Highlights
- Korn Ferry reports Q3 FY’26 fee revenue of $717.4 million, an increase of 7% year-over-year with growth in all solutions.
- Net income attributable to Korn Ferry increased 12% year-over-year, with a margin of 9.1%.
- Adjusted EBITDA increased 8% year-over-year, with a margin of 17.2%.
- Diluted and adjusted diluted earnings per share were up 12% and 8% year-over-year, respectively.
- Estimated remaining fees under existing contracts at the end of the third quarter was $1.9 billion, up 11% year-over-year, led by Digital +16%, Consulting +12% and RPO +10%.
LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Korn Ferry (NYSE: KFY), a global consulting firm, today announced third quarter fee revenue of $717.4 million. In addition, third quarter diluted earnings per share was $1.23 and adjusted diluted earnings per share was $1.28.
“Our strong quarterly performance continues to reflect the evolution of our firm,” said Gary D. Burnison, CEO, Korn Ferry. “Today the world is enveloped by unprecedented levels of change – shifts in population, demographics and technological advancement that are converging to exert great impact on the way people live, work and consume. This environment provides tremendous opportunity for Korn Ferry.”
“I am pleased with the synchronization of our expertise, globality and solutions to solve our clients’ toughest performance challenges. Most of all, I am energized by our talented colleagues around the world who are committed to enabling people and organizations to Be More Than,” added Burnison. “Success begins and ends with talent. As such, we are proud to be a Founding Partner of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, powering the people who power the Olympic Games.”
|
Selected Financial Results |
||||||||||||||||
|
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts) (a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
Third Quarter |
|
Year to Date |
|||||||||||||
|
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|||||||||
|
Fee revenue |
$ |
717.4 |
|
|
$ |
668.7 |
|
|
$ |
2,147.7 |
|
|
$ |
2,018.0 |
|
|
|
Total revenue |
$ |
725.0 |
|
|
$ |
676.5 |
|
|
$ |
2,170.4 |
|
|
$ |
2,041.3 |
|
|
|
Estimated remaining fees under existing contracts (b) |
$ |
1,850.8 |
|
|
$ |
1,669.4 |
|
|
$ |
1,850.8 |
|
|
$ |
1,669.4 |
|
|
|
Net income attributable to Korn Ferry |
$ |
65.3 |
|
|
$ |
58.4 |
|
|
$ |
204.3 |
|
|
$ |
181.8 |
|
|
|
Net income attributable to Korn Ferry margin |
|
9.1 |
% |
|
|
8.7 |
% |
|
|
9.5 |
% |
|
|
9.0 |
% |
|
|
Basic earnings per share |
$ |
1.25 |
|
|
$ |
1.12 |
|
|
$ |
3.91 |
|
|
$ |
3.46 |
|
|
|
Diluted earnings per share |
$ |
1.23 |
|
|
$ |
1.10 |
|
|
$ |
3.84 |
|
|
$ |
3.40 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Adjusted Results (c): |
|
Third Quarter |
|
Year to Date |
||||||||||||
|
|
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
||||||||
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ |
123.1 |
|
|
$ |
114.5 |
|
|
$ |
368.3 |
|
|
$ |
342.7 |
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA margin |
|
17.2 |
% |
|
|
17.1 |
% |
|
|
17.1 |
% |
|
|
17.0 |
% |
|
|
Adjusted net income attributable to Korn Ferry (d) |
$ |
67.7 |
|
|
$ |
63.3 |
|
|
$ |
207.4 |
|
|
$ |
191.1 |
|
|
|
Adjusted basic earnings per share (d) |
$ |
1.30 |
|
|
$ |
1.21 |
|
|
$ |
3.97 |
|
|
$ |
3.64 |
|
|
|
Adjusted diluted earnings per share (d) |
$ |
1.28 |
|
|
$ |
1.19 |
|
|
$ |
3.89 |
|
|
$ |
3.57 |
|
|
| ____________________ | ||
|
(a) |
Numbers may not total due to rounding. |
|
|
(b) |
Estimated fee revenue associated with signed contracts for which revenue has not yet been recognized. |
|
|
(c) |
