Forrester Research Reports 2024 Second-Quarter Financial Results

Forrester Research, Inc. (Nasdaq: FORR) today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024, with contract value (CV) at $323.0 million, down 3% compared with the prior year.

“We are pleased with the progress we made this quarter with our product migration, and we are on track to hit our target of 80% of CV on the Forrester Decisions platform by year-end. CV metrics continue to stabilize, we have added significant enhancements to the platform, and retention shows improvement from the prior quarter,” said CEO and Chairman George F. Colony. “That said, our non-CV businesses, consulting and events, had a challenging quarter, which caused us to lower 2024 guidance. We are focused on stabilizing those businesses and are increasingly confident of returning to CV growth by the end of the year.”

Second-Quarter Consolidated Results

Total revenues for the second quarter of 2024 were $121.8 million, compared with $135.6 million for the comparable quarter in 2023.

On a GAAP basis, net income was $6.3 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2024, compared with net income of $5.3 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, for the same period in 2023.

On an adjusted basis, net income was $12.9 million, or $0.68 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2024, reflecting an adjusted effective tax rate of 29%. Adjusted net income excludes stock-based compensation of $4.0 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of $2.5 million, and restructuring costs of $0.1 million. This compares with adjusted net income of $18.1 million, or $0.94 per diluted share, for the same period in 2023, which reflects an adjusted tax rate of 29%. Adjusted net income for the second quarter of 2023 excludes stock-based compensation of $3.9 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of $3.1 million, and restructuring costs of $10.5 million.

Forrester is providing guidance for 2024 as follows:

Full-Year 2024 (GAAP):

• Total revenues of approximately $425 million to $435 million
• Operating margin of approximately 1.2% to 2.2%
• Interest expense of approximately $3.0 million
• An effective tax rate of approximately 65% to 80%
• Earnings per share of approximately $0.06 to $0.19

Full-Year 2024 (Adjusted):

Adjusted financial guidance for full-year 2024 excludes stock-based compensation expense of $14.5 million to $15.0 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of approximately $10.0 million, restructuring costs of approximately $7.0 million, and any investment gains or losses.

• Adjusted operating margin of approximately 8.5% to 9.5%
• Adjusted effective tax rate of approximately 29%
• Adjusted diluted earnings per share of approximately $1.37 to $1.57

About Forrester

Forrester (Nasdaq: FORR) is one of the most influential research and advisory firms in the world. We help leaders across technology, customer experience, digital, marketing, sales, and product 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; more than 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 2024 and statements about the performance of Forrester Decisions 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, including the migration of its existing clients into its Forrester Decisions portfolio of 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 use of generative AI in Forrester’s business and by Forrester’s clients and competitors; 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.

© 2024, 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

Six Months Ended

June 30,

June 30,

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

Revenues:

Research

$

83,663

 

$

87,699

 

$

160,244

 

$

168,605

 

Consulting

 

24,811

 

 

29,970

 

 

47,952

 

 

61,720

 

Events

 

13,351

 

 

17,920

 

 

13,706

 

 

18,934

 

Total revenues

 

121,825

 

 

135,589

 

 

221,902

 

 

249,259

 

Operating expenses:

Cost of services and fulfillment

 

51,164

 

 

54,614

 

 

95,854

 

 

103,906

 

Selling and marketing

 

40,253

 

 

41,581

 

 

79,675

 

 

83,113

 

General and administrative

 

14,437

 

 

15,315

 

 

28,496

 

 

36,542

 

Depreciation

 

2,062

 

 

2,191

 

 

4,122

 

 

4,295

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

2,513

 

 

3,068

 

 

5,027

 

 

6,134

 

Restructuring costs

 

82

 

 

10,532

 

 

6,706

 

 

12,121

 

Total operating expenses

 

110,511

 

 

127,301

 

 

219,880

 

 

246,111

 

Income from operations

 

11,314

 

 

8,288

 

 

2,022

 

 

3,148

 

Interest expense

 

(763

)

 

(730

)

 

(1,525

)

 

(1,523

)

Other income, net

 

1,015

 

 

514

 

 

2,289

 

 

1,064

 

Income before income taxes

 

11,566

 

 

8,072

 

 

2,786

 

 

2,689

 

Income tax expense

 

5,274

 

 

2,768

 

 

3,167

 

 

1,460

 

Net income (loss)

$

6,292

 

$

5,304

 

$

(381

)

$

1,229

 

 


Basic income (loss) per common share

$

0.33

 

$

0.28

 

$

(0.02

)

