, although they remain optimistic about the long-term prospects of its full self-driving and robotaxi operations.
- Apple Price Target Increase: JPMorgan raises its price target for Apple (AAPL) from $305 to $315 ahead of earnings, anticipating a positive setup for the stock as it approaches a key iPhone product cycle, which could enhance its performance.
- Meta Upgrade: Rothschild & Co Redburn upgrades Meta from Neutral to Buy, arguing that its potential in AI is not fully appreciated, raising the price target from $740 to $900, making it an opportune time for investors to build positions.
See More
Mid-to-Low Cap Industrial Stocks Earn A+ EPS Ratings, Attracting Investor Attention
- EPS Rating Upgrade: Several mid-to-low cap industrial stocks, including Arcosa (ACA) and Archer Aviation (ACHR), have received the highest A+ EPS revision rating from analysts, indicating increased confidence in their profitability outlook, which may attract more investor interest.
- Strong Earnings Momentum: These companies have shown exceptional performance in recent earnings estimate revisions, suggesting improving fundamentals, particularly for AAR Corp (AIR) and Atmus Filtration Technologies (ATMU), which are expected to benefit from market focus on their growth potential.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: According to FIDU's 2026 outlook for the industrial sector, the overall industry is viewed positively with further upside anticipated, providing investors with attractive investment opportunities.
- Market Focus Shift: As the earnings season kicks off, investor attention on these A+ rated industrial stocks is likely to increase, potentially driving their stock prices higher and influencing overall market sentiment.
See More
