FTI Consulting released financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2019.

Third quarter 2019 revenues of $593.1 million increased $80.1 million, or 15.6%, compared to revenues of $513.0 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding the estimated negative impact from foreign currency translation ("FX"), revenues increased $86.7 million, or 16.9%, compared to the prior year quarter. The increase in revenues was driven by higher demand across all business segments compared to the prior year quarter. Net income of $60.4 million compared to $44.3 million in the prior year quarter. The increase in net income was primarily due to higher operating profits in the Corporate Finance & Restructuring and Forensic and Litigation Consulting segments.

Adjusted EBITDA of $92.3 million, or 15.6% of revenues, compared to $67.4 million, or 13.1% of revenues, in the prior year quarter. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to higher revenues in the Corporate Finance & Restructuring and Forensic and Litigation Consulting segments, which was partially offset by higher compensation, primarily related to a 16.7% increase in billable headcount and higher variable compensation, as well as higher selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses compared to the prior year quarter.

Third quarter 2019 fully diluted earnings per share ("EPS") of $1.59 compared to $1.14 in the prior year quarter. Third quarter 2019 EPS included $2.2 million of non-cash interest expense related to the Company's 2.0% convertible senior notes due 2023 ("2023 Convertible Notes"), which decreased EPS by $0.04. Third quarter 2018 EPS included a $6.2 million after-tax gain related to the sale of the Company's Ringtail e-discovery software and related business ("Ringtail divestiture"), which increased EPS by $0.16. Third quarter 2019 Adjusted EPS of $1.63, which excludes the non-cash interest expense, compared to Adjusted EPS of $1.00 in the prior year quarter.

Commenting on these results, Steven H. Gunby, President and Chief Executive Officer of FTI Consulting, said, “These powerful results reflect our focus: investing in great professionals to enhance our ability to serve our clients as they navigate their most complex business challenges and opportunities.”

Cash Position and Capital Allocation
Net cash provided by operating activities of $131.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 compared to $120.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2018. The year-over-year increase in cash provided by operating activities was largely due to an increase in cash collected resulting from higher revenues compared to the prior year quarter, which was partially offset by an increase in compensation-related costs.

During the quarter, the Company repurchased 90,848 shares of its common stock at an average price per share of $85.11 for a total cost of $7.7 million. As of September 30, 2019, approximately $94.6 million remained available for stock repurchases under the Company’s $400.0 million stock repurchase authorization.

Cash and cash equivalents of $258.5 million at September 30, 2019 compared to $505.9 million at September 30, 2018 and $189.1 million at June 30, 2019. Total debt, net of cash, of $57.8 million at September 30, 2019 compared to $110.4 million at September 30, 2018 and $147.1 million at June 30, 2019. The sequential decrease in total debt, net of cash, was primarily due to an increase in cash provided by operating activities and repayment of borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility, which was partially offset by payments related to the August 2019 acquisition of Andersch AG.

Third Quarter 2019 Segment Results

Corporate Finance & Restructuring
Revenues in the Corporate Finance & Restructuring segment increased $56.3 million, or 41.6%, to
$191.7 million in the quarter compared to $135.4 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding the estimated negative impact from FX, revenues increased $57.7 million, or 42.6%, compared to the prior year quarter. The increase in revenues was due to higher demand for restructuring and business transformation and transactions services. Adjusted Segment EBITDA of $48.1 million, or 25.1% of segment revenues, compared to $26.8 million, or 19.8% of segment revenues, in the prior year quarter. The increase in Adjusted Segment EBITDA was due to higher revenues with improved utilization, which was partially offset by higher compensation, related to an increase in variable compensation and billable headcount and higher SG&A expenses.

Forensic and Litigation Consulting
Revenues in the Forensic and Litigation Consulting segment increased $16.0 million, or 12.6%, to $142.7 million in the quarter compared to $126.7 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding the estimated negative impact from FX, revenues increased $17.0 million, or 13.4%, compared to the prior year quarter. The increase in revenues was primarily due to higher demand for disputes and investigations services. Adjusted Segment EBITDA of $27.0 million, or 18.9% of segment revenues, compared to $22.0 million, or 17.3% of segment revenues, in the prior year quarter. The increase in Adjusted Segment EBITDA was due to higher revenues, which was partially offset by higher compensation, primarily related to an increase in billable headcount and higher SG&A expenses.

Economic Consulting
Revenues in the Economic Consulting segment increased $2.5 million, or 1.8%, to $141.7 million in the quarter compared to $139.2 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding the estimated negative impact from FX, revenues increased $4.7 million, or 3.4%, compared to the prior year quarter. The increase in revenues was largely due to higher demand for non-merger and acquisition-related antitrust services. Adjusted Segment EBITDA of $19.4 million, or 13.7% of segment revenues, compared to $23.2 million, or 16.7% of segment revenues, in the prior year quarter. Adjusted Segment EBITDA declined compared to the prior year quarter, as the increase in revenues was more than offset by higher compensation, related to an increase in variable compensation and billable headcount and higher SG&A expenses.

Technology
Revenues in the Technology segment increased $0.4 million, or 0.7%, to $57.1 million in the quarter compared to $56.7 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding the estimated negative impact from FX, revenues increased $0.9 million, or 1.5%, compared to the prior year quarter. The increase in revenues was primarily due to higher demand for global cross-border investigations and litigation services, which was offset by lower demand for merger and acquisition-related “second request” services. Adjusted Segment EBITDA of $12.3 million, or 21.5% of segment revenues, compared to $11.5 million, or 20.2% of segment revenues, in the prior year quarter. The increase in Adjusted Segment EBITDA was due to higher revenues and lower SG&A expenses, largely due to a decline in research and development expense resulting from the September 2018 Ringtail divestiture, which was partially offset by higher compensation, due to an increase in billable headcount and variable compensation.

Strategic Communications
Revenues in the Strategic Communications segment increased $4.9 million, or 8.9%, to $60.0 million in the quarter compared to $55.1 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding the estimated negative impact from FX, revenues increased $6.4 million, or 11.7%, compared to the prior year quarter. The increase in revenues was primarily due to higher demand for project-based corporate reputation services in North America and Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Adjusted Segment EBITDA of $12.6 million, or 21.1% of segment revenues, compared to $10.8 million, or 19.6% of segment revenues, in the prior year quarter. The increase in Adjusted Segment EBITDA was due to higher revenues, which was partially offset by higher compensation, related to an increase in billable headcount and variable compensation and higher SG&A expenses.