Forrester Research Reports 2022 Fourth-Quarter And Full-Year Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Forrester Research reported its Q4 and full-year 2022 results, revealing a 9% revenue increase and an 18% rise in adjusted EPS. Total revenues reached $136.9 million for Q4, up from $133.7 million in Q4 2021. However, the company posted a net loss of $1.6 million for Q4 2022 compared to a $8.0 million net income in the same quarter of the previous year. For the full year, total revenues were $537.8 million, compared to $494.3 million in 2021. For 2023, Forrester anticipates revenues of $518 million to $538 million, representing a potential 4% decline year-over-year.

Positive

• Revenue increased 9% in Q4 2022, totaling $136.9 million.
• Adjusted EPS for Q4 2022 rose 18% to $0.45 per diluted share.
• Full-year 2022 revenue reached $537.8 million, up from $494.3 million in 2021.

Negative

• Q4 2022 net loss of $1.6 million compared to a net income of $8.0 million in Q4 2021.
• Slowed client and wallet retention metrics due to legacy business churn.
• 2023 guidance suggests a revenue decline of up to 4%.

Transition to the new Forrester Decisions platform on track

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Forrester Research, Inc. (Nasdaq: FORR) today announced its 2022 fourth-quarter and full-year financial results.

Commenting on the results, George F. Colony, Forrester’s CEO and chairman stated, “In 2022, we posted strong growth on both the top and bottom lines, with revenue increasing 9% and adjusted EPS increasing 18%. We are also pleased to report that Forrester Decisions now constitutes approximately one-third of our contract value. Forrester Decisions’ fast growth and strong client and wallet retention established the product as the research power platform that can lead the company’s effort to double CV in the next five years.

“That said, our product transition remains complex, as evidenced in our 2022 results and in our 2023 guidance. Our key metrics, including both overall client and wallet retention, will remain under pressure in the coming quarters given the churn in our legacy business as well as the uncertainty posed by the macroeconomic environment. We finished the year with CV increasing 3% and both client and wallet retention down from the previous quarter. These metrics are likely to remain under pressure in the coming quarters, specifically in the first half of 2023.

“To summarize, while we anticipate continued headwinds in the first half of 2023, we have the right team in place to lead us through this pivotal moment and create a platform from which we can accelerate growth in 2024 and beyond.”

Fourth-Quarter Financial Performance

Total revenues were $136.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with $133.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2021.

On a GAAP basis, net loss was $1.6 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with net income of $8.0 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, for the same period in 2021.

On an adjusted basis, net income was $8.5 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2022, which reflects an adjusted effective tax rate of 30%. Adjusted net income excludes stock-based compensation of $3.5 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of $3.1 million, restructuring costs of $9.3 million, and losses on investments of $0.1 million. This compares with an adjusted net income of $11.3 million, or $0.59 per diluted share, for the same period in 2021, which reflects an adjusted tax rate of 31%. Adjusted net income for the fourth quarter of 2021 excludes stock-based compensation of $2.7 million and amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of $3.6 million.

Year Ended December 31, 2022, Financial Performance

Total revenues were $537.8 million, compared with $494.3 million for the same period in 2021.

On a GAAP basis, net income was $21.8 million, or $1.14 per diluted share, for 2022, compared with net income of $24.8 million, or $1.28 per diluted share, for 2021.

On an adjusted basis, net income was $47.2 million, or $2.46 per diluted share, for 2022, which reflects an adjusted effective tax rate of 30%. Adjusted net income excludes stock-based compensation of $14.5 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of $13.2 million, restructuring costs of $9.3 million, and gains on investments of $0.3 million. This compares with an adjusted net income of $40.5 million, or $2.09 per diluted share, for 2021, which reflects an adjusted tax rate of 31%. Adjusted net income for 2021 excludes stock-based compensation of $10.1 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of $15.1 million, and integration costs of $0.3 million.

Additional details regarding key metrics can be found in the investor presentation on the Company’s Investor website.

A reconciliation of GAAP results to adjusted results may be found in the attached financial tables.

2023 Guidance

Forrester is providing full-year 2023 financial guidance as follows:

Full-Year 2023 (GAAP):

• Total revenues of approximately $518.0 million to $538.0 million, or a decline of 4% to flat versus the prior year
• Operating margin of approximately 6.0% to 7.0%
• Interest expense of approximately $2.5 million
• An effective tax rate of 31%
• Diluted earnings per share of approximately $1.02 to $1.22

Full-Year 2023 (Adjusted):

Adjusted financial guidance for full-year 2023 excludes stock-based compensation expense of $18.0 million to $19.0 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of approximately $12.0 million, restructuring costs of $1.5 million to $2.0 million, and any investment gains or losses.

