HACKETT GROUP, INC.

Previous wording

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). We intend the forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in these sections. All statements regarding our expected financial position and operating results, our business strategy, our financing plans and forecasted demographic and economic trends relating to our industry are forward-looking statements. These statements can sometimes be identified by our use of forward-looking words such as “may,” “will,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” or “intend” and similar expressions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We cannot promise you that our expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements will turn out to be correct. Factors that could impact such forward-looking statements include, among others, changes in worldwide and U.S. economic conditions that impact business confidence and the demand for our products and services, our ability to transition our capabilities to support generative artificial intelligence ("A.I.")-related consulting services and solutions, our ability to effectively integrate acquisitions, including the LeewayHertz acquisition, into our operations,[our ability to manage joint ventures and successfully cooperate with our joint venture partners, our ability to retain existing business, our ability to attract additional business, our ability to effectively market and sell our product offerings and other services, the timing of projects and the potential for contract cancellation by our customers, changes in expectations regarding the business consulting and information technology industries, our ability to attract and retain skilled employees, possible changes in collections of accounts receivable due to the bankruptcy or financial difficulties of our customers, risks of competition, price and margin trends, foreign currency fluctuations, the impact of the geopolitical conflict involving Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East on our business and changes in general economic conditions, interest rates and our ability to obtain additional debt financing if needed. An additional description of our risk factors is described in Part I – Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2023.

Current wording

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). We intend the forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in these sections. All statements regarding our expected financial position and operating results, our business strategy, our financing plans and forecasted demographic and economic trends relating to our industry are forward-looking statements. These statements can sometimes be identified by our use of forward-looking words such as “may,” “will,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” or “intend” and similar expressions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We cannot promise you that our expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements will turn out to be correct. Factors that could impact such forward-looking statements include, among others, changes in worldwide and U.S. economic conditions that impact business confidence and the demand for our products and services, our ability to transition our capabilities to support generative artificial intelligence ("A.I.")-related consulting services and solutions, our ability to effectively integrate acquisitions, including the LeewayHertz acquisition, into our operations, our ability to manage joint ventures and successfully cooperate with our joint venture partners, our ability to retain existing business, our ability to attract additional business, our ability to effectively market and sell our product offerings and other services, the timing of projects and the potential for contract cancellation by our customers, changes in expectations regarding the business consulting and information technology industries, our ability to attract and retain skilled employees, possible changes in collections of accounts receivable due to the bankruptcy or financial difficulties of our customers, risks of competition, price and margin trends, foreign currency fluctuations, the impact of the geopolitical conflict involving Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East on our business and changes in general economic conditions, interest rates, tariffs and trade barriers and our ability to obtain additional debt financing if needed. An additional description of our risk factors is described in Part I – Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2024.

Previous wording

Hackett is a global IP-based executive advisory, strategic consulting and digital transformation firm. The Hackett Group provides dedicated expertise in Generative Artificial Intelligence ("Gen A.I.") strategy, operations, finance, human capital management, strategic sourcing, procurement, and information technology, including its highly recognized Oracle, SAP, OneStream and Coupa implementation offerings.

Current wording

Hackett is a global IP platform-based Generative Artificial Intelligence ("Gen AI") strategic consulting and executive advisory digital transformation firm. The Hackett Group provides dedicated expertise in Gen AI enabled enterprise transformation services across front, mid and back office areas, including its highly recognized Oracle, SAP, OneStream and Coupa implementation offerings.

Previous wording

The firm recently launched its A.I. XPLR offering which helps define an organizations’ Gen A.I. enablement opportunities. Using A.I. XPLR, our A.I. assessment platform, our experienced professionals guide organizations to harness the power of Gen AI to digitally transform their operations and seek to achieve quantifiable, breakthrough results, allowing us to be key architects of our clients' Gen A.I. journey.

