grepcent public filings, reorganized for comparison

FORRESTER RESEARCH, INC. (FORR) FY 2024 MD&A

Verbatim Item 7 Management's Discussion and Analysis from FORRESTER RESEARCH, INC.'s 10-K for fiscal year 2024. Filing date: 2025-03-07. Report date: 2024-12-31. Accession: 0000950170-25-035158.

This page reproduces the company's own Item 7 MD&A text from the linked SEC filing. It is filer text, not grepcent analysis, scoring, or investment advice.

Extracted structurally from real Item 7 body heading to real Item 7A/8 boundary. Confidence: high.

Company profile: FORR · All MD&A years: index · Previous year: FY 2023 · Next year: FY 2025

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Overview

We derive revenues from subscriptions to our Research products and services, subscriptions to, and individual licenses of, electronic “reprints” of our Research, performing consulting projects and advisory services, and hosting events. We offer contracts for our products as either multi-year contracts or annual contracts, which are typically payable in advance on an annual basis. For certain contracts, we offer to invoice the contract price in multiple invoices throughout the year. Billings in excess of revenue recognized are recorded as deferred revenue. Subscription products are recognized as revenue over the term of the contract. Individual reprint licenses include an obligation to deliver a customer-selected research document and certain usage data provided through our platform, which represents two performance obligations. We recognize revenue for the performance obligation for the data portion of the reprint ratably over the license term. We recognize revenue for the performance obligation for the research document at the time of providing access to the document. Clients purchase consulting projects and advisory services independently and/or to supplement their access to our subscription-based products. Consulting project revenues, which are based upon fixed-fee agreements, are recognized as the services are provided. Advisory service revenues, such as speeches and advisory days, are recognized when the service is complete. Events revenues consist of ticket and sponsorship sales for a Forrester-hosted event, and revenue is recognized upon completion of each event.

Our primary operating expenses consist of cost of services and fulfillment, selling and marketing expenses, and general and administrative expenses. Cost of services and fulfillment represents the costs associated with the production and delivery of our products and services, including salaries, bonuses, employee benefits, and stock-based compensation expense for all personnel that produce and deliver our products and services, including all associated editorial, travel, and support services. Selling and marketing expenses include salaries, sales commissions, bonuses, employee benefits, stock-based compensation expense, travel expenses, promotional costs, and other costs incurred in marketing and selling our products and services. General and administrative expenses include the costs of the technology, operations, finance, and human resources groups and our other administrative functions, including salaries, bonuses, employee benefits, and stock-based compensation expense. Overhead costs such as facilities, net of sublease income, and annual fees for cloud-based information technology systems are allocated to these categories according to the number of employees in each group.

Our key metrics focus on our contract value ("CV") products. We are focusing on CV products as these products are our most profitable products and historically our contracts for CV products have renewed at high rates (as measured by our client retention and wallet retention metrics). Our CV products make up essentially all of our research revenues, and research revenues as a percentage of total revenues increased from approximately 70% in 2023 to approximately 73% in 2024.

We calculate CV at the foreign currency rates used for internal planning purposes each year. For comparative purposes, we have recast historical CV and wallet retention at the planned 2025 foreign currency rates. In addition, due to the divestiture of the FeedbackNow product line in the third quarter of 2024, we have recast our historical metrics to exclude FeedbackNow products and clients. In addition, the recast metrics reflect the correction of an insignificant error. We have included the recast metrics below for the period ended December 31, 2023, and we have also provided recast metrics dating back to the fourth quarter of 2022, on the investor relations section of our website.

Contract value, client retention, wallet retention, and number of clients are metrics that we believe are important to understanding our research business. We define these metrics as follows:


Contract value (CV) — is defined as the value attributable to all of our recurring research-related contracts. Contract value is calculated as the annualized value of all contracts in effect at a specific point in time, without regard to how much revenue has already been recognized. Contract value primarily consists of subscription-based products for which revenue is recognized on a ratable basis, except for the entitlements embedded in our subscription products, such as event tickets and advisory sessions, for which the revenue is recognized when the item is delivered. Contract value also includes our reprint products, as these products are used throughout the year by our clients and are typically renewed.


Client retention — represents the percentage of client companies (defined as all clients that buy a CV product) at the prior year measurement date that have active contracts at the current year measurement date.


