10-Q

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-Q

☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 29, 2024

OR

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from            to          

Commission file number 001-33076

WILLDAN GROUP, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware	14-1951112
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)
2401 East Katella Avenue, Suite 300 Anaheim, California	92806
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (800) 424-9144

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	WLDN	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq Global Market)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes ⌧ No ◻

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).  Yes ⌧ No ◻

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer ◻	Accelerated filer ⌧
Non-accelerated filer ◻	Smaller reporting company ◻
	Emerging growth company ◻

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ◻

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ◻ No ⌧

As of May 1, 2024, there were 13,817,074 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of Willdan Group, Inc. issued and outstanding.

WILLDAN GROUP, INC.

FORM 10-Q QUARTERLY REPORT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	Page
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION	3
Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)	3
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	28
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	37
Item 4. Controls and Procedures	38
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION	39
Item 1. Legal Proceedings	39
Item 1A. Risk Factors	39
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	39
Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities	40
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures	40
Item 5. Other Information	40
Item 6. Exhibits	41

i

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “10-Q”) contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements concern our business, operations and financial performance and condition as well as our plans, objectives and expectations for our business operations and financial performance and condition, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this 10-Q are forward-looking statements. These statements may include words such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “can have,” “could,” “due,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “potential,” “positioned,” “predict,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events or trends. For example, all statements we make relating to our plans and objectives for future operations, growth or initiatives and strategies are forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our business and the industry in which we operate and our management’s beliefs and assumptions. We derive many of our forward-looking statements from our own operating budgets and forecasts, which are based upon many detailed assumptions. While we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, we caution that predicting the impact of known factors is very difficult, and we cannot anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results.

All of our forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ materially from our expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, but are not limited to:

● our ability to adequately complete projects in a timely manner;

● our ability to compete successfully in the highly competitive energy services market, which represented 84% of our consolidated revenue in fiscal year 2023;

● our reliance on work from our top ten clients, which accounted for 53% of our consolidated contract revenue for fiscal year 2023;

● changes in state, local and regional economies and government budgets;

● our ability to win new contracts, to renew existing contracts and to compete effectively for contracts awarded through bidding processes;

● our ability to make principal and interest payments on our outstanding debt as they come due and to comply with the financial covenants contained in our debt agreements;

● our ability to manage supply chain constraints, labor shortages, rising interest rates, and rising inflation;

● our ability to obtain financing and to refinance our outstanding debt as it matures;

● our ability to successfully integrate our acquisitions and execute on our growth strategy; and

● our ability to attract and retain managerial, technical, and administrative talent.

The above is not a complete list of factors or events that could cause actual results to differ from our expectations, and we cannot predict all of them. All written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us, or persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements disclosed elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and under Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors”, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023, as such disclosures may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to

1

time by other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and public communications. You should evaluate all forward-looking statements made in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and otherwise in the context of these risks and uncertainties.

Potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements we make. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and are not guarantees of future performance or developments and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are in many cases beyond our control. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements publicly, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

2

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except par value)

(Unaudited)

	March 29,		December 29,
	2024		2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	46,925	$	23,397
Restricted cash		—		—
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $690 and $866 at March 29, 2024 and December 29, 2023, respectively		50,792		69,677
Contract assets		82,409		93,885
Other receivables		552		1,169
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		5,863		3,888
Total current assets		186,541		192,016
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net		27,539		27,097
Goodwill		131,144		131,144
Right-of-use assets		12,803		12,465
Other intangible assets, net		30,085		31,956
Other assets		4,832		4,949
Deferred income taxes, net		14,956		15,961
Total assets	$	407,900	$	415,588
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	34,518	$	33,193
Accrued liabilities		38,411		54,129
Contract liabilities		16,427		13,183
Notes payable		8,924		8,452
Finance lease obligations		1,111		1,186
Lease liability		4,677		4,537
Total current liabilities		104,068		114,680
Notes payable, less current portion		86,571		88,979
Finance lease obligations, less current portion		1,112		1,184
Lease liability, less current portion		9,948		9,758
Other noncurrent liabilities		686		1,142
Total liabilities		202,385		215,743
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 10,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding		—		—
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 40,000 shares authorized; 13,817 and 13,682 shares issued and outstanding at March 29, 2024 and December 29, 2023, respectively		138		137
Additional paid-in capital		188,088		185,795
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(230)		(664)
Retained earnings		17,519		14,577
Total stockholders’ equity		205,515		199,845
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	407,900	$	415,588

See accompanying notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

3

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	March 29,		March 31,
	2024		2023
Contract revenue	$	122,489	$	102,603
Direct costs of contract revenue (inclusive of directly related depreciation and amortization):
Salaries and wages		21,512		20,410
Subcontractor services and other direct costs		53,559		40,912
Total direct costs of contract revenue		75,071		61,322
Gross profit		47,418		41,281
General and administrative expenses:
Salaries and wages, payroll taxes and employee benefits		26,509		22,385
Facilities and facility related		2,445		2,278
Stock-based compensation		1,390		1,533
Depreciation and amortization		3,592		4,200
Other		8,121		6,871
Total general and administrative expenses		42,057		37,267
Income (Loss) from operations		5,361		4,014
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net		(2,137)		(2,466)
Other, net		704		140
Total other expense, net		(1,433)		(2,326)
Income (Loss) before income taxes		3,928		1,688
Income tax (benefit) expense		986		756
Net income (loss)		2,942		932
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative contracts, net of tax		434		—
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	3,376	$	932
Earnings (Loss) per share:
Basic	$	0.22	$	0.07
Diluted	$	0.21	$	0.07
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic		13,605		13,266
Diluted		13,910		13,470

See accompanying notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

4

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)

						Accumulated
				Additional		Other
	Common Stock			Paid-in		Comprehensive		Retained
	Shares	Amount		Capital		Income (Loss)		Earnings		Total
Balance at December 29, 2023	13,682	$	137	$	185,795	$	(664)	$	14,577	$	199,845
Shares of common stock issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan	86		1		1,401		—		—		1,402
Shares of common stock issued in connection with incentive stock plan	19		—		281		—		—		281
Shares used to pay taxes on stock grants	(32)		(1)		(778)		—		—		(779)
Issuance of restricted stock award and units	62		1		(1)		—		—		—
Stock-based compensation expense	—		—		1,390		—		—		1,390
Net income (loss)	—		—		—		—		2,942		2,942
Net unrealized gain on derivative contracts	—		—		—		434		—		434
Balance at March 29, 2024	13,817	$	138	$	188,088	$	(230)	$	17,519	$	205,515

						Accumulated
				Additional		Other
	Common Stock			Paid-in		Comprehensive		Retained
	Shares	Amount		Capital		Income (Loss)		Earnings		Total
Balance at December 30, 2022	13,296	$	133	$	177,718	$	—	$	3,651	$	181,502
Shares of common stock issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan	92		1		1,391		—		—		1,392
Shares used to pay taxes on stock grants	(7)		—		(124)		—		—		(124)
Issuance of restricted stock award and units	108		1		(1)		—		—		—
Stock-based compensation expense	—		—		1,533		—		—		1,533
Net income (loss)	—		—		—		—		932		932
Balance at March 31, 2023	13,489	$	135	$	180,517	$	—	$	4,583	$	185,235

See accompanying notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

5

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	March 29,		March 31,
	2024		2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$	2,942	$	932
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		3,592		4,200
Other non-cash items		92		85
Deferred income taxes, net		1,005		782
(Gain) loss on sale/disposal of equipment		(13)		(10)
Provision for doubtful accounts		(100)		81
Stock-based compensation		1,390		1,533
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Accounts receivable		18,985		8,204
Contract assets		11,476		7,819
Other receivables		617		(9)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(1,975)		1,023
Other assets		117		(3,532)
Accounts payable		1,325		479
Accrued liabilities		(15,740)		(7,883)
Contract liabilities		3,244		2,941
Right-of-use assets		(8)		647
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		26,949		17,292
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of equipment, software, and leasehold improvements		(1,971)		(3,488)
Proceeds from sale of equipment		19		13
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities		(1,952)		(3,475)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment on restricted cash		—		(10,679)
Payments on notes payable		(153)		(485)
Repayments under term loan facility and line of credit		(1,875)		(5,250)
Principal payments on finance leases		(345)		(303)
Proceeds from stock option exercise		281		—
Proceeds from sales of common stock under employee stock purchase plan		1,402		1,392
Cash used to pay taxes on stock grants		(779)		(124)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(1,469)		(15,449)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		23,528		(1,632)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period		23,397		19,485
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$	46,925	$	17,853
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest	$	2,081	$	2,424
Income taxes		2		(77)
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities:
Equipment acquired under finance leases		198		48

See accompanying notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

6

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1. ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS OF THE COMPANY

Willdan Group, Inc. (“Willdan” or the “Company”) is a provider of professional, technical and consulting services to utilities, private industry, and public agencies at all levels of government. As resource and infrastructure needs undergo continuous change, the Company helps organizations and their communities evolve and thrive by providing a wide range of technical services for energy solutions, and government infrastructure. Through engineering, program management, policy advisory, and software and data management, the Company designs and delivers trusted, comprehensive, innovative, and proven solutions to improve efficiency, resiliency, and sustainability in energy and infrastructure.

The Company’s broad portfolio of services operates within two financial reporting segments: (1) Energy and (2) Engineering and Consulting. The interfaces and synergies between these segments are important elements of the Company’s strategy to design and deliver trusted, comprehensive, innovative, and proven solutions for its customers.

The accounting policies followed by the Company are set forth in Part II, Item 8, Note 1, Organization and Operations of the Company, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary to fairly state the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been made. All such adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the Consolidated Financial Statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year.

Fiscal Years

The Company operates and reports its annual financial results based on 52 or 53-week periods ending on the Friday closest to December 31. The Company operates and reports its quarterly financial results based on the 13-week period ending on the Friday closest to June 30, September 30, and December 31 and the 13 or 14-week period ending on the Friday closest to March 31, as applicable. Fiscal year 2024, which ends on December 27, 2024, will be comprised of 52 weeks, with all quarters consisting of 13 weeks each. Fiscal year 2023, which ended on December 29, 2023, was comprised of 52 weeks, with all quarters consisting of 13 weeks each. All references to years in the notes to consolidated financial statements represent fiscal years.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements. Estimates also affect the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

7

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
(Unaudited)

2. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Accounting Pronouncements Recently Issued

In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU’) No. 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 amends the rules on income tax disclosures to require entities to disclose specific categories in the rate reconciliation, the income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense or benefit (separated between domestic and foreign) and income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations (separated by federal, state, and foreign). In addition, ASU 2023-09 requires entities to disclose their income tax payments to international, federal, state, and local jurisdictions, among other changes. The amendments can be applied on a prospective basis although retrospective application is permitted. The amendments are effective for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this update will have on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-07”). ASU 2023-07 expands segment disclosure requirements through enhanced disclosures related to significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), a description of other segment items by reportable segment, and any additional measures of a segment's profit or loss used by the CODM when deciding how to allocate resources. All disclosure requirements under ASU 2023-07 are also required for public entities with a single reportable segment. The amendments are effective for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this update will have on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In October 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-06, “Disclosure Improvements: Codification Amendments in Response to the SEC’s Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative” (“ASU 2023-06”). ASU 2023-06 amends U.S. GAAP to reflect updates and simplifications to certain disclosure and presentation requirements referred to FASB by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The targeted amendments incorporate 14 of the 27 disclosures referred by the SEC into codification. Each amendment in ASU 2023-06 is effective on either the date on which the SEC’s removal of the related disclosure requirement from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K becomes effective, or on June 30, 2027, if the SEC has not removed the requirements by that date. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this update will have on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

8

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
(Unaudited)

3. REVENUES

The Company enters into contracts with its clients that contain various types of pricing provisions, including fixed price, time-and-materials, and unit-based provisions. The Company recognizes revenues in accordance with ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customer, codified as ASC Topic 606 and the related amendments (collectively “ASC 606”). As such, the Company identifies a contract with a customer, identifies the performance obligations in the contract, determines the transaction price, allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation in the contract and recognizes revenues when (or as) the Company satisfies a performance obligation.

The following table reflects the Company’s two reportable segments and the types of contracts that each most commonly enters into for revenue generating activities.

Segment	Contract Type	Revenue Recognition Method
	Time-and-materials	Time-and-materials
Energy	Unit-based	Unit-based
	Software license	Unit-based
	Fixed price	Percentage-of-completion
	Time-and-materials	Time-and-materials
Engineering and Consulting	Unit-based	Unit-based
	Fixed price	Percentage-of-completion

Revenue on the vast majority of the Company’s contracts is recognized over time because of the continuous transfer of control to the customer. Revenue on fixed price contracts is recognized on the percentage-of-completion method based generally on the ratio of direct costs incurred-to-date to estimated total direct costs at completion. The Company uses the percentage-of-completion method to better match the level of work performed at a certain point in time in relation to the effort that will be required to complete a project. In addition, the percentage-of-completion method is a common method of revenue recognition in the Company’s industry.

Many of the Company’s fixed price contracts involve a high degree of subcontracted fixed price effort and, usually, are relatively short in duration, thereby lowering the risks of not properly estimating the percent complete. Revenue on time-and-materials and unit-based contracts is recognized as the work is performed in accordance with the specific rates and terms of the contract. The Company recognizes revenues for time-and-materials contracts based upon the actual hours incurred during a reporting period at contractually agreed upon rates per hour and also includes in revenue all reimbursable costs incurred during a reporting period. Certain of the Company’s time-and-materials contracts are subject to maximum contract values and, accordingly, when revenue is expected to exceed the maximum contract value, these contracts are generally recognized under the percentage-of-completion method, consistent with fixed price contracts. For unit-based contracts, the Company recognizes the contract price of units of a basic production product as revenue when the production product is delivered during a period. Revenue for amounts that have been billed but not earned is deferred, and such deferred revenue is referred to as contract liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company also derives revenue from software licenses and professional services and maintenance fees. In accordance with ASC 606, the Company performs an assessment of each contract to identify the performance obligations, determine the overall transaction price for the contract, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations, and recognize the revenue when the performance obligations are satisfied. The Company utilizes the residual approach by which it estimates the standalone selling price by reference to the total transaction price less the sum of the observable standalone selling prices of other goods or services promised in the contract. The software license revenue is typically recognized at a point in time when control is transferred to the client, which is defined as the point in time when the client can use and benefit from the license. The software license is delivered before related services are provided and is functional without services, updates, or technical support. Related professional services include training and support services in which the standalone selling price is determined based on an input measure of hours incurred to total estimated hours and is recognized over time, which usually is the life of the contract.

9

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
(Unaudited)

To determine the proper revenue recognition method for contracts, the Company evaluates whether two or more contracts should be combined and accounted for as one single contract and whether the combined contract should be accounted for as one performance obligation. With respect to the Company’s contracts, it is rare that multiple contracts should be combined into a single performance obligation. This evaluation requires significant judgment and the decision to combine a group of contracts or separate a single contract into multiple performance obligations could change the amount of revenue and profit recorded in a given period. Contracts are considered to have a single performance obligation if the promise to transfer the individual goods or services is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contracts, which is mainly because the Company provides a significant service of integrating a complex set of tasks and components into a single project or capability.

The Company may enter into contracts that include separate phases or elements. If each phase or element is negotiated separately based on the technical resources required and/or the supply and demand for the services being provided, the Company evaluates if the contracts should be segmented. If certain criteria are met, the contracts would be segmented which could result in revenues being assigned to the different elements or phases with different rates of profitability based on the relative value of each element or phase to the estimated total contract revenue. Segmented contracts may comprise up to approximately 2.0% to 3.0% of the Company’s consolidated contract revenue.

Contracts that cover multiple phases or elements of the project or service lifecycle (development, construction and maintenance and support) may be considered to have multiple performance obligations even when they are part of a single contract. For contracts with multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation using the best estimate of the standalone selling price of each distinct good or service in the contract. For the periods presented, the value of the separate performance obligations under contracts with multiple performance obligations (generally measurement and verification tasks under certain energy performance contracts) were not material. In cases where the Company does not provide the distinct good or service on a standalone basis, the primary method used to estimate standalone selling price is the expected cost plus a margin approach, under which the Company forecasts the Company’s expected costs of satisfying a performance obligation and then adds an appropriate margin for the distinct good or service.

The Company provides quality of workmanship warranties to customers that are included in the sale and are not priced or sold separately or do not provide customers with a service in addition to assurance of compliance with agreed-upon specifications and industry standards. The Company does not consider these types of warranties to be separate performance obligations.

In some cases, the Company has a master service or blanket agreement with a customer under which each task order releases the Company to perform specific portions of the overall scope in the service contract. Each task order is typically accounted for as a separate contract because the task order establishes the enforceable rights and obligations, and payment terms.

Under ASC 606, variable consideration should be considered when determining the transaction price and estimates should be made for the variable consideration component of the transaction price, as well as assessing whether an estimate of variable consideration is constrained. For certain of the Company’s contracts, variable consideration can arise from modifications to the scope of services resulting from unapproved change orders or customer claims. Variable consideration is included in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. The Company estimates of variable consideration and determination of whether to include estimated amounts in the transaction price are based largely on assessments of legal enforceability, the Company’s performance, and all information (historical, current and forecasted) that is reasonably available to the Company.

10

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
(Unaudited)

Due to the nature of the work required to be performed on many of the Company’s performance obligations, the estimation of total revenue and cost at completion is complex, subject to many variables and requires significant judgment. As a significant change in one or more of these estimates could affect the profitability of the Company’s contracts, the Company reviews and updates the Company’s contract-related estimates regularly through a company-wide disciplined project review process in which management reviews the progress and execution of the Company’s performance obligations and the estimate at completion (“EAC”). As part of this process, management reviews information including, but not limited to, any outstanding key contract matters, progress towards completion and the related program schedule and the related changes in estimates of revenues and costs. Management must make assumptions and estimates regarding labor productivity and availability, the complexity of the work to be performed, the cost and availability of materials, the performance of subcontractors, and the availability and timing of funding from the customer, among other variables.

The Company recognizes adjustments in estimated profit on contracts under the cumulative catch-up method. Under this method, the impact of the adjustment on profit recorded to date is recognized in the period the adjustment is identified. Revenue and profit in future periods of contract performance is recognized using the adjusted estimate. If at any time the estimate of contract profitability indicates an anticipated loss on the contract, the Company recognizes the full amount of estimated loss in the period it is identified.

