BBSI Reports Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results

Year-to-date capital returned to shareholders exceeded $50 million through stock repurchases and dividends.

Rhea-AI Summary

Barrett Business Services (NASDAQ: BBSI) reported third-quarter 2026 revenue growth of 5%, while net income declined from the year-earlier quarter. Revenue reached $334.1 million, and gross billings rose 3% to $2.40 billion. Net income was $16.8 million, or $0.69 per diluted share, versus $20.6 million, or $0.79. Average worksite employees—employees of its professional employer clients—increased 0.6%. Gross margin fell to 3.0% of gross billings from 3.3%.

Unrestricted cash and investments were $73.7 million, up from $67.9 million at June 30; BBSI remained debt free. Third-quarter repurchases totaled $9.0 million. BBSI expects 2026 gross billings growth of 3%–4%, average worksite employee growth of 1%–2%, and gross margin of 2.70%–2.75% of gross billings. Its next regular $0.08-per-share dividend is payable December 4, 2026, to holders of record November 20.

15 points · 0 major

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0 major · 19 points

Hollow bars mark forward-looking points. How the balance works

Positive

• Moderate pointThird-quarter revenue increased 5% to $334.1 million from $318.9 million a year earlier.
• Moderate pointThird-quarter gross billings rose 3% to $2.40 billion, supported by new clients and higher billings per employee per day.
• Moderate point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.BBSI projects 2026 gross billings growth of 3% to 4%.
• Moderate point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.BBSI projects 2026 gross margin of 2.70% to 2.75% of gross billings.
• Minor pointThird-quarter professional employer services revenue increased to $316.212 million from $299.685 million a year earlier.

10 minor points

• Minor pointThird-quarter average worksite employees increased 0.6% to 142,319; ending employees rose 1.1% to 142,020.
• Minor pointThird-quarter selling, general and administrative expenses declined to $48.881 million from $49.886 million a year earlier.
• Minor pointUnrestricted cash and investments increased to $73.7 million at September 30 from $67.9 million at June 30.
• Minor pointQuarter-end borrowings remained at zero.
• Minor pointThird-quarter repurchases returned $9.0 million, buying 273,695 shares at an average $33.01; approximately $31.2 million remained authorized.
• Minor pointNine-month revenue increased to $960.335 million from $919.172 million a year earlier.
• Minor pointNine-month gross billings increased to $6,849.493 million from $6,644.993 million a year earlier.
• Minor pointNine-month professional employer services revenue increased to $914.178 million from $864.781 million a year earlier.
• Minor pointNine-month average worksite employees increased 1.0% to 139,067.
• Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.BBSI projects 2026 average worksite employee growth of 1% to 2%.

Negative

• Moderate pointThird-quarter gross margin declined to $72.671 million from $76.765 million; gross-billings margin fell to 3.0% from 3.3%.
• Moderate pointThird-quarter operating income declined to $21.231 million from $24.782 million a year earlier.
• Moderate pointNine-month net income declined to $14.817 million, or $0.60 diluted EPS, from $38.052 million, or $1.45.
• Minor pointThird-quarter net income declined to $16.750 million, or $0.69 diluted EPS, from $20.619 million, or $0.79.
• Minor pointThird-quarter staffing revenue declined to $17.850 million from $19.264 million a year earlier.