Wallet retention — represents a measure of the CV we have retained with clients over a twelve-month period, including increases or decreases in retained client CV during the period. Wallet retention is calculated on a percentage basis by dividing the annualized contract value of our current clients, who were also clients a year ago, by the total annualized contract value from a year ago.


Clients — is calculated at the enterprise level as all clients that have an active CV contract.

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Client retention and wallet retention are not necessarily indicative of the rate of future retention of our revenue base. A summary of our key metrics is as follows (dollars in millions):

As ofAbsolutePercentage
December 31,IncreaseIncrease
20242023(Decrease)(Decrease)
Contract value$307.6$323.6$(16.0)(5%)
Client retention73%73%
Wallet retention89%87%2 points
Number of clients1,9422,257(315)(14%)

Contract value during 2024 decreased by 5% compared to 2023 due to wallet retention being at 89% for the period (representing retention and enrichment of the prior year CV base) and new client acquisition not fully offsetting the net retention loss. Client retention was flat compared to the prior year period, however wallet retention improved by 2 percentage points. The decrease in the number of clients from the prior year period is primarily attributable to 1) macroeconomic conditions affecting our client base including a) funding and budget pressure on our smaller technology clients and the technology industry in general, and b) the uncertain economic conditions during the past year caused by inflation, high interest rates, and geopolitical turbulence, and 2) the transition of our client base to our Forrester Decisions product platform that was launched in August 2021. As of December 31, 2024, approximately 80% of our overall CV was in our Forrester Decisions product platform compared to 62% at December 31, 2023. The remaining CV at December 31, 2024 represents our reprints products at approximately 12% of CV, and our heritage research products at approximately 8% of CV.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including but not limited to, those related to our revenue recognition, goodwill, intangible and other long-lived assets, and income taxes. Management bases its estimates on historical experience, data available at the time the estimates are made, and various assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

We consider the following accounting estimates to be those that require the most subjective judgment or that involve uncertainty that could have a material impact on our financial statements. If actual results differ significantly from management’s estimates and projections, there could be a material effect on our financial statements.


Revenue Recognition. We generate revenues from subscriptions to our Research products and services, subscriptions to, and individual licenses of, electronic reprints of our Research, performing consulting projects and advisory services, and hosting events. We execute contracts that govern the terms and conditions of each arrangement. Revenues are recognized when an approved contract with a customer exists, the fees, payment terms, and rights regarding the products or services to be transferred can be identified, it is probable we will collect substantially all of the consideration for the products and services expected to be provided, and we have transferred control of the products and services to the customer. We continually evaluate customers’ ability and intention to pay by reviewing factors including the customer’s payment history, our ability to mitigate credit risk, and experience selling to similarly situated customers. Although write-offs of customer receivables have not been significant during the last three years ($0.7 million each year during 2024, 2023, and 2022), if our customers' financial condition were to deteriorate unexpectedly, we could experience a significant increase in our expense.

Our contracts may include either a single promise (referred to as a performance obligation) to transfer a product or service or a combination of multiple promises to transfer products or services. We evaluate the existence of multiple performance obligations within our products and services by using judgment to determine if: (1) the customer can benefit from each contractual promise on its own or together with other readily available resources; and (2) the transfer of each contractual promise is separately identifiable from other promises in a contract. When both criteria are met, each promise is accounted for as a separate performance obligation. Revenues from contracts that contain multiple products or services are allocated among the separate performance obligations on a relative basis according to their standalone selling prices. We obtain the standalone selling prices of our products and services based upon an analysis of standalone sales of these products and services. When there is an insufficient history of standalone sales, we use judgment to estimate the standalone selling price, taking into consideration available market conditions, factors used to set list prices, pricing of similar products, and

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internal pricing objectives. Standalone selling prices are typically analyzed and updated on an annual basis, or as business conditions change.

Consulting project revenues are recognized over time as the services are provided, based on an input method that calculates the total hours expended compared to the estimated hours required to satisfy the performance obligation. This method requires the use of judgement in determining the required number of hours to complete the project.

