Exponent Reports Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2020 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Exponent, Inc. (Nasdaq:EXPO) reported a 3% revenue decline to $98.7 million for Q3 2020, with net income dropping to $18.1 million or $0.34 per share. Despite the revenue decline, the company expanded EBITDA margin by 60 basis points. Year-to-date results also reflect a 3% revenue decrease to $296.7 million. Exponent anticipates a further 12% to 15% revenue decline in Q4 2020 due to fewer working days and the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company remains committed to delivering expert solutions amid evolving client needs.

Positive

• Expanded EBITDA margin by 60 basis points despite revenue decline.
• Continued demand for interdisciplinary solutions amid COVID-19 challenges.
• Strong cash position with $207.7 million in cash and short-term investments.

Negative

• 3% decline in total revenues year-over-year for Q3.
• Net income decreased from $19.6 million in Q3 2019 to $18.1 million in Q3 2020.
• Projected 12% to 15% revenue decline in Q4 2020 due to fewer working days and pandemic impact.

MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Exponent, Inc. (Nasdaq:EXPO) today reported financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2020 ended October 2, 2020.

“We are pleased with the improvements that we have seen across our business and believe that our third quarter results demonstrate resilience in our model. While net revenues declined 2% year-over-year, we expanded EBITDA¹ margin by 60 basis points. Companies and governments alike are adopting new ways to conduct business, from testing new procedures and protocols to designing new products and navigating new regulatory challenges. Clients continue to call on Exponent’s multi-disciplinary teams for sound advice as they evolve, adapt and innovate,” commented Dr. Catherine Corrigan, President and Chief Executive Officer.

“The demand for Exponent’s interdisciplinary solutions is durable as society continues to raise its expectations for safety, health, sustainability, and reliability, and as technologies continue to increase in complexity. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased complexity in our system, and further challenged society’s expectations for health and safety. Despite any risks or uncertainties related to the pandemic that may still be ahead of us, the bar will continue to be raised. Exponent is capitalizing on these persistent secular trends, and we remain focused on demonstrating our leadership through the same seriousness, intellectual rigor, and fact-based analysis that we have employed for over 50 years. These market drivers combined with Exponent’s world-class team of subject-matter experts will fuel long-term growth,” continued Dr. Corrigan.

Third Quarter Financial Results

Total revenues in the third quarter of 2020 decreased 3% to $98.7 million, as compared to $101.5 million in the same quarter of 2020. Revenues before reimbursements decreased 2% to $93.5 million as compared to $95.5 million in the same period one year ago.

Net income decreased to $18.1 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2020, as compared to $19.6 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, in the same period of 2019. The tax benefit for the classification of tax adjustments associated with share-based awards realized in the third quarter of 2020 was $0 as compared to $1.7 million in the same period last year. Inclusive of the tax benefit, Exponent’s consolidated tax rate was 26.6% in the third quarter, as compared to 22.1% for the same period in 2019.

EBITDA¹ for the quarter was $26.0 million, flat with the EBITDA¹ achieved in the third quarter of 2019.

Year to Date Financial Results

For the first nine months of 2020, total revenues and revenues before reimbursements decreased 3% to $296.7 million and $281.1 million, respectively, as compared to $307.1 million and $289.2 million in the same period of 2019.

Net income was $60.7 million, or $1.14 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2020, as compared to $63.3 million, or $1.17 per diluted share, in the same period of 2019. The tax benefit for the classification of tax adjustments associated with share-based awards realized in the first nine months of 2020 was $9.7 million as compared to $7.4 million in the same period last year. Inclusive of the tax benefit, Exponent’s consolidated tax rate was 13.4% in the first nine months of 2020, as compared to 18.1% for the same period last year.

EBITDA¹ in the first nine months of 2020 decreased to $73.8 million, as compared to $79.4 million in the same period one year ago.

Year to date, Exponent distributed $29.9 million in dividends, repurchased $40.0 million in common stock and closed the period with $207.7 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.

In a separate press release today, Exponent announced a $0.19 quarterly dividend payment and reiterated its intent to continue to pay quarterly dividends.

Business Overview

Exponent’s engineering and other scientific segment represented approximately 80% of the Company’s third quarter and year to date net revenues. Net revenues in this segment decreased approximately 3% in the third quarter and decreased approximately 4% in the first nine months, as compared to last year. Clients continue to demand Exponent’s interdisciplinary solutions for increasingly sophisticated systems and devices. At the same time, our litigation support work continues to be impacted by the pandemic as assignments have been paused due to court-related delays. The number of trials is gradually increasing as court systems develop virtual and socially distant trial protocols. We also continued to experience some delays in human participant studies. Exponent’s work in integrity management advisory services for the utilities sector remained strong as clients focus on power reliability, in particular due to fire safety concerns in the western United States.

