| Factor | Score | Distribution | Value | Avg | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Valuation | 81 | 14.6x | 17.8x | Top tier | |
Growth | 40 | 6.9% | 7.1% | Bottom tier | |
Quality | 55 | 11.0% | 4.5% | Around median | |
Safety | 77 | — | 2.6x | Top tier | |
Capital Return | 67 | 2.65% | 2.12% | Top tier | |
Momentum | 80 | 10.3% | 2.9% | Top tier | |
Sentiment | 36 | 3 | 3 | Bottom tier |
Estimates — analyst targets and a simplified DCF, not investment advice.
Ten ratios that matter, each compared against its sector median and average — so you can see whether a number is rich or cheap relative to peers in the same sector.
Korn Ferry operates in talent and organizational consulting and generates revenue from three solution groups across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. These groups include Executive and Professional Search, Talent and Organizational Solutions, which comprise consulting and digital services, and Workforce Solutions, which comprise outsourced recruitment RPO and contingent labor. Following the completion of the combination with AMS in early September 2026, the combined company had approximately 17,000 employees across more than 130 offices, with additional capabilities in contingent workforce, early-career and campus recruitment, and technology consulting.
In Q1 FY2027, fee revenue reached $756 million, up 7% year over year and marking the sixth consecutive quarter of growth, while EDGAR data reported revenue of $764.6 million, net income of $69 million, and diluted earnings per share of $1.32. On an adjusted basis, earnings per share were $1.43, up 9% year over year, and adjusted EBITDA increased 7% to $128 million, with its margin remaining stable at 17%. Fee revenue in the Americas was $442 million, up 9%; in EMEA, approximately $228 million, up 4%; and in APAC, approximately $87 million, up 1%.
Korn Ferry ended Q1 FY2027 with estimated remaining fees under existing contracts of $1.92 billion, of which it expects to recognize approximately $1.1 billion over the following four quarters and $835 million thereafter. Marquee and Diamond accounts represented approximately 40% of fee revenue, while internal referrals rose to 29.4% of revenue, an increase of approximately 300 basis points year over year. On a trailing-twelve-month basis through FY2027, EDGAR data reported revenue of $3 billion, net income of $279.8 million, and earnings per share of approximately $5.45.
Automated analysis for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
The average analyst price target is $83.5, within a wide range of $75 to $94, against a consensus rating of “Buy”; the average is approximately 4.6% below the 52-week range high of $87.51. Data published on September 9, 2026, indicated a price-to-earnings multiple of approximately 15.2 times and a free-cash-flow yield of approximately 8%, but the valuation should also reflect Q2 FY2027 earnings guidance below the LSEG forecast and the risks of integrating AMS.
Figures in the text are as of 2026-09-10; the live price is shown at the top of the page.
Fee revenue increased 7% year over year to $756 million, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of growth, while new business increased 12%. The Americas grew 9% to $442 million, EMEA grew 4% to $228 million, and APAC grew 1% to $87 million. Search and Workforce Solutions were among the strongest businesses, with growth rates ranging from 10% to 11%, while new RPO wins totaled approximately $160 million.
Korn Ferry completed the combination with AMS in early September 2026, creating a combined company with approximately 17,000 employees across more than 130 offices. AMS adds capabilities in RPO, contingent workforce, early-career and campus recruitment, and technology consulting, along with pre-completion annual revenue estimated at approximately $650 million. Korn Ferry aims to increase AMS's annual EBITDA from $100 million to $140 million within one year of completion, with platform consolidation targeted for May 1, 2027.
Adjusted earnings per share of $1.43 exceeded the LSEG estimate of $1.36, while fee revenue of $756.5 million also exceeded the estimate of $739.4 million. However, the company guided to adjusted earnings per share of between $1.30 and $1.40 in Q2 FY2027, below the LSEG estimate of $1.46. This guidance includes the impact of two months of interest expense, intangible-asset amortization, and additional shares associated with the AMS transaction.
Estimated remaining fees under existing contracts totaled $1.92 billion at the end of Q1 FY2027. The company expects to recognize approximately $1.1 billion, or 56%, over the following four quarters and approximately $835 million thereafter. With AMS, the combined backlog increased to approximately $3.5 billion, while AMS's ten largest client relationships have an average duration of approximately 14 years.
Management said on the September 9, 2026, call that artificial intelligence helps the company provide broader information and richer candidate lists, but it has not materially changed search execution times. Korn Ferry draws on proprietary data that includes information on 30 million people, 30,000 companies, 113 million executive assessments, and more than 15,000 success profiles. Because of the sensitivity of this data, management emphasized that it is taking a highly cautious approach to artificial intelligence applications, while believing that the proliferation of polished résumés increases the importance of deeply assessing a candidate's identity and capabilities.
Korn Ferry paid $30 million in dividends during Q1 FY2027, alongside an investment of $15 million in capital expenditures. It declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.55 per share, payable on October 15, 2026, to shareholders of record on September 22, 2026. Following the AMS transaction, the company said it would favor using investable cash to reduce acquisition-related debt while continuing to monitor share-repurchase opportunities.