We are required to estimate the amount of prepaid performance obligations that will expire unused and recognize revenue for that estimate over the same period the related rights are exercised by our customers. This assessment requires judgment, including estimating the percentage of prepaid rights that will go unexercised and anticipating the impact that future changes to products, pricing, and customer engagement will have on actual expirations. We update the estimates used to recognize unexercised rights on a quarterly basis.


Goodwill, Intangible Assets, and Other Long-Lived Assets. As of December 31, 2024, we had $255.4 million of goodwill and intangible assets with finite lives recorded in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

When acquiring a business, as of the acquisition date, we determine the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, which may include a significant amount of intangible assets and goodwill. Goodwill is required to be assessed for impairment at least annually or whenever events or circumstances indicate that there may be an impairment. An impairment assessment requires evaluating the potential impairment at the reporting unit level using either a qualitative assessment, to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of any reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, or a quantitative analysis, to determine and compare the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value, or a combination of both. Judgment is required in determining the use of a qualitative or quantitative assessment, as well as in determining each reporting unit’s estimated fair value as it requires us to make estimates of market conditions and operational performance, including projected financial results, discount rates, control premium, and valuation multiples for key financial metrics.

Absent an event that indicates a specific impairment may exist, we have selected November 30th as the date to perform the annual goodwill impairment test. We completed the annual goodwill impairment testing as of November 30, 2024 utilizing a qualitative assessment to determine if the fair values of each of our reporting units was less than their respective carrying values. We considered a variety of factors including the impacts of the uncertain economic conditions and the transition of our client base to our Forrester Decisions product platform on our long-term forecast and stock price. Based on those assessments, we concluded that no impairments existed. We will continue to monitor these factors and other future events, and will perform interim impairments tests, if necessary. Any resulting impairment loss could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations.

During February 2025 and into early March 2025, we did observe a substantial decline in the price of our stock. If our stock price remains at the current level for a sustained period, and after considering other qualitative factors, there may be a triggering event indicating goodwill may be impaired in our Research reporting unit. Accordingly, management may need to perform a quantitative impairment test during our interim period ended March 31, 2025. Any resulting impairment loss could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations.

Intangible assets with finite lives as of December 31, 2024 consist of acquired customer relationships, acquired technology, and acquired trademarks and were valued using the future cash flows they were estimated to produce or the estimated costs to replace the assets. These assigned values are amortized on a basis which best matches the periods in which the economic benefits are expected to be realized. Tangible assets with finite lives consist of property and equipment, which are depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Other long-lived assets consist primarily of operating lease right-of-use assets as described under Leases in the critical accounting policies and estimates footnote found in Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

We continually evaluate whether events or circumstances have occurred that indicate the estimated remaining useful life of any of our intangible assets, tangible assets, or operating lease right-of-use assets may warrant revision, or that the carrying value of these assets may be impaired. To compute whether these assets have been impaired, we estimate the undiscounted future cash flows for the estimated remaining useful life of the assets and compare that to the carrying value. To the extent that the future cash flows are less than the carrying value, the assets are written down to their estimated fair value.

During 2024, we recorded $3.6 million of right-of-use asset impairments and $1.0 million of leasehold improvement impairments related to the closure of the 10th and 11th floors of our offices located in San Francisco, California. During 2023, we recorded $1.9 million of right-of-use asset impairments and accelerated amortization and $0.7 million of leasehold improvement impairments related to closing various offices. During 2022, we recorded $3.7 million of right-of-use asset impairments and $1.3 million of leasehold improvement impairments related to closing the 10th floor of our offices located in San Francisco, California.

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Income Taxes. We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates for the effect of temporary differences between book and tax bases of assets and liabilities, operating loss carryforwards (from acquisitions) and U.S. capital losses (through December 31, 2021). Such amounts are adjusted as appropriate to reflect changes in the tax rates expected to be in effect when the temporary differences reverse. We record a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred taxes to an amount we believe is more likely than not to be realized. We consider all available evidence, both positive and negative, to determine whether, based on the weight of that evidence, a valuation allowance is needed for some portion or all of a net deferred income tax asset. Judgment is required in considering the relative impact of negative and positive evidence. In arriving at these judgments, the weight given to the potential effect of negative and positive evidence is commensurate with the extent to which it can be objectively verified. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we maintained a valuation allowance of $1.1 million, primarily relating to foreign net operating loss carryforwards from an acquisition.