Adjusted EBITDA refers to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, further adjusted to exclude integration/acquisition costs, impairment of fixed assets, impairment of right-of-use assets, gain on modification of an office lease, restructuring charges, net and management separation charges when applicable. Adjusted results on a consolidated basis are non-GAAP financial measures that adjust for the following, as applicable (see attached reconciliations): |
|
|
|
Third Quarter |
|
Year to Date |
|||||||||||||
|
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|||||||||
|
Integration/acquisition costs |
$ |
1.6 |
|
|
$ |
2.1 |
|
|
$ |
4.4 |
|
|
$ |
7.1 |
|
|
|
Restructuring charges, net |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1.3 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1.9 |
|
|
|
Impairment of fixed assets |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
0.5 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
0.5 |
|
|
|
Impairment of right-of-use assets |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
2.5 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
2.5 |
|
|
|
Gain on modification of office lease |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
(13.9 |
) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
| ____________________ | ||
|
(d) |
Adjusted net income attributable to Korn Ferry, Adjusted basic earnings per share and Adjusted diluted earnings per share are non-GAAP financial measures that adjust for the following, as applicable (see attached reconciliations): |
|
|
|
Third Quarter |
|
Year to Date |
|||||||||||||
|
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|||||||||
|
Accelerated depreciation on Digital platform |
$ |
1.7 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
13.8 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
Integration/acquisition costs |
$ |
1.6 |
|
|
$ |
2.1 |
|
|
$ |
4.4 |
|
|
$ |
7.1 |
|
|
|
Restructuring charges, net |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1.3 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1.9 |
|
|
|
Impairment of fixed assets |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
0.5 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
0.5 |
|
|
|
Impairment of right-of-use assets |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
2.5 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
2.5 |
|
|
|
Gain on modification of office lease |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
(13.9 |
) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
Tax effect on the adjusted items |
$ |
(0.9 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.6 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.2 |
) |
|
$ |
(2.7 |
) |
|
The Company reported fee revenue in Q3 FY’26 of $717.4 million, an increase of 7% year-over-year (up 4% at constant currency). Fee revenue grew in all solutions year-over-year, led by Executive Search at 13%, followed by Professional Search & Interim and Consulting, both at 5%.
Net income attributable to Korn Ferry was $65.3 million with a margin of 9.1% in Q3 FY’26, compared to Q3 FY’25 net income attributable to Korn Ferry of $58.4 million with a margin of 8.7%, an increase of 40bps. Net income attributable to Korn Ferry increased from the year-ago quarter primarily due to an increase in fee revenue and the impact of adjusted items in item (d) above, partially offset by an increase in compensation and benefits expenses.
Adjusted EBITDA was $123.1 million in Q3 FY’26 compared to $114.5 million in Q3 FY’25. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 17.2% in Q3 FY’26, essentially flat compared to the year-ago quarter. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was due to an increase in fee revenue, partially offset by an increase in compensation and benefits expenses.
