Business context and reporting period
The Hackett Group, Inc. is a strategic advisory and technology consulting firm. This unaudited Form 10-Q covers the quarter ended April 3, 2015; comparisons are with the quarter ended March 28, 2014. Amounts below are in U.S. dollars.
Financial performance and position
- Revenue: Total revenue was $61.0 million, up 11% year over year (14% at constant currency). Revenue before reimbursements was $54.9 million, up from $49.4 million. The Hackett Group segment generated $51.6 million; ERP Solutions generated $9.4 million.
- Profit: Operating income was $4.6 million versus $0.4 million; net income was $3.0 million versus $0.4 million. Diluted EPS was $0.10 versus $0.01. The company reported adjusted non-GAAP net income of $4.8 million and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.16, compared with $2.3 million and $0.08.
- Margins: Adjusted non-GAAP gross margin was 38.7% of revenue before reimbursements, compared with 34.0%. Personnel costs before reimbursable expenses fell to 61% of revenue before reimbursements from 66%; SG&A was 26% in both periods.
- Cash flow: Operating cash use was $2.4 million, improved from $8.0 million used. Investing cash use was $0.7 million; financing cash use was $0.7 million, principally share repurchases. Cash declined $3.8 million during the quarter to $10.8 million.
- Debt and liquidity: Debt totaled $18.3 million, including $1.7 million current and $16.6 million long-term; the revolving facility had no amount drawn, with $20.0 million in borrowing capacity. Current assets were $57.8 million and current liabilities $38.4 million. Management said cash, revolver availability and operating cash flows should cover working capital and capital expenditure needs for at least 12 months.
- Other balance-sheet metrics: Total assets were $152.3 million. Accounts receivable and unbilled revenue, net, rose to $42.2 million from $37.4 million.
Material changes versus the prior period
- Revenue growth reflected increases across the business: U.S. Hackett Group revenue rose 12%, international Hackett Group revenue rose 10%, and ERP Solutions revenue rose 7%. International revenue was 18% of total revenue in both periods; no customer represented more than 5% of revenue.
- Higher revenue and stronger margins, including improved margins in application maintenance and support services, contributed to improved operating results. Personnel costs rose 3%, primarily due to higher incentive compensation; SG&A increased from $12.9 million to $14.3 million, primarily reflecting selling expenses and incentive compensation.
- The comparison is affected by prior-year unusual items: 2014 included a $3.0 million bargain purchase gain and $3.6 million of restructuring costs, as well as acquisition-related compensation. No such bargain purchase gain or restructuring expense was recorded in 2015.
- Operating cash use improved year over year, but 2015 operating cash flow remained negative. The filing attributes cash use mainly to compensation and maintenance-payment timing and higher receivables and unbilled balances.
Outlook, risks and other notable items
- The filing provides no specific revenue, earnings or margin guidance. Management cautions that first-quarter results are not necessarily indicative of full-year or future results.
- Management cited risks including client retention and new-business generation, project timing and cancellations, competition and pricing, ability to attract and retain skilled staff, collection risk, economic conditions, foreign-exchange movements, and access to additional financing.
- Debt bears variable interest rates; the company stated that a 100-basis-point increase would not have had a material effect on quarterly results. Foreign-currency exposure is primarily to the British pound, euro and Australian dollar.
- The company repurchased approximately 75,000 shares for $0.7 million at an average $8.70 per share; approximately $3.0 million remained authorized. It reported $0.2 million of remaining restructuring commitments, primarily European severance costs.
- Management reported effective disclosure controls and no material changes in internal control over financial reporting. It said ordinary-course legal matters were not expected to have a material adverse effect; no material changes to previously disclosed risk factors were reported.
- The company was evaluating the effect and transition method for the new revenue-recognition standard, which it said would apply for annual and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016.
Important facts for investors to verify
- Whether revenue growth and improved margins persist, particularly in international markets and application maintenance and support services, including after foreign-exchange effects.
- Whether receivables and unbilled revenue convert to cash and operating cash flow turns positive.
- Debt amortization, covenant compliance, variable-rate exposure and continued availability of the undrawn revolver.
- The nature and comparability of adjusted non-GAAP measures and the adjustments used, especially given the prior-year acquisition gain and restructuring charge.
- Potential effects of foreign-currency movements, client project timing or cancellations, and the revenue-recognition standard.