As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q2. Today, we are looking at government & technical consulting stocks, starting with UL Solutions (NYSE:ULS).
The sector has historically benefitted from steady government spending on defense, infrastructure, and regulatory compliance, providing firms long-term contract stability. However, the Trump administration is showing more willingness than previous administrations to upend government spending and bloat. Whether or not defense budgets get cut, the rising demand for cybersecurity, AI-driven defense solutions, and sustainability consulting should benefit the sector for years, as agencies and enterprises seek expertise in navigating complex technology and regulations. Additionally, industrial automation and digital engineering are driving efficiency gains in infrastructure and technical consulting projects, which could help profit margins.
The 7 government & technical consulting stocks we track reported a mixed Q2. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates.
Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 5.3% since the latest earnings results.
UL Solutions (NYSE:ULS)
Founded in 1894 as a response to the growing dangers of electricity in American homes and businesses, UL Solutions (NYSE:ULS) provides testing, inspection, and certification services that help companies ensure their products meet safety, security, and sustainability standards.
UL Solutions reported revenues of $816 million, up 5.2% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, and overall, it was a strong quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
Investor expectations, however, were likely higher than Wall Street’s published projections, leaving some wishing for even better results (analysts’ consensus estimates are those published by big banks and advisory firms, not the investors who make buy and sell decisions). The stock is down 21.4% since reporting and currently trades at $71.61.
Best Q2: SAIC (NASDAQ:SAIC)
With over five decades of experience supporting national security missions, Science Applications International Corporation (NASDAQ:SAIC) provides technical, engineering, and enterprise IT services primarily to U.S. government agencies and military branches.
SAIC reported revenues of $1.88 billion, up 6.3% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 7.1%. The business had an exceptional quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates.
SAIC delivered the biggest analyst estimate beat of the whole group. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 5.8% since reporting. It currently trades at $133.30.
Is now the time to buy SAIC? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q2: Amentum (NYSE:AMTM)
With operations spanning approximately 80 countries and a workforce of specialized engineers and technical experts, Amentum Holdings (NYSE:AMTM) provides advanced engineering and technology solutions to U.S. government agencies, allied governments, and commercial enterprises across defense, energy, and space sectors.
Amentum reported revenues of $3.49 billion, down 2% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 2.2%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.
As expected, the stock is down 23.9% since the results and currently trades at $18.60.
Read our full analysis of Amentum’s results here.
Maximus (NYSE:MMS)
With nearly 50 years of experience translating public policy into operational programs that serve millions of citizens, Maximus (NYSE:MMS) provides operational services, clinical assessments, and technology solutions to government agencies in the U.S. and internationally.
Maximus reported revenues of $1.28 billion, down 5.1% year on year. This number came in 3.7% below analysts’ expectations. It was a softer quarter as it also logged a significant miss of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates and full-year revenue guidance meeting analysts’ expectations.
Maximus had the weakest performance against analyst estimates, slowest revenue growth, and weakest full-year guidance update in the group. The stock is down 8% since reporting and currently trades at $58.08.
Read our full, actionable report on Maximus here, it’s free.
Jacobs Solutions (NYSE:J)
With a workforce of approximately 45,000 professionals tackling complex challenges from water scarcity to cybersecurity, Jacobs Solutions (NYSE:J) provides engineering, consulting, and technical services focused on infrastructure, sustainability, and advanced technology solutions.
Jacobs Solutions reported revenues of $2.42 billion, up 8.3% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 0.5%. Zooming out, it was a mixed quarter as it failed to impress in some other areas of the business.
Jacobs Solutions achieved the fastest revenue growth of the whole group. The stock is down 1.9% since reporting and currently trades at $139.95.
Read our full, actionable report on Jacobs Solutions here, it’s free.
Market Update
Over the past year, investors have been forced to repeatedly answer the same question: what is the market’s biggest risk? The answer has changed several times, and each shift has reshaped market leadership.
Late in 2025 and early 2026, artificial intelligence became the market’s primary uncertainty. Investors questioned whether AI would erode software pricing power and weaken competitive moats as AI made it easier to replicate once-differentiated products.
By the spring, technology took a back seat to geopolitics. The U.S. conflict with Iran briefly became the market’s dominant narrative, raising concerns about oil prices, inflation, and global growth. But as energy markets remained orderly and fears of a prolonged supply disruption faded, investors quickly turned their focus back to fundamentals.
Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our 9 Best Market-Beating Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.