Kforce Reports Third Quarter Revenues of $341.1 Million; Third Quarter Net Income of $10.1 million, or $0.40 Per Share; Adjusted Third Quarter Net Income of $11.5 Million, or $0.45 Per Share


TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 31, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kforce Inc. (Nasdaq:KFRC), a provider of professional staffing services and solutions, today announced results for its third quarter of 2017. Revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 were $341.1 million compared to $340.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2017, an increase of 0.2%, and compared to $336.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, an increase of 1.4%. Our revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 were negatively impacted by approximately $1.0 million as a result of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Adjusted revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 were $342.1 million, an increase of 3.3% year-over-year on a billing day basis1. Net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 was $10.1 million, or $0.40 per share, as compared to $11.1 million, or $0.44 per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2017, and compared to $9.0 million, or $0.34 per share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2016. Adjusted net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 was $11.5 million, or $0.45 per share, compared to adjusted net income of $11.6 million, or $0.44 per share, for the quarter ended September 30, 20162.

David L. Dunkel, Chairman and CEO, said, “We are pleased with our results for the third quarter of 2017 as year-over-year revenue growth rates accelerated while we were also able to improve our Flex gross profit margins in each of our lines of business from second quarter levels. We are particularly pleased with the performance of our largest business, Tech Flex, as revenues grew 3.3% on a year-over-year billing day basis, or 3.6% as adjusted for the hurricane impact1. Our results in the third quarter continue to reinforce our belief in the strength of the demand environment in Tech, where our clients now have to keep their customer-facing technologies current in addition to leveraging technology to enhance internal operating efficiencies. We are also very pleased with our KGS business as we secured two strategic prime contract wins in Q3. These wins awarded under the T4 Next Generation contract vehicle by the US Department of Veterans Affairs have a total contract value of nearly $100 million, which we expect will be realized over five years and will be incremental to our current revenue base. During the third quarter, Hurricanes Harvey and Irma impacted many of our employees, consultants and clients. During these difficult times, we were very proud to have prioritized caring for our people and clients over profits by supporting them in their time of need, including continuing to pay our consultants when our clients were not open and contributing $1.0 million towards disaster relief efforts.”

Joseph J. Liberatore, President, said, “We believe we are pursuing the mix of business that will lead to the greatest long-term success and remain highly focused on the actions necessary to further accelerate revenue growth and improve associate productivity, particularly in our Tech Flex business. To that end, we are pleased to have completed the deployment of our customer relationship management solution to all of our field offices during the third quarter of 2017.”

David M. Kelly, Chief Financial Officer, said, “We continue to make progress towards our operating margin target of 7.5% when $1.6 billion in annualized revenue is reached and at least 6.3% at $1.4 billion in annualized revenue. During the third quarter of 2017, we repurchased approximately $1.4 million in common stock and continue to believe that our stock is attractively priced at current levels. We expect to continue to invest in our business to take advantage of the positive demand environment. We are pleased to announce that our Board of Directors declared a fourth quarter cash dividend on Kforce common stock of $0.12 per share. The cash dividend will be payable on December 22, 2017 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 8, 2017.”

Looking forward to the fourth quarter of 2017, there will be 61 billing days, which is the same as the fourth quarter of 2016, as compared to 63 billing days in the third quarter of 2017. Current estimates for the fourth quarter of 2017 are:

  • Revenues of $338 million to $342 million
  • Earnings per share of $0.42 to $0.44
  • Gross profit margin of 30.1% to 30.3%
  • Flex gross profit margin of 27.9% to 28.1%
  • SG&A expense as a percent of revenue of 23.9% to 24.1%
  • Operating margin of 5.4% to 5.8% 
  • Effective tax rate of 38.0%

On Tuesday, October 31, 2017, Kforce will host a conference call to discuss these results. The call will begin at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The prepared remarks for this call are available on the Investor Relations page of the Kforce Inc. website (http://investor.kforce.com/) under Events & Presentations.

The dial-in number is (877) 344-3890. The conference passcode is Kforce. The replay of the call will be available from 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Tuesday, October 31, 2017 through November 7, 2017 by dialing (855) 859-2056, passcode 6056557.