Contracts are often modified to account for changes in contract specifications and requirements. The Company considers contract modifications to exist when the modification either creates new rights or obligations or changes the existing enforceable rights or obligations. Most of the Company’s contract modifications are for goods or services that are not distinct from existing contracts due to the significant integration provided in the context of the contract and are accounted for as if they were part of the original contract. The effect of a contract modification that is not distinct from the existing contract on the transaction price and the Company’s measure of progress for the performance obligation to which it relates is recognized as an adjustment to revenue (either as an increase in or a reduction of revenue) on a cumulative catch-up basis.

For contract modifications that result in the promise to deliver goods or services that are distinct from the existing contract and the increase in price of the contract is for the same amount as the standalone selling price of the additional goods or services included in the modification, the Company accounts for such contract modifications as a separate contract.

The Company includes claims to vendors, subcontractors and others as a receivable and a reduction in recognized costs when enforceability of the claim is established by the contract and the amounts are reasonably estimable and probable of being recovered. The amounts are recorded up to the extent of the lesser of the amounts management expects to recover or to costs incurred.

Billing practices are governed by the contract terms of each project based upon costs incurred, achievement of milestones or pre-agreed schedules. Billings do not necessarily correlate with revenue recognized using the percentage-of-completion method of revenue recognition.

Direct costs of contract revenue consist primarily of that portion of technical and nontechnical salaries and wages that has been incurred in connection with revenue producing projects. Direct costs of contract revenue also include production expenses, subcontractor services and other expenses that are incurred in connection with revenue producing projects.

11

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
(Unaudited)

Direct costs of contract revenue exclude that portion of technical and nontechnical salaries and wages related to marketing efforts, vacations, holidays and other time not spent directly generating revenue under existing contracts. Such costs are included in general and administrative expenses. Additionally, payroll taxes, bonuses and employee benefit costs for all Company personnel are included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income since no allocation of these costs is made to direct costs of contract revenue. No allocation of facilities costs is made to direct costs of contract revenue. Other companies may classify as direct costs of contract revenue some of the costs that the Company classifies as general and administrative costs. The Company expenses direct costs of contract revenue when incurred.

Included in revenue and costs are all reimbursable costs for which the Company has the risk or on which the fee was based at the time of bid or negotiation. No revenue or cost is recorded for costs in which the Company acts solely in the capacity of an agent and has no risks associated with such costs.

Accounts receivable are carried at original invoice amount less an estimate made for doubtful accounts based upon a review of all outstanding amounts on a quarterly basis. Management determines allowances for doubtful accounts through specific identification of amounts considered to be uncollectible and potential write-offs, plus a non-specific allowance for other amounts for which some potential loss has been determined to be probable based on current and past experience. The Company’s historical credit losses have been minimal with governmental entities and large public utilities, but disputes may arise related to these receivable amounts. Accounts receivable are written off when deemed uncollectible. Recoveries of accounts receivable previously written off are recorded when received.

Retainage, included in contract assets, represents amounts withheld from billings to the Company’s clients pursuant to provisions in the contracts and may not be paid to the Company until specific tasks are completed or the project is completed and, in some instances, for even longer periods. As of March 29, 2024 and December 29, 2023, contract assets included retainage of approximately $16.1 million and $14.3 million, respectively.

12

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
(Unaudited)

4. SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT DATA

Restricted Cash

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets to the total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows:

	March 29,		December 29,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	46,925	$	23,397
Restricted cash		—		—
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the consolidated statement of cash flows	$	46,925	$	23,397

Under certain utility contracts, the Company periodically receives cash deposits to be held in trust for the payment of energy incentive rebates to be sent directly to the utility’s end-customer on behalf of the utility. The Company acts solely as the utility’s agent to distribute these funds to the end-customer and, accordingly, the Company classifies these contractually restricted funds as restricted cash. Because these funds are held in trust for pass through to the utility’s customers and have no impact on the Company’s working capital or operating cash flows, these cash receipts are presented in the consolidated statement of cash flows as financing cash inflows, “Receipt of restricted cash”, with the subsequent payments classified as financing cash outflows, “Payment of restricted cash.”

Equipment and Leasehold Improvements

	March 29,		December 29,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands)
Furniture and fixtures	$	4,403	$	4,379
Computer hardware and software		46,384		44,594
Leasehold improvements		3,466		3,382
Equipment under finance leases		6,245		6,139
Automobiles, trucks, and field equipment		3,388		3,373
Subtotal		63,886		61,867
Accumulated depreciation and amortization		(36,347)		(34,770)
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net	$	27,539	$	27,097

Included in accumulated depreciation and amortization is $0.4 million and $1.3 million of amortization expense related to equipment held under finance leases for the three months ended March 29, 2024 and for fiscal year 2023, respectively.

13

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
(Unaudited)

Accrued Liabilities

	March 29,		December 29,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands)
Accrued subcontractor costs	$	22,896	$	30,196
Accrued bonuses		4,542		14,423
Employee withholdings		4,779		3,123
Compensation and payroll taxes		4,163		3,125
Rebate and other		—		139
Accrued accounting costs and taxes		2,031		3,123
Total accrued liabilities	$	38,411	$	54,129

Goodwill

	December 29,		Additional		Additions /		March 29,
	2023		Purchase Cost		Adjustments		2024
	(in thousands)
Reporting Unit:
Energy	$	129,375	$	—	$	—	$	129,375
Engineering and Consulting		1,769		—		—		1,769
	$	131,144	$	—	$	—	$	131,144

The Company tests its goodwill at least annually for possible impairment. The Company completes its annual testing of goodwill as of the last day of the first month of its fourth fiscal quarter each year to determine whether there is a potential impairment. In addition to the Company’s annual test, it regularly evaluates whether events and circumstances have occurred that may indicate a potential impairment of goodwill. The Company evaluated the current economic environment and noted that it does not believe it is more likely than not that goodwill was impaired as of March 29, 2024.

Intangible Assets

	March 29, 2024				December 29, 2023
	Gross		Accumulated		Gross		Accumulated		Amortization
	Amount		Amortization		Amount		Amortization		Period
	(in thousands)								(in years)
Finite:
Backlog	$	8,306	$	8,148	$	8,306	$	8,095	1.0
Tradename		15,936		12,835		15,936		12,695	2.5	-	6.0
Non-compete agreements		1,613		1,452		1,613		1,440	4.0	-	5.0
Developed technology		15,810		14,791		15,810		14,521	8.0
Customer relationships		58,149		32,503		58,149		31,107	5.0	-	8.0
Total intangible assets	$	99,814	$	69,729	$	99,814	$	67,858

14

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
(Unaudited)

5. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Company uses certain interest rate derivative contracts to hedge interest rate exposures on its variable rate debt. The Company’s hedging program is not designated for trading or speculative purposes.

The Company recognizes derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets at fair value. The Company records changes in the fair value (i.e., gains or losses) of the derivatives that have been designated as cash flow hedges in its consolidated balance sheets as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and in its consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) as a loss or gain on cash flow hedge valuation.

On November 30, 2023, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement that the Company designated as cash flow hedge to fix the variable interest rate on a portion of the Company’s term loan (see Note 6, “Debt Obligations” for information regarding our indebtedness). The interest rate swap agreement has a total notional amount of $50.0 million, has a fixed annual interest rate of 4.77%, and expires on September 29, 2026. As of March 29, 2024, the effective portion of the Company’s interest rate swap agreement designated as a cash flow hedge before tax effects was $0.5 million, of which no amounts were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to interest expense in the three months ended March 29, 2024. The Company expects to reclassify $0.1 million from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to interest expense within the next twelve months.

The fair values of the Company’s outstanding derivatives designated as hedging instruments were as follows:

		Fair Value of Derivative
		Instruments as of
	Balance Sheet Location	March 29, 2024		December 29, 2023
		(in thousands)
Interest rate swap agreement	Current assets	$	140	$	46
Interest rate swap agreement	Other noncurrent liabilities		(431)		(887)

The impact of the effective portions of derivative instruments in cash flow hedging relationships and fair value relationships on other comprehensive income (loss) was $0.4 million for the three months ended March 29, 2024.

The accumulated balances and reporting period activities for the periods below related to reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are summarized as follows:

	Gain (Loss) on		Accumulated Other
	Derivative Instruments		Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	(in thousands)
Balances at December 29, 2023	$	(664)	$	(664)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		549		549
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):		—		—
Income tax benefit (expense) related to derivative instruments		(115)		(115)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)		434		434
Balances at March 29, 2024	$	(230)	$	(230)

15

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
(Unaudited)

6. DEBT OBLIGATIONS

Debt obligations, excluding obligations under finance leases (see Note 7, Leases, below), consisted of the following:

	March 29,		December 29,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands)
Outstanding borrowings on Term Loan	$	96,250	$	98,125
Outstanding borrowings on Revolving Credit Facility		—		—
Other debt agreements		174		327
Total debt		96,424		98,452
Issuance costs and debt discounts		(929)		(1,021)
Subtotal		95,495		97,431
Less current portion of long-term debt		8,924		8,452
Long-term debt portion	$	86,571	$	88,979

The credit agreement governing the Company’s Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility require the Company to comply with certain financial obligations, including a maximum Net Leverage Ratio and a minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the credit agreement governing the Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility). The credit agreement also contains customary restrictive covenants. As of March 29, 2024, the Company was in compliance with all these covenants.

In addition, as of March 29, 2024, the Company’s composite interest rate, exclusive of the effects of upfront fees, undrawn fees and issuance cost amortization, was 7.7%.

16

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
(Unaudited)

7. LEASES

The Company leases certain office facilities under long-term, non-cancellable operating leases that expire at various dates through 2029. In addition, the Company is obligated under finance leases for certain furniture and office equipment that expire at various dates through 2028.

From time to time, the Company enters into non-cancelable leases for some of its facility and equipment needs. These leases allow the Company to conserve cash by paying a monthly lease rental fee for the use of facilities and equipment rather than purchasing them. The Company’s leases typically have remaining terms ranging from one to eight years, some of which may include options to extend the leases for up to five years, and some of which may include options to terminate the leases within one year. Currently, all of the Company’s leases contain fixed payment terms. The Company may decide to cancel or terminate a lease before the end of its term, in which case the Company is typically liable to the lessor for the remaining lease payments under the term of the lease. Additionally, all of the Company’s month-to-month leases are cancelable by the Company or the lessor, at any time, and are not included in the Company’s right-of-use asset or lease liability. As of March 29, 2024, the Company had no leases with residual value guarantees. Typically, the Company has purchase options on the equipment underlying its long-term leases. The Company may exercise some of these purchase options when the need for equipment is on-going and the purchase option price is attractive. Nonperformance-related default covenants, cross-default provisions, subjective default provisions and material adverse change clauses contained in material lease agreements, if any, are also evaluated to determine whether those clauses affect lease classification in accordance with ASC Topic 842-10-25. Leases are accounted for as operating or financing leases, depending on the terms of the lease.

Financing Leases

The Company leases certain equipment under financing leases. The economic substance of the leases is a financing transaction for acquisition of equipment and leasehold improvements. Accordingly, the right-of-use assets for these leases are included in the balance sheets in equipment and leasehold improvements, net of accumulated depreciation, with a corresponding amount recorded in current portion of financing lease obligations or noncurrent portion of financing lease obligations, as appropriate. The financing lease assets are amortized over the life of the lease or, if shorter, the life of the leased asset, on a straight-line basis and included in depreciation expense. The interest associated with financing lease obligations is included in interest expense.

Right-of-use assets

Operating leases are included in right-of-use assets, and current portion of lease liability and noncurrent portion of lease liability, as appropriate. Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate to calculate present value, the Company determines this rate by estimating the Company’s incremental borrowing rate at the lease commencement date. The right-of-use asset also includes any lease payments made and initial direct costs incurred at lease commencement and excludes lease incentives. The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

17

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
(Unaudited)

The following is a summary of the Company’s lease expense:

	Three Months Ended
	March 29,		March 31,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands)
Operating lease cost	$	1,527	$	1,493
Sublease Income		(14)		—
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of assets		355		311
Interest on lease liabilities		31		22
Total net lease cost	$	1,899	$	1,826

The following is a summary of lease information presented on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet:

	March 29,			December 29,
	2024			2023
	(in thousands)
Operating leases:
Right-of-use assets	$	12,803		$	12,465
Lease liability	$	4,677		$	4,537
Lease liability, less current portion		9,948			9,758
Total lease liabilities	$	14,625		$	14,295
Finance leases (included in equipment and leasehold improvements, net):
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net	$	6,245		$	6,139
Accumulated depreciation		(4,099)			(3,837)
Total equipment and leasehold improvements, net	$	2,146		$	2,302
Finance lease obligations	$	1,111		$	1,186
Finance lease obligations, less current portion		1,112			1,184
Total finance lease obligations	$	2,223		$	2,370
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years):
Operating Leases		3.32			3.43
Finance Leases		2.25			2.31
Weighted average discount rate:
Operating Leases		6.67	%		6.09	%
Finance Leases		5.59	%		5.19	%

Rent expense was $1.7 million and $1.6 million for the three months ended March 29, 2024 and March 31, 2023, respectively.

18

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
(Unaudited)

The following is a summary of other information and supplemental cash flow information related to finance and operating leases:

	Three Months Ended
	March 29,		March 31,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands)
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flow from operating leases	$	1,569	$	1,570
Operating cash flow from finance leases		31		22
Financing cash flow from finance leases		345		303
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities:
Operating leases	$	1,627	$	2,120

The following is a summary of the maturities of lease liabilities as of March 29, 2024:

	Operating		Finance
	(in thousands)
Fiscal year:
Remainder of 2024	$	4,254	$	1,013
2025		5,069		782
2026		4,235		448
2027		1,935		112
2028		1,108		18
2029 and thereafter		94		—
Total lease payments		16,695		2,373
Less: Imputed interest		(2,070)		(150)
Total lease obligations		14,625		2,223
Less: Current obligations		4,677		1,111
Noncurrent lease obligations	$	9,948	$	1,112

The imputed interest for finance lease obligations represents the interest component of finance leases that will be recognized as interest expense in future periods. The financing component for operating lease obligations represents the effect of discounting the operating lease payments to their present value.

19

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
(Unaudited)

8. COMMITMENTS AND VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

Employee Benefit Plans

The Company has a qualified profit sharing plan pursuant to Code Section 401(a) and qualified cash or deferred arrangement pursuant to Code Section 401(k) covering all employees. Employees may elect to contribute up to 50% of their compensation limited to the amount allowed by tax laws. Company contributions are made solely at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors.

The Company’s defined contribution plan (the “Plan”) covers employees who have completed three months of service and who have attained 21 years of age. The Company elects to make matching contributions equal to 50% of the participants’ contributions to the Plan, up to 6% of the individual participant’s compensation, and subject to a maximum of $3,000 per employee. Under the Plan, the Company may make discretionary contributions to employee accounts.

During the three months ended March 29, 2024 and March 31, 2023, the Company made matching contributions of $1.1 million and $1.0 million, respectively.

Variable Interest Entities

On March 4, 2016, the Company and the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, WES, acquired substantially all of the assets of Genesys and assumed certain specified liabilities of Genesys (collectively, the “Purchase”) pursuant to an Asset Purchase and Merger Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2016 (the “Agreement”), by and among Willdan Group, Inc., WES, WESGEN (as defined below), Genesys and Ronald W. Mineo (“Mineo”) and Robert J. Braun (“Braun” and, together with Mineo, the “Genesys Shareholders”). On March 5, 2016, pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, WESGEN, Inc., a non-affiliated corporation (“WESGEN”), merged (the “Merger” and, together with the Purchase, the “Acquisition”) with Genesys, with Genesys remaining as the surviving corporation. Genesys was acquired to strengthen the Company’s power engineering capability in the northeastern U.S., and also to increase client exposure and experience with universities.

Genesys continues to be a professional corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York, wholly-owned by one or more licensed engineers. Pursuant to New York law, the Company does not own capital stock of Genesys. The Company has entered into an agreement with the Shareholder of Genesys pursuant to which the Shareholder will be prohibited from selling, transferring or encumbering the Shareholder’s ownership interest in Genesys without the Company’s consent. Notwithstanding the Company’s rights regarding the transfer of Genesys’s stock, the Company does not have control over the professional decision making of Genesys’s engineering services. The Company has entered into an administrative services agreement with Genesys pursuant to which WES will provide Genesys with ongoing administrative, operational and other non-professional support services. Genesys pays WES a service fee, which consists of all of the costs incurred by WES to provide the administrative services to Genesys plus ten percent of such costs, as well as any other costs that relate to professional service supplies and personnel costs. As a result of the administrative services agreement, the Company absorbs the expected losses of Genesys through its deferral of Genesys’s service fees owed to WES.

The Company manages Genesys and has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Genesys’s performance, in addition to being obligated to absorb expected losses from Genesys. Accordingly, the Company is the primary beneficiary of Genesys and consolidates Genesys as a VIE. In addition, the Company concluded there is no noncontrolling interest related to the consolidation of Genesys because the Company determined that (i) the shareholder of Genesys does not have more than a nominal amount of equity investment at risk, (ii) WES absorbs the expected losses of Genesys through its deferral of Genesys’s service fees owed to WES and the Company has, since entering into the administrative services agreement, had to continuously defer service fees for Genesys, and (iii) the Company believes Genesys will continue to have a shortfall on payment of its service fees for the foreseeable future, leaving no expected residual returns for the shareholder. As of March 29, 2024, the Company had one VIE — Genesys.

20

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
(Unaudited)

9. SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Segment Information

The Company’s two segments are Energy, and Engineering and Consulting, and the Company’s chief operating decision maker, which continues to be its chief executive officer, receives and reviews financial information in this format.

There were no intersegment sales during the three months ended March 29, 2024 and March 31, 2023. The Company’s chief operating decision maker evaluates the performance of each segment based upon income or loss from operations before income taxes. Certain segment asset information including expenditures for long-lived assets has not been presented as it is not reported to or reviewed by the chief operating decision maker. In addition, enterprise-wide service line contract revenue is not included as it is impracticable to report this information for each group of similar services.

