STERLING INFRASTRUCTURE, INC.
For the period ended Sep 30, 2026. Filed Oct 29, 2026.
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Sep 30, 2026 · Filed Oct 29, 2026
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Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
September 30, 2026
| 1. | NATURE OF OPERATIONS |
Business Summary
Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (“Sterling,” “the Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”), a Delaware corporation, operates through a variety of subsidiaries within three segments specializing in E-Infrastructure, Transportation and Building Solutions in the United States, primarily across the Southern, Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic and Rocky Mountain regions and the Pacific Islands. E-Infrastructure Solutions provides advanced, large-scale site development services and mission-critical electrical services for data centers, semiconductor fabrication, manufacturing, distribution centers, warehousing, power generation and more. Transportation Solutions includes infrastructure and rehabilitation projects for highways, roads, bridges, airports, ports, rail and storm drainage systems. Building Solutions includes residential and commercial concrete foundations for single-family and multi-family homes, parking structures, elevated slabs, other concrete work, plumbing services, and surveys for new single-family residential builds. From strategy to operations, we are committed to sustainability by operating responsibly to safeguard and improve society’s quality of life. Caring for our people and our communities, our customers and our investors – that is The Sterling Way.
| 2. | BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
Basis of Presentation
Presentation Basis—The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and reflect all wholly owned subsidiaries and those entities the Company is required to consolidate. See Note 5 - 50% Owned Subsidiaryand Note 6 - Construction Joint Ventures for further discussion of the Company’s consolidation policy for those entities that are not wholly owned. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Reclassifications have been made to historical financial data in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements to conform to the current year presentation.
Estimates and Judgments—The preparation of the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Certain accounting estimates of the Company require a higher degree of judgment than others in their application. These include the recognition of revenue and earnings from construction contracts over time, the valuation of long-lived assets, goodwill and acquisition accounting estimates. Management continually evaluates all of its estimates and judgments based on available information and experience; however, actual results could differ from these estimates.
Significant Accounting Policies
Consistent with Regulation S-X Rule 10-01(a), the Company has omitted significant accounting policies in this quarterly report that would duplicate the disclosures contained in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 under “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data - Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.” This quarterly report should be read in conjunction with the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K.
Accounts Receivable—Receivables are generally based on amounts billed to the customer in accordance with contractual provisions. Receivables are written off based on the individual credit evaluation and specific circumstances of the customer, when such treatment is warranted. The Company performs a review of outstanding receivables, historical collection information and existing economic conditions to determine if there are potential uncollectible receivables. At September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, our allowance for our estimate of expected credit losses waszero.
Contracts in Progress—For performance obligations satisfied over time, amounts are billed as work progresses in accordance with agreed-upon contractual terms, either at periodic intervals (e.g., biweekly or monthly) or upon achievement of contractual milestones. Contract liabilities arise when the Company bills its customers prior to revenue recognition. Conversely, contract assets are generated when customer billing occurs subsequent to revenue recognition.
Many of the contracts under which the Company performs work also contain retainage provisions. Retainage refers to that portion of our billings held for payment by the customer pending satisfactory completion of the project. Unless reserved, the Company assumes that all amounts retained by customers under such provisions are fully collectible. At September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, contract assets included $88.0 million and $40.7 million of retainage, respectively, and contract liabilities included $242.9 million and $147.6 million of retainage, respectively. Retainage on active contracts is classified as current regardless of the term of the contract and is generally collected within one year of the completion of a contract. We anticipate collecting approximately 50% of our September 30, 2026 retainage during the next twelve months, and the balance thereafter. Retainage is reported on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets within “Contract assets” and “Contract liabilities” on a contract-by-contract basis at the end of each reporting period.
Contract assets increased by $66.9 million compared to December 31, 2025, primarily due to higher unbilled revenue and an increase in retainage. Contract liabilities increased by $265.1 million compared to December 31, 2025, primarily due to the timing of billings and work progression, partly offset by an increase in retainage. Revenue recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026 that was included in the contract liability balance on December 31, 2025 was $177.5 million and $665.9 million, respectively. Revenue recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 that was included in the contract liability balance on December 31, 2024 was $72.8 million and $353.9 million, respectively.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash—Our cash and cash equivalents are comprised of highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents at major financial institutions. The cash and cash equivalents balance at one or more of these financial institutions exceeds the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance coverage. The Company periodically assesses the credit risk associated with these financial institutions and believes that the risk of loss is minimal. There wasno restricted cash included in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2026 or December 31, 2025.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, “Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses” which requires companies to disclose disaggregated information for prescribed expense categories within relevant income statement expense line items. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the standard and plans to adopt the provisions of ASU 2024-03 in fiscal year 2027. This ASU affects financial statement disclosure only, and its adoption will not affect our results of operations or financial position.
| 3. | ACQUISITIONS |
On June 1, 2026, Sterling acquired substantially all of the assets of Pocatello, Idaho-based Stone Ridge Contracting, LLC (“Stone Ridge”) (the “Stone Ridge Acquisition”). The integration of Stone Ridge, a leading site development contractor, strengthens Sterling's E-Infrastructure geographic footprint across the Pacific Northwest and Texas, which have been key focus areas for strategic geographic expansion.