14 minor points

• Minor pointThird-quarter benefit costs rose to 1.3% of gross billings from 0.9% a year earlier.
• Minor pointThird-quarter workers’ compensation expense rose to 2.4% of gross billings from 2.2% a year earlier.
• Minor pointThird-quarter favorable prior-year workers’ compensation adjustments decreased to $0.8 million from $3.9 million a year earlier.
• Minor pointThird-quarter depreciation and amortization increased to $2.559 million from $2.097 million a year earlier.
• Minor pointThird-quarter net investment income declined to $1.243 million from $1.983 million a year earlier.
• Minor pointFirst-quarter tax-credit disallowances resulted in a $11.565 million tax adjustment included in nine-month GAAP earnings.
• Minor pointNine-month gross margin declined to $180.710 million from $192.648 million; gross-billings margin fell to 2.6% from 2.9%.
• Minor pointNine-month operating income declined to $30.166 million from $43.643 million a year earlier.
• Minor pointNine-month staffing revenue declined to $46.157 million from $54.391 million a year earlier.
• Minor pointNine-month benefit costs rose to 1.3% of gross billings from 0.9% a year earlier.
• Minor pointNine-month workers’ compensation expense rose to 2.4% of gross billings from 2.2% a year earlier.
• Minor pointNine-month selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $143.555 million from $142.912 million a year earlier.
• Minor pointNine-month depreciation and amortization increased to $6.989 million from $6.093 million a year earlier.
• Minor pointNine-month net investment income declined to $5.175 million from $6.903 million a year earlier.

News Explained

The nine-month results distinguish reported earnings from the company’s adjusted measure: BBSI reported GAAP net income of $14,817 thousand, including a $11,565 thousand tax-effected charge related to disallowed prior-year wage tax credits; non-GAAP net income, excluding that charge, was $26,382 thousand.

Key Figures

Revenue: $334.1 million (+5%) Gross billings: $2.40 billion (+3%) Net income: $16.8 million vs. $20.6 million +5 more

Revenue

$334.1 million (+5%)

Q3 2026 versus Q3 2025

Gross billings

$2.40 billion (+3%)

Q3 2026 versus Q3 2025

Net income

$16.8 million vs. $20.6 million

Q3 2026 versus Q3 2025

Diluted income per share

$0.69 vs. $0.79

Q3 2026 versus Q3 2025

Workers’ compensation expense

2.4% vs. 2.2% of gross billings

Q3 2026 vs. Q3 2025; favorable prior-year adjustments were $0.8 million vs. $3.9 million

Gross billings growth outlook

3% to 4%

Calendar-year 2026

Average WSE growth outlook

1% to 2%

Calendar-year 2026

Gross margin outlook

2.70% to 2.75% of gross billings

Calendar-year 2026

Previous Earnings Reports

1 past event · Latest: Aug 05

Same Type 1 event

1. Aug 05

   Quarterly earnings

   24h Move

   -17.5%

   Net income and diluted EPS fell as workers’ compensation costs rose, despite revenue and billings growth.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

non-gaap, peo

2 terms

non-gaap financial

"We have excluded this charge from our non-GAAP measures"

Non-GAAP refers to financial measures that companies use to show their earnings or performance without including certain expenses or income that are often added back to give a different picture. It matters because it can make a company's results look better or more favorable, but it may also hide important costs, so investors need to look at both GAAP (official rules) and non-GAAP numbers to get a full understanding.

View in glossary

peo technical

"growth in professional employer (“PEO”) services"

A professional employer organization (PEO) is a firm companies hire to handle payroll, benefits, tax withholding, workers' compensation and other human-resources tasks — think of renting an experienced HR and payroll department instead of running one yourself. For investors, use of a PEO can change how labor costs, liabilities and compliance risks appear in financial reports, affect margins and cash flow, and signal how a company is managing hiring and administrative overhead.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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- Revenues up 5% to $334.1 Million and Gross Billings up 3% to $2.40 Billion -

VANCOUVER, Wash., Nov. 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Barrett Business Services, Inc. (“BBSI” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: BBSI), a leading provider of business management solutions, reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026.

Third Quarter 2026 Financial Summary vs. Year-Ago Quarter

• Revenues up 5% to $334.1 million.
• Gross billings up 3% to $2.40 billion.
• Average worksite employees (“WSEs”) up 0.6%.
• Net income of $16.8 million, or $0.69 per diluted share, compared to net income of $20.6 million, or $0.79 per diluted share.

“BBSI delivered third quarter results in line with our expectations, reflecting continued execution against our controllable growth initiatives and disciplined operational management,” said Gary Kramer, President and CEO of BBSI. “Although client hiring trends remain soft, we are encouraged by improving conditions in the workers’ compensation market and our continued ability to secure rate increases. Combined with consistent execution across our controllable growth initiatives, these trends position us to build on our operating foundation as we move into 2027. We remain focused on disciplined growth, delivering value to our clients and strengthening our platform for long-term success.”

Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results

Revenues in the third quarter of 2026 increased 5% to $334.1 million compared to $318.9 million in the third quarter of 2025.

Total gross billings in the third quarter of 2026 increased 3% to $2.40 billion compared to $2.32 billion in the same year-ago quarter (see “Key Performance Metrics” below). The increase was driven by growth in professional employer (“PEO”) services, primarily resulting from increased WSEs from net new clients, as well as higher average billings per WSE per day.

Workers’ compensation expense as a percent of gross billings was 2.4% in the third quarter of 2026, which included favorable prior year liability and premium adjustments of $0.8 million. This compares to 2.2% in the third quarter of 2025, which included favorable prior year liability and premium adjustments of $3.9 million.

Net income for the third quarter of 2026 was $16.8 million, or $0.69 per diluted share, compared to net income of $20.6 million, or $0.79 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter.

Liquidity

As of September 30, 2026, unrestricted cash and investments were $73.7 million compared to $67.9 million as of June 30, 2026. BBSI remained debt free at quarter end.

Capital Allocation

Continuing under the Company’s stock repurchase program established in August 2025, BBSI repurchased $9.0 million of common stock in the third quarter, comprising 273,695 shares at an average price of $33.01. At September 30, 2026, approximately $31.2 million remained available under the $100 million repurchase program.

The Company paid $1.9 million of dividends in the quarter, and BBSI’s board of directors confirmed its next regular quarterly cash dividend at $0.08 per share. The cash dividend will be paid on December 4, 2026, to all stockholders of record as of November 20, 2026.

Through a combination of stock repurchases and dividends, year-to-date capital returned to shareholders totaled more than $50 million.

Outlook

The calendar-year outlook for 2026 is as follows:

• Gross billings growth of 3% to 4%.
• Growth in the average number of WSEs of 1% to 2%.
• Gross margin as a percent of gross billings of 2.70% to 2.75%.
• Effective annual tax rate to remain at 26% to 27%, excluding the one-time charge related to prior-year tax credits.

Conference Call

BBSI will conduct a conference call on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time (2:00 p.m. Pacific time) to discuss its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026.

BBSI’s CEO Gary Kramer and CFO Anthony Harris will host the conference call, followed by a question and answer period.

Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time (2:00 p.m. Pacific time)
Toll-free dial-in number: 1-800-717-1738
International dial-in number: 1-646-307-1865
Conference ID: 1199707

Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Gateway Group at 1-949-574-3860.

The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay here and via the Investors section of the BBSI website at ir.bbsi.com.

A replay of the conference call will be available after 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on the same day through December 4, 2026.

Toll-free replay number: 1-844-512-2921
International replay number: 1-412-317-6671
Replay ID: 1199707

Key Performance Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures

During the first quarter of 2026, the Company recorded tax-effected charges of $11.6 million related to the disallowance of certain wage-based tax credits claimed in prior years. This charge was recorded within provision for income taxes on our condensed consolidated statements of operations. We have excluded this charge from our non-GAAP measures as it relates to prior periods and is not indicative of our current or future operational performance.

The reconciliation of net income and diluted income per share to non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted income per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2026 is shown in the table below (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	(Unaudited)
	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2026
	Net Income			Diluted Income Per Share
GAAP net income	$	14,817		$	0.60
Non-recurring tax adjustment		11,565			0.46
Non-GAAP net income	$	26,382		$	1.06
Weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding					24,830

We report PEO revenues net of direct payroll costs because we are not the primary obligor for wage payments to our clients’ employees. However, management believes that gross billings and wages are useful in understanding the volume of our business activity and serve as important performance metrics in managing our operations, including the preparation of internal operating forecasts and establishing executive compensation performance goals. We therefore present for purposes of analysis gross billings and wage information for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026 and 2025.

