The Hackett Group, Inc.NASDAQ: HCKT

The Hackett Group Announces Third Quarter 2026 Results

· Issued by The Hackett Group, Inc. via Business Wire

Summary by 6ix AI

The Hackett Group, Inc., an AI-enabled enterprise transformation company, reported total revenue of $69.8 million for the third quarter ended September 25, 2026, compared with $73.1 million a year earlier. Diluted earnings per share under GAAP (standard US accounting rules) were $0.14, compared with $0.09.

Key details

  • Revenue before reimbursements was $68.9 million for the third quarter of 2026, compared with $72.2 million in the third quarter of the prior year.
  • Adjusted diluted earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure that excludes items such as stock-based compensation and amortization, were $0.39 for the third quarter of 2026, at the high end of the company's guidance range, compared with $0.37 in the third quarter of 2025.
  • As of September 25, 2026, cash was $12.6 million, with $86.1 million outstanding on the company's credit facility. During the quarter it bought back $2.5 million of its common stock and paid $3.0 million in dividends; $16.3 million remained available under its share repurchase plan.
  • After the quarter ended, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share for shareholders of record on December 24, 2026, to be paid on January 8, 2027.
  • Senior management will discuss the results on a conference call and live webcast on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 5:00 P.M. ET.

What’s still pending

  • The company estimates fourth quarter 2026 revenue before reimbursements of $68.0 million to $70.0 million, reflecting 6% to 8% fewer available days than the third quarter due to increased holidays and vacation.
  • The company estimates fourth quarter 2026 adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.39 to $0.41, assuming a GAAP effective tax rate of 26.5%.
  • The company estimates cash flow from operations will be up from the third quarter by approximately $15.0 million to $20.0 million, and says this cash would be used to pay down debt or repurchase stock.

6ix AI wrote this summary from the release below and checked it against the release.

The Hackett Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HCKT), an ROI led, AI enabled enterprise transformation company that helps organizations achieve and sustain AI World Class performance, today announced its financial results for the third quarter, which ended on September 25, 2026.

“We continue to build momentum as the market increasingly recognizes that meaningful value and ROI from AI transformation requires more than technology. It requires deep transformation expertise and IP to reimagine critical processes, along with AI benchmarks to accurately quantify the value opportunity. These capabilities are closely aligned with Hackett’s globally recognized transformation expertise and proprietary benchmarking and process intelligence,” stated Ted A. Fernandez, Chairman & CEO of The Hackett Group, Inc. “At the same time, the expanding use of our AI platforms, XT and AIX, across our primary enterprise transformation and software implementation offerings, is beginning to improve sales and delivery productivity. As these benefits scale across our client base, we expect them to drive increasing operating leverage and margin expansion, strengthening our confidence in our growth and profitability prospects for 2027. We have just begun to realize the benefits from our AI transition strategy.”

Financial Highlights

  • Total revenue in the third quarter of 2026 was $69.8 million and revenue before reimbursements was $68.9 million. This compares to total revenue of $73.1 million and revenue before reimbursements of $72.2 million in the third quarter of the prior year.
  • GAAP diluted earnings per share was $0.14 in the third quarter of 2026, as compared to $0.09 in the third quarter of 2025.
  • Adjusted diluted earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure, for the third quarter of 2026 was $0.39, which was at the high-end of our guidance range, as compared to $0.37 in the third quarter of 2025.
  • As of September 25, 2026, the Company’s cash balances were $12.6 million, with $86.1 million outstanding on the Company’s credit facility. Additionally, during the quarter the Company repurchased $2.5 million of its common stock and paid dividends of $3.0 million. The Company had $16.3 million available under its share repurchase plan at the end of the third quarter.
  • Subsequent to the end of the third quarter, the Company's Board of Directors declared the fourth quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share for its shareholders of record on December 24, 2026, to be paid on January 8, 2027.

Business Outlook for the Fourth Quarter of 2026

Based on the Company's current outlook:

  • The Company estimates total revenue before reimbursements for the fourth quarter of 2026 will be in the range of $68.0 million to $70.0 million and reflects the 6% to 8% fewer available days due to increased holidays and vacation taken when compared to the third quarter
  • The Company estimates adjusted diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2026 to be in the range of $0.39 and $0.41, assuming a GAAP effective tax rate of 26.5%.
  • We estimate cash flow from operations to be up on a sequential basis by approximately $15.0 million to $20.0 million, with a corresponding decrease in accounts receivable of $4.0 million to $5.0 million. Consistent with our normal capital allocation strategy, this cash flow would be used to pay down debt or repurchase stock.