$

0.06

 

Diluted income (loss) per common share

$

0.33

 

$

0.28

 

$

(0.02

)

$

0.06

 

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

 

19,093

 

 

19,193

 

 

19,189

 

 

19,151

 

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

 

19,124

 

 

19,258

 

 

19,189

 

 

19,214

 

Adjusted data (1):

Income from operations - GAAP

$

11,314

 

$

8,288

 

$

2,022

 

$

3,148

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

2,513

 

 

3,068

 

 

5,027

 

 

6,134

 

Restructuring costs

 

82

 

 

10,532

 

 

6,706

 

 

12,121

 

Legal settlement

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

4,800

 

Stock-based compensation included in the










following expense categories:










Cost of services and fulfillment

 

2,513

 

 

2,209

 

 

4,635

 

 

4,056

 

Selling and marketing

 

559

 

 

807

 

 

1,158

 

 

1,304

 

General and administrative

 

953

 

 

844

 

 

1,806

 

 

1,665

 

Adjusted income from operations

$

17,934

 

$

25,748

 

$

21,354

 

$

33,228

 

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30,

June 30,

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

 

Amount

Per Share

Amount

Per Share

Amount

Per Share

Amount

Per Share

Net income (loss) - GAAP

$

6,292

 

$

0.33

 

$

5,304

 

$

0.28

 

$

(381

)

$

(0.02

)

$

1,229

 

$

0.06

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

2,513

 

 

0.13

 

 

3,068

 

 

0.16

 

 

5,027

 

 

0.26

 

 

6,134

 

 

0.32

 

Restructuring costs

 

82

 

 

0.01

 

 

10,532

 

 

0.54

 

 

6,706

 

 

0.35

 

 

12,121

 

 

0.63

 

Legal settlement

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

4,800

 

 

0.25

 

Stock-based compensation

 

4,025

 

 

0.21

 

 

3,860

 

 

0.20

 

 

7,599

 

 

0.40

 

 

7,025

 

 

0.37

 

Tax effects of items above (2)

 

(1,288

)

 

(0.07

)

 

(4,597

)

 

(0.24

)

 

(3,834

)

 

(0.20

)

 

(7,575

)

 

(0.40

)

Adjustment to tax expense for adjusted tax rate (3)

 

1,288

 

 

0.07

 

 

(39

)

 

—

 

 

586

 

 

0.03

 

 

(468

)

 

(0.02

)

Adjusted net income

$

12,912

 

 

0.68

 

$

18,128

 

$

0.94

 

$

15,703

 

 

0.82

 

$

23,266

 

$

1.21

 

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

 

19,124

 

 

19,258

 

 

19,232

 

 

19,214

 

(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, restructuring costs, a legal settlement, and net gains or losses from investments, as well as their related tax effects. We also utilized an assumed tax rate of 29% in 2024 and 2023, which excludes items such as 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 Generally Accepted Accounting Principles 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 29% in 2024 and 2023.

Forrester Research, Inc.

Key Financial Data

 
 
 



(Unaudited, dollars in thousands)

June 30,

December 31,

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

Balance sheet data:

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable investments

 $

                110,813

 

 $

                124,489

 

Accounts receivable, net

 $

                  47,702

 

 $

                  58,999

 

Deferred revenue

 $

                164,117

 

 $

                156,798

 

Debt outstanding

 $

                  35,000

 

 $

                  35,000

 

June 30,

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

Cash flow data:

Net cash provided by operating activities

 $

                  (2,295

)

 $

                  15,788

 

Purchases of property and equipment

 $

                  (2,256

)

 $

                  (2,664

)

Repayments of debt

 $

                        —

 

 $

                (15,000

)

Repurchases of common stock

 $

                  (8,015

)

 $

                     (820

)

As of

June 30,

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

Metrics:

Contract value

 $

                323,000

 

 $

                333,200

 

(a)


Client retention

 

73

%

 

74

%

Wallet retention

 

89

%

 

89

%

(a)


Number of clients

 

                       2,220

 

 

                       2,604

 

As of

June 30,

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

Headcount:

Total headcount

 

                       1,656

 

 

                       1,793

 

Sales force

 

                          592

 

 

                          616

 

(a) June 30, 2023 amounts have been recast based on 2024 foreign currency rates and updated methodology as described on the investor relations section of our website.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240730767708/en/

Ed Bryce Morris Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations Forrester Research, Inc. [phone] [e-mail]

Shweta Agarwal VP, Corporate Communications Forrester Research, Inc. [phone] [e-mail]