Results by Solution
|
Selected Consulting Data |
||||||||||||||||
|
(dollars in millions) (a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
Third Quarter |
|
Year to Date |
|||||||||||||
|
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|||||||||
|
Fee revenue |
$ |
166.9 |
|
|
$ |
158.7 |
|
|
$ |
509.7 |
|
|
$ |
493.3 |
|
|
|
Total revenue |
$ |
170.2 |
|
|
$ |
161.4 |
|
|
$ |
518.8 |
|
|
$ |
501.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Estimated remaining fees under existing contracts (b) |
$ |
407.3 |
|
|
$ |
364.6 |
|
|
$ |
407.3 |
|
|
$ |
364.6 |
|
|
|
Ending number of consultants and execution staff (c) |
|
1,524 |
|
|
|
1,632 |
|
|
|
1,524 |
|
|
|
1,632 |
|
|
|
Hours worked in thousands (d) |
|
317 |
|
|
|
344 |
|
|
|
1,060 |
|
|
|
1,137 |
|
|
|
Average bill rate (e) |
$ |
470 |
|
|
$ |
461 |
|
|
$ |
464 |
|
|
$ |
434 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Adjusted Results (f): |
Third Quarter |
|
Year to Date |
|||||||||||||
|
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|||||||||
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ |
28.4 |
|
|
$ |
28.0 |
|
|
$ |
87.5 |
|
|
$ |
86.4 |
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA margin |
|
17.0 |
% |
|
|
17.7 |
% |
|
|
17.2 |
% |
|
|
17.5 |
% |
|
| ____________________ | ||
|
(a) |
Numbers may not total due to rounding. |
|
|
(b) |
Estimated fee revenue associated with signed contracts for which revenue has not yet been recognized. |
|
|
(c) |
Represents number of employees originating, delivering and executing consulting services. |
|
|
(d) |
The number of hours worked by consultant and execution staff during the period. |
|
|
(e) |
The amount of fee revenue divided by the number of hours worked by consultants and execution staff. |
|
|
(f) |
Adjusted results exclude the following: |
|
|
|
Third Quarter |
|
Year to Date |
|||||||||||||
|
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|||||||||
|
Restructuring charges, net |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1.3 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1.7 |
|
|
|
Gain on modification of office lease |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
(4.1 |
) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Fee revenue was $166.9 million in Q3 FY’26 compared to $158.7 million in Q3 FY’25, an increase of $8.2 million or 5% (up 2% on a constant currency basis). The year-over-year increase in Consulting fee revenue was primarily driven by a 2% increase in average bill rates.
Adjusted EBITDA was $28.4 million in Q3 FY’26 compared to $28.0 million in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 17.0% in Q3 FY’26 compared to 17.7% in the year-ago quarter.
|
Selected Digital Data |
||||||||||||||||
|
(dollars in millions) (a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
Third Quarter |
|
Year to Date |
|||||||||||||
|
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|||||||||
|
Fee revenue |
$ |
94.0 |
|
|
$ |
90.8 |
|
|
$ |
274.2 |
|
|
$ |
271.9 |
|
|
|
Total revenue |
$ |
94.2 |
|
|
$ |
90.8 |
|
|
$ |
274.7 |
|
|
$ |
272.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Estimated remaining fees under existing contracts (b) |
$ |
428.0 |
|
|
$ |
369.6 |
|
|
$ |
428.0 |
|
|
$ |
369.6 |
|
|
|
Ending number of consultants |
|
225 |
|
|
|
249 |
|
|
|
225 |
|
|
|
249 |
|
|
|
Subscription & License fee revenue |
$ |
37.2 |
|
|
$ |
34.5 |
|
|
$ |
110.6 |
|
|
$ |
103.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Adjusted Results (c): |
Third Quarter |
|
Year to Date |
|||||||||||||
|
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|||||||||
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ |
29.1 |
|
|
$ |
28.4 |
|
|
$ |
85.4 |
|
|
$ |
84.2 |
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA margin |
|
31.0 |
% |
|
|
31.3 |
% |
|
|
31.2 |
% |
|
|
31.0 |
% |
|
| ____________________ | ||
|
(a) |
Numbers may not total due to rounding. |
|
|
(b) |
Estimated fee revenue associated with signed contracts for which revenue has not yet been recognized. |
|
|
(c) |
Adjusted results exclude the following: |
|
|
|
Third Quarter |
|
Year to Date |
|||||||||||||
|
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|||||||||
|
Impairment of fixed assets |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
0.4 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
0.4 |
|
|
|
Gain on modification of office lease |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
(2.0 |
) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Fee revenue was $94.0 million in Q3 FY’26 compared to $90.8 million in Q3 FY’25, an increase of $3.2 million or 4% (essentially flat on a constant currency basis). The year-over-year increase in Digital fee revenue was primarily driven by an 8% increase in Subscription & License fee revenue.
