10-Q · May 5, 2026
TrueBlue, Inc. reported Q1 2026 results with revenue of $398.6 million, surpassing analysts' expectations and marking a 7.6% increase year-over-year. The company faced a net loss of $19.8 million and a goodwill…
Earnings analysis · 10-Q
TBI earnings analysis
Filed August 4, 2026 · Our reading of the company's report
The latest report
TrueBlue delivered a strong Q2 revenue recovery, with revenue up 11.8% year over year to $443.001 million and PeopleReady up 23.0%, while cost actions narrowed the operating-loss margin to negative 0.3%. However, gross…
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TrueBlue delivered a strong Q2 revenue recovery, with revenue up 11.8% year over year to $443.001 million and PeopleReady up 23.0%, while cost actions narrowed the operating-loss margin to negative 0.3%. However, gross margin fell 290 basis points to 20.7%, and the GAAP net loss widened to $3.369 million, or $0.11 per share, due in part to a $3.026 million held-for-sale asset loss. Liquidity is adequate at $79.5 million, but first-half operating cash outflow of $30.357 million and $82.4 million of debt remain key constraints; no numeric outlook was supplied in the 10-Q.
From revenue to operating profit
Where each $100 of revenue went in this report.
Cost of sales, operating expenses, and what remained. Figures are rounded to whole dollars.
Where revenue came from
The business segments reported by the company.
Shares of the segments disclosed in this filing, largest first.
Reported figures
- Earnings per share
- $-0.11
What stood out
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Revenue growth accelerated and beat consensus
Q2 revenue increased 11.8% year over year to $443.001 million from $396.299 million, and rose about 11.0% sequentially from $399 million in Q1 2026. Revenue exceeded the supplied $416.160 million consensus estimate by 6.45%.
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PeopleReady drove the top-line recovery
PeopleReady revenue grew 23.0% to $262.310 million from $213.226 million, led by skilled-business growth in energy; its segment profit increased to $8.561 million from $1.530 million.
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Cost actions improved operating leverage
Operating loss narrowed to $1.162 million, or 0.3% of revenue, from a $2.941 million loss, or 0.7%, a 40-basis-point year-over-year improvement. Sequentially, operating margin improved 420 basis points from negative 4.5% in Q1 2026.
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SG&A fell $6.0 million year over year
SG&A declined 6.6% to $83.831 million from $89.798 million despite revenue growth, reducing SG&A as a share of revenue to 18.9% from 22.7%.
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Segment profits improved broadly
All three segments improved segment profitability: PeopleManagement profit increased to $4.958 million from $4.101 million, while PeopleSolutions profit rose to $4.828 million from $2.534 million despite its revenue decline.
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Workers' compensation collateral eased
Workers' compensation claims reserve fell to $85.973 million at June 28, 2026 from $96.744 million at December 28, 2025, while total collateral commitments decreased $20.4 million over the first 26 weeks.
What to watch
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Margin pressure offset revenue growth
Gross margin contracted 290 basis points year over year to 20.7% from 23.6%, despite 11.8% revenue growth. Management attributes 120 basis points to less favorable workers' compensation reserve adjustments, 90 basis points to mix, and 80 basis points to the prior-year COVID subsidy benefit.
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GAAP loss widened despite better operations
GAAP net loss widened to $3.369 million ($0.11 per diluted share) from $0.160 million ($0.01 per diluted share). The reported $0.11 loss also trailed the supplied negative $0.10 EPS estimate.
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Working-capital cash usage remains material
Operating cash outflow was $30.357 million for the first 26 weeks of 2026, versus $33.909 million used a year earlier. Receivables consumed cash as days sales outstanding increased by approximately 2 days from fiscal Q4 2025.
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Liquidity relies partly on revolver draws
Cash was $23.3 million and debt was $82.4 million at June 28, 2026; the company drew on its revolving facility to fund working-capital needs. Total liquidity, including $56.2 million of unused borrowing-base availability, was $79.5 million.
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HSP funding pressure triggered impairment
The HSP reporting unit recorded a $3.656 million first-half goodwill impairment after lower future projections tied to reductions in government funding; remaining HSP goodwill was $13.7 million. Management says further adverse changes could cause additional impairment.
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Updated governance and activism risks
Risk-factor updates emphasize anti-takeover provisions under Washington Business Corporation Act Chapter 23B.19, unsolicited acquisition proposals, and shareholder activism. These can generate advisory, litigation and proxy-contest costs; $33.5 million remained under the repurchase authorization at June 28, 2026.
Management's outlook
The 10-Q contains no explicit quantitative revenue or EPS outlook. Management says cost actions position the company for stronger profitability as industry demand rebounds, and expects diminishing favorable workers' compensation reserve adjustments going forward.
Earlier filings 1
This is our reading of a public filing, not the filing itself. Analysis can contain errors; check the source document for full context.