This call is being webcast by Shareholder.com and can be accessed on the Investor Relations page of the Kforce Inc. website (http://investor.kforce.com/). The webcast replay will be available until November 7, 2017.

About Kforce

Kforce (Nasdaq:KFRC) is a professional staffing and solutions firm providing temporary and permanent staffing solutions in the skill areas of technology and finance & accounting. Backed by nearly 2,600 associates and over 11,000 consultants on assignment, Kforce is committed to “Great People = Great Results” for our valued clients and consultants. Kforce operates with 60 offices located throughout the United States. For more information, please visit our Web site at http://www.kforce.com

End Notes:

1 A non-GAAP financial measure, see Reconciliation of Revenue and Gross Profit in the Adjusted Financial Performance Measures section.

2 A non-GAAP financial measure, see Reconciliation of Tax Impact and Profitability in the Adjusted Financial Performance Measures section.

Certain of the above statements contained in this press release, including earnings projections, are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the following: business conditions, growth in temporary staffing and the general economy; competitive factors, risks due to shifts in the market demand; a reduction in the supply of candidates or the Firm's ability to attract such candidates; the success of the Firm in attracting and retaining revenue-generating talent; changes in the service mix; ability of the Firm to repurchase shares; the effect of adverse weather conditions; changes in our effective tax rate; changes in government regulations, laws and policies that are adverse to our businesses; risk of contract performance, delays or termination or the failure to obtain awards, task orders or funding under contracts; changes in client demand; and the risk factors listed from time to time in the Firm’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Firm’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, as well as assumptions regarding the foregoing. In particular, the Firm makes no assurances that the estimates of continuing operations will be achieved or that we will continue to increase our market share, successfully manage risks to our revenue stream, successfully put into place the people and processes that will create future success or further accelerate our revenue. The terms “should,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “foresee,” “plan” and similar expressions and variations thereof contained in this press release identify certain of such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. As a result, such forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. Future events and actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and the Firm undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

 
Kforce Inc.
Summary of Operations
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
  Three Months Ended
  Sept. 30, 2017 Jun. 30, 2017 Sept. 30, 2016
Revenue by function:      
 Technology $229,281  $228,369  $225,524 
 Finance & accounting 85,225  88,266  84,118 
 Government solutions 26,547  23,674  26,818 
Total net service revenues 341,053  340,309  336,460 
Direct costs of services 236,678  236,390  231,080 
Gross profit 104,375  103,919  105,380 
GP % 30.6% 30.5% 31.3%
Flex GP % 28.0% 27.6% 28.6%
Selling, general & administrative expenses 81,921  82,506  87,803 
Depreciation & amortization 2,110  2,053  2,075 
Income from operations 20,344  19,360  15,502 
Other expense, net 1,364  1,357  778 
Income before income taxes 18,980  18,003  14,724 
Income tax expense 8,881  6,859  5,704 
Net income $10,099  $11,144  $9,020 
       
Earnings per share - diluted $0.40  $0.44  $0.34 
       
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted 25,535  25,482  26,173 
Adjusted EBITDA $24,238  $23,258  $18,919 
       
Billing days 63  64  64 


 
Kforce Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016
ASSETS   
Current Assets:   
Cash and cash equivalents$703  $1,482 
Trade receivables, net of allowances243,843  206,361 
Income tax refund receivable1,893  172 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets12,685  10,691 
  Total current assets259,124  218,706 
Fixed assets, net40,654  43,145 
Other assets, net37,265  30,511 
Deferred tax assets, net19,803  23,449 
Intangible assets, net3,384  3,642 
Goodwill45,968  45,968 
   Total assets$406,198  $365,421 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY   
Current Liabilities:   
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities$34,476  $37,230 
Accrued payroll costs51,135  44,137 
Other current liabilities1,887  1,765 
Income taxes payable486  221 
  Total current liabilities87,984  83,353 
Long-term debt – credit facility126,100  111,547 
Long-term debt – other2,773  3,984 
Other long-term liabilities47,062  44,801 
  Total liabilities263,919  243,685 
Commitments and contingencies   
Stockholders’ Equity:   
Preferred stock   
Common stock712  713 
Additional paid-in capital435,275  428,212 
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income(155) 184 
Retained earnings192,158  174,967 
Treasury stock, at cost(485,711) (482,340)
  Total stockholders’ equity142,279  121,736 
  Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$406,198  $365,421 