Adjusted EBITDA was $29.1 million in Q3 FY’26, compared to $28.4 million in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 31.0%, a slight decline from the year-ago quarter.
|
Selected Executive Search Data(a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
(dollars in millions) (b) |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
Third Quarter |
|
Year to Date |
|||||||||||||
|
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|||||||||
|
Fee revenue |
$ |
231.9 |
|
|
$ |
204.6 |
|
|
$ |
682.2 |
|
|
$ |
619.2 |
|
|
|
Total revenue |
$ |
233.8 |
|
|
$ |
206.6 |
|
|
$ |
687.9 |
|
|
$ |
624.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Estimated remaining fees under existing contracts (c) |
$ |
68.6 |
|
|
$ |
58.5 |
|
|
$ |
68.6 |
|
|
$ |
58.5 |
|
|
|
Ending number of consultants |
|
563 |
|
|
|
560 |
|
|
|
563 |
|
|
|
560 |
|
|
|
Average number of consultants |
|
566 |
|
|
|
558 |
|
|
|
562 |
|
|
|
551 |
|
|
|
Engagements billed |
|
3,737 |
|
|
|
3,540 |
|
|
|
7,648 |
|
|
|
7,211 |
|
|
|
New engagements (d) |
|
1,573 |
|
|
|
1,464 |
|
|
|
4,802 |
|
|
|
4,587 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Adjusted Results (e): |
Third Quarter |
|
Year to Date |
|||||||||||||
|
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|||||||||
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ |
58.2 |
|
|
$ |
51.2 |
|
|
$ |
173.4 |
|
|
$ |
152.0 |
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA margin |
|
25.1 |
% |
|
|
25.0 |
% |
|
|
25.4 |
% |
|
|
24.5 |
% |
|
| ____________________ | ||
|
(a) |
Executive Search is the sum of the individual Executive Search Reporting Segments described in our annual and quarterly reporting on Forms 10-K and 10-Q and is presented on a consolidated basis as it is consistent with the Company’s discussion of its Solutions, and financial metrics used by the Company’s investor base. |
|
|
(b) |
Numbers may not total due to rounding. |
|
|
(c) |
Estimated fee revenue associated with signed contracts for which revenue has not yet been recognized. |
|
|
(d) |
Represents new engagements opened in the respective period. |
|
|
(e) |
Executive Search Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are non-GAAP financial measures that adjust for the following: |
|
|
|
Third Quarter |
|
Year to Date |
|||||||||||||
|
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|||||||||
|
Impairment of right-of-use assets |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
2.5 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
2.5 |
|
|
|
Impairment of fixed assets |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
0.2 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
0.2 |
|
|
|
Gain on modification of office lease |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
(3.7 |
) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
Restructuring charges, net |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
0.2 |
|
|
Fee revenue was $231.9 million in Q3 FY’26 compared to $204.6 million in Q3 FY’25, an increase of $27.3 million or 13% (up 11% at constant currency). The year-over-year increase in fee revenue was driven by an increase in both the number of engagements billed and the weighted-average fee billed per engagement. The Company experienced fee revenue growth in all regions.