Financial information with respect to the reportable segments and reconciliation to the amounts reported in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements is as follows:

			Engineering		Unallocated				Consolidated
	Energy		& Consulting		Corporate		Intersegment		Total
	(in thousands)
Fiscal Three Months Ended March 29, 2024
Contract revenue	$	100,746	$	21,743	$	-	$	-	$	122,489
Depreciation and amortization		3,236		356		-		-		3,592
Interest expense, net		1		-		2,136		-		2,137
Segment profit (loss) before income tax expense		4,311		2,344		(2,727)		-		3,928
Income tax expense (benefit)		1,083		588		(685)		-		986
Net income (loss)		3,229		1,756		(2,043)		-		2,942
Segment assets (1)		318,808		26,613		85,609		(23,130)		407,900
Fiscal Three Months Ended March 31, 2023
Contract revenue	$	83,285	$	19,318	$	-	$	-	$	102,603
Depreciation and amortization		3,924		276		-		-		4,200
Interest expense, net		2		-		2,464		-		2,466
Segment profit (loss) before income tax expense		2,771		2,587		(3,670)		-		1,688
Income tax expense (benefit)		1,241		1,158		(1,643)		-		756
Net income (loss)		1,530		1,428		(2,026)		-		932
Segment assets (1)		323,578		23,587		69,332		(23,130)		393,367

(1) Segment assets are presented net of intercompany receivables.

21

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
(Unaudited)

The following tables provide information about disaggregated revenue by contract type, client type and geographical region:

	Three months ended March 29, 2024
	Energy		Engineering and Consulting		Total
	(in thousands)
Contract Type
Time-and-materials	$	8,537	$	16,399	$	24,936
Unit-based		46,957		4,511		51,468
Fixed price		45,252		833		46,085
Total (1)	$	100,746	$	21,743	$	122,489
Client Type
Commercial	$	7,203	$	1,580	$	8,783
Government		35,820		20,098		55,918
Utilities (2)		57,723		65		57,788
Total (1)	$	100,746	$	21,743	$	122,489
Geography (3)
Domestic	$	100,746	$	21,743	$	122,489

	Three months ended March 31, 2023
	Energy		Engineering and Consulting		Total
	(in thousands)
Contract Type
Time-and-materials	$	7,709	$	14,554	$	22,263
Unit-based		44,927		3,616		48,543
Fixed price		30,649		1,148		31,797
Total (1)	$	83,285	$	19,318	$	102,603
Client Type
Commercial	$	6,719	$	1,164	$	7,883
Government		26,075		18,095		44,170
Utilities (2)		50,491		59		50,550
Total (1)	$	83,285	$	19,318	$	102,603
Geography (3)
Domestic	$	83,285	$	19,318	$	102,603

(1) Amounts may not add to the totals due to rounding.

(2) Includes the portion of revenue related to small business programs paid by the end user/customer.

(3) Revenue from the Company’s foreign operations were not material for the three months ended March 29, 2024 and March 31, 2023.

Geographical Information

Substantially all of the Company’s consolidated revenue was derived from its operations in the U.S. The Company operates through a network of offices spread across 22 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and Canada. Revenues from the Company’s Puerto Rican and Canadian operations were not material for the three months ended March 29, 2024 nor the three months ended March 31, 2023.

22

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
(Unaudited)

Customer Concentration

For the three months ended March 29, 2024 and March 31, 2023, the Company’s top 10 customers accounted for 49.2%, and 52.2%, respectively, of the Company’s consolidated contract revenue.

For the three months ended March 29, 2024, the Company had no individual customers that accounted for more than 10% of its consolidated contract revenue. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company had one customer, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (“LADWP”), that accounted for 11.1% of its consolidated contract revenues.

On a segment basis, the Company had individual customers that accounted for more than 10% of its segment contract revenues. For the three months ended March 29, 2024, the Company derived 10.7% of its Energy segment revenues from one customer, LADWP, and no single customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s Engineering and Consulting segment revenues. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company derived 13.7% of its Energy segment revenues from one customer, LADWP, and no single customer accounted for 10% or more of its Engineering and Consulting segment revenues.

On a geographical basis, the Company’s largest clients are based in California and New York. For the three months ended March 29, 2024 and March 31, 2023, services provided to clients in California accounted for 43.5% and 42.4%, respectively, of the Company’s consolidated contract revenue, and services provided to clients in New York accounted for 27.1% and 24.5%, respectively, of the Company’s consolidated contract revenue. 

23

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
(Unaudited)

10. INCOME TAXES

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities, subject to a judgmental assessment of the recoverability of deferred tax assets. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more likely than not that some of the deferred tax assets may not be realized. Significant judgment is applied when assessing the need for valuation allowances and includes the evaluation of historical income (loss) adjusted for the effects of non-recurring items and the impact of recent business combinations. Areas of estimation include the Company’s consideration of future taxable income which is driven by verifiable signed contracts and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. Should a change in circumstances lead to a change in judgment about the utilization of deferred tax assets in future years, the Company would adjust the related valuation allowances in the period that the change in circumstances occurs, along with a corresponding increase or charge to income.

At the end of fiscal year 2023, the Company’s total valuation allowance was $1.2 million, remaining unchanged from the end of fiscal year 2022. As of March 29, 2024, the Company assessed all available positive and negative evidence available to determine whether, based on the weight of that evidence, there was a change in judgment related to the utilization of deferred tax assets in future years. The Company concluded that as of March 29, 2024, the valuation allowance for the Company’s deferred tax assets was appropriate in accordance with ASC 740. Consequently, there was no change to the valuation allowance during the three months ended March 29, 2024.

For acquired business entities, if the Company identifies changes to acquired deferred tax asset valuation allowances or liabilities related to uncertain tax positions during the measurement period and they relate to new information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date, those changes are considered a measurement period adjustment, and the Company records the offset to goodwill. The Company records all other changes to deferred tax asset valuation allowances and liabilities related to uncertain tax positions in current period income tax expense.

The Company recognizes the tax benefit from uncertain tax positions if it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on examination by the tax authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit is measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. During the three months ended March 29, 2024, and the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company did not record a liability for uncertain tax positions.

Based on the Company’s estimates and determination of an effective tax rate for the year, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $1.0 million for the three months ended March 29, 2024, compared to an income tax expense of $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. During the three months ended March 29, 2024, the difference between the effective tax rate and the federal statutory rate was primarily attributable to state taxes, non-deductible stock compensation, nondeductible executive compensation, research and development tax credits, and the commercial building energy efficiency deduction. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the difference between the effective tax rate and the federal statutory rate was primarily attributable to state taxes, non-deductible stock compensation, nondeductible executive compensation, research and development tax credits, and the commercial building energy efficiency deduction.

24

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
(Unaudited)

11. EARNINGS PER SHARE (“EPS”)

Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding and dilutive potential common shares for the period. Potential common shares include the weighted-average dilutive effects of outstanding stock options and restricted stock awards using the treasury stock method.

The following table sets forth the number of weighted-average common shares outstanding used to compute basic and diluted EPS:

	Three months ended
	March 29,		March 31,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Net income (loss)	$	2,942	$	932
Weighted-average common shares outstanding		13,605		13,266
Effect of dilutive stock options and restricted stock awards		305		204
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-diluted		13,910		13,470
Earnings (Loss) per share:
Basic	$	0.22	$	0.07
Diluted	$	0.21	$	0.07

For the three months ended March 29, 2024 and March 31, 2023, the Company excluded 335,000 and 397,000 common shares subject to outstanding equity awards, respectively, from the calculation of diluted shares because their impact would have been anti-dilutive.

25

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
(Unaudited)

12. CONTINGENCIES

Claims and Lawsuits

The Company is subject to claims and lawsuits from time to time, including those alleging professional errors or omissions that arise in the ordinary course of business against firms that operate in the engineering and consulting professions. The Company carries professional liability insurance, subject to certain deductibles and policy limits, for such claims as they arise and may from time to time establish reserves for litigation that is considered probable of a loss.

In accordance with accounting standards regarding loss contingencies, the Company accrues an undiscounted liability for those contingencies where the incurrence of a loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated, and discloses the amount accrued and an estimate of any reasonably possible loss in excess of the amount accrued, if such disclosure is necessary for the Company’s financial statements not to be misleading. The Company does not accrue liabilities when the likelihood that the liability has been incurred is probable but the amount cannot be reasonably estimated, or when the liability is believed to be only reasonably possible or remote.

Because litigation outcomes are inherently unpredictable, the Company’s evaluation of legal proceedings often involves a series of complex assessments by management about future events and can rely heavily on estimates and assumptions. If the assessments indicate that loss contingencies that could be material to any one of the Company’s financial statements are not probable, but are reasonably possible, or are probable, but cannot be estimated, then the Company will disclose the nature of the loss contingencies, together with an estimate of the possible loss or a statement that such loss is not reasonably estimable. While the consequences of certain unresolved proceedings are not presently determinable, and a reasonable estimate of the probable and reasonably possible loss or range of loss in excess of amounts accrued for such proceedings cannot be made, an adverse outcome from such proceedings could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s earnings in any given reporting period. However, in the opinion of the Company’s management, after consulting with legal counsel, and taking into account insurance coverage, the ultimate liability related to current outstanding claims and lawsuits is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial statements.

26

WILLDAN GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
(Unaudited)

13. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

In accordance with ASC Topic 855, Subsequent Events, the Company evaluates subsequent events up until the date the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are issued. As of May 2, 2024, there were no subsequent events required to be reported.

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Our Company

We are a provider of professional, technical and consulting services to utilities, private industry, and public agencies at all levels of government. As resource and infrastructure needs undergo continuous change, we help organizations and their communities evolve and thrive by providing a wide range of technical services for energy solutions, greenhouse gas reduction, and government infrastructure. Through engineering, program management, policy advisory, and software and data management, we plan, design and deliver trusted, comprehensive, innovative, and proven solutions to improve efficiency, resiliency, and sustainability in energy and infrastructure to our clients.

Our broad portfolio of services operates within two financial reporting segments: (1) Energy and (2) Engineering and Consulting. The interfaces and synergies between these segments are important elements of our strategy to design and deliver trusted, comprehensive, innovative, and proven solutions and services for our customers.

Our Energy segment provides specialized, innovative, comprehensive energy solutions to businesses, utilities, state agencies, municipalities, and non-profit organizations in the U.S. Our experienced engineers, consultants, and staff help our clients realize cost and energy savings by tailoring efficient and cost-effective solutions to assist in optimizing energy spend. Our energy efficiency services include comprehensive audit and surveys, program design, master planning, demand reduction, grid optimization, benchmarking analyses, design engineering, construction management, performance contracting, installation, alternative financing, measurement and verification services, and advances in software and data analytics for long-term planning.

Our Engineering and Consulting segment provides civil engineering-related construction management, building and safety, city engineering office management, city planning, civil design, geotechnical, material testing and other engineering consulting services to our clients. Our engineering services include traffic, bridges, rail, port, water, mining and other civil engineering projects. We also provide economic and financial consulting to public agencies. Lastly, we supplement the engineering services that we offer our clients by offering expertise and support for the various financing techniques public agencies utilize to finance their operations and infrastructure. We also support the mandated reporting and other requirements associated with these financings. We provide financial advisory services for municipal securities but do not provide underwriting services.

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Results of Operations

First Quarter Overview

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, certain information derived from our consolidated statements of comprehensive income⁽¹⁾:

	Three Months Ended
	March 29,				March 31,
	2024				2023					$ Change	% Change
	(in thousands, except percentages)
Contract revenue	$	122,489	100.0	%	$	102,603	100.0	%	$	19,886	19.4	%
Direct costs of contract revenue:
Salaries and wages		21,512	17.6			20,410	19.9			1,102	5.4
Subcontractor services and other direct costs		53,559	43.7			40,912	39.9			12,647	30.9
Total direct costs of contract revenue		75,071	61.3			61,322	59.8			13,749	22.4
Gross profit		47,418	38.7			41,281	40.2			6,137	14.9
General and administrative expenses:
Salaries and wages, payroll taxes and employee benefits		26,509	21.6			22,385	21.8			4,124	18.4
Facilities and facilities related		2,445	2.0			2,278	2.2			167	7.3
Stock-based compensation		1,390	1.1			1,533	1.5			(143)	(9.3)
Depreciation and amortization		3,592	2.9			4,200	4.1			(608)	(14.5)
Other		8,121	6.6			6,871	6.7			1,250	18.2
Total general and administrative expenses		42,057	34.3			37,267	36.3			4,790	12.9
Income (loss) from operations		5,361	4.4			4,014	3.9			1,347	33.6
Other income (expense):
Interest expense		(2,137)	(1.7)			(2,466)	(2.4)			329	(13.3)
Other, net		704	0.6			140	0.1			564	402.9
Total other income (expense)		(1,433)	(1.2)			(2,326)	(2.3)			893	(38.4)
Income (Loss) before income tax expense		3,928	3.2			1,688	1.6			2,240	132.7
Income tax expense (benefit)		986	0.8			756	0.7			230	30.4
Net income (loss)	$	2,942	2.4		$	932	0.9		$	2,010	215.7

(1) Percentages are expressed as a percentage of contract revenue and may not total due to rounding.

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The following tables provides information about disaggregated revenue of our two segments, Energy and Engineering and Consulting, by contract type, client type and geographical region:

	Three months ended March 29, 2024
	Energy		Engineering and Consulting		Total
	(in thousands)
Contract Type
Time-and-materials	$	8,537	$	16,399	$	24,936
Unit-based		46,957		4,511		51,468
Fixed price		45,252		833		46,085
Total (1)	$	100,746	$	21,743	$	122,489
Client Type
Commercial	$	7,203	$	1,580	$	8,783
Government		35,820		20,098		55,918
Utilities (2)		57,723		65		57,788
Total (1)	$	100,746	$	21,743	$	122,489
Geography (3)
Domestic	$	100,746	$	21,743	$	122,489

	Three months ended March 31, 2023
	Energy		Engineering and Consulting		Total
	(in thousands)
Contract Type
Time-and-materials	$	7,709	$	14,554	$	22,263
Unit-based		44,927		3,616		48,543
Fixed price		30,649		1,148		31,797
Total (1)	$	83,285	$	19,318	$	102,603
Client Type
Commercial	$	6,719	$	1,164	$	7,883
Government		26,075		18,095		44,170
Utilities (2)		50,491		59		50,550
Total (1)	$	83,285	$	19,318	$	102,603
Geography (3)
Domestic	$	83,285	$	19,318	$	102,603

(1) Amounts may not add to the totals due to rounding.

(2) Includes the portion of revenue related to small business programs paid by the end user/customer.

(3) Revenue from our foreign operations were immaterial for the three months ended March 29, 2024 and March 31, 2023.

Three Months Ended March 29, 2024 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2023

Contract revenue. Consolidated contract revenue increased $19.9 million, or 19.4%, in the three months ended March 29, 2024, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, due to incremental revenues in both our Energy segment and our Engineering and Consulting segment.

Contract revenue in our Energy segment increased $17.5 million, or 21.0%, in the three months ended March 29, 2024, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily as a result of increases in construction management revenues and utility program revenues.

Contract revenue in our Engineering and Consulting segment increased $2.4 million, or 12.6%, in the three months ended March 29, 2024, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily due to increased demand for services provided to our clients.

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Direct costs of contract revenue. Direct costs of consolidated contract revenue increased $13.7 million, or 22.4%, for the three months ended March 29, 2024, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily as a result of the increase, and change of mix, in contract revenues as described above. As a percentage of contract revenue, direct salaries and wages decreased to 17.6% in the three months ended March 29, 2024 from 19.9% in the three months ended March 31, 2023, while subcontractor services and other direct costs increased to 43.7% in the three months ended March 29, 2024 from 39.9% in the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Direct costs of contract revenue in our Energy segment increased $12.9 million, or 24.7%, for the three months ended March 29, 2024, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023. Direct costs of contract revenue for the Engineering and Consulting segment increased $0.8 million, or 9.7%, in the three months ended March 29, 2024, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Subcontractor services and other direct costs increased by $12.6 million, or 30.9%, in the three months ended March 29, 2024, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily due to the increase in construction management revenues, which utilize a higher percentage of material cost and installation subcontracting. Salaries and wages increased by $1.1 million, or 5.4%, in the three months ended March 29, 2024, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily as a result of the increases in contract revenue as described above.

Gross Profit. Gross profit increased 14.9% to $47.4 million, or 38.7% gross margin, for the three months ended March 29, 2024, compared to gross profit of $41.3 million, or 40.2% gross margin, for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The decrease in our gross margin was primarily driven by changes in the mix of revenues as described above.

General and administrative expenses. General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses increased $4.8 million, or 12.9%, in the three months ended March 29, 2024, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023. G&A expenses consisted of an increase of $3.2 million in the Energy segment combined with an increase of $1.8 million in the Engineering and Consulting segment, partially offset by a decrease of $0.2 million in unallocated corporate expenses.

Within G&A expenses, the increase of $4.1 million in salaries and wages, payroll taxes and employee benefits, combined with the increase of $1.3 million in other general and administrative expenses was partially offset by a decrease of $0.6 million in depreciation and amortization. The increase in salaries and wages, payroll taxes and employee benefits was primarily due to an increase in incentive compensation, consistent with the improvement in operating profit, and higher fringe benefit costs. The increase in other general and administrative expenses was primarily due to increased professional service fees and computer-related expenses. The decrease in depreciation and amortization was primarily related to lower amortization of intangible assets from prior acquisitions.

Income (loss) from operations. Operating income increased 33.6% to $5.4 million for the three months ended March 29, 2024, compared to an operating income of $4.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, as a result of the factors noted above.

Total other expense, net. Total other expense, net, decreased $0.9 million, or 38.4%, for the three months ended March 29, 2024, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily due to increased interest income related to our higher cash balances, combined with lower interest expense resulting from the reduced interest rate margin under our credit facilities.

Income tax expense (benefit). We recorded an income tax expense of $1.0 million for the three months ended March 29, 2024, an effective tax rate of 25.1% on income before income tax expense, compared to an income tax expense of $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, an effective tax rate of 44.8% on income before tax expense. The reduction in the effective tax rate resulted from increases in discrete items related to stock compensation deductions.

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Net income (loss). Our net income was $2.9 million for the three months ended March 29, 2024, as compared to a net income of $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The increase in net income was primarily attributable to the increase in income from operations combined with the decrease in total other expense, net and the lower effective tax rate.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

	Three Months Ended
	March 29,		March 31,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands)
Net cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities	$	26,949	$	17,292
Investing activities		(1,952)		(3,475)
Financing activities		(1,469)		(15,449)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	$	23,528	$	(1,632)

Sources of Cash

Our primary sources of liquidity for the next 12 months and beyond are cash generated from operations, cash and cash equivalents, and available borrowings under our revolving credit facility under the Credit Agreement (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). We believe that our cash and cash equivalents, cash generated by operating activities, and available borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility will be sufficient to finance our operating activities for at least the next 12 months.