 
Kforce Inc.
Key Statistics
(Unaudited)
  Q3 2017 Q2 2017 Q3 2016
Total Firm      
Flex revenue (000’s) $328,904  $326,456  $323,484 
Hours (000’s) 5,646  5,632  5,597 
Flex GP % 28.0% 27.6% 28.6%
Direct Hire revenue (000’s) $12,149  $13,853  $12,976 
Placements 881  974  940 
Average fee $13,784  $14,227  $13,802 
Billing days 63  64  64 
Technology      
Flex revenue (000’s) $224,148  $222,744  $220,376 
Hours (000’s) 3,299  3,234  3,254 
Flex GP % 27.0% 26.9% 27.2%
Direct Hire revenue (000’s) $5,133  $5,625  $5,148 
Placements 303  317  297 
Average fee $16,917  $17,753  $17,343 
Finance & Accounting      
Flex revenue (000’s) $78,209  $80,038  $76,290 
Hours (000’s) 2,347  2,398  2,343 
Flex GP % 29.0% 28.8% 29.6%
Direct Hire revenue (000’s) $7,016  $8,228  $7,828 
Placements 578  657  643 
Average fee $12,139  $12,526  $12,169 
Government Solutions      
Flex revenue (000’s) $26,547  $23,674  $26,818 
Flex GP % 34.3% 29.8% 36.4%


 
Kforce Inc.
Revenue Growth Rates
(Per Billing Day)
(Unaudited)
 
  Year-Over-Year Revenue Growth Rates
  (Per Billing Day)
  Q3 2017 Q2 2017 Q1 2017 Q4 2016 Q3 2016
Tech Flex 3.3% 1.5% 2.7% 1.4% (2.7)%
Tech Direct Hire 1.3% 9.3% (4.1)% (13.1)% (10.2)%
Total Tech 3.3% 1.7% 2.5% 1.1% (2.8)%
FA Flex 4.1% 4.3% 7.5% 2.1% (0.5)%
FA Direct Hire (9.0)% (2.4)% (11.7)% (15.4)% (6.9)%
Total FA 2.9% 3.6% 5.8% 0.4% (1.2)%
Total Staffing (Total Tech and FA) 3.2% 2.2% 3.4% 0.9% (2.4)%
GS 0.6% (6.4)% 6.6% 4.0% 10.1%
Total Firm 3.0% 1.6% 3.7% 1.1% (1.5)%


Kforce Inc.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
(Unaudited)

The following non-GAAP financial measures presented may not provide information that is directly comparable to that provided by other companies, as other companies may calculate such financial results differently. The Company’s non-GAAP financial measures are not measurements of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to amounts presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company views these non-GAAP financial measures as supplemental and they are not intended to be a substitute for, or superior to, the information provided by GAAP financial results. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is provided below.

Free Cash Flow  

“Free Cash Flow”, a non-GAAP financial measure, is defined by Kforce as net cash provided by operating activities determined in accordance with GAAP, less capital expenditures. Management believes this provides an additional way of viewing our liquidity that, when viewed with our GAAP results, provides a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our cash flows and is useful information to investors as it provides a measure of the amount of cash generated from the business that can be used for strategic opportunities including investing in our business, making acquisitions, repurchasing common stock or paying dividends. Free Cash Flow has limitations due to the fact that it does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures. Therefore, we believe it is important to view Free Cash Flow as a complement to our financial statements.