Results of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023

The following table sets forth our Consolidated Statements of Operations as a percentage of total revenues for the years noted.

Years Ended
December 31,
20242023
Revenues:
Research revenues73.2%69.6%
Consulting revenues22.524.6
Events revenues4.35.8
Total revenues100.0100.0
Operating expenses:
Cost of services and fulfillment42.242.5
Selling and marketing36.934.8
General and administrative13.614.2
Depreciation1.81.8
Amortization of intangible assets2.22.5
Restructuring costs2.72.8
Loss from sale of divested operation0.4
Income from operations0.21.4
Interest expense(0.7)(0.6)
Other income, net0.90.5
Gains on investments, net0.2
Income before income taxes0.61.3
Income tax expense1.90.7
Net income (loss)(1.3%)0.6%

2024 compared to 2023

Revenues

AbsolutePercentage
IncreaseIncrease
20242023(Decrease)(Decrease)
(dollars in millions)
Total revenues$432.5$480.8$(48.3)(10%)
Research revenues$316.7$334.4$(17.7)(5%)
Consulting revenues$97.3$118.2$(21.0)(18%)
Events revenues$18.5$28.2$(9.7)(34%)
Revenues attributable to customers outside of the U.S.$98.4$107.3$(8.9)(8%)
Percentage of revenue attributable to customers outside of the U.S.23%22%1 point

Research revenues are recognized as revenue primarily on a ratable basis over the term of the contracts, which are generally 12 or 24-month periods. Research revenues decreased 5% during 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to the decrease in CV, as discussed above. From a product perspective, the decrease in revenues was primarily due to a decline in revenue from our reprint product and our other smaller and discontinued products. In addition, revenue from our subscription research products declined 1%

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during 2024 compared to 2023, as revenue growth from our Forrester Decisions products was offset by revenue declines from our heritage research products.

Consulting revenues decreased 18% during 2024 compared to 2023. The decrease in revenues was due to a decrease in delivery of consulting services due to lower client bookings.

Events revenues decreased 34% during 2024 compared to 2023. The decrease in revenues was due to decreases in both sponsorship revenues and event ticket revenues.

Refer to the “Segment Results” section below for a discussion of revenue and expenses by segment.

Cost of Services and Fulfillment

AbsolutePercentage
IncreaseIncrease
20242023(Decrease)(Decrease)
Cost of services and fulfillment (dollars in millions)$182.5$204.5$(22.0)(11%)
Cost of services and fulfillment as a percentage of total revenues42%43%(1) point
Service and fulfillment employees (at end of period)680781(101)(13%)

Cost of services and fulfillment expenses decreased 11% in 2024 compared to 2023. The decrease was primarily due to (1) a $18.1 million decrease in compensation and benefit costs due to a decrease in headcount and incentive bonus costs, partially offset by an increase in benefit costs (mainly due to a benefit during 2023 resulting from the introduction of the flexible vacation and personal paid time off policy in the United States), (2) a $1.6 million decrease in professional services costs primarily due to a decrease in survey costs and contractor costs, (3) a $1.0 million decrease in facilities costs, and (4) a $0.8 million decrease in event expenses.

Selling and Marketing

AbsolutePercentage
IncreaseIncrease
20242023(Decrease)(Decrease)
Selling and marketing expenses (dollars in millions)$159.6$167.4$(7.7)(5%)
Selling and marketing expenses as a percentage of total revenues37%35%2 points
Selling and marketing employees (at end of period)638682(44)(6%)

Selling and marketing expenses decreased 5% in 2024 compared to 2023. The decrease was primarily due to (1) a $8.1 million decrease in compensation and benefit costs due to a decrease in headcount, commissions expense, and incentive bonus costs, partially offset by an increase in benefit costs (mainly due to a benefit during 2023 resulting from the introduction of the flexible vacation and personal paid time off policy in the United States) and (2) a $0.8 million decrease in stock compensation expense. These decreases were partially offset by a $1.4 million increase in professional services costs primarily due to an increase in consulting fees, partially offset by a decrease in advertising costs.

