The Hackett Group Announces Second Quarter 2024 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

The Hackett Group (NASDAQ: HCKT) announced its Q2 2024 financial results.

Total revenue was $77.7 million, exceeding guidance, and adjusted revenue before reimbursements was $75.9 million, up from $75.6 million last year. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.31, slightly down from $0.32 in Q2 2023, while adjusted EPS remained steady at $0.39.

Operating cash flow increased significantly to $13.7 million from $7.7 million in Q2 2023. The company holds cash balances of $19.1 million against $27.0 million in outstanding credit.

The Board declared a Q3 2024 dividend of $0.11 per share. Guidance for Q3 2024 estimates total revenue between $74.5-$76.0 million and adjusted EPS between $0.39-$0.41.

CEO Ted A. Fernandez highlighted the company's efforts to enhance AI XPLR capabilities. Version 2 of AI XPLR will include significant use case simulations and design functionality, set to release this month.

Positive

• Total revenue of $77.7 million exceeded guidance.
• Operating cash flow increased to $13.7 million, up from $7.7 million in Q2 2023.
• Adjusted EPS met the high end of guidance at $0.39.

Negative

• GAAP diluted EPS decreased to $0.31 from $0.32 in Q2 2023.
• Company holds $27.0 million in outstanding credit.

Financial Analyst

The Hackett Group's Q2 2024 results demonstrate steady performance with some positive indicators. Revenue before reimbursements of $75.9 million exceeded guidance, showing slight growth from $75.6 million in Q2 2023. Adjusted EPS remained flat at $0.39, meeting the high end of guidance. Notably, cash flow from operations improved significantly to $13.7 million, up from $7.7 million year-over-year.

The company's pivot towards Gen AI consulting, leveraging their AI XPLR platform, indicates a strategic focus on high-growth areas. This could potentially drive future revenue growth, but may require initial investments. The upcoming release of XPLR Version 2 with enhanced capabilities could be a key differentiator in the competitive consulting market.

Q3 2024 guidance suggests slight sequential softness, with revenue projected between $74.5 million and $76.0 million. However, the stable adjusted EPS forecast of $0.39 to $0.41 indicates effective cost management. The $0.11 quarterly dividend reflects confidence in sustained cash generation.

Tech Expert

The Hackett Group's focus on Gen AI consulting and the development of their AI XPLR platform is a strategic move in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. The planned release of XPLR Version 2 with use case simulations and design functionality represents a significant upgrade, potentially offering clients more tangible AI implementation strategies.

This pivot aligns with the increasing demand for AI solutions across industries. By combining their existing consulting expertise with AI capabilities, Hackett is positioning itself at the intersection of business strategy and cutting-edge technology. However, the success of this initiative will depend on the platform's effectiveness and the company's ability to deliver measurable value to clients in AI implementation.

The aggressive pivot mentioned suggests substantial resource allocation to AI, which could impact short-term margins but may drive long-term growth if executed successfully.

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Hackett Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HCKT), a leading Gen AI strategic consultancy and executive advisory firm that enables organizations to achieve Digital World Class^® performance, today announced its financial results for the second quarter, which ended on June 28, 2024.

Financial Highlights

• Total revenue in the second quarter of 2024 was $77.7 million and revenue before reimbursements was $75.9 million, which exceeded the high end of our guidance. This compares to total revenue of $77.1 million and revenue before reimbursements of $75.6 million in the second quarter of the prior year.
• GAAP diluted earnings per share was $0.31 in the second quarter of 2024, as compared to $0.32 in the second quarter of 2023.
• Adjusted diluted earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure, was $0.39, which was at the high end of our guidance in the second quarter of 2024. Adjusted diluted earnings per share was $0.39 in the second quarter of 2023. Adjusted financial information is provided to enhance the understanding of the Company's financial performance and is reconciled to the Company's GAAP information in the accompanying tables.
• Cash flow provided from operations was $13.7 million for the second quarter of 2024, as compared to $7.7 million in the second quarter of 2023.
• As of June 28, 2024, the Company's cash balances were $19.1 million, with $27.0 million outstanding on the Company's credit facility. The Company’s remaining share repurchase program authorization was $12.9 million.
• Subsequent to the end of the second quarter, the Company's Board of Directors declared its third quarter of 2024 dividend of $0.11 per share for its shareholders of record on September 20, 2024, to be paid on October 4, 2024.

