Strength and Durability? FTI Consulting Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Results

• Fourth Quarter 2022 Revenues of $774.4 Million, Up 15% Compared to $676.2 Million in Prior Year Quarter; Excluding Estimated Negative Impact of FX, Fourth Quarter 2022 Revenues Up 18% Compared to Prior Year Quarter
• Fourth Quarter 2022 EPS of $1.33 Compared to $1.07 in Prior Year Quarter; Fourth Quarter 2022 Adjusted EPS of $1.52 Compared to $1.13 in Prior Year Quarter
• Full Year 2022 Revenues of $3.029 Billion, Up 9% Compared to $2.776 Billion in Prior Year; Excluding Estimated Negative Impact of FX, Full Year 2022 Revenues Increased 12% Compared to Prior Year
• Full Year 2022 EPS of $6.58 Compared to $6.65 in Prior Year; Full Year 2022 Adjusted EPS of $6.77 Compared to $6.76 in Prior Year
• Introduces 2023 Guidance

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) today released financial results for the full year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2022.

For the full year 2022, revenues of $3.029 billion increased $252.7 million, or 9.1%, compared to revenues of $2.776 billion in the prior year. Excluding the estimated negative impact from foreign currency translation (“FX”), revenues increased $339.8 million, or 12.2%, compared to the prior year. The increase in revenues was primarily due to higher demand in the Corporate Finance & Restructuring, Forensic and Litigation Consulting, Technology and Strategic Communications business segments. Net income of $235.5 million compared to $235.0 million in the prior year. The increase in net income was primarily due to higher revenues, which was largely offset by higher compensation, including the impact of a 12.3% increase in billable headcount, and a 19.2% increase in selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses compared to the prior year. In full year 2022, there was an $8.3 million special charge recorded in the fourth quarter related to severance and other employee-related costs. Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes the special charge, of $357.6 million, or 11.8% of revenues, compared to $354.0 million, or 12.8% of revenues, in the prior year period.

Full year 2022 earnings per diluted share (“EPS”) of $6.58 compared to $6.65 in the prior year. Full year 2022 EPS included the $8.3 million special charge, which reduced EPS by $0.19. Full year 2021 EPS included $9.6 million of non-cash interest expense related to the Company’s 2.0% convertible senior notes due 2023 (“2023 Convertible Notes”), which reduced EPS by $0.20, and $3.1 million in fair value remeasurement of acquisition-related contingent consideration, which increased EPS by $0.09. Full year 2022 Adjusted EPS of $6.77 compared to Adjusted EPS of $6.76 in the prior year.

Steven H. Gunby, President and Chief Executive Officer of FTI Consulting, commented, “We are pleased that in 2022, we once again reported record revenues, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS. That strength and durability, to me, are consequences of our teams’ commitment to invest behind our people and positions, independent of market conditions, a commitment which has allowed us to increasingly serve our clients as they face their most significant opportunities and challenges.”

Cash Position and Capital Allocation

Net cash provided by operating activities of $188.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to $355.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The year-over-year decrease in net cash provided by operating activities was largely due to higher compensation, operating expenses and income taxes paid, which was partially offset by an increase in cash collected.

Cash and cash equivalents of $491.7 million at December 31, 2022 compared to $494.5 million at December 31, 2021 and $327.0 million at September 30, 2022. Total debt, net of cash, of ($175.5) million at December 31, 2022 compared to ($178.2) million at December 31, 2021 and ($10.8) million at September 30, 2022. The sequential decrease in total debt, net of cash, was primarily due to an increase in cash provided by operating activities, which was partially offset by share repurchases.

On December 1, 2022, FTI Consulting’s Board of Directors authorized the additional amount of $400.0 million to repurchase its outstanding shares of common stock under its stock repurchase program. During the quarter ended December 31, 2022, the Company repurchased 425,016 shares of its common stock at an average price per share of $153.09 for a total cost of $65.1 million. In full year 2022, the Company repurchased 574,418 shares of its common stock at an average price per share of $154.23 for a total cost of $88.6 million. As of December 31, 2022, approximately $478.5 million remained available for common stock repurchases under the Company’s stock repurchase program.

Fourth Quarter 2022 Results

Fourth quarter 2022 revenues of $774.4 million increased $98.2 million, or 14.5%, compared to revenues of $676.2 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding the estimated negative impact from FX, revenues increased $124.3 million, or 18.4%, compared to the prior year quarter. Acquisition-related revenues contributed $3.5 million during the quarter. The increase in revenues was primarily due to higher demand across the Corporate Finance & Restructuring, Forensic and Litigation Consulting and Technology segments. Net income of $47.5 million compared to $38.2 million in the prior year quarter. The increase in net income was primarily due to higher revenues, which was partially offset by an increase in compensation, including the impact of a 12.3% increase in billable headcount, higher SG&A expenses, the aforementioned $8.3 million special charge, an increase in FX remeasurement losses and a higher effective tax rate compared to the prior year quarter. Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes the special charge, of $92.0 million, or 11.9% of revenues, compared to $62.0 million, or 9.2% of revenues, in the prior year quarter.

