Exponent Reports Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2021 Financial Results

MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct. 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Exponent, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPO) today reported financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2021 ended October 1, 2021.

“Our differentiated capabilities, which marry high-quality data analytics with deep subject matter expertise, drove continued outperformance in the third quarter of 2021. For the quarter, net revenue grew 16%, while EBITDA¹ margin expanded more than 350 basis points from the prior year period,” commented Dr. Catherine Corrigan, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Given the increasing demand for our unique offering, growing our world-class team remains a top priority. The velocity and caliber of new starts over the last few months continues to demonstrate our ability to attract the best and brightest, despite the competitive market for engineering and scientific talent. As a result, we are in an excellent position to drive profitable growth and scale across various end markets.”

“During the third quarter, our reactive business further benefitted from the post-COVID acceleration of litigation throughput in our court systems, and at the same time, our proactive engagements, such as user and machine learning data studies, remained a key driver of growth. Our work continued to be robust and diverse, with climate vulnerability assessments with utilities, risk assessments in chemicals, ongoing energy storage-related work, and projects in the automotive and consumer products industries further demonstrating the strength of our long-term strategy,” continued Dr. Corrigan.

Third Quarter Financial Results

Total revenues and revenues before reimbursements for the third quarter of 2021 increased 18% to $116.4 million and 16% to $108.5 million as compared to $98.7 million and $93.5 million in the third quarter of 2020, respectively.

Net income increased to $24.6 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2021, as compared to $18.1 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, in the same period of 2020. The tax benefit for the classification of tax adjustments associated with share-based awards realized in the third quarter of 2021 was $1.1 million, as compared to $0 in the third quarter of 2020. Inclusive of the tax benefit, Exponent’s consolidated tax rate was 24.1% in the third quarter, as compared to 26.6% for the same period in 2020.

EBITDA¹ increased to $34.0 million, or 31.4% of net revenues, in the third quarter of 2021, as compared to $26.0 million, or 27.8% of net revenues in the third quarter of 2020.

Year to Date Financial Results

Total revenues and revenues before reimbursements for the first three quarters of 2021 increased 19% to $352.8 million and 18% to $330.5 million, respectively, as compared to $296.7 million and $281.1 million in the same period one year ago.

Net income increased to $80.8 million, or $1.52 per diluted share, through the first three quarters of 2021, as compared to $60.7 million, or $1.14 per diluted share, in the same period of 2020. The tax benefit for the classification of tax adjustments associated with share-based awards realized through the first three quarters of 2021 was $9.9 million, as compared to $9.7 million during the same period one year ago. Inclusive of the tax benefit, Exponent’s consolidated tax rate was 16.8% through the first three quarters of 2021, as compared to 13.4% in the same period last year.

EBITDA¹ increased to $102.1 million, or 30.9% of net revenues, through the first three quarters of 2021, as compared to $73.8 million, or 26.3% of net revenues, in the same period of 2020.

During the first three quarters of 2021, Exponent paid $32.8 million in dividends, repurchased $7 million of common stock, and closed the period with $254.8 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.

Business Overview

Exponent’s engineering and other scientific segment represented 83% of the Company’s net revenues in the third quarter 2021. Net revenues in this segment increased 20% in the third quarter as compared to the prior year period. Growth during the quarter was broad-based, with continued strong demand for Exponent's services across a number of industries and use cases, which includes a steady increase in litigation support, human participant studies for the consumer products segment, work with wearable technologies, as well as asset integrity and risk management engagements for utilities. On the automotive side, Exponent has further progressed its work supporting advanced driver assistance systems and the implementation of safety frameworks for advanced vehicles and energy storage.

Exponent’s environmental and health segment represented 17% of the Company’s net revenues in the third quarter. Net revenues in this segment were approximately flat in the third quarter of 2021 as compared to the prior year period. Exponent’s focused efforts in the pharmaceutical industry continue to materialize through its emphasis on recruitment and development, which has supported new client engagements. The pharmaceutical industry remains a significant opportunity for the Company as it leverages its multidisciplinary approach across the full product life cycle.