Conference Call and Webcast Details

On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, senior management will discuss third quarter results in a conference call at 5:00 P.M. ET. The number for the conference call is (800) 593-0486, [Passcode: Third Quarter]. For International callers, please dial (517) 308-9371. Please dial in at least 5-10 minutes prior to start time. If you are unable to participate on the conference call, a rebroadcast will be available beginning at 8:00 P.M. ET on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 and will run through 5:00 P.M. ET on Tuesday, November 17, 2026. To access the rebroadcast, please dial (800) 835-8067. For International callers, please dial (203) 369-3354.

In addition, The Hackett Group ® will also be webcasting this conference call live. To participate, simply visit https://www.thehackettgroup.com approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call and click on the conference call link provided. An online replay of the call will be available after 8:00 P.M. ET on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 and will run through 5:00 P.M. ET on Tuesday, November 17, 2026. To access the replay, visit www.thehackettgroup.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company provides adjusted earnings results (which excludes non-cash stock based compensation expense, stock price award program compensation expense, acquisition-related cash and non-cash stock based compensation expense, amortization expense, acquisition related costs and any one-time costs and includes a GAAP tax rate) as a complement to results provided in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). These non-GAAP results are provided to enhance the users' overall understanding of the Company's current financial performance and its prospects for the future. The Company believes the non-GAAP results provide useful information to both management and investors and by excluding certain expenses that it believes are not indicative of its core operating results. The non-GAAP measures are included to provide investors and management with an alternative method for assessing operating results in a manner that is focused on the performance of its ongoing primary operations and to provide a consistent basis for comparison between quarters. Further, these non-GAAP results are one of the primary indicators management uses for planning and forecasting. The presentation of this additional non-GAAP information should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or superior to, any results prepared in accordance with GAAP. See the reconciliation of actual results titled "Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures" in the accompanying tables.

The Company believes that the presentation of non-GAAP financial information on a forward-looking basis, including the guidance contained in this release, provides important supplemental information to management and investors regarding its anticipated results of operations. The Company is unable to provide a reconciliation of GAAP measures to corresponding forward-looking non-GAAP measures without unreasonable effort due to the high variability and low visibility of most of the items that have been excluded from these non-GAAP measures. For example, non-cash stock-based compensation expense is impacted by the Company's future hiring needs, the type and volume of equity awards necessary for such future hiring, and the price at which the Company's stock will trade in those future periods. In addition, the provision or benefit for income taxes is impacted by non-recurring income tax adjustments, valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, and the income tax effect of non-GAAP exclusions. The effects of these reconciling items may be significant, as the items that are being excluded are difficult to predict.

About The Hackett Group®

The Hackett Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HCKT) is an ROI-led, AI enabled enterprise transformation company that helps clients achieve and sustain AI World Class performance. Its experts and engineers leverage Hackett AI platforms, including XT™, AIXelerator™, Hackett AI XPLR™, ZBrain® and XDA™, to accelerate and enhance the delivery of the company’s solutions and services.

The Hackett AI platforms are powered by the company’s domain-specific Solution Language Model informed by Hackett Process and Performance Intelligence, including Digital World Class® and AI World Class benchmark metrics, industry-specific best-practice process flows and service delivery and operating model frameworks. The Hackett Group’s proprietary insights are based on benchmarking results from leading global organizations, including 98% of Dow Jones Global Titans, 97% of the Dow Jones Industrials and 90% of the Fortune 100. Visit www.thehackettgroup.com.

Trademarks

The Hackett Group®, quadrant logo, ZBrain® and Digital World Class® are the registered marks of The Hackett Group®.

Cautionary Statement Regarding “Forward-Looking” Statements

This release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements including without limitation, words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” or other similar phrases or variations of such words or similar expressions indicating, present or future anticipated or expected occurrences or outcomes are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that may impact such forward-looking statements include without limitation, the ability of The Hackett Group® to effectively market its digital transformation services, our ability to transition our capabilities to support generative artificial intelligence (AI)-related consulting services and solutions and other consulting services, our ability to effectively integrate acquisitions into our operations, our ability to manage joint ventures and successfully cooperate with our joint venture partners, competition from other consulting and technology companies that may have or develop in the future, similar offerings, the commercial viability of The Hackett Group® and its services as well as other risk detailed in The Hackett Group’s reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The Hackett Group® does not undertake any duty to update this release or any forward-looking statements contained herein.