As of March 29, 2024, we had a fully drawn $100 million term loan with $96.3 million outstanding (the “Term Loan”), and a $50.0 million Revolving Credit Facility with no borrowed amounts and $1.6 million in letters of credit issued, each scheduled to mature on September 29, 2026. In addition, as of March 29, 2024, we had $46.9 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents.

As of March 29, 2024, unhedged borrowings under our Credit Facilities, exclusive of the effects of upfront fees, undrawn fees and issuance cost amortization, bore interest at an annual rate of 7.7%. See Part I, Item 1, Note 6, “Debt Obligations”, of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and Part II, Item 8, Note 6, “Debt Obligations”, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023, for information regarding our indebtedness, including information about borrowings and repayments, principal repayment terms, interest rates, covenants, and other key terms of our outstanding indebtedness.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Cash flows provided by operating activities were $26.9 million for the three months ended March 29, 2024, as compared to cash flows provided by operating activities of $17.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. Cash flows from operating activities primarily consists of net income, adjusted for non-cash charges, such as depreciation and amortization and stock-based compensation, plus or minus changes in current operating assets and liabilities. Cash flows provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 29, 2024, resulted primarily from the increase in earnings and lower working capital requirements due to a reduction in revenues from the three months ended December 29, 2023 to the three months ended March 29, 2024. Cash flows provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2023, resulted primarily from the changing mix of revenues, combined with lower working capital requirements due to a reduction in revenues from the three months ended December 30, 2022 to the three months ended March 31, 2023.

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Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Cash flows used in investing activities were $2.0 million for the three months ended March 29, 2024 as compared to cash flows used in investing activities of $3.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. Cash flows used in investing activities for the three months ended March 29, 2024 and for the three months ended March 31, 2023, were primarily due to cash paid for the development of software and the purchase of computers and equipment.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Cash flows used in financing activities were $1.5 million for the three months ended March 29, 2024, as compared to cash flows used in financing activities of $15.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. Cash flows used in financing activities for the three months ended March 29, 2024 were primarily attributable to the repayments of $1.9 million under our Term Loan, and $0.8 million cash used to pay withholding taxes on stock grants, partially offset by $1.4 million of proceeds from sales of common stock under employee stock purchase plan. Cash flows used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 were primarily attributable to the disbursement of the $10.7 million in restricted cash for utility rebate incentives and repayments of $5.3 million under our term loan facility and revolving line of credit.

Under certain utility contracts, we periodically receive cash deposits to be held in trust for the payment of energy incentive rebates to be sent directly to the utility’s end-customer on behalf of the utility. We act solely as the utility’s agent to distribute these funds to the end-customer and, accordingly, we classify these contractually restricted funds as restricted cash. Because these funds are held in trust for pass through to the utility’s customers and have no impact on our working capital or operating cash flows, these cash receipts are presented in the consolidated statement of cash flows as financing cash inflows, “Receipt of restricted cash”, with the subsequent payments classified as financing cash outflows, “Payment of restricted cash.”

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any off-balance sheet financing arrangements or liabilities. In addition, our policy is not to enter into futures or forward contracts. Finally, we do not have any majority-owned subsidiaries or any interests in, or relationships with, any special-purpose entities that are not included in the consolidated financial statements. We have, however, an administrative services agreement with Genesys in which we provide Genesys with ongoing administrative, operational and other non-professional support services. We manage Genesys and have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Genesys’ performance, in addition to being obligated to absorb expected losses from Genesys. Accordingly, we are the primary beneficiary of Genesys and consolidate Genesys as a variable interest entity.

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Short and Long-term Uses of Cash

General

Our principal uses of cash are to fund operating expenses, support working capital requirements, finance capital expenditures, and pay down outstanding debt. From time to time, we also use cash to help fund business acquisitions. Our cash and cash equivalents are impacted by the timing of when we invoice and are paid by our customers for services rendered and when we pay expenses as reflected in the change in our outstanding accounts payable and accrued expenses.

Contractual Obligations

The following table sets forth our known contractual obligations as of March 29, 2024:

			Less than						More than
Contractual Obligations	Total		1 Year		1 - 3 Years		3 - 5 Years		5 Years
	(in thousands)
Debt (1)	$	95,495	$	8,924	$	86,571	$	—	$	—
Interest payments on debt outstanding (2)		16,238		6,998		9,240		—		—
Operating leases		14,625		4,677		7,585		2,279		84
Finance leases		2,223		1,111		1,015		97		—
Total contractual cash obligations	$	128,581	$	21,710	$	104,411	$	2,376	$	84

(1) Debt includes $96.3 million outstanding on our Term Loan, net of issuance costs, and no borrowed amounts outstanding on our Revolving Credit Facility as of March 29, 2024. We have assumed no future borrowings or repayments (other than at maturity) for purposes of this table. Our Term Loan is scheduled to mature on September 29, 2026.

(2) Borrowings under our Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at a variable rate. Future interest payments on our Credit Facility are estimated using floating rates in effect as of March 29, 2024.

Outstanding Indebtedness

See Part I, Item 1, Note 6, “Debt Obligations”, of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and Part II, Item 8, Note 6, “Debt Obligations”, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023, for information regarding our indebtedness, including information about new borrowings and repayments, principal repayment terms, interest rates, covenants, and other key terms of our outstanding indebtedness.

Interest Rate Swap

From time to time, we enter into interest rate swap agreements to moderate our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates underlying our variable rate debt. For more information, see Part I, Item 3, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk”, and Note 5, “Derivative Financial Instruments”, to the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Impact of Inflation

Due to the average duration of our projects and our ability to negotiate prices as contracts end and new contracts begin, historically, our operations have not been materially impacted by inflation.

While immaterial to our results of operations and financial condition, we have experienced higher cost of materials and delays in our supply chain for equipment. The prices of finished products from manufacturers are subject to fluctuation and increases. It is difficult to accurately measure the impact of inflation, tariffs, price escalation, raw material costs, and other factors that impact the cost of finished goods due to the imprecise nature of the estimates required.

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We are often able to mitigate the impact of future price increases by entering into fixed price purchase orders for materials and equipment, and subcontracts on our projects, as well as, when appropriate, including cost escalation factors into our proposals. Despite our best mitigation efforts, significant price increases in equipment and disruptions to our supply chain could materially impact our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, inflationary pressures, including expectations of future inflation, may impact the customers of our utility clients, which may lead to delayed or deferred decisions regarding expenditures to improve energy efficiency, and therefore potentially impact our future revenues.

Components of Revenue and Expense

Contract Revenue

We generally provide our services under contracts, purchase orders or retainer letters. The agreements we enter into with our clients typically incorporate one of three principal types of pricing provisions: time-and-materials, unit-based, and fixed price. Revenue on our time-and-materials and unit-based contracts are recognized as the work is performed in accordance with specific terms of the contract. As of March 29, 2024, 20% of our contracts are time-and-materials contracts, 42% are unit-based contracts, and 38% are fixed price contracts, compared to 22% are time-and-materials contracts, 47% are unit-based contracts, and 31% are fixed price contracts, as of March 31, 2023.

Some of these contracts include maximum contract prices, but contract maximums are often adjusted to reflect the level of effort to achieve client objectives and thus the majority of these contracts are not expected to exceed the maximum. Contract revenue on our fixed price contracts is determined on the percentage of completion method based generally on the ratio of direct costs incurred to date to estimated total direct costs at completion. Many of our fixed price contracts involve a high degree of subcontracted fixed price effort and are relatively short in duration, thereby lowering the risks of not properly estimating the percent complete.

Adjustments to contract cost estimates are made in the periods in which the facts requiring such revisions become known. When the revised estimate indicates a loss, such loss is recognized in the current period in its entirety. Claims and change orders that have not been finalized are evaluated to determine whether or not a change has occurred in the enforceable rights and obligations of the original contract. If these non-finalized changes qualify as a contract modification, a determination is made whether to account for the change in contract value as a modification to the existing contract, or a separate contract and revenue under the claims or change orders is recognized accordingly. Costs related to un-priced change orders are expensed when incurred, and recognition of the related revenue is based on the assessment above of whether or not a contract modification has occurred. Estimated profit for un-priced change orders is recognized only if collection is probable.

Our contracts come up for renewal periodically and at the time of renewal may be subject to renegotiation, which could impact the profitability on that contract. In addition, during the term of a contract, public agencies may request additional or revised services which may impact the economics of the transaction. Most of our contracts permit our clients, with prior notice, to terminate the contracts at any time without cause. While we have a large volume of contracts, the renewal, termination or modification of a contract, in particular contracts with Consolidated Edison, the Dormitory Authority-State of New York, the New York City Housing Authority, and utility programs associated with Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Duke Energy Corp., may have a material effect on our consolidated operations.

Some of our contracts include certain performance guarantees, such as a guaranteed energy saving quantity. Such guarantees are generally measured upon completion of a project. In the event that the measured performance level is less than the guaranteed level, any resulting financial penalty, including any additional work that may be required to fulfill the guarantee, is estimated and charged to direct expenses in the current period. We have not experienced any significant costs under such guarantees.

35

Direct Costs of Contract Revenue

Direct costs of contract revenue consist primarily of that portion of salaries and wages that have been incurred in connection with revenue producing projects. Direct costs of contract revenue also include material costs, subcontractor services, equipment and other expenses that are incurred in connection with revenue producing projects. Direct costs of contract revenue exclude that portion of salaries and wages related to marketing efforts, vacations, holidays and other time not spent directly generating revenue under existing contracts. Such costs are included in general and administrative expenses. Additionally, payroll taxes, bonuses and employee benefit costs for all of our personnel are included in general and administrative expenses since no allocation of these costs is made to direct costs of contract revenue.

Other companies may classify as direct costs of contract revenue some of the costs that we classify as general and administrative costs. We expense direct costs of contract revenue when incurred.

General and Administrative Expenses

G&A expenses include the costs of the marketing and support staff, other marketing expenses, management and administrative personnel costs, payroll taxes, bonuses and employee benefits for all of our employees and the portion of salaries and wages not allocated to direct costs of contract revenue for those employees who provide our services. G&A expenses also include facility costs, depreciation and amortization, professional services, legal and accounting fees and administrative operating costs. Within G&A expenses, “Other” includes expenses such as professional services, legal and accounting, computer costs, travel and entertainment, marketing costs and acquisition costs. We expense general and administrative costs when incurred.

Critical Accounting Policies

We have prepared the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (“GAAP”). To prepare these financial statements in conformity with GAAP, we must make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenue and expenses in the reporting period. Our actual results may differ from these estimates. We have adopted accounting policies and practices that are generally accepted in the industry in which we operate.

There have been no material changes in our critical accounting policies and estimates from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 29, 2023. Please refer to Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023 for a discussion of our critical accounting policies and estimates.

Recent Accounting Standards

For a description of recently issued and adopted accounting pronouncements, including adoption dates and expected effects on our results of operations and financial condition, see Part I, Item 1, Note 2, “Recent Accounting Pronouncements”, of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

36

ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk

Market risk is the risk of loss to future earnings, to fair values or to future cash flows that may result from changes in the price of a financial instrument. The value of a financial instrument may change as a result of changes in interest rates, exchange rates, commodity prices, equity prices and other market changes. Market risk is attributed to all market risk sensitive financial instruments, including long-term debt.

As of March 29, 2024, we had cash and cash equivalents of $46.9 million. This amount represents cash on hand in business checking accounts with BMO Bank, N.A. We do not engage in trading activities and do not participate in foreign currency transactions.

We are subject to interest rate risk in connection with our Term Loan and borrowings, if any, under our Revolving Credit Facility, each of which bears interest at variable rates. As of March 29, 2024, $96.3 million was outstanding under our Term Loan, and we had no borrowed amounts outstanding and $1.6 million in letters of credit were issued under our Revolving Credit Facility. Each of our Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility mature on September 29, 2026 and are governed by our Credit Agreement.

Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, (as described in Part II, Item 8, Note 6, “Debt Obligations”, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023), borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at either a Base Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) or the adjusted Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), at the Company’s option, and in each case, plus an applicable margin, which applicable margin ranges from 0.75% to 2.00% with respect to Base Rate borrowings and 1.75% to 3.00% with respect to SOFR borrowings, depending on the Company’s Total Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement); provided, that SOFR and the Base Rate cannot be less than 0.00%, with the specific pricing reset on each date on which the Administrative Agent receives the required financial statements under the Credit Agreement for the fiscal quarter then ended. The Company must also pay a commitment fee for the unused portion of the Revolving Credit Facility, which ranges from 0.20% to 0.40% per annum depending on the Company’s Total Net Leverage Ratio, and fees on the face amount of any letters of credit outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility, which range from 1.3125% to 2.25% per annum, in each case, depending on the Company’s Total Net Leverage Ratio, as well as customary fronting fees payable to BMO as letter of credit issuer.

The Term Loan will amortize quarterly in an amount equal to (i) 7.5% per annum for the first year ending after the Closing Date and (ii) 10.0% per annum for the second and third years ending after the Closing Date, with a final payment of all then remaining principal and interest due on the maturity date of September 29, 2026. The amounts outstanding under the Credit Facilities may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time without penalty (other than customary breakage costs).

On November 30, 2023, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement for $50.0 million notional amount. The interest swap agreement was designated as a cash flow hedge to fix the variable interest rate on a portion of the outstanding principal amount under our Term Loan. The interest rate swap fixed rate is 4.77% and expires on September 29, 2026.

Based upon the amount of our outstanding indebtedness as of March 29, 2024, a one percentage point increase in the effective interest rate, inclusive of our interest rate swap agreement, would change our annual interest expense by approximately $0.5 million in fiscal year 2024.

37

ITEM 4.  Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15-d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our including our President and Chief Executive Officer, Michael A. Bieber, and our Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Creighton K. Early, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

In connection with the preparation of this Quarterly Report, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 29, 2024. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective, at a reasonable assurance level, as of March 29, 2024.

No change in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

38

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings

We are subject to claims and lawsuits from time to time, including those alleging professional errors or omissions that arise in the ordinary course of business against firms that operate in the engineering and consulting professions. We carry professional liability insurance, subject to certain deductibles and policy limits, for such claims as they arise and may from time to time establish reserves for litigation that is considered probable of a loss.

In accordance with accounting standards regarding loss contingencies, we accrue an undiscounted liability for those contingencies where the incurrence of a loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated, and we disclose the amount accrued and an estimate of any reasonably possible loss in excess of the amount accrued, if such disclosure is necessary for our financial statements not to be misleading. We do not accrue liabilities when the likelihood that the liability has been incurred is probable but the amount cannot be reasonably estimated, or when the liability is believed to be only reasonably possible or remote.

Because litigation outcomes are inherently unpredictable, our evaluation of legal proceedings often involves a series of complex assessments by management about future events and can rely heavily on estimates and assumptions. If the assessments indicate that loss contingencies that could be material to any one of our financial statements are not probable, but are reasonably possible, or are probable, but cannot be estimated, then we disclose the nature of the loss contingencies, together with an estimate of the possible loss or a statement that such loss is not reasonably estimable. While the consequences of certain unresolved proceedings are not presently determinable, and a reasonable estimate of the probable and reasonably possible loss or range of loss in excess of amounts accrued for such proceedings cannot be made, an adverse outcome from such proceedings could have a material adverse effect on our earnings in any given reporting period. However, in the opinion of our management, after consulting with legal counsel, and taking into account insurance coverage, the ultimate liability related to current outstanding claims and lawsuits is not expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial statements.

ITEM 1A. Risk Factors

There are no material changes to the risk factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2023.

ITEM 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

During the fiscal quarter ended March 29, 2024, we made the following repurchases of shares of our common stock from employees to satisfy tax withholding obligations incurred in connection with the vesting of restricted stock:

	Total Number of Shares Purchased	Average Price Paid Per Share	Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs	Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares That May Yet be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
December 30, 2023 – January 26, 2024	—	—	—	—
January 27, 2024 – February 23, 2024	—	—	—	—
February 24, 2024 – March 29, 2024	31,872	$24.55	—	—
TOTAL	31,872	$24.45	—	—

39

ITEM 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities

None.

ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. Other Information

Rule 10b5-1

None.

40

ITEM 6. Exhibits

Exhibit Number	Exhibit Description
3.1	First Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Willdan Group, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Willdan Group, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2006, as amended (File No. 333-136444)).
3.2	Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Willdan Group, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Willdan Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 12, 2023).
4.1	Specimen Stock Certificate for shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Willdan Group, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2006, as amended (File No. 333-136444)).
4.2	The Company agrees to furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request a copy of each instrument with respect to issues of long-term debt of Willdan Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, the authorized principal amount of which does not exceed 10% of the consolidated assets of Willdan Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
10.1	Consulting Agreement by and between the Company and Thomas D. Brisbin, dated February 28, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Willdan Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 29, 2024).
31.1*	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to § 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2*	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to § 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1**	Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS*	Inline XBRL Instance Document (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
101.SCH*	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL*	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF*	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB*	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE*	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104*	Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

* Filed herewith.

** Furnished herewith.

‡ Portions of the referenced exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b) of Regulation S-K because it (i) is not material and (ii) would be competitively harmful if publicly disclosed.

¥ All schedules and exhibits were omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K.

† Indicates a management contract or compensating plan or arrangement

41

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

WILLDAN GROUP, INC.

