Forrester Research Reports 2025 Fourth-Quarter And Full-Year Financial Results
MWN-AI** Summary
Forrester Research, Inc. (Nasdaq: FORR) reported its fourth-quarter and full-year financial results for 2025, indicating a challenging period as contract value (CV) decreased by 6% to $292.4 million year-over-year. CEO George F. Colony acknowledged the mixed performance, highlighting improvements in cash flow, client retention, and client count, fueled in part by the introduction of Forrester AI Access, a new self-service offering. However, the overall financial results did not meet expectations, leading to a restructuring aimed at boosting cost efficiency and enhancing CV growth.
In the fourth quarter, total revenues declined to $101.1 million from $108.0 million in Q4 2024. The company reported a GAAP net loss of $33.9 million or $1.78 per diluted share, significantly down from a slight net income of $0.4 million in Q4 2024. This loss incorporates a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $26.8 million. Adjusted for certain items, the net income stood at $3.2 million or $0.17 per diluted share.
For the full year, Forrester's total revenues were $396.9 million, a decrease from $432.5 million in 2024. The net loss for the year was reported at $119.4 million or $6.28 per diluted share, significantly deepened from the previous year's loss of $5.7 million. On an adjusted basis, net income was $22.2 million, down from $28.1 million in 2024.
Looking ahead, Forrester provided financial guidance for 2026, projecting total revenues between $345 million and $360 million, reflecting a decline of 9% to 13%. The company aims to leverage AI integrations and improve customer retention to drive future growth.
MWN-AI** Analysis
Forrester Research's financial results for the fourth quarter and the full year of 2025 reflect a concerning performance, underscored by a 6% decline in contract value (CV) year-over-year, down to $292.4 million. The company reported a significant net loss of $33.9 million for Q4, aggravated by a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $26.8 million. Despite increases in cash flow, client retention, and client count—driven partly by the introduction of Forrester AI Access—these results fell short of management's expectations and hint at deeper underlying issues that could affect investor confidence.
Looking ahead, Forrester's guidance for 2026 anticipates total revenues between $345 million and $360 million, translating to a potential decline of 9% to 13% compared to 2025. This projection includes operating losses and highlights a restructuring initiative aimed at improving cost efficiency and focusing on CV growth. In this context, investors should closely monitor Forrester's strategic execution and how effectively it integrates AI into its offerings.
From a market perspective, this presents both risks and opportunities. The company's initiative to leverage AI indicates a commitment to innovation and addressing client demands in an evolving digital landscape. However, with a lowered guidance and continuous net losses, cautious investors may consider waiting for clearer signs of recovery or stabilization before initiating or expanding positions in Forrester shares.
For current shareholders, it may be prudent to reassess holdings, especially in light of declining revenues and increased restructuring costs. Potential investors might view Forrester as a speculative play, dependent on the successful realization of its AI strategy and improvements in client retention rates. Overall, investors should maintain vigilance on quarterly updates that could provide insights into the company’s recovery trajectory.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
Forrester Research, Inc. (Nasdaq: FORR) today announced fourth-quarter and full-year financial results for 2025, with contract value (CV) down by 6%, at $292.4 million, compared with the prior year.
Commenting on the results, George F. Colony, Forrester’s CEO and chairman, stated: “While we saw areas of momentum in cash flow, client retention, and client count — partly fueled by the launch of Forrester AI Access, our new self-service offering — our fourth-quarter and full-year financials fell short of expectations. As a result, we announced a restructuring this week to improve our cost efficiency, focus on CV growth, and inform the 2026 guidance.
“To drive CV growth, we will continue to refine our go-to-market execution, advance measures that drive stronger customer retention, and accelerate the integration of AI across our product portfolio. We are focused on enabling clients to navigate AI-driven business and technology challenges through trusted research, proprietary data, human expertise, and AI-powered capabilities.”
Fourth-Quarter Consolidated Results
Total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2025 were $101.1 million, compared with $108.0 million for the comparable quarter in 2024.
On a GAAP basis, net loss was $33.9 million, or $1.78 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2025, compared with net income of $0.4 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, for the same period in 2024. The net loss in the fourth quarter of 2025 includes a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $26.8 million, representing a loss of $1.41 per diluted share.
