~ Solid Utilization and ABR, Coupled with SG&A Leverage, Drive Strong Profitability; Company Reinstates Revenue and Earnings Guidance ~

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Perficient, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRFT) (“Perficient”), the leading global digital consultancy transforming the world’s largest enterprises and biggest brands, today reported its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2020.

Financial Highlights

For the quarter ended September 30, 2020:

• Services revenues net of reimbursed expenses increased 11% to $155.2 million from $140.2 million in the third quarter of 2019;
• Total revenues increased 9% to $157.7 million from $144.7 million in the third quarter of 2019;
• Net income decreased 37% to $6.2 million from $9.8 million in the third quarter of 2019, reflecting a nonrecurring loss on debt extinguishment and an adjustment to fair value of contingent consideration;
• GAAP earnings per share results on a fully diluted basis decreased 37% to $0.19 from $0.30 in the third quarter of 2019, reflecting a nonrecurring loss on debt extinguishment and an adjustment to fair value of contingent consideration;
• Adjusted earnings per share results (a non-GAAP measure; see attached schedule, which reconciles to GAAP earnings per share) on a fully diluted basis increased 20% to $0.67 from $0.56 in the third quarter of 2019; and
• Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure; see attached schedule, which reconciles to GAAP net income) increased 23% to $31.1 million from $25.3 million in the third quarter of 2019.

“During the pandemic, Perficient has proven to be nimble, agile and capable of continuing to thrive by landing new and expanding existing customer relationships with the world's leading enterprises,” said Jeffrey Davis, chairman and CEO. “Now more than ever, Fortune 1000 clients must invest to become fully digital, and they need a trusted, knowledgeable partner with a global presence capable of delivering the right solutions at the right time. Heading into 2021, Perficient is well-positioned to continue building momentum, generating growth, and increasing profitability.”

Other Highlights

Among other recent achievements, Perficient:

• In August 2020, completed a private offering of $230 million aggregate principle amount of 1.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025 and repurchased a portion of outstanding 2.375% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023;
• Entered into multi-year and multi-faceted partnerships with professional golfers Matthew Wolff, Morgan Pressel, and Abraham Ancer in mutually-beneficial marketing and sponsorship relationships;
• Was recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the top 10 largest healthcare management consulting firms;
• Received multiple awards, including a Gold W3 Award and a Gold Muse Award, for the interactive virtual home experience Perficient created with DTE Energy. The awards recognize outstanding digital excellence in creating, designing, and executing customer experiences;
• Was listed in two Q3 Forrester Research digital process automation reports, including the Forrester “Wave: Digital Process Automation Service Providers, Q3 2020” report, which identified Perficient as one of “13 providers that matter most”;
• Was included in the Gartner “Competitive Landscape: Custom Software Development Services, Q3 2020” report as a custom software development service provider with some offshore or nearshore development centers; and
• Added new customer relationships and follow-on projects with leading companies including Ascension Health, Ashley Furniture, Bass Pro Shops, CIGNA Corporation, Conference of State Bank Supervisors, CommonSpirit Health, Enterprise Holdings, H&R Block, Jack Henry, Quest Diagnostics, Sanford Health, TD Ameritrade, Tenet Health, Toyota Motor North America, and Zipari.

Business Outlook

The following statements are based on current expectations. These statements are forward-looking and actual results may differ materially. See “Safe Harbor Statement” below.

Perficient expects its fourth quarter 2020 revenue to be in the range of $156 million to $161 million. Fourth quarter GAAP earnings per share is expected to be in the range of $0.36 to $0.39. Fourth quarter adjusted earnings per share (a non-GAAP measure; see attached schedule which reconciles to GAAP earnings per share guidance) is expected to be in the range of $0.68 to $0.71.

Perficient is providing full year 2020 revenue guidance in the range of $606 million to $611 million, 2020 GAAP earnings per share guidance in the range of $1.02 to $1.05 and 2020 adjusted earnings per share (a non-GAAP measure; see attached schedule which reconciles to GAAP earnings per share guidance) guidance in the range of $2.42 to $2.45.

Conference Call Details

Perficient will host a conference call regarding third quarter 2020 financial results today at 11 a.m. Eastern.