• Adjusted operating margin of approximately 12.0% to 13.0%
• Adjusted effective tax rate of 29%
• Adjusted diluted earnings per share of approximately $2.25 to $2.45

About Forrester

Forrester (Nasdaq: FORR) is one of the most influential research and advisory firms in the world. We help leaders across technology, marketing, customer experience, digital, product, and sales functions use customer obsession to accelerate growth. Through Forrester’s proprietary research, consulting, and events, leaders from around the globe are empowered to be bold at work — to navigate change and put their customers at the center of their leadership, strategy, and operations. Our unique insights are grounded in annual surveys of more than 700,000 consumers, business leaders, and technology leaders worldwide; rigorous and objective research methodologies, including Forrester Wave™ evaluations; over 100 million real-time feedback votes; and the shared wisdom of our clients. To learn more, visit Forrester.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, Forrester’s financial guidance for the full-year 2023 and statements about the performance of Forrester Decisions, Forrester’s ability to double contract value, and Forrester’s future financial performance and financial condition. These statements are based on Forrester’s current plans and expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future activities and results of operations to be materially different from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual future activities and results to differ include, among others, Forrester’s ability to retain and enrich memberships for its research products and services; Forrester’s ability to fulfill existing or generate new consulting engagements and advisory services; technology spending; the risks and challenges inherent in international business activities; the impact of health epidemics, including COVID-19, on Forrester’s business; Forrester’s ability to offer new products and services; Forrester’s dependence on key personnel; Forrester’s ability to attract and retain professional staff; Forrester’s ability to respond to business and economic conditions and market trends; the impact of Forrester’s outstanding debt obligations; competition and industry consolidation; possible variations in Forrester’s quarterly operating results; concentration of ownership of Forrester; the possibility of network disruptions and security breaches; any failure to enforce and protect Forrester’s intellectual property rights; compliance with privacy laws; taxation risks; any weakness in Forrester’s system of internal controls; and the amount and timing of the repurchase of Forrester stock. Forrester undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. For further information, please refer to Forrester’s reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The consolidated statements of operations and the table of key financial data are attached.

© 2023, Forrester Research, Inc. All rights reserved. Forrester is a trademark of Forrester Research, Inc.

Forrester Research, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited, in thousands, except per-share data)
		Three Months Ended								Year Ended
		December 31,								December 31,
		2022				2021				2022				2021
Revenues:
Research		$	92,188			$	89,494			$	354,453			$	325,340
Consulting			37,512				39,211				152,587				156,114
Events			7,191				5,023				30,747				12,861
Total revenues			136,891				133,728				537,787				494,315
Operating expenses:
Cost of services and fulfillment			56,814				52,244				223,773				201,815
Selling and marketing			48,691				47,774				181,940				170,949
General and administrative			19,758				16,161				67,655				58,056
Depreciation			2,277				2,503				9,269				9,390
Amortization of intangible assets			3,093				3,562				13,161				15,129
Integration costs			—				—				—				334
Restructuring costs			9,335				—				9,335				—
Total operating expenses			139,968				122,244				505,133				455,673
Income (loss) from operations			(3,077	)			11,484				32,654				38,642
Interest expense			(729	)			(971	)			(2,461	)			(4,222	)
Other income (expense), net			30				(363	)			222				(1,229	)
Gains (losses) on investments, net			(117	)			—				309				—
Income (loss) before income taxes			(3,893	)			10,150				30,724				33,191
Income tax expense (benefit)			(2,263	)			2,127				8,918				8,347
Net income (loss)		$	(1,630	)		$	8,023			$	21,806			$	24,844
Basic income (loss) per common share		$	(0.09	)		$	0.42			$	1.15			$	1.30
Diluted income (loss) per common share		$	(0.09	)		$	0.41			$	1.14			$	1.28
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding			19,051				19,118				18,967				19,110
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding			19,051				19,376				19,172				19,357
Adjusted data (1):
Income (loss) from operations - GAAP		$	(3,077	)		$	11,484			$	32,654			$	38,642
Amortization of intangible assets			3,093				3,562				13,161				15,129
Integration costs			—				—				—				334
Restructuring costs			9,335				—				9,335				—
Stock-based compensation included in the
following expense categories:
Cost of services and fulfillment			2,038				1,668				8,435				6,057
Selling and marketing			646				478				2,774				1,698
General and administrative			823				573				3,334				2,315
Adjusted income from operations		$	12,858			$	17,765			$	69,693			$	64,175

