North American Average Bill Rate Reaches Record High; Revenue Delivered Offshore Increases Nearly 30%
ST. LOUIS (May 7, 2020) - Perficient, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRFT) (“Perficient”), a global digital consultancy transforming the world’s largest enterprises and biggest brands, today reported its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.
Financial Highlights
For the quarter ended March 31, 2020:
- Services revenues increased 9% to $145.4 million from $132.9 million in the first quarter of 2019;
- Total revenues increased 9% to $145.6 million from $133.8 million in the first quarter of 2019;
- Net income increased 28% to $9.0 million from $7.0 million in the first quarter of 2019;
- GAAP earnings per share results on a fully diluted basis increased 23% to $0.27 from $0.22 in the first quarter of 2019;
- Adjusted earnings per share results (a non-GAAP measure; see attached schedule, which reconciles to GAAP earnings per share) on a fully diluted basis increased 19% to $0.51 from $0.43 in the first quarter of 2019; and
- Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure; see attached schedule, which reconciles to GAAP net income) increased 21% to $23.8 million from $19.7 million in the first quarter of 2019.
“Perficient’s rapid implementation of business continuity plans, coupled with our global preparedness and the nimble nature of our workforce, enabled us to deliver a strong first quarter only modestly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jeffrey Davis, chairman and CEO. “Both North American bill rate and offshore revenue contribution were up strongly during the quarter. On balance, we believe we are well-positioned relative to many competitors. While some sales cycles have slowed and some clients have paused project work, we’re gaining share elsewhere as customers realize we are fully remote-ready and more capable than others of helping them navigate the current climate. Enterprises are seeking, and finding in Perficient, a global digital consultancy that can help them maintain operations during this unprecedented time to not only survive the pandemic, but thrive in its wake.”
“While we remain pleased with our first quarter performance, and confident in our long-term outlook and ability to deftly maneuver through any macroeconomic environment, we believe the most prudent approach at the current time is to withdraw our previously issued full-year 2020 guidance,” said Davis. “We will revisit this perspective routinely as the year evolves and reestablish revenue and earnings guidance if and when uncertainty dissipates.”
Other Highlights
Among other recent achievements, Perficient:
- On March 23, 2020, broadened and deepened its digital marketing capabilities through the acquisition of Brainjocks, a $13 million digital consultancy with a strong Sitecore platform focus;
- Announced the availability of healthcare and COVID-19 chatbot solutions intended to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, address consumer concerns, and alleviate inundated call centers and helplines;
- Released a commissioned Total Economic Impact™ study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Perficient, which found that manufacturers can experience 114% return on investment by working with Perficient;
- Was included in Forrester’s “Now Tech: Intranet Platforms, Q1 2020” report as an intranet platform provider with expertise in customizable frameworks and productivity suite extensions;
- Was recognized as a key healthcare consulting leader by Modern Healthcare based on 2019 provider revenue, and the number of health information technology contracts and consultants; and
- Added new customer relationships and follow-on projects with leading companies including 7-Eleven, Ascension Health, Ashley Furniture, Bank of New York Mellon, Cigna, DHL, DTCC, First National Bank of Omaha, GM Financial, Honeywell, Intrado, JOANN Fabrics and Crafts, Mastercard, Ryman Hospitality Properties, Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc., Sempra Energy, Toyota Motor North America, and Xcel Energy.
Business Outlook
In light of the uncertain duration and scope of the pandemic and its impact on economic and financial markets, we cannot reliably predict or estimate the impact of the pandemic on our business, operations or financial results. Accordingly, we are withdrawing our full-year guidance provided in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 25, 2020.
Conference Call Details
Perficient will host a conference call regarding first quarter 2020 financial results today at 11 a.m. Eastern.