Adjusted EBITDA was $58.2 million in Q3 FY’26 compared to $51.2 million in the year-ago quarter, an increase of 14% year-over-year. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 25.1%, essentially flat compared to the year-ago quarter. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to an increase in fee revenue, partially offset by an increase in compensation and benefits expenses.
|
Selected Professional Search & Interim Data |
||||||||||||||||
|
(dollars in millions) (a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
Third Quarter |
|
Year to Date |
|||||||||||||
|
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|||||||||
|
Fee revenue |
$ |
137.0 |
|
|
$ |
130.0 |
|
|
$ |
412.0 |
|
|
$ |
372.8 |
|
|
|
Total revenue |
$ |
138.2 |
|
|
$ |
130.9 |
|
|
$ |
415.8 |
|
|
$ |
375.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Permanent Placement: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Fee revenue |
$ |
51.7 |
|
|
$ |
47.9 |
|
|
$ |
162.6 |
|
|
$ |
152.9 |
|
|
|
Estimated remaining fees under existing contracts (b) |
$ |
15.3 |
|
|
$ |
12.8 |
|
|
$ |
15.3 |
|
|
$ |
12.8 |
|
|
|
Engagements billed |
|
1,715 |
|
|
|
1,675 |
|
|
|
3,847 |
|
|
|
3,780 |
|
|
|
New engagements (c) |
|
901 |
|
|
|
883 |
|
|
|
2,868 |
|
|
|
2,802 |
|
|
|
Ending number of consultants |
|
292 |
|
|
|
296 |
|
|
|
292 |
|
|
|
296 |
|
|
|
Interim: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Fee revenue |
$ |
85.3 |
|
|
$ |
82.1 |
|
|
$ |
249.4 |
|
|
$ |
219.9 |
|
|
|
Estimated remaining fees under existing contracts (b) |
$ |
106.6 |
|
|
$ |
111.5 |
|
|
$ |
106.6 |
|
|
$ |
111.5 |
|
|
|
Average bill rate (d) |
$ |
149 |
|
|
$ |
129 |
|
|
$ |
143 |
|
|
$ |
134 |
|
|
|
Average weekly billable consultants (e) |
|
1,257 |
|
|
|
1,324 |
|
|
|
1,238 |
|
|
|
1,124 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Adjusted Results (f): |
Third Quarter |
|
Year to Date |
|||||||||||||
|
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|||||||||
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ |
29.1 |
|
|
$ |
27.3 |
|
|
$ |
87.3 |
|
|
$ |
80.2 |
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA margin |
|
21.2 |
% |
|
|
21.0 |
% |
|
|
21.2 |
% |
|
|
21.5 |
% |
|
| ____________________ | ||
|
(a) |
Numbers may not total due to rounding. |
|
|
(b) |
Estimated fee revenue associated with signed contracts for which revenue has not yet been recognized. |
|
|
(c) |
Represents new engagements opened in the respective period. |
|
|
(d) |
Fee revenue from interim divided by the number of hours worked by consultants. |
|
|
(e) |
The number of billable consultants based on a weekly average in the respective period. |
|
|
(f) |
Adjusted results exclude the following: |
|
|
|
Third Quarter |
|
Year to Date |
|||||||||||||
|
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|||||||||
|
Integration/acquisition costs |
$ |
1.6 |
|
|
$ |
2.0 |
|
|
$ |
4.4 |
|
|
$ |
4.4 |
|
|
|
Gain on modification of office lease |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
(2.6 |
) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Fee revenue was $137.0 million in Q3 FY’26 compared to $130.0 million in Q3 FY’25, an increase of $7.0 million or 5% (up 3% at constant currency). Fee revenue increased due to higher fee revenues in both Permanent Placement and Interim. The year-over-year increase in permanent placement fee revenue was driven by an increase in both the number of engagements billed and the weighted-average fee billed per engagement. The year-over-year increase in interim fee revenue was primarily due to a 16% increase in average bill rate.
