HACKETT GROUP, INC. (HCKT)

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). We intend the forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in these sections. All statements regarding our expected financial position and operating results, our business strategy, our financing plans and forecasted demographic and economic trends relating to our industry are forward-looking statements. These statements can sometimes be identified by our use of forward-looking words such as “may,” “will,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” or “intend” and similar expressions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We cannot promise you that our expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements will turn out to be correct. Factors that could impact such forward-looking statements include, among others, changes in worldwide and U.S. economic conditions that impact business confidence and the demand for our products and services, our ability to transition our capabilities to support generative artificial intelligence ("Gen AI")-related consulting services and solutions, the adoption of Gen AI technologies by our clients and the timing thereof, the rapid change in Gen AI technologies and our ability to support new or changing technologies, our ability to effectively integrate acquisitions, including the LeewayHertz and Spend Matters acquisitions, into our operations, our ability to manage joint ventures and successfully cooperate with our joint venture partners, our ability to retain existing business, our ability to attract additional business, our ability to effectively market and sell our product offerings and other services, the timing of projects and the potential for contract cancellation by our customers, changes in expectations regarding the business consulting and information technology industries, our ability to attract and retain skilled employees, possible changes in collections of accounts receivable due to the bankruptcy or financial difficulties of our customers, risks of competition, price and margin trends, foreign currency fluctuations, the impact of the geopolitical conflict involving Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East on our business and changes in general economic conditions, interest rates, tariffs and trade barriers and our ability to obtain additional debt financing if needed.

An additional description of our risk factors is described in Part I – Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 26, 2025.

OVERVIEW

The following Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") is intended to help the reader understand the results of operations and financial condition of Hackett. MD&A is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes to our consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Hackett is a global IP platform-based Gen AI strategic consulting and executive advisory digital transformation firm. The Hackett Group provides dedicated expertise in Gen AI enabled enterprise transformation services across front, mid and back office areas, including its highly recognized Oracle, SAP, OneStream and Coupa implementation offerings.

In early 2024, we launched our AI assessment platform, AI XPLR which helps clients identify, evaluate and design Gen AI enablement opportunities. Using AI XPLR, our experienced professionals guide organizations to harness the power of Gen AI solutions designed to digitally transform their operations to achieve quantifiable, breakthrough results, allowing us to be key architects of our clients' Gen AI journey.

We believe Gen AI will fundamentally change the way companies operate as well as the way consulting services are sold and delivered. We believe the Gen AI platform capabilities we have developed in AI XPLR which were expanded with ZBrain, which we acquired as part of the LeewayHertz acquisition, is highly differentiating and we expect will enable us to effectively compete in this emerging and important space.

The Hackett Group has completed over 28,400 benchmarking and performance studies with major organizations. These studies are executed utilizing our Quantum Leap platform which drives our Digital Transformation Platform (“DTP” or “Hackett DTP”). This includes the firm's benchmarking metrics, best practices repository, and best practice configuration and process flow accelerators, which enables our clients and partners to achieve digital world-class performance. We consider this, along with our recent innovations, our core Hackett Intellectual Property ("IP") which allows us to identify, design and evaluate transformation opportunities to be proprietary and key components of our Hackett Solutioning IP.

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Our transformation expertise is grounded in best practices insights from benchmarking the world’s leading businesses – including 97% of the Dow Jones Industrials, 90% of the Fortune 100, 68% of the DAX 40 and 53% of the FTSE 100, which inform and are delivered by our platforms.

Impact of Macroeconomic Conditions on Our Business

The level of revenue we achieve is based on our ability to deliver market leading services and solutions and to deploy skilled teams of professionals quickly. Our results of operations are affected by economic conditions, including macroeconomic conditions and levels of business confidence. Any deterioration in the current macroeconomic environment or economic downturn as a result of weak or uncertain economic conditions due to inflation, high interest rates, tariffs, national or geopolitical events or other factors impacting economic activity or business confidence could adversely affect our clients' financial condition or outlook which may reduce the clients' demand for our services.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, our results of operations (in thousands and unaudited):

Revenue. We are a global Company with operations in our primary markets located in the United States and Western Europe. Our revenue is denominated in multiple currencies, primarily the U.S. Dollar, British Pound and Euro, and as a result is affected by currency exchange rate fluctuations. The impact of currency fluctuations did not have a significant impact on comparisons between the quarter and six months ended June 26, 2026 and the same comparable periods of 2025. In this MD&A, we discuss revenue based on geographical location of engagement team personnel.

