Forrester Research, Inc. (Nasdaq: FORR) today announced its first-quarter ended March 31, 2009 financial results.

First-Quarter Financial Performance

  • Total revenues were $56.4 million, compared with $55.0 million for the first quarter of last year.
  • On a GAAP-reported basis, Forrester reported net income of $2.6 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, compared with net income of $5.0 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, for the same period last year.
  • On a pro forma basis, net income was $6.3 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2009, which reflects a pro forma effective tax rate of 40 percent. Pro forma net income excludes stock-based compensation of $2.2 million, amortization of $656,000 of acquisition-related intangible assets, and $3.1 million of reorganization costs. This compares with pro forma net income of $6.2 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, for the same period in 2008, which reflects a pro forma effective tax rate of 39 percent. Pro forma net income for the first quarter of 2008 excludes stock-based compensation of $1.4 million, amortization of $171,000 of acquisition-related intangible assets, marketable and non-marketable investment gains of $497,000, and a net benefit of $68,000 related to the settlement of stock-option-related payroll tax exposure offset by professional fees related to the stock option investigation and restatement of the Company’s historical financial statements.

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

“As demonstrated by our first-quarter financial performance, we are weathering the current recession and managing the business accordingly,” said George F. Colony, Forrester’s chairman of the board and chief executive officer. “Based on our deferred revenue model, we should expect that the current softness in the market today will result in a delayed impact on our revenue later in the year. As a result while we exceeded our revenue guidance for the first quarter, we are reiterating our full-year guidance.”

Forrester is providing second-quarter 2009 financial guidance as follows:

Second-Quarter 2009 (GAAP):

  • Total revenues of approximately $60 million to $63 million.
  • Operating margin of approximately 16 percent to 18 percent.
  • Other income of approximately $800,000.
  • An effective tax rate of 40 percent.
  • Diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.27 to $0.31.

Second-Quarter 2009 (Pro Forma):

Pro forma financial guidance for the second quarter of 2009 excludes amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of approximately $700,000, stock-based compensation expense of $1.2 million to $1.7 million, and any gains or impairment charges related to marketable and non-marketable investments.

  • Pro forma operating margin of approximately 19 percent to 21 percent.
  • Pro forma effective tax rate of 40 percent.
  • Pro forma diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.33 to $0.37.

Forrester is reiterating full-year 2009 guidance as follows:

Full-Year 2009 (GAAP):

  • Total revenues of approximately $215 million to $235 million.
  • Operating margin of approximately 10 percent to 13 percent.
  • Other income of approximately $3.0 million.
  • An effective tax rate of 40 percent.
  • Diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.64 to $0.84.

Full-Year 2009 (Pro Forma):

Pro forma financial guidance for full-year 2009 excludes stock-based compensation expense of $5 million to $6 million, reorganization costs of $3.1 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of approximately $2.0 million, and any gains or impairment charges related to marketable and non-marketable investments.

  • Pro forma operating margin of approximately 15 percent to 17 percent.
  • Pro forma diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.88 to $1.11.
  • An effective tax rate of 40 percent.

Forrester also announced today that its board of directors has authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $50 million of its common stock. The shares may be purchased from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions. The shares purchased will be used, among other things, for Forrester’s employee and director stock plans. As of March 31, 2009, Forrester had approximately 23,054,000 shares outstanding.

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 and operating targets for the second quarter of and full-year 2009. 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 respond to business and economic conditions, particularly in light of the continuing global economic downturn, technology spending, market trends, competition, industry consolidation, the ability to attract and retain professional staff, possible variations in Forrester’s quarterly operating results, any cost savings related to reductions in force and associated actions, risks associated with Forrester’s ability to offer new products and services, and Forrester’s dependence on renewals of its membership-based research services and on key personnel. 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’ class=”newpage” target=”_blank”s reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The consolidated statements of income, consolidated balance sheets, and consolidated statements of cash flows are attached.