Current wording

In early 2024, we launched our AI assessment platform, AI XPLR which helps clients identify, evaluate and design Gen AI enablement opportunities. Using AI XPLR, our experienced professionals guide organizations to harness the power of Gen AI solutions designed to digitally transform their operations to achieve quantifiable, breakthrough results, allowing us to be key architects of our clients' Gen AI journey.

Previous wording

The Hackett Group has completed over 26,600 benchmarking and performance studies with major organizations. These studies are executed utilizing our Quantum Leap ("QL") platform which drives our Digital Transformation Platform ("DTP"). This includes the firm's benchmarking metrics, best practices repository, and best practice configuration and process flow accelerators, which enables our clients and partners to achieve digital world-class performance.

Current wording

The Hackett Group has completed over 27,500 benchmarking and performance studies with major organizations. These studies are executed utilizing our Quantum Leap platform which drives our Digital Transformation Platform (“DTP” or “Hackett DTP”). This includes the firm's benchmarking metrics, best practices repository, and best practice configuration and process flow accelerators, which enables our clients and partners to achieve digital world-class performance. We consider this, along with our recent innovations, our core Hackett Intellectual Property ("IP") which allows us to identify, design and evaluate transformation opportunities to be proprietary and key components of our Hackett solutioning IP.

Previous wording

Our expertise is grounded in best practices insights from benchmarking the world’s leading businesses – including companies comprising 97% of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, 89% of the Fortune 100, 70% of the DAX 40 and 55% of the Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index, which are delivered through our Hackett Connect, QL and DTP platforms.

Current wording

Our transformation expertise is grounded in best practices insights from benchmarking the world’s leading businesses – including 97% of the Dow Jones Industrials, 90% of the Fortune 100, 70% of the DAX 40 and 51% of the FTSE 100, which inform and are delivered by our platforms.

Previous wording

The level of revenue we achieve is based on our ability to deliver market leading services and solutions and to deploy skilled teams of professionals quickly. Our results of operations are affected by economic conditions, including macroeconomic conditions and levels of business confidence. Any deterioration in the current macroeconomic environment or economic downturn as a result of weak or uncertain economic conditions due to inflation, high interest rates, national or geopolitical events or other factors impacting economic activity or business confidence could adversely affect our clients' financial condition or outlook which may reduce the clients' demand for our services.

Current wording

The level of revenue we achieve is based on our ability to deliver market leading services and solutions and to deploy skilled teams of professionals quickly. Our results of operations are affected by economic conditions, including macroeconomic conditions and levels of business confidence. Any deterioration in the current macroeconomic environment or economic downturn as a result of weak or uncertain economic conditions due to inflation, high interest rates, tariffs, national or geopolitical events or other factors impacting economic activity or business confidence could adversely affect our clients' financial condition or outlook which may reduce the clients' demand for our services.

Previous wording

Revenue. We are a global Company with operations in our primary markets located in the United States and Western Europe. Our revenue is denominated in multiple currencies, primarily the U.S. Dollar, British Pound and Euro, and as a result is affected by currency exchange rate fluctuations. The impact of currency fluctuations did not have a significant impact on comparisons between the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 and the same comparable periods of 2023. In this MD&A, we discuss revenue based on geographical location of engagement team personnel.

Current wording

Revenue. We are a global Company with operations in our primary markets located in the United States and Western Europe. Our revenue is denominated in multiple currencies, primarily the U.S. Dollar, British Pound and Euro, and as a result is affected by currency exchange rate fluctuations. The impact of currency fluctuations did not have a significant impact on comparisons between the three months ended March 28, 2025 and the three months ended March 29, 2024. In this MD&A, we discuss revenue based on geographical location of engagement team personnel.

Previous wording

Our Company total revenue was $79.8 million and $234.6 million during the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively, as compared to $75.9 million and $224.2 million in the same periods in 2023, respectively. In the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, one customer accounted for 13% and 12%, respectively, of our total revenue. In the third quarter and first nine months of 2023, one customer accounted for 6% and 5%, respectively, of our total revenue.

Current wording

Our Company total revenue was $77.9 million during the first three months of 2025, as compared to $77.2 million in the same period in 2024. In the first three months of 2025 and 2024, one customer accounted for 9% of our Company total revenue in both periods.