Our Company total revenue was $69.3 million and $138.1 million during the second quarter and first six months of 2026, respectively, as compared to $78.9 million and $156.8 million in the same periods in 2025, respectively. In the second quarter and first six months of 2026, one customer accounted for 3% and 4%, respectively, of our Company total revenue. In the second quarter and first six months of 2025, one customer accounted for 7% and 8%, respectively, of our Company total revenue.

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Segment revenue. The Company has three reportable segments: Global Strategy & Business Transformation (Global S&BT), Oracle Solutions and SAP Solutions. Global S&BT includes S&BT Gen AI and Business Transformation Consulting, Benchmarking, Business Advisory Services, Intellectual Property as-a-Service (IPASS) and OneStream offerings. Oracle Solutions and SAP Solutions support the two fundamentally distinct ERP systems: Oracle and SAP.

The following table sets forth total revenue by operating segment, which includes reimbursable expenses related to project travel-related expenses passed through to a client with no associated operating margin (in thousands):

Global S&BT total revenue was $36.0 million and $72.8 million during the second quarter and first six months of 2026, respectively, as compared to $44.2 million and $87.6 million in the same periods of 2025, respectively. Elongated client decision marking still persists, as clients continue to question the underlying value of Gen AI and are also confused by the return of investment of Gen AI first adoption strategies.

Oracle Solutions total revenue was $15.5 million and $31.2 million during the second quarter and first six months of 2026, respectively, as compared to $20.8 million and $41.9 million in the same periods of 2025, respectively. Oracle Solutions has stabilized from the completion of a large client engagement which primarily explains the decreases on a year over year comparison.

SAP Solutions total revenue was $17.8 million and $34.1 million during the second quarter and first six months of 2026, respectively, as compared to $13.9 million and $27.3 million in the same periods of 2025, respectively

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) is intended to help the reader understand the results of operations and financial condition of Hackett. MD&A is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying Notes to our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We have omitted discussion of fiscal 2023 items and year-to-year comparisons between fiscal years 2024 and 2023 where it would be redundant with the discussion previously included in Part II, Item 7 (MD&A) of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2025.

Hackett is a global IP platform-based Gen AI strategic consulting and executive advisory digital transformation firm. The Hackett Group provides dedicated expertise in Gen AI enabled enterprise transformation services across front, mid and back office areas, including its highly recognized Oracle, SAP, OneStream and eProcurement implementation offerings.

In early 2024, we launched our AI assessment platform, AI XPLR which helps clients identify, evaluate and design Gen AI enablement opportunities. Using AI XPLR, our experienced professionals guide organizations to harness the power of Gen AI solutions designed to digitally transform their operations to achieve quantifiable, breakthrough results, allowing us to be key architects of our clients' Gen AI journey.

We believe Gen AI will fundamentally change the way companies operate as well as the way consulting services are sold and delivered. We believe the Gen AI platform capabilities we have developed in AI XPLR which were expanded with ZBrain, which we acquired as part of the LeewayHertz acquisition, is highly differentiating and we expect will enable us to effectively compete in this emerging and important space.

The Hackett Group has completed over 28,400 benchmarking and performance studies with major organizations. These studies are executed utilizing our Quantum Leap platform which drives our DTP. This includes the firm's benchmarking metrics, best practices repository, and best practice configuration and process flow accelerators, which enables our clients and partners to achieve digital world-class performance.

Our transformation expertise is grounded in best practices insights from benchmarking the world’s leading businesses – including 97% of the Dow Jones Industrials, 90% of the Fortune 100, 68% of the DAX 40 and 53% of the FTSE 100, which inform and are delivered utilizing our platforms.

Impact of Macroeconomic Conditions on Our Business

The level of revenue we achieve is based on our ability to deliver market leading services and solutions and to deploy skilled teams of professionals quickly. Our results of operations are affected by economic conditions, including macroeconomic conditions and levels of business confidence. Any deterioration in the current macroeconomic environment or economic downturn as a result of weak or uncertain economic conditions due to inflation, high interest rates, national or geopolitical events or other factors impacting economic activity or business confidence could adversely affect our clients' financial condition or outlook which may reduce the clients' demand for our services.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

In the ordinary course of business, we make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of results of operations and financial position in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). Actual results could differ from those estimates under different assumptions and conditions. We believe the following discussion addresses our most critical accounting policies that have had or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. These policies require management to exercise judgment on issues that are often difficult, subjective and complex due to the necessity of estimating the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.