WHAT: Perficient Reports First Quarter 2020 Results
WHEN: Thursday, May 7, 2020, at 11 a.m. Eastern
CONFERENCE CALL NUMBERS: 855-246-0403 (U.S. and Canada); 414-238-9806 (International)
PARTICIPANT PASSCODE: 3696900
REPLAY TIMES: May 7, 2020, at 2 p.m. Eastern, through Thursday, May 14, 2020, at 2 p.m. Eastern
REPLAY NUMBER: 855-859-2056 (U.S. and Canada); 404-537-3406 (International)
REPLAY PASSCODE: 3696900
About Perficient
Perficient is a leading global digital consultancy. We imagine, create, engineer, and run digital transformation solutions that help our clients exceed customers’ expectations, outpace competition, and grow their business. With unparalleled strategy, creative and technology capabilities, we bring big thinking and innovative ideas, along with a practical approach to help the world’s largest enterprises and biggest brands succeed. Traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, Perficient is a member of the Russell 2000 index and the S&P SmallCap 600 index. Perficient is an award-winning Adobe Platinum Partner, Platinum Level IBM business partner, a Microsoft National Service Provider and Gold Certified Partner, an Oracle Platinum Partner, an Advanced Pivotal Ready Partner, a Gold Salesforce Consulting Partner, and a Sitecore Platinum Partner. For more information, visit http://www.perficient.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Some of the statements contained in this news release that are not purely historical statements discuss future expectations or state other forward-looking information related to financial results and business outlook for 2020. Those statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements. The forward-looking information is based on management’s current intent, belief, expectations, estimates, and projections regarding our company and our industry. You should be aware that those statements only reflect our predictions. Actual events or results may differ substantially. Important factors that could cause our actual results to be materially different from the forward-looking statements include (but are not limited to) those disclosed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recently filed annual report on Form 10-K as supplemented by the Risk Factor contained in Part II, Item 1A of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 7, 2020, and the following, many of which are, or may be, amplified by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic:
(1) the possibility that our actual results do not meet the projections and guidance contained in this news release;
(2) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business;
(3) the impact of the general economy and economic and political uncertainty on our business;
(4) risks associated with potential changes to federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations and policies;
(5) risks associated with the operation of our business generally, including:
a) client demand for our services and solutions;
b) maintaining a balance of our supply of skills and resources with client demand;
c) effectively competing in a highly competitive market;
d) protecting our clients’ and our data and information;
e) risks from international operations including fluctuations in exchange rates;
f) changes to immigration policies;
g) obtaining favorable pricing to reflect services provided;
h) adapting to changes in technologies and offerings;
i) risk of loss of one or more significant software vendors;
j) making appropriate estimates and assumptions in connection with preparing our consolidated financial statements;
k) maintaining effective internal controls; and
l) changes to tax levels, audits, investigations, tax laws or their interpretation;
(6) risks associated with managing growth organically and through acquisitions;
(7) risks associated with servicing our debt, the potential impact on the value of our common stock from the conditional conversion features of our debt and the associated convertible note hedge transactions;
(8) legal liabilities, including intellectual property protection and infringement or the disclosure of personally identifiable information; and
(9) the risks detailed from time to time within our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. This cautionary statement is provided pursuant to Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements in this release are made only as of the date hereof and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement for any reason, even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future.
About Non-GAAP Financial Information
This news release includes non-GAAP financial measures. For a description of these non-GAAP financial measures, including the reasons management uses each measure, and reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), please see the section entitled “About Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the accompanying tables entitled “Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures.”
About Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Perficient provides non-GAAP financial measures for adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock compensation, acquisition costs and adjustment to fair value of contingent consideration), adjusted net income, and adjusted earnings per share data as supplemental information regarding Perficient’s business performance. Perficient believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors because they provide investors with a better understanding of Perficient’s past financial performance and future results. Perficient’s management uses these non-GAAP financial measures when it internally evaluates the performance of Perficient’s business and makes operating decisions, including internal operating budgeting, performance measurement, and the calculation of bonuses and discretionary compensation. Management excludes stock-based compensation related to restricted stock awards, the amortization of intangible assets, amortization of debt discounts and issuance costs related to convertible senior notes, acquisition costs, adjustments to the fair value of contingent consideration, net other income and expense, the impact of other infrequent or unusual transactions, and income tax effects of the foregoing, when making operational decisions.
Perficient believes that providing the non-GAAP financial measures to its investors is useful because it allows investors to evaluate Perficient’s performance using the same methodology and information used by Perficient’s management. Specifically, adjusted net income is used by management primarily to review business performance and determine performance-based incentive compensation for executives and other employees. Management uses adjusted EBITDA to measure operating profitability, evaluate trends, and make strategic business decisions.