“We continued to report solid operating results that met or exceeded our quarterly guidance. This was achieved while aggressively pivoting our capabilities and go-to-market efforts to address the emerging demand for Gen AI consulting, leveraging our new ideation and design platform, AI XPLR,” stated Ted A. Fernandez, Chairman & CEO of The Hackett Group, Inc. “Our focus during the quarter was to use the initial feedback from client meetings and new projects to enhance and extend the capabilities of AI XPLR. Our Version 2 of XPLR, which we plan to release this month, will include use case simulations and design functionality, which are significant upgrades from our Version 1 platform.”

Business Outlook for the Third Quarter of 2024

Based on the Company’s current outlook:

• The Company estimates total revenue before reimbursements for the third quarter of 2024 will be in the range of $74.5 million to $76.0 million.
• The Company estimates adjusted diluted earnings per share for the third quarter of 2024 to be in the range of $0.39 and $0.41, which assumes a GAAP effective tax rate of 27.7%.

Conference Call and Webcast Details

• On Tuesday, August 6, 2024, senior management will discuss second quarter results in a conference call at 5:00 P.M. ET. The number for the conference call is (800) 593-0486, [Passcode: Second Quarter]. For International callers, please dial (517) 308-9371. Please dial in at least 5-10 minutes prior to start time. If you are unable to participate on the conference call, a rebroadcast will be available beginning at 8:00 P.M. ET on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 and will run through 5:00 P.M. ET on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. To access the rebroadcast, please dial (888) 566-0039. For International callers, please dial (203) 369-3039.
• In addition, The Hackett Group^® will also be webcasting this conference call live. To participate, simply visit https://www.thehackettgroup.com approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call and click on the conference call link provided. An online replay of the call will be available after 8:00 P.M. ET on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 and will run through 5:00 P.M. ET on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. To access the replay, visit www.thehackettgroup.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company provides adjusted earnings results (which excluded non-cash stock-based compensation expense, acquisition-related non-cash stock-based compensation expense, legal settlement and related costs and includes a GAAP tax rate) as a complement to results provided in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). These non-GAAP results are provided to enhance the users' overall understanding of the Company's current financial performance and its prospects for the future. The Company believes the non-GAAP results provide useful information to both management and investors and by excluding certain expenses that it believes are not indicative of its core operating results. The non-GAAP measures are included to provide investors and management with an alternative method for assessing operating results in a manner that is focused on the performance of its ongoing primary operations and to provide a consistent basis for comparison between quarters. Further, these non-GAAP results are one of the primary indicators management uses for planning and forecasting. The presentation of this additional non-GAAP information should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or superior to, any results prepared in accordance with GAAP. See the reconciliation of actual results titled “Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures” in the accompanying tables.

The Company believes that the presentation of non-GAAP financial information on a forward-looking basis, including the guidance contained in this release, provides important supplemental information to management and investors regarding its anticipated results of operations. The Company is unable to provide a reconciliation of GAAP measures to corresponding forward-looking non-GAAP measures without unreasonable effort due to the high variability and low visibility of most of the items that have been excluded from these non-GAAP measures. For example, non-cash stock-based compensation expense is impacted by the Company’s future hiring needs, the type and volume of equity awards necessary for such future hiring, and the price at which the Company’s stock will trade in those future periods. In addition, the provision or benefit for income taxes is impacted by non-recurring income tax adjustments, valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, and the income tax effect of non-GAAP exclusions. The effects of these reconciling items may be significant, as the items that are being excluded are difficult to predict.

About The Hackett Group®

The Hackett Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HCKT) is a leading Gen AI strategic consultancy and executive advisory firm that enables organizations to achieve Digital World Class® performance. Using AI XPLR™ – our Gen AI assessment platform – helps organizations achieve quantifiable, breakthrough results, allowing us to be key architects of their Gen AI journey.