Previous wording

Global S&BT total revenue was $44.1 million and $127.2 million during the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively, as compared to $43.8 million and $129.8 million in the same periods of 2023, respectively. The revenue growth in our Gen A.I. consulting and implementation offerings were offset by weakness in our e-procurement implementation offerings.

Current wording

Global S&BT total revenue was $43.4 million and $40.9 million during the first three months of 2025 and 2024, respectively. This increase was related to growth in our Gen AI consulting and implementation offerings, partially offset by weakness in our OneStream and eProcurement implementation offerings.

Previous wording

SAP Solutions total revenue was $13.0 million and $40.0 million during the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively, as compared to $11.2 million and $35.6 million in the same periods of 2023, respectively. The increase in revenue during the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, as compared to the same periods in 2023, was due to the strong software-related sales during the third quarter and first nine months of 2024.

Current wording

SAP Solutions total revenue was $13.4 million and $14.6 million during the first three months of 2025 and 2024, respectively. The decrease in revenue during the first three months of 2025, as compared to the same period in 2024, was primarily due to the over performance in the fourth quarter of 2024, which tempered our first quarter results.

Previous wording

Reimbursements as a percentage of Company total revenue were 2% during both the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 and 2023. Reimbursements are project travel-related expenses passed through to a client with no associated operating margin.

Current wording

Reimbursements as a percentage of Company total revenue were 2% during both the first three months of 2025 and 2024. Reimbursements are project travel-related expenses passed through to a client with no associated operating margin.

Previous wording

Personnel costs before reimbursable expenses were $46.4 million and $137.6 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively, as compared to $44.4 million and $133.0 million in the same periods of 2023, respectively. The higher costs in the first nine months of 2024 were primarily a result of increased salaries, higher utilization of subcontractors and increases in non-cash stock compensation expense. Personnel costs as a percentage of total Company total revenue were 58% and 59% during the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively, and 59% for each of the same periods in 2023, respectively.

Current wording

Personnel costs before reimbursable expenses increased 6%, to $48.4 million for the first three months of 2025, as compared to $45.8 million in the same period of 2024. The increase was primarily related to the stock price award program and the acquisition related non-cash stock compensation expense relating to the LeewayHertz acquisition. Personnel costs as a percentage of total Company total revenue were 62% and 59% during the first three months of 2025 and 2024, respectively.

Previous wording

Non-cash stock based compensation expense, included in personnel costs before reimbursable expenses was $2.1 million and $5.2 million during the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively, as compared to $1.5 million and $4.7 million in the same periods of 2023, respectively. This increase was primarily related to increased non-cash stock compensation from the stock price appreciation equity program issuances (Note 7) and to the acquisition related non-cash stock compensation expense (Note 1 and Note 7).

Current wording

Non-cash stock based compensation expense, included in personnel costs before reimbursable expenses was $4.9 million and $1.4 million during the first three months of 2025 and 2024, respectively. This increase was primarily related to increased non-cash stock compensation from the stock price appreciation equity program issuances (Note 7) and to the acquisition related non-cash stock compensation expense (Note 1 and Note 7).

Previous wording

SG&A costs increased 14%, to $18.7 million, and 12%, to $55.0 million, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively, as compared to $16.5 million and $49.3 million for the same periods in 2023, respectively. This increase in the costs during the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 was primarily due to the incremental investments we have made in sales and related expenses, increased commissions, increased incentive compensation commensurate with Company performance, increased non-cash stock based compensation, as well as foreign currency fluctuations. SG&A costs as a percentage of total Company revenue were 23% during both the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively, as compared to 22% during the same periods in 2023.

Current wording

SG&A costs increased 28%, to $23.4 million, as compared to $18.3 million for the same period in 2024, respectively. This increase in the costs during the first three months of 2025 was primarily due to increased non-cash stock based compensation from the stock price appreciation equity program issuances (Note 7). SG&A costs as a percentage of total Company revenue were 30% during the first three months of 2025, respectively, as compared to 24% during the same period in 2024.

