Korn Ferry Q1 Revenue Rises Five Percent to $708.6 Million as Executive Search and Interim Lead Gains

September 9, 2025 – Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) has posted Q1 fiscal-year 2026 revenues of $708.6 million, an increase of five percent year-over-year at actual, and four percent at constant currency. Fee revenue grew year-over-year in each solution, led by professional search & interim (10 percent actual) and executive search (eight percent actual).

“I am pleased with our company’s performance,” said Gary D. Burnison, CEO of Korn Ferry. “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. Today we are driving performance with a far more sophisticated, holistic approach that brings together our expertise, robust IP and relevant solutions in every major region of the world to solve our clients’ most pressing challenges. When one considers our diversification strategy and the demographic shifts alone, the opportunity for Korn Ferry is immense.”

Net income attributable to Korn Ferry was $66.6 million with a margin of 9.4 percent in Q1 FY’26, compared to net income attributable to Korn Ferry of $62.6 million with a margin of 9.3 percent, in Q1 FY’25, an increase of 10bps compared to the year-ago quarter. Net income attributable to Korn Ferry increased from the year-ago quarter primarily due to an increase in fee revenue.

Consulting fee revenue was $170 million in Q1 FY’26 compared to $167.9 million in Q1 FY’25, an increase of $2.1 million or one percent. The year-over-year increase in Consulting fee revenue was primarily driven by a nine percent increase in average bill rates, resulting from the continuing shift to larger and longer duration engagements, partially offset by slower client consumption of backlog engagements.

Executive search fee revenue was $224.3 million in Q1 FY’26 compared to $208.6 million in Q1 FY’25, an increase of $15.7 million or eight percent (up six percent at constant currency). The year-over-year increase in fee revenue was primarily driven by an increase in the number of engagements billed. The firm experienced fee revenue growth in EMEA, North America and APAC regions.

Selected Professional Search & Interim Data

Fee revenue was $133.9 million in Q1 FY’26 compared to $121.7 million in Q1 FY’25, an increase of $12.2 million or 10 percent in both actual and constant currency. Fee revenue increased primarily due to higher fee revenue from interim associated with the acquisition of Trilogy International effective November 1, 2024.

Related: Korn Ferry Acquires Trilogy International

Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) recorded fee revenue of $91.3 million in Q1 FY’26 compared to $88.5 million in Q1 FY’25, an increase of $2.8 million or three percent (up one percent at constant currency). RPO fee revenue increased primarily due to new logo clients in North America.

Korn Ferry also announced that it has been recognized for excellence across multiple regions by Everest Group’s Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) Services PEAK Matrix Assessment. “We’re honored to be recognized by Everest Group for our continued leadership in RPO—reflecting the trust our clients place in us to drive meaningful impact throughout their talent journey,” said Jeanne MacDonald, CEO of Recruitment Process Outsourcing at Korn Ferry. “In a constantly evolving market, our clients rely on us for clarity, agility, and results. We respond to those needs with our consulting expertise in building resilient, future-ready workforces, as well as our AI-powered Korn Ferry Nimble Recruit platform that enables smarter, faster talent decisions.”

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The Los Angeles-headquartered executive recruiter and leadership consultant – the largest globally and in the Americas as ranked by Hunt Scanlon Media – also recently repurchased 145,770 shares of stock during the quarter for $9.9 million. “We are pleased to initiate another quarterly cash dividend as part of our balanced capital allocation strategy,” said Mr. Burnison. “This move reflects our confidence in the strength, diversification and durability of our business, and a disciplined operational approach.”

Outlook

Assuming worldwide geopolitical conditions, economic conditions, financial markets and foreign exchange rates remain steady, on a consolidated basis Korn Ferry anticipates Q2 FY’26 fee revenue to be in the range of $690 million and $710 million; and Q2 FY’26 diluted earnings per share is expected to range between $1.10 to $1.16. On a consolidated adjusted basis Korn Ferry anticipates Q2 FY’26 adjusted diluted earnings per share to be in the range from $1.23 to $1.33.

Korn Ferry is a Los Angeles-headquartered executive recruiter and leadership consultant and the largest globally and in the Americas. The firm’s 8,600 colleagues serve clients in more than 50 countries.

Related: Korn Ferry Names Chief Information Officer

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor  – Hunt Scanlon Media