Korn Ferry
- Open
- 81.36
- Day high
- 82.08
- Day low
- 80.75
- Prev close
- 82.11
- Volume
- 147K
- Mkt cap
- $4.2B
- P/E (TTM)
- 15.3
- EPS (TTM)
- $5.35
- P/B
- 2.1
- P/S
- 1.4
- Yield
- 2.51%
- Per share
- $2.06
- ▼Insiders net selling -$704K over the last 3 months (0 open-market buys, 3 sales)
- 🏛Institutions mixed (13F)
Korn Ferry (KFY) is a Industrials company listed on NYSE. The stock is up 18% over the past year. Over the trailing 3 months, insiders filed 0 open-market buys and 3 sales (SEC Form 4).
Korn Ferry (KFY) financials & analyst ratings
Fundamentals (TTM)
Analyst consensus · 3 analysts
Source: exchange market data + company filings. Figures are trailing-twelve-month or as most recently reported. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
KFY earnings date, history & EPS estimates
| Report date | EPS est | EPS actual | Surprise | Revenue | Rev. surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 23, 2026 | $1.37 | $1.40 | +2.2% | $760M | +2.2% |
| Mar 9, 2026 | $1.24 | $1.28 | +3.2% | $725M | -2.3% |
| Dec 9, 2025 | $1.31 | $1.33 | +1.5% | $730M | +3.4% |
| Sep 9, 2025 | $1.24 | $1.31 | +5.6% | $716M | +1.6% |
| Jun 18, 2025 | $1.26 | $1.32 | +4.8% | $720M | +4.3% |
| Mar 11, 2025 | $1.13 | $1.19 | +5.3% | $677M | -2.0% |
| Dec 5, 2024 | $1.21 | $1.21 | +0.0% | $682M | +1.0% |
| Sep 5, 2024 | $1.12 | $1.18 | +5.4% | $683M | +2.8% |
| Jun 13, 2024 | $1.12 | $1.26 | +12.5% | $700M | +1.8% |
| Mar 6, 2024 | $0.99 | $1.07 | +8.1% | $677M | -2.0% |
| Dec 6, 2023 | $0.96 | $0.97 | +1.0% | $712M | +3.7% |
| Sep 7, 2023 | $0.91 | $0.99 | +8.8% | $706M | +3.1% |
KFY insider trading activity (SEC Form 4)
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2026 | MARTINEZ ANGEL Rdirector | Sell | 3,740 | $79.00 |
| Jul 16, 2026 | Uren Lesleyofficer: CEO of Consulting | Sell | 2,000 | $78.75 |
| Jul 16, 2026 | Distefano Michaelofficer: See Remarks | Sell | 3,370 | $74.55 |
| Jul 14, 2026 | ROZEK ROBERT Pofficer: EVP, CFO & CCO | Grant | 28,030 | — |
| Jul 14, 2026 | MacDonald Jeanneofficer: CEO RPO | Tax | 3,701 | $75.39 |
| Jul 14, 2026 | Distefano Michaelofficer: See Remarks | Tax | 5,926 | $75.39 |
| Jul 14, 2026 | BURNISON GARY Ddirector, officer: CEO | Tax | 31,427 | $75.39 |
| Jul 14, 2026 | BURNISON GARY Ddirector, officer: CEO | Grant | 152,010 | — |
| Jul 14, 2026 | ROZEK ROBERT Pofficer: EVP, CFO & CCO | Tax | 26,507 | $75.39 |
| Jul 14, 2026 | Distefano Michaelofficer: See Remarks | Tax | 18,200 | $75.39 |
| Jul 14, 2026 | BURNISON GARY Ddirector, officer: CEO | Tax | 77,343 | $75.39 |
| Jul 14, 2026 | MacDonald Jeanneofficer: CEO RPO | Grant | 16,750 | — |
| Jul 14, 2026 | ROZEK ROBERT Pofficer: EVP, CFO & CCO | Tax | 9,984 | $75.39 |
| Jul 14, 2026 | ROZEK ROBERT Pofficer: EVP, CFO & CCO | Grant | 62,590 | — |
| Jul 14, 2026 | Uren Lesleyofficer: CEO of Consulting | Grant | 13,700 | — |
Source: KFY SEC Form 4 filings, latest Jul 17, 2026. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
See the full KFY insider & 13F page →Korn Ferry company profile
Overview
Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) is a global organizational consulting firm founded in 1969 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Originally established as an executive search firm, the company has evolved over its five-decade history into a diversified talent and organizational advisory services provider. The company went public in 1999 and changed its name from Korn/Ferry International to Korn Ferry in January 2019. Today, Korn Ferry serves public and private companies, middle market and emerging growth companies, as well as government and non-profit organizations worldwide through its integrated suite of talent acquisition, leadership development, and organizational consulting services.