On September 1, 2025, Sterling acquired substantially all of the assets of Irving, Texas-based CEC Facilities Group, LLC, et al. (“CEC”) (the “CEC Acquisition”). The integration of CEC, a leading specialty electrical and mechanical contractor, broadens Sterling's array of valuable E-Infrastructure services, extends the segment into the next critical phases of the project lifecycle, and creates significant opportunities to cross-sell services.
Both acquisitions were accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations. The results of Stone Ridge and CEC since the date of acquisition are included within our E-Infrastructure Solutions segment.
Purchase Consideration
The following table details the components of purchase consideration for the acquisitions.
| (In thousands) | Stone Ridge | CEC |
|---|---|---|
| Cash consideration | $139,985 | $442,937 |
| Equity consideration | 27,406 | 79,458 |
| Earn-out consideration (1) | 9,800 | 39,194 |
| Working capital adjustment | 941 | — |
| Total fair value of consideration transferred | $178,132 | $561,589 |
(1) The Stone Ridge earn-out arrangement requires the Company to pay up to $15 million based upon Stone Ridge’s achievement of a certain EBITDA target. The CEC earn-out arrangement requires the Company to pay up to $80 million based upon CEC’s achievement of certain operating income targets.
Purchase Price Allocations—The aggregate purchase consideration noted above was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values as of the respective acquisition closing dates, which were based, in part, upon external appraisals and valuations of certain assets, including specifically identified intangible assets. The excess of the fair value of consideration over the estimated fair value of the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired was recorded as goodwill. This goodwill represents the value of expected future earnings and cash flows, as well as the synergies created by the integration of the new businesses within our organization, including cross-selling opportunities to help strengthen our existing service offerings and expand our market position. The goodwill and intangibles related to the acquisitions are expected to be deductible for tax purposes.
The following table summarizes our purchase price allocations at the acquisition closing dates, net of cash acquired:
| (In thousands) | Stone Ridge | CEC |
|---|---|---|
| Accounts receivable | $27,148 | $73,549 |
| Contract assets | 5,376 | 40,632 |
| Other current assets | 819 | 20,117 |
| Property and equipment, net | 8,288 | 15,363 |
| Other non-current assets, net | 1,496 | 25,820 |
| Accounts payable | (7,188) | (45,460) |
| Contract liabilities | (4,979) | (53,555) |
| Current portion of long-term lease obligations | (228) | (3,860) |
| Other current and non-current liabilities | (3,611) | (47,673) |
| Total net tangible assets | 27,121 | 24,933 |
| Identifiable intangible assets | 120,700 | 227,800 |
| Goodwill | 30,311 | 308,856 |
| Total fair value of net assets acquired | $178,132 | $561,589 |
The purchase price allocation for the CEC Acquisition was finalized during the third quarter of 2026. The purchase price allocation for the Stone Ridge Acquisition is preliminary. Amounts provisionally assigned to working capital, identifiable intangible assets, and certain other assets and liabilities are subject to change as we complete our valuation procedures. We expect to finalize the allocation as soon as practicable within the measurement period, which will not exceed one year from the acquisition date. Measurement‑period adjustments, if any, will be recorded in the period they are identified and may affect the amounts recognized for assets acquired, liabilities assumed, goodwill, and the intangible amortization in our results of operations.
Identifiable Intangible Assets—Intangible assets identified as part of the Stone Ridge Acquisition are reflected in the table below and are recorded at their estimated fair values, as determined by the Company’s management, based on available information which includes a preliminary valuation from external experts. The estimated useful lives for intangible assets were determined based upon the remaining useful economic lives of the intangible assets that are expected to contribute directly or indirectly to future cash flows.
| (In thousands, except life data) | Weighted Average Life (Years) | June 1, 2026Fair Value |
|---|---|---|
| Customer relationships (1) | 25 | $110,000 |
| Trade names (2) | 25 | 10,700 |
| Total | $120,700 |
(1)The customer relationships intangible asset was valued using the multi‑period excess earnings method (“MPEEM”), an income‑based approach. This method estimates the present value of the future cash flows attributable to existing customers with consideration given to estimated customer attrition rates. Significant assumptions used in the valuation included projected revenues, operating margins, a customer attrition rate of 5%, and a discount rate reflecting the risk inherent in the projected cash flows of 22%.
(2) The trade names intangible asset was valued using the relief‑from‑royalty method. Significant assumptions used in the valuation included projected revenues, an estimated royalty rate of 1%, and a discount rate of 22%.
Intangible assets identified as part of the CEC Acquisition are reflected in the table below and are recorded at their estimated fair values, as determined by the Company’s management, based on available information which includes a valuation from external experts. The estimated useful lives for intangible assets were determined based upon the remaining useful economic lives of the intangible assets that are expected to contribute directly or indirectly to future cash flows.
| (In thousands, except life data) | Weighted Average Life (Years) | September 1, 2025Fair Value |
|---|---|---|
| Customer relationships (1) | 25 | $156,300 |
| Trade names (2) | 25 | 71,500 |
| Total | $227,800 |
(1)The customer relationships intangible asset was valued using the MPEEM, an income‑based approach. This method estimates the present value of the future cash flows attributable to existing customers with consideration given to estimated customer attrition rates. Significant assumptions used in the valuation included projected revenues, operating margins, a customer attrition rate of 10%, and a discount rate reflecting the risk inherent in the projected cash flows of 13.5%.
(2) The trade names intangible asset was valued using the relief‑from‑royalty method. Significant assumptions used in the valuation included projected revenues, an estimated royalty rate of 1.5%, and a discount rate of 12.5%.
Supplemental Pro Forma Information (Unaudited)—The following unaudited pro forma combined financial information (“the pro forma financial information”) gives effect to the Stone Ridge and CEC Acquisitions and related events as if they occurred at the beginning of the earliest applicable comparative period and primarily includes adjustments to (1) include additional intangible asset amortization associated with the acquisitions, (2) include tax and interest impacts, (3) include the pro forma results of Stone Ridge and CEC for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, and (4) include the pro forma results of Stone Ridge for the nine months ended September 30, 2026. This pro forma financial information has been presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have been achieved had the pro forma events taken place on the dates indicated. Further, the pro forma financial information does not purport to project the future operating results of the combined company following the acquisitions.
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 |
| Pro forma revenue | $1,563,927 | $804,368 | $3,625,913 | $2,116,557 |
| Pro forma net income attributable to Sterling common stockholders | $214,933 | $90,766 | $480,052 | $208,691 |
From the acquisition date of June 1, 2026 through September 30, 2026, the revenue and net income associated with the Stone Ridge Acquisition did not have a material impact on our results of operations.
| 4. | REVENUE FROM CUSTOMERS |
Remaining Performance Obligations (“RPOs”)—RPOs represent the aggregate amount of our contract transaction price related to performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially satisfied at the end of the period. RPOs include the entire expected revenue values for joint ventures we consolidate and our proportionate value for those we proportionately consolidate. RPOs may not be indicative of future operating results. Projects included in RPOs may be canceled or modified by customers; however, the customer would be obligated to compensate the Company for work performed through the date of termination and for any applicable contractual costs for cancellations or modifications. The following table presents the Company’s RPOs, by segment:
| (In thousands) | September 30, 2026 | December 31, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| E-Infrastructure Solutions RPOs | $3,050,076 | $1,843,536 |
| Transportation Solutions RPOs | 963,725 | 1,124,429 |
| Building Solutions RPOs - Commercial | 35,015 | 42,977 |
| Total RPOs | $4,048,816 | $3,010,942 |
At September 30, 2026, the Company expects to recognize approximately 72% of its RPOs as revenue during the next 12 months, and substantially all of the remaining balance in the 12 to 24 months thereafter.
Revenue Disaggregation—The following tables present the Company’s revenue disaggregated by major end market and contract type:
| (In thousands) | Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues by major end market | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 |
| E-Infrastructure Solutions Revenues | $1,302,739 | $417,106 | $2,805,472 | $945,775 |
| Heavy Highway | 115,634 | 105,710 | 318,587 | 326,017 |
| Aviation | 24,506 | 18,855 | 68,458 | 46,163 |
| Other Services | 25,084 | 45,925 | 67,734 | 115,768 |
| Transportation Solutions Revenues | 165,224 | 170,490 | 454,779 | 487,948 |
| Residential | 74,364 | 80,529 | 242,889 | 249,107 |
| Commercial | 21,600 | 20,894 | 54,641 | 51,606 |
| Building Solutions Revenues | 95,964 | 101,423 | 297,530 | 300,713 |
| Total Revenues | $1,563,927 | $689,019 | $3,557,781 | $1,734,436 |
| Revenues by contract type | ||||
| Lump-Sum | $976,016 | $418,815 | $2,251,376 | $966,189 |
| Fixed-Unit Price | 295,351 | 188,904 | 752,467 | 515,500 |
| Residential and Other | 292,560 | 81,300 | 553,938 | 252,747 |
| Total Revenues | $1,563,927 | $689,019 | $3,557,781 | $1,734,436 |
Variable Consideration
The Company has projects that it is in the process of negotiating, or awaiting final approval of, unapproved change orders and claims with its customers. The Company is proceeding with its contractual rights to recoup additional costs incurred from its customers based on completing work associated with change orders, including change orders with pending change order pricing, or claims related to significant changes in scope which resulted in substantial delays and additional costs in completing the work. Unapproved change order and claim information has been provided to the Company’s customers and negotiations with the customers are ongoing. If additional progress with an acceptable resolution is not reached, legal action will be taken. Based upon the Company’s review of the provisions of its contracts, specific costs incurred and other related evidence supporting the unapproved change orders and claims, together in some cases as necessary with the views of the Company’s outside claim consultants, the Company concluded it was appropriate to include in project price amounts of $29.4 million and $2.9 million at September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively, relating to unapproved change orders and claims. Provisions for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts are made in the period in which such losses are determined.
Contract Estimates
Accounting for long-term contracts and programs involves the use of various techniques to estimate total contract revenue and costs. For long-term contracts, the Company estimates the profit on a contract as the difference between the total estimated revenue and expected costs to complete a contract and recognizes such profit over the life of the contract. Contract estimates are based on various assumptions to project the outcome of future events that often span several years. These assumptions include labor productivity and availability, the complexity of the work to be performed, the cost and availability of materials and the performance of subcontractors. Changes in job performance, job conditions and estimated profitability, including those changes arising from contract penalty provisions and final contract settlements, may result in changes in revenue and are recognized in the period in which the changes are determined. Changes in contract estimates on performance obligations satisfied or partially satisfied in previous periods resulted in net revenue increases of $106.2 million and $245.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, respectively, and net revenue increases of $51.9 million and $124.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively.