WHAT: Perficient Reports Third Quarter 2020 Results
WHEN: Thursday, October 29, 2020, at 11 a.m. Eastern
CONFERENCE CALL NUMBERS: 855-246-0403 (U.S. and Canada); 414-238-9806 (International)
PARTICIPANT PASSCODE: 6298404
REPLAY TIMES: October 29, 2020, at 2 p.m. Eastern, through Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020, at 1 p.m. Eastern
REPLAY NUMBER: 855-859-2056 (U.S. and Canada); 404-537-3406 (International)
REPLAY PASSCODE: 6298404

About Perficient

Perficient is a leading global digital consultancy. We imagine, create, engineer, and run digital transformation solutions that help our clients exceed customers’ expectations, outpace competition, and grow their business. With unparalleled strategy, creative, and technology capabilities, we bring big thinking and innovative ideas, along with a practical approach to help the world’s largest enterprises and biggest brands succeed. Traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, Perficient is a member of the Russell 2000 index and the S&P SmallCap 600 index. Perficient is an award-winning Adobe Platinum Partner, Platinum Level IBM business partner, a Microsoft National Service Provider and Gold Certified Partner, an Oracle Platinum Partner, a Gold Salesforce Consulting Partner, and a Sitecore Platinum Partner. For more information, visit www.perficient.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Some of the statements contained in this news release that are not purely historical statements discuss future expectations or state other forward-looking information related to financial results and business outlook for 2020. Those statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements. The forward-looking information is based on management’s current intent, belief, expectations, estimates, and projections regarding our company and our industry. You should be aware that those statements only reflect our predictions. Actual events or results may differ substantially. Important factors that could cause our actual results to be materially different from the forward-looking statements include (but are not limited to) those disclosed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recently filed annual report on Form 10-K as supplemented by the Risk Factors contained in Part II, Item 1A of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed on May 7, 2020, July 30, 2020 and October 29, 2020, respectively, and the following, many of which are, or may be, amplified by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic:

(1) the possibility that our actual results do not meet the projections and guidance contained in this news release;

(2) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business;

(3) the impact of the general economy and economic and political uncertainty on our business;

(4) risks associated with potential changes to federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations and policies;

(5) risks associated with the operation of our business generally, including:

a) client demand for our services and solutions;

b) maintaining a balance of our supply of skills and resources with client demand;

c) effectively competing in a highly competitive market;

d) protecting our clients’ and our data and information;

e) risks from international operations including fluctuations in exchange rates;

f) changes to immigration policies;

g) obtaining favorable pricing to reflect services provided;

h) adapting to changes in technologies and offerings;

i) risk of loss of one or more significant software vendors;

j) making appropriate estimates and assumptions in connection with preparing our consolidated financial statements;

k) maintaining effective internal controls; and

l) changes to tax levels, audits, investigations, tax laws or their interpretation;

(6) risks associated with managing growth organically and through acquisitions;

(7) risks associated with servicing our debt, the potential impact on the value of our common stock from the conditional conversion features of our debt and the associated convertible note hedge transactions;

(8) legal liabilities, including intellectual property protection and infringement or the disclosure of personally identifiable information; and

(9) the risks detailed from time to time within our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. This cautionary statement is provided pursuant to Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements in this release are made only as of the date hereof and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement for any reason, even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future.

About Non-GAAP Financial Information

This news release includes non-GAAP financial measures. For a description of these non-GAAP financial measures, including the reasons management uses each measure, and reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), please see the section entitled “About Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the accompanying tables entitled “Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures.”

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Perficient provides non-GAAP financial measures for adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock compensation, acquisition costs and adjustment to fair value of contingent consideration), adjusted net income, and adjusted earnings per share data as supplemental information regarding Perficient’s business performance. Perficient believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors because they provide investors with a better understanding of Perficient’s past financial performance and future results. Perficient’s management uses these non-GAAP financial measures when it internally evaluates the performance of Perficient’s business and makes operating decisions, including internal operating budgeting, performance measurement, and the calculation of bonuses and discretionary compensation. Management excludes stock-based compensation related to restricted stock awards, the amortization of intangible assets, amortization of debt discounts and issuance costs related to convertible senior notes, acquisition costs, adjustments to the fair value of contingent consideration, net other income and expense, the impact of other infrequent or unusual transactions, and income tax effects of the foregoing, when making operational decisions.

Perficient believes that providing the non-GAAP financial measures to its investors is useful because it allows investors to evaluate Perficient’s performance using the same methodology and information used by Perficient’s management. Specifically, adjusted net income is used by management primarily to review business performance and determine performance-based incentive compensation for executives and other employees. Management uses adjusted EBITDA to measure operating profitability, evaluate trends, and make strategic business decisions.

