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The Hackett Group (HCKT)
NASDAQ:HCKT

The Hackett Group (HCKT) AI Stock Analysis

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The Hackett Group

(NASDAQ:HCKT)

Rating:64Neutral
Price Target:
$26.00
▲(9.80%Upside)
The Hackett Group's strong financial performance and strategic focus on AI are significant positives. However, bearish technical indicators and a high valuation relative to peers present risks. Investment in AI and solid revenue growth offer potential upside, balancing the overall outlook.
Positive Factors
Acquisition and Integration
The acquisition of LeewayHertz led to the combination of Hackett’s generative AI assessment and simulation capabilities with advanced solution and implementation capabilities, resulting in an end-to-end consulting capability.
Financial Performance
The company's top line exceeds forecasts with total net revenue beating both individual and consensus forecasts by 4%.
Investment Rating
The company is maintaining its OUTPERFORM investment rating and has increased its 12-month price target from $28 to $36.
Negative Factors
EPS Forecast Reduction
Reducing 2025 and 2026 non-GAAP EPS forecasts to $1.70 and $1.84 from previous estimates.
Revenue Decline
Oracle Solutions net revenue, comprising 27% of Q1/25 net revenue, declined 3% year-over-year due to the wind-down of a large project.

The Hackett Group (HCKT) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

The Hackett Group Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionThe Hackett Group, Inc. operates as a strategic advisory and technology consulting firm primarily in North America and internationally. It offers best practice intelligence center, an online searchable repository; best practice accelerators that provide web-based access to best practices, customized software configuration tools, and best practice process flows; advisor inquiry for access to fact-based advice on proven approaches and methods; best practice research that provides insights into the proven approaches; and peer interaction comprising member-led webcasts, annual best practice conferences, annual member forums, membership performance surveys, and client-submitted content, as well as intellectual property as-a-service and Hackett Institute programs. The company's benchmarking services conduct studies for selling, general and administrative, finance, human resources, information technology, procurement, enterprise performance management, and shared services; and business transformation practices to help clients develop coordinated strategy for achieving performance enhancements across the enterprise. It also provides Oracle EEA solutions for core financial close and consolidation, integrated business planning, and reporting/advanced analytics areas. In addition, the company offers SAP solutions, including planning, architecture, and vendor evaluation and selection through implementation, customization, testing, and integration; post-implementation support, change management, exception management, process transparency, system documentation, and end-user training; off-shore application development, and application maintenance and support services; and OneStream practice that helps clients choose and deploy OneStream XF Platform and Market Place solutions. The company was formerly known as Answerthink, Inc. and changed its name to The Hackett Group, Inc. in 2008. The Hackett Group, Inc. was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.
How the Company Makes MoneyThe Hackett Group generates revenue through a combination of consulting fees, subscription fees for its executive advisory programs, and sales of its proprietary software solutions. Consulting services represent a significant portion of its revenue, where the company charges clients for expert guidance on improving business processes and implementing digital transformation strategies. Additionally, Hackett benefits from recurring income through subscriptions to its benchmarking and advisory services, which provide clients with ongoing access to research, best practices, and performance metrics. The company's software tools, designed to facilitate process automation and efficiency, further contribute to its revenue streams. Key partnerships with technology providers and alliances with industry leaders also enhance its service offerings, helping to attract and retain a diverse clientele.

The Hackett Group Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 06, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: -8.96%|
Next Earnings Date:Aug 12, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted significant growth in Gen AI engagements and increased gross margins, driven by the differentiated AI platforms. However, challenges remain in the Oracle Solutions segment and certain practices, alongside increased SG&A expenses and a notable decrease in GAAP net income.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Revenue Growth Driven by Gen AI
Revenues before reimbursements were $76.2 million, at the high end of quarterly guidance, driven by strong performance in the DSBT segment, particularly due to Gen AI engagements which resulted in a 6% increase in the GSBT segment.
Gen AI Platform Differentiation
The Gen AI engagements favorably impacted gross margin, which increased to 43.4% due to higher margin Gen AI consulting and implementation revenue. The AI Explorer and ZBrain platforms are highlighted as key differentiators in the market.
Increasing Demand for SAP Solutions
Despite a decrease in the SAP Solutions segment by 8%, there is increasing demand for the market-leading life sciences group, which bodes well for future revenue growth.
Expansion of Gen AI Capabilities
The company expanded its Gen AI practices with a 60-70% increase in implementation capacity and strategic partnerships, including a joint venture with ZBrain.
Negative Updates
Decline in Oracle Solutions Revenue
Oracle Solutions segment revenue decreased by 3% due to the post go-live wind down of a large engagement.
Challenges in OneStream and e-Procurement Practices
Weakness in the OneStream and e-Procurement practices partially offset the revenue growth in the GSBT segment.
Increased SG&A Expenses
Adjusted SG&A expenses increased to $18.4 million or 24.1% of revenues before reimbursements, primarily due to incremental costs associated with recent acquisitions and increased recruiting costs.
Net Income and Cash Flow Challenges
GAAP net income decreased significantly to $3.1 million from $8.7 million the prior year. Cash balances decreased to $9.2 million from $16.4 million due to stock repurchases and increased accounts receivable.
Company Guidance
In the first quarter of fiscal 2025, The Hackett Group reported revenues of $77.9 million, a 1% increase from the previous year, with revenues before reimbursements reaching $76.2 million, aligning with their quarterly guidance. The company's Global S&BT segment grew by 6%, driven by strong performance in their Gen AI consulting and implementation services, although this was offset by weaknesses in their OneStream and e-procurement practices. Excluding these practices, the segment's growth would have been 13%. The adjusted gross margin improved to 43.4% compared to 41.4% the previous year, largely due to higher-margin Gen AI engagements. The company anticipates continued demand for Gen AI solutions, expecting the segment to play a significant role in their strategic growth. However, both the Oracle and SAP Solutions segments saw revenue declines of 3% and 8%, respectively, due to winding down large engagements and strong prior year comparisons. For the second quarter, Hackett projects revenue before reimbursements to be between $76 million and $77.5 million, with adjusted net income per share estimated to fall within $0.37 to $0.39. The firm continues to invest in Gen AI capabilities, and plans to repurchase shares and maintain a dividend payout, despite an increase in days sales outstanding to 73 days due to extended terms on large client engagements.

