BUFFALO, N.Y., July 23, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CTG (NASDAQ: CTG), a leading provider of information technology (IT) solutions and services in North America and Western Europe, today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 28, 2019.

Second Quarter Financial Summary

• Total revenue increased 8.4% year-over-year to $100.4 million, including the first full quarter of contribution from the acquisition of Tech-IT in February 2019
• Focus on disciplined revenue quality improvement in Staffing resulted in a better Enterprise-wide business mix with an operating income increase of 21.8% year-over-year
• Revenue from Solutions increased 21.6% year-over-year to 35.5% of total revenue, compared with 31.6% of total revenue last year
• Revenue in Europe increased 17.5% (24.9% in local currency) year-over-year and represented 38% of total revenue, compared with 35% of total revenue last year
• GAAP net income was $0.9 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, and included acquisition-related expenses of $0.4 million; non-GAAP net income was $1.3 million, or $0.09 per diluted share

Second Quarter and Recent Business Highlights

• Secured multiple key Health Solutions wins with notable healthcare system clients in the Northeast U.S.
• Executed first go-live implementation of Primuz EHR application in Belgium
• Expanded contracted work for IT Solutions with European institutions
• Continued successful integration of Tech-IT acquisition and increased synergistic sales activity
• Secured several new contracts for IT Staffing with middle-market clients in North America
• Selected as one of two tier-one IT Staffing vendors for a new division at existing Fortune 500 client

Year-to-Date Financial Summary

• Total revenue increased 12.7% year-over-year to $197.6 million, including a contribution from the acquisition of Tech-IT beginning in February 2019
• Revenue from Solutions increased 27.0% year-over-year to 34.9% of total revenue, compared with 31.0% of total revenue last year
• Revenue in Europe increased 23.5% (32.5% in local currency) year-over-year
• GAAP net income was $1.6 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, and included acquisition-related expenses of $0.6 million; non-GAAP net income was $2.2 million, or $0.16 per diluted share

CEO Comments on Results

“I’m pleased with the progress we demonstrated during the second quarter in support of our strategic transformation to a more solutions-centric company. Our improvement on our top- and bottom-line results reflect our team’s disciplined execution of our strategy across the business,” said Filip Gydé, CTG President and CEO. “Revenue grew more than 8% year-over-year, with a combination of significant organic growth and the first full quarter of revenue contribution from Tech-IT, which has performed well since the acquisition earlier this year. Our organic growth in Europe has continued to meaningfully exceed the growth rate of the European market.”

“As evidence of our strategic focus and emphasis on increasing our concentration of Solutions business to drive margin improvement, revenue from Solutions grew nearly 22% year-over-year and expanded to more than 35% of total revenue – the highest mix of Solutions business in nearly five years. We continue to leverage and build on the momentum from our Application Advantage and EIM Advantage offerings, and the pipeline of opportunities for our global solutions remains very solid among hospital and healthcare system clients as well as broader market verticals, such as energy and financial services.”

Gydé concluded, “In addition to being more selective on new prospective engagements and focusing on higher-quality revenue in our Staffing business, we are continuing to take steps to realign resources and further strengthen our sales, recruiting and delivery capabilities throughout the organization. As we remain focused on the disciplined execution of our strategy, I believe we are well positioned to extend our recent momentum, deliver continued top-line growth, and improved operating profits in the second half of 2019 and beyond.”

Consolidated Second Quarter ResultsRevenue in the second quarter of 2019 was $100.4 million, compared with $97.2 million in the first quarter of 2019, and $92.7 million in the second quarter of 2018. The year-over-year increase in second quarter revenue resulted from a combination of organic growth in both North America and Europe, as well as the first full quarter of revenue contribution from the acquisition of Tech-IT in February 2019. Currency translation had a negative $2.4 million impact on revenue in the second quarter, compared with a negative $3.1 million impact in the first quarter of 2019, and a benefit from currency translation of $2.5 million in the second quarter of 2018.