The Hackett Group, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
Quarter EndedNine Months Ended
September 25,September 26,September 25,September 26,

2026

2025

2026

2025

Revenue:
Revenue before reimbursements

$

68,934

$

72,166

$

205,119

$

226,026

Reimbursements

856

945

2,796

3,849

Total revenue

69,790

73,111

207,915

229,875

 
Costs and expenses:
Cost of service:
Personnel costs before reimbursable expenses (includes $3,209 and $5,080 and $1,580 and $11,493 of non-cash stock based compensation expense in the three and nine months ended September 25, 2026 and September 26, 2025, respectively)

41,224

42,433

120,361

140,485

Reimbursable expenses

856

945

2,796

3,849

Total cost of service

42,080

43,378

123,157

144,334

 
Selling, general and administrative costs (includes $1,875 and $5,736 and $4,308 and $13,788 of non-cash stock based compensation expense in the three and nine months ended September 25, 2026 and September 26, 2025, respectively)

18,792

21,162

56,744

67,972

Restructuring costs

1,433

3,112

3,881

3,112

Total costs and operating expenses

62,305

67,652

183,782

215,418

 
Operating income

7,485

5,459

24,133

14,457

 
Other expense, net:
Interest expense, net

(1,154

)

(438

)

(3,373

)

(1,006

)

 
Income before income taxes

6,331

5,021

20,760

13,451

Income tax expense

2,774

2,474

8,513

6,100

Net income

$

3,557

$

2,547

$

12,247

$

7,351

 
Basic net income per common share:
Income per common share

$

0.14

$

0.09

$

0.49

$

0.27

Weighted average common shares outstanding

24,862

27,288

25,031

27,492

 
Diluted net income per common share:
Income per common share

$

0.14

$

0.09

$

0.49

$

0.26

Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding

24,953

27,615

25,126

28,161

The Hackett Group, Inc.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
September 25,December 27,

2026

2025

ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash

$

12,645

$

18,197

Accounts receivable and contract assets, net

67,860

59,505

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

9,557

6,175

Total current assets

90,062

83,877

Property, software and equipment, net

28,573

24,011

Other assets

356

358

Intangible assets

2,256

3,252

Goodwill

90,049

90,659

Operating lease right-of-use assets

1,856

2,484

Deferred tax asset

2,013

1,806

Total assets

$

215,165

$

206,447

 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable

$

5,490

$

6,295

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

23,894

28,824

Contract liabilities

11,685

12,317

Income tax payable

-

74

Operating lease liabilities

1,125

1,259

Total current liabilities

42,194

48,769

Deferred tax liability

15,058

12,537

Long-term debt

86,142

75,818

Operating lease liabilities

731

1,223

Total liabilities

144,125

138,347

 
Shareholders' equity

71,040

68,100

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$

215,165

$

206,447

The Hackett Group, Inc.
SEGMENT CONTRIBUTIONS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
Quarter EndedNine Months Ended
September 25,September 26,September 25,September 26,

2026

2025

2026

2025

Global S&BT (1):
Revenue before reimbursements

$

36,619

$

42,398

$

108,578

$

128,651

Cost of sales

19,299

21,440

58,448

66,526

Gross margin

17,320

20,958

50,130

62,125

Selling, general and administrative costs

6,528

7,717

21,165

23,111

Segment contribution

10,792

13,241

28,965

39,014

Oracle Solutions (2):
Revenue before reimbursements

$

15,907

$

16,353

$

46,673

$

57,243

Cost of sales

9,751

11,751

29,899

39,377

Gross margin

6,156

4,602

16,774

17,866

Selling, general and administrative costs

1,141

1,921

4,004

6,368

Segment contribution

5,015

2,681

12,770

11,498

SAP Solutions (3):
Revenue before reimbursements

$

16,408

$

13,415

$

49,869

$

40,132

Cost of sales

8,957

8,183

27,372

23,035

Gross margin

7,451

5,232

22,497

17,097

Selling, general and administrative costs

2,281

1,569

6,776

5,293

Segment contribution

5,170

3,663

15,721

11,804

Total Company (4):
Total segment contribution

20,977

19,585

57,456

62,316

 
Items not allocated to segment level (4):
Corporate general and administrative expenses