/s/ Creighton K. Early

Creighton K. Early

Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President

(Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and duly authorized officer)

May 2, 2024

42

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

I, Michael A. Bieber, certify that:

1.            I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Willdan Group, Inc.;

2.           Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.            Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.            The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)            Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)           Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)            Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d)           Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.            The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)            All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)           Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 2, 2024

(Prin
	By:	/s/ MICHAEL A. BIEBER
		Michael A. Bieber
		President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

I, Creighton K. Early, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Willdan Group, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 2, 2024

By:	/s/ CREIGHTON K. EARLY
	Creighton K. Early
	Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President
	(Principal Financial Officer)

EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350,

as Adopted Pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Willdan Group, Inc. (the “Company”) for the quarterly period ended March 29, 2024, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), Michael A. Bieber, as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Creighton K. Early, as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of the Company, each hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of his or her knowledge:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

By:	/s/ MICHAEL A. BIEBER
	Michael A. Bieber
	President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
	May 2, 2024
By:	/s/ CREIGHTON K. EARLY
	Creighton K. Early
	Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President (Principal Financial Officer)
	May 2, 2024

This certification accompanies the Report pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not, except to the extent required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, be deemed filed by the Company for purposes of § 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. A signed original of this written statement required by § 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

XML

Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024	May 01, 2024
Cover [Abstract]
Entity Central Index Key	0001370450
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 29, 2024
Entity File Number	001-33076
Entity Registrant Name	WILLDAN GROUP, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	14-1951112
Entity Address, Address Line One	2401 East Katella Avenue
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 300
Entity Address, City or Town	Anaheim
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	92806
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
City Area Code	800
Local Phone Number	424-9144
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	WLDN
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		13,817,074
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-27
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2024
Amendment Flag	false

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 29, 2024	Dec. 29, 2023
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 46,925	$ 23,397
Restricted cash	0	0
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $690 and $866 at March 29, 2024 and December 29, 2023, respectively	50,792	69,677
Contract assets	82,409	93,885
Other receivables	552	1,169
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	5,863	3,888
Total current assets	186,541	192,016
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net	27,539	27,097
Goodwill	131,144	131,144
Right-of-use assets	12,803	12,465
Other intangible assets, net	30,085	31,956
Other assets	4,832	4,949
Deferred income taxes, net	14,956	15,961
Total assets	407,900	415,588
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	34,518	33,193
Accrued liabilities	38,411	54,129
Contract liabilities	16,427	13,183
Notes payable	8,924	8,452
Finance lease obligations	1,111	1,186
Lease liability	4,677	4,537
Total current liabilities	104,068	114,680
Notes payable, less current portion	86,571	88,979
Finance lease obligations, less current portion	1,112	1,184
Lease liability, less current portion	9,948	9,758
Other noncurrent liabilities	686	1,142
Total liabilities	202,385	215,743
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 10,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 40,000 shares authorized; 13,817 and 13,682 shares issued and outstanding at March 29, 2024 and December 29, 2023, respectively	138	137
Additional paid-in capital	188,088	185,795
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(230)	(664)
Retained earnings	17,519	14,577
Total stockholders' equity	205,515	199,845
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 407,900	$ 415,588

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 29, 2024	Dec. 29, 2023
Accounts Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss, Current
Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 690	$ 866
Preferred stock
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0	0
Common stock
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	40,000,000	40,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	13,817,000	13,682,000
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	13,817,000	13,682,000

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Contract revenue	$ 122,489	$ 102,603
Direct costs of contract revenue (inclusive of directly related depreciation and amortization):
Salaries and wages	21,512	20,410
Subcontractor services and other direct costs	53,559	40,912
Total direct costs of contract revenue	75,071	61,322
Gross profit	47,418	41,281
General and administrative expenses:
Salaries and wages, payroll taxes and employee benefits	26,509	22,385
Facilities and facility related	2,445	2,278
Stock-based compensation	1,390	1,533
Depreciation and amortization	3,592	4,200
Other	8,121	6,871
Total general and administrative expenses	42,057	37,267
Income (Loss) from operations	5,361	4,014
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(2,137)	(2,466)
Other, net	704	140
Total other expense, net	(1,433)	(2,326)
Income (Loss) before income taxes	3,928	1,688
Income tax (benefit) expense	986	756
Net income (loss)	2,942	932
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative contracts, net of tax	434
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 3,376	$ 932
Earnings (Loss) per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.22	$ 0.07
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.21	$ 0.07
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	13,605	13,266
Diluted (in shares)	13,910	13,470

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Earnings	Total
Balance at Dec. 30, 2022	$ 133	$ 177,718		$ 3,651	$ 181,502
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 30, 2022	13,296
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Shares of common stock issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan	$ 1	1,391			1,392
Shares of common stock issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	92
Shares used to pay taxes on stock grants		(124)			(124)
Shares used to pay taxes on stock grants (in shares)	(7)
Issuance of restricted stock award and units	$ 1	(1)
Issuance of restricted stock award and units (in shares)	108
Stock-based compensation expense		1,533			1,533
Net Income (Loss)				932	932
Balance at Mar. 31, 2023	$ 135	180,517		4,583	185,235
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2023	13,489
Balance at Dec. 29, 2023	$ 137	185,795	$ (664)	14,577	$ 199,845
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 29, 2023	13,682				13,682
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Shares of common stock issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan	$ 1	1,401			$ 1,402
Shares of common stock issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	86
Shares of common stock issued in connection with incentive stock plan		281			281
Shares of common stock issued in connection with incentive stock plan (in shares)	19
Shares used to pay taxes on stock grants	$ (1)	(778)			(779)
Shares used to pay taxes on stock grants (in shares)	(32)
Issuance of restricted stock award and units	$ 1	(1)
Issuance of restricted stock award and units (in shares)	62
Stock-based compensation expense		1,390			1,390
Net Income (Loss)				2,942	2,942
Net unrealized gain on derivative contracts			434		434
Balance at Mar. 29, 2024	$ 138	$ 188,088	$ (230)	$ 17,519	$ 205,515
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 29, 2024	13,817				13,817

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 2,942	$ 932
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	3,592	4,200
Other non-cash items	92	85
Deferred income taxes, net	1,005	782
(Gain) loss on sale/disposal of equipment	(13)	(10)
Provision for doubtful accounts	(100)	81
Stock-based compensation	1,390	1,533
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	18,985	8,204
Contract assets	11,476	7,819
Other receivables	617	(9)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(1,975)	1,023
Other assets	117	(3,532)
Accounts payable	1,325	479
Accrued liabilities	(15,740)	(7,883)
Contract liabilities	3,244	2,941
Right-of-use assets	(8)	647
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	26,949	17,292
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of equipment, software, and leasehold improvements	(1,971)	(3,488)
Proceeds from sale of equipment	19	13
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,952)	(3,475)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment on restricted cash		(10,679)
Payments on notes payable	(153)	(485)
Repayments under term loan facility and line of credit	(1,875)	(5,250)
Principal payments on finance leases	(345)	(303)
Proceeds from stock option exercise	281
Proceeds from sales of common stock under employee stock purchase plan	1,402	1,392
Cash used to pay taxes on stock grants	(779)	(124)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(1,469)	(15,449)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	23,528	(1,632)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	23,397	19,485
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	46,925	17,853
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest	2,081	2,424
Income taxes	2	(77)
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities:
Equipment acquired under finance leases	$ 198	$ 48

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ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS OF THE COMPANY

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2024

ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS OF THE COMPANY

ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS OF THE COMPANY

1. ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS OF THE COMPANY

Willdan Group, Inc. (“Willdan” or the “Company”) is a provider of professional, technical and consulting services to utilities, private industry, and public agencies at all levels of government. As resource and infrastructure needs undergo continuous change, the Company helps organizations and their communities evolve and thrive by providing a wide range of technical services for energy solutions, and government infrastructure. Through engineering, program management, policy advisory, and software and data management, the Company designs and delivers trusted, comprehensive, innovative, and proven solutions to improve efficiency, resiliency, and sustainability in energy and infrastructure.

The Company’s broad portfolio of services operates within two financial reporting segments: (1) Energy and (2) Engineering and Consulting. The interfaces and synergies between these segments are important elements of the Company’s strategy to design and deliver trusted, comprehensive, innovative, and proven solutions for its customers.

The accounting policies followed by the Company are set forth in Part II, Item 8, Note 1, Organization and Operations of the Company, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary to fairly state the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been made. All such adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the Consolidated Financial Statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year.

Fiscal Years

The Company operates and reports its annual financial results based on 52 or 53-week periods ending on the Friday closest to December 31. The Company operates and reports its quarterly financial results based on the 13-week period ending on the Friday closest to June 30, September 30, and December 31 and the 13 or 14-week period ending on the Friday closest to March 31, as applicable. Fiscal year 2024, which ends on December 27, 2024, will be comprised of 52 weeks, with all quarters consisting of 13 weeks each. Fiscal year 2023, which ended on December 29, 2023, was comprised of 52 weeks, with all quarters consisting of 13 weeks each. All references to years in the notes to consolidated financial statements represent fiscal years.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements. Estimates also affect the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

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RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2024

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

2. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Accounting Pronouncements Recently Issued

In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU’) No. 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 amends the rules on income tax disclosures to require entities to disclose specific categories in the rate reconciliation, the income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense or benefit (separated between domestic and foreign) and income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations (separated by federal, state, and foreign). In addition, ASU 2023-09 requires entities to disclose their income tax payments to international, federal, state, and local jurisdictions, among other changes. The amendments can be applied on a prospective basis although retrospective application is permitted. The amendments are effective for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this update will have on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-07”). ASU 2023-07 expands segment disclosure requirements through enhanced disclosures related to significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), a description of other segment items by reportable segment, and any additional measures of a segment's profit or loss used by the CODM when deciding how to allocate resources. All disclosure requirements under ASU 2023-07 are also required for public entities with a single reportable segment. The amendments are effective for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this update will have on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In October 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-06, “Disclosure Improvements: Codification Amendments in Response to the SEC’s Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative” (“ASU 2023-06”). ASU 2023-06 amends U.S. GAAP to reflect updates and simplifications to certain disclosure and presentation requirements referred to FASB by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The targeted amendments incorporate 14 of the 27 disclosures referred by the SEC into codification. Each amendment in ASU 2023-06 is effective on either the date on which the SEC’s removal of the related disclosure requirement from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K becomes effective, or on June 30, 2027, if the SEC has not removed the requirements by that date. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this update will have on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

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REVENUES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2024

REVENUES

REVENUES

3. REVENUES

The Company enters into contracts with its clients that contain various types of pricing provisions, including fixed price, time-and-materials, and unit-based provisions. The Company recognizes revenues in accordance with ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customer, codified as ASC Topic 606 and the related amendments (collectively “ASC 606”). As such, the Company identifies a contract with a customer, identifies the performance obligations in the contract, determines the transaction price, allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation in the contract and recognizes revenues when (or as) the Company satisfies a performance obligation.

The following table reflects the Company’s two reportable segments and the types of contracts that each most commonly enters into for revenue generating activities.

Segment	Contract Type	Revenue Recognition Method
	Time-and-materials	Time-and-materials
Energy	Unit-based	Unit-based
	Software license	Unit-based
	Fixed price	Percentage-of-completion
	Time-and-materials	Time-and-materials
Engineering and Consulting	Unit-based	Unit-based
	Fixed price	Percentage-of-completion

Revenue on the vast majority of the Company’s contracts is recognized over time because of the continuous transfer of control to the customer. Revenue on fixed price contracts is recognized on the percentage-of-completion method based generally on the ratio of direct costs incurred-to-date to estimated total direct costs at completion. The Company uses the percentage-of-completion method to better match the level of work performed at a certain point in time in relation to the effort that will be required to complete a project. In addition, the percentage-of-completion method is a common method of revenue recognition in the Company’s industry.

Many of the Company’s fixed price contracts involve a high degree of subcontracted fixed price effort and, usually, are relatively short in duration, thereby lowering the risks of not properly estimating the percent complete. Revenue on time-and-materials and unit-based contracts is recognized as the work is performed in accordance with the specific rates and terms of the contract. The Company recognizes revenues for time-and-materials contracts based upon the actual hours incurred during a reporting period at contractually agreed upon rates per hour and also includes in revenue all reimbursable costs incurred during a reporting period. Certain of the Company’s time-and-materials contracts are subject to maximum contract values and, accordingly, when revenue is expected to exceed the maximum contract value, these contracts are generally recognized under the percentage-of-completion method, consistent with fixed price contracts. For unit-based contracts, the Company recognizes the contract price of units of a basic production product as revenue when the production product is delivered during a period. Revenue for amounts that have been billed but not earned is deferred, and such deferred revenue is referred to as contract liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company also derives revenue from software licenses and professional services and maintenance fees. In accordance with ASC 606, the Company performs an assessment of each contract to identify the performance obligations, determine the overall transaction price for the contract, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations, and recognize the revenue when the performance obligations are satisfied. The Company utilizes the residual approach by which it estimates the standalone selling price by reference to the total transaction price less the sum of the observable standalone selling prices of other goods or services promised in the contract. The software license revenue is typically recognized at a point in time when control is transferred to the client, which is defined as the point in time when the client can use and benefit from the license. The software license is delivered before related services are provided and is functional without services, updates, or technical support. Related professional services include training and support services in which the standalone selling price is determined based on an input measure of hours incurred to total estimated hours and is recognized over time, which usually is the life of the contract.

To determine the proper revenue recognition method for contracts, the Company evaluates whether two or more contracts should be combined and accounted for as one single contract and whether the combined contract should be accounted for as one performance obligation. With respect to the Company’s contracts, it is rare that multiple contracts should be combined into a single performance obligation. This evaluation requires significant judgment and the decision to combine a group of contracts or separate a single contract into multiple performance obligations could change the amount of revenue and profit recorded in a given period. Contracts are considered to have a single performance obligation if the promise to transfer the individual goods or services is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contracts, which is mainly because the Company provides a significant service of integrating a complex set of tasks and components into a single project or capability.

The Company may enter into contracts that include separate phases or elements. If each phase or element is negotiated separately based on the technical resources required and/or the supply and demand for the services being provided, the Company evaluates if the contracts should be segmented. If certain criteria are met, the contracts would be segmented which could result in revenues being assigned to the different elements or phases with different rates of profitability based on the relative value of each element or phase to the estimated total contract revenue. Segmented contracts may comprise up to approximately 2.0% to 3.0% of the Company’s consolidated contract revenue.

Contracts that cover multiple phases or elements of the project or service lifecycle (development, construction and maintenance and support) may be considered to have multiple performance obligations even when they are part of a single contract. For contracts with multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation using the best estimate of the standalone selling price of each distinct good or service in the contract. For the periods presented, the value of the separate performance obligations under contracts with multiple performance obligations (generally measurement and verification tasks under certain energy performance contracts) were not material. In cases where the Company does not provide the distinct good or service on a standalone basis, the primary method used to estimate standalone selling price is the expected cost plus a margin approach, under which the Company forecasts the Company’s expected costs of satisfying a performance obligation and then adds an appropriate margin for the distinct good or service.

The Company provides quality of workmanship warranties to customers that are included in the sale and are not priced or sold separately or do not provide customers with a service in addition to assurance of compliance with agreed-upon specifications and industry standards. The Company does not consider these types of warranties to be separate performance obligations.

In some cases, the Company has a master service or blanket agreement with a customer under which each task order releases the Company to perform specific portions of the overall scope in the service contract. Each task order is typically accounted for as a separate contract because the task order establishes the enforceable rights and obligations, and payment terms.

Under ASC 606, variable consideration should be considered when determining the transaction price and estimates should be made for the variable consideration component of the transaction price, as well as assessing whether an estimate of variable consideration is constrained. For certain of the Company’s contracts, variable consideration can arise from modifications to the scope of services resulting from unapproved change orders or customer claims. Variable consideration is included in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. The Company estimates of variable consideration and determination of whether to include estimated amounts in the transaction price are based largely on assessments of legal enforceability, the Company’s performance, and all information (historical, current and forecasted) that is reasonably available to the Company.

Due to the nature of the work required to be performed on many of the Company’s performance obligations, the estimation of total revenue and cost at completion is complex, subject to many variables and requires significant judgment. As a significant change in one or more of these estimates could affect the profitability of the Company’s contracts, the Company reviews and updates the Company’s contract-related estimates regularly through a company-wide disciplined project review process in which management reviews the progress and execution of the Company’s performance obligations and the estimate at completion (“EAC”). As part of this process, management reviews information including, but not limited to, any outstanding key contract matters, progress towards completion and the related program schedule and the related changes in estimates of revenues and costs. Management must make assumptions and estimates regarding labor productivity and availability, the complexity of the work to be performed, the cost and availability of materials, the performance of subcontractors, and the availability and timing of funding from the customer, among other variables.

The Company recognizes adjustments in estimated profit on contracts under the cumulative catch-up method. Under this method, the impact of the adjustment on profit recorded to date is recognized in the period the adjustment is identified. Revenue and profit in future periods of contract performance is recognized using the adjusted estimate. If at any time the estimate of contract profitability indicates an anticipated loss on the contract, the Company recognizes the full amount of estimated loss in the period it is identified.

Contracts are often modified to account for changes in contract specifications and requirements. The Company considers contract modifications to exist when the modification either creates new rights or obligations or changes the existing enforceable rights or obligations. Most of the Company’s contract modifications are for goods or services that are not distinct from existing contracts due to the significant integration provided in the context of the contract and are accounted for as if they were part of the original contract. The effect of a contract modification that is not distinct from the existing contract on the transaction price and the Company’s measure of progress for the performance obligation to which it relates is recognized as an adjustment to revenue (either as an increase in or a reduction of revenue) on a cumulative catch-up basis.

For contract modifications that result in the promise to deliver goods or services that are distinct from the existing contract and the increase in price of the contract is for the same amount as the standalone selling price of the additional goods or services included in the modification, the Company accounts for such contract modifications as a separate contract.

The Company includes claims to vendors, subcontractors and others as a receivable and a reduction in recognized costs when enforceability of the claim is established by the contract and the amounts are reasonably estimable and probable of being recovered. The amounts are recorded up to the extent of the lesser of the amounts management expects to recover or to costs incurred.

Billing practices are governed by the contract terms of each project based upon costs incurred, achievement of milestones or pre-agreed schedules. Billings do not necessarily correlate with revenue recognized using the percentage-of-completion method of revenue recognition.

Direct costs of contract revenue consist primarily of that portion of technical and nontechnical salaries and wages that has been incurred in connection with revenue producing projects. Direct costs of contract revenue also include production expenses, subcontractor services and other expenses that are incurred in connection with revenue producing projects.

Direct costs of contract revenue exclude that portion of technical and nontechnical salaries and wages related to marketing efforts, vacations, holidays and other time not spent directly generating revenue under existing contracts. Such costs are included in general and administrative expenses. Additionally, payroll taxes, bonuses and employee benefit costs for all Company personnel are included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income since no allocation of these costs is made to direct costs of contract revenue. No allocation of facilities costs is made to direct costs of contract revenue. Other companies may classify as direct costs of contract revenue some of the costs that the Company classifies as general and administrative costs. The Company expenses direct costs of contract revenue when incurred.

