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Exponent Reports Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2017 Financial Results

MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct. 18, 2017 -- Exponent, Inc. (Nasdaq:EXPO) today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 29, 2017.

“Exponent’s third quarter results exceeded our expectations.  The large human factors assessment project that we previously discussed gained momentum in the third quarter and drove higher than expected revenue and utilization across the firm.  We also had noteworthy performances in our polymer science, mechanical engineering, human factors, construction consulting, and chemical regulation and food safety practices,” commented Dr. Paul Johnston, Chief Executive Officer.  

“We are pleased with the value that clients are realizing from our integrated, multi-disciplinary capabilities and global reach. During the first nine months of the year, we advised clients as they innovated consumer products around the globe, improved product quality and manufacturing in China, addressed chemical safety and regulatory challenges in Asia, Europe and the Americas, and engaged in infrastructure disputes in Australia, Asia and the Middle East,” concluded Dr. Johnston.  

Third Quarter Financial Results

In the third quarter of 2017, total revenues increased 13% and revenues before reimbursements increased 11% year over year.  Total revenues were $87,555,000 as compared to $77,612,000 in the third quarter one year ago, and revenues before reimbursements were $82,359,000 as compared to $74,160,000 last year.

Net income for the third quarter was $14,643,000, an increase of 30% as compared to $11,289,000 in the same period of 2016.  Earnings per diluted share were $0.54, as compared to $0.42 in the third quarter of last year.  EBITDA1 increased by 20% to $23,225,000 as compared to $19,323,000 in the same period one year ago.

Year-to-Date Financial Results

For the first nine months of 2017, total revenues and revenues before reimbursements increased 9% year over year.  Total revenues were $259,517,000 as compared to $238,063,000 in the same period of 2016 and revenues before reimbursements were $246,946,000 as compared to $226,444,000 last year.

Net income was $45,010,000, or $1.67 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2017 as compared to $37,092,000, or $1.36 per diluted share, in the same period of 2016. In the first quarter of 2016, Exponent early adopted a new accounting standard2 for the classification of tax adjustments associated with share-based awards.  Year to date, the tax benefit realized was $6,518,000, or $0.24 per diluted share, as compared to $4,827,000 or $0.18 per diluted share in the same period of 2016.

EBITDA1 in the first nine months of 2017 increased 17% to $65,678,000 as compared to $56,351,000 in the same period one year ago.

Year to date, Exponent paid $16.2 million in dividends, repurchased $8.4 million of common stock and ended the third quarter with $166 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.  

In a separate press release today, Exponent announced its quarterly cash dividend of $0.21 to be distributed on December 22, 2017 and reiterated its intent to continue to pay quarterly dividends. 

Business Overview

Exponent’s engineering and other scientific segment represented approximately 80% of the Company’s third quarter net revenues.  Net revenues in this segment grew 13% in the third quarter and 11% year to date as compared to last year.  Year to date, the Company experienced substantial growth in its proactive design consulting services, specifically in the consumer products industry. In addition to the ongoing large human factors assessment project, we are seeing increased demand for similar services from other clients.  We have developed a unique offering of highly qualified scientists and facilities to advise clients as they navigate the increasing complexity of interactions between their products and users.   We are also experiencing growth from lithium-ion battery consulting for clients in the consumer products, transportation, medical device, and utility industries.  Our interdisciplinary team of chemists, electrical engineers, material scientists and mechanical engineers has guided clients with respect to the performance, reliability, and safety of new products, as well as with respect to recalls and litigation matters involving existing products with lithium-ion batteries. 

Exponent’s environmental and health segment represented approximately 20% of the Company’s third quarter net revenues.  Net revenues in this segment grew 3% in the third quarter and year to date as compared to last year.  During the first nine months of the year, Exponent’s chemical regulation and food safety practice continued to expand as it advised clients with regulatory issues around the world.  The depressed demand from the oil and gas and industrial chemicals industries remained a challenge for this segment.

Business Outlook

“We are increasing our 2017 expectations to reflect Exponent’s strong year to date performance, the ongoing human factors assessment project and our expectations for near-term market trends.  We expect the fourth quarter and full year 2017 revenues before reimbursements to grow in the high single digits, as compared to the same periods in 2016.  We expect EBITDA1 margin growth in the fourth quarter to be 0 to 50 basis points and the full year increase to be 125 to 135 basis points, as compared to the same periods in 2016,” commented Richard Schlenker, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

“Exponent advises clients as they face increasing demand for safer, healthier products and processes and as they are challenged to contribute to a more sustainable environment. In a world of increasing technological complexity, more sophisticated teams are needed to overcome these challenges. Exponent is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this market with its integrated organization of more than 500 doctorate-level staff in over 90 different disciplines. We remain confident in our ability to expand our differentiated position and achieve long-term growth," concluded Dr. Johnston.

Today's Conference Call Information

Exponent will discuss its financial results in more detail on a conference call today, Wednesday, October 18, 2017, starting at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time / 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time. The audio of the conference call is available by dialing (877) 548-7911 or (719) 325-4815. A live webcast of the call will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.exponent.com/investors. For those unable to listen to the live webcast, a replay of the call will also be available on the Exponent website, or by dialing (888) 203­1112 or (719) 457-0820, and entering passcode 2222145#.

About Exponent

Exponent is an engineering and scientific consulting firm providing solutions to complex problems. Exponent's interdisciplinary organization of scientists, physicians, engineers, and business consultants draws from more than 90 technical disciplines to solve the most pressing and complicated challenges facing stakeholders today. The firm leverages over 50 years of experience in analyzing accidents and failures to advise clients as they innovate their technologically complex products and processes, ensure the safety and health of their users, and address the challenges of sustainability. 

Exponent may be reached at (888) 656-EXPO, [email protected], or www.exponent.com.