Business
Korn Ferry operates in the organizational consulting and talent services industry, providing comprehensive solutions to help companies optimize their human capital and organizational effectiveness. The company operates through four primary business segments that collectively address the full spectrum of talent and organizational needs. Executive Search represents the company's traditional core business, generating approximately 30% of total revenue. This segment provides executive search services to recruit board-level directors, chief executives, senior executives, and general management talent for organizations. Executive search involves identifying, evaluating, and placing high-level executives in critical leadership positions, typically commanding fees of 25-35% of the placed executive's first-year compensation. Consulting accounts for roughly 25% of revenue and offers organizational strategy services, leadership assessment and succession planning, professional development programs, and total rewards consulting. This segment helps organizations design their structure, define roles and capabilities, develop leadership pipelines, and create compensation and benefits strategies. Consulting engagements can range from strategic transformation projects to ongoing advisory relationships. Digital represents about 13% of revenue and provides technology-enabled solutions including software platforms, assessments, and data analytics tools. The Korn Ferry Digital segment offers solutions like talent management software, leadership development platforms, and organizational assessment tools. A significant portion of this segment's revenue comes from subscription and licensing models, providing more predictable recurring revenue streams. Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) and Professional Search combined generate approximately 32% of revenue. RPO involves outsourcing a client's entire recruitment function, where Korn Ferry acts as the client's internal recruiting department. Professional Search focuses on placing mid-level professionals and specialists, while the newer Interim division provides temporary executive and professional staffing services. This segment has grown significantly through acquisitions and organic expansion.
Revenue model
Korn Ferry generates revenue through multiple business models across its service portfolio. The Executive Search business operates on a retained search model, typically charging fees equivalent to 25-35% of the placed executive's first-year total compensation, with fees often ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 per search. These fees are usually paid in installments regardless of successful placement, providing upfront cash flow. The Consulting segment operates on a project-based fee structure, with engagements ranging from smaller assessments to multi-million dollar transformation projects. The company has been focusing on larger, more impactful consulting engagements, with projects over $2.5 million having tripled in recent periods. Consulting work is typically billed on a time-and-materials basis or fixed-fee arrangements. The Digital business model combines one-time licensing fees with recurring subscription revenue. Approximately 35-40% of Digital segment revenue comes from subscription and licensing arrangements, providing predictable recurring income. The remaining revenue comes from implementation services and custom development work. RPO operates on a cost-plus model where clients pay for the full cost of their recruitment function plus a management fee. Professional Search uses a contingency model with fees typically 15-25% of placed candidate's first-year compensation. The Interim business charges daily or weekly rates for temporary executive and professional placements. Several factors influence Korn Ferry's margins and profitability. Economic cycles significantly impact demand, particularly for executive search and consulting services, as companies reduce discretionary spending during downturns. Labor market conditions affect both demand for services and the company's own talent costs, with wage inflation pressuring margins. Competition from strategy consulting firms, Big Four accounting firms, and boutique search firms can pressure pricing. Technology adoption and AI integration present opportunities to improve productivity and margins while requiring ongoing investment. The company's shift toward larger accounts and cross-selling helps improve margins through economies of scale and higher-value engagements.
