Exponent, Inc. (EXPO) AI Stock Analysis
EXPO AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchExponent, Inc. (EXPO) is a science and engineering consulting firm operating across engineering, environmental, and health disciplines. In the trailing twelve months, the company generated $567.1M in revenue with a 19.7% profit margin and a 31.2% return on equity. With net debt of $14.1M and a forward P/E of 31.5x, the stock trades at a valuation premium to its broader sector peers.
- Market cap
- $3.42B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $567.1M
- P/E
- 32.2x fwd 31.5x
- 1Y return
- 7.2% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $84.00 16.9% vs last close
Bull case
- In the latest quarter ending June 30, 2026, quarterly earnings grew 15.7% year-over-year alongside 12.0% revenue growth.
- The company demonstrates strong capital efficiency with a trailing twelve-month return on equity of 31.2%.
- Analysts maintain a mean price target of $84.00, implying a 16.9% upside over the last closing price of $71.85.
Bear case
- Shares trade at a forward P/E of 31.5x, well above the median of its US-listed Industrials peers of 17.2x.
- Long-term top-line expansion has been modest, reflecting a 5-year revenue CAGR of 2.5% from FY2022 to FY2025.
- Over the past 5 years, the stock fell 30.9%, trailing the S&P 500 return of 83.0%.
What Exponent does
Exponent, Inc. is a science and engineering consulting firm operating through two core segments: Engineering and Other Scientific, and Environmental and Health. The Engineering and Other Scientific segment provides services such as biomechanics, civil and electrical engineering, materials science, construction consulting, and data sciences. The Environmental and Health segment focuses on chemical regulation, ecological sciences, environmental sciences, and health sciences, handling issues related to food safety, sustainability, and health risks. Headquartered in Menlo Park, California, Exponent integrates approximately 90 technical disciplines to serve clients in energy, consumer products, technology, transportation, and government sectors.
Growth and profitability
From FY2022 to FY2025, Exponent generated a 5-year revenue CAGR of 2.5%. Annual revenue reached $536.8M in FY2023 with net income of $100.3M, rising to $558.5M in revenue and $109.0M in net income in FY2024. In FY2025, revenue increased 4.2% to $582.0M, while net income totaled $106.0M, generating an operating margin of 20.6% and a net margin of 18.2%. In the trailing twelve months ending June 30, 2026, revenue stood at $567.1M with an operating margin of 18.8% and EPS of $2.23. For the latest quarter ending June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 12.0% year-over-year while quarterly earnings expanded 15.7%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, Exponent held $66.6M in cash and short-term investments alongside total debt of $80.7M, resulting in net debt of $14.1M. The company maintains a current ratio of 1.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28 against shareholders' equity of $288.6M. In FY2025, Exponent generated $131.7M in operating cash flow and $122.3M in free cash flow. Capital allocation in FY2025 included $9.4M in capital expenditures, $61.5M in dividends paid, and $97.1M directed toward share buybacks.
Valuation and performance
Exponent trades at a trailing P/E of 32.2x and a forward P/E of 31.5x, above the median of its US-listed Industrials peers of 24.8x and 17.2x, respectively. Its enterprise value of $3.13B reflects an EV/EBITDA multiple of 23.6x, compared to the peer median of 13.9x, while its price-to-sales ratio of 6.0x compares to the peer median of 1.5x. Over the past year, EXPO delivered a return of 7.2%, trailing the S&P 500 return of 16.8%. Over a 5-year span, EXPO returned -30.9% compared to 83.0% for the S&P 500.
EXPO dividend
Exponent pays a quarterly dividend with an annual forward payout of $1.23 per share, yielding 1.71%. Its payout ratio stands at 55.2%, supported by 14 consecutive years of dividend payments. Over the past 5 years, dividends grew at an annualized rate of 9.6%. The company's last ex-dividend date was September 4, 2026.
What analysts expect
Wall Street analysts maintain 2 Strong Buy, 1 Buy, and 1 Hold ratings on Exponent, with zero Sell or Strong Sell ratings. The mean price target is $84.00, representing a 16.9% upside from the last close of $71.85. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project revenue of $612.1M and EPS of $2.41, reflecting 16.4% EPS growth. Over the last four quarters, Exponent beat EPS expectations 3 times. The next earnings date is October 29, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- Trading at an EV/EBITDA of 23.6x leaves the stock vulnerable if EPS growth falls short of the projected 16.4% for FY2026.
- Short interest stands at 7.6% of float, indicating notable negative positioning.
- Cash and short-term investments of $66.6M are exceeded by total debt of $80.7M, creating net debt of $14.1M.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this EXPO AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Exponent, Inc. (EXPO). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: EXPO income statement, EXPO balance sheet, EXPO key metrics, EXPO analyst forecast, EXPO chart. See the EXPO stock overview for the latest quote and news.
EXPO AI stock analysis FAQ
What is Exponent's stock ticker and exchange?
Exponent trades on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol EXPO.
Does Exponent pay a dividend?
Yes, Exponent pays a quarterly dividend with an annual forward payout of $1.23 per share, representing a dividend yield of 1.71%.
When is Exponent's next earnings date?
The company's next earnings date is scheduled for October 29, 2026.
What is the consensus analyst price target for EXPO?
The mean analyst price target is $84.00, which is 16.9% above the closing price of $71.85 on October 16, 2026.