| 5. | 50% OWNED SUBSIDIARY |
The Company holds a 50% ownership interest in Road and Highway Builders, LLC (“RHB”). The Company uses the equity method of accounting for its ownership interest, reporting its portion of RHB’s income as a single line item within “Other operating income, net” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and reporting its interest in RHB as a single line item (“Investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries”) in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Financial amounts of RHB and the Company’s share of such amounts are shown below:
| (In thousands) | September 30, 2026 | December 31, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Current assets - RHB’s Balance Sheets | $124,718 | $118,101 |
| Current liabilities - RHB’s Balance Sheets | $132,321 | $123,940 |
| Investment in unconsolidated RHB subsidiary - Sterling’s Balance Sheets (1) | $98,485 | $105,813 |
| (1) Includes a basis difference of $85.5 million and $91.9 million at September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively. | ||
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 |
| RHB’s Statements of Operations | ||||
| Revenues | $57,632 | $63,560 | $164,956 | $168,327 |
| Income before tax | $12,219 | $15,102 | $32,885 | $35,042 |
| Sterling’s Statements of Operations | ||||
| Revenues | $— | $— | $— | $— |
| Income before tax (1) | $3,963 | $5,405 | $10,003 | $11,082 |
| (1) For each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026 and 2025, Sterling’s portion of income before tax includes approximately $1.9 million and $5.6 million, respectively, of intangible asset amortization and approximately $275 thousand and $825 thousand, respectively, of depreciation expense related to the basis difference recognized in the deconsolidation of RHB on December 31, 2024. | ||||
| 6. | CONSTRUCTION JOINT VENTURES |
Joint Ventures with a Controlling Interest—We consolidate any venture that is determined to be a VIE for which we are the primary beneficiary, or which we otherwise effectively control. The equity held by the remaining owners and their portions of net income (loss) are reflected in stockholders’ equity on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets line item “Noncontrolling interests” and in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations line item “Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests,” respectively.
Joint Ventures with a Noncontrolling Interest—The Company accounts for unconsolidated joint ventures using a pro-rata basis in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and as a single line item (“Receivables from and equity in construction joint ventures”) in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. This method is a permissible modification of the equity method of accounting which is a common practice in the construction industry. Combined financial amounts of joint ventures in which the Company has a noncontrolling interest and the Company’s share of such amounts which are included in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are shown below:
| (In thousands) | September 30, 2026 | December 31, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Current assets - Joint Ventures’ Balance Sheets | $68,539 | $33,326 |
| Current liabilities - Joint Ventures’ Balance Sheets | $44,983 | $17,877 |
| Receivables from and equity in construction joint ventures - Sterling's Balance Sheets | $9,422 | $6,179 |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 |
| Joint Ventures’ Statements of Operations: | ||||
| Revenues | $31,790 | $13,595 | $76,423 | $48,479 |
| Income before tax | $6,103 | $(410) | $8,107 | $2,394 |
| Sterling’s noncontrolling interest: | ||||
| Revenues | $12,716 | $5,438 | $30,569 | $19,392 |
| Income before tax | $2,441 | $(164) | $3,242 | $958 |
The caption “Receivables from and equity in construction joint ventures” includes undistributed earnings and receivables owed to the Company. Undistributed earnings are typically released to the joint venture partners after the customer accepts the project as completed and the warranty period, if any, has passed.
| 7. | PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT |
Property and equipment are summarized as follows:
| (In thousands) | September 30, 2026 | December 31, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Construction and transportation equipment | $581,065 | $460,223 |
| Buildings and improvements | 30,194 | 30,224 |
| Land | 2,277 | 2,168 |
| Office equipment | 9,257 | 6,418 |
| Total property and equipment | 622,793 | 499,033 |
| Less accumulated depreciation | (265,050) | (220,764) |
| Total property and equipment, net | $357,743 | $278,269 |
Depreciation Expense—Depreciation expense is primarily included within cost of revenues and was $19.4 million and $52.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, respectively, and $13.9 million and $39.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively.
| 8. | OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS |
The following table presents our acquired finite-lived intangible assets, including the weighted-average useful lives for each major intangible asset category and in total:
| September 30, 2026 · December 31, 2025 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In thousands) | WeightedAverageLife (Years) | GrossCarryingAmount | AccumulatedAmortization | GrossCarryingAmount | AccumulatedAmortization |
| Customer relationships | 24 | $634,238 | $(101,029) | $519,483 | $(82,344) |
| Trade names | 24 | 145,922 | (19,796) | 133,077 | (15,514) |
| Total | 24 | $780,160 | $(120,825) | $652,560 | $(97,858) |
The Company’s intangible amortization expense was $8.4 million and $23.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, respectively, and $6.0 million and $15.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively.
| 9. | DEBT |
On July 2, 2026, the Company, as borrower, and certain of its subsidiaries, as guarantors (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”), entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Amended Credit Agreement”) with BMO Bank N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto. The Amended Credit Agreement amended and restated in its entirety the Company’s Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 5, 2025 (the “Prior Credit Agreement”), extending the maturity date to July 2, 2031, and providing for a $1.5 billion senior secured revolving credit facility with a $600 million letter of credit sublimit and a $50 million swing line sublimit (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The Amended Credit Agreement also permits the Company to establish an incremental facility, which may be used to (a) provide one or more tranches of term loans, (b) increase the revolving loans or (c) incur indebtedness in the form of pari passu secured indebtedness in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of $500 million and 100% of the Company’s EBITDA (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement) on a pro forma basis for the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period, plus an unlimited amount so long as the Company’s pro forma Total Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement) does not exceed 2.00 to 1.00, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions and obtaining commitments from lenders. The Amended Credit Agreement eliminated the 10-basis-point SOFR credit spread adjustment included in the Prior Credit Agreement and revised the applicable pricing margins, which are based on the Company’s Total Net Leverage Ratio.