General and Administrative

AbsolutePercentage
IncreaseIncrease
20242023(Decrease)(Decrease)
General and administrative expenses (dollars in millions)$58.8$68.5$(9.7)(14%)
General and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenues14%14%
General and administrative employees (at end of period)253281(28)(10%)

General and administrative expenses decreased 14% in 2024 compared to 2023. The decrease was primarily due to (1) a $5.6 million decrease in legal costs, due primarily to a $4.8 million provision for a legal settlement recorded in 2023 for a wage-related matter and (2) a $3.8 million decrease in compensation and benefit costs due to a decrease in headcount and incentive bonus costs, partially offset by an increase in benefit costs (mainly due to a benefit during 2023 resulting from the introduction of the flexible vacation and personal paid time off policy in the United States).

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Depreciation

Depreciation expense decreased by $0.9 million in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to certain software assets becoming fully depreciated.

Amortization of Intangible Assets

Amortization expense decreased by $2.3 million in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to a decrease in the amortization of trademark and technology intangible assets. We expect amortization expense related to our intangible assets to be approximately $8.7 million for the year ending December 31, 2025.

Restructuring

In January 2023, we implemented a reduction in our workforce of approximately 4% across various geographies and functions to streamline operations. We recorded $4.3 million of severance and related costs for this action during the fourth quarter of 2022, and $0.6 million during the first quarter of 2023. We recorded a restructuring charge of $5.0 million during the fourth quarter of 2022 related to closing one floor of our offices in California. During the first quarter of 2023, we recorded an incremental $0.4 million impairment to our California office. We also recorded a $0.6 million charge during the first quarter of 2023 for the write-off of a previously capitalized software project. In the fourth quarter of 2023, we recorded an additional impairment of $0.4 million to our California office.

In May 2023, we implemented a reduction in our workforce of approximately 8% across various geographies and functions to better align our cost structure with our revised revenue outlook for the year, and to streamline our sales and consulting organizations to more efficiently go to market in support of driving contract value growth in the future. We recorded $7.5 million of severance and related costs for this action during the second quarter of 2023. In addition, we closed certain of our smaller offices both inside and outside the U.S. in order to reduce facility costs and better match our facilities to our hybrid work strategy. As a result of closing the offices, we recorded restructuring costs of $2.3 million. We also incurred $0.7 million in contract termination costs.

In February 2024, we implemented a reduction in our workforce of approximately 3% across various geographies and functions to better align our cost structure with the revenue outlook for the year. We recorded $0.7 million of severance and related costs for this action during the fourth quarter of 2023, and $2.8 million during the first quarter of 2024. We recorded a restructuring charge of $3.8 million during the first quarter of 2024 related to closing one floor of our offices in California. All of the severance and related costs for this plan were paid during 2024.

During the third quarter of 2024, we recorded an additional restructuring charge of $0.7 million related to the closure of our offices in California, of which $0.4 million related to an impairment of the right-of-use assets and $0.3 million related to an impairment of leasehold improvements. Also, during the third quarter of 2024, we recognized $0.2 million of expense from the write-off of foreign currency translation adjustments related to the liquidation of a small foreign operation.

In January 2025, we implemented a reduction in force of approximately 6% of our workforce across various geographies and functions to better align our cost structure with our revenue outlook for 2025. Approximately $4.2 million of severance and related costs for this action were recorded during the fourth quarter of 2024. We expect a majority of the severance and related costs for this plan to be paid during 2025. See Note 17 - Subsequent Events, for additional details of this action.

Loss From Sale of Divested Operation

Loss from sale of divested operation of $1.8 million was attributable to the sale of our FeedbackNow product line in August 2024.

Interest Expense

Interest expense consists of interest on our borrowings. The fluctuation for interest expense was immaterial in 2024 compared to 2023.

Other Income, Net

Other income, net primarily consists of interest income, gains and losses on foreign currency, and gains and losses on foreign currency forward contracts. Other income, net increased by $1.7 million in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to a $2.1 million increase in interest income, partially offset by a $0.5 million increase in foreign currency exchange losses.

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Gains on Investments, Net

Gains on investments, net primarily represents our share of equity method investment gains and losses from our technology-related investment funds. Gain on investments, net increased by $0.6 million in 2024 compared to 2023 due to an increase in investment gains generated by the underlying funds.

