Q1 26 EPS
$1.31
BEAT +5.95%
Est. $1.24
Q1 26 Revenue
$715.5M
BEAT +3.82%
Est. $689.2M
Did KFY Beat Earnings? Q1 2026 Results
Korn Ferry kicked off fiscal 2026 with a clean beat on both top and bottom lines, as the executive search and talent advisory firm posted first-quarter earnings per share of $1.31, ahead of the $1.24 consensus estimate by 5.95%, while revenue of $715… Read more Korn Ferry kicked off fiscal 2026 with a clean beat on both top and bottom lines, as the executive search and talent advisory firm posted first-quarter earnings per share of $1.31, ahead of the $1.24 consensus estimate by 5.95%, while revenue of $715.54 million exceeded expectations by 3.82% and grew 4.8% from a year ago. The standout driver was Executive Search, where fee revenue climbed 8% to $224.25 million on the back of stronger engagement volumes and particularly sharp gains in EMEA and Asia Pacific, up 17% and 20% respectively, providing meaningful momentum even as CEO Gary Burnison acknowledged "choppiness" in the broader labor environment. Adjusted EBITDA rose 8% to $120.39 million, with margins ticking up 50 basis points to 17.0%, reflecting operating leverage across the firm's diversified platform. Looking ahead, management guided Q2 fee revenue of $690 million to $710 million and adjusted diluted EPS of $1.23 to $1.33, with a contract backlog of $1.67 billion underpinning confidence in the pipeline.
Key Takeaways
- • Fee revenue grew year-over-year in each solution area
- • Executive Search drove strong growth with 8% fee revenue increase led by higher engagements billed
- • Professional Search & Interim grew 10% aided by Trilogy International acquisition
- • Consulting average bill rates rose 9% due to shift toward larger, longer-duration engagements
- • RPO fee revenue increased due to new logo clients in North America
- • Digital subscription and license fee revenue grew to $37.2 million from $34.1 million year-over-year
KFY YoY Financials
Q1 2026 vs Q1 2025, source: SEC Filings
KFY Revenue by Segment
With YoY comparisons, source: SEC Filings
“I am pleased with our company's performance. When looking at our results over the last few quarters—even amid all of the choppiness that has encircled the labor and economic environment—it's clear that our strategy is working.”
— Gary D. Burnison, Q1 2026 Earnings Press Release
KFY Earnings Trends
KFY vs Market 30 Day Price Reactions
30-day stock return vs benchmark after each earnings
KFY EPS Trend
Earnings per share: estimate vs actual
KFY Revenue Trend
Quarterly revenue: estimate vs actual
KFY Quarterly Results
5 quarters of earnings data
| Quarter | EPS Est. | EPS Act. | Surprise | Revenue | Rev. Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q4 26 BEAT FY | $1.38 | $1.40 | +1.43% | $768.3M | +3.10% |
| FY Full Year | $5.33 | $5.28 | -0.94% | $2.94B | +1.42% |
| Q3 26 BEAT | $1.24 | $1.28 | +3.60% | $725.0M | +4.30% |
| Q2 26 BEAT | $1.31 | $1.33 | +1.37% | $721.7M | +2.22% |
| Q1 26 BEAT | $1.24 | $1.31 | +5.95% | $715.5M | +3.82% |
| Q4 25 BEAT FY | $1.26 | $1.32 | +4.72% | $719.8M | +4.34% |
| FY Full Year | $4.86 | $4.88 | +0.46% | $2.76B | +1.96% |