• Live Feeds
    • Press Releases
    • Insider Trading
    • FDA Approvals
    • Analyst Ratings
    • Insider Trading
    • SEC filings
    • Market insights
  • Analyst Ratings
  • Alerts
  • Subscriptions
  • Settings
  • RSS Feeds
Quantisnow Logo
  • Live Feeds
    • Press Releases
    • Insider Trading
    • FDA Approvals
    • Analyst Ratings
    • Insider Trading
    • SEC filings
    • Market insights
  • Analyst Ratings
  • Alerts
  • Subscriptions
  • Settings
  • RSS Feeds
Dashboard
    Quantisnow Logo

    © 2025 quantisnow.com
    Democratizing insights since 2022

    Services
    Live news feedsRSS FeedsAlerts
    Company
    AboutQuantisnow PlusContactJobs
    Legal
    Terms of usePrivacy policyCookie policy

    First Advantage Reports Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2023 Results

    2/29/24 6:00:00 AM ET
    $FA
    $STER
    Business Services
    Consumer Discretionary
    EDP Services
    Technology
    Get the next $FA alert in real time by email

    Introduces Full Year 2024 Guidance

    Announces Agreement to Acquire Sterling Check Corp.

    Full Year 2023 Highlights1

    • Revenues of $763.8 million
    • Net Income of $37.3 million; Adjusted Net Income of $145.8 million
    • Adjusted EBITDA of $237.6 million
    • GAAP Diluted Net Income Per Share of $0.26; Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share of $1.00
    • Cash Flows from Operations of $162.8 million
    • Ended the year with Cash and Cash Equivalents of $213.8 million, after the $217.7 million one-time special dividend payment, $59.0 million in share repurchases, and the $41.0 million acquisition of Infinite ID

    Fourth Quarter 2023 Highlights1

    • Revenues of $202.6 million
    • Net Income of $14.8 million; Adjusted Net Income of $42.6 million
    • Adjusted EBITDA of $68.2 million
    • GAAP Diluted Net Income Per Share of $0.10; Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share of $0.29
    • Cash Flows from Operations of $56.7 million

    Standalone First Advantage Full Year 2024 Guidance

    • Introducing full-year 2024 guidance ranges for Revenues of $750 million to $800 million, Adjusted EBITDA of $228 million to $248 million, Adjusted Net Income of $127 million to $142 million, and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share of $0.88 to $0.982

    Acquisition of Sterling Check Corp.

    • Announced today a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Sterling Check Corp. (NASDAQ:STER) ("Sterling Check" or "Sterling") in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $2.2 billion. The transaction is expected to drive attractive total shareholder returns, including at least $50 million of synergies, implying expected double-digit Adjusted EPS accretion immediately on a run-rate synergy basis and accelerated earnings growth potential from topline development, synergies, and deleveraging. The related press release is available on First Advantage's investor relations website. 

    ATLANTA, Feb. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Advantage Corporation (NASDAQ:FA), a leading provider of employment background screening, identity, and verification solutions, today announced financial results for the full year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023.

    Key Financials

    (Amounts in millions, except per share data and percentages)

     Three Months Ended

    December 31,
      Year Ended

    December 31,
     
     2023  2022  Change  2023  2022  Change 
    Revenues$202.6  $212.6   (4.7)% $763.8  $810.0   (5.7)%
    Income from operations$29.4  $28.7   2.2% $81.5  $94.3   (13.5)%
    Net income$14.8  $20.1   (26.5)% $37.3  $64.6   (42.3)%
    Net income margin 7.3%  9.5% NA   4.9%  8.0% NA 
    Diluted net income per share$0.10  $0.13   (23.1)% $0.26  $0.43   (39.5)%
    Adjusted EBITDA1$68.2  $70.3   (2.9)% $237.6  $248.9   (4.6)%
    Adjusted EBITDA Margin1 33.7%  33.1% NA   31.1%  30.7% NA 
    Adjusted Net Income1$42.6  $45.0   (5.3)% $145.8  $156.5   (6.8)%
    Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share1$0.29  $0.30   (3.3)% $1.00  $1.03   (2.9)%
                            
    1 Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Net Income, and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share are non-GAAP measures. Please see the schedules accompanying this earnings release for a reconciliation of these measures to their most directly comparable respective GAAP measures.

    Note: "NA" indicates not applicable information.
     

    "We were pleased with our performance for 2023 as we successfully navigated the uncertain macroeconomic environment and evolving labor market. Our upsell and cross-sell wins, new customer additions, and attrition for the year performed broadly in-line with our historical revenue growth rates," said Scott Staples, Chief Executive Officer. "The fourth quarter exemplified the continued strength of our flexible business model, disciplined cost management, and investments in technology and automation, which were key drivers of our record Adjusted EBTIDA Margin of nearly 34% and strong Cash Flow from Operations of approximately $57 million," continued Mr. Staples.