Income Tax Expense

AbsolutePercentage
IncreaseIncrease
20242023(Decrease)(Decrease)
Provision for income taxes (dollars in millions)$8.4$3.2$5.1159%
Effective tax rate318%51%267 points

The significant items impacting the effective tax rate during 2024 as compared to 2023 are primarily due to 1) tax expense from the non-deductible goodwill related to the sale of the FeedbackNow product line of $2.5 million, 2) tax expense from the settlement of share-based awards of $1.8 million, 3) foreign withholding taxes of $0.8 million, and 4) state tax expense of $0.6 million related to the write-off of non-realizable state NOL carryforwards due to the dissolution of a domestic subsidiary.

Segment Results

We operate in three segments: Research, Consulting, and Events. These segments, which are also our reportable segments, are based on our management structure and how management uses financial information to evaluate performance and determine how to allocate resources. Our products and services are delivered through each segment as described below.

The Research segment includes the revenues from all of our research products as well as consulting revenues from advisory services (such as speeches and advisory days) delivered by our research organization. Research segment costs include the cost of the organizations responsible for developing and delivering these products in addition to the cost of the product management organization that is responsible for product pricing and packaging and the launch of new products. During the third quarter of 2024, we realigned our technology teams and as such certain technology costs are no longer reported within the Research segment, and are now reported within the line selling, marketing, administrative and other expenses. Prior period amounts have been recast to conform to the current presentation.

The Consulting segment includes the revenues and the related costs of our project consulting organization. The project consulting organization delivers a majority of our project consulting revenue.

The Events segment includes the revenues and the costs of the organization responsible for developing and hosting in-person and virtual events.

We evaluate reportable segment performance and allocate resources based on segment operating income (loss). Segment expenses include the direct expenses of each segment organization and exclude selling and marketing expenses, general and administrative expenses, stock-based compensation expense, depreciation expense, adjustments to incentive bonus compensation from target amounts, amortization of intangible assets, restructuring costs, loss from sale of divested operation, interest expense, other income, and gains on investments. The accounting policies used by the segments are the same as those used in the consolidated financial statements. We do not review or evaluate assets as part of segment performance. Accordingly, we do not identify or allocate assets by reportable segment.

Research SegmentConsulting SegmentEvents SegmentConsolidated
Year Ended December 31, 2024(In thousands, except percentages)
Research revenues$316,739$$$316,739
Consulting revenues21,09576,15997,254
Events revenues18,47718,477
Total segment revenues337,83476,15918,477432,470
Segment expenses(115,651)(37,828)(19,250)(172,729)
Segment operating income (loss)222,18338,331(773)259,741
Year over year revenue change(7%)(15%)(34%)(10%)
Year over year expense change(8%)(16%)(6%)(10%)

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Research SegmentConsulting SegmentEvents SegmentConsolidated
Year Ended December 31, 2023(In thousands)
Research revenues$334,396$$$334,396
Consulting revenues28,82689,402118,228
Events revenues28,15528,155
Total segment revenues363,22289,40228,155480,779
Segment expenses(125,392)(45,028)(20,557)(190,977)
Segment operating income237,83044,3747,598289,802

Research segment revenues decreased 7% during 2024 compared to 2023. Research product revenues within this segment decreased 5% primarily due to the decrease in CV, as discussed above. Consulting product revenues within this segment decreased 27% primarily due to decreased delivery of consulting and advisory services by our research analysts due primarily to lower client bookings for these services.

Research segment expenses decreased 8% during 2024 compared to 2023. The decrease in expenses was primarily due to (1) an $8.4 million decrease in compensation and benefit costs primarily due to a decrease in headcount and (2) a $1.0 million decrease in professional services primarily due to a decrease in survey costs.

Consulting segment revenues decreased 15% during 2024 compared to 2023. The decrease in revenues was due to a decrease in delivery of consulting services due to lower client bookings.

Consulting segment expenses decreased 16% during 2024 compared to 2023. The decrease in expenses was primarily due to (1) a $6.5 million decrease in compensation and benefit costs primarily due to a decrease in headcount and (2) a $0.5 million decrease in professional services primarily due to a decrease in contractor costs.

Event segment revenues decreased 34% during 2024 compared to 2023. The decrease in revenues was due to a decrease in both sponsorship revenues and event ticket revenues.