Previous wording

Non-cash stock based compensation expense, included in SG&A, was $1.7 million and $4.1 million during the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively, as compared to $1.2 million and $3.2 million for the same periods in 2023, respectively. The increase in the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 primarily relates to the non-cash stock compensation expense from the stock price appreciation equity program issuances (Note 7) .

Current wording

Non-cash stock based compensation expense, included in SG&A, was $4.7 million and $1.2 million during the first three months of 2025 and 2024, respectively. The increase in the first three months of 2025 primarily relates to the non-cash stock compensation expense from the stock price appreciation equity program issuances (Note 7).

Previous wording

Global S&BT segment profit was $14.1 million and $37.0 million during the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively, as compared to $14.0 million and $40.9 million for the same periods in 2023, respectively. This decrease in the first nine months of 2024 was primarily due to the revenue growth in our Gen A.I. consulting and implementation offerings more than offset by weakness in our e-procurement implementation offerings.

Current wording

Global S&BT segment profit was $12.8 million during the first three months of 2025, respectively, as compared to $10.1 million for the same period in 2024. This increase in the first three months of 2025 was primarily due to the revenue growth in our Gen A.I. consulting and implementation offerings, partially offset by weakness in our OneStream and eProcurement implementation offerings as mentioned above.

Previous wording

SAP Solutions segment profit was $3.7 million and $11.8 million during the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively, as compared to $2.9 million and $8.5 million for the same periods in 2023, respectively. The increase in segment profit in the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023, was primarily due to the value-added reseller activity in the quarter, partially offset by higher commissions and sales related costs.

Current wording

SAP Solutions segment profit was $4.3 million during the first three months of 2025, as compared to $4.9 million for the same period in 2024. The decrease in segment profit in the first three months of 2025, as compared to the same period in 2024, was primarily due to lower software-related activity in the quarter, partially offset by resulting lower commissions accruals.

Previous wording

Interest Expense, Net. Interest expense, net was $0.4 million and $1.4 million during the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively, as compared to $0.8 million and $2.6 million in the same periods in 2023, respectively. As of September 27, 2024, we had outstanding debt of $20.0 million, excluding debt issue costs. As of September 29, 2023, we had outstanding debt of $44.0 million, excluding debt issue costs.

Current wording

Interest Expense, Net. Interest expense, net was $0.2 million and $0.5 million during the first three months of 2025 and 2024, respectively. As of March 28, 2025, we had outstanding debt of $18 million, excluding debt issue costs. As of March 29, 2024, we had outstanding debt of $31.0 million, excluding debt issue costs.

Previous wording

Income Taxes. During the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, we recorded $3.8 million and $9.4 million of income tax expense, respectively, related to certain federal, foreign and state taxes which reflected an effective tax rate of 30.9% and 26.6%, respectively. During the third quarter and first nine months of 2023, we recorded $3.5 million and $8.9 million of income tax expense, respectively, related to certain federal, foreign and state taxes which reflected an effective tax rate of 27.1% and 25.3%, respectively.

Current wording

Income Taxes. During the first three months of 2025, we recorded $1.1 million of income tax expense related to certain federal, foreign and state taxes which reflected an effective tax rate of 25.2%, respectively. During the first three months of 2024, we recorded $2.3 million of income tax expense related to certain federal, foreign and state taxes which reflected an effective tax rate of 21.0%.

Previous wording

As of September 27, 2024 and December 29, 2023, we had $9.7 million and $21.0 million, respectively, classified as cash on the consolidated balance sheets. We currently believe that available funds (including the cash on hand and funds available for borrowing under our revolving line of credit the "Credit Facility") and cash flows generated by operations will be sufficient to fund our working capital requirements, including debt payments, lease obligations and capital expenditures for at least the next twelve months and beyond. We may decide to raise additional funds in order to fund expansion, to develop new or further enhance products and services, to respond to competitive pressures, or to acquire complementary businesses or technologies. There is no assurance that additional financing would be available when needed or desired. Our cash requirements have not changed materially from those disclosed in Item 7 included in Part II of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2023.