Fourth quarter 2022 EPS of $1.33 compared to $1.07 in the prior year quarter. Fourth quarter 2022 EPS included the $8.3 million special charge, which decreased EPS by $0.19. Fourth quarter 2021 EPS included $2.4 million of non-cash interest expense related to the Company’s 2023 Convertible Notes, which decreased EPS by $0.06. Fourth quarter 2022 Adjusted EPS of $1.52, which excludes the special charge, compared to Adjusted EPS of $1.13 in the prior year quarter. Fourth quarter 2021 Adjusted EPS excluded the non-cash interest expense related to the Company’s 2023 Convertible Notes.

Fourth Quarter 2022 Segment Results

Corporate Finance & Restructuring

Revenues in the Corporate Finance & Restructuring segment increased $61.3 million, or 26.5%, to $292.8 million in the quarter, compared to $231.5 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding the estimated negative impact from FX, revenues increased $68.4 million, or 29.5%, compared to the prior year quarter. Acquisition-related revenues contributed $3.5 million in the quarter. The increase in revenues was due to higher demand for restructuring and business transformation services. Adjusted Segment EBITDA of $52.4 million, or 17.9% of segment revenues, compared to $22.2 million, or 9.6% of segment revenues, in the prior year quarter. The increase in Adjusted Segment EBITDA was primarily due to higher revenues, which was partially offset by an increase in compensation, which includes the impact of a 14.3% increase in billable headcount, and higher SG&A expenses compared to the prior year quarter.

Forensic and Litigation Consulting

Revenues in the Forensic and Litigation Consulting segment increased $22.4 million, or 16.2%, to $160.4 million in the quarter, compared to $138.0 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding the estimated negative impact from FX, revenues increased $25.9 million, or 18.8%, compared to the prior year quarter. The increase in revenues was primarily due to higher demand for investigations, data & analytics and health solutions services. Adjusted Segment EBITDA of $13.8 million, or 8.6% of segment revenues, compared to $8.5 million, or 6.2% of segment revenues, in the prior year quarter. The increase in Adjusted Segment EBITDA was primarily due to higher revenues, which was partially offset by an increase in compensation, which includes the impact of a 5.9% increase in billable headcount, and higher SG&A expenses compared to the prior year quarter.

Economic Consulting

Revenues in the Economic Consulting segment decreased $0.3 million, or 0.2%, to $172.0 million in the quarter, compared to $172.3 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding the estimated negative impact from FX, revenues increased $8.4 million, or 4.9%, compared to the prior year quarter. The increase in revenues was primarily due to higher realization for merger and acquisition (“M&A”)-related antitrust and international arbitration services, which was partially offset by lower demand for financial economics services compared to the prior year quarter. Adjusted Segment EBITDA of $27.3 million, or 15.9% of segment revenues, compared to $30.0 million, or 17.4% of segment revenues, in the prior year quarter. The decrease in Adjusted Segment EBITDA was primarily due to higher SG&A expenses compared to the prior year quarter.

Technology

Revenues in the Technology segment increased $12.2 million, or 18.9%, to $76.8 million in the quarter, compared to $64.6 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding the estimated negative impact from FX, revenues increased $14.4 million, or 22.2%, compared to the prior year quarter. The increase in revenues was primarily due to higher demand for investigations and M&A-related “second request” services. Adjusted Segment EBITDA of $11.8 million, or 15.3% of segment revenues, compared to $7.8 million, or 12.1% of segment revenues, in the prior year quarter. The increase in Adjusted Segment EBITDA was primarily due to higher revenues, which was partially offset by an increase in compensation, which includes the impact of an 18.8% increase in billable headcount, and higher SG&A expenses compared to the prior year quarter.

Strategic Communications

Revenues in the Strategic Communications segment increased $2.6 million, or 3.7%, to $72.4 million in the quarter, compared to $69.9 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding the estimated negative impact from FX, revenues increased $7.3 million, or 10.4%, compared to the prior year quarter. The increase in revenues was primarily due to higher demand for public affairs and financial communications services. Adjusted Segment EBITDA of $10.5 million, or 14.5% of segment revenues, compared to $14.9 million, or 21.4% of segment revenues, in the prior year quarter. The decrease in Adjusted Segment EBITDA was primarily due to higher compensation, which includes the impact of a 19.2% increase in billable headcount, and an increase in SG&A expenses compared to the prior year quarter.

2023 Guidance

The Company estimates that revenues for full year 2023 will range between $3.330 billion and $3.470 billion. The Company estimates that EPS for full year 2023 will range between $6.80 and $7.70. The Company does not currently expect Adjusted EPS to differ from EPS.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Conference Call

FTI Consulting will host a conference call for analysts and investors to discuss fourth quarter and full year 2022 financial results at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, February 23, 2023. The call can be accessed live and will be available for replay over the internet for 90 days by logging onto the Company’s investor relations website here.

About FTI Consulting

FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations manage change, mitigate risk and resolve disputes: financial, legal, operational, political & regulatory, reputational and transactional. With more than 7,600 employees located in 31 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges and make the most of opportunities. The Company generated $3.0 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2022. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.