On an adjusted basis, net income was $3.2 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2025, reflecting an adjusted effective tax rate of 29%. Adjusted net income excludes stock-based compensation of $2.4 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of $2.1 million, restructuring costs of $9.8 million, a goodwill impairment charge of $26.8 million, and investment gains of $0.1 million. This compares with adjusted net income of $6.8 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, for the same period in 2024, which reflects an adjusted tax rate of 29%. Adjusted net income for the fourth quarter of 2024 excludes stock-based compensation of $3.1 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of $2.2 million, restructuring costs of $4.1 million, and investment gains of $0.8 million.
Year Ended December 31, 2025, Financial Performance
Total revenues were $396.9 million, compared with $432.5 million for the same period in 2024.
On a GAAP basis, net loss was $119.4 million, or $6.28 per diluted share, for 2025, compared with a net loss of $5.7 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, for 2024. The net loss in 2025 includes non-cash goodwill impairment charges of $110.7 million, representing a loss of $5.80 per diluted share.
On an adjusted basis, net income was $22.2 million, or $1.16 per diluted share, for 2025, which reflects an adjusted effective tax rate of 29%. Adjusted net income excludes stock-based compensation of $12.3 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of $8.7 million, restructuring costs of $11.7 million, a credit loss on the note receivable from the divesture of a product line in 2024 of $7.3 million, and goodwill impairment charges of $110.7 million. This compares with adjusted net income of $28.1 million, or $1.47 per diluted share, for 2024, which reflects an adjusted tax rate of 29%. Adjusted net income for 2024 excludes stock-based compensation of $14.3 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of $9.6 million, restructuring costs of $11.8 million, a loss from the sale of a divested product line and transaction costs of $2.0 million, and investment gains of $0.8 million.
Additional details regarding key metrics can be found in the investor presentation on the investor relations section of the company’s website.
A reconciliation of GAAP results to adjusted results may be found in the attached financial tables.
2026 Guidance
Forrester is providing full-year 2026 financial guidance as follows:
Full-Year 2026 (GAAP):
- Total revenues of approximately $345.0 million to $360.0 million, or a decline of 13% to 9% versus the prior year
- Operating margin of approximately negative 0.8% to negative 0.3%
- Interest expense of approximately $2.3 million
- An effective tax rate of negative 20% to negative 15%
- Diluted loss per share of approximately $0.20 to $0.10
Full-Year 2026 (Adjusted):
Adjusted financial guidance for full-year 2026 excludes stock-based compensation expense of $11.0 million to $12.0 million, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets of approximately $8.3 million, restructuring costs of $3.5 million to $4.0 million, and any investment gains or losses.
- Adjusted operating margin of approximately 6.0% to 6.5%
- Adjusted effective tax rate of 29%
- Adjusted diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.72 to $0.82
About Forrester
Forrester (Nasdaq: FORR) is one of the most influential research and advisory firms in the world. We empower leaders in technology, customer experience, digital, marketing, sales, and product functions to be bold at work and accelerate growth through customer obsession. Our unique research and continuous guidance model helps executives and their teams achieve their initiatives and outcomes faster and with confidence. To learn more, visit Forrester.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, Forrester’s financial guidance for the full-year 2026 and statements about planned actions to drive CV growth and Forrester’s future financial performance and financial condition. These statements are based on Forrester’s current plans and expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future activities and results of operations to be materially different from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual future activities and results to differ include, among others, Forrester’s ability to retain and enrich memberships for its research products and services, including the migration of its existing clients into its Forrester Decisions portfolio of services; Forrester’s ability to fulfill existing or generate new consulting engagements and advisory services; any adverse economic conditions that result in a reduction in technology spending or demand for Forrester’s products or services; the risks and challenges inherent in international business activities; the use of generative AI in Forrester’s business and by Forrester’s clients and competitors; Forrester’s ability to offer new products and services; Forrester’s dependence on key personnel; Forrester’s ability to attract and retain professional staff; Forrester’s ability to respond to business and economic conditions and market trends; Forrester’s business with the US government; the impact of Forrester’s outstanding debt obligations; competition and industry consolidation; possible variations in Forrester’s quarterly operating results; concentration of ownership of Forrester; the possibility of network disruptions and security breaches; any failure to enforce and protect Forrester’s intellectual property rights; compliance with privacy laws; taxation risks; any weakness in Forrester’s system of internal controls; and any future impairment charge Forrester incurs. Forrester undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. For further information, please refer to Forrester’s reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The consolidated statements of operations and the table of key financial data are attached.
