As the Q3 earnings season comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of this quarter’s best and worst performers in the government & technical consulting industry, including ICF International (NASDAQ: ICFI) and its peers.

The sector has historically benefitted from steady government spending on defense, infrastructure, and regulatory compliance, providing firms long-term contract stability. However, the Trump administration is showing more willingness than previous administrations to upend government spending and bloat. Whether or not defense budgets get cut, the rising demand for cybersecurity, AI-driven defense solutions, and sustainability consulting should benefit the sector for years, as agencies and enterprises seek expertise in navigating complex technology and regulations. Additionally, industrial automation and digital engineering are driving efficiency gains in infrastructure and technical consulting projects, which could help profit margins.

The 7 government & technical consulting stocks we track reported a slower Q3. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates.

Luckily, government & technical consulting stocks have performed well with share prices up 13.1% on average since the latest earnings results.

Weakest Q3: ICF International (NASDAQ: ICFI)

Operating at the intersection of policy, technology, and implementation for over five decades, ICF International (NASDAQ: ICFI) provides professional consulting services and technology solutions to government agencies and commercial clients across energy, health, environment, and security sectors.

ICF International reported revenues of $465.4 million, down 10% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 3.9%. Overall, it was a disappointing quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ revenue and EPS estimates.

Commenting on the results, John Wasson, chair and chief executive officer, said, "Our third quarter performance demonstrates the benefits of ICF's diversified client base, our agility in adapting to challenging market conditions, and the success of our business development activities.

ICF International delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates and slowest revenue growth of the whole group. Interestingly, the stock is up 8.4% since reporting and currently trades at $92.66.

Read our full report on ICF International here, it’s free.

Best Q3: UL Solutions (NYSE: ULS)

Founded in 1894 as a response to the growing dangers of electricity in American homes and businesses, UL Solutions (NYSE: ULS) provides testing, inspection, and certification services that help companies ensure their products meet safety, security, and sustainability standards.

UL Solutions reported revenues of $783 million, up 7.1% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 1.5%. The business had a very strong quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a decent beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 5.1% since reporting. It currently trades at $82.60.

Is now the time to buy UL Solutions? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH)

With roots dating back to 1914 and deep ties to nearly all U.S. cabinet-level departments, Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH) provides management consulting, technology services, and cybersecurity solutions primarily to U.S. government agencies and military branches.

Booz Allen Hamilton reported revenues of $2.89 billion, down 8.1% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 2.7%. It was a softer quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ organic revenue estimates.

As expected, the stock is down 4.9% since the results and currently trades at $95.33.

Read our full analysis of Booz Allen Hamilton’s results here.

Amentum (NYSE: AMTM)

With operations spanning approximately 80 countries and a workforce of specialized engineers and technical experts, Amentum Holdings (NYSE: AMTM) provides advanced engineering and technology solutions to U.S. government agencies, allied governments, and commercial enterprises across defense, energy, and space sectors.

Amentum reported revenues of $3.93 billion, up 10.1% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 9%. Aside from that, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also produced a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates but a miss of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates.

Amentum scored the biggest analyst estimates beat and fastest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is up 34.3% since reporting and currently trades at $34.06.

Read our full, actionable report on Amentum here, it’s free.

Jacobs Solutions (NYSE: J)

With a workforce of approximately 45,000 professionals tackling complex challenges from water scarcity to cybersecurity, Jacobs Solutions (NYSE: J) provides engineering, consulting, and technical services focused on infrastructure, sustainability, and advanced technology solutions.

Jacobs Solutions reported revenues of $3.15 billion, up 6.6% year on year. This print beat analysts’ expectations by 0.7%. However, it was a slower quarter as it logged a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is down 3.8% since reporting and currently trades at $139.52.

Read our full, actionable report on Jacobs Solutions here, it’s free.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our 9 Best Market-Beating Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.