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8-K - 8-K - FORRESTER RESEARCH, INC.d38783d8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Forrester Research Reports 2020 Fourth-Quarter And Full-Year Financial Results

Cambridge, Mass., February 11, 2021 . . . Forrester Research, Inc. (Nasdaq: FORR) today announced its 2020 fourth-quarter and full-year financial results.

Fourth-Quarter Financial Performance

Total revenues were $120.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared with $124.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. Adjusted revenues, which exclude the fair value adjustment to deferred revenue from the acquisition of SiriusDecisions, were $120.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared with $125.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2019.

On a GAAP basis, net income was $2.4 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared with net income of $4.9 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, for the same period in 2019.

On an adjusted basis, net income was $6.6 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2020, which reflects an adjusted effective tax rate of 31%. Adjusted net income excludes stock-based compensation of $2.9 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of $5.5 million, acquisition and integration costs of $2.0 million, lease incentive income of $3.4 million, and investment gains of $0.1 million. This compares with adjusted net income of $10.7 million, or $0.57 per diluted share, for the same period in 2019, which reflects an adjusted tax rate of 31%. Adjusted net income for the fourth quarter of 2019 excludes stock-based compensation of $3.1 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of $5.7 million, acquisition-related deferred revenue fair value adjustment of $0.8 million, acquisition and integration costs of $1.1 million, and investment gains of $0.1 million.

“Forrester had a strong finish to the year despite challenging macroeconomic conditions. We helped our clients find new ways to win and retain customers during the pandemic, shift their workforces to virtual, and prepare themselves for a post-pandemic digital world,” said George F. Colony, Forrester’s chairman and chief executive officer. “After the uncertainty of Q2, company momentum built in Q3 and Q4, with rising engagement across our research, consulting, and events businesses. We exceeded revenue and EPS guidance for the quarter and head into 2021 with healthy cash flow and a solid balance sheet. In 2021, the company is laser-focused on increasing research contract value bookings at double-digit rates — that is job number one.”

Year Ended December 31, 2020, Financial Performance

Total revenues were $449.0 million, compared with $461.7 million for the same period in 2019. Adjusted revenues, which exclude the fair value adjustment to deferred revenue from the acquisition of SiriusDecisions, were $449.4 million, compared with $473.0 million for the same period in 2019.


On a GAAP basis, net income was $10.0 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, for 2020, compared with a net loss of $9.6 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, for 2019.

On an adjusted basis, net income was $30.4 million, or $1.60 per diluted share, for 2020, which reflects an adjusted effective tax rate of 31%. Adjusted net income excludes stock-based compensation of $10.9 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of $19.7 million, acquisition-related deferred revenue fair value adjustment of $0.4 million, acquisition and integration costs of $5.8 million, lease incentive income of $3.2 million, and investment gains of $2.5 million. This compares with adjusted net income of $31.0 million, or $1.65 per diluted share, for 2019, which reflects an adjusted tax rate of 31%. Adjusted net income for 2019 excludes stock-based compensation of $11.7 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of $22.6 million, acquisition-related deferred revenue fair value adjustment of $11.3 million, and acquisition and integration costs of $8.9 million.

A reconciliation of GAAP results to pro forma results may be found in the attached financial tables.

2021 Guidance

Forrester is providing first-quarter 2021 financial guidance as follows:

First-Quarter 2021 (GAAP):

 

   

Total revenues of approximately $104.0 million to $108.0 million.

 

   

Operating margin of approximately (1.0)% to 1.0%.

 

   

Interest expense of approximately $1.2 million.

 

   

An effective tax rate of 32%.

 

   

Loss per share of approximately $0.02 to $0.08.

First-Quarter 2021 (Adjusted):

Adjusted financial guidance for the first quarter of 2021 excludes stock-based compensation expense of $2.4 million to $2.6 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of approximately $3.8 million, integration costs of approximately $0.1 million, and any investment gains or losses.

 

   

Adjusted operating margin of approximately 5.0% to 7.0%.