Business Outlook

“As we finish out 2021, demand for our multidisciplinary services continues to grow as our offerings and markets expand. However, as we add headcount, we do anticipate a moderation in utilization as we have discussed over the last two quarters,” commented Richard Schlenker, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

For the fourth quarter of 2021 as compared to the same period one year prior, Exponent anticipates:

• Revenues before reimbursements to grow in the mid-single digits; and,
• EBITDA¹ margin to decrease 175 to 225 basis points.

For the full year 2021 as compared to the same period one year prior, Exponent anticipates:

• Revenues before reimbursements to grow in the mid-teens; and,
• EBITDA¹ margin to increase 290 to 310 basis points.

“Through our highly specialized offering, we are partnering with clients to address their most complex challenges, and the increased level of new engagements across our broad-based portfolio has continued to support consistent, profitable growth. Exponent remains well-positioned to help unravel the complexities of innovations as they become reality, and as society continues to raise expectations for safety, health, sustainability, and reliability, which ultimately will drive long-term value for our shareholders,” concluded Dr. Corrigan.

Today's Conference Call Information

Exponent will discuss its financial results in more detail on a conference call today, Thursday, October 28, 2021, starting at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time / 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time. The audio of the conference call is available by dialing (800) 367-2403 or (334) 777-6978. A live webcast of the call will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.exponent.com/investors. For those unable to listen to the live webcast, a replay of the call will also be available on the Exponent website, or by dialing (888) 203-1112 or (719) 457-0820 and entering passcode 7178253#.

Footnotes

¹ EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as net income before income taxes, interest income, depreciation and amortization. EBITDAS is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as EBITDA before stock-based compensation. The Company regards EBITDA and EBITDAS as useful measures of operating performance and cash flow to complement operating income, net income and other GAAP financial performance measures. Additionally, management believes that EBITDA and EBITDAS provide meaningful comparisons of past, present and future operating results. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's performance, financial position or cash flow that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. These measures, however, should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute or superior to, operating income, cash flows, or other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of the measures to GAAP is set forth below.

About Exponent

Exponent is an engineering and scientific consulting firm providing solutions to complex problems. Exponent's interdisciplinary organization of scientists, physicians, engineers, and business consultants draws from more than 90 technical disciplines to solve the most pressing and complicated challenges facing stakeholders today. The firm leverages over 50 years of experience in analyzing accidents and failures to advise clients as they innovate their technologically complex products and processes, ensure the safety and health of their users, and address the challenges of sustainability.

Exponent may be reached at (888) 656­-EXPO, info@exponent.com, or www.exponent.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains, and incorporates by reference, certain “forward-looking” statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and the rules promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that are based on the beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company’s management. When used in this document and in the documents incorporated herein by reference, the words “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, identify such forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company or its management with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, the Company’s actual results, performance, or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, any such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such material differences include the COVID-19 pandemic (including factors relating to measures implemented by governmental authorities or by us to promote the safety of our employees, vendors and clients; other direct and indirect impacts on our business and the businesses of our clients, vendors and other partners; impacts which may, among other things, adversely affect our clients’ ability to utilize our services at the levels they have previously; disruptions of access to our facilities or those of our clients or third parties; and increased and potentially significant economic uncertainty and volatility, including credit and collectability risks and potential disruptions of capital and credit markets), the possibility that the demand for our services may decline as a result of changes in generally applicable and industry-specific economic conditions, the timing of engagements for our services, the effects of competitive services and pricing, the absence of backlog related to our business, our ability to attract and retain key employees, the effect of tort reform and government regulation on our business, and liabilities resulting from claims made against us. Additional risks and uncertainties are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the report. The inclusion of such forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that the future events, plans, or expectations contemplated by the Company will be achieved. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such forward-looking statements.

Source: Exponent, Inc.