Our expertise is grounded in unparalleled best practices insights from benchmarking the world’s leading businesses – including 97% of the Dow Jones Industrials, 89% of the Fortune 100, 70% of the DAX 40 and 55% of the FTSE 100 – and are delivered leveraging our Digital Transformation Platform, Hackett Connect™ and Quantum Leap®.

For more information on The Hackett Group, visit: https://www.thehackettgroup.com/; email info@thehackettgroup.com; or call (770) 225-3600.

The Hackett Group, quadrant logo, World Class Defined and Enabled, Quantum Leap, and Digital World Class are the registered marks of The Hackett Group.

Cautionary Statement Regarding “Forward-Looking” Statements

This release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements including without limitation, words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” seeks,” “estimates,” or other similar phrases or variations of such words or similar expressions indicating, present or future anticipated or expected occurrences or outcomes are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that may impact such forward-looking statements include without limitation, the ability of The Hackett Group to effectively market its artificial intelligence, digital transformation and other consulting services, competition from other consulting and technology companies that may have or develop in the future, similar offerings, the commercial viability of The Hackett Group and its services as well as other risk detailed in The Hackett Group’s reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The Hackett Group does not undertake any duty to update this release or any forward-looking statements contained herein.

The Hackett Group, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
		Quarter Ended								Six Months Ended
		June 28,				June 30,				June 28,				June 30,
			2024				2023				2024				2023
Revenue:
Revenue before reimbursements		$	75,896			$	75,641			$	151,623			$	145,472
Reimbursements			1,760				1,461				3,220				2,859
Total revenue			77,656				77,102				154,843				148,331
Costs and expenses:
Cost of service:
Personnel costs before reimbursable expenses (includes $1,640 and $3,033 and $1,643 and $3,169 of non-cash stock based compensation expense in the three and six months ended June 28, 2024 and June 30, 2023, respectively)			45,395				45,426				91,166				88,569
Reimbursable expenses			1,760				1,461				3,220				2,859
Total cost of service			47,155				46,887				94,386				91,428
Selling, general and administrative costs (includes $1,210 and $2,416 and $1,129 and $2,050 of non-cash stock based compensation expense in the three and six months ended June 28, 2024 and June 30, 2023, respectively)			17,985				17,425				36,314				32,861
Legal settlement and related costs			—				—				102				—
Total costs and operating expenses			65,140				64,312				130,802				124,289
Operating income			12,516				12,790				24,041				24,042
Other expense, net:
Interest expense, net			(512	)			(921	)			(984	)			(1,780	)
Income before income taxes			12,004				11,869				23,057				22,262
Income tax expense			3,256				3,149				5,578				5,381
Net income		$	8,748			$	8,720			$	17,479			$	16,881
Basic net income per common share:
Income per common share		$	0.32			$	0.32			$	0.64			$	0.62
Weighted average common shares outstanding			27,616				27,192				27,519				27,109
Diluted net income per common share:
Income per common share		$	0.31			$	0.32			$	0.63			$	0.62
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding			27,943				27,548				27,809				27,408

The Hackett Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
		June 28,			December 29,
		2024			2023
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash		$	19,145		$	20,957
Accounts receivable and contract assets, net			58,133			52,113
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			2,981			2,368
Total current assets			80,259			75,438
Property and equipment, net			19,990			20,044
Other assets			375			285
Goodwill			84,110			84,242
Operating lease right-of-use assets			2,790			1,419
Total assets		$	187,524		$	181,428
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	4,290		$	7,557
Accrued expenses and other liabilities			24,048			26,801
Contract liabilities			13,299			12,087
Income tax payable			4,242			2,360
Operating lease liabilities			927			1,083
Total current liabilities			46,806			49,888
Long-term deferred tax liability, net			9,626			8,118
Long-term debt			26,747			32,711
Operating lease liabilities			2,122			631
Total liabilities			85,301			91,348
Shareholders' equity			102,223			90,080
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		$	187,524		$	181,428

