Key Highlights

  • Second-quarter revenue was $69.3 million versus $78.9 million a year earlier.
  • GAAP diluted EPS was $0.18 versus $0.06.
  • Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.34 versus $0.38.
  • The quarterly dividend is $0.12 per share.

The Hackett Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HCKT) is a consulting and benchmarking firm whose most recent guidance included an unusually pointed statement from management. Announcing second-quarter results on August 4, 2026, CEO Ted Fernandez described the third-quarter outlook as an important operational and financial inflection point. With the third quarter now complete and a report likely to follow in the coming weeks, the focus is on the company's financial position, guidance and capital returns.

Latest Company Context

For the quarter ended June 26, 2026, Hackett reported total revenue of $69.3 million, down from $78.9 million a year earlier. Revenue before reimbursements was $68.3 million versus $77.6 million. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.18, up from $0.06, while adjusted diluted EPS was $0.34 versus $0.38, which the company said was at the midpoint of its guidance. Operating cash flow was $15.2 million and net debt fell by $6.1 million. The company repurchased $4.0 million of stock and paid $3.0 million in dividends, ending the quarter with $14.2 million of cash and $81.0 million drawn on its credit facility. About $18.1 million remained under the repurchase authorisation. A quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share was declared, payable October 2, 2026 to holders of record on September 18.

Key Business Drivers

Management cited platform-led wins above $30 million as a basis for expecting sequential revenue growth in the third quarter and year-over-year growth in adjusted EPS. Guidance for the third quarter called for revenue before reimbursements of $68.0 million to $70.0 million and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.37 to $0.39, assuming a 26.5% GAAP effective tax rate. These figures are management guidance, not confirmed results. The balance sheet is another driver: on August 3, the credit facility was amended to extend maturity and raise capacity to $125 million, which may provide flexibility for buybacks, dividends and investment, although borrowings carry interest costs. The year-on-year revenue decline in the second quarter shows why the guided stabilisation is closely watched.

What Investors Should Watch

The third-quarter earnings release is the next identifiable catalyst; investors may compare reported revenue and adjusted EPS with the guided ranges and read management's fourth-quarter commentary. They may also watch the conversion of the cited platform-led wins into revenue, trends in net debt, the pace of share repurchases under the remaining authorisation, and whether the $0.12 quarterly dividend is maintained. Demand for technology and consulting engagements, including projects related to artificial intelligence and digital transformation, could also influence bookings. Analyst estimates, where cited, represent expectations and may differ from outcomes.

A CEO Frames Q3 as an Inflection Point After a Lower-Revenue Quarter

Hackett heads into its third-quarter report after the CEO framed the quarter as an inflection point. Revenue was lower in the second quarter, while net debt fell and dividends and buybacks continued.