The Hackett Group Announces Third Quarter 2025 Results and Intent to Launch Dutch Tender Offer

The Hackett Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HCKT), a leading generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) consultancy and executive advisory firm that enables Digital World Class^® performance, today announced its financial results for the third quarter, which ended on September 26, 2025.

"We reported operating results that were at the mid-range of our adjusted earnings per share guidance. This was achieved while continuing our pivot to Gen AI, including aggressively investing in our highly differentiating AI XPLR platform and growing our Gen AI revenues," stated Ted A. Fernandez, Chairman and CEO of The Hackett Group, Inc. "What distinguished this quarter was the release of our AI XPLR V4 in September and the overwhelmingly positive response to our new capabilities and described by one of our channel partners as game changing. AI XPLR V4 fully considers the client's existing automation footprint and data sources at a level of detail to identify and design agentic workflows, which ensures implementation success and value realization with unprecedented speed. More importantly, V4 is allowing us to attract clients and channel partners that are expected to accelerate our growth in this rapidly growing area."

Financial Highlights

• Total revenue in the third quarter of 2025 was $73.1 million and revenue before reimbursements was $72.2 million. This compares to total revenue of $79.8 million and revenue before reimbursements of $77.9 million in the third quarter of the prior year.
• GAAP diluted earnings per share was $0.09 in the third quarter of 2025, as compared to $0.31 in the third quarter of 2024. 2025 third quarter GAAP net income was impacted by non-cash compensation expense recognized in association with the stock price award program announced in September 2024 of $4.8 million, or $0.17 per diluted earnings per share. In addition, 2025 third quarter GAAP net income was also impacted by restructuring costs as the Company continues its pivot of the business to Gen AI of $3.1 million, or $0.08 per diluted earnings per share, partially offset by LeewayHertz acquisition related cash and non-cash compensation benefit of $1.8 million, or $0.05 per diluted earnings per share.
• Adjusted diluted earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure, for the third quarter of 2025 was $0.37, which came in at the mid-point of our guidance, as compared to $0.43 in the third quarter of 2024. Adjusted financial information is provided to enhance the understanding of the Company's financial performance and is reconciled to the Company's GAAP information in the accompanying tables.
• As of September 26, 2025, the Company's cash balances were $13.9 million, with $44.0 million outstanding on the Company's credit facility. Additionally, during the quarter the Company repurchased 1.1 million shares of its stock at an average price of $20.70 for a total of $22.9 million. As of the end of the third quarter of 2025, the Company's remaining share repurchase program authorization was $12.6 million.
• Subsequent to the end of the third quarter, the Company's Board of Directors approved an additional $40.0 million to its share repurchase plan. As of November 3, 2025, there was approximately $52.6 million available for share repurchases under the share repurchase program. The Company also announced its plan to launch a modified "Dutch auction" tender offer on November 5, 2025 to purchase up to $40.0 million in value of its common stock, at a price ranging from $18.30 to $21.00 per share. All of our directors and executive officers have indicated that they do not currently intend to participate in the Offer. The equity ownership of our non-tendering directors, executive officers and affiliates will increase as a percentage of our issued and outstanding shares following the consummation of the Offer.
• In addition, 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 23, 2025, to be paid on January 9, 2026.

Business Outlook for the Fourth Quarter of 2025

Based on the Company's current outlook:

• The Company estimates total revenue before reimbursements for the fourth quarter of 2025 will be in the range of $69.5 million to $71.0 million.
• The Company estimates adjusted diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2025 to be in the range of $0.38 and $0.40, assuming a GAAP effective tax rate of 24.5%.

Conference Call and Webcast Details

On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 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 4, 2025 and will run through 5:00 P.M. ET on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. To access the rebroadcast, please dial (866) 510-4834. For International callers, please dial (203) 369-1942.

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 4, 2025 and will run through 5:00 P.M. ET on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. To access the replay, visit www.thehackettgroup.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company provides adjusted earnings results (which excluded non-cash stock-based compensation expense, acquisition-related cash and non-cash stock-based compensation expense, acquisition related costs, amortization expense, legal settlement and related costs, non-recurring charges 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.

About The Hackett Group^®

The Hackett Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HCKT) is an IP and platform-based, Gen AI strategic consulting and executive advisory firm that enables Digital World Class® performance. Using AI XPLR™ and ZBrain™ – our ideation through implementation platforms – our experienced professionals help organizations realize the power of Gen AI and achieve quantifiable, breakthrough results, allowing us to be key architects of their Gen AI journey.

Our expertise is grounded in unparalleled best practices insights from benchmarking the world's leading businesses – including 97% of the Dow Jones Industrials, 90% of the Fortune 100, 70% of the DAX 40 and 51% of the FTSE 100. Visit us at www.thehackettgroup.com.

Trademarks

The Hackett Group^®, quadrant logo, 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, 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, including the LeewayHertz and Spend Matters 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.

Additional Information Regarding the Tender Offer

This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell any security. The tender offer described above has not yet commenced, and there can be no assurances that the Company will commence the tender offer on the terms described in this press release or at all. On the commencement date of the tender offer, the Company will file a tender offer statement on Schedule TO, including an offer to purchase, letter of transmittal and other tender offer materials, with the SEC. The tender offer will only be made pursuant to the offer to purchase, the related letter of transmittal and the other tender offer materials filed as part of the Schedule TO. When available, shareholders should read carefully the offer to purchase, the related letter of transmittal and other tender offer materials because they will contain important information, including the terms and conditions of the tender offer. Once the tender offer commences, shareholders will be able to obtain a free copy of the tender offer statement on Schedule TO, the offer to purchase, letter of transmittal and other documents that the Company will be filing with the SEC at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or from the Company's information agent for the tender offer

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Robert A. Ramirez, CFO, 305-375-8005 or [email protected]