MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $HCKT #CCC--The Hackett Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HCKT), a leading Gen AI consulting and enterprise digital transformation firm, today announced the results of its 2025 European Working Capital Survey, revealing that the region's working capital efficiency continued to decline in 2024, with the cash conversion cycle (CCC) worsening by 3%. The analysis – covering the 1,000 largest European- headquartered nonfinancial companies – found that deterioration was driven primarily by rising da ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a strong Q2 performance with significant revenue beats, indicating stabilization in end markets [5][9] - Operating margins improved due to better tariff conditions and effective expense management, with a 200 basis point increase in operating margin outlook for the year [7][42] - Cash flow was strong, with a focus on free cash flow generation [8] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Process Chrome segment showed strong performance, with over 50% growth in Q2, contributing positively to the overall revenue [10][14] - Consumables experienced consistent growth year-over-year, while instrument sales faced challenges, particularly in the biopharma sector [6][17] - The Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) portfolio expansion is expected to drive mid-single-digit growth rates in the near term, with long-term goals of reaching high single-digit growth [29][30] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. academic and government (A and G) market is stabilizing, with expectations of a decline of 0% to -10% rather than the previously anticipated -20% [22] - European markets, particularly France and Germany, are under pressure due to shifts in funding from healthcare to defense [23] - The Chinese market remains challenging, with reimbursement rate changes impacting the diagnostics business, but growth outside of China was reported at 3.7% [50][49] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to invest in growth opportunities and is focusing on strategic acquisitions that can provide near-term accretion, such as the recent Stila acquisition [90] - There is an emphasis on improving working capital efficiency and leveraging procurement to enhance margins [68][70] - The company is also looking to expand its presence in diagnostics, particularly in oncology applications [32] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism about the stability of the business, noting improved visibility compared to previous years [13][14] - The resolution of the NIH budget is expected to gradually rebuild trust among researchers, which may positively impact instrument sales in the future [24] - The company is preparing for a potential recovery in the diagnostics market, particularly as it relates to the adoption of new technologies [32] Other Important Information - The company closed the Stila acquisition at the end of Q2, with expectations of revenue contribution in the second half of the year being lower than initially projected [34][38] - The impact of tariffs has been mitigated, with a reduction in the anticipated headwind from 130 basis points to 30-40 basis points [53] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is the visibility for Process Chrome compared to previous periods? - Management indicated that visibility has improved significantly due to better partnerships with customers, leading to a more stable business outlook [13][14] Question: What is the outlook for the U.S. A and G market? - The company expects the U.S. A and G market to remain stable, with no significant budget flush anticipated [25][26] Question: What are the growth expectations for ddPCR? - The company anticipates mid-single-digit growth in the near term, with long-term goals of reaching high single-digit growth rates [30][31] Question: How is the company addressing working capital efficiency? - Management acknowledged the need for improvement in working capital efficiency and is implementing initiatives to enhance inventory turnover and procurement leverage [68][70] Question: What is the capital allocation strategy moving forward? - The company plans to invest in growth opportunities, pursue strategic acquisitions, and continue share repurchases opportunistically [90][91]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a strong Q2 performance with significant revenue beats, indicating stabilization in end markets, particularly in process chromatography, which was driven by customer demand [4][6] - Operating margin improved due to stabilization of tariff situations and effective expense management, with cash flow also being strong during the quarter [5][6] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Process chromatography showed strong performance, contributing significantly to revenue growth, with visibility improving compared to previous years [7][8] - The life science business is experiencing challenges in the instrument segment, while consumables are seeing consistent activity [11][14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. academic and government (A&G) market is expected to remain stable, with a potential decline of 0% to -10% year-over-year, while Europe faces pressures due to geopolitical issues [14][15] - The Chinese market is experiencing challenges, but Japan and Korea have shown improvement [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding its portfolio, particularly in the ddPCR segment, with expectations of mid-single-digit growth rates in the near term and aspirations for high single-digit growth in the long term [21][24] - The acquisition of Stillia is expected to contribute to revenue growth, with a focus on integrating teams and products effectively [25][30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism regarding the operating environment, noting that while there are challenges, there are also opportunities for growth, particularly in diagnostics and life sciences [24][37] - The company is monitoring the impact of tariffs and reimbursement changes, particularly in China, and is focused on improving working capital efficiency [39][54] Other Important Information - The company is implementing lean manufacturing concepts to improve productivity and efficiency within its supply chain [46][48] - There is a focus on capital allocation towards business investments and strategic acquisitions, with share repurchases being considered opportunistically [72][73] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the outlook for the U.S. A&G market? - Management indicated that the U.S. A&G market is expected to remain stable, with no significant budget flush anticipated [14][17] Question: How is the ddPCR portfolio expected to grow? - The company expects the ddPCR growth rate to improve from low singles to mid-singles, driven by an expanded portfolio [21][24] Question: What is the impact of tariffs on margins? - Initially, a 130 basis point headwind was expected, but this has been mitigated to about 30 to 40 basis points for the remainder of the year [40][41] Question: What are the plans for capital allocation? - The company plans to invest back into the business, focusing on strategic acquisitions and opportunistic share repurchases [72][73] Question: What is the timeline for the next investor day? - The company aims to hold an investor day in the spring, providing a three-year model from 2026 to 2028 [74]