    "Today, we announced a transformative step for First Advantage and the background screening industry with the agreement to acquire Sterling. This is a game changer in our value creation playbook that accelerates our strategy to strengthen our customer offerings and drive growth. Customers already recognize the value we add in creating a safer employment environment and rely on us for fast, high-quality background screening, identity, and verification services that enable them to hire smarter and onboard faster. With the acquisition of Sterling, we will create a platform that combines leading technology and innovative solutions, further enhancing our customer value proposition and differentiating First Advantage as a vendor of choice," continued Mr. Staples. 

    First Advantage To Acquire Sterling Check Corp.

    First Advantage announced today that it has entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Sterling Check Corp. First Advantage will issue a combination of cash and stock valuing Sterling Check at approximately $2.2 billion, including Sterling Check's outstanding debt. The transaction extends First Advantage's high-quality and cost-effective background screening, identity, and verification technology solutions for the benefit of both companies' customers across industry verticals and geographies. Building on pro forma combined revenue of $1.5 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023, the transaction is expected to deliver at least $50 million in run-rate synergies, implying immediate double-digit EPS accretion on a run-rate synergy basis. The combined company will have greater diversification of revenue across customer segments, industries, and geographies, reducing seasonality and improving resource planning and operational efficiency. The transaction is expected to close in approximately the third quarter of 2024, with the closing and timing thereof subject to required regulatory approvals, clearances, and other customary closing conditions.

    Liquidity, Cash Flow, and Capital Allocation

    As of December 31, 2023, First Advantage had cash and cash equivalents of $213.8 million and total debt of $564.7 million.

    During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company generated $56.7 million of cash flow from operations and spent $7.1 million on purchases of property and equipment, including capitalized software development costs.

    During the fourth quarter, the Company repurchased 232,360 shares of its common stock for an aggregate outlay of approximately $3.1 million under its $200 million share repurchase program. Since the authorization of the share repurchase program in 2022, the Company has returned approximately $119.5 million to shareholders through the repurchase of approximately 9.0 million shares, as of February 23, 2024. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had 145,074,802 shares of common stock outstanding. Given today's announcement of the agreement to acquire Sterling Check, the Company is suspending purchases under its share repurchase program.

    "Over the course of 2023, we continued our balanced approach to capital allocation, including making ongoing investments in our technology and automation, acquiring Infinite ID, paying a one-time special dividend, and continuing to repurchase shares," commented David Gamsey, EVP and Chief Financial Officer. "Our flexible business model, strong margins, robust cash flow generation, and healthy balance sheet were key enablers to our announced acquisition of Sterling. Looking forward, we are excited to build on our strong, established foundation with the acquisition of Sterling. We will work quickly to realize synergies to drive improved Adjusted EBITDA margins and cash flows as we focus on investing in innovation and reducing our overall net leverage."

    Standalone First Advantage Full Year 2024 Guidance

    The following table summarizes our standalone full-year 2024 guidance, which excludes contributions from the pending Sterling Check acquisition and will be adjusted accordingly upon closing:

     As of February 29, 2024
    Revenues$750 million – $800 million
    Adjusted EBITDA2$228 million – $248 million
    Adjusted Net Income2$127 million – $142 million
    Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share2$0.88 – $0.98


    2
     A reconciliation of the foregoing guidance for the non-GAAP metrics of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income to GAAP net income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share to GAAP diluted net income per share cannot be provided without unreasonable effort because of the inherent difficulty of accurately forecasting the occurrence and financial impact of the various adjusting items necessary for such reconciliation that have not yet occurred, are out of our control, or cannot be reasonably predicted. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to assess the probable significance of the unavailable information, which could have a material impact on its future GAAP financial results.
     

    The Company's standalone full-year 2024 guidance ranges reflect the current hiring environment and expectations that existing macroeconomic conditions and similar labor market trends will continue throughout 2024. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share guidance ranges include the impacts from the 2023 one-time special dividend, expiring interest rate swaps, and share buybacks.

    Actual results may differ materially from First Advantage's full-year 2024 guidance as a result of, among other things, the factors described under "Forward-Looking Statements" below.

    Conference Call and Webcast Information

    First Advantage will host a conference call to review its fourth quarter and full year 2023 results and to discuss details of the Sterling Check Corp. acquisition today, February 29, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. ET.

    To participate in the conference call, please dial 800-267-6316 (domestic) or 203-518-9843 (international) approximately ten minutes before the 8:30 a.m. ET start. Please mention to the operator that you are dialing in for the First Advantage fourth quarter 2023 earnings call or provide the conference code FA4Q23. The call will also be webcast live on the Company's investor relations website at https://investors.fadv.com under the "News & Events" and then "Events & Presentations" section, where related presentation materials will be posted prior to the conference call.

    Following the conference call, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Company's investor relations website, https://investors.fadv.com. Alternatively, the live webcast and subsequent replay will be available at https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/4450900/D4362414C8BAE251D42253413CDB11CB.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, our operations and financial performance. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements relate to matters such as our industry, business strategy, goals, and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, capital expenditures, liquidity and capital resources, and other financial and operating information. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "future," "will," "seek," "foreseeable," "target," "guidance," the negative version of these words, or similar terms and phrases.

    These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties, assumptions, or changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict or quantify. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:

    • negative changes in external events beyond our control, including our customers' onboarding volumes, economic drivers which are sensitive to macroeconomic cycles, such as interest rate volatility and inflation, geopolitical unrest, and uncertainty in financial markets;
    • our operations in a highly regulated industry and the fact that we are subject to numerous and evolving laws and regulations, including with respect to personal data, data security, and artificial intelligence;
    • inability to identify and successfully implement our growth strategies on a timely basis or at all;
    • potential harm to our business, brand, and reputation as a result of security breaches, cyber-attacks, or the mishandling of personal data;
    • our reliance on third-party data providers;
    • due to the sensitive and privacy-driven nature of our products and solutions, we could face liability and legal or regulatory proceedings, which could be costly and time-consuming to defend and may not be fully covered by insurance;
    • our international business exposes us to a number of risks;
    • the timing, manner and volume of repurchases of common stock pursuant to our share repurchase program;
    • the continued integration of our platforms and solutions with human resource providers such as applicant tracking systems and human capital management systems as well as our relationships with such human resource providers;
    • our ability to obtain, maintain, protect and enforce our intellectual property and other proprietary information;
    • disruptions, outages, or other errors with our technology and network infrastructure, including our data centers, servers, and third-party cloud and internet providers and our migration to the cloud;
    • our indebtedness could adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, limit our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry, and prevent us from meeting our obligations;
    • the failure to complete or realize the expected benefits of our acquisition of Sterling Check Corp.; and
    • control by our Sponsor, "Silver Lake", (Silver Lake Group, L.L.C., together with its affiliates, successors, and assignees) and its interests may conflict with ours or those of our stockholders.

    For additional information on these and other factors that could cause First Advantage's actual results to differ materially from expected results, please see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), as such factors may be updated from time to time in our filings with the SEC, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, which is expected to be filed after this press release, which are or will be accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise, except as required by law.

    Non-GAAP Financial Information

    This press release contains "non-GAAP financial measures" that are financial measures that either exclude or include amounts that are not excluded or included in the most directly comparable measures calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). Specifically, we make use of the non-GAAP financial measures "Adjusted EBITDA," "Adjusted EBITDA Margin," "Adjusted Net Income," "Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share," "Constant Currency Revenues," and "Constant Currency Adjusted EBITDA."

    Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share, Constant Currency Revenues, and Constant Currency Adjusted EBITDA have been presented in this press release as supplemental measures of financial performance that are not required by or presented in accordance with GAAP because we believe they assist investors and analysts in comparing our operating performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. Management believes these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors in highlighting trends in our operating performance, while other measures can differ significantly depending on long-term strategic decisions regarding capital structure, the tax jurisdictions in which we operate, and capital investments. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share, Constant Currency Revenues, and Constant Currency Adjusted EBITDA to supplement GAAP measures of performance in the evaluation of the effectiveness of our business strategies, to make budgeting decisions, to establish discretionary annual incentive compensation, and to compare our performance against that of other peer companies using similar measures. Management supplements GAAP results with non-GAAP financial measures to provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting the business than GAAP results alone.

    Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share, Constant Currency Revenues, and Constant Currency Adjusted EBITDA are not recognized terms under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) as a measure of financial performance or cash provided by (used in) operating activities as a measure of liquidity, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP. The presentations of these measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because not all companies use identical calculations, the presentations of these measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies and can differ significantly from company to company.

    We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, and as further adjusted for loss on extinguishment of debt, share-based compensation, transaction and acquisition-related charges, integration and restructuring charges, and other non-cash charges. We define Adjusted EBITDA Margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by total revenues. We define Adjusted Net Income for a particular period as net income before taxes adjusted for debt-related costs, acquisition-related depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation, transaction and acquisition-related charges, integration and restructuring charges, and other non-cash charges, to which we then apply the related effective tax rate. We define Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share as Adjusted Net Income divided by adjusted weighted average number of shares outstanding—diluted. We define Constant Currency Revenues as current period revenues translated using prior-year period exchange rates. We define Constant Currency Adjusted EBITDA as current period Adjusted EBITDA translated using prior-year period exchange rates. For reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures, see the reconciliations included at the end of this press release. Numerical figures included in the reconciliations have been subject to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, numerical figures shown as totals in various tables may not be arithmetic aggregations of the figures that precede them.

    About First Advantage

    First Advantage (NASDAQ:FA) is a leading provider of employment background screening, identity, and verification solutions. The Company delivers innovative services and insights that help customers manage risk and hire the best talent. Enabled by its proprietary technology, First Advantage helps companies protect their brands and provide safer environments for their customers and their most important resources: employees, contractors, contingent workers, tenants, and drivers. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, First Advantage performs screens in over 200 countries and territories on behalf of its more than 30,000 customers. For more information about First Advantage, visit the Company's website at https://fadv.com/.