		Three Months Ended																Year Ended
		December 31,																December 31,
		2022								2021								2022								2021
		Amount				Per Share				Amount				Per Share				Amount				Per Share				Amount				Per Share
Net income (loss) - GAAP		$	(1,630	)		$	(0.09	)		$	8,023			$	0.41			$	21,806			$	1.14			$	24,844			$	1.28
Amortization of intangible assets			3,093				0.16				3,562				0.19				13,161				0.68				15,129				0.78
Integration costs			—				—				—				—				—				—				334				0.02
Restructuring costs			9,335				0.49				—				—				9,335				0.49				—				—
Stock-based compensation			3,507				0.18				2,719				0.14				14,543				0.76				10,070				0.52
(Gains) losses on investments			117				0.01				—				—				(309	)			(0.02	)			—				—
Tax effects of items above (2)			(4,261	)			(0.22	)			(1,831	)			(0.09	)			(9,748	)			(0.51	)			(7,107	)			(0.37	)
Adjustment to tax expense for adjusted tax rate (3)			(1,649	)			(0.08	)			(1,135	)			(0.06	)			(1,570	)			(0.08	)			(2,750	)			(0.14	)
Adjusted net income		$	8,512				0.45			$	11,338			$	0.59			$	47,218				2.46			$	40,520			$	2.09
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding			19,110								19,376								19,172								19,357

(1) Forrester believes that adjusted financial results provide investors with consistent and comparable information to aid in the understanding of Forrester's ongoing business and are also used by Forrester in making compensation decisions. Our adjusted presentation excludes amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, stock-based compensation, integration costs, restructuring costs, and net gains or losses from investments, as well as their related tax effects. We also utilized an assumed tax rate of 30% in 2022 and 31% in 2021, which excludes items such as any release of reserves for uncertain tax positions established in prior years, the settlement of prior-year tax audits, and the effect of any adjustments related to the filing of prior-year tax returns. The adjusted data does not purport to be prepared in accordance with Accounting Principles Generally Accepted in the United States.

(2) The tax effect of adjusting items is based on the accounting treatment and rate for the jurisdiction of each item.

(3) To compute adjusted net income, we apply an adjusted effective tax rate of 30% in 2022 and 31% in 2021.

Forrester Research, Inc.
Key Financial Data
(Unaudited, dollars in thousands)
		December 31,				December 31,
		2022				2021
Balance sheet data:
Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable investments		$	123,317			$	134,278
Accounts receivable, net		$	73,345			$	86,965
Deferred revenue		$	178,021			$	213,696
Debt outstanding		$	50,000			$	75,000
		Year Ended
		December 31,
		2022				2021
Cash flow data:
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	39,425			$	107,067
Purchases of property and equipment		$	(5,663	)		$	(10,745	)
Repayments of debt		$	(25,000	)		$	(34,375	)
Repurchases of common stock		$	(15,112	)		$	(20,066	)
		As of
		December 31,
		2022				2021
Headcount:
Total headcount			2,033				1,781
Sales force			709				637

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230209005573/en/

Tyson Seely

Vice President, Investor Relations

Forrester Research, Inc.

+1 617-613-6805

tseely@forrester.com

Shweta Agarwal

Senior Director, Public Relations

Forrester Research, Inc.

+1 617-613-6805

sagarwal@forrester.com

Source: Forrester Research, Inc.

FAQ

What were Forrester's Q4 2022 financial results?

For Q4 2022, Forrester reported total revenues of $136.9 million, down from $133.7 million in Q4 2021, with a net loss of $1.6 million.

How did Forrester perform financially in 2022?

In 2022, Forrester achieved total revenues of $537.8 million, an increase from $494.3 million in 2021, with adjusted EPS of $2.46.

What is Forrester's revenue guidance for 2023?

For 2023, Forrester forecasts total revenues between $518 million and $538 million, indicating a potential decline of up to 4%.

How does Forrester's adjusted EPS compare year-over-year?

For Q4 2022, adjusted EPS was $0.45, down from $0.59 in Q4 2021.

What challenges does Forrester anticipate in 2023?

Forrester expects continued pressure on client and wallet retention, particularly in the first half of 2023.