Non-GAAP financial measures are subject to inherent limitations because they do not include all of the expenses included under GAAP and because they involve the exercise of discretionary judgment as to which charges are excluded from the non-GAAP financial measure. However, Perficient’s management compensates for these limitations by providing the relevant disclosure of the items excluded in the calculation of adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, and adjusted earnings per share. In addition, some items that are excluded from adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share can have a material impact on cash. Management compensates for these limitations by evaluating the non-GAAP measure together with the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Perficient has historically provided non-GAAP financial measures to the investment community as a supplement to its GAAP results to enable investors to evaluate Perficient’s business performance in the way that management does. Perficient’s definition may be different from similar non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies and/or analysts.

The non-GAAP adjustments, and the basis for excluding them, are outlined below:

Amortization

Perficient has incurred expense on amortization of intangible assets primarily related to various acquisitions. Management excludes these items for the purposes of calculating adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, and adjusted earnings per share. Perficient believes that eliminating this expense from its non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors because the amortization of intangible assets can be inconsistent in amount and frequency, and is significantly impacted by the timing and magnitude of Perficient’s acquisition transactions, which also vary substantially in frequency from period to period.

Acquisition Costs

Perficient incurs transaction costs related to merger and acquisition-related activities which are expensed in its GAAP financial statements. Management excludes these items for the purposes of calculating adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, and adjusted earnings per share. Perficient believes that excluding these expenses from its non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors because these are expenses associated with each transaction and are inconsistent in amount and frequency causing comparison of current and historical financial results to be difficult.

Adjustment to Fair Value of Contingent Consideration

Perficient is required to remeasure its contingent consideration liability related to acquisitions each reporting period until the contingency is settled. Any changes in fair value are recognized in earnings. Management excludes these items for the purposes of calculating adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, and adjusted earnings per share. Perficient believes that excluding these adjustments from its non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors because they are related to acquisitions and are inconsistent in amount and frequency from period to period.

Amortization of Debt Discount and Debt Issuance Costs

On August 14, 2020, Perficient issued $230.0 million aggregate principal amount of 1.250% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025, and on September 11, 2018, Perficient issued $143.8 million aggregate principal amount of 2.375% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023 (the “2025 Notes” and the “2023 Notes,” respectively, and together, the “Notes”) in private placements to qualified institutional purchasers. In accordance with accounting for debt with conversions and other options, Perficient bifurcated the principal amount of the Notes into liability and equity components. The resulting debt discounts are being amortized to interest expense over the period from the issuance dates through the respective contractual maturity dates. Issuance costs related to the Notes were allocated pro rata based on the relative fair values of the liability and equity components. Issuance costs attributable to the liability component of the Notes, in addition to issuance costs related to Perficient’s credit agreement, are being amortized to interest expense over their respective terms. Perficient believes that excluding these non-cash expenses from its non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors because the expenses are not reflective of the company’s business performance.

Loss on Extinguishment of Debt

Perficient repurchased a portion of its 2023 Notes during the third quarter of 2020, which resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt. Perficient believes that excluding this loss from its non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors because the expense is infrequent and not reflective of the company’s business performance.

Stock Compensation

Perficient incurs stock-based compensation expense under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation. Perficient excludes stock-based compensation expense and the related tax effects for the purposes of calculating adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, and adjusted earnings per share because stock-based compensation is a non-cash expense, which Perficient believes is not reflective of its business performance. The nature of stock-based compensation expense also makes it very difficult to estimate prospectively, since the expense will vary with changes in the stock price and market conditions at the time of new grants, varying valuation methodologies, subjective assumptions, and different award types, making the comparison of current results with forward-looking guidance potentially difficult for investors to interpret. The tax effects of stock-based compensation expense may also vary significantly from period to period, without any change in underlying operational performance, thereby obscuring the underlying profitability of operations relative to prior periods. Perficient believes that non-GAAP measures of profitability, which exclude stock-based compensation are widely used by analysts and investors.

Dilution Offset from Convertible Note Hedge Transactions

It is Perficient’s current intent to settle conversions of the Notes through combination settlement, which involves repayment of the principal portion in cash and any excess of the conversion value over the principal amount in shares of our common stock. We exclude the shares that are issuable upon conversions of the Notes because we expect that the dilution from such shares will be offset by the convertible note hedge transactions entered into in August 2020 and September 2018 in connection with the issuance of the Notes.

(1) The estimated adjusted effective tax rate of 24.8% and 23.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and 24.6% and 24.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, has been used to calculate the provision for income taxes for non-GAAP purposes.

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Bill Davis, Perficient, 314-529-3555

[email protected]

Source: Perficient