Forrester Research Reports 2024 Third-Quarter Financial Results

By: Forrester Research, Inc. via Business Wire

November 05, 2024 at 16:05 PM EST

Forrester Research, Inc. (Nasdaq: FORR) today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024, with contract value (CV) at $315.2 million, down 5% compared with the prior year.

“We continue to make strong progress with our product migration, and we are on track to exceed our target of 80% of CV on the Forrester Decisions platform by year-end. CV metrics are stable, and we are maintaining our revenue, margin, and EPS guidance for the year,” said CEO and Chairman George F. Colony. “We remain focused on our go-to-market improvements and enhancements to the platform, with the goal of delivering a strong fourth quarter to set us up for improved CV performance in 2025.”

Third-Quarter Consolidated Results

Total revenues for the third quarter of 2024 were $102.5 million, compared with $113.4 million for the comparable quarter in 2023.

On a GAAP basis, net loss was $5.8 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2024, compared with net income of $2.5 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, for the same period in 2023.

On an adjusted basis, net income was $5.6 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2024, reflecting an adjusted effective tax rate of 29%. Adjusted net income excludes stock-based compensation of $3.6 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of $2.4 million, restructuring costs of $0.9 million, and the loss from the sale of divested operation and transaction costs of $2.0 million. This compares with adjusted net income of $8.6 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, for the same period in 2023, which reflects an adjusted tax rate of 29%. Adjusted net income for the third quarter of 2023 excludes stock-based compensation of $4.1 million and amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of $3.0 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 0.5% to 1.5%
Interest expense of approximately $3.0 million
An effective tax rate of approximately 135% to 270%
Loss per share of approximately $0.24 to $0.04

Full-Year 2024 (Adjusted):

Adjusted financial guidance for full-year 2024 excludes stock-based compensation expense of $14.2 million to $14.7 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of approximately $9.7 million, restructuring costs of approximately $7.6 million, loss from sale of divested operation and transaction costs of approximately $2.0 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; 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.


Forrester Research, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)
	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
		2024			2023			2024			2023
Revenues:
Research	$	77,070		$	80,606		$	237,314		$	249,211
Consulting		23,369			28,237			71,321			89,957
Events		2,088			4,588			15,794			23,522
Total revenues		102,527			113,431			324,429			362,690
Operating expenses:
Cost of services and fulfillment		42,174			47,978			138,028			151,884
Selling and marketing		38,273			39,967			117,948			123,080
General and administrative		15,738			15,108			44,234			51,650
Depreciation		1,957			2,262			6,079			6,557
Amortization of intangible assets		2,404			3,041			7,431			9,175
Restructuring costs		937			19			7,643			12,140
Loss from sale of divested operation		1,775			—			1,775			—
Total operating expenses		103,258			108,375			323,138			354,486
Income (loss) from operations		(731	)		5,056			1,291			8,204
Interest expense		(770	)		(763	)		(2,295	)		(2,286	)
Other income, net		427			568			2,716			1,632
Income (loss) before income taxes		(1,074	)		4,861			1,712			7,550
Income tax expense		4,724			2,377			7,891			3,837
Net income (loss)	$	(5,798	)	$	2,484		$	(6,179	)	$	3,713

Basic income (loss) per common share	$	(0.30	)	$	0.13		$	(0.32	)	$	0.19
Diluted income (loss) per common share	$	(0.30	)	$	0.13		$	(0.32	)	$	0.19
Basic weighted average shares outstanding		19,065			19,191			19,147			19,164
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		19,065			19,289			19,147			19,239

Adjusted data (1):
Income (loss) from operations - GAAP	$	(731	)	$	5,056		$	1,291		$	8,204
Amortization of intangible assets		2,404			3,041			7,431			9,175
Restructuring costs		937			19			7,643			12,140
Loss from sale of divested operation and transaction costs		1,994			—			1,994			—
Legal settlement		—			—			—			4,800
Stock-based compensation included in the
following expense categories:
Cost of services and fulfillment		2,142			2,449			6,777			6,505
Selling and marketing		528			790			1,685			2,094
General and administrative		933			905			2,740			2,570
Adjusted income from operations	$	8,207		$	12,260		$	29,561		$	45,488


	Three Months Ended												Nine Months Ended
	September 30,												September 30,
	2024						2023						2024						2023
	Amount			Per Share			Amount			Per Share			Amount			Per Share			Amount			Per Share
Net income (loss) - GAAP	$	(5,798	)	$	(0.30	)	$	2,484		$	0.13		$	(6,179	)	$	(0.32	)	$	3,713		$	0.19
Amortization of intangible assets		2,404			0.13			3,041			0.16			7,431			0.39			9,175			0.47
Restructuring costs		937			0.05			19			—			7,643			0.40			12,140			0.63
Loss from sale of divested operation and transaction costs		1,994			0.10			—			—			1,994			0.10			—			—
Legal settlement		—			—			—			—			—			—			4,800			0.25
Stock-based compensation		3,603			0.19			4,144			0.21			11,202			0.58			11,169			0.58
Tax effects of items above (2)		2,167			0.11			(1,542	)		(0.08	)		(1,667	)		(0.09	)		(9,117	)		(0.47	)
Adjustment to tax expense for adjusted tax rate (3)		277			0.01			420			0.02			863			0.05			(48	)		—
Adjusted net income	$	5,584			0.29		$	8,566		$	0.44		$	21,287			1.11		$	31,832		$	1.65
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding		19,089						19,289						19,184						19,239

(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 they 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 loss from the sale of a divested operation and related transaction 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)
	September 30,			December 31,
		2024			2023
Balance sheet data:
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable investments	$	114,932		$	124,489
Accounts receivable, net	$	39,165		$	58,999
Deferred revenue	$	153,155		$	156,798
Debt outstanding	$	35,000		$	35,000

	September 30,
		2024			2023
Cash flow data:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$	(2,031	)	$	9,791
Purchases of property and equipment	$	(2,743	)	$	(3,903	)
Repayments of debt	$	—		$	(15,000	)
Repurchases of common stock	$	(12,984	)	$	(4,082	)

	As of
	September 30,
		2024			2023
Metrics:
Contract value	$	315,200		$	331,200		(a)
Client retention		73	%		73	%	(a)
Wallet retention		89	%		89	%	(a)
Number of clients		2,002			2,338		(a)

	As of
	September 30,
		2024			2023
Headcount:
Total headcount		1,608			1,750
Sales force		597			599

(a) September 30, 2023 amounts have been recast based on 2024 foreign currency rates, the divestiture of an operation in Q3 2024, and an updated methodology as described on the investor relations section of our website.