Shares of Willdan Group Inc. (NASDAQ: WLDN) jumped 5.28% on Wednesday after the professional consulting and technical services firm reported impressive third-quarter results, beating Wall Street's expectations. The company's stock closed at $23.95, reflecting the market's positive reaction to its solid performance.

For the quarter ended September 30, Willdan posted adjusted earnings of $0.73 per share, significantly higher than the analysts' consensus estimate of $0.55 per share and the $0.37 per share reported in the same period last year. Revenue soared 142.4% year-over-year to $158.25 million, easily surpassing the analysts' projection of $72.60 million.

The company's strong financial results were driven by robust demand across its business segments, including energy efficiency and sustainability, engineering and consulting, and homeland security and emergency management. Willdan's expertise in these areas has positioned it well to capitalize on the growing market opportunities.

Analysts have taken note of Willdan's impressive performance, with the average rating on the stock currently standing at "strong buy." The company's shares have gained 121.9% so far this year, reflecting the market's confidence in its growth prospects. Willdan's management team expressed optimism about the company's future, citing its strong backlog and pipeline of projects as catalysts for continued growth.