	(Unaudited)						(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2026			2025			2026			2025
Gross billings	$	2,395,362		$	2,321,852		$	6,849,493		$	6,644,993
PEO and staffing wages	$	2,074,863		$	2,017,499		$	5,923,756		$	5,766,932

In monitoring and evaluating the performance of our operations, management also reviews the following ratios, which represent selected amounts as a percentage of gross billings. Management believes these ratios are useful in understanding the efficiency and profitability of our service offerings.

	(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)
	Percentage of Gross Billings				Percentage of Gross Billings
	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2026		2025		2026		2025
PEO and staffing wages	86.6%		86.9%		86.5%		86.8%
Payroll taxes	6.7%		6.7%		7.2%		7.2%
Benefit costs	1.3%		0.9%		1.3%		0.9%
Workers' compensation	2.4%		2.2%		2.4%		2.2%
Gross margin	3.0%		3.3%		2.6%		2.9%

We refer to employees of our PEO clients as WSEs. Management reviews average and ending WSE growth to monitor and evaluate the performance of our operations. Average WSEs are calculated by dividing the number of unique individuals paid in each month by the number of months in the period. Ending WSEs represents the number of unique individuals paid in the last month of the period.

	(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2026		Year-over-year % Growth		2025		Year-over-year % Growth
Average WSEs	142,319		0.6%		141,492		6.1%
Ending WSEs	142,020		1.1%		140,409		5.8%

 

	(Unaudited)
	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2026		Year-over-year % Growth			2025		Year-over-year % Growth
Average WSEs	139,067		1.0%			137,640		7.2%
Ending WSEs	142,020		1.1%			140,409		5.8%

About BBSI

BBSI (NASDAQ: BBSI) is a leading provider of business management solutions, combining human resource outsourcing and professional management consulting to create a unique operational platform that differentiates it from competitors. The Company’s integrated platform is built upon expertise in payroll processing, employee benefits, workers’ compensation coverage, risk management and workplace safety programs, and human resource administration. BBSI’s partnerships help businesses of all sizes improve the efficiency of their operations. The Company works with more than 8,200 PEO clients in all 50 states. For more information, please visit www.bbsi.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this release about future events and financial outlook are forward-looking statements. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect future results include: our ability to retain current clients and attract new clients; technology implementation and disruption, including the displacement of employees through the adoption of AI and automation by our clients; the outcome of audits and other determinations by the IRS; difficulties associated with integrating clients into our operations; economic trends in the Company’s service areas and the potential effects of changing governmental policies, including those related to immigration, tariffs, other trade policies, or climate regulation; risks to our business and the business of our clients arising from current or future tariffs or other trade restrictions, supply chain issues, changes in labor force, or geopolitical instability, including the wars in Ukraine and Iran, other conflicts in the Middle East, and the potential for future conflicts or disruptions in other parts of the world; natural disasters; the potential for material deviations from expected future workers’ compensation claims experience; changes in the workers’ compensation regulatory environment in the Company’s primary markets; PEO client benefit costs, particularly with regard to health insurance benefits; security breaches or failures in the Company’s information technology systems; collectability of accounts receivable; changes in executive management; changes in effective payroll tax rates and federal and state income tax rates; the carrying values of deferred income tax assets and goodwill (which may be affected by our future operating results); the effects of inflation on our operating expenses and those of our clients; the impact of and potential changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, escalating medical costs, and other health care legislative initiatives on our business; the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and other recently enacted legislation on our business; the effect of changing monetary policy, interest rates and conditions in the global capital markets on the Company’s investment portfolio; and the availability of capital, borrowing capacity on our revolving credit facility, or letters of credit necessary to meet state-mandated surety deposit requirements for maintaining our status as a qualified self-insured employer for workers’ compensation coverage or our insured program. Other important factors that may affect the Company’s prospects are described in the Company’s 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Although forward-looking statements help to provide complete information about the Company, readers should keep in mind that forward-looking statements are less reliable than historical information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements in this release to reflect events or changes in circumstances that occur after the date of this release.