The Hackett Group Financial Statement Overview

Summary
The Hackett Group demonstrates solid financial health with consistent revenue growth and robust operational efficiency. Despite minor declines in net profit margin and ROE, the company maintains a strong cash flow position and low leverage, positioning it well within its industry.
Income Statement
78
Positive
The Hackett Group shows a healthy financial performance with stable revenue growth over the years, reflected in a notable increase from $239.48 million in 2021 to $314.53 million in the TTM. Gross profit margin remains robust, though there's a slight drop in net profit margin recently due to increased expenses. Despite this, EBIT and EBITDA margins are stable, indicating consistent operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
75
Positive
The company's balance sheet is solid, with a decreasing debt-to-equity ratio, currently at a low level due to declining total debt. The equity ratio is strong, reflecting sound financial health and low leverage risk. Return on Equity (ROE) has slightly decreased but remains competitive, demonstrating effective use of equity.
Cash Flow
80
Positive
Cash flow analysis shows positive trends with consistent free cash flow generation, indicating strong cash management. Operating cash flow to net income ratio is favorable, showing efficient cash conversion from earnings. Despite fluctuations in financing cash flow, the company maintains a stable free cash flow to net income ratio, highlighting its ability to sustain operations and investments.
Breakdown
TTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Mar 2021
Income StatementTotal Revenue
314.53M313.86M296.59M293.74M278.81M239.48M
Gross Profit
121.13M123.24M116.38M115.58M105.66M73.11M
EBIT
37.47M44.59M49.26M55.25M46.48M19.13M
EBITDA
41.61M48.51M52.68M58.69M50.85M13.12M
Net Income Common Stockholders
24.04M29.63M34.15M40.80M41.55M5.47M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
25.95M16.37M20.96M30.25M45.79M49.45M
Total Assets
193.74M191.88M181.43M184.99M207.54M192.54M
Total Debt
7.96M15.68M34.42M61.11M3.77M6.12M
Net Debt
-17.99M-690.00K13.47M30.85M-42.02M-43.33M
Total Liabilities
56.12M76.30M91.35M126.72M63.69M51.66M
Stockholders Equity
137.61M115.57M90.08M58.28M143.85M140.89M
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
44.46M43.65M33.30M54.25M43.11M42.17M
Operating Cash Flow
49.13M47.73M37.40M58.90M46.35M44.06M
Investing Cash Flow
-11.22M-10.62M-4.10M-4.66M-3.24M-1.89M
Financing Cash Flow
-41.57M-41.66M-42.56M-69.74M-46.74M-18.71M

The Hackett Group Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price23.68
Price Trends
50DMA
25.28
Negative
100DMA
27.54
Negative
200DMA
27.88
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.38
Positive
RSI
36.15
Neutral
STOCH
11.36
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For HCKT, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 23.68 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 24.58, below the 50-day MA of 25.28, and below the 200-day MA of 27.88, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.38 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 36.15 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 11.36 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for HCKT.

The Hackett Group Risk Analysis

The Hackett Group disclosed 22 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. The Hackett Group reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

The Hackett Group Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
81
Outperform
$1.49B28.2211.35%14.05%17.90%
76
Outperform
$3.40B13.316.34%2.50%21.67%-17.91%
68
Neutral
$4.91B14.6621.63%1.41%3.39%-16.78%
IIIII
67
Neutral
$228.49M30.848.09%3.80%-12.26%
64
Neutral
$654.88M27.7423.13%2.03%3.96%-31.63%
62
Neutral
$11.95B9.93-7.21%4.85%7.32%-8.25%
57
Neutral
$721.49M39.11-0.04%3.50%95.90%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
HCKT
The Hackett Group
23.68
2.28
10.65%
III
Information Services Group
4.74
1.87
65.16%
SAIC
Science Applications
104.70
-11.17
-9.64%
PSFE
Paysafe
11.85
-5.70
-32.48%
CNXC
Concentrix
50.15
-9.03
-15.26%
TASK
TaskUs
16.81
3.32
24.61%

The Hackett Group Corporate Events

Product-Related AnnouncementsShareholder MeetingsBusiness Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
The Hackett Group Reports Strong Q1 2025 Results
Positive
May 6, 2025

On May 1, 2025, The Hackett Group held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders, where key decisions included the election of directors and amendments to the company’s stock option plan. The company also announced its first quarter 2025 financial results, reporting revenues near the high end of guidance and highlighting the release of AI XPLR version 3, which is expected to enhance growth in the Gen AI sector. Despite a decrease in GAAP earnings per share due to non-cash compensation expenses, the company showed strong cash flow and continued investment in AI capabilities, positioning itself for future growth.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.