Bristow Group Inc. (VTOL) · Nov 3, 2026 · Earnings

Bristow earnings miss as government delays weigh on margins

Miss — Diluted EPS $0.93 vs ~$1.15 consensus

Bristow’s Q3 earnings missed revenue and EPS expectations, while Berry Aviation lifted growth and 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance stayed intact.

Bristow is a diversified aviation-services operator balancing a large offshore-energy franchise with a growing government-services platform and newer special-missions work. Offshore Energy Services still represents the core business, while the Berry Aviation acquisition is being folded into Government Services and Other Services. The prior quarter had already established the acquisition and a 2026 Adjusted EBITDA outlook of $295–$325 million, so the strategic direction was known before this filing.

The headline result was below the market’s earnings bar. Diluted EPS was $0.93 versus a published consensus of roughly $1.15, while revenue was $437.9 million versus approximately $443.3 million expected. That makes this a clear earnings miss, even though revenue was only modestly short.

Q3 2026Q2 2026Consensus
Revenue (Financial Highlights)$437.9M (-)$411.8M~$443.3M
Diluted EPS (Financial Highlights)$0.93 (-)$0.70~$1.15
Adjusted EBITDA (Financial Highlights)$89.6M (+12.2%)$79.8M
Operating cash flow (Financial Highlights)$61.2M (+48.9%)$41.1M

The underlying operating quarter improved, but the improvement was acquisition-assisted. Adjusted EBITDA rose by $9.7 million sequentially and the margin expanded to 20% from 19%, while operating cash flow increased to $61.2 million. The main growth contribution came from Bristow Special Missions, which added $16.9 million of Government Services revenue and $9.2 million of Other Services revenue.

The core offshore business showed margin resilience, not broad-based volume strength. Offshore Energy Services revenue fell $5.6 million, driven mainly by lower European utilization, but operating income increased $3.2 million as lower operating costs, depreciation and corporate expenses more than offset the revenue decline. That is healthy cost execution, but it does not yet demonstrate that the business is accelerating across all regions.

Government Services remains the unresolved execution issue. The segment’s revenue grew sharply with BSM, but it still posted a $1.4 million operating loss. Management attributed the pressure to delayed aircraft modifications for new search-and-rescue contracts, with supply-chain problems depressing current margins. The filing says management expects stabilization during 2027, meaning the recovery is a future expectation rather than a Q3 result. 〔0〕

Guidance was effectively reaffirmed, but the range narrowed. The 2026 Adjusted EBITDA outlook moved from $295–$325 million to $300–$320 million, keeping the midpoint at $310 million while removing both the low and high ends. That is not a raised outlook; it signals confidence in the existing midpoint while acknowledging a tighter range around execution. Compared with the prior quarter’s guidance, Offshore Energy Services and Government Services ranges were also reset, with Government Services now guided lower than the earlier $55–$65 million Adjusted Operating Income range.

Bottom line: Bristow’s business improved operationally, but Q3 earnings missed expectations and the strongest growth was tied to the recently acquired BSM rather than a clean acceleration in the legacy platform. The story is still intact, but the government-contract ramp remains dependent on supply-chain normalization in 2027.

What to watch next

Q3 earnings call, November 4

Original filing on SEC EDGAR

Bristow earnings miss as government delays weigh on margins | VTOL Stock News
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