Competitive moat
Korn Ferry's competitive moat is moderately strong but faces ongoing challenges from various directions. The company's primary moat stems from its extensive proprietary database and intellectual property, accumulated over five decades of executive placements and organizational consulting engagements. This database includes detailed profiles of executives, compensation benchmarks, and organizational best practices that would be difficult for competitors to replicate quickly. The firm benefits from strong client relationships and brand recognition, particularly in executive search where trust and reputation are paramount. Many clients have multi-year relationships spanning multiple business lines, with cross-referrals representing 25-30% of total revenue. The company's focus on "marquee and regional accounts" - approximately 350 clients out of 14,000 total - provides deeper relationships and higher switching costs. Network effects provide some protection, as Korn Ferry's extensive global presence and candidate network become more valuable as they grow. The company's ability to identify and access senior executive talent globally creates barriers for smaller competitors. However, the moat faces several threats. Technology disruption poses risks, particularly in professional search where AI-powered platforms and LinkedIn-type services can commoditize talent identification. Competition from consulting giants like McKinsey, Bain, and Big Four firms in the higher-margin consulting space pressures pricing and market share. Boutique specialists can compete effectively in niche markets or specific geographies. The cyclical nature of the business means that during economic downturns, clients may delay searches or handle them internally, reducing switching costs. The company's diversification across multiple service lines provides some protection, but also means competing in different markets with varying competitive dynamics. Overall, Korn Ferry has a reasonable but not insurmountable moat that requires continuous investment in technology, talent, and client relationships to maintain.
Risks & safety
Korn Ferry demonstrates a strong margin of safety with robust financial fundamentals and conservative capital structure. • Liquidity position: $779 million in cash and short-term investments with minimal debt, providing substantial financial flexibility • Debt levels: Debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, indicating conservative leverage • Cash generation: Strong free cash flow of $196 million in Q3 2025, with consistent positive operating cash flow • Current ratio: 1.90, indicating solid short-term liquidity • Solvency risk: Very low given strong balance sheet and cash position • Valuation metrics: - P/E ratio of 15.6x appears reasonable for a cyclical services business - EV/EBITDA of 7.9x suggests modest valuation - Price-to-book ratio of 2.04x reflects asset-light business model - Graham number of $29.74 vs. current price of $67.27 suggests potential overvaluation by traditional value metrics • Other considerations: Consistent dividend payments with recent 30% increase, strong EBITDA margins of 17.1%, and diversified revenue streams provide additional safety. However, cyclical nature of business and economic sensitivity present ongoing risks.
Recent development
Over the past few years, Korn Ferry has executed a strategic transformation focused on diversification and integration across its service lines. The company has significantly expanded beyond its traditional executive search roots, with Professional Search and Interim services growing from a small division to a $400+ million annual run rate business through acquisitions like Patina Solutions Group and Trilogy International. The Digital transformation has been a key focus, with the company launching the Korn Ferry Talent Suite, an integrated HR software platform that combines various digital tools and assessments. The Digital segment has shifted toward a more subscription-based model, with recurring revenue now representing 35-40% of the segment's total revenue, providing greater predictability. Cross-selling and account integration has become a central strategy, with cross-line business referrals reaching 25-30% of total consolidated fee revenue. The company has concentrated on "marquee and regional accounts" - approximately 350 key clients that now represent 39% of total revenue - allowing for deeper relationships and larger, more complex engagements. The consulting business evolution has seen a shift toward larger, more impactful engagements, with projects over $2.5 million tripling in recent periods. The company is increasingly competing against strategy consulting firms and Big Four accounting firms for transformation and organizational performance projects. Technology and AI integration has become a priority, with the company investing in proprietