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Mar 31, 2021

Heidrick & Struggles Q1 2021 Earnings Report

Reported record first quarter results with net revenue up double digits sequentially and year over year and operating margins returned to double-digit levels.

Key Takeaways

Heidrick & Struggles reported a record first quarter with a double-digit improvement in net revenue both sequentially and year over year, driven by broad-based strength across all businesses and geographies. Adjusted operating margin reached 12.1%, the highest since 2008.

Record net revenue of $193.7 million, up 12.9% year-over-year and 20.3% sequentially.

Operating income of $19.6 million and operating margin of 10.1%, including a $3.9 million restructuring charge.

Adjusted EBITDA of $28.9 million, with adjusted EBITDA margin increasing to 14.9%.

Acquired Business Talent Group (BTG) to expand and diversify offerings.

Total Revenue
$194M
Previous year: $171M
+12.9%
EPS
$0.86
Previous year: $0.44
+95.5%
Executive Search
$1.9M
Previous year: $1.6M
+18.8%
Avg. Revenue per Search
$113K
Previous year: $119K
-4.8%
Adjusted EBITDA
$28.9M
Previous year: $23.6M
+22.2%
Gross Profit
$53.4M
Previous year: $53.8M
-0.7%
Cash and Equivalents
$184M
Previous year: $251M
-26.7%
Free Cash Flow
-$144M
Previous year: -$167M
-14.2%
Total Assets
$681M
Previous year: $793M
-14.1%

Heidrick & Struggles

Heidrick & Struggles

Heidrick & Struggles Revenue by Segment

Heidrick & Struggles Revenue by Geographic Location

Forward Guidance

The Company expects 2021 second quarter consolidated net revenue of between $215 million and $225 million.

Positive Outlook

  • Anticipated volume of new Executive Search confirmations
  • Heidrick Consulting assignments
  • BTG projects and the current backlog
  • Consultant productivity
  • Consultant retention

Challenges Ahead

  • Continued fluidity of the COVID-19 pandemic that may impact quarterly results
  • Based on the average currency rates in March 2021
  • Seasonality of its business
  • Unfavorable tax law changes and tax authority rulings
  • Increased cybersecurity requirements, vulnerabilities, threats and more sophisticated and targeted cyber-related attacks that could pose a risk to our systems, networks, solutions, services and data