Included in revenue and costs are all reimbursable costs for which the Company has the risk or on which the fee was based at the time of bid or negotiation. No revenue or cost is recorded for costs in which the Company acts solely in the capacity of an agent and has no risks associated with such costs.

Accounts receivable are carried at original invoice amount less an estimate made for doubtful accounts based upon a review of all outstanding amounts on a quarterly basis. Management determines allowances for doubtful accounts through specific identification of amounts considered to be uncollectible and potential write-offs, plus a non-specific allowance for other amounts for which some potential loss has been determined to be probable based on current and past experience. The Company’s historical credit losses have been minimal with governmental entities and large public utilities, but disputes may arise related to these receivable amounts. Accounts receivable are written off when deemed uncollectible. Recoveries of accounts receivable previously written off are recorded when received.

Retainage, included in contract assets, represents amounts withheld from billings to the Company’s clients pursuant to provisions in the contracts and may not be paid to the Company until specific tasks are completed or the project is completed and, in some instances, for even longer periods. As of March 29, 2024 and December 29, 2023, contract assets included retainage of approximately $16.1 million and $14.3 million, respectively.

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SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT DATA

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2024

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT DATA

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT DATA

4. SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT DATA

Restricted Cash

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets to the total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows:

	March 29,		December 29,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	46,925	$	23,397
Restricted cash		—		—
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the consolidated statement of cash flows	$	46,925	$	23,397

Under certain utility contracts, the Company periodically receives cash deposits to be held in trust for the payment of energy incentive rebates to be sent directly to the utility’s end-customer on behalf of the utility. The Company acts solely as the utility’s agent to distribute these funds to the end-customer and, accordingly, the Company classifies these contractually restricted funds as restricted cash. Because these funds are held in trust for pass through to the utility’s customers and have no impact on the Company’s working capital or operating cash flows, these cash receipts are presented in the consolidated statement of cash flows as financing cash inflows, “Receipt of restricted cash”, with the subsequent payments classified as financing cash outflows, “Payment of restricted cash.”

Equipment and Leasehold Improvements

	March 29,		December 29,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands)
Furniture and fixtures	$	4,403	$	4,379
Computer hardware and software		46,384		44,594
Leasehold improvements		3,466		3,382
Equipment under finance leases		6,245		6,139
Automobiles, trucks, and field equipment		3,388		3,373
Subtotal		63,886		61,867
Accumulated depreciation and amortization		(36,347)		(34,770)
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net	$	27,539	$	27,097

Included in accumulated depreciation and amortization is $0.4 million and $1.3 million of amortization expense related to equipment held under finance leases for the three months ended March 29, 2024 and for fiscal year 2023, respectively.

Accrued Liabilities

	March 29,		December 29,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands)
Accrued subcontractor costs	$	22,896	$	30,196
Accrued bonuses		4,542		14,423
Employee withholdings		4,779		3,123
Compensation and payroll taxes		4,163		3,125
Rebate and other		—		139
Accrued accounting costs and taxes		2,031		3,123
Total accrued liabilities	$	38,411	$	54,129

Goodwill

	December 29,		Additional		Additions /		March 29,
	2023		Purchase Cost		Adjustments		2024
	(in thousands)
Reporting Unit:
Energy	$	129,375	$	—	$	—	$	129,375
Engineering and Consulting		1,769		—		—		1,769
	$	131,144	$	—	$	—	$	131,144

The Company tests its goodwill at least annually for possible impairment. The Company completes its annual testing of goodwill as of the last day of the first month of its fourth fiscal quarter each year to determine whether there is a potential impairment. In addition to the Company’s annual test, it regularly evaluates whether events and circumstances have occurred that may indicate a potential impairment of goodwill. The Company evaluated the current economic environment and noted that it does not believe it is more likely than not that goodwill was impaired as of March 29, 2024.

Intangible Assets

	March 29, 2024				December 29, 2023
	Gross		Accumulated		Gross		Accumulated		Amortization
	Amount		Amortization		Amount		Amortization		Period
	(in thousands)								(in years)
Finite:
Backlog	$	8,306	$	8,148	$	8,306	$	8,095	1.0
Tradename		15,936		12,835		15,936		12,695	2.5	-	6.0
Non-compete agreements		1,613		1,452		1,613		1,440	4.0	-	5.0
Developed technology		15,810		14,791		15,810		14,521	8.0
Customer relationships		58,149		32,503		58,149		31,107	5.0	-	8.0
Total intangible assets	$	99,814	$	69,729	$	99,814	$	67,858

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DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2024

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

5. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Company uses certain interest rate derivative contracts to hedge interest rate exposures on its variable rate debt. The Company’s hedging program is not designated for trading or speculative purposes.

The Company recognizes derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets at fair value. The Company records changes in the fair value (i.e., gains or losses) of the derivatives that have been designated as cash flow hedges in its consolidated balance sheets as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and in its consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) as a loss or gain on cash flow hedge valuation.

On November 30, 2023, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement that the Company designated as cash flow hedge to fix the variable interest rate on a portion of the Company’s term loan (see Note 6, “Debt Obligations” for information regarding our indebtedness). The interest rate swap agreement has a total notional amount of $50.0 million, has a fixed annual interest rate of 4.77%, and expires on September 29, 2026. As of March 29, 2024, the effective portion of the Company’s interest rate swap agreement designated as a cash flow hedge before tax effects was $0.5 million, of which no amounts were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to interest expense in the three months ended March 29, 2024. The Company expects to reclassify $0.1 million from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to interest expense within the next twelve months.

The fair values of the Company’s outstanding derivatives designated as hedging instruments were as follows:

		Fair Value of Derivative
		Instruments as of
	Balance Sheet Location	March 29, 2024		December 29, 2023
		(in thousands)
Interest rate swap agreement	Current assets	$	140	$	46
Interest rate swap agreement	Other noncurrent liabilities		(431)		(887)

The impact of the effective portions of derivative instruments in cash flow hedging relationships and fair value relationships on other comprehensive income (loss) was $0.4 million for the three months ended March 29, 2024.

The accumulated balances and reporting period activities for the periods below related to reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are summarized as follows:

	Gain (Loss) on		Accumulated Other
	Derivative Instruments		Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	(in thousands)
Balances at December 29, 2023	$	(664)	$	(664)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		549		549
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):		—		—
Income tax benefit (expense) related to derivative instruments		(115)		(115)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)		434		434
Balances at March 29, 2024	$	(230)	$	(230)

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DEBT OBLIGATIONS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2024

DEBT OBLIGATIONS

DEBT OBLIGATIONS

6. DEBT OBLIGATIONS

Debt obligations, excluding obligations under finance leases (see Note 7, Leases, below), consisted of the following:

	March 29,		December 29,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands)
Outstanding borrowings on Term Loan	$	96,250	$	98,125
Outstanding borrowings on Revolving Credit Facility		—		—
Other debt agreements		174		327
Total debt		96,424		98,452
Issuance costs and debt discounts		(929)		(1,021)
Subtotal		95,495		97,431
Less current portion of long-term debt		8,924		8,452
Long-term debt portion	$	86,571	$	88,979

The credit agreement governing the Company’s Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility require the Company to comply with certain financial obligations, including a maximum Net Leverage Ratio and a minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the credit agreement governing the Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility). The credit agreement also contains customary restrictive covenants. As of March 29, 2024, the Company was in compliance with all these covenants.

In addition, as of March 29, 2024, the Company’s composite interest rate, exclusive of the effects of upfront fees, undrawn fees and issuance cost amortization, was 7.7%.

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LEASES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2024

LEASES

LEASES

7. LEASES

The Company leases certain office facilities under long-term, non-cancellable operating leases that expire at various dates through 2029. In addition, the Company is obligated under finance leases for certain furniture and office equipment that expire at various dates through 2028.

From time to time, the Company enters into non-cancelable leases for some of its facility and equipment needs. These leases allow the Company to conserve cash by paying a monthly lease rental fee for the use of facilities and equipment rather than purchasing them. The Company’s leases typically have remaining terms ranging from one to eight years, some of which may include options to extend the leases for up to five years, and some of which may include options to terminate the leases within one year. Currently, all of the Company’s leases contain fixed payment terms. The Company may decide to cancel or terminate a lease before the end of its term, in which case the Company is typically liable to the lessor for the remaining lease payments under the term of the lease. Additionally, all of the Company’s month-to-month leases are cancelable by the Company or the lessor, at any time, and are not included in the Company’s right-of-use asset or lease liability. As of March 29, 2024, the Company had no leases with residual value guarantees. Typically, the Company has purchase options on the equipment underlying its long-term leases. The Company may exercise some of these purchase options when the need for equipment is on-going and the purchase option price is attractive. Nonperformance-related default covenants, cross-default provisions, subjective default provisions and material adverse change clauses contained in material lease agreements, if any, are also evaluated to determine whether those clauses affect lease classification in accordance with ASC Topic 842-10-25. Leases are accounted for as operating or financing leases, depending on the terms of the lease.

Financing Leases

The Company leases certain equipment under financing leases. The economic substance of the leases is a financing transaction for acquisition of equipment and leasehold improvements. Accordingly, the right-of-use assets for these leases are included in the balance sheets in equipment and leasehold improvements, net of accumulated depreciation, with a corresponding amount recorded in current portion of financing lease obligations or noncurrent portion of financing lease obligations, as appropriate. The financing lease assets are amortized over the life of the lease or, if shorter, the life of the leased asset, on a straight-line basis and included in depreciation expense. The interest associated with financing lease obligations is included in interest expense.

Right-of-use assets

Operating leases are included in right-of-use assets, and current portion of lease liability and noncurrent portion of lease liability, as appropriate. Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate to calculate present value, the Company determines this rate by estimating the Company’s incremental borrowing rate at the lease commencement date. The right-of-use asset also includes any lease payments made and initial direct costs incurred at lease commencement and excludes lease incentives. The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

The following is a summary of the Company’s lease expense:

	Three Months Ended
	March 29,		March 31,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands)
Operating lease cost	$	1,527	$	1,493
Sublease Income		(14)		—
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of assets		355		311
Interest on lease liabilities		31		22
Total net lease cost	$	1,899	$	1,826

The following is a summary of lease information presented on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet:

	March 29,			December 29,
	2024			2023
	(in thousands)
Operating leases:
Right-of-use assets	$	12,803		$	12,465
Lease liability	$	4,677		$	4,537
Lease liability, less current portion		9,948			9,758
Total lease liabilities	$	14,625		$	14,295
Finance leases (included in equipment and leasehold improvements, net):
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net	$	6,245		$	6,139
Accumulated depreciation		(4,099)			(3,837)
Total equipment and leasehold improvements, net	$	2,146		$	2,302
Finance lease obligations	$	1,111		$	1,186
Finance lease obligations, less current portion		1,112			1,184
Total finance lease obligations	$	2,223		$	2,370
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years):
Operating Leases		3.32			3.43
Finance Leases		2.25			2.31
Weighted average discount rate:
Operating Leases		6.67	%		6.09	%
Finance Leases		5.59	%		5.19	%

Rent expense was $1.7 million and $1.6 million for the three months ended March 29, 2024 and March 31, 2023, respectively.

The following is a summary of other information and supplemental cash flow information related to finance and operating leases:

	Three Months Ended
	March 29,		March 31,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands)
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flow from operating leases	$	1,569	$	1,570
Operating cash flow from finance leases		31		22
Financing cash flow from finance leases		345		303
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities:
Operating leases	$	1,627	$	2,120

The following is a summary of the maturities of lease liabilities as of March 29, 2024:

	Operating		Finance
	(in thousands)
Fiscal year:
Remainder of 2024	$	4,254	$	1,013
2025		5,069		782
2026		4,235		448
2027		1,935		112
2028		1,108		18
2029 and thereafter		94		—
Total lease payments		16,695		2,373
Less: Imputed interest		(2,070)		(150)
Total lease obligations		14,625		2,223
Less: Current obligations		4,677		1,111
Noncurrent lease obligations	$	9,948	$	1,112

The imputed interest for finance lease obligations represents the interest component of finance leases that will be recognized as interest expense in future periods. The financing component for operating lease obligations represents the effect of discounting the operating lease payments to their present value.

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COMMITMENTS AND VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2024

COMMITMENTS AND VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

COMMITMENTS AND VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

8. COMMITMENTS AND VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

Employee Benefit Plans

The Company has a qualified profit sharing plan pursuant to Code Section 401(a) and qualified cash or deferred arrangement pursuant to Code Section 401(k) covering all employees. Employees may elect to contribute up to 50% of their compensation limited to the amount allowed by tax laws. Company contributions are made solely at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors.

The Company’s defined contribution plan (the “Plan”) covers employees who have completed three months of service and who have attained 21 years of age. The Company elects to make matching contributions equal to 50% of the participants’ contributions to the Plan, up to 6% of the individual participant’s compensation, and subject to a maximum of $3,000 per employee. Under the Plan, the Company may make discretionary contributions to employee accounts.

During the three months ended March 29, 2024 and March 31, 2023, the Company made matching contributions of $1.1 million and $1.0 million, respectively.

Variable Interest Entities

On March 4, 2016, the Company and the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, WES, acquired substantially all of the assets of Genesys and assumed certain specified liabilities of Genesys (collectively, the “Purchase”) pursuant to an Asset Purchase and Merger Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2016 (the “Agreement”), by and among Willdan Group, Inc., WES, WESGEN (as defined below), Genesys and Ronald W. Mineo (“Mineo”) and Robert J. Braun (“Braun” and, together with Mineo, the “Genesys Shareholders”). On March 5, 2016, pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, WESGEN, Inc., a non-affiliated corporation (“WESGEN”), merged (the “Merger” and, together with the Purchase, the “Acquisition”) with Genesys, with Genesys remaining as the surviving corporation. Genesys was acquired to strengthen the Company’s power engineering capability in the northeastern U.S., and also to increase client exposure and experience with universities.

Genesys continues to be a professional corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York, wholly-owned by one or more licensed engineers. Pursuant to New York law, the Company does not own capital stock of Genesys. The Company has entered into an agreement with the Shareholder of Genesys pursuant to which the Shareholder will be prohibited from selling, transferring or encumbering the Shareholder’s ownership interest in Genesys without the Company’s consent. Notwithstanding the Company’s rights regarding the transfer of Genesys’s stock, the Company does not have control over the professional decision making of Genesys’s engineering services. The Company has entered into an administrative services agreement with Genesys pursuant to which WES will provide Genesys with ongoing administrative, operational and other non-professional support services. Genesys pays WES a service fee, which consists of all of the costs incurred by WES to provide the administrative services to Genesys plus ten percent of such costs, as well as any other costs that relate to professional service supplies and personnel costs. As a result of the administrative services agreement, the Company absorbs the expected losses of Genesys through its deferral of Genesys’s service fees owed to WES.

The Company manages Genesys and has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Genesys’s performance, in addition to being obligated to absorb expected losses from Genesys. Accordingly, the Company is the primary beneficiary of Genesys and consolidates Genesys as a VIE. In addition, the Company concluded there is no noncontrolling interest related to the consolidation of Genesys because the Company determined that (i) the shareholder of Genesys does not have more than a nominal amount of equity investment at risk, (ii) WES absorbs the expected losses of Genesys through its deferral of Genesys’s service fees owed to WES and the Company has, since entering into the administrative services agreement, had to continuously defer service fees for Genesys, and (iii) the Company believes Genesys will continue to have a shortfall on payment of its service fees for the foreseeable future, leaving no expected residual returns for the shareholder. As of March 29, 2024, the Company had one VIE — Genesys.

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SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2024

SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

9. SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Segment Information

The Company’s two segments are Energy, and Engineering and Consulting, and the Company’s chief operating decision maker, which continues to be its chief executive officer, receives and reviews financial information in this format.

There were no intersegment sales during the three months ended March 29, 2024 and March 31, 2023. The Company’s chief operating decision maker evaluates the performance of each segment based upon income or loss from operations before income taxes. Certain segment asset information including expenditures for long-lived assets has not been presented as it is not reported to or reviewed by the chief operating decision maker. In addition, enterprise-wide service line contract revenue is not included as it is impracticable to report this information for each group of similar services.

Financial information with respect to the reportable segments and reconciliation to the amounts reported in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements is as follows:

			Engineering		Unallocated				Consolidated
	Energy		& Consulting		Corporate		Intersegment		Total
	(in thousands)
Fiscal Three Months Ended March 29, 2024
Contract revenue	$	100,746	$	21,743	$	-	$	-	$	122,489
Depreciation and amortization		3,236		356		-		-		3,592
Interest expense, net		1		-		2,136		-		2,137
Segment profit (loss) before income tax expense		4,311		2,344		(2,727)		-		3,928
Income tax expense (benefit)		1,083		588		(685)		-		986
Net income (loss)		3,229		1,756		(2,043)		-		2,942
Segment assets (1)		318,808		26,613		85,609		(23,130)		407,900
Fiscal Three Months Ended March 31, 2023
Contract revenue	$	83,285	$	19,318	$	-	$	-	$	102,603
Depreciation and amortization		3,924		276		-		-		4,200
Interest expense, net		2		-		2,464		-		2,466
Segment profit (loss) before income tax expense		2,771		2,587		(3,670)		-		1,688
Income tax expense (benefit)		1,241		1,158		(1,643)		-		756
Net income (loss)		1,530		1,428		(2,026)		-		932
Segment assets (1)		323,578		23,587		69,332		(23,130)		393,367

(1) Segment assets are presented net of intercompany receivables.

The following tables provide information about disaggregated revenue by contract type, client type and geographical region:

	Three months ended March 29, 2024
	Energy		Engineering and Consulting		Total
	(in thousands)
Contract Type
Time-and-materials	$	8,537	$	16,399	$	24,936
Unit-based		46,957		4,511		51,468
Fixed price		45,252		833		46,085
Total (1)	$	100,746	$	21,743	$	122,489
Client Type
Commercial	$	7,203	$	1,580	$	8,783
Government		35,820		20,098		55,918
Utilities (2)		57,723		65		57,788
Total (1)	$	100,746	$	21,743	$	122,489
Geography (3)
Domestic	$	100,746	$	21,743	$	122,489

	Three months ended March 31, 2023
	Energy		Engineering and Consulting		Total
	(in thousands)
Contract Type
Time-and-materials	$	7,709	$	14,554	$	22,263
Unit-based		44,927		3,616		48,543
Fixed price		30,649		1,148		31,797
Total (1)	$	83,285	$	19,318	$	102,603
Client Type
Commercial	$	6,719	$	1,164	$	7,883
Government		26,075		18,095		44,170
Utilities (2)		50,491		59		50,550
Total (1)	$	83,285	$	19,318	$	102,603
Geography (3)
Domestic	$	83,285	$	19,318	$	102,603

(1) Amounts may not add to the totals due to rounding.