The Hackett Group, Inc.
SEGMENT PROFIT
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
	Quarter Ended						Six Months Ended
	June 28,			June 30,			June 28,			June 30,
	2024			2023			2024			2023
Global S&BT (1):
Total revenue (4)	$	42,262		$	43,632		$	83,154		$	85,967
Segment profit (5)		12,748			13,102			22,802			26,909
Oracle Solutions (2):
Total revenue (4)	$	23,045		$	20,775		$	44,774		$	37,943
Segment profit (5)		5,369			5,886			10,630			8,935
SAP Solutions (3):
Total revenue (4)	$	12,349		$	12,695		$	26,915		$	24,421
Segment profit (5)		3,253			2,990			8,135			5,624
Total Company:
Total revenue (4)	$	77,656		$	77,102		$	154,843		$	148,331
Total segment profit	$	21,370		$	21,978		$	41,567		$	41,468
Items not allocated to segment level (5):
Corporate general and administrative expenses		5,063			5,610			10,092			10,571
Non-cash stock based compensation expense		2,850			2,772			5,449			5,219
Legal settlement and related costs		-			-			102			-
Depreciation expense		941			806			1,883			1,636
Interest expense, net		512			921			984			1,780
Income before taxes	$	12,004		$	11,869		$	23,057		$	22,262
(1) Global S&BT includes the results of our strategic businesses consulting practices, including Strategy and Business Transformation Consulting, Benchmarking, Business Advisory Services, IP as-a-Service and OneStream.
(2) Oracle Solutions includes the results of our EPM/ERP and AMS practices.
(3) SAP Solutions includes the results of our SAP applications and related SAP service offerings.
(4) Total revenue includes reimbursable expenses, which are project travel-related expenses passed through to a client with no associated operating margin.
(5) Segment profits consist of the revenue generated by the segment, less the direct costs of revenue and selling, general and administrative expenses that are incurred directly by the segment. Items not allocated to the segment level include corporate costs related to administrative functions that are performed in a centralized manner that are not attributable to a particular segment. Items not allocated to the segment level include corporate general and administrative expenses, non-cash stock based compensation expense, depreciation expense, legal settlement and related costs, interest expense and foreign currency gains and losses. Corporate general and administrative expenses primarily include costs related to business support functions including accounting and finance, human resources, legal, information technology and office administration. Corporate general and administrative expenses exclude one-time, non-recurring expenses and benefits.

The Hackett Group, Inc.
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
	Quarter Ended						Six Months Ended
	June 28,			June 30,			June 28,			June 30,
	2024			2023			2024			2023
GAAP NET INCOME	$	8,748		$	8,720		$	17,479		$	16,881
Adjustments (1):
Non-cash stock based compensation expense (2)		2,850			2,769			5,449			5,213
Acquisition-related non-cash stock based compensation expense (3)		-			3			-			6
Legal settlement and related costs		-			-			102			-
ADJUSTED NET INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES ON ADJUSTMENTS (1)		11,598			11,492			23,030			22,100
Tax effect of adjustments above (4)		748			731			1,455			1,377
ADJUSTED NET INCOME (1)	$	10,850		$	10,761		$	21,575		$	20,723
GAAP diluted net income per common share	$	0.31		$	0.32		$	0.63		$	0.62
Adjusted diluted net income per common share (1)	$	0.39		$	0.39		$	0.78		$	0.76
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding		27,943			27,548			27,809			27,408
(1) The Company provides adjusted earnings results (which excludes non-cash stock-based compensation expense, acquisition-related non-cash stock-based compensation expense, legal settlement and related costs and includes a GAAP tax rate) as a complement to results provided in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). These non-GAAP results are provided to enhance the users' overall understanding of the Company's current financial performance and its prospects for the future. The Company believes the non-GAAP results provide useful information to both management and investors and by excluding certain expenses that it believes are not indicative of its core operating results. The non-GAAP measures are included to provide investors and management with an alternative method for assessing operating results in a manner that is focused on the performance of its ongoing primary operations and to provide a consistent basis for comparison between quarters. Further, these non-GAAP results are one of the primary indicators management uses for planning and forecasting. The presentation of this additional non-GAAP information should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or superior to, any results prepared in accordance with GAAP.
(2) Non-cash stock based compensation expense is accounted for under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation. The Company excludes non-cash stock based compensation expense and the related tax effects for the purposes of adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share. The Company believes that non-GAAP measures of profitability, which exclude non-cash stock based compensation expense, are widely used by investors.
(3) The Company incurs cash and non-cash stock based compensation expense for acquisition related consideration that is recognized over time under GAAP. The Company believes excluding these amounts more consistently presents its ongoing results of operations because they are related to acquisitions and not due to normal operating activities. The acquisition-related non-cash stock based compensation expense is also accounted for under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation.
(4) The adjustment for the income tax expense is based on the accounting treatment and income tax rate for the jurisdiction of each item. The impact of non-cash stock based compensation expense was $0.7 million in both of the second quarters of 2024 and 2023 and $1.4 million in both of the first six month periods in 2024 and 2023. The impact of the legal settlement and related costs were $27 thousand in the first six months in 2024.

