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FTI Consulting (FCN) Barely Moves Since Q3 Earnings Beat

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FTI Consulting, Inc. (FCN - Free Report) reported impressive third-quarter 2023 results, with both earnings and revenues beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The better-than-expected results, however, failed to impress the market as there has not been any major price change since the earnings release.

Adjusted earnings per share of $2.34 beat the consensus mark by 27.2% and increased 8.8% on a year-over-year basis. Total revenues of $893.3 million surpassed the consensus mark by 5.4% and jumped 15.1% on a year-over-year basis.

Quarterly Numbers in Detail

Forensic and Litigation Consulting revenues rose 15.9% year over year to $166.1 million but missed our estimate of $177 million. The uptick was primarily driven by higher demand for investigations, data & analytics, and construction solutions services.

Strategic Communications revenues climbed 19.9% year over year to $86.8 million and outpaced our prediction of $78.7 million. The upside can be attributed to higher demand for corporate reputation and public affairs services.

FTI Consulting, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

 

FTI Consulting, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

FTI Consulting, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | FTI Consulting, Inc. Quote

 

Technology revenues raised 25.3% year over year to $97.4 million and outshined our anticipation of $91.5 million. Higher demand for investigations and litigation services resulted in this improvement.

Economic Consulting revenues of $193.9 million inched up marginally year over year and managed to surpass our projection of $193 million. This can be attributed to an augmentation in international arbitration and M&A-related antitrust revenues.

Corporate Finance & Restructuring revenues gained 23.2% year over year to $347.6 million and topped our estimate of $303.6 million. The upward movement was primarily due to higher realized bill rates, and demand for restructuring, and business transformation & strategy services as well as an increase in success fees.

Operating Results

Adjusted EBITDA came in at $118.7 million, up 20% on a year-over-year basis. This compared favorably with our expectation of $101.1 million, up 2.2% year over year.

Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 50 basis points year over year to 13.3%. This compared favorably with our expectation of an adjusted gross profit margin of 12%.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

FTI Consulting exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $201.1 million compared with the prior quarter’s $203.5 million. Long-term debt was $285 million compared with $340.5 million witnessed at the previous-quarter end. FCN used $106.7 million of net cash in operating activities. CapEx was $14.1 million.

The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

2023 Guidance

FCN is raising the lower end of its full-year 2023 guidance ranges for revenues and EPS.

FCN now estimates revenues for full-year 2023 will range between $3.350 billion and $3.400 billion (prior view: $3.330-$3.400 billion). The midpoint of the guided range ($3.375 billion) is above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.36 billion.

Management now envisions full-year 2023 EPS to be between $6.70 and $7.20 (earlier guidance: $6.50-$7.20). The midpoint of the guided range ($6.95) is above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.74.

FTI Consulting does not currently expect Adjusted EPS to differ from EPS.

Recent Earnings Snapshots of Some Service Providers

The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (IPG - Free Report) posted third-quarter 2023 results, wherein both earnings and revenues missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

IPG’s adjusted earnings of 70 cents per share lagged the consensus estimate by 6.7%. The bottom line, however, climbed 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. Net revenues of $2.31 billion fell short of the consensus estimate by 3.3%. In the year-ago quarter, IPG’s net revenues were $2.3 billion. Total revenues of $2.68 billion increased 1.5% year over year.

Equifax Inc. (EFX - Free Report) reported lower-than-expected third-quarter 2023 results. Adjusted earnings (excluding 45 cents from non-recurring items) were $1.76 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.1%. Yet, the metric rose 1.7% from a year ago.

EFX’s total revenues of $1.32 billion missed the consensus estimate by 0.7%. Nonetheless, the figure gained 6% from a year ago on a reported basis and 6.5% on a local-currency basis.

Fiserv, Inc. (FI - Free Report) reported impressive third-quarter 2023 results, wherein earnings and revenues surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Adjusted earnings per share of $1.96 exceeded the consensus mark by 1% and increased 20% year over year. Adjusted revenues of $4.62 billion surpassed the consensus estimate by 0.53% and jumped 8.2% year over year.

FI’s organic revenue growth was 12% in the quarter. This was driven by 20% and 6% growth in the Acceptance and Payments segments, respectively.
 

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