Current wording

As of March 28, 2025 and December 27, 2024, we had $9.2 million and $16.4 million, respectively, classified as cash on the consolidated balance sheets. We currently believe that available funds (including the cash on hand and funds available for borrowing under our revolving line of credit the "Credit Facility") and cash flows generated by operations will be sufficient to fund our working capital requirements, including debt payments, lease obligations and capital expenditures for at least the next twelve months and beyond. We may decide to raise additional funds in order to fund expansion, to develop new or further enhance products and services, to respond to competitive pressures, or to acquire complementary businesses or technologies. There is no assurance that additional financing would be available when needed or desired. Our cash requirements have not changed materially from those disclosed in Item 7 included in Part II of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2024.

Previous wording

Net cash provided by operating activities was $27.1 million during the first nine months of 2024, as compared to $11.8 million during the same period in 2023. In 2024 and 2023, the net cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to net income adjusted for non-cash items, partially offset by increases in accounts receivable and contract assets, decreases in accrued liabilities and other accruals primarily due to payments of the prior year earned incentive compensation liabilities and payments to vendors.

Current wording

Net cash provided by operating activities was $4.2 million during the first three months of 2025, as compared to $2.8 million during the same period in 2024. In 2025 and 2024, the net cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to net income adjusted for non-cash items and increases in contract liabilities, partially offset by increases in accounts receivable and contract assets, decreases in accrued liabilities and other accruals primarily due to payments of the prior year earned incentive compensation liabilities and payments to vendors.

Previous wording

Net cash used in investing activities was $9.6 million during the first nine months of 2024, as compared to $3.2 million during the same period in 2023. During the third quarter of 2024, the Company acquired LeewayHertz for $6.5 million, net of cash acquired (see Note 1). During both the first nine months periods of 2024 and 2023, cash flows used in investing activities also included investments made to the continued development of our Hackett Connect Executive Advisory member platform, our QL benchmark, Digital Transformation technologies and our Gen A.I. platform, A.I. XPLR.

Current wording

Net cash used in investing activities was $1.5 million during the first three months of 2025, as compared to $0.9 million during the same period in 2024. During both the first three months periods of 2025 and 2024, cash flows used in investing activities also included investments made to the continued development of our Hackett Connect Executive Advisory member platform and continued development of our QL benchmark, DTP technologies and our Gen A.I. platforms, AI XPLR and ZBrain.

Previous wording

Net cash used in financing activities was $28.4 million and $29.0 million during the first nine months of 2024 and 2023, respectively. The usage of cash in 2024, primarily related to the repayment of borrowings of $13.0 million related to our Credit Facility, dividend payments of $9.1 million and the repurchase of $6.9 million of the Company's common stock. The usage of cash in 2023 primarily related to the net repayment of borrowings of $21.0 million related to our Credit Facility, dividend payments of $9.0 million and the repurchase of $4.4 million of the Company's common stock.

Current wording

Net cash used in financing activities was $9.7 million and $9.8 million during the first three months of 2025 and 2024, respectively. The usage of cash in 2025 primarily related to the repurchase of $11.7 million of the Company's common stock and dividend payments of $3.0 million, partially offset by the $5.0 million drawdown on our Credit Facility. The usage of cash in 2024 primarily related to the repurchase of $4.8 million of the Company's common stock, dividend payments of $3.0 million and the repayment of borrowings of $2.0 million related to our Credit Facility.

Previous wording

As of September 27, 2024, we had $20.0 million of outstanding borrowings under our Credit Facility, excluding deferred debt costs, leaving us with a capacity of approximately $80.0 million.

Current wording

As of March 28, 2025, we had $18.0 million of outstanding borrowings under our Credit Facility, excluding deferred debt costs, leaving us with a capacity of approximately $82.0 million.