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Shares of Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE:BAH) took a hitdown over 16% in 12.58pm todayafter the firm posted a weaker-than-expected 2026 forecast and announced a major restructuring. Management now sees full-year revenue landing between $12.0 and $12.5 billion, with adjusted EPS in the $6.20$6.55 range. That's well below Wall Street's $12.82 billion and $6.92 estimates. The firm is moving fast to fix the profitability gap, with CEO Horacio Rozanski confirming a 7% workforce cutroughly 2,500 employeesmainly in its civil segment. Booz is repositioning as the Trump administration pushes cost discipline across federal agencies, with the defense and intelligence units still expected to grow.
The bigger picture? Booz Allen's revenue engine is firing on all cylinders. The chart above tells the story: consistent top-line growth over the past decade, hitting all-time highs. But look closer, and you'll see net income and EBITDA haven't kept pace. Profitability's been lagging, which is why this cost reset could be a necessary move, not just a defensive one. CFO Matt Calderone made it clear on the earnings callthe layoffs are aimed at realigning cost structure to better match demand and improve margins in the long run.
Is this a buying opportunity? Possibly. If the restructuring delivers the margin uplift Booz is betting on, this reset might look like smart capital discipline in hindsight. But it's not without risks. Execution will be key, and investors will want to watch for signs of operating leverage improving in the quarters ahead. Long-term tailwinds in defense and intelligence are still intact, but it's time for the bottom line to catch up.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.