(2) Includes the portion of revenue related to small business programs paid by the end user/customer.

(3) Revenue from the Company’s foreign operations were not material for the three months ended March 29, 2024 and March 31, 2023.

Geographical Information

Substantially all of the Company’s consolidated revenue was derived from its operations in the U.S. The Company operates through a network of offices spread across 22 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and Canada. Revenues from the Company’s Puerto Rican and Canadian operations were not material for the three months ended March 29, 2024 nor the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Customer Concentration

For the three months ended March 29, 2024 and March 31, 2023, the Company’s top 10 customers accounted for 49.2%, and 52.2%, respectively, of the Company’s consolidated contract revenue.

For the three months ended March 29, 2024, the Company had no individual customers that accounted for more than 10% of its consolidated contract revenue. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company had one customer, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (“LADWP”), that accounted for 11.1% of its consolidated contract revenues.

On a segment basis, the Company had individual customers that accounted for more than 10% of its segment contract revenues. For the three months ended March 29, 2024, the Company derived 10.7% of its Energy segment revenues from one customer, LADWP, and no single customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s Engineering and Consulting segment revenues. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company derived 13.7% of its Energy segment revenues from one customer, LADWP, and no single customer accounted for 10% or more of its Engineering and Consulting segment revenues.

On a geographical basis, the Company’s largest clients are based in California and New York. For the three months ended March 29, 2024 and March 31, 2023, services provided to clients in California accounted for 43.5% and 42.4%, respectively, of the Company’s consolidated contract revenue, and services provided to clients in New York accounted for 27.1% and 24.5%, respectively, of the Company’s consolidated contract revenue. 

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INCOME TAXES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2024

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES

10. INCOME TAXES

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities, subject to a judgmental assessment of the recoverability of deferred tax assets. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more likely than not that some of the deferred tax assets may not be realized. Significant judgment is applied when assessing the need for valuation allowances and includes the evaluation of historical income (loss) adjusted for the effects of non-recurring items and the impact of recent business combinations. Areas of estimation include the Company’s consideration of future taxable income which is driven by verifiable signed contracts and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. Should a change in circumstances lead to a change in judgment about the utilization of deferred tax assets in future years, the Company would adjust the related valuation allowances in the period that the change in circumstances occurs, along with a corresponding increase or charge to income.

At the end of fiscal year 2023, the Company’s total valuation allowance was $1.2 million, remaining unchanged from the end of fiscal year 2022. As of March 29, 2024, the Company assessed all available positive and negative evidence available to determine whether, based on the weight of that evidence, there was a change in judgment related to the utilization of deferred tax assets in future years. The Company concluded that as of March 29, 2024, the valuation allowance for the Company’s deferred tax assets was appropriate in accordance with ASC 740. Consequently, there was no change to the valuation allowance during the three months ended March 29, 2024.

For acquired business entities, if the Company identifies changes to acquired deferred tax asset valuation allowances or liabilities related to uncertain tax positions during the measurement period and they relate to new information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date, those changes are considered a measurement period adjustment, and the Company records the offset to goodwill. The Company records all other changes to deferred tax asset valuation allowances and liabilities related to uncertain tax positions in current period income tax expense.

The Company recognizes the tax benefit from uncertain tax positions if it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on examination by the tax authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit is measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. During the three months ended March 29, 2024, and the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company did not record a liability for uncertain tax positions.

Based on the Company’s estimates and determination of an effective tax rate for the year, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $1.0 million for the three months ended March 29, 2024, compared to an income tax expense of $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. During the three months ended March 29, 2024, the difference between the effective tax rate and the federal statutory rate was primarily attributable to state taxes, non-deductible stock compensation, nondeductible executive compensation, research and development tax credits, and the commercial building energy efficiency deduction. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the difference between the effective tax rate and the federal statutory rate was primarily attributable to state taxes, non-deductible stock compensation, nondeductible executive compensation, research and development tax credits, and the commercial building energy efficiency deduction.

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EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2024

EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS)

EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS)

11. EARNINGS PER SHARE (“EPS”)

Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding and dilutive potential common shares for the period. Potential common shares include the weighted-average dilutive effects of outstanding stock options and restricted stock awards using the treasury stock method.

The following table sets forth the number of weighted-average common shares outstanding used to compute basic and diluted EPS:

	Three months ended
	March 29,		March 31,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Net income (loss)	$	2,942	$	932
Weighted-average common shares outstanding		13,605		13,266
Effect of dilutive stock options and restricted stock awards		305		204
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-diluted		13,910		13,470
Earnings (Loss) per share:
Basic	$	0.22	$	0.07
Diluted	$	0.21	$	0.07

For the three months ended March 29, 2024 and March 31, 2023, the Company excluded 335,000 and 397,000 common shares subject to outstanding equity awards, respectively, from the calculation of diluted shares because their impact would have been anti-dilutive.

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CONTINGENCIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2024

CONTINGENCIES

CONTINGENCIES

12. CONTINGENCIES

Claims and Lawsuits

The Company is subject to claims and lawsuits from time to time, including those alleging professional errors or omissions that arise in the ordinary course of business against firms that operate in the engineering and consulting professions. The Company carries professional liability insurance, subject to certain deductibles and policy limits, for such claims as they arise and may from time to time establish reserves for litigation that is considered probable of a loss.

In accordance with accounting standards regarding loss contingencies, the Company accrues an undiscounted liability for those contingencies where the incurrence of a loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated, and discloses the amount accrued and an estimate of any reasonably possible loss in excess of the amount accrued, if such disclosure is necessary for the Company’s financial statements not to be misleading. The Company does not accrue liabilities when the likelihood that the liability has been incurred is probable but the amount cannot be reasonably estimated, or when the liability is believed to be only reasonably possible or remote.

Because litigation outcomes are inherently unpredictable, the Company’s evaluation of legal proceedings often involves a series of complex assessments by management about future events and can rely heavily on estimates and assumptions. If the assessments indicate that loss contingencies that could be material to any one of the Company’s financial statements are not probable, but are reasonably possible, or are probable, but cannot be estimated, then the Company will disclose the nature of the loss contingencies, together with an estimate of the possible loss or a statement that such loss is not reasonably estimable. While the consequences of certain unresolved proceedings are not presently determinable, and a reasonable estimate of the probable and reasonably possible loss or range of loss in excess of amounts accrued for such proceedings cannot be made, an adverse outcome from such proceedings could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s earnings in any given reporting period. However, in the opinion of the Company’s management, after consulting with legal counsel, and taking into account insurance coverage, the ultimate liability related to current outstanding claims and lawsuits is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial statements.

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SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2024

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

13. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

In accordance with ASC Topic 855, Subsequent Events, the Company evaluates subsequent events up until the date the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are issued. As of May 2, 2024, there were no subsequent events required to be reported.

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ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS OF THE COMPANY (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2024

ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS OF THE COMPANY

Basis of Presentation

The accounting policies followed by the Company are set forth in Part II, Item 8, Note 1, Organization and Operations of the Company, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary to fairly state the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been made. All such adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the Consolidated Financial Statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year.

Fiscal Years

Fiscal Years

The Company operates and reports its annual financial results based on 52 or 53-week periods ending on the Friday closest to December 31. The Company operates and reports its quarterly financial results based on the 13-week period ending on the Friday closest to June 30, September 30, and December 31 and the 13 or 14-week period ending on the Friday closest to March 31, as applicable. Fiscal year 2024, which ends on December 27, 2024, will be comprised of 52 weeks, with all quarters consisting of 13 weeks each. Fiscal year 2023, which ended on December 29, 2023, was comprised of 52 weeks, with all quarters consisting of 13 weeks each. All references to years in the notes to consolidated financial statements represent fiscal years.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements. Estimates also affect the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Accounting Pronouncements Recently Issued

Accounting Pronouncements Recently Issued

In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU’) No. 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 amends the rules on income tax disclosures to require entities to disclose specific categories in the rate reconciliation, the income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense or benefit (separated between domestic and foreign) and income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations (separated by federal, state, and foreign). In addition, ASU 2023-09 requires entities to disclose their income tax payments to international, federal, state, and local jurisdictions, among other changes. The amendments can be applied on a prospective basis although retrospective application is permitted. The amendments are effective for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this update will have on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-07”). ASU 2023-07 expands segment disclosure requirements through enhanced disclosures related to significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), a description of other segment items by reportable segment, and any additional measures of a segment's profit or loss used by the CODM when deciding how to allocate resources. All disclosure requirements under ASU 2023-07 are also required for public entities with a single reportable segment. The amendments are effective for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this update will have on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In October 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-06, “Disclosure Improvements: Codification Amendments in Response to the SEC’s Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative” (“ASU 2023-06”). ASU 2023-06 amends U.S. GAAP to reflect updates and simplifications to certain disclosure and presentation requirements referred to FASB by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The targeted amendments incorporate 14 of the 27 disclosures referred by the SEC into codification. Each amendment in ASU 2023-06 is effective on either the date on which the SEC’s removal of the related disclosure requirement from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K becomes effective, or on June 30, 2027, if the SEC has not removed the requirements by that date. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this update will have on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

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REVENUES (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2024

REVENUES

Schedule of Contracts by Reportable Segments and Type of Contracts

Segment	Contract Type	Revenue Recognition Method
	Time-and-materials	Time-and-materials
Energy	Unit-based	Unit-based
	Software license	Unit-based
	Fixed price	Percentage-of-completion
	Time-and-materials	Time-and-materials
Engineering and Consulting	Unit-based	Unit-based
	Fixed price	Percentage-of-completion

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SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT DATA (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2024

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT DATA

Schedule of reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash

	March 29,		December 29,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	46,925	$	23,397
Restricted cash		—		—
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the consolidated statement of cash flows	$	46,925	$	23,397

Schedule of equipment and leasehold improvements

	March 29,		December 29,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands)
Furniture and fixtures	$	4,403	$	4,379
Computer hardware and software		46,384		44,594
Leasehold improvements		3,466		3,382
Equipment under finance leases		6,245		6,139
Automobiles, trucks, and field equipment		3,388		3,373
Subtotal		63,886		61,867
Accumulated depreciation and amortization		(36,347)		(34,770)
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net	$	27,539	$	27,097

Schedule of accrued liabilities

	March 29,		December 29,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands)
Accrued subcontractor costs	$	22,896	$	30,196
Accrued bonuses		4,542		14,423
Employee withholdings		4,779		3,123
Compensation and payroll taxes		4,163		3,125
Rebate and other		—		139
Accrued accounting costs and taxes		2,031		3,123
Total accrued liabilities	$	38,411	$	54,129

Schedule of changes in the carrying value of goodwill by reporting unit

	December 29,		Additional		Additions /		March 29,
	2023		Purchase Cost		Adjustments		2024
	(in thousands)
Reporting Unit:
Energy	$	129,375	$	—	$	—	$	129,375
Engineering and Consulting		1,769		—		—		1,769
	$	131,144	$	—	$	—	$	131,144

Schedule of gross amounts and accumulated amortization of acquired identifiable intangible assets with finite useful lives

	March 29, 2024				December 29, 2023
	Gross		Accumulated		Gross		Accumulated		Amortization
	Amount		Amortization		Amount		Amortization		Period
	(in thousands)								(in years)
Finite:
Backlog	$	8,306	$	8,148	$	8,306	$	8,095	1.0
Tradename		15,936		12,835		15,936		12,695	2.5	-	6.0
Non-compete agreements		1,613		1,452		1,613		1,440	4.0	-	5.0
Developed technology		15,810		14,791		15,810		14,521	8.0
Customer relationships		58,149		32,503		58,149		31,107	5.0	-	8.0
Total intangible assets	$	99,814	$	69,729	$	99,814	$	67,858

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DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2024

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Schedule of the fair values of outstanding derivatives designated as hedging instruments

		Fair Value of Derivative
		Instruments as of
	Balance Sheet Location	March 29, 2024		December 29, 2023
		(in thousands)
Interest rate swap agreement	Current assets	$	140	$	46
Interest rate swap agreement	Other noncurrent liabilities		(431)		(887)

Schedule of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

	Gain (Loss) on		Accumulated Other
	Derivative Instruments		Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	(in thousands)
Balances at December 29, 2023	$	(664)	$	(664)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		549		549
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):		—		—
Income tax benefit (expense) related to derivative instruments		(115)		(115)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)		434		434
Balances at March 29, 2024	$	(230)	$	(230)

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DEBT OBLIGATIONS (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2024

DEBT OBLIGATIONS

Schedule of debt obligations, excluding obligations under capital leases

	March 29,		December 29,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands)
Outstanding borrowings on Term Loan	$	96,250	$	98,125
Outstanding borrowings on Revolving Credit Facility		—		—
Other debt agreements		174		327
Total debt		96,424		98,452
Issuance costs and debt discounts		(929)		(1,021)
Subtotal		95,495		97,431
Less current portion of long-term debt		8,924		8,452
Long-term debt portion	$	86,571	$	88,979

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LEASES (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2024

LEASES

Summary of the Lease Expense

	Three Months Ended
	March 29,		March 31,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands)
Operating lease cost	$	1,527	$	1,493
Sublease Income		(14)		—
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of assets		355		311
Interest on lease liabilities		31		22
Total net lease cost	$	1,899	$	1,826

Summary of Lease Information Presented on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

	March 29,			December 29,
	2024			2023
	(in thousands)
Operating leases:
Right-of-use assets	$	12,803		$	12,465
Lease liability	$	4,677		$	4,537
Lease liability, less current portion		9,948			9,758
Total lease liabilities	$	14,625		$	14,295
Finance leases (included in equipment and leasehold improvements, net):
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net	$	6,245		$	6,139
Accumulated depreciation		(4,099)			(3,837)
Total equipment and leasehold improvements, net	$	2,146		$	2,302
Finance lease obligations	$	1,111		$	1,186
Finance lease obligations, less current portion		1,112			1,184
Total finance lease obligations	$	2,223		$	2,370
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years):
Operating Leases		3.32			3.43
Finance Leases		2.25			2.31
Weighted average discount rate:
Operating Leases		6.67	%		6.09	%
Finance Leases		5.59	%		5.19	%

Summary of Other Information and Supplemental Cash Flow Information Related to Finance and Operating Leases

	Three Months Ended
	March 29,		March 31,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands)
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flow from operating leases	$	1,569	$	1,570
Operating cash flow from finance leases		31		22
Financing cash flow from finance leases		345		303
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities:
Operating leases	$	1,627	$	2,120

Summary of the Maturities of Operating Lease Liabilities

	Operating		Finance
	(in thousands)
Fiscal year:
Remainder of 2024	$	4,254	$	1,013
2025		5,069		782
2026		4,235		448
2027		1,935		112
2028		1,108		18
2029 and thereafter		94		—
Total lease payments		16,695		2,373
Less: Imputed interest		(2,070)		(150)
Total lease obligations		14,625		2,223
Less: Current obligations		4,677		1,111
Noncurrent lease obligations	$	9,948	$	1,112

Summary of the Maturities of Finance Lease Liabilities

	Operating		Finance
	(in thousands)
Fiscal year:
Remainder of 2024	$	4,254	$	1,013
2025		5,069		782
2026		4,235		448
2027		1,935		112
2028		1,108		18
2029 and thereafter		94		—
Total lease payments		16,695		2,373
Less: Imputed interest		(2,070)		(150)
Total lease obligations		14,625		2,223
Less: Current obligations		4,677		1,111
Noncurrent lease obligations	$	9,948	$	1,112

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SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2024

SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Schedule of financial information with respect to the reportable segments

			Engineering		Unallocated				Consolidated
	Energy		& Consulting		Corporate		Intersegment		Total
	(in thousands)
Fiscal Three Months Ended March 29, 2024
Contract revenue	$	100,746	$	21,743	$	-	$	-	$	122,489
Depreciation and amortization		3,236		356		-		-		3,592
Interest expense, net		1		-		2,136		-		2,137
Segment profit (loss) before income tax expense		4,311		2,344		(2,727)		-		3,928
Income tax expense (benefit)		1,083		588		(685)		-		986
Net income (loss)		3,229		1,756		(2,043)		-		2,942
Segment assets (1)		318,808		26,613		85,609		(23,130)		407,900
Fiscal Three Months Ended March 31, 2023
Contract revenue	$	83,285	$	19,318	$	-	$	-	$	102,603
Depreciation and amortization		3,924		276		-		-		4,200
Interest expense, net		2		-		2,464		-		2,466
Segment profit (loss) before income tax expense		2,771		2,587		(3,670)		-		1,688
Income tax expense (benefit)		1,241		1,158		(1,643)		-		756
Net income (loss)		1,530		1,428		(2,026)		-		932
Segment assets (1)		323,578		23,587		69,332		(23,130)		393,367

(1) Segment assets are presented net of intercompany receivables.

Schedule of disaggregation of revenue

	Three months ended March 29, 2024
	Energy		Engineering and Consulting		Total
	(in thousands)
Contract Type
Time-and-materials	$	8,537	$	16,399	$	24,936
Unit-based		46,957		4,511		51,468
Fixed price		45,252		833		46,085
Total (1)	$	100,746	$	21,743	$	122,489
Client Type
Commercial	$	7,203	$	1,580	$	8,783
Government		35,820		20,098		55,918
Utilities (2)		57,723		65		57,788
Total (1)	$	100,746	$	21,743	$	122,489
Geography (3)
Domestic	$	100,746	$	21,743	$	122,489

	Three months ended March 31, 2023
	Energy		Engineering and Consulting		Total
	(in thousands)
Contract Type
Time-and-materials	$	7,709	$	14,554	$	22,263
Unit-based		44,927		3,616		48,543
Fixed price		30,649		1,148		31,797
Total (1)	$	83,285	$	19,318	$	102,603
Client Type
Commercial	$	6,719	$	1,164	$	7,883
Government		26,075		18,095		44,170
Utilities (2)		50,491		59		50,550
Total (1)	$	83,285	$	19,318	$	102,603
Geography (3)
Domestic	$	83,285	$	19,318	$	102,603

(1) Amounts may not add to the totals due to rounding.