 

   

Adjusted effective tax rate of 31%.

 

   

Adjusted diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.15 to $0.21.


Our full-year 2021 guidance is as follows:

Full-Year 2021 (GAAP):

 

   

Total revenues of approximately $466.0 million to $476.0 million.

 

   

Operating margin of approximately 4.5% to 5.5%.

 

   

Interest expense of approximately $4.5 million.

 

   

An effective tax rate of 32%.

 

   

Diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.57 to $0.67.

Full-Year 2021 (Adjusted):

Adjusted financial guidance for full-year 2021 excludes stock-based compensation expense of $10.2 million to $10.7 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of approximately $15.2 million, integration costs of $0.3 million to $0.5 million, and any investment gains or losses.

 

   

Adjusted operating margin of approximately 10.0% to 11.0%.

 

   

Adjusted effective tax rate of 31%.

 

   

Adjusted diluted earnings per share of approximately $1.50 to $1.60.

About Forrester Research

Forrester (Nasdaq: FORR) is one of the most influential research and advisory firms in the world. We help business and technology leaders 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 675,000 consumers, business leaders, and technology leaders worldwide; rigorous and objective methodologies, including Forrester Wave evaluations; and the shared wisdom of our most innovative 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 first quarter of and full-year 2021 and statements about 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, the impact of health epidemics, including COVID-19, on Forrester’s business; Forrester’s ability to retain and enrich memberships for its research products and services; technology spending; Forrester’s ability to respond to business and economic conditions and market trends; the risks and challenges inherent in international business activities; the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union; 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 anticipate and respond to market


trends; Forrester’s ability to successfully integrate businesses that it acquires; the impact of Forrester’s outstanding debt obligations; the possibility of network disruptions and security breaches; competition and industry consolidation; any failure to enforce and protect Forrester’s intellectual property rights; privacy laws; possible variations in Forrester’s quarterly operating results; taxation risks; concentration of ownership of Forrester; and any weakness in Forrester’s system of internal controls. 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.

Contact:

Michael Doyle

Chief Financial Officer

Forrester Research, Inc.

+1 617-613-6000

mdoyle@forrester.com

Shweta Agarwal

Public Relations

Forrester Research, Inc.

+1 617-613-6805

sagarwal@forrester.com

 

© 

2021, 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
December 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2020     2019     2020     2019  

Revenues:

        

Research

   $ 75,255     $ 79,299     $ 294,485     $ 298,735  

Consulting

     41,382       37,530       144,362       135,952  

Events

     3,884       7,440       10,137       27,010  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     120,521       124,269       448,984       461,697  

Operating expenses:

        

Cost of services and fulfillment

     47,457       50,116       180,899       196,726  

Selling and marketing

     44,601       45,210       166,200       172,865  

General and administrative

     14,433       13,098       50,369       53,042  

Depreciation

     2,481       2,262       9,879       8,572  

Amortization of intangible assets

     5,536       5,656       19,683       22,619  

Acquisition and integration costs

     1,964       1,100       5,779       8,948  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     116,472       117,442       432,809       462,772  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from operations

     4,049       6,827       16,175       (1,075

Interest expense

     (1,236     (1,713     (5,340     (8,054

Other expense, net

     (209     (286     (374     (515

Gains on investments, net

     107       106       2,472       45  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     2,711       4,934       12,933       (9,599

Income tax expense (benefit)

     285       44       2,943       (29
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ 2,426     $ 4,890     $ 9,990     $ (9,570
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic income (loss) per common share

   $ 0.13     $ 0.26     $ 0.53     $ (0.52
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted income (loss) per common share

   $ 0.13     $ 0.26     $ 0.53     $ (0.52
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

     18,971       18,624       18,827       18,492  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

     19,119       18,720       18,935       18,492  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted data (1):

        

Total revenues - GAAP

   $ 120,521     $ 124,269     $ 448,984     $ 461,697  

Deferred revenue fair value adjustment

     42       790       444       11,257  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted revenues