Direct costs in the second quarter of 2019 were $82.1 million, or 81.7% of revenue, compared with $79.5 million, or 81.8% of revenue in the first quarter of 2019, and $75.1 million or 81.0% of revenue, in the second quarter of 2018. SG&A expense in the second quarter of 2019 was $16.5 million, which included $0.5 million in acquisition-related costs associated with Soft Company and Tech-IT. This compared with $16.6 million of expense in the first quarter of 2019, which included $0.4 million in acquisition-related costs. SG&A expense in the second quarter of 2018 was $16.1 million, which included $0.3 million in acquisition-related costs.

Operating income in the second quarter of 2019 was $1.9 million, or 1.8% of revenue, and included the previously referenced acquisition-related costs. Excluding acquisition-related expenses, non-GAAP operating income was $2.4 million, or 2.4% of revenue. Operating income in the first quarter of 2019 was $1.1 million, or 1.2% of revenue, and included acquisition-related costs. Excluding acquisition-related expenses, non-GAAP operating income in the first quarter of 2019 was $1.5 million, or 1.5% of revenue. Operating income in the second quarter of 2018 was $1.5 million, or 1.6% of revenue. Excluding acquisition-related expenses, non-GAAP operating income in the second quarter of 2018 was $1.8 million, or 1.9% of revenue. CTG’s operations outside of the U.S. are conducted in local currencies. Accordingly, fluctuations in currency valuation for the countries in which the Company operates generally have minimal impact on operating results; these fluctuations reduced operating income by less than $0.1 million in the second quarter of 2019.

Net income in the second quarter of 2019 was $0.9 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, which included $0.4 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, in acquisition-related expenses. This compared with a net income in the first quarter of 2019 of $0.6 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, which included $0.3 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, in acquisition-related expenses. Net income in the second quarter of 2018 was $0.9 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, which included $0.2 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, in acquisition-related expenses.

CTG’s effective income tax rate in the second quarter of 2019 was 36.6% compared with 33.3% in the first quarter of 2019, and 27.9% in the second quarter of 2018.

Balance Sheet

Cash and short-term investments at June 28, 2019 were $11.3 million, and the Company had $17.0 million in long-term debt. Days sales outstanding were 83 days in the second quarter of 2019 compared with 81 days in the second quarter of 2018.

Guidance and Outlook

Based upon the Company’s year-to-date financial performance and outlook for the second half of the year, CTG narrowed its previous guidance range for the full year of 2019

Non-GAAP diluted EPS guidance excludes acquisition-related expenses, which include due diligence costs, the amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, and changes in the value of earn-out payments.

CTG Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer John M. Laubacker, commented, “Following our solid financial results and positive momentum in the second quarter, we are raising the midpoint of guidance for revenue, reaffirming the midpoint for earnings per share, and providing a narrowed range of the Company’s previous guidance for the full year 2019. Consistent with historical trends, we expect third quarter results to reflect traditional seasonality and an associated lower utilization rate due to summer vacations, primarily related to our European and U.S. staffing operations. As indicated by our full year outlook, we continue to anticipate significant year-over-year revenue growth and sustained improvement in profitability during the second half of the year as a result of a higher mix of Solutions business, more selectivity on Staffing engagements, and focused execution on operational performance across the organization.”

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Information

The Company has referenced non-GAAP information in this news release. The Company believes that the use of non-GAAP financial information provides useful information to investors and management to gain an overall understanding of its current financial performance and prospects. In addition, non-GAAP financial measures are used by management for forecasting, facilitating ongoing operating decisions, and measuring the Company’s overall performance. The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures align closely with its internal measurement processes and are reflective of the Company’s core operating results.

Specifically, the non-GAAP information for the second and first quarters of 2019, the year to date period in 2019, and the second quarter of 2018, as presented, exclude certain acquisition-related expenses, primarily consisting of due diligence costs, the amortization of intangible assets, and changes in the value of earn-out payments upon the achievement of certain financial targets from the acquisitions of Soft Company and Tech-IT. The Company believes these costs are not indicative of its core operating results.

About CTG

CTG provides industry-specific IT services and solutions that address the business needs and challenges of clients in high-growth industries in North America and Western Europe. CTG also provides strategic staffing services for major technology companies and large corporations. Backed by more than 50 years of experience and proprietary methodologies, CTG has a proven track record of reliably delivering high-value, industry-specific staffing services and solutions to its clients. CTG has operations in North America, Western Europe, and India. The Company regularly posts news and other important information online at www.ctg.com.