(2) Includes the portion of revenue related to small business programs paid by the end user/customer.

(3) Revenue from the Company’s foreign operations were not material for the three months ended March 29, 2024 and March 31, 2023.

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EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS) (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2024

EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS)

Schedule of number of weighted-average common shares outstanding used to compute basic and diluted EPS

	Three months ended
	March 29,		March 31,
	2024		2023
	(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Net income (loss)	$	2,942	$	932
Weighted-average common shares outstanding		13,605		13,266
Effect of dilutive stock options and restricted stock awards		305		204
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-diluted		13,910		13,470
Earnings (Loss) per share:
Basic	$	0.22	$	0.07
Diluted	$	0.21	$	0.07

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ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS OF THE COMPANY - Segment Information (Details) - segment	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Segment Information
Number of reporting segments	2	2

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ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS OF THE COMPANY - Fiscal Years (Details)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 27, 2024	Sep. 27, 2024	Jun. 28, 2024	Mar. 29, 2024	Dec. 29, 2023	Sep. 29, 2023	Jun. 30, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023	Dec. 27, 2024	Dec. 29, 2023
Entity Information
Length of fiscal period	91 days	91 days	91 days	91 days	91 days	91 days	91 days	91 days	364 days	364 days
Minimum
Entity Information
Length of fiscal period				91 days				91 days	364 days	364 days
Maximum
Entity Information
Length of fiscal period				98 days				98 days	371 days	371 days

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REVENUES - Segment Information (Details) - segment	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Segment Information
Number of reporting segments	2	2

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REVENUES - General Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023	Dec. 29, 2023
Revenue
Payroll taxes, bonuses and employee benefit costs for all Company personnel	$ 26,509	$ 22,385
Revenue of the entity recorded in which it acts solely in the capacity of an agent	0
Retained accounts receivable	$ 16,100		$ 14,300
Maximum
Revenue
Percent of revenue (as a percent)	3.00%
Minimum
Revenue
Percent of revenue (as a percent)	2.00%
Cost of Sales
Revenue
Payroll taxes, bonuses and employee benefit costs for all Company personnel	$ 0
Allocation of facilities costs to contract revenue	$ 0

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SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT DATA - Restricted Cash (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 29, 2024	Dec. 29, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023	Dec. 30, 2022
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, and Restricted Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 46,925	$ 23,397
Restricted cash	0	0
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the consolidated statement of cash flows	$ 46,925	$ 23,397	$ 17,853	$ 19,485
Restricted Cash, Statement of Financial Position	Restricted cash	Restricted cash

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SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT DATA - Equipment and Leasehold Improvements, Net - Tabular Disclosure (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 29, 2024	Dec. 29, 2023
Equipment and Leasehold Improvements
Equipment under finance leases	$ 6,245	$ 6,139
Equipment and leasehold improvements, gross	63,886	61,867
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(36,347)	(34,770)
Total equipment and leasehold improvements, net	27,539	27,097
Furniture and Fixtures
Equipment and Leasehold Improvements
Equipment and leasehold improvements	4,403	4,379
Computer Hardware and Software
Equipment and Leasehold Improvements
Equipment and leasehold improvements	46,384	44,594
Leasehold Improvements
Equipment and Leasehold Improvements
Equipment and leasehold improvements	3,466	3,382
Automobiles Trucks and Field Equipment
Equipment and Leasehold Improvements
Equipment and leasehold improvements	$ 3,388	$ 3,373

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SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT DATA - Equipment and Leasehold Improvements, Net - Depreciation and Amortization Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023	Dec. 29, 2023
Amortization Expense
Amortization expense	$ 355	$ 311	$ 1,300

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SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT DATA - Accrued Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 29, 2024	Dec. 29, 2023
Accrued Liabilities
Accrued subcontractor costs	$ 22,896	$ 30,196
Accrued bonuses	4,542	14,423
Employee withholdings	4,779	3,123
Compensation and payroll taxes	4,163	3,125
Rebate and other		139
Accrued accounting costs and taxes	2,031	3,123
Total accrued liabilities	$ 38,411	$ 54,129

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SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT DATA - Goodwill (Details) $ in Thousands	Mar. 29, 2024 USD ($)
Changes in carrying value of goodwill
Goodwill at beginning of period	$ 131,144
Goodwill at end of period	131,144
Energy
Changes in carrying value of goodwill
Goodwill at beginning of period	129,375
Goodwill at end of period	129,375
Engineering and Consulting
Changes in carrying value of goodwill
Goodwill at beginning of period	1,769
Goodwill at end of period	$ 1,769

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SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT DATA - Finite-lived Intangible Assets - Gross Amounts and Accumulated Amortization (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 29, 2024	Dec. 29, 2023
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Total finite intangible assets	$ 99,814	$ 99,814
Accumulated Amortization	69,729	67,858
Order or Production Backlog
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Total finite intangible assets	8,306	8,306
Accumulated Amortization	8,148	8,095
Trade Names
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Total finite intangible assets	15,936	15,936
Accumulated Amortization	12,835	12,695
Noncompete Agreements
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Total finite intangible assets	1,613	1,613
Accumulated Amortization	1,452	1,440
Developed Technology Rights
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Total finite intangible assets	15,810	15,810
Accumulated Amortization	14,791	14,521
Customer Relationships
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Total finite intangible assets	58,149	58,149
Accumulated Amortization	$ 32,503	$ 31,107

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SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT DATA - Finite-lived Intangible Assets - Amortization Period (Details)	Mar. 29, 2024
Order or Production Backlog
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Amortization Period	1 year
Trade Names | Minimum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Amortization Period	2 years 6 months
Trade Names | Maximum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Amortization Period	6 years
Noncompete Agreements | Minimum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Amortization Period	4 years
Noncompete Agreements | Maximum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Amortization Period	5 years
Developed Technology Rights
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Amortization Period	8 years
Customer Relationships | Minimum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Amortization Period	5 years
Customer Relationships | Maximum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets
Amortization Period	8 years

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DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - General Information (Details) - Interest Rate Swap - Cash Flow Hedging $ in Millions	Nov. 30, 2023 USD ($)
Derivative Financial Instruments
Derivative, inception date	Nov. 30, 2023
Notional amount	$ 50.0
Fixed rate (as a percent)	4.77%
Derivative, contract end date	Sep. 29, 2026

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DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - Cash Flow Hedge Effectiveness (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024 USD ($)
Derivative Financial Instruments
Other comprehensive income (loss), cash flow hedge, gain (loss), before reclassification and tax	$ 500
Other comprehensive income (loss), cash flow hedge, gain (loss), reclassification, before tax	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), cash flow hedge, gain (loss), after reclassification, before tax, total	400
Derivative instruments, gain (loss) reclassification from accumulated OCI to income, estimated net amount to be transferred	$ 100
Derivative instruments, gain (loss) reclassification from accumulated OCI to income, estimate of time to transfer	12 months

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DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - Fair Value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 29, 2024	Dec. 29, 2023
Derivative Assets
Derivative asset, current	$ 140	$ 46
Derivative Asset, Current, Statement of Financial Position	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Derivative Liabilities
Derivative liability, noncurrent	$ (431)	$ (887)
Derivative Liability, Noncurrent, Statement of Financial Position	Other noncurrent liabilities	Other noncurrent liabilities

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DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024 USD ($)
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance	$ 199,845
Other comprehensive income (loss)	434
Balance	205,515
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance	(664)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	549
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income: income tax benefit (expense) related to derivative instruments	(115)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	434
Balance	(230)
Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance	(664)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	549
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income: income tax benefit (expense) related to derivative instruments	(115)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	434
Balance	$ (230)

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DEBT OBLIGATIONS - Composition (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 29, 2024	Dec. 29, 2023
Debt Obligations
Total debt	$ 96,424	$ 98,452
Issuance costs and debt discounts	(929)	(1,021)
Subtotal - long term debt	95,495	97,431
Notes Payable to Banks | Term Loan
Debt Obligations
Total debt	96,250	98,125
Notes Payable, Other Payables | Other Debt
Debt Obligations
Total debt	$ 174	$ 327

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DEBT OBLIGATIONS - Classification (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 29, 2024	Dec. 29, 2023
Debt Obligations
Subtotal	$ 95,495	$ 97,431
Less current portion of long-term debt	8,924	8,452
Long-term debt portion	$ 86,571	$ 88,979

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DEBT OBLIGATIONS - New Credit Facilities (Details)	Mar. 29, 2024
Notes Payable to Banks | New Credit Facilities
Debt Obligations
Composite interest rate (as a percent)	7.70%

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LEASES - General Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024 USD ($)
Leases
Operating lease, option to extend	true
Operating lease, option to terminate	true
Residual value guarantee	$ 0
Minimum
Leases
Operating lease, remaining lease term	1 year
Maximum
Leases
Operating lease, remaining lease term	8 years
Operating lease, extension term	5 years
Operating lease, terminate term	1 year

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LEASES - Lease Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023	Dec. 29, 2023
Lease cost
Operating lease cost	$ 1,527	$ 1,493
Sublease Income	(14)
Amortization of assets	355	311	$ 1,300
Interest on lease liabilities	31	22
Total net lease cost	$ 1,899	$ 1,826

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LEASES - Consolidated Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 29, 2024	Dec. 29, 2023
Leases
Right-of-use assets	$ 12,803	$ 12,465
Operating leases, lease liabilities
Lease liability	4,677	4,537
Lease liability, less current portion	9,948	9,758
Total lease liabilities	14,625	14,295
Finance leases (included in equipment and leasehold improvements, net):
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net	6,245	6,139
Accumulated depreciation	(4,099)	(3,837)
Total equipment and leasehold improvements, net	$ 2,146	$ 2,302
Finance Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Statement of Financial Position	Equipment and leasehold improvements, net	Equipment and leasehold improvements, net
Finance lease obligations
Finance lease obligations	$ 1,111	$ 1,186
Finance lease obligations, less current portion	1,112	1,184
Total finance lease obligations	$ 2,223	$ 2,370

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LEASES - Additional Information (Details)	Mar. 29, 2024	Dec. 29, 2023
Leases
Operating leases, weighted average remaining lease term	3 years 3 months 25 days	3 years 5 months 4 days
Finance leases, weighted average remaining lease term	2 years 3 months	2 years 3 months 21 days
Operating leases, weighted average discount rate	6.67%	6.09%
Finance leases, weighted average discount rate	5.59%	5.19%

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LEASES - Rent Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
LEASES
Rent expenses	$ 1.7	$ 1.6

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LEASES - Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flow from operating leases	$ 1,569	$ 1,570
Operating cash flow from finance leases	31	22
Financing cash flow from finance leases	345	303
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities for operating leases	$ 1,627	$ 2,120

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LEASES - Operating Leases - Maturities of Lease Liabilities (Details) $ in Thousands	Mar. 29, 2024 USD ($)
Operating
Remainder of 2024	$ 4,254
2025	5,069
2026	4,235
2027	1,935
2028	1,108
2029 and thereafter	94
Total lease payments	$ 16,695

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LEASES - Operating Leases - Gross Difference (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 29, 2024	Dec. 29, 2023
Operating
Total lease payments	$ 16,695
Less: Imputed interest	(2,070)
Total lease liabilities	14,625	$ 14,295
Less: Current obligations	4,677	4,537
Noncurrent lease obligations	$ 9,948	$ 9,758

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LEASES - Finance Leases - Maturities of Lease Liabilities (Details) $ in Thousands	Mar. 29, 2024 USD ($)
Finance
Remainder of 2024	$ 1,013
2025	782
2026	448
2027	112
2028	18
Total lease payments	$ 2,373

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LEASES - Finance Leases - Gross Difference (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 29, 2024	Dec. 29, 2023
Finance
Total lease payments	$ 2,373
Less: Imputed interest	(150)
Total finance lease obligations	2,223	$ 2,370
Less: Current obligations	1,111	1,186
Noncurrent lease obligations	$ 1,112	$ 1,184

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COMMITMENTS AND VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES - Employee Benefit Plans (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024 USD ($) Y	Mar. 31, 2023 USD ($)
Qualified Cash or Deferred Arrangement
Employee Benefit Plans
Defined Contribution Plan, Tax Status	us-gaap:QualifiedPlanMember
Maximum employee contribution as a percentage of compensation under 401(k) Plan (as a percent)	50.00%
Defined Contribution Plan
Employee Benefit Plans
Service period	3 months
Attained age | Y	21
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution, percent of match (as a percent)	50.00%
Defined contribution plan, employer matching contribution, percent of employees' gross pay (as a percent)	6.00%
Maximum employer contribution per employee	$ 3,000
Employer matching contributions	$ 1,100,000	$ 1,000,000.0

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COMMITMENTS AND VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES - Variable Interest Entities (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024 entity
COMMITMENTS AND VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
Percentage of costs reimbursed to WES by Genesys	10.00%
Number of VIEs	1

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SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION - Segment Information (Details) - segment	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Segment Information
Number of reporting segments	2	2

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SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION - Statement of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Segment reconciliation
Contract revenue	$ 122,489	$ 102,603
Depreciation and amortization	3,592	4,200
Interest expense, net	2,137	2,466
Segment profit (loss) before income tax expense	3,928	1,688
Income tax (benefit) expense	986	756
Net Income (Loss)	2,942	932
Energy
Segment reconciliation
Contract revenue	100,746	83,285
Engineering and Consulting
Segment reconciliation
Contract revenue	21,743	19,318
Operating Segments | Energy
Segment reconciliation
Contract revenue	100,746	83,285
Depreciation and amortization	3,236	3,924
Interest expense, net	1	2
Segment profit (loss) before income tax expense	4,311	2,771
Income tax (benefit) expense	1,083	1,241
Net Income (Loss)	3,229	1,530
Operating Segments | Engineering and Consulting
Segment reconciliation
Contract revenue	21,743	19,318
Depreciation and amortization	356	276
Segment profit (loss) before income tax expense	2,344	2,587
Income tax (benefit) expense	588	1,158
Net Income (Loss)	1,756	1,428
Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment reconciliation
Interest expense, net	2,136	2,464
Segment profit (loss) before income tax expense	(2,727)	(3,670)
Income tax (benefit) expense	(685)	(1,643)
Net Income (Loss)	$ (2,043)	$ (2,026)

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SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION - Segment Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 29, 2024	Dec. 29, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023
Segment Reporting
Segment assets	$ 407,900	$ 415,588	$ 393,367
Operating Segments | Energy
Segment Reporting
Segment assets	318,808		323,578
Operating Segments | Engineering and Consulting
Segment Reporting
Segment assets	26,613		23,587
Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment Reporting
Segment assets	85,609		69,332
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting
Segment assets	$ (23,130)		$ (23,130)

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SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Revenue
Revenue	$ 122,489	$ 102,603
Domestic
Revenue
Revenue	122,489	102,603
Energy
Revenue
Revenue	100,746	83,285
Energy | Domestic
Revenue
Revenue	100,746	83,285
Engineering and Consulting
Revenue
Revenue	21,743	19,318
Engineering and Consulting | Domestic
Revenue
Revenue	21,743	19,318
Commercial
Revenue
Revenue	8,783	7,883
Commercial | Energy
Revenue
Revenue	7,203	6,719
Commercial | Engineering and Consulting
Revenue
Revenue	1,580	1,164
Government
Revenue
Revenue	55,918	44,170
Government | Energy
Revenue
Revenue	35,820	26,075
Government | Engineering and Consulting
Revenue
Revenue	20,098	18,095
Utilities
Revenue
Revenue	57,788	50,550
Utilities | Energy
Revenue
Revenue	57,723	50,491
Utilities | Engineering and Consulting
Revenue
Revenue	65	59
Time-and-Materials Contract
Revenue
Revenue	24,936	22,263
Time-and-Materials Contract | Energy
Revenue
Revenue	8,537	7,709
Time-and-Materials Contract | Engineering and Consulting
Revenue
Revenue	16,399	14,554
Unit-based Contract
Revenue
Revenue	51,468	48,543
Unit-based Contract | Energy
Revenue
Revenue	46,957	44,927
Unit-based Contract | Engineering and Consulting
Revenue
Revenue	4,511	3,616
Fixed-Price Contract
Revenue
Revenue	46,085	31,797
Fixed-Price Contract | Energy
Revenue
Revenue	45,252	30,649
Fixed-Price Contract | Engineering and Consulting
Revenue
Revenue	$ 833	$ 1,148

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SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION - Geographical Information (Details)	Mar. 29, 2024 state
SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Number of states in which entity operates	22

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SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION - Concentration Risk (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Revenue from Contract with Customer Benchmark | Customer Concentration Risk | Top Ten Customers
Concentration Risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)	49.20%	52.20%
Revenue from Contract with Customer Benchmark | Customer Concentration Risk | Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Concentration Risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)		11.10%
Revenue from Contract with Customer Benchmark | Geographic Concentration Risk | California
Concentration Risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)	43.50%	42.40%
Revenue from Contract with Customer Benchmark | Geographic Concentration Risk | New York
Concentration Risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)	27.10%	24.50%
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Segment Benchmark | Customer Concentration Risk | Los Angeles Department of Water and Power | Energy
Concentration Risk
Concentration risk (as a percent)	10.70%	13.70%

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INCOME TAXES - Valuation Allowance (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024	Dec. 29, 2023
INCOME TAXES
Valuation allowance		$ 1,200
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance	$ 0

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INCOME TAXES - Uncertain Tax Positions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 29, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued
Liability for uncertain tax positions	$ 0	$ 0

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INCOME TAXES - Income Tax Expense (Benefit) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
INCOME TAXES
Income tax expense (benefit)	$ 986	$ 756

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EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS) - Computation (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Net income (loss)
Net Income (Loss)	$ 2,942	$ 932
Net income (loss) - basic	2,942	932
Net income (loss) - diluted	$ 2,942	$ 932
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	13,605	13,266
Effect of dilutive stock options and restricted stock awards (in shares)	305	204
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-diluted (in shares)	13,910	13,470
Earnings (Loss) per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.22	$ 0.07
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.21	$ 0.07

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EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS) - Antidilutive Securities (Details) - shares shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Share-Based Payment Arrangement
Antidilutive securities
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	335	397

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Pay vs Performance Disclosure - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Pay vs Performance Disclosure
Net Income (Loss)	$ 2,942	$ 932

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Insider Trading Arrangements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2024
Trading Arrangements, by Individual
Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted	false