Korn Ferry(KFY) - 2026 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated fee revenue grew 7% to $717 million, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of accelerating year-over-year growth [11] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by $9 million or 7.5% to $123 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 17.2%, up 10 basis points [11] - Adjusted diluted earnings per share rose by $0.09 or 8% to $1.28 [11] - Total company new business, excluding RPO, grew 11%, with consulting and digital reaching all-time quarterly highs [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The interim portion of the PS&I solution grew 4%, benefiting from new business referrals [14] - Subscription and licensed new business grew 30% year-over-year, accounting for 43% of Digital's total new business [15] - Average hourly bill rates for consulting and interim grew by 2% and 15% respectively, indicating high client value [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fee revenue in the Americas increased by 6%, driven by growth in executive search and RPO [16] - EMEA fee revenue grew 13%, with double-digit growth in executive search, consulting, digital, and PS&I [16] - APAC fee revenue slightly declined by 2%, with growth in executive search offset by weakness in other solutions [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is transitioning from "One Korn Ferry" to "We Are Korn Ferry," focusing on client centricity and deepening relationships with existing clients [7] - The strategy emphasizes expanding solutions offered to the top 4,500 clients, which represent 90% of revenue, with significant room for growth [8] - The company aims to leverage its Talent Suite as a foundational tool for business transformation, viewing it as a comprehensive solution rather than just a digital product [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted the ongoing labor supply imbalance and the critical role of technology and AI in addressing workforce challenges [5] - The company remains confident in its outlook, expecting fee revenue in Q4 FY 2026 to range from $730 million to $750 million [16] - Management noted that the current economic environment remains challenging, but the diversified business model has allowed for resilience [10] Other Important Information - The board approved a 15% increase in the quarterly cash dividend to $0.55 per share, marking the seventh increase in six years [13] - Estimated remaining fees under existing contracts at the end of the quarter were $1.85 billion, up 11% year-over-year [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: How do you see AI impacting Korn Ferry? - Management believes AI will drive efficiency and create more opportunities, particularly in high-end labor markets [20][22] Question: Can the company grow in an environment of higher unemployment? - Management indicated that the diversified business model allows for growth even in challenging labor market conditions [26][27] Question: Will Talent Suite deepen existing relationships or expand into new ones? - Management sees Talent Suite primarily as a tool to deepen existing client relationships, with significant opportunities for expansion [30] Question: What drove the recent strengths in consulting new business? - The focus on transformation and AI readiness among clients has driven demand for consulting services [60] Question: What is the outlook for technology spending? - Management anticipates a balanced approach to capital deployment, with a potential shift towards stock buybacks [39][40] Question: What are the demand trends in the interim business? - Management noted a slight uptick in demand and emphasized the importance of high-end talent solutions [44] Question: How long until meaningful changes in client behavior are expected? - Management suggested it may take around 90 days to assess the impact of recent geopolitical events on client behavior [80]