© 2026, Forrester Research, Inc. All rights reserved. Forrester is a trademark of Forrester Research, Inc.
| Forrester Research, Inc. | ||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated Statements of Operations | ||||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Year Ended | |||||||||||||||
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||||||||||
2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||||||||||
| Revenues: | ||||||||||||||||
| Research | $ | 76,615 | $ | 79,425 | $ | 295,607 | $ | 316,739 | ||||||||
| Consulting | 21,788 | 25,933 | 88,192 | 97,254 | ||||||||||||
| Events | 2,655 | 2,683 | 13,089 | 18,477 | ||||||||||||
| Total revenues | 101,058 | 108,041 | 396,888 | 432,470 | ||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Cost of services and fulfillment | 43,751 | 44,506 | 170,717 | 182,534 | ||||||||||||
| Selling and marketing | 40,448 | 41,673 | 149,479 | 159,621 | ||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 13,757 | 14,584 | 52,664 | 58,818 | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation | 1,354 | 1,482 | 6,025 | 7,561 | ||||||||||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | 2,094 | 2,217 | 8,745 | 9,648 | ||||||||||||
| Goodwill impairment | 26,812 | — | 110,707 | — | ||||||||||||
| Restructuring costs | 9,837 | 4,130 | 11,724 | 11,773 | ||||||||||||
| Loss from sale of divested operation | — | — | — | 1,775 | ||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 138,053 | 108,592 | 510,061 | 431,730 | ||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from operations | (36,995 | ) | (551 | ) | (113,173 | ) | 740 | |||||||||
| Interest expense | (654 | ) | (716 | ) | (2,680 | ) | (3,011 | ) | ||||||||
| Other income, net | 999 | 1,378 | 3,752 | 4,094 | ||||||||||||
| Credit loss expense on note receivable | — | — | (7,310 | ) | — | |||||||||||
| Gains on investments, net | 116 | 814 | 2 | 814 | ||||||||||||
| Income (loss) before income taxes | (36,534 | ) | 925 | (119,409 | ) | 2,637 | ||||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | (2,659 | ) | 493 | (49 | ) | 8,384 | ||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (33,875 | ) | $ | 432 | $ | (119,360 | ) | $ | (5,747 | ) | |||||
| Basic income (loss) per common share | $ | (1.78 | ) | $ | 0.02 | $ | (6.28 | ) | $ | (0.30 | ) | |||||
| Diluted income (loss) per common share | $ | (1.78 | ) | $ | 0.02 | $ | (6.28 | ) | $ | (0.30 | ) | |||||
| Basic weighted average common shares outstanding | 19,001 | 18,934 | 19,017 | 19,094 | ||||||||||||
| Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding | 19,001 | 18,942 | 19,017 | 19,094 | ||||||||||||
| Adjusted data (1): | ||||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from operations - GAAP | $ | (36,995 | ) | $ | (551 | ) | $ | (113,173 | ) | $ | 740 | |||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | 2,094 | 2,217 | 8,745 | 9,648 | ||||||||||||
| Restructuring costs | 9,837 | 4,130 | 11,724 | 11,773 | ||||||||||||
| Goodwill impairment | 26,812 | — | 110,707 | — | ||||||||||||
| Loss from sale of divested operation and transaction costs | — | — | — | 1,994 | ||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation included in the following expense categories: | ||||||||||||||||
| Cost of services and fulfillment | 1,978 | 1,923 | 8,376 | 8,700 | ||||||||||||
| Selling and marketing | (47 | ) | 479 | 866 | 2,164 | |||||||||||
| General and administrative | 494 | 739 | 3,014 | 3,479 | ||||||||||||
| Adjusted income from operations | $ | 4,173 | $ | 8,937 | $ | 30,259 | $ | 38,498 |
| Three Months Ended | Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 31, | December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount | Per Share | Amount | Per Share | Amount | Per Share | Amount | Per Share | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) - GAAP | $ | (33,875 | ) | $ | (1.78 | ) | $ | 432 | $ | 0.02 | $ | (119,360 | ) | $ | (6.28 | ) | $ | (5,747 | ) | $ | (0.30 | ) | ||||||||||
| Effect on GAAP net loss of diluted shares | — | — | 0.03 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | 2,094 | 0.11 | 2,217 | 0.12 | 8,745 | 0.46 | 9,648 | 0.50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring costs | 9,837 | 0.52 | 4,130 | 0.22 | 11,724 | 0.61 | 11,773 | 0.62 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Goodwill impairment | 26,812 | 1.41 | — | — | 110,707 | 5.80 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss from sale of divested operation and transaction costs | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1,994 | 0.10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | 2,425 | 0.13 | 3,141 | 0.17 | 12,256 | 0.64 | 14,343 | 0.75 