EXPONENT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
For the Quarters Ended October 1, 2021 and October 2, 2020
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share data)
			Quarter Ended								Nine Months Ended
			October 1,				October 2,				October 1,				October 2,
			2021				2020				2021				2020
Revenues
	Revenues before reimbursements		$	108,467			$	93,499			$	330,514			$	281,082
	Reimbursements			7,938				5,164				22,249				15,579
		Revenues		116,405				98,663				352,763				296,661
Operating expenses
	Compensation and related expenses			64,138				62,419				210,491				180,541
	Other operating expenses			8,017				7,839				23,848				23,736
	Reimbursable expenses			7,938				5,164				22,249				15,579
	General and administrative expenses			4,193				2,834				10,626				11,290
				84,286				78,256				267,214				231,146
		Operating income		32,119				20,407				85,549				65,515
Other income (expense), net
	Interest income, net			13				316				54				1,496
	Miscellaneous income, net			257				3,915				11,579				3,096
				270				4,231				11,633				4,592
		Income before income taxes		32,389				24,638				97,182				70,107
Income taxes				7,815				6,554				16,360				9,395
		Net income	$	24,574			$	18,084			$	80,822			$	60,712
Net income per share:
	Basic		$	0.47			$	0.35			$	1.54			$	1.16
	Diluted		$	0.46			$	0.34			$	1.52			$	1.14
Shares used in per share computations:
	Basic			52,618				52,316				52,597				52,383
	Diluted			53,312				53,209				53,316				53,342

EXPONENT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
October 2, 2020 and January 3, 2020
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
				October 1,				January 1,
				2021				2021
			Assets
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents			$	229,785			$	197,525
	Short-term investments				24,998				45,001
	Accounts receivable, net				144,039				111,565
	Prepaid expenses and other assets				18,738				12,741
		Total current assets			417,560				366,832
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net					60,082				59,823
Operating lease right-of-use asset					15,777				19,322
Goodwill					8,607				8,607
Other assets					136,279				125,512
				$	638,305			$	580,096
			Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities			$	21,443			$	16,327
	Accrued payroll and employee benefits				87,179				83,194
	Deferred revenues				12,192				11,800
	Operating lease liability				5,604				5,987
		Total current liabilities			126,418				117,308
Other liabilities					96,189				86,947
Operating lease liability					10,709				14,343
		Total liabilities			233,316				218,598
Stockholders' equity:
	Common stock				66				66
	Additional paid-in capital				279,250				265,328
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss				(2,052	)			(1,932	)
	Retained earnings				468,578				421,809
	Treasury stock, at cost				(340,853	)			(323,773	)
			Total stockholders' equity		404,989				361,498
				$	638,305			$	580,096

EXPONENT, INC.
EBITDA and EBITDAS (1)
For the Quarters Ended October 1, 2021 and October 2, 2020
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
			Quarter Ended								Nine Months Ended
			October 1,				October 2,				October 1,				October 2,
			2021				2020				2021				2020
Net Income			$	24,574			$	18,084			$	80,822			$	60,712
Add back (subtract):
	Income taxes			7,815				6,554				16,360				9,395
	Interest income, net			(13	)			(316	)			(54	)			(1,496	)
	Depreciation and amortization			1,645				1,689				4,943				5,176
		EBITDA (1)		34,021				26,011				102,071				73,787
	Stock-based compensation			4,365				3,726				15,239				13,326
		EBITDAS (1)	$	38,386			$	29,737			$	117,310			$	87,113
(1) EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as net income before income taxes, interest income, depreciation and amortization. EBITDAS is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as EBITDA before stock-based compensation. The Company regards EBITDA and EBITDAS as useful measures of operating performance and cash flow to complement operating income, net income and other GAAP financial performance measures. Additionally, management believes that EBITDA and EBITDAS provide meaningful comparisons of past, present and future operating results. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's performance, financial position or cash flow that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. These measures, however, should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute or superior to, operating income, cash flows, or other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.