5,568

4,292

14,356

15,196

Non-cash stock based compensation expense

2,309

2,694

6,843

8,272

Stock price award program compensation expense

1,442

4,768

4,181

15,053

Acquisition-related cash compensation (reversal) expense

-

(540

)

(64

)

76

Acquisition-related non-cash stock based compensation (reversal) expense

1,333

(1,574

)

(208

)

1,956

Acquisition-related costs

-

11

-

398

Restructuring costs

1,433

3,112

3,881

3,112

Depreciation expense

1,110

1,052

3,423

3,111

Amortization expense

297

311

911

685

Interest expense, net

1,154

438

3,373

1,006

Income before taxes

$

6,331

$

5,021

$

20,760

$

13,451

 
(1) Global S&BT includes the results of our North America and International Gen AI Consulting, Implementation and Licensing, Benchmarking and Business Transformation offerings, Executive Advisory, Market Intelligence and IP as-a-Service, OneStream and eProcurement.
(2) Oracle Solutions includes the results of our EPM/ERP practices.
(3) SAP Solutions includes the results of our SAP applications and related SAP service offerings.
(4) Segment contributions consist of the revenue generated by the segment, less the direct costs of revenue and selling, general and administrative expenses that are incurred directly by the segment. Items not allocated to the segment level include corporate costs related to administrative functions that are performed in a centralized manner that are not attributable to a particular segment. Items not allocated to the segment level include corporate general and administrative expenses, non-cash stock based compensation expense, acquisition related cash and non-cash stock based compensation expense, depreciation and amortization expense, any one-time costs, interest expense and foreign currency gains and losses. Corporate general and administrative expenses primarily include costs related to business support functions including accounting and finance, human resources, legal, information technology and office administration. Corporate general and administrative expenses exclude one-time, non-recurring expenses and benefits.
The Hackett Group, Inc.
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
 
Quarter EndedNine Months Ended
September 25,September 26,September 25,September 26,

2026

2025

2026

2025

GAAP NET INCOME

$

3,557

$

2,547

$

12,247

$

7,351

Adjustments (1):
Non-cash stock based compensation expense (2)

2,309

2,694

6,843

8,272

Stock price award program compensation expense (2)(3)

1,442

4,768

4,181

15,053

Acquisition-related cash compensation (reversal) expense (4)

-

(540

)

(64

)

76

Acquisition-related non-cash stock based compensation (reversal) expense (4)

1,333

(1,574

)

(208

)

1,956

Acquisition-related costs

-

11

-

398

Amortization expense

297

311

911

685

Restructuring costs

1,433

3,112

3,881

3,112

ADJUSTED NET INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES ON ADJUSTMENTS (1)

10,371

11,329

27,791

36,903

Tax effect of adjustments above (5)

638

1,171

936

4,451

ADJUSTED NET INCOME (1)

$

9,733

$

10,158

$

26,855

$

32,452

 
GAAP diluted net income per common share

$

0.14

$

0.09

$

0.49

$

0.26

Adjusted diluted net income per common share (1)