In connection with entering into the Amended Credit Agreement, the Company repaid in full the $285 million of principal and interest then outstanding under the term loan facility of the Prior Credit Agreement using borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility and cash on hand. The Company evaluated the amendment and restatement of the Prior Credit Agreement and the repayment of the term loan facility under ASC 470-50. The accounting treatment was determined separately for the term loan facility and the revolving credit facility of the Prior Credit Agreement, including an evaluation of changes in the participating lenders and, for the revolving credit facility, changes in borrowing capacity. The repayment of the term loan facility was accounted for as an extinguishment of debt. Accordingly, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, the Company recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $1.3 million related to the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs. Fees paid to new or continuing lenders and third-party costs related to the Revolving Credit Facility were accounted for based on the nature of the arrangement and the applicable debt-modification guidance.
Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest, at the Company’s election, at either a base rate or the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus an applicable margin based on the Company's Total Net Leverage Ratio. Borrowings may be repaid and reborrowed, subject to the terms and conditions of the Amended Credit Agreement. The Company is also required to pay commitment fees on the unused portion of the Revolving Credit Facility, based on the Company’s Total Net Leverage Ratio, as well as letter of credit fees and fronting fees with respect to outstanding letters of credit.
The Amended Credit Agreement contains representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants, events of default, and financial covenants that require the Company to maintain, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, (i) a maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio of 3.50 to 1.00 and (ii) a minimum Interest Coverage Ratio of 3.00 to 1.00, each as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement. The obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement are guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantors and are secured by substantially all assets of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, subject to permitted liens and other customary exceptions.
At September 30, 2026, the Company had $95.0 million of borrowings andno letters of credit outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility, leaving approximately $1.4 billion of available borrowing capacity, and was in compliance with all financial and other covenants under the Amended Credit Agreement. As of September 30, 2026, interest ontwo outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility was calculated using SOFR rates of 3.74% and 3.79%, respectively, plus an applicable margin of 1.25% per annum. The weighted average interest rate on the Company’s borrowings under the Prior Credit Agreement and the Amended Credit Agreement was approximately 5.00% per annum during the nine months ended September 30, 2026.
Debt Issuance Costs—At September 30, 2026, the Company had $5.7 million of unamortized debt issuance costs associated with the Revolving Credit Facility. Because the costs relate to a revolving line-of-credit arrangement, the Company presents these costs within other non-current assets and amortizes them on a straight-line basis over the term of the Amended Credit Agreement, which approximates the effective interest method. Amortization of debt issuance costs was $303 thousand and $706 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, respectively, and $214 thousand and $789 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively, and was recorded as interest expense.
| 10. | LEASE OBLIGATIONS |
The Company has operating and finance leases primarily for construction and transportation equipment, as well as office space. The Company’s leases have remaining lease terms ofone month toten years, some of which include options to extend the leases for up toten years.
The components of lease expense are as follows:
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 |
| Operating lease cost | $6,375 | $5,406 | $17,717 | $16,935 |
| Short-term lease cost | $23,044 | $7,902 | $54,025 | $20,694 |
| Finance lease cost: | ||||
| Amortization of right-of-use assets | $34 | $32 | $101 | $94 |
| Interest on lease liabilities | 5 | 8 | 17 | 24 |
| Total finance lease cost | $39 | $40 | $118 | $118 |
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases is as follows:
| (In thousands) | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: | 2026 | 2025 |
| Operating cash outflows from operating leases | $18,562 | $17,158 |
| Operating cash outflows from finance leases | $17 | $24 |
| Financing cash outflows from finance leases | $101 | $94 |
| Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations (non-cash): | ||
| Operating leases | $22,891 | $3,500 |
| Finance leases | $— | $— |
Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases is as follows:
| (In thousands) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Operating Leases | September 30, 2026 | December 31, 2025 |
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | $68,446 | $58,167 |
| Current portion of long-term lease obligations | $14,743 | $18,679 |
| Long-term lease obligations | 55,793 | 40,186 |
| Total operating lease liabilities | $70,536 | $58,865 |
| Finance Leases | ||
| Property and equipment, at cost | $1,428 | $1,428 |
| Accumulated depreciation | (1,143) | (1,067) |
| Property and equipment, net | $285 | $361 |
| Current maturities of long-term debt | $143 | $136 |
| Long-term debt | 127 | 236 |
| Total finance lease liabilities | $270 | $372 |
| Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term | ||
| Operating leases | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Finance leases | 1.8 | 2.6 |
| Weighted Average Discount Rate | ||
| Operating leases | 5.7% | 5.9% |
| Finance leases | 6.9% | 6.9% |
Maturities of lease liabilities are as follows:
| (In thousands) | OperatingLeases | FinanceLeases |
|---|---|---|
| Year Ending December 31, | ||
| 2026 (excluding the nine months ended September 30, 2026) | $5,529 | $39 |
| 2027 | 16,940 | 157 |
| 2028 | 13,838 | 92 |
| 2029 | 12,293 | — |
| 2030 | 11,803 | — |
| 2031 | 11,108 | — |
| Thereafter | 11,488 | — |
| Total lease payments | $82,999 | $288 |
| Less imputed interest | (12,463) | (18) |
| Total | $70,536 | $270 |
| 11. | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
Insurance
The Company is required by its insurance providers to obtain and hold standby letters of credit. These letters of credit serve as a guarantee by the issuer to pay the Company’s insurance providers the incurred claim costs attributable to its general liability, workers’ compensation and automobile liability claims, up to the amount stated in the standby letters of credit, in the event that these claims were not paid by the Company.
