Korn Ferry Posts Q1 Fiscal-Year 2027 Revenues of $756.5 Million
September 9, 2026 – Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has posted Q1 fiscal-year 2027 revenues of $756.5 million, an increase of seven percent year-over-year with growth in all regions. This marks the firm’s sixth consecutive quarter of top line growth. The growth was led by double digit growth in search and workforce solutions of 10 percent and 11 percent, respectively.In addition, first quarter diluted earnings per share was $1.32 and adjusted diluted earnings per share was $1.43.
“I am very pleased with our quarterly performance. This marks our sixth consecutive quarter of top-line growth, demonstrating the momentum and durability of our business, as well as the sustaining value we are creating for our clients,” said Gary D. Burnison, CEO of Korn Ferry. “With AMS now part of Korn Ferry, we have brought together two iconic brands to create a global leader in talent and organizational consulting. AMS is a world-class firm that complements and meaningfully expands our workforce solutions and propels our We Are Korn Ferry strategy—to be the world’s conductor of talent and organizational orchestration.”
“AMS brings profound operational capability, delivering technology-enabled talent solutions at scale, supported by long-term contracted client relationships,” he continued. “And at the heart of this combination is a belief that defines Korn Ferry: people are the catalyst for organizational success. I could not be more excited about our future.”
During the quarter, Korn Ferry also announced its board of directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.55 per share that will be payable on October 15, 2026 to shareholders of record on September 22, 2026.
“We are pleased to pay another quarterly dividend,” said Mr. Burnison. “Our continued return of capital to shareholders reflects the confidence we have in Korn Ferry’s strategic direction and long-term outlook. We remain focused on executing with discipline, investing in the opportunities that will drive sustainable impact and creating lasting value for our shareholders.”
Korn/Ferry shares have added about 24.3 percent since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500’s gain of 12.1 percent.
AMS Acquisition
Last week, Korn Ferry completed its acquisition of U.K.-headquartered AMS from OMERS Private Equity. The combined organization brings together two highly complementary organizations across geographies and industries with a shared commitment to drive business performance. The collective firm will have more than 16,000 colleagues. In accordance with the terms of the acquisition agreement and in the context of the lock-box structure of the transaction, at the closing, Korn Ferry paid a combination of approximately £473 million and $326 million in cash (as consideration to the sellers, in repayment of AMS’s indebtedness, and in satisfaction of other AMS transaction obligations) and issued 3,118,628 shares of Korn Ferry common stock to the sellers.
Related: Korn Ferry Launches New Talent Suite
“By bringing AMS into the Korn Ferry family, we are expanding our ability to help clients solve their most critical organizational challenges,” said Mr. Burnison. “Despite all of the technological innovations of yesterday, today and tomorrow, the real driver of organizational success is people. And with our AMS colleagues we will be stronger together than apart. Over almost 20 years I have watched AMS grow and evolve, with deep admiration and respect. I am convinced that the culture and values of both companies are completely aligned. And it all starts with people. This is indeed a significant milestone for Korn Ferry and I am excited about the future that we will shape together.”
For decades, executive search firms, RPO providers, leadership advisors, and consulting businesses largely operated as separate segments within the broader talent ecosystem. That distinction is disappearing. Organizations are asking fundamentally different questions than they were a decade ago. Rather than seeking isolated hiring solutions, they increasingly want partners capable of helping solve broader workforce challenges spanning executive hiring, organizational design, skills development, workforce planning, leadership assessment, and long-term capability building.
The M&A Predictions That Shaped 2026
Dealmakers entered 2026 expecting a resilient but more selective M&A market shaped by private equity exits, deeper diligence, and AI. With more than half the year behind us, Evan Berta, an associate at Hunt Scanlon Ventures, revisits Ansarada’s 2026 Global M&A Predictions Report to examine how those expectations are taking shape in the U.S. and globally, and what they could mean for dealmaking through the remainder of the year.
The Korn Ferry-AMS combination reflects that evolution. Rather than simply expanding service offerings, the acquisition strengthens Korn Ferry’s ability to support clients through every stage of workforce transformation, from leadership acquisition and organizational consulting to large-scale recruiting and workforce planning.
Looking Ahead
Assuming no further changes in worldwide geopolitical conditions, economic conditions, financial markets and foreign exchange rates, and including the addition of AMS for September and October, on a consolidated basis Korn Ferry anticipates Q2 fiscal year 2027 fee revenue to be in the range of $860 million and $878 million.
The firm expects Q2 fiscal year 2027 adjusted EBITDA margin is expected to range from 16.8 percent to 17.2 percent and Q2 fiscal year 2027 adjusted diluted earnings per share is expected to be in the range from $1.30 to $1.40.
Related: Korn Ferry Appoints Chief People and Legal Officer
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