    Investor Contact

    Stephanie Gorman

    Vice President, Investor Relations

    [email protected]

    (888) 314-9761



    Condensed Financial Statements

    First Advantage Corporation

    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

    (Unaudited)

      December 31, 
    (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) 2023  2022 
    ASSETS      
    CURRENT ASSETS      
    Cash and cash equivalents $213,774  $391,655 
    Restricted cash  138   141 
    Short-term investments  —   1,956 
    Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,036 and $1,348 at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively)  142,690   143,811 
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets  13,426   25,407 
    Income tax receivable  3,710   3,225 
    Total current assets  373,738   566,195 
    Property and equipment, net  79,441   113,529 
    Goodwill  820,654   793,080 
    Trade names, net  66,229   71,162 
    Customer lists, net  275,528   326,014 
    Other intangible assets, net  2,257   — 
    Deferred tax asset, net  2,786   2,422 
    Other assets  10,021   13,423 
    TOTAL ASSETS $1,630,654  $1,885,825 
    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY      
    CURRENT LIABILITIES      
    Accounts payable $47,024  $54,947 
    Accrued compensation  16,379   22,702 
    Accrued liabilities  16,162   16,400 
    Current portion of operating lease liability  3,354   4,957 
    Income tax payable  264   724 
    Deferred revenues  1,856   1,056 
    Total current liabilities  85,039   100,786 
    Long-term debt (net of deferred financing costs of $6,268 and $8,075 at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively)  558,456   556,649 
    Deferred tax liability, net  71,274   90,556 
    Operating lease liability, less current portion  5,931   7,879 
    Other liabilities  3,221   3,337 
    Total liabilities  723,921   759,207 
    EQUITY      
    Common stock - $0.001 par value; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 145,074,802 and 148,732,603 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively  145   149 
    Additional paid-in-capital  977,290   1,176,163 
    Accumulated deficit  (49,545)  (27,363)
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss  (21,157)  (22,331)
    Total equity  906,733   1,126,618 
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY $1,630,654  $1,885,825 
             



    First Advantage Corporation

    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

    (Unaudited)
     
      Interim Periods  Annual Periods 
    (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) Three Months

    Ended

    December 31, 2023
      Three Months

    Ended

    December 31, 2022
      Year Ended

    December 31, 2023
      Year Ended

    December 31, 2022
     
    REVENUES $202,562  $212,595  $763,761  $810,023 
                 
    OPERATING EXPENSES:            
    Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization below)  101,309   107,905   386,777   408,928 
    Product and technology expense  10,889   11,962   49,263   51,931 
    Selling, general, and administrative expense  27,851   28,925   116,732   116,640 
    Depreciation and amortization  33,132   35,061   129,473   138,246 
    Total operating expenses  173,181   183,853   682,245   715,745 
    INCOME FROM OPERATIONS  29,381   28,742   81,516   94,278 
                 
    OTHER EXPENSE, NET:            
    Interest expense, net  12,915   5,197   33,040   9,199 
    Total other expense, net  12,915   5,197   33,040   9,199 
    INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES  16,466   23,545   48,476   85,079 
    Provision for income taxes  1,653   3,399   11,183   20,475 
    NET INCOME $14,813  $20,146  $37,293  $64,604 
                 
    Foreign currency translation income (loss)  1,697   2,395   1,174   (20,694)
    COMPREHENSIVE INCOME $16,510  $22,541  $38,467  $43,910 
                 
    NET INCOME $14,813  $20,146  $37,293  $64,604 
    Basic net income per share $0.10  $0.14  $0.26  $0.43 
    Diluted net income per share $0.10  $0.13  $0.26  $0.43 
    Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic  143,167,422   148,704,033   144,083,808   150,227,213 
    Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted  144,969,753   150,055,595   146,226,096   151,807,139 
                     



    First Advantage Corporation

    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

    (Unaudited)
     
      December 31, 
    (in thousands) 2023  2022 
    CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES      
    Net income $37,293  $64,604 
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:      
    Depreciation and amortization  129,473   138,246 
    Amortization of deferred financing costs  1,807   1,804 
    Bad debt (recovery) expense  (56)  207 
    Deferred taxes  (19,497)  4,597 
    Share-based compensation  15,265   7,856 
    Loss on foreign currency exchange rates  8   91 
    Loss on disposal of fixed assets and impairment of ROU assets  1,608   1,263 
    Change in fair value of interest rate swaps  116   (12,429)
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:      
    Accounts receivable  2,339   9,149 
    Prepaid expenses and other assets  13,440   4,892 
    Accounts payable  (8,503)  2,983 
    Accrued compensation and accrued liabilities  (9,301)  (11,365)
    Deferred revenues  788   91 
    Operating lease liabilities  (1,378)  (898)
    Other liabilities  347   4,724 
    Income taxes receivable and payable, net  (929)  (3,045)
    Net cash provided by operating activities  162,820   212,770 
    CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES      
    Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired  (41,122)  (19,052)
    Purchases of property and equipment  (2,085)  (6,165)
    Capitalized software development costs  (25,614)  (22,363)
    Other investing activities  1,974   (1,016)
    Net cash used in investing activities  (66,847)  (48,596)
    CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES      
    Cash dividends paid  (217,739)  — 
    Share repurchases  (58,990)  (60,530)
    Proceeds from issuance of common stock under share-based compensation plans  4,565   3,522 
    Payments on deferred purchase agreements  (938)  (884)
    Net settlement of share-based compensation plan awards  (350)  (378)
    Payments on finance lease obligations  (104)  (884)
    Net cash used in financing activities  (273,556)  (59,154)
    Effect of exchange rate on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash  (301)  (6,014)
    (Decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash  (177,884)  99,006 
    Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period  391,796   292,790 
    Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $213,912  $391,796 
           
    SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:      
    Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds received $31,623  $17,475 
    Cash paid for interest $45,697  $27,042 
    NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:      
    Property and equipment acquired on account $118  $105 
    Excise taxes on share repurchases incurred but not paid $490  $— 
    Dividends declared but not paid $614  $— 
             

    Reconciliation of Consolidated Non-GAAP Financial Measures

      Three Months Ended December 31, 2023 
    (in thousands) Americas  International  Eliminations  Total revenues 
    Revenues, as reported (GAAP) $182,290  $22,065  $(1,793) $202,562 
    Foreign currency translation impact (a)  (56)  (636)  (12)  (704)
    Constant currency revenues $182,234  $21,429  $(1,805) $201,858 



      Year Ended December 31, 2023 
    (in thousands) Americas  International  Eliminations  Total revenues 
    Revenues, as reported (GAAP) $673,075  $96,832  $(6,146) $763,761 
    Foreign currency translation impact (a)  (146)  2,067   103   2,024 
    Constant currency revenues $672,929  $98,899  $(6,043) $765,785 
                     
    (a) Constant currency revenues is calculated by translating current period amounts using prior-year period exchange rates.



      Interim Periods  Annual Periods 
    (in thousands) Three Months

    Ended

    December 31, 2023
      Three Months

    Ended

    December 31, 2022
      Year Ended

    December 31, 2023
      Year Ended

    December 31, 2022
     
    Net income $14,813  $20,146  $37,293  $64,604 
    Interest expense, net  12,915   5,197   33,040   9,199 
    Provision for income taxes  1,653   3,399   11,183   20,475 
    Depreciation and amortization  33,132   35,061   129,473   138,246 
    Share-based compensation(a)  4,816   2,032   15,265   7,856 
    Transaction and acquisition-related charges(b)  532   1,433   4,364   6,018 
    Integration, restructuring, and other charges(c)  373   3,020   6,938   2,512 
    Adjusted EBITDA $68,234  $70,288  $237,556  $248,910 
    Revenues  202,562   212,595   763,761   810,023 
    Net income margin  7.3%  9.5%  4.9%  8.0%
    Adjusted EBITDA Margin  33.7%  33.1%  31.1%  30.7%
    Adjusted EBITDA  68,234      237,556    
    Foreign currency translation impact(d)  (110)     498    
    Constant currency Adjusted EBITDA $68,124     $238,054    
     
    (a) Share-based compensation for the three months and year ended December 31, 2023, includes approximately $2.6 million and $6.6 million, respectively, of incrementally recognized expense associated with the May 2023 vesting modification.

    (b) Represents charges incurred related to acquisitions and similar transactions, primarily consisting of change in control-related costs, professional service fees, and other third-party costs. Also includes incremental professional service fees incurred related to the initial public offering and subsequent one-time compliance efforts. The year ended December 31, 2022 includes a transaction bonus expense related to one of the Company's 2021 acquisitions.

    (c) Represents charges from organizational restructuring and integration activities, non-cash, and other charges primarily related to nonrecurring legal exposures, foreign currency (gains) losses, and (gains) losses on the sale of assets.

    (d) Constant currency Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by translating current period amounts using prior-year period exchange rates.



    Reconciliation of Consolidated Non-GAAP Financial Measures (continued)

      Interim Periods  Annual Periods 
    (in thousands) Three Months

    Ended

    December 31, 2023
      Three Months

    Ended

    December 31, 2022
      Year Ended

    December 31, 2023
      Year Ended

    December 31, 2022
     
    Net income $14,813  $20,146  $37,293  $64,604 
    Provision for income taxes  1,653   3,399   11,183   20,475 
    Income before provision for income taxes  16,466   23,545   48,476   85,079 
    Debt-related costs(a)  5,812   460   12,845   (9,569)
    Acquisition-related depreciation and amortization(b)  26,044   28,873   102,659   115,944 
    Share-based compensation(c)  4,816   2,032   15,265   7,856 
    Transaction and acquisition-related charges(d)  532   1,433   4,364   6,018 
    Integration, restructuring, and other charges(e)  373   3,020   6,938   2,512 
    Adjusted Net Income before income tax effect  54,043   59,363   190,547   207,840 
    Less: Adjusted income taxes(f)  11,480   14,407   44,759   51,378 
    Adjusted Net Income $42,563  $44,956  $145,788  $156,462 
                     