Property and Casualty—The Company has athree-year Structured Reinsurance Program for workers’ compensation, general liability and automobile liability, which is subject to a $1 million deductible per occurrence, followed by an umbrella program (workers’ compensation, general liability and automobile liability) that is subject to a corridor deductible of $9 million. We accrue for probable losses, both reported and unreported, that are reasonably estimable using actuarial methods based on historic trends, modified, if necessary, by recent events. Changes in the Company's loss assumptions caused by changes in actual experience would affect our assessment of the ultimate liability and could have an effect on our operating results and financial position. The Company also maintains commercial insurance coverage in excess of the limits of our primary and umbrella commercial automobile, general liability and employers’ liability policies, in the amount of $90 million.
Medical—The Company maintains fully insured and self-insured medical benefit plans, which provide medical benefits to employees electing coverage under the plans. Under its self-insured plans, the Company has stop-loss coverage per claim to limit the exposure arising from these claims. Self-insured claims filed and claims incurred but not reported are accrued based upon management’s estimates of the ultimate cost of claims incurred using actuarial assumptions followed in the insurance industry and historical experience.
Guarantees
The Company obtains bonding on construction contracts primarily through Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America (“Travelers”). As is customary in the construction industry, the Company indemnifies Travelers for any losses incurred by it in connection with bonds that are issued. The Company has granted Travelers a security interest in accounts receivable and contract rights for that obligation.
On certain projects, the Company issues performance guarantees for the remaining cost of work to be performed. For lump-sum contracts, the performance guarantee amount is the cost to complete the contracted work, less amounts remaining to be billed to the client under the contract. Remaining billable amounts could be greater or less than the cost to complete. In those cases where costs exceed the remaining amount billable under the contract, we may have recourse to third parties, such as owners, partners, subcontractors or vendors for claims.
The Company typically indemnifies contract owners for claims arising during the construction process and carries insurance coverage for such claims, which in the past have not been material.
The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation provides for indemnification of its officers and directors. The Company has a directors and officers insurance policy that limits their exposure to litigation against them in their capacities as such.
Litigation
The Company, including its construction joint ventures and its 50% owned subsidiary, is now and may in the future be involved as a party to various legal proceedings that are incidental to the ordinary course of business. Management, after consultation with legal counsel, does not believe that the outcome of these actions will have a material impact on the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company. As of September 30, 2026, the Company is not aware of any pending legal proceedings that are expected to result in a material loss.
| 12. | INCOME TAXES |
The Company and its subsidiaries are based in the U.S. and file federal and various state income tax returns. The components of the provision for income taxes were as follows:
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 |
| Current federal tax expense | $54,671 | $19,618 | $114,500 | $47,397 |
| Current state tax expense | 15,887 | 7,057 | 34,790 | 16,306 |
| Deferred federal tax expense | 4,790 | 5,343 | 10,804 | 10,039 |
| Deferred state tax (benefit) expense | 711 | (1,501) | 962 | (783) |
| Income tax expense | $76,059 | $30,517 | $161,056 | $72,959 |
| Cash paid for income taxes | $51,043 | $22,734 | $119,814 | $56,300 |
The effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026 was 24.9% and 24.3%, respectively. The rate varied from the statutory rate primarily as a result of non-deductible compensation, state income taxes, and other permanent differences. The Company recognized tax benefits of $100 thousand and $2.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, respectively, for increased tax deductions related to stock compensation.
The Company's U.S. federal and state income tax returns for 2023 and later are open and subject to examination. Additionally, the federal and state net operating loss (“NOL”) may be adjusted by the taxing authorities for the 2014 and later tax years.
Uncertain Tax Position (“UTP”)—The Company has a UTP liability of $2.5 million and an additional liability related to the UTP for penalties of $504 thousand and interest of $625 thousand at September 30, 2026. We recognize interest and penalties related to the UTP as interest expense and general and administrative expenses, respectively. The UTP, including penalties and interest, is fully offset by an indemnification receivable at September 30, 2026. The Company relieved $2.7 million of the recorded UTP in the nine months ended September 30, 2026, with no material impact to the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations due to the associated indemnification receivable.
| 13. | STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN AND OTHER EQUITY ACTIVITY |
General—The Company has a stock incentive plan (the “Stock Incentive Plan”) and an employee stock purchase plan (the “ESPP”) that are administered by the Compensation and Talent Development Committee of the Board of Directors. Under the Stock Incentive Plan, the Company can issue shares to employees and directors in the form of restricted stock awards (“RSAs”), restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and performance share units (“PSUs”). Changes in common stock and additional paid in capital during the nine months ended September 30, 2026 primarily relate to activity associated with the Stock Incentive Plan, the ESPP, shares withheld for taxes and repurchases of the Company’s common stock.