   $ 120,563     $ 125,059     $ 449,428     $ 472,954  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from operations - GAAP

   $ 4,049     $ 6,827     $ 16,175     $ (1,075

Deferred revenue fair value adjustment

     42       790       444       11,257  

Amortization of intangible assets

     5,536       5,656       19,683       22,619  

Acquisition and integration costs

     1,964       1,100       5,779       8,948  

Lease incentive

     (3,445     —         (3,226     —    

Stock-based compensation included in the following expense categories:

        

Cost of services and fulfillment

     1,693       1,815       6,156       6,627  

Selling and marketing

     520       402       1,751       1,768  

General and administrative

     700       862       2,970       3,289  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted income from operations

   $ 11,059     $ 17,452     $ 49,732     $ 53,433  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 


     Three Months Ended     Year Ended  
     December 31,     December 31,  
     2020     2019     2020     2019  
     Amount     Per Share     Amount     Per Share     Amount     Per Share     Amount     Per Share  

Net income (loss) - GAAP

   $ 2,426     $ 0.13     $ 4,890     $ 0.26     $ 9,990     $ 0.53     $ (9,570   $ (0.52

Effect on GAAP net loss of diluted shares

       —           —           —           0.01  

Deferred revenue fair value adjustment

     42       —         790       0.04       444       0.02       11,257       0.60  

Amortization of intangible assets

     5,536       0.29       5,656       0.30       19,683       1.04       22,619       1.20  

Acquisition and integration costs

     1,964       0.10       1,100       0.06       5,779       0.30       8,948       0.48  

Lease incentive

     (3,445     (0.18     —         —         (3,226     (0.17     —         —    

Stock-based compensation

     2,913       0.15       3,079       0.16       10,877       0.57       11,684       0.62  

Gains on investments

     (107     —         (106     —         (2,472     (0.13     (45     —    

Tax effects of items above (2)

     (1,632     (0.08     (4,166     (0.22     (8,612     (0.45     (15,062     (0.80

Adjustment to tax expense for adjusted tax rate (3)

     (1,063     (0.06     (580     (0.03     (2,091     (0.11     1,125       0.06  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted net income

   $ 6,634     $ 0.35     $ 10,663     $ 0.57     $ 30,372     $ 1.60     $ 30,956     $ 1.65  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

     19,119         18,720         18,935         18,720    
  

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

(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, acquisition-related deferred revenue fair value adjustments, stock-based compensation, acquisition and integration costs, net gains or losses from investments, lease incentive cost and credits, as well as their related tax effects. We also utilized an assumed tax rate of 31% in both 2020 and 2019, which excludes items such as any release of reserves for uncertain tax positions established in prior years, the settlement of prior year tax audits, and the effect of any adjustments related to the filing of prior year tax returns. The adjuted data does not purport to be prepared in accordance with Accounting Principles Generally Accepted 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 31%.    


Forrester Research, Inc.

Key Financial Data

 

(Unaudited, dollars in thousands)

 

     December 31,     December 31,  
     2020     2019  

Balance sheet data:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 90,257     $ 67,904  

Accounts receivable, net

   $ 84,695     $ 84,605  

Deferred revenue

   $ 179,968     $ 179,194  

Debt outstanding

   $ 109,375     $ 132,750  
     Year Ended  
     December 31,  
     2020     2019  

Cash flow data:

    

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 47,754     $ 48,406  

Purchases of property and equipment

   $ (8,905   $ (11,890

Cash paid for acquisitions

   $ —       $ (237,684

Repayments of debt

   $ (23,375   $ (42,250
     As of  
     December 31,  
     2020     2019  

Metrics:

    

Agreement value

   $ 345,300     $ 358,000  

Client retention

     65     72

Dollar retention

     88     90

Enrichment

     100     106

Number of clients

     2,697       2,880  
     As of  
     December 31,  
     2020     2019  

Headcount:

    

Total headcount

     1,798       1,795  

Products and advisory services staff

     704       688  

Sales force

     701       698