Event segment expenses decreased 6% during 2024 compared to 2023. The decrease in expenses was primarily due to (1) a $0.9 million decrease in event costs and (2) a $0.5 million decrease in compensation and benefit costs primarily due to a decrease in headcount.

A detailed description and analysis of the fiscal year 2022 year-over-year changes can be found in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have historically financed our operations primarily through funds generated from operations. Research revenues, which constituted 73% of our revenues during 2024, are generally renewable and are typically payable in advance. We used $3.9 million of cash in operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2024 and generated $21.7 million of cash from operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2023. The $25.5 million decrease in cash from operations during 2024 was primarily due to a $21.1 million increase in cash used for working capital and a $8.8 million decrease in net income, partially offset by the changes in non-cash items affecting net income.

During 2024, we generated cash from investing activities of $5.0 million primarily from $6.0 million in proceeds from the sale of the FeedbackNow product line and $2.5 million in net maturities and sales of marketable investments, partially offset by $3.4 million of purchases of property and equipment, primarily consisting of computer software. During 2023, we used cash in investing activities of $36.8 million, which consisted of $31.3 million in net purchases of marketable investments and $5.5 million of purchases of property and equipment, primarily consisting of computer software.

During 2024, we used $16.1 million of cash from financing activities primarily due $15.9 million for purchases of our common stock and $2.6 million in taxes paid related to net share settlements of restricted stock units, partially offset by $2.4 million of net proceeds from the issuance of common stock under our stock-based incentive plans. During 2023, we used $18.3 million of cash from financing activities primarily due to $15.0 million of discretionary repayments of our revolving credit facility, $4.1 million for purchases of our common stock, and $2.7 million in taxes paid related to net share settlements of restricted stock units, partially offset by $3.5 million of net proceeds from the issuance of common stock under our stock-based incentive plans. As of December 31, 2024, our remaining stock repurchase authorization was approximately $80.0 million.

The Company has a credit facility that provides up to $150.0 million of revolving credit commitments. The amount outstanding under the credit facility was $35.0 million at December 31, 2024 and the facility expires in December of 2026. The credit facility

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permits the Company to increase the revolving credit commitments in an aggregate principal amount up to $50.0 million, subject to approval by the administrative agent and certain customary terms and conditions.

The credit facility contains certain customary restrictive loan covenants, including among others, financial covenants that apply a maximum leverage ratio, minimum interest coverage ratio, and maximum annual capital expenditures. The negative covenants limit, subject to various exceptions, our ability to incur additional indebtedness, create liens on assets, merge, consolidate, liquidate or dissolve any part of the company, sell assets, change fiscal year, or enter into certain transactions with affiliates and subsidiaries. We were in full compliance with the covenants as of December 31, 2024 and expect to continue to be in compliance through the next 12 months.

Additional future contractual cash obligations extending over the next 12 months and beyond primarily consist of operating lease payments. We lease office space under non-cancelable operating lease agreements (refer to Note 6 – Leases in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information). The remaining duration of non-cancelable office space leases ranges from less than 1 year to 7 years. Remaining lease payments within one year, within two to three years, within four to five years, and after five years from December 31, 2024 are $13.9 million, $18.0 million, $5.7 million, and $3.2 million, respectively.

In addition to the contractual cash commitments included above, we have other payables and liabilities that may be legally enforceable but are not considered contractual commitments. See Note 15 – Certain Balance Sheet Accounts in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on our payables and liabilities.

As of December 31, 2024, we had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable investments of $104.7 million. This balance includes $70.7 million held outside of the U.S. If the cash outside of the U.S. is needed for operations in the U.S., we would be required to accrue and pay U.S. state taxes and may be required to pay withholding taxes to foreign jurisdictions to repatriate these funds. However, our intent is to permanently reinvest these funds outside of the U.S. and our current plans do not demonstrate a need to repatriate these funds for our U.S. operations. We believe that our current cash balance and cash flows from operations will satisfy working capital, financing activities, and capital expenditure requirements for the next twelve months and to meet our known long-term cash requirements.

As of December 31, 2024, we did not have any significant unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a full description of recent accounting pronouncements, including the expected dates of adoption and effects on results of operations and financial condition.

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