Barrett Business Services, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
	September 30,			December 31,
(in thousands)	2026			2025
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	46,098		$	95,033
Investments		27,637			62,154
Trade accounts receivable, net		328,730			248,626
Income taxes receivable		952			2,965
Prepaid expenses and other		24,655			18,652
Restricted cash and investments		65,342			97,210
Total current assets		493,414			524,640
Property, equipment and software, net		76,829			67,230
Operating lease right-of-use assets		21,777			23,218
Restricted cash and investments		97,796			106,216
Goodwill		47,820			47,820
Other assets		8,136			9,869
Deferred income taxes		811			74
Total assets	$	746,583		$	779,067
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	6,488		$	7,433
Accrued payroll and related benefits		305,266			237,783
Payroll taxes payable		49,318			62,463
Current operating lease liabilities		7,070			6,969
Current premium payable		8,703			38,992
Other accrued liabilities		9,032			19,357
Workers' compensation claims liabilities		31,247			32,875
Total current liabilities		417,124			405,872
Long-term workers' compensation claims liabilities		65,005			75,709
Long-term premium payable		26,177			26,025
Long-term operating lease liabilities		15,953			17,484
Customer deposits and other long-term liabilities		14,565			12,977
Stockholders' equity		207,759			241,000
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	746,583		$	779,067

Barrett Business Services, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	September 30,								September 30,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)	2026				2025				2026				2025
Revenues:
Professional employer services	$	316,212			$	299,685			$	914,178			$	864,781
Staffing services		17,850				19,264				46,157				54,391
Total revenues		334,062				318,949				960,335				919,172
Cost of revenues:
Direct payroll costs		13,624				14,604				34,740				41,075
Payroll taxes		160,742				156,040				493,003				480,456
Benefit costs		29,104				20,230				85,470				56,097
Workers' compensation		57,921				51,310				166,412				148,896
Total cost of revenues		261,391				242,184				779,625				726,524
Gross margin		72,671				76,765				180,710				192,648
Selling, general and administrative expenses		48,881				49,886				143,555				142,912
Depreciation and amortization		2,559				2,097				6,989				6,093
Income from operations		21,231				24,782				30,166				43,643
Other income (expense):
Investment income, net		1,243				1,983				5,175				6,903
Interest expense		(43	)			(45	)			(127	)			(133	)
Other, net		102				32				204				131
Other income, net		1,302				1,970				5,252				6,901
Income before income taxes		22,533				26,752				35,418				50,544
Provision for income taxes		5,783				6,133				20,601				12,492
Net income	$	16,750			$	20,619			$	14,817			$	38,052
Basic income per common share	$	0.69			$	0.80			$	0.60			$	1.48
Weighted average number of basic common shares outstanding		24,135				25,688				24,505				25,696
Diluted income per common share	$	0.69			$	0.79			$	0.60			$	1.45
Weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding		24,419				26,171				24,830				26,263

Investor Relations:
Gateway Group, Inc.
Cody Slach
Tel 1-949-574-3860
BBSI@gateway-grp.com

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What were BBSI’s third-quarter 2026 revenue and earnings?

BBSI reported $334.1 million in revenue, up 5% year over year, and net income of $16.8 million, or $0.69 per diluted share. A year earlier, revenue was $318.9 million and net income was $20.6 million, or $0.79 per diluted share.

What is BBSI’s financial outlook for 2026?

BBSI expects 3% to 4% gross billings growth, 1% to 2% growth in average worksite employees, and gross margin of 2.70% to 2.75% of gross billings. Its effective annual tax-rate outlook is 26% to 27%, excluding the one-time charge related to prior-year tax credits.

How did the prior-year tax-credit adjustment affect BBSI’s nine-month 2026 earnings?

The $11.565 million tax adjustment reduced nine-month GAAP net income and was excluded from BBSI’s non-GAAP results. GAAP net income was $14.817 million, or $0.60 per diluted share; excluding the adjustment, non-GAAP net income was $26.382 million, or $1.06 per diluted share.