      Interim Periods  Annual Periods 
      Three Months

    Ended

    December 31, 2023
      Three Months

    Ended

    December 31, 2022
      Year Ended

    December 31, 2023
      Year Ended

    December 31, 2022
     
    Diluted net income per share (GAAP) $0.10  $0.13  $0.26  $0.43 
    Adjusted Net Income adjustments per share            
    Provision for income taxes  0.01   0.02   0.08   0.13 
    Debt-related costs(a)  0.04   0.00   0.09   (0.06)
    Acquisition-related depreciation and amortization(b)  0.18   0.19   0.70   0.76 
    Share-based compensation(c)  0.03   0.01   0.10   0.05 
    Transaction and acquisition-related charges(d)  0.00   0.01   0.03   0.04 
    Integration, restructuring, and other charges(e)  0.00   0.02   0.05   0.02 
    Adjusted income taxes(f)  (0.08)  (0.10)  (0.31)  (0.34)
    Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share (Non-GAAP) $0.29  $0.30  $1.00  $1.03 
                 
    Weighted average number of shares outstanding used in computation of Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share:            
    Weighted average number of shares outstanding—diluted (GAAP and Non-GAAP)  144,969,753   150,055,595   146,226,096   151,807,139 
                     
    (a) Represents the non-cash interest expense related to the amortization of debt issuance costs for the 2021 February refinancing of the Company's First Lien Credit Facility. Beginning in 2022, this adjustment also includes the impact of the change in fair value of interest rate swaps. This adjustment, which represents the difference between the fair value gains or losses and actual cash payments and receipts on the interest rate swaps, was added as a result of the increased interest rate volatility observed in 2022.

    (b) Represents the depreciation and amortization expense related to intangible assets and developed technology assets recorded due to the application of ASC 805, Business Combinations. As a result, the purchase accounting related depreciation and amortization expense will recur in future periods until the related assets are fully depreciated or amortized, and the related purchase accounting assets may contribute to revenue generation.

    (c) Share-based compensation for the three months and year ended December 31, 2023, includes approximately $2.6 million and $6.6 million, respectively, of incrementally recognized expense associated with the May 2023 vesting modification.

    (d) Represents charges incurred related to acquisitions and similar transactions, primarily consisting of change in control-related costs, professional service fees, and other third-party costs. Also includes incremental professional service fees incurred related to the initial public offering and subsequent one-time compliance efforts. The year ended December 31, 2022 includes a transaction bonus expense related to one of the Company's 2021 acquisitions.

    (e) Represents charges from organizational restructuring and integration activities, non-cash, and other charges primarily related to nonrecurring legal exposures, foreign currency (gains) losses, and (gains) losses on the sale of assets.

    (f) Effective tax rates of approximately 21.2% and 24.3% have been used to compute Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Effective tax rates of approximately 23.5%, and 24.7%, have been used to compute Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.


    Primary Logo

    Get the next $FA alert in real time by email

    Chat with this insight

    Save time and jump to the most important pieces.

    Recent Analyst Ratings for
    $FA
    $STER

    CompanyDatePrice TargetRatingAnalyst
    First Advantage Corporation
    $FA
    5/9/2025$20.00Outperform → Sector Perform
    RBC Capital Mkts
    First Advantage Corporation
    $FA
    4/10/2025$15.00Overweight → Equal Weight
    Barclays
    First Advantage Corporation
    $FA
    12/11/2024$20.00Outperform
    BMO Capital Markets
    First Advantage Corporation
    $FA
    11/20/2024$22.00Overweight
    Barclays
    First Advantage Corporation
    $FA
    11/15/2024$22.00Outperform
    RBC Capital Mkts
    First Advantage Corporation
    $FA
    10/10/2024Outperform → Peer Perform
    Wolfe Research
    First Advantage Corporation
    $FA
    4/23/2024Outperform
    William Blair
    Sterling Check Corp.
    $STER
    11/16/2023$13.00Neutral
    Citigroup
    More analyst ratings

    $FA
    $STER
    Insider Trading

    Insider transactions reveal critical sentiment about the company from key stakeholders. See them live in this feed.

    See more
    • Chief Financial Officer Marks Steven Irwin bought $13,500 worth of shares (1,000 units at $13.50), increasing direct ownership by 5% to 20,189 units (SEC Form 4)

      4 - FIRST ADVANTAGE CORP (0001210677) (Issuer)

      3/10/25 6:13:10 AM ET
      $FA
      Business Services
      Consumer Discretionary
    • Chief Legal Officer Jardine Bret T sold $1,915 worth of shares (139 units at $13.78), decreasing direct ownership by 2% to 6,132 units (SEC Form 4)

      4 - FIRST ADVANTAGE CORP (0001210677) (Issuer)

      3/6/25 4:05:13 PM ET
      $FA
      Business Services
      Consumer Discretionary
    • Chief Legal Officer Jardine Bret T converted options into 928 shares and covered exercise/tax liability with 330 shares, increasing direct ownership by 11% to 6,271 units (SEC Form 4)

      4 - FIRST ADVANTAGE CORP (0001210677) (Issuer)

      3/5/25 4:09:41 PM ET
      $FA
      Business Services
      Consumer Discretionary

    $FA
    $STER
    Press Releases

    Fastest customizable press release news feed in the world

    See more
    • First Advantage Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

