Forrester Research, Inc. (Nasdaq: FORR) today announced its 2013 first-quarter financial results. 

 First-Quarter Financial Performance

  • Total revenues were $71.5 million for the first quarter of 2013, compared with $70.3 million for the first quarter of last year. Research revenues increased 1%, and advisory services and other revenue increased 3%, compared with the first quarter of last year.
  • On a GAAP basis, net income was $2.3 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2013, compared with net income of $3.2 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the same period last year. On a pro forma basis, net income was $4.8 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2013, which reflects a pro forma effective tax rate of 39%. Pro forma net income excludes stock-based compensation of $1.9 million, amortization of $0.6 million of acquisition-related intangible assets, reorganization costs of $1.6 million, and net investment losses of $0.1 million. This compares with pro forma net income of $5.1 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, for the same period in 2012, which reflects a pro forma tax rate of 39%. Pro forma net income for the first quarter of 2012 excludes stock-based compensation of $1.3 million, amortization of $0.6 million of acquisition-related intangible assets, $1.3 million of reorganization costs, and net investment gains of $0.1 million.

“Forrester exceeded guidance on revenue, operating margin, and earnings per share for the first quarter,” said George F. Colony, Forrester’s chairman and chief executive officer. “While we are encouraged by the operating results, our performance is not yet consistent across all geographies. During the first quarter, we saw strong performance from some sales teams, while others are still stabilizing. Our recovery is continuing, but it is not complete.”

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

Forrester is providing second-quarter 2013 financial guidance as follows:

Second-Quarter 2013 (GAAP): 

  • Total revenues of approximately $77.5 million to $80.5 million.
  • Operating margin of approximately 8.5% to 10.5%.
  • Other income, net of approximately $0.2 million.
  • An effective tax rate of 40%.
  • Weighted average diluted shares outstanding of approximately 22.7 million.
  • Diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.18 to $0.22.

Second-Quarter 2013 (Pro Forma):

Pro forma financial guidance for the second quarter of 2013 excludes stock-based compensation expense of $0.9 million to $1.1 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of approximately $0.6 million, reorganization costs of approximately $0.3 million, and any investment gains or losses. 

  • Pro forma operating margin of approximately 11.0% to 13.0%.
  • Pro forma effective tax rate of 39%.
  • Pro forma diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.23 to $0.27.

Our full-year 2013 guidance is as follows:

Full-Year 2013 (GAAP): 

  • Total revenues of approximately $290.0 million to $298.0 million.
  • Operating margin of approximately 6.0% to 7.0%.
  • Other income, net of approximately $0.8 million.
  • An effective tax rate of 39%.
  • Weighted average diluted shares outstanding of approximately 21.9 million.
  • Diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.52 to $0.59.

Full-Year 2013 (Pro Forma):

Pro forma financial guidance for full-year 2013 excludes stock-based compensation expense of $5.7 million to $6.2 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of approximately $2.3 million, reorganization costs of approximately $1.9 million, and any investment gains or losses. 

  • Pro forma operating margin of approximately 9.5% to 10.5%.
  • Pro forma effective tax rate of 39%.
  • Pro forma diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.79 to $0.86.

Quarterly Dividend

Forrester also announced today that its board of directors has approved a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share payable June 19, 2013, to shareholders of record on June 5, 2013.

About Forrester Research

Forrester Research, Inc. (Nasdaq: FORR) is an independent research company that provides pragmatic and forward-thinking advice to global leaders in business and technology. Forrester works with professionals in 17 roles at major companies providing proprietary research, customer insight, consulting, events, and peer-to-peer executive programs. For more than 29 years, Forrester has been making IT, marketing, and technology industry leaders successful every day. For more information, visit www.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, statements about anticipated growth, productivity improvements, restructuring activities, Forrester’s financial guidance for the second quarter of and full-year 2013, and the timing and amount of the repurchase of Forrester shares. 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, technology spending, Forrester’s ability to respond to business and economic conditions and market trends, the risks and challenges inherent in international business activities, competition and industry consolidation, the ability to attract and retain professional staff, Forrester’s dependence on key personnel, the possibility of network disruptions and security breaches, and possible variations in Forrester’s quarterly operating results. Financial guidance regarding shares outstanding and per-share amounts does not take into account any purchase of shares in Forrester’s modified “Dutch auction” self-tender offer to purchase up to $130 million of its common shares and may materially change depending upon the outcome of the self-tender offer. 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.