1 EBITDA is a non-­GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as net income before income taxes, interest income, depreciation and amortization. EBITDAS is a non-­GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as EBITDA before stock-­based compensation. The Company regards EBITDA and EBITDAS as useful measures of operating performance and cash flow to complement operating income, net income and other GAAP financial performance measures. Additionally, management believes that EBITDA and EBITDAS provide meaningful comparisons of past, present and future operating results. Generally, a non­-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's performance, financial position or cash flow that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. These measures, however, should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute or superior to, operating income, cash flows, or other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.  A reconciliation of the measures to GAAP is set forth below.

2 FASB Accounting Standard Update No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, March 30, 2016.

This news release contains, and incorporates by reference, certain "forward-looking" statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and the rules promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that are based on the beliefs of the Company's management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company's management. When used in this document and in the documents incorporated herein by reference, the words “intend,” "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, identify such forward-­looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company or its management with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, any such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such material differences include the possibility that the demand for our services may decline as a result of changes in general and industry specific economic conditions, the timing of engagements for our services, the effects of competitive services and pricing, the absence of backlog related to our business, our ability to attract and retain key employees, the effect of tort reform and government regulation on our business, and liabilities resulting from claims made against us. Additional risks and uncertainties are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10­K under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the report. The inclusion of such forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that the future events, plans, or expectations contemplated by the Company will be achieved. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such forward-looking statements.

  
EXPONENT, INC.  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME 
For the Quarters Ended September 29, 2017 and September 30, 2016 
(unaudited) 
(in thousands, except per share data) 
           
        Quarter Ended   Nine Months Ended  
        September 29,   September 30,   September 29,   September 30,  
         2017    2016    2017    2016  
               
Revenues            
 Revenues before reimbursements $  82,359 $  74,160 $  246,946 $  226,444 
 Reimbursements      5,196    3,452    12,571    11,619 
               
  Revenues      87,555    77,612    259,517    238,063 
               
Operating expenses           
 Compensation and related expenses     51,493    47,797    157,447    146,854 
 Other operating expenses     7,500    7,020    21,966    21,221 
 Reimbursable expenses     5,196    3,452    12,571    11,619 
 General and administrative expenses     4,061    3,748    13,277    11,407 
               
          68,250    62,017    205,261    191,101 
               
  Operating income      19,305    15,595    54,256    46,962 
               
Other income (expense), net          
 Interest income, net     372    179    872    489 
 Miscellaneous income, net    2,353    2,146    6,660    4,880 
          2,725    2,325    7,532    5,369 
               
  Income before income taxes    22,030    17,920    61,788    52,331 
               
Income taxes       7,387    6,631    16,778    15,239 
               
               
  Net income    $  14,643 $  11,289 $  45,010 $  37,092 
               
               
Net income per share:          
 Basic    $  0.56 $  0.43 $  1.71 $  1.40 
 Diluted    $  0.54 $  0.42 $  1.67 $  1.36 
               
Shares used in per share computations:         
 Basic       26,370    26,545    26,362    26,563 
 Diluted       26,963    27,185    26,976    27,234 
               


EXPONENT, INC. 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
September 29, 2017 and December 30, 2016 
(unaudited) 
(in thousands) 
            
            
        September 29,   December 30,   
         2017     2016    
   Assets       
Current assets:         
 Cash and cash equivalents $  89,809  $  114,967   
 Short-term investments     75,782     58,755   
 Accounts receivable, net     124,803     87,409   
 Prepaid expenses and other assets    10,692     12,913   
  Total current assets     301,086     274,044   
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net    35,180     36,710   
Goodwill       8,607     8,607   
Other assets       90,767     84,383   
       $  435,640  $  403,744   
            
   Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity      
Current liabilities:        
 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $  13,813  $  10,073   
 Accrued payroll and employee benefits    59,696     62,539   
 Deferred revenues     7,776     7,624   
  Total current liabilities     81,285     80,236   
Other liabilities       52,939     48,508   
Deferred rent       1,340     1,654   
  Total liabilities     135,564     130,398   
            
Stockholders' equity:        
 Common stock      33     33   
 Additional paid-in capital     208,583     194,632   
 Accumulated other comprehensive loss    (2,063)    (3,126)  
 Retained earnings      313,277     291,243   
 Treasury stock, at cost     (219,754)    (209,436)  
   Total stockholders' equity    300,076     273,346   
       $  435,640  $  403,744   
            


EXPONENT, INC. 
EBITDA and EBITDAS (1) 
For the Quarters Ended September 29, 2017 and September 30, 2016
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
          
        Quarter Ended   Nine Months Ended 
        September 29,   September 30,   September 29,   September 30, 
         2017     2016     2017     2016  
              
Net Income    $  14,643  $  11,289  $  45,010  $  37,092 
              
Add back (subtract):          
              
 Income taxes      7,387     6,631     16,778     15,239 
 Interest income, net     (372)    (179)    (872)    (489)
 Depreciation and amortization    1,567     1,582     4,762     4,509 
              
  EBITDA (1)      23,225     19,323     65,678     56,351 
              
 Stock-based compensation    3,541     2,730     12,728     10,659 
              
  EBITDAS (1)  $  26,766  $  22,053  $  78,406  $  67,010 
              
              
              
(1) EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as net income before income taxes, interest income, depreciation and amortization.  EBITDAS is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as EBITDA before stock-based compensation.  The Company regards EBITDA and EBITDAS as useful measures of operating performance and cash flow to complement operating income, net income and other GAAP financial performance measures.  Additionally, management believes that EBITDA and EBITDAS provide meaningful comparisons of past, present and future operating results.  Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's performance, financial position or cash flow that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.  These measures, however, should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute or superior to, operating income, cash flows, or other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.
              

 

 

 

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