      First Quarter 2025 Highlights1 Revenues of $354.6 millionNet Loss of $(41.2) million, a net loss margin of (11.6)%, includes $15.3 million of expenses related to the acquisition of Sterling Check Corp. ("Sterling") and related integration, and $41.2 million of Sterling depreciation and amortizationAdjusted Net Income of $30.5 millionAdjusted EBITDA of $92.1 million; Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 26.0%GAAP Diluted Net Loss Per Share of $(0.24), includes $0.07 per share of expenses incurred related to the Sterling acquisition and related integrationAdjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share of $0.17Cash Flows from Operations of $19.5 million; Adjusted Operating Cash Flows of $33.3 million, after adjusti

      5/8/25 6:15:13 AM ET
      $FA
      Business Services
      Consumer Discretionary
    • First Advantage Releases 2025 Global Trends Report

      ATLANTA, April 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Advantage Corporation (NASDAQ:FA), a leading provider of global software and data in the HR technology industry, today released its 2025 Global Trends Report. Meticulously crafted from hundreds of customer survey responses, and analysis of hundreds of millions of anonymized data points, the latest edition of the proprietary research offers a global perspective and unparalleled insight into the evolving landscape of background screening.   As one of the largest background screening providers, First Advantage leverages deep industry expertise and data sources to identify key trends, best practices, and emerging challenges that shape sc

      4/22/25 6:30:00 AM ET
      $FA
      Business Services
      Consumer Discretionary
    • First Advantage to Release First Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Hold Investor Conference Call on May 8, 2025

      ATLANTA, April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Advantage Corporation (NASDAQ:FA), a leading provider of global software and data in the HR technology industry, will issue its first quarter 2025 financial results on Thursday, May 8, 2025 prior to the Company's earnings conference call, which will be held at 8:30 a.m. ET on the same day. Conference Call Details To participate in the conference call, please dial 800-267-6316 (domestic) or 203-518-9783 (international) approximately ten minutes before the 8:30 a.m. ET start. Please mention to the operator that you are dialing in for the First Advantage first quarter 2025 earnings call or provide the conference code FA1Q25. The call will al

      4/17/25 7:00:00 AM ET
      $FA
      Business Services
      Consumer Discretionary

    $FA
    $STER
    SEC Filings

    See more
    • SEC Form SCHEDULE 13G filed by First Advantage Corporation

      SCHEDULE 13G - FIRST ADVANTAGE CORP (0001210677) (Subject)

      5/12/25 10:32:18 AM ET
      $FA
      Business Services
      Consumer Discretionary
    • SEC Form 144 filed by First Advantage Corporation

      144 - FIRST ADVANTAGE CORP (0001210677) (Subject)

      5/12/25 10:07:17 AM ET
      $FA
      Business Services
      Consumer Discretionary
    • SEC Form 10-Q filed by First Advantage Corporation

      10-Q - FIRST ADVANTAGE CORP (0001210677) (Filer)

      5/8/25 4:15:23 PM ET
      $FA
      Business Services
      Consumer Discretionary

    $FA
    $STER
    Analyst Ratings

    Analyst ratings in real time. Analyst ratings have a very high impact on the underlying stock. See them live in this feed.

    See more
    • First Advantage Corp. downgraded by RBC Capital Mkts with a new price target

      RBC Capital Mkts downgraded First Advantage Corp. from Outperform to Sector Perform and set a new price target of $20.00

      5/9/25 8:42:02 AM ET
      $FA
      Business Services
      Consumer Discretionary
    • First Advantage Corp. downgraded by Barclays with a new price target

      Barclays downgraded First Advantage Corp. from Overweight to Equal Weight and set a new price target of $15.00

      4/10/25 8:47:08 AM ET
      $FA
      Business Services
      Consumer Discretionary
    • BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on First Advantage Corp. with a new price target

      BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage of First Advantage Corp. with a rating of Outperform and set a new price target of $20.00

      12/11/24 7:33:48 AM ET
      $FA
      Business Services
      Consumer Discretionary

    $FA
    $STER
    Insider Purchases

    Insider purchases reveal critical bullish sentiment about the company from key stakeholders. See them live in this feed.

    See more
    • Chief Financial Officer Marks Steven Irwin bought $13,500 worth of shares (1,000 units at $13.50), increasing direct ownership by 5% to 20,189 units (SEC Form 4)

      4 - FIRST ADVANTAGE CORP (0001210677) (Issuer)

      3/10/25 6:13:10 AM ET
      $FA
      Business Services
      Consumer Discretionary
    • Goldman Sachs Group Inc sold $2,132 worth of shares (157 units at $13.58) and bought $2,110 worth of shares (157 units at $13.44) (SEC Form 4)

      4 - Sterling Check Corp. (0001645070) (Issuer)

      12/26/23 6:02:14 PM ET
      $STER
      EDP Services
      Technology
    • Jones Adrian M sold $2,132 worth of shares (157 units at $13.58) and bought $2,110 worth of shares (157 units at $13.44) (SEC Form 4)

      4 - Sterling Check Corp. (0001645070) (Issuer)