Revenue Recognition

Determining revenue recognition requires management to exercise judgment on the interpretation of service contracts which may include one or multiple performance obligations. The judgments that management must make include determining whether the control of the goods and services provided are transferred to our customers at a point in time or over the course of the service period utilizing a proportionate performance approach.

In fixed-fee billing arrangements, which would also include contracts with capped fees, we set the fees based on our estimates of the costs and timing for completing the engagements. We generally recognize revenue under fixed-fee or capped fee arrangements

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using a proportionate performance approach, which is based on work completed to-date as compared to estimates of the total services to be provided under the engagement. Estimates of total engagement revenue and cost of services are monitored regularly during the term of the engagement based on the best available information. If our estimates indicate a potential loss, such loss is recognized in the period in which the loss first becomes probable and reasonably estimable.

Allowances for Credit Losses

We review accounts receivable to assess our estimates of collectability regularly. When establishing allowances for doubtful accounts, management must base their judgment on the information available at that point in time, which may include historical experiences, current economic trends and client credit worthiness, to determine the likelihood of collectability.

Business Combinations

For transactions that are considered business combinations, we utilize fair values in determining the carrying values of the purchased assets and assumed liabilities, which are recorded at fair value at acquisition date, and identifiable intangible assets are recorded at fair value. Costs directly related to the business combinations are recorded as expenses as they are incurred. Fair values are subject to refinement for up to one year after the closing date of an acquisition as information relative to closing date fair values become available. A bargain purchase gain on an acquisition occurs when the net of the estimated fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed exceeds the consideration paid.

Goodwill

For acquisitions accounted for as a business combination, goodwill represents the excess of the cost over the fair value of the net assets acquired. The Company has organized its operating and internal reporting structure to align with its primary market solutions. In accordance with ASC 280, management made the determination to present three operating segments, three reportable segments and three reporting units as follows: (1) Global S&BT, (2) Oracle Solutions, and (3) SAP Solutions. A reporting unit is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment to which goodwill is assigned. The goodwill has been allocated to the reporting unit based on the reporting unit's relative fair value.

Goodwill is tested at least annually for impairment at the reporting unit level utilizing the market approach. In assessing the recoverability of goodwill and intangible assets, we utilize the market approach and makes estimates based on assumptions regarding various factors to determine if impairment tests are met. The market approach utilizes valuation multiples based on operating data from publicly traded companies within the same industry. Multiples derived from guideline companies provide an indication of how much a market participant would be willing to pay for a company. These multiples are then applied to the our reporting units to arrive at an indication of value. This approach contains management’s judgment, using appropriate and customary assumptions available at the time.

We performed our annual impairment test of goodwill in the fourth quarter of fiscal years 2025, 2024 and 2023 and determined that goodwill was not impaired.

Stock Based Compensation

We recognize compensation expense for awards of equity and liability instruments, which have only a service condition, to employees based on the grant-date fair value of those awards, over the requisite service period, with limited exceptions.

In September 2024, a stock price award program was offered to certain leaders. These equity awards were granted with both a market condition (three tranches, each with varying market share price thresholds) and service conditions. We measured these equity awards using the Monte Carlo valuation model to determine the fair value as of the grant date. The Monte Carlo valuation model, using different share price paths, calculated a derived service period which is the median share price path on which the market condition is satisfied for each tranche. The assumptions utilized in the model are as of a point in time and may differ from the actual value of the equity awards. The requisite service period was determined to be service conditions as the service conditions are greater than the derived service period. For each of the three tranches, stock compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. We elected to account for forfeitures as incurred. If an employee forfeits nonvested shares subsequent to meeting a service condition, the previously recognized expense is not reversed. See Note 10, "Stock Based Compensation," to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information.

Please refer to Note 1, “Basis of Presentation and General Information,” to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the discussion of all of our critical accounting policies.

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Results of Operations

Our fiscal year generally consists of a 52-week period and periodically consists of a 53-week period as each fiscal year ends on the Friday closest to December 31. Fiscal years 2025 and 2024 ended on December 26, 2025 and December 27, 2024, respectively, each consisted of a 52-week period. References to a year included in this document refer to a fiscal year rather than a calendar year.

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, our results of operations (in thousands):

Comparison of 2025 to 2024

Overview. For fiscal year 2025, total revenue decreased to $305.6 million, as compare

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