Non-GAAP financial measures are subject to inherent limitations because they do not include all of the expenses included under GAAP and because they involve the exercise of discretionary judgment as to which charges are excluded from the non-GAAP financial measure. However, Perficient’s management compensates for these limitations by providing the relevant disclosure of the items excluded in the calculation of adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, and adjusted earnings per share. In addition, some items that are excluded from adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share can have a material impact on cash. Management compensates for these limitations by evaluating the non-GAAP measure together with the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Perficient has historically provided non-GAAP financial measures to the investment community as a supplement to its GAAP results to enable investors to evaluate Perficient’s business performance in the way that management does. Perficient’s definition may be different from similar non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies and/or analysts.
The non-GAAP adjustments, and the basis for excluding them, are outlined below:
Amortization
Perficient has incurred expense on amortization of intangible assets primarily related to various acquisitions. Management excludes these items for the purposes of calculating adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, and adjusted earnings per share. Perficient believes that eliminating this expense from its non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors because the amortization of intangible assets can be inconsistent in amount and frequency, and is significantly impacted by the timing and magnitude of Perficient’s acquisition transactions, which also vary substantially in frequency from period to period.
Acquisition Costs
Perficient incurs transaction costs related to merger and acquisition-related activities which are expensed in its GAAP financial statements. Management excludes these items for the purposes of calculating adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, and adjusted earnings per share. Perficient believes that excluding these expenses from its non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors because these are expenses associated with each transaction and are inconsistent in amount and frequency causing comparison of current and historical financial results to be difficult.
Adjustment to Fair Value of Contingent Consideration
Perficient is required to remeasure its contingent consideration liability related to acquisitions each reporting period until the contingency is settled. Any changes in fair value are recognized in earnings. Management excludes these items for the purposes of calculating adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, and adjusted earnings per share. Perficient believes that excluding these adjustments from its non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors because they are related to acquisitions and are inconsistent in amount and frequency from period to period.
Amortization of Debt Discount and Debt Issuance Costs
On September 11, 2018, Perficient issued $143.8 million aggregate principal amount of 2.375% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023 (the “Notes”) in a private placement to qualified institutional purchasers. In accordance with accounting for debt with conversions and other options, Perficient bifurcated the principal amount of the Notes into liability and equity components. The resulting debt discount is being amortized to interest expense over the period from the issuance date through the contractual maturity date of September 15, 2023. Issuance costs related to the Notes were allocated pro rata based on the relative fair values of the liability and equity components. Issuance costs attributable to the liability component of the Notes, in addition to issuance costs related to Perficient’s credit agreement, are being amortized to interest expense over their respective terms. Perficient believes that excluding these non-cash expenses from its non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors because the expenses are not reflective of the company’s business performance.
Stock Compensation
Perficient incurs stock-based compensation expense under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation. Perficient excludes stock-based compensation expense and the related tax effects for the purposes of calculating adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, and adjusted earnings per share because stock-based compensation is a non-cash expense, which Perficient believes is not reflective of its business performance. The nature of stock-based compensation expense also makes it very difficult to estimate prospectively, since the expense will vary with changes in the stock price and market conditions at the time of new grants, varying valuation methodologies, subjective assumptions, and different award types, making the comparison of current results with forward-looking guidance potentially difficult for investors to interpret. The tax effects of stock-based compensation expense may also vary significantly from period to period, without any change in underlying operational performance, thereby obscuring the underlying profitability of operations relative to prior periods. Perficient believes that non-GAAP measures of profitability, which exclude stock-based compensation are widely used by analysts and investors.
Dilution Offset from Convertible Note Hedge Transactions
It is Perficient’s current intent to settle conversions of the Notes through combination settlement, which involves repayment of the principal portion in cash and any excess of the conversion value over the principal amount in shares of our common stock. We exclude the shares that are issuable upon conversions of the Notes because we expect that the dilution from such shares will be offset by the convertible note hedge transactions entered into in September 2018 in connection with the issuance of the Notes.