Adjusted EBITDA was $29.1 million in Q3 FY’26 compared to $27.3 million in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 21.2%, essentially flat compared to the year-ago quarter. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was due to an increase in fee revenue, partially offset by increases in compensation and benefits expenses and cost of services.
|
Selected Recruitment Process Outsourcing (“RPO”) Data |
||||||||||||||||
|
(dollars in millions) (a) |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
Third Quarter |
|
Year to Date |
|||||||||||||
|
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|||||||||
|
Fee revenue |
$ |
87.5 |
|
|
$ |
84.7 |
|
|
$ |
269.6 |
|
|
$ |
260.8 |
|
|
|
Total revenue |
$ |
88.6 |
|
|
$ |
86.9 |
|
|
$ |
273.1 |
|
|
$ |
267.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Estimated remaining fees under existing contracts (b) |
$ |
825.0 |
|
|
$ |
752.4 |
|
|
$ |
825.0 |
|
|
$ |
752.4 |
|
|
|
RPO new business (c) |
$ |
54.4 |
|
|
$ |
209.9 |
|
|
$ |
406.7 |
|
|
$ |
414.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Adjusted Results (d): |
Third Quarter |
|
Year to Date |
|||||||||||||
|
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|||||||||
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ |
13.6 |
|
|
$ |
12.7 |
|
|
$ |
42.2 |
|
|
$ |
38.1 |
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA margin |
|
15.6 |
% |
|
|
15.0 |
% |
|
|
15.7 |
% |
|
|
14.6 |
% |
|
| ____________________ | ||
|
(a) |
Numbers may not total due to rounding. |
|
|
(b) |
Estimated fee revenue associated with signed contracts for which revenue has not yet been recognized. |
|
|
(c) |
Estimated total value of a contract at the point of execution of the contract. |
|
|
(d) |
Adjusted results exclude the following: |
|
|
|
Third Quarter |
|
Year to Date |
|||||||||||||
|
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|
FY’26 |
|
FY’25 |
|||||||||
|
Gain on modification of office lease |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
(1.5 |
) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Fee revenue was $87.5 million in Q3 FY’26 compared to $84.7 million in Q3 FY’25, an increase of $2.8 million or 3% (up 1% at constant currency). RPO fee revenue increased primarily due to new logo clients in North America.
Adjusted EBITDA was $13.6 million in Q3 FY’26 compared to $12.7 million in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted EBITDA margin increased 60bps to 15.6% in Q3 FY’26. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin both resulted from an increase in fee revenue, partially offset by an increase in compensation and benefits expense.
Outlook
Assuming no material negative impact from the recent Middle East conflict and that other worldwide geopolitical conditions, economic conditions, financial markets and foreign exchange rates remain steady, on a consolidated basis:
- Q4 FY’26 fee revenue is expected to be in the range of $730 million and $750 million; and
- Q4 FY’26 diluted earnings per share is expected to range between $1.34 to $1.40.
Earnings Conference Call Webcast
The earnings conference call will be held today at 12:00 PM (EDT) and hosted by CEO Gary Burnison, CFO Robert Rozek, SVP Business Development & Analytics Gregg Kvochak and VP Investor Relations Tiffany Louder. The conference call will be webcast and available online at ir.kornferry.com. We will also post to the investor relations section of our website earnings slides, which will accompany our webcast, and other important information, and encourage you to review the information that we make available on our website.