 Nine Months Ended
 September 30,
 2017 2016
Net income$27,145  $23,534 
Non-cash provisions and other15,542  15,660 
Changes in operating assets/liabilities(37,038) (9,530)
Net cash provided by operating activities5,649  29,664 
Capital expenditures(5,424) (9,409)
Free cash flow225  20,255 
Proceeds from sale of Global's assets1,000   
Change in debt14,553  20,858 
Repurchases of common stock(4,226) (31,787)
Cash dividend(9,125) (9,397)
Other(3,206) (501)
Change in cash$(779) $(572)

Adjusted EBITDA

“Adjusted EBITDA”, a non-GAAP financial measure, is defined by Kforce as net income before depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, interest expense, net and income tax expense. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered a measure of financial performance under GAAP. Items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing our past and future financial performance, and this presentation should not be construed as an inference by us that our future results will be unaffected by those items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is a key measure used by management to assess our operations including our ability to generate cash flows and our ability to repay our debt obligations and management believes it provides a good metric of our core profitability in comparing our performance to our competitors, as well as our performance over different time periods. Consequently, management believes it is similarly useful information to investors.

  Three Months Ended
  Sept. 30, 2017 Jun. 30, 2017 Sept. 30, 2016
Net income $10,099  $11,144  $9,020 
Depreciation & amortization 2,165  2,105  2,102 
Stock-based compensation expense 1,798  1,805  1,336 
Interest expense, net 1,295  1,345  757 
Income tax expense 8,881  6,859  5,704 
Adjusted EBITDA $24,238  $23,258  $18,919 

Adjusted Financial Performance Measures

The "Adjusted Financial Performance Measures" present non-GAAP financial information and should not be considered a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles. These measures are presented as an alternative method for assessing the Company’s operating results by adjusting for the impact of certain non-recurring, infrequent or unusual items in a manner that is focused on the performance of our underlying operations. Each of these measures are intended to provide greater consistency, comparability and clarity of our results. Management uses this non-GAAP financial information to assess the Company's core operating results and consequently, management believes it is similarly useful information to investors.

  Three Months Ended
  September 30, 2017
  Reported
 (GAAP)
 Adjustments (1) Adjusted
(Non-GAAP)
Reconciliation of Revenue and Gross Profit:      
Net service revenues (2) $341,053  $1,000  $342,053 
Gross profit $104,375  $713  $105,088 
GP % 30.6% 0.1% 30.7%
Flex GP % (3) 28.0% 0.2% 28.2%
             
Reconciliation of SG&A and Operating Margin:            
Selling, general & administrative expenses (4) $81,921  $1,156  $83,077 
SG&A as a percentage of net service revenues 24.0% 0.3% 24.3%
Income from operations $20,344  $(443) $19,901 
  Operating margin 6.0% (0.2)% 5.8%
             
Reconciliation of Tax Impact and Profitability:            
Income before income taxes $18,980  $(443) $18,537 
Income tax expense (5) $8,881  $(1,840) $7,041 
  Effective tax rate 46.8% (8.8)% 38.0%
Net income $10,099  $1,397  $11,496 
Earnings per share - diluted $0.40  $0.05  $0.45 

(1) Adjustments include the impact from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, charges for role eliminations related to refining how we support and service our largest strategic clients and a gain on sale of the assets of Kforce Global Solutions, Inc. (a wholly-owned subsidiary located in Manila, Philippines, "Global").

(2) The $1.0 million revenue adjustment related to $0.65 million for Tech Flex and $0.35 million for FA Flex. Revenue growth rates per billing day were 3.3% for Tech Flex, 4.1% for FA Flex and 3.0% for Total Firm. Adjusted revenue growth rates per billing day were 3.6% for Tech Flex, 4.6% for FA Flex and 3.3% for Total Firm.

(3) Tech Flex GP% was 27.0% and FA Flex GP% was 29.0%. Adjusted Tech Flex GP% was 27.1% and Adjusted FA Flex GP% was 29.2%.

(4) The $1.2 million adjustment was related to a $1.0 million disaster relief contribution and $1.1 million in charges for the aforementioned role eliminations, offset by a $3.3 million gain on sale of Global's assets.

(5) Adjustments to income tax expense include (i) a $1.6 million valuation allowance placed on our foreign tax credit deferred tax asset that we expect may not be realizable as a result of the sale of Global's assets and (ii) a net income tax benefit of $0.2 million related to the income before income taxes adjustments described within this table, which was calculated using the quarterly effective tax rate, of 38.0%.

AT THE FIRM

Michael R. Blackman
Chief Corporate Development Officer
(813) 552-2927