The Hackett Group, Inc.
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL DATA
(unaudited)
		Quarter Ended
		June 28,				March 29,				June 30,
			2024				2024				2023
Segment Total Revenue and Revenue Before Reimbursements (in thousands):
Global S&BT:
Total revenue		$	42,262			$	40,892			$	43,632
Reimbursements			700				639				675
Revenue before reimbursements		$	41,562			$	40,253			$	42,957
Oracle Solutions:
Total revenue		$	23,045			$	21,729			$	20,775
Reimbursements			888				661				463
Revenue before reimbursements		$	22,157			$	21,068			$	20,312
SAP Solutions:
Total revenue		$	12,349			$	14,566			$	12,695
Reimbursements			172				160				323
Revenue before reimbursements		$	12,177			$	14,406			$	12,372
Total segment revenue:
Total revenue		$	77,656			$	77,187			$	77,102
Reimbursements			1,760				1,460				1,461
Revenue before reimbursements		$	75,896			$	75,727			$	75,641
Revenue Concentration:
(% of total revenue)
Top customer			13	%			9	%			5	%
Top 5 customers			25	%			24	%			16	%
Top 10 customers			33	%			34	%			24	%
Key Metrics and Other Financial Data:
Total Company:
Consultant headcount			1,145				1,154				1,148
Total headcount			1,409				1,414				1,401
Days sales outstanding (DSO)			68				68				68
Cash provided by operating activities (in thousands)		$	13,719			$	2,792			$	7,714
Depreciation (in thousands)		$	941			$	942			$	806
Capital expenditures (in thousands)		$	884			$	948			$	1,062
Remaining Plan authorization:
Shares purchased (in thousands)			—				43				—
Cost of shares repurchased (in thousands)		$	—			$	1,055			$	—
Average price per share of shares purchased		$	—			$	24.34			$	—
Remaining Plan authorization (in thousands)		$	12,883			$	12,883			$	13,938
Shares Purchased to Satisfy Employee Net Vesting Obligations:
Shares purchased (in thousands)			6				162				6
Cost of shares purchased (in thousands)		$	144			$	3,781			$	119
Average price per share of shares purchased		$	22.94			$	23.36			$	19.00

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240806487366/en/

Robert A. Ramirez, CFO, 305-375-8005 or rramirez@thehackettgroup.com

Source: The Hackett Group, Inc.

FAQ

What were The Hackett Group's Q2 2024 financial results?

The Hackett Group reported Q2 2024 total revenue of $77.7 million and GAAP diluted EPS of $0.31.

How did The Hackett Group's revenue compare to guidance in Q2 2024?

The total revenue of $77.7 million exceeded the high end of their guidance.

What is The Hackett Group's EPS for Q2 2024?

GAAP diluted EPS was $0.31, and adjusted diluted EPS was $0.39.

What is The Hackett Group's outlook for Q3 2024?

The company estimates total revenue between $74.5 million and $76.0 million and adjusted EPS between $0.39 and $0.41.

What was The Hackett Group's operating cash flow in Q2 2024?

Operating cash flow was $13.7 million, up from $7.7 million in Q2 2023.

How much is The Hackett Group's quarterly dividend for Q3 2024?

The quarterly dividend for Q3 2024 is $0.11 per share.