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit loss expense on note receivable | — | — | — | — | 7,310 | 0.38 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gains on investments | (116 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (814 | ) | (0.04 | ) | (2 | ) | — | (814 | ) | (0.04 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| Tax effects of items above (2) | (3,549 | ) | (0.19 | ) | (2,189 | ) | (0.12 | ) | (8,411 | ) | (0.44 | ) | (3,856 | ) | (0.20 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| Adjustment to tax expense for adjusted tax rate (3) | (421 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (101 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (725 | ) | (0.04 | ) | 762 | 0.04 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted net income | $ | 3,207 | 0.17 | $ | 6,816 | $ | 0.36 | $ | 22,244 | 1.16 | $ | 28,103 | $ | 1.47 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted weighted average shares outstanding | 19,003 | 18,942 | 19,094 | 19,124 |
| (1) Forrester believes that adjusted financial results provide investors with consistent and comparable information to aid in the understanding of Forrester's ongoing business and are also used by Forrester in making compensation decisions. Our adjusted presentation excludes amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, stock-based compensation, restructuring costs, goodwill impairment charges, a loss from the sale of a divested operation and related transaction costs and a subsequent credit loss on a promissory note from the sale, and net gains or losses from investments, as well as their related tax effects. We also utilized an assumed tax rate of 29% in 2025 and 2024, which excludes items such as the effect of any adjustments related to the filing of prior-year tax returns. The adjusted data does not purport to be prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States. |
| (2) The tax effect of adjusting items is based on the accounting treatment and rate for the jurisdiction of each item. |
| (3) To compute adjusted net income, we apply an adjusted effective tax rate of 29% in 2025 and 2024. |
| Forrester Research, Inc. | |||||||||
| Key Financial Data | |||||||||
| (Unaudited, dollars in thousands) | |||||||||
| December 31, | December 31, | ||||||||
2025 | 2024 | ||||||||
| Balance sheet data: | |||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable investments | $ | 127,656 | $ | 104,669 | |||||
| Accounts receivable, net | $ | 50,850 | $ | 55,490 | |||||
| Deferred revenue | $ | 141,812 | $ | 145,404 | |||||
| Debt outstanding | $ | 35,000 | $ | 35,000 | |||||
| Year Ended | |||||||||
| December 31, | |||||||||
2025 | 2024 | ||||||||
| Cash flow data: | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | 21,081 | $ | (3,861 | ) | ||||
| Purchases of property and equipment | $ | (2,987 | ) | $ | (3,400 | ) | |||
| Repayments of debt | $ | — | $ | — | |||||
| Repurchases of common stock | $ | (2,540 | ) | $ | (15,920 | ) | |||
| As of | |||||||||
| December 31, | |||||||||
2025 | 2024 | ||||||||
| Metrics: | |||||||||
| Contract value | $ | 292,400 | $ | 311,900 | (a) | ||||
| Client retention | 77 | % | 73 | % | |||||
| Wallet retention | 87 | % | 89 | % | |||||
| Number of clients | 1,797 | 1,942 | |||||||
| As of | |||||||||
| December 31, | |||||||||
2025 | 2024 | ||||||||
| Headcount: | |||||||||
| Total headcount | 1,474 | 1,571 | |||||||
| Sales force | 553 | 580 | |||||||
| (a) December 31, 2024 amounts have been recast based on 2026 foreign currency rates. |
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260212393881/en/
Ed Bryce Morris
VP, Corporate Development & Investor Relations
Forrester Research, Inc.
+1 617-613-6565
ebrycemorris@forrester.com
Shweta Agarwal
VP, Corporate Communications
Forrester Research, Inc.
+1 617-613-6805
sagarwal@forrester.com
FAQ**
What specific strategies does Forrester Research Inc. (FORR) plan to implement to enhance client retention and drive contract value growth in 2026 after the recent restructuring?
How does Forrester Research Inc. (FORR) intend to leverage AI capabilities to improve its product offerings and address client challenges following the decline in revenues for 2025?
Considering the financial results, how does Forrester Research Inc. (FORR) plan to address the significant goodwill impairment charge and regain investor confidence moving into 2026?
What factors does Forrester Research Inc. (FORR) anticipate could affect its financial projections for 2026, particularly in terms of revenues and operating margins?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Forrester Research Inc. (NASDAQ: FORR).
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