Share Grants—During the nine months ended September 30, 2026, the Company granted the following awards under the Stock Incentive Plan:
| (In thousands, except per share data) | Shares | Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value per Share |
|---|---|---|
| RSAs | 1 | $886.22 |
| RSUs | 60 | $600.71 |
| PSUs – EPS Based (at target) | 17 | $306.23 |
| PSUs – Market Based | 5 | $428.56 |
| Total shares granted | 83 |
Share Issuances—During the nine months ended September 30, 2026, the Company issued the following shares under the Stock Incentive Plan and the ESPP:
| (In thousands) | Shares |
|---|---|
| RSAs (issued upon grant) | 1 |
| RSUs (issued upon vesting) | 33 |
| PSUs – EPS Based (issued upon vesting) | 56 |
| ESPP (issued upon sale) | 4 |
| Total shares issued | 94 |
Stock-Based Compensation—The Company recognized $11.0 million and $26.2 million of stock-based compensation expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, respectively. The Company recognized $5.6 million and $17.2 million of stock-based compensation expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively. ESPP expense, which is included in the total stock-based compensation expense, was $207 thousand and $496 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, respectively, and $81 thousand and $248 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively. Additionally, the Company has liability-based PSUs for which the number of shares awarded is not determined until the vesting date. During the three months ended September 30, 2026 and 2025, the Company recognized $206 thousand and $364 thousand, respectively, as a liability and compensation expense. During the nine months ended September 30, 2026 and 2025, the Company recognized $619 thousand and $1,051 thousand, respectively, as a liability and compensation expense, and upon vesting, reclassified the grant date fair value of $732 thousand and $632 thousand, respectively, from a liability to additional paid in capital. Stock-based compensation expense is primarily recognized within general and administrative expenses. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur, rather than estimating expected forfeitures.
Shares Withheld for Taxes—The Company withheld seven thousand and 33 thousand shares for taxes on the vesting of employee stock-based compensation for $4.1 million and $16.0 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, respectively.
Treasury Stock—Effective November 12, 2025, the Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program, permitting the repurchase of up to $400 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock. The stock repurchase program expires on November 12, 2027 and may be modified, extended or terminated by the Board of Directors at any time. Under the program, the Company may repurchase its common stock in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions at such times and at such prices as determined to be in the Company’s best interest. The Company accounts for the repurchase of treasury shares under the cost method and during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, the Company repurchased 106 thousand and 175 thousand shares, respectively, of its common stock for $72.0 million and $107.3 million, respectively.
| 14. | EARNINGS PER SHARE |
The following table reconciles the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted earnings per share computations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026 and 2025:
| (In thousands, except per share data) | Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numerator: | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 |
| Net income attributable to Sterling common stockholders | $214,933 | $92,088 | $466,728 | $202,556 |
| Denominator: | ||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding — basic | 30,609 | 30,519 | 30,650 | 30,491 |
| Shares for dilutive unvested stock | 462 | 441 | 452 | 384 |
| Weighted average common shares outstanding — diluted | 31,071 | 30,960 | 31,102 | 30,875 |
| Net income per share attributable to Sterling common stockholders: | ||||
| Basic | $7.02 | $3.02 | $15.23 | $6.64 |
| Diluted | $6.92 | $2.97 | $15.01 | $6.56 |
There weretwo thousand and 20 thousand weighted average unvested shares that were excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS under the treasury stock method, as they were anti-dilutive, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, respectively. There weretwo thousand andfour thousand weighted average unvested shares that were excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS under the treasury stock method, as they were anti-dilutive, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, respectively.
| 15. | SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION |
The following table summarizes the changes in the components of operating assets and liabilities:
| Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||
|---|---|---|
| (In thousands) | 2026 | 2025 |
| Accounts receivable | $(692,062) | $(165,891) |
| Contracts in progress, net | 200,090 | 46,358 |
| Receivables from and equity in construction joint ventures | (3,243) | 607 |
| Receivable from affiliate | — | 25,772 |
| Other current and non-current assets | 19,833 | (6,452) |
| Accounts payable | 144,381 | 5,316 |
| Accrued compensation and other liabilities | 127,267 | 40,844 |
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities | $(203,734) | $(53,446) |
| 16. | RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS |
The Company has a limited number of related party transactions. The most significant transactions relate to property leases with the management of certain subsidiaries who own or have an ownership interest in real estate and other companies. The leases are for office space, equipment yards or maintenance shops and have an annual cost of approximately $6 million. The leases expire at various points over the nextone tosix years. During the nine months ended September 30, 2026, the Company performed work for and received services from entities owned or partially owned by the management of certain subsidiaries. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, the Company recognized approximately $40 thousand and $1.9 million, respectively, of revenue from work performed for related parties. For the same periods, the Company recognized approximately $132 thousand and $402 thousand, respectively, of expense for services received from related parties.