About Korn Ferry
Korn Ferry is a global consulting firm that powers performance. We unlock the potential in your people and unleash transformation across your business—synchronizing strategy, operations, and talent to accelerate performance, fuel growth, and inspire a legacy of change. That’s why the world’s most forward-thinking companies across every major industry turn to us—for a shared commitment to lasting impact and the bold ambition to Be More Than.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release and our conference call that relate to our outlook, projections, goals, strategies, future plans and expectations, including statements relating to expected labor market conditions, expected demand for and relevance of our products and services, expected results of our business diversification strategy, impact of global events on our business, and other statements of future events or conditions are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Words such as “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “goals”, “estimates”, “guidance”, “may”, “should”, “could”, “will” or “likely”, and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. Such statements are based on current expectations; actual results in future periods may differ materially from those currently expected or desired because of a number of risks and uncertainties that are beyond the control of Korn Ferry. The potential risks and uncertainties include those relating to global and local political and or economic developments in or affecting countries where we have operations, such as inflation, trade wars, interest rates, labor market conditions, global slowdowns, or recessions, competition, geopolitical tensions, including the recent Middle East conflict, shifts in global trade patterns, changes in demand for our services as a result of automation, dependence on and costs of attracting and retaining qualified and experienced consultants, impact of inflationary pressures on our profitability, our ability to maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retaining key employees, maintaining our brand name and professional reputation, potential legal liability and regulatory developments, portability of client relationships, consolidation of or within the industries we serve, changes and developments in government laws and regulations, evolving investor and customer expectations with regard to corporate responsibility matters, currency fluctuations in our international operations, risks related to growth, alignment of our cost structure, including as a result of recent workforce, real estate, and other restructuring initiatives, restrictions imposed by off-limits agreements, reliance on information processing systems, cyber security vulnerabilities or events, changes to data security, data privacy, and data protection laws, dependence on third parties for the execution of critical functions, limited protection of our intellectual property, our ability to enhance, develop and respond to new technology, including artificial intelligence, our ability to successfully recover from a disaster or other business continuity problems, employment liability risk, an impairment in the carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets, treaties, or regulations on our business and our Company, deferred tax assets that we may not be able to use, our ability to develop new products and services, changes in our accounting estimates and assumptions, the utilization and billing rates of our consultants, seasonality, the use of social media platforms, the ability to effect acquisitions and integrate acquired businesses, resulting organizational changes, our indebtedness, and those relating to the ultimate magnitude and duration of any pandemic or outbreaks. For a detailed description of risks and uncertainties that could cause differences from our expectations, please refer to Korn Ferry’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Korn Ferry disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release contains financial information calculated other than in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). In particular, it includes:
- Adjusted net income attributable to Korn Ferry, adjusted to exclude accelerated depreciation on our Digital platform, integration/acquisition costs, restructuring charges, impairment of fixed assets, impairment of right-of-use assets and gain on modification of an office lease, net of income tax effect;
- Adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share, adjusted to exclude cost associated with accelerated depreciation on our Digital platform, integration/acquisition costs, restructuring charges, impairment of fixed assets, impairment of right-of-use assets and gain on modification of an office lease, net of income tax effect;
- Constant currency (calculated using a quarterly average) percentages that represent the percentage change that would have resulted had exchange rates in the prior period been the same as those in effect in the current period; and
- Consolidated and Executive Search Adjusted EBITDA, which is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, further adjusted to exclude integration/acquisition costs, restructuring charges, impairment of fixed assets, impairment of right-of-use assets and gain on modification of an office lease, net when applicable, and Consolidated and Executive Search Adjusted EBITDA margin.
This non-GAAP disclosure has limitations as an analytical tool, should not be viewed as a substitute for financial information determined in accordance with GAAP, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company’s results as reported under GAAP, nor is it necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies.
Management believes the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures in this press release provides meaningful supplemental information regarding Korn Ferry’s performance by excluding certain items that may not be indicative of Korn Ferry’s ongoing operating results. These non-GAAP financial measures are performance measures and are not indicative of the liquidity of Korn Ferry. These items, which are described in the footnotes in the attached reconciliations, represent 1) costs associated with previous acquisitions, such as legal and professional fees, retention awards and on-going integration expenses, 2) gain on modification of an office lease where the Company received lease incentives to shorten the lease term, 3) restructuring charges, net to align workforce to eliminate excess capacity resulting from challenging macroeconomic business environment, 4) accelerated depreciation associated with the decision to sunset our Digital platform, 5) impairment of fixed assets primarily due to software impairment charge in our Digital segment and 6) impairment of right-of-use assets due to the decision to terminate and sublease some of our offices.
Contacts
Investor Relations: Tiffany Louder, (214) 310-8407
Media: Dan Gugler, (310) 226-2645