Exponent’s environmental and health segment represented approximately 20% of the Company’s third quarter and year to date net revenues. Net revenues in this segment increased approximately 2% in the third quarter and approximately 3% year to date as compared to last year. This segment also experienced delays in litigation related projects for the transportation and oil and gas industries. Within this segment, the chemical regulation and food safety practice continued to grow as Exponent’s scientists evaluated the effects of chemicals and new products on human health and the environment.

Exponent has been engaged by industry and government to help in the response to the coronavirus. We continue to advise clients with respect to disinfectant products and procedures, COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, and occupational health and safety. Exponent has recently been engaged by the U.S. Army and Navy to conduct a preliminary deployment of wearable technology platforms for COVID-19 risk monitoring and mitigation. The goal of this program is to implement and utilize this approach to protect the health and safety of service personnel while collecting the necessary data to support a validation of the technologies. Exponent is uniquely qualified to execute this program with our interdisciplinary team of experts in wearable technology, human factors, health sciences and data sciences.

Business Outlook
For more than 50 years, Exponent has been called on to advise clients on the causes of failures as well as how to produce safer, healthier, more sustainable and more reliable products and processes. Our market drivers are strong, and demand for our services has continued despite ongoing uncertainties and economic turbulence.   

“While we continue to see improvement across the business and have increased confidence in our ability to forecast our fourth quarter results, there remains uncertainty with regard to the course of the pandemic and related restrictions. As a reminder, the 13-week fourth quarter of this year will be compared with a 14-week fourth quarter of 2019. As a result, we will experience an 8% to 9% year-over-year revenue headwind due to the five less working days in the quarter this year. Further, due to the impact of continued business, travel and physical distancing restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, net revenues for the first three weeks of the fourth quarter of 2020 declined approximately 5% to 7% year-over-year. Assuming the activity levels of the first three weeks of the quarter continue and considering the impact of five less working days, we anticipate revenues before reimbursements to decline 12% to 15% in the quarter, and we expect EBITDA margin to decline 250 to 350 basis points from the 27.1% achieved in the fourth quarter of 2019. This would result in a mid-single digit decline in net revenue and 125 to 175 basis point decline in EBITDA margin for the 52-week fiscal year 2020 as compared to the 53-week fiscal year 2019. While there are opportunities for near-term improvement, there could also be further reduction to our revenues in the short term due to continued uncertainty,” commented Richard Schlenker, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

“Exponent has a long history and strong track record of delivering for all of our stakeholders. Diverse clients within industry and government are calling on Exponent to deliver expert advice as they evolve to overcome increasingly complex challenges. Our expert teams are more committed than ever to delivering actionable thought leadership and scientific analysis, and our reputation has positioned us for continued success over the long-term,” concluded Dr. Corrigan.

Today's Conference Call Information

Exponent will discuss its financial results in more detail on a conference call today, Thursday, October 29, 2020, starting at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time / 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time. The audio of the conference call is available by dialing (866) 548-4713 or (323) 794-2093. A live webcast of the call will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.exponent.com/investors. For those unable to listen to the live webcast, a replay of the call will also be available on the Exponent website, or by dialing (888) 203-­1112 or (719) 457-0820 and entering passcode 1075168#.

Footnotes

¹ EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as net income before income taxes, interest income, depreciation and amortization. EBITDAS is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as EBITDA before stock-based compensation. The Company regards EBITDA and EBITDAS as useful measures of operating performance and cash flow to complement operating income, net income and other GAAP financial performance measures. Additionally, management believes that EBITDA and EBITDAS provide meaningful comparisons of past, present and future operating results. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's performance, financial position or cash flow that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. These measures, however, should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute or superior to, operating income, cash flows, or other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of the measures to GAAP is set forth below.

About Exponent

Exponent is an engineering and scientific consulting firm providing solutions to complex problems. Exponent's inter-disciplinary organization of scientists, physicians, engineers, and business consultants draws from more than 90 technical disciplines to solve the most pressing and complicated challenges facing stakeholders today. The firm leverages over 50 years of experience in analyzing accidents and failures to advise clients as they innovate their technologically complex products and processes, ensure the safety and health of their users, and address the challenges of sustainability.

Exponent may be reached at (888) 656­-EXPO, info@exponent.com, or www.exponent.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains, and incorporates by reference, certain "forward-looking" statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and the rules promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that are based on the beliefs of the Company's management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company's management. When used in this document and in the documents incorporated herein by reference, the words “intend,” "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, identify such forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company or its management with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, any such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such material differences include the possibility that the demand for our services may decline as a result of changes in general and industry specific economic conditions, the timing of engagements for our services, the effects of competitive services and pricing, the absence of backlog related to our business, our ability to attract and retain key employees, the effect of tort reform and government regulation on our business, and liabilities resulting from claims made against us. Additional risks and uncertainties are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10K under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the report. The inclusion of such forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that the future events, plans, or expectations contemplated by the Company will be achieved. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such forward-looking statements.

