Universal Technical Institute (NYSE:UTI) Announces Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.02 EPS

Universal Technical Institute (NYSE:UTI) announced its earnings results on Wednesday. The company reported $0.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.02 by $0.02, FiscalAI reports. Universal Technical Institute had a return on equity of 13.02% and a net margin of 4.91%.The business had revenue of $218.91 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $220.40 million.

Here are the key takeaways from Universal Technical Institute’s conference call:

• Strong third-quarter growth: New student starts rose 11% year over year, average active students increased 6%, and revenue grew 7% to $218.9 million. UTI starts increased 23%, supported by continued demand for skilled-trades programs and new campus launches.
• Fiscal 2026 guidance was reduced due primarily to softer-than-expected fourth-quarter UTI high-school starts in auto and diesel, along with a faster mix shift toward shorter, slightly less profitable skilled-trades programs. Revenue is now expected at $893 million-$900 million and reported adjusted EBITDA at $100 million-$103 million.
• New campuses are outperforming launch plans: Atlanta starts are tracking 30% ahead of expectations and San Antonio starts approximately 40% ahead. Management said both campuses could reach scale faster and potentially exceed their projected mature run rates.
• Management maintained confidence in its fiscal 2029 targets of more than $1.2 billion in revenue and approximately $220 million of adjusted EBITDA, citing robust employer demand, capacity expansion, and continued growth in skilled trades and healthcare.
• UTI and Concorde are now operating under one enterprise model intended to simplify systems, improve student acquisition, and create longer-term efficiencies. Executives expect potential synergies but did not quantify their size or timing.

Universal Technical Institute Price Performance

NYSE:UTI traded down $14.57 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $27.80. 4,620,286 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 926,210. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $41.84 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $37.03. The firm has a market cap of $1.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.14, a P/E/G ratio of 3.70 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a quick ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. Universal Technical Institute has a 52 week low of $21.29 and a 52 week high of $51.34.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Technical Institute

In related news, Director Linda J. Srere sold 15,000 shares of Universal Technical Institute stock in a transaction on Monday, May 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.59, for a total value of $548,850.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 127,564 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,667,566.76. The trade was a 10.52% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Coliseum Capital Management, L sold 3,000,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.40, for a total transaction of $124,200,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 971,440 shares in the company, valued at $40,217,616. The trade was a 75.54% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 3,117,545 shares of company stock valued at $128,998,420. 9.80% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Technical Institute

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of UTI. CenterBook Partners LP bought a new position in Universal Technical Institute in the fourth quarter worth about $381,000. Freestone Grove Partners LP bought a new position in Universal Technical Institute in the 3rd quarter worth about $282,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its position in Universal Technical Institute by 582.1% during the 2nd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 8,690 shares of the company’s stock valued at $295,000 after purchasing an additional 7,416 shares during the last quarter. Two Sigma Securities LLC bought a new stake in Universal Technical Institute during the 2nd quarter valued at about $324,000. Finally, Engineers Gate Manager LP raised its holdings in Universal Technical Institute by 4.3% in the second quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP now owns 12,299 shares of the company’s stock worth $417,000 after buying an additional 506 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.67% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about Universal Technical Institute

Here are the key news stories impacting Universal Technical Institute this week:

• Positive Sentiment: UTI reported fiscal Q3 earnings per share of $0.04, exceeding the $0.02 analyst consensus. The company also said total new-student-start growth surpassed expectations, supported by strong demand and continued momentum at newer campuses. Universal Technical Institute Reports Fiscal Year 2026 Third Quarter Results
• Positive Sentiment: Management expects fiscal 2026 revenue of approximately $893 million to $900 million and plans to add 20% more high-school admissions staff. The investment is intended to support student recruitment and long-term enrollment growth. UTI anticipates fiscal 2026 revenue and admissions staffing increase
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts maintained bullish ratings despite target-price adjustments. Rosenblatt reaffirmed a Buy rating with a $45 target, while B. Riley retained its Buy rating and reduced its target modestly to $48. Analyst rating updates
• Neutral Sentiment: UTI recently opened its first Georgia campus, expanding its geographic footprint and addressing skilled-labor shortages, though the near-term financial contribution is uncertain. UTI opens first Georgia campus
• Negative Sentiment: Quarterly revenue of $218.91 million fell short of the $220.40 million consensus estimate. More importantly, fiscal 2026 revenue guidance of $893 million to $900 million is below the approximately $910.3 million analyst consensus, raising concerns about near-term growth and execution. Universal Technical Institute reports mixed Q3 results

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. B. Riley Financial cut their price target on Universal Technical Institute from $49.00 to $48.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Rosenblatt Securities reissued a “buy” rating and set a $45.00 target price on shares of Universal Technical Institute in a research note on Thursday. Truist Financial dropped their price objective on shares of Universal Technical Institute from $47.00 to $38.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Barrington Research upped their price target on Universal Technical Institute from $36.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 7th. Finally, Northland Securities set a $41.00 target price on Universal Technical Institute in a research report on Thursday, May 7th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $43.83.

Universal Technical Institute Company Profile

Universal Technical Institute, Inc (NYSE: UTI) is a leading provider of post-secondary education for students pursuing careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians, as well as in welding and CNC machining. The company designs and delivers hands-on training through a blend of classroom instruction and experiential lab work, preparing graduates for entry-level positions in the transportation, manufacturing and energy sectors. UTI’s curriculum emphasizes industry-recognized credentials and proprietary coursework developed in collaboration with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to ensure alignment with evolving employer needs.

Through a network of campus locations across the United States and select centers in Canada, Universal Technical Institute offers diploma and certificate programs ranging from 36 to 74 weeks in length.