In connection with the CEC Acquisition, the Company recorded a payable to the sellers, some of whom are now related parties, that is directly linked to a project‑specific receivable of approximately $15 million owed to CEC as of the acquisition date. Consistent with the closing settlement mechanics, amounts received from the customer on this receivable will be remitted to the sellers and, accordingly, the Company recognized a liability for the expected remittance. The arrangement does not impact gross profit, as the payable represents a pass‑through of cash collected on a pre‑close balance rather than consideration for post‑close performance. The asset and liability are presented within other current assets and liabilities, respectively, given the expected collection and remittance timeframe of less than 12 months.
| 17. | SEGMENT INFORMATION |
The Company’s internal and public segment reporting is aligned based on the services offered by its operating segments. The Company’s operations consist ofthree reportable segments: E-Infrastructure Solutions, Transportation Solutions and Building Solutions. The Company’s CODM, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, uses both segment gross profit and operating income for each segment predominantly in the annual budgeting and forecasting process. The CODM considers budget-to-actual variances of both profit measures when making decisions about allocating capital and personnel to the segments. We incur certain expenses at the corporate level that relate to our business as a whole. Our business segments receive a portion of these expenses through various allocation methods, predominantly determined by usage and volume. The balance of the corporate-level expenses is reported in the “Corporate G&A Expenses” line, which is primarily comprised of corporate headquarters facility costs, the cost of the executive management team, and other expenses pertaining to certain centralized functions that benefit the entire Company but are not directly attributable to any specific business segment, such as corporate human resources, legal, governance, compliance and finance functions. Total assets held at Corporate primarily include cash, PP&E, and prepaid and leased assets.
The following tables present segment revenues, significant segment expenses, and measures of segment profit or loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026 and 2025:
| (In thousands) | Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 |
| E-Infrastructure Solutions | $1,302,739 | $417,106 | $2,805,472 | $945,775 |
| Transportation Solutions | 165,224 | 170,490 | 454,779 | 487,948 |
| Building Solutions | 95,964 | 101,423 | 297,530 | 300,713 |
| Total Revenues | $1,563,927 | $689,019 | $3,557,781 | $1,734,436 |
| Cost of Revenues | ||||
| E-Infrastructure Solutions | $(970,586) | $(288,757) | $(2,064,601) | $(656,459) |
| Transportation Solutions | (130,135) | (144,134) | (368,455) | (416,133) |
| Building Solutions | (85,927) | (85,912) | (263,193) | (253,648) |
| Total Cost of Revenues | $(1,186,648) | $(518,803) | $(2,696,249) | $(1,326,240) |
| Gross Profit | ||||
| E-Infrastructure Solutions | $332,153 | $128,349 | $740,871 | $289,316 |
| Transportation Solutions | 35,089 | 26,356 | 86,324 | 71,815 |
| Building Solutions | 10,037 | 15,511 | 34,337 | 47,065 |
| Total Gross Profit | $377,279 | $170,216 | $861,532 | $408,196 |
| (In thousands) | Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Administrative Expenses | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 |
| E-Infrastructure Solutions | $(30,948) | $(17,656) | $(85,174) | $(42,280) |
| Transportation Solutions | (8,820) | (7,384) | (23,165) | (21,292) |
| Building Solutions | (2,647) | (2,803) | (8,794) | (9,045) |
| Segment General and Administrative Expenses | (42,415) | (27,843) | (117,133) | (72,617) |
| Corporate | (18,948) | (9,742) | (45,210) | (33,586) |
| Total General and Administrative Expenses | $(61,363) | $(37,585) | $(162,343) | $(106,203) |
| Intangible Amortization | ||||
| E-Infrastructure Solutions | $(6,658) | $(4,079) | $(17,795) | $(10,013) |
| Transportation Solutions | — | — | — | — |
| Building Solutions | (1,724) | (1,956) | (5,172) | (5,061) |
| Total Intangible Amortization | $(8,382) | $(6,035) | $(22,967) | $(15,074) |
| Other Operating Income, Net | ||||
| E-Infrastructure Solutions | $(32) | $— | $1,226 | $— |
| Transportation Solutions | 3,963 | 5,405 | 10,003 | 11,082 |
| Building Solutions | — | — | — | — |
| Total Other Operating Income, Net | $3,931 | $5,405 | $11,229 | $11,082 |
| Operating Income | ||||
| E-Infrastructure Solutions | $294,515 | $106,614 | $639,128 | $237,023 |
| Transportation Solutions | 30,232 | 24,377 | 73,162 | 61,605 |
| Building Solutions | 5,666 | 10,752 | 20,371 | 32,959 |
| Segment Operating Income | 330,413 | 141,743 | 732,661 | 331,587 |
| Corporate G&A Expenses | (18,948) | (9,742) | (45,210) | (33,586) |
| Acquisition Related Costs | (2,136) | (5,349) | (16,071) | (8,023) |
| Earn-out Expense | (2,487) | (1,343) | (7,463) | (4,029) |
| Total Operating Income | $306,842 | $125,309 | $663,917 | $285,949 |
The following table presents depreciation by reportable segment:
| (In thousands) | Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depreciation | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 |
| E-Infrastructure Solutions | $(14,545) | $(10,569) | $(39,253) | $(30,340) |
| Transportation Solutions | (4,070) | (2,589) | (11,323) | (7,015) |
| Building Solutions | (370) | (394) | (1,101) | (1,129) |
| Corporate | (452) | (326) | (1,186) | (968) |
| Total Depreciation | $(19,437) | $(13,878) | $(52,863) | $(39,452) |
The following table presents assets by reportable segment:
| (In thousands) | September 30, | December 31, |
|---|---|---|
| Assets | 2026 | 2025 |
| E-Infrastructure Solutions | $3,100,823 | $1,870,246 |
| Transportation Solutions | 85,501 | 181,867 |
| Building Solutions | 235,845 | 240,174 |
| Corporate | 59,811 | 341,544 |
| Total Assets | $3,481,980 | $2,633,831 |
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.