EXPONENT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
For the Quarters Ended October 2, 2020 and September 27, 2019
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share data)
							Quarter Ended						Nine Months Ended
							October 2,			September 27,			October 2,			September 27,
							2020			2019			2020			2019
Revenues
	Revenues before reimbursements						$	93,499		$	95,506		$	281,082		$	289,170
	Reimbursements							5,164			6,042			15,579			17,915
		Revenues						98,663			101,548			296,661			307,085
Operating expenses
	Compensation and related expenses							62,419			58,526			180,541			185,616
	Other operating expenses							7,839			8,345			23,736			24,448
	Reimbursable expenses							5,164			6,042			15,579			17,915
	General and administrative expenses							2,834			5,451			11,290			15,345
								78,256			78,364			231,146			243,324
		Operating income						20,407			23,184			65,515			63,761
Other income (expense), net
	Interest income, net							316			915			1,496			2,894
	Miscellaneous income, net							3,915			1,112			3,096			10,729
								4,231			2,027			4,592			13,623
		Income before income taxes						24,638			25,211			70,107			77,384
Income taxes								6,554			5,578			9,395			14,045
		Net income					$	18,084		$	19,633		$	60,712		$	63,339
Net income per share:
	Basic						$	0.35		$	0.37		$	1.16		$	1.20
	Diluted						$	0.34		$	0.36		$	1.14		$	1.17
Shares used in per share computations:
	Basic							52,316			52,802			52,383			52,694
	Diluted							53,209			54,002			53,342			53,906

EXPONENT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
October 2, 2020 and January 3, 2020
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
							October 2,				January 3,
							2020				2020
			Assets
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents						$	187,632			$	176,436
	Short-term investments							20,086				55,165
	Accounts receivable, net							109,964				120,138
	Prepaid expenses and other assets							10,967				12,305
		Total current assets						328,649				364,044
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net								60,395				61,587
Operating lease right-of-use asset								20,085				23,003
Goodwill								8,607				8,607
Other assets								116,930				106,170
							$	534,666			$	563,411
			Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities						$	18,552			$	18,583
	Accrued payroll and employee benefits							62,740				86,723
	Deferred revenues							9,390				12,710
	Operating lease liability							5,689				5,944
		Total current liabilities						96,371				123,960
Other liabilities								79,934				71,042
Operating lease liability								15,164				18,158
		Total liabilities						191,469				213,160
Stockholders' equity:
	Common stock							66				66
	Additional paid-in capital							261,713				244,935
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss							(2,984	)			(1,760	)
	Retained earnings							409,995				384,668
	Treasury stock, at cost							(325,593	)			(277,658	)
			Total stockholders' equity					343,197				350,251
							$	534,666			$	563,411

EXPONENT, INC.
EBITDA and EBITDAS (1)
For the Quarters Ended October 2, 2020 and September 27, 2019
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
							Quarter Ended								Nine Months Ended
							October 2,				September 27,				October 2,				September 27,
							2020				2019				2020				2019
Net Income							$	18,084			$	19,633			$	60,712			$	63,339
Add back (subtract):
	Income taxes							6,554				5,578				9,395				14,045
	Interest income, net							(316	)			(915	)			(1,496	)			(2,894	)
	Depreciation and amortization							1,689				1,672				5,176				4,904
		EBITDA (1)						26,011				25,968				73,787				79,394
	Stock-based compensation							3,726				3,844				13,326				13,585
		EBITDAS (1)					$	29,737			$	29,812			$	87,113			$	92,979
(1) EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as net income before income taxes, interest income, depreciation and amortization. EBITDAS is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as EBITDA before stock-based compensation. The Company regards EBITDA and EBITDAS as useful measures of operating performance and cash flow to complement operating income, net income and other GAAP financial performance measures. Additionally, management believes that EBITDA and EBITDAS provide meaningful comparisons of past, present and future operating results. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's performance, financial position or cash flow that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. These measures, however, should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute or superior to, operating income, cash flows, or other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

FAQ

What were Exponent's financial results for Q3 2020?

Exponent reported Q3 2020 revenues of $98.7 million, a 3% decline year-over-year, with net income of $18.1 million or $0.34 per diluted share.

What is Exponent's revenue outlook for Q4 2020?

Exponent expects a revenue decline of 12% to 15% in Q4 2020 due to five less working days and the impact of COVID-19.

How did Exponent's EBITDA perform in Q3 2020?

EBITDA for Q3 2020 was $26.0 million, remaining flat compared to Q3 2019.

What is Exponent's cash position as of Q3 2020?

Exponent had $207.7 million in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments.

What impact did the COVID-19 pandemic have on Exponent's business?

The pandemic caused litigation delays and affected revenue, with a estimated decline in Q4.