      12/26/23 5:55:55 PM ET
      $STER
      EDP Services
      Technology

    $FA
    $STER
    Financials

    Live finance-specific insights

    See more
    • First Advantage to Release First Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Hold Investor Conference Call on May 8, 2025

      ATLANTA, April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Advantage Corporation (NASDAQ:FA), a leading provider of global software and data in the HR technology industry, will issue its first quarter 2025 financial results on Thursday, May 8, 2025 prior to the Company's earnings conference call, which will be held at 8:30 a.m. ET on the same day. Conference Call Details To participate in the conference call, please dial 800-267-6316 (domestic) or 203-518-9783 (international) approximately ten minutes before the 8:30 a.m. ET start. Please mention to the operator that you are dialing in for the First Advantage first quarter 2025 earnings call or provide the conference code FA1Q25. The call will al

      4/17/25 7:00:00 AM ET
      $FA
      Business Services
      Consumer Discretionary
    • First Advantage to Release Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results and Hold Investor Conference Call on February 27, 2025

      ATLANTA, Feb. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Advantage Corporation (NASDAQ:FA), a leading global provider of employment background screening, identity, and verification solutions, will issue its fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial results on Thursday, February 27, 2025 prior to the Company's earnings conference call, which will be held at 8:30 a.m. ET on the same day. Conference Call Details To participate in the conference call, please dial 800-445-7795 (domestic) or 785-424-1699 (international) approximately ten minutes before the 8:30 a.m. ET start. Please mention to the operator that you are dialing in for the First Advantage fourth quarter and full year 2024 earnings cal

      2/13/25 7:00:00 AM ET
      $FA
      Business Services
      Consumer Discretionary
    • First Advantage Completes Acquisition of Sterling Check for $2.2 Billion

      Strengthens First Advantage's global reachExtends First Advantage's high-quality and cost-effective background screening, identity, and verification technology solutions for the benefit of both companies' customers across industry verticals and geographiesEnables increased investment in Artificial Intelligence and next-generation Digital Identification technologies for enhanced customer and applicant experience ATLANTA, Oct. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Advantage Corporation (NASDAQ:FA), a leading global provider of employment background screening, identity, and verification solutions, today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Sterling Check Corp. (the "transaction"

      10/31/24 8:55:39 AM ET
      $FA
      Business Services
      Consumer Discretionary

    $FA
    $STER
    Leadership Updates

    Live Leadership Updates

    See more
    • Sterling Appoints Jagtar Narula to its Board of Directors

      INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, Dec. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sterling Check Corp. (NASDAQ:STER) ("Sterling"), a leading provider of identity and background services, today announced the appointment of global finance and strategy leader Jagtar Narula to the Sterling Board of Directors. In this capacity, he will serve as an independent director and member of the Audit Committee. Currently serving as the Chief Financial Officer at WEX, Narula brings over two decades of experience generating sustainable business results by integrating finance and strategy with cross-functional implementation to grow revenue and increase profits. With previous executive-level experience at other industry-recognized

      12/14/23 4:05:00 PM ET
      $STER
      EDP Services
      Technology
    • Sterling Appoints Independent Director Kristin Johnsen to its Board of Directors

      INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, June 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sterling Check Corp. (NASDAQ:STER) ("Sterling"), a leading provider of identity and background services, today appointed global business leader, Kristin Johnsen, to the Sterling Board of Directors. In this capacity, she will serve as an independent Director of the Board, and a member of the Audit Committee and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee. "The background and identity screening space is evolving, presenting new opportunities and unique challenges," shared Johnsen. "I'm thrilled to work alongside the Sterling team to unlock areas of transformation for the business and drive strategic growth." Johnsen brings more than 30

      6/29/23 4:05:00 PM ET
      $STER
      EDP Services
      Technology
    • Ontellus Appoints Manish Nariwal as Chief Operating Officer

      HOUSTON, June 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ontellus, one of the nation's largest records retrieval and claims intelligence companies, today announced the appointment of Manish Nariwal as Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Nariwal will oversee day-to-day business operations with a focus on continued growth, exceptional client services and product innovation. "Manish possesses deep expertise in the technologies that underpin our business and a track record of successfully running high-performing operations," said Vince Cole, CEO of Ontellus. "He is a valuable addition to our lea

      6/28/23 8:30:00 AM ET
      $FA
      Business Services
      Consumer Discretionary

    $FA
    $STER
    Large Ownership Changes

    This live feed shows all institutional transactions in real time.

    See more
    • Amendment: SEC Form SC 13G/A filed by Sterling Check Corp.

      SC 13G/A - Sterling Check Corp. (0001645070) (Subject)

      11/8/24 10:41:07 AM ET
      $STER
      EDP Services
      Technology
    • Amendment: SEC Form SC 13G/A filed by Sterling Check Corp.

      SC 13G/A - Sterling Check Corp. (0001645070) (Subject)

      11/6/24 5:28:13 PM ET
      $STER
      EDP Services
      Technology
    • Amendment: SEC Form SC 13G/A filed by Sterling Check Corp.

      SC 13G/A - Sterling Check Corp. (0001645070) (Subject)

      10/10/24 4:05:23 PM ET
      $STER
      EDP Services
      Technology