$

0.39

$

0.37

$

1.07

$

1.15

Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding

24,953

27,615

25,126

28,161

(1) The Company provides adjusted earnings results (which excludes non-cash stock based compensation expense, stock price award program compensation expense, acquisition-related cash and non-cash stock based compensation expense, amortization expense, acquisition related costs and any one-time costs and includes a GAAP tax rate) as a complement to results provided in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). These non-GAAP results are provided to enhance the users' overall understanding of the Company's current financial performance and its prospects for the future. The Company believes the non-GAAP results provide useful information to both management and investors and by excluding certain expenses that it believes are not indicative of its core operating results. The non-GAAP measures are included to provide investors and management with an alternative method for assessing operating results in a manner that is focused on the performance of its ongoing primary operations and to provide a consistent basis for comparison between quarters. Further, these non-GAAP results are one of the primary indicators management uses for planning and forecasting. The presentation of this additional non-GAAP information should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for or superior to, any results prepared in accordance with GAAP.
(2) Non-cash stock based compensation expense is accounted for under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation. The Company excludes non-cash stock based compensation expense and the related tax effects for the purposes of adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share. The Company believes that non-GAAP measures of profitability, which exclude non-cash stock based compensation expense, are widely used by investors.
(3) The stock price award program compensation expense relates to equity awards that were granted with certain market share price hurdles and service conditions to meet before they are vested. The market price hurdles include twenty consecutive trading days of equal to or greater than $30, $40 and $50 per share price. As of September 25, 2026, the first market condition had been met, and although the shares have not vested they are included in the Company's dilutive shares outstanding for the quarter ended September 25, 2026. As of September 25, 2026, the second and third market conditions had not been met and as such the shares have not vested and are not included in the Company's basic or dilutive shares outstanding. Non-cash compensation expense of $1.4 million and $4.2 million was recorded in the third quarter and first nine months of 2026, respectively.
(4) The Company incurs cash and non-cash stock based compensation expense for acquisition related consideration that is recognized over time under GAAP. The Company believes excluding these amounts more consistently presents its ongoing results of operations because they are related to acquisitions and not due to normal operating activities. The acquisition-related non-cash stock based compensation expense is also accounted for under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation.
(5) The adjustment for the income tax expense is based on the accounting treatment and income tax rate for the jurisdiction of each item. The impact of all of the non-cash stock based compensation expense was expense of $1.3 million and $2.8 million and expense of $1.5 million and $6.6 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2026 and 2025, respectively. The impact of acquisition related cash compensation reversal was a benefit of $16 thousand in the first nine months of 2026 and a benefit of $141 thousand and expense of $19 thousand in the third quarter and first nine months of 2025, respectively. The impact of the acquisition related costs including amortization was $77 thousand and $238 thousand and $81 thousand and $179 thousand in the third quarter and first nine months of 2026 and 2025, respectively. The impact of the restructuring cost was $0.4 million and $1.0 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2026 and $0.8 million in both the third quarter and first nine months in 2025, respectively.
The Hackett Group, Inc.
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL DATA
(unaudited)
 
Quarter Ended
September 25,June 26,September 26,

2026

2026

2025

Segment Total Revenue and Revenue Before Reimbursements (in thousands):
Global S&BT:
Total revenue

$

37,134

$

36,036

$

42,925

Reimbursements

515

447

527

Revenue before reimbursements

$

36,619

$

35,589

$

42,398

 
Oracle Solutions:
Total revenue

$

16,106

$

15,481

$

16,504

Reimbursements

199

164

151

Revenue before reimbursements

$

15,907

$

15,317

$

16,353

 
SAP Solutions:
Total revenue

$

16,550

$

17,811

$

13,682

Reimbursements

142

375

267

Revenue before reimbursements

$

16,408

$

17,436

$

13,415

 
Total segment revenue:
Total revenue

$

69,790

$

69,328

$

73,111

Reimbursements

856

986

945

Revenue before reimbursements

$

68,934

$

68,342

$

72,166

 
Revenue Concentration:
(% of total revenue)
Top customer

4

%

3

%

5

%

Top 5 customers

15

%

13

%

17

%

Top 10 customers

24

%

23

%

26

%

 
Key Metrics and Other Financial Data:
 
Total Company:
Consultant headcount

1,210

1,211

1,317

Total headcount

1,474

1,491

1,599

Days sales outstanding (DSO) (1)

64

56

71

Cash provided by operating activities (in thousands)

1,802

15,160

$

11,395

Depreciation (in thousands)

1,110

1,148

$

1,052

Amortization (in thousands)

297

299

$

311

Capital expenditures (in thousands)

3,151

2,575

$

2,405

 
Remaining Plan authorization:
Shares purchased (in thousands)

167

372

839

Cost of shares repurchased (in thousands)

$

1,823

$

3,928

$

17,405

Average price per share of shares purchased

$

10.90

$

10.56

$

20.73

Remaining Plan authorization (in thousands)

$

16,283

$

18,106

$

12,590

 
Shares Purchased to Satisfy Employee Net Vesting Obligations:
Shares purchased (in thousands)

59

5

268

Cost of shares purchased (in thousands)

$

633

$

57

$

5,514

Average price per share of shares purchased

$

10.69

$

12.14

$

20.61

(1) Given the increase in Value Added Reseller (VAR) revenue over the last two years, which carries multi-year terms, the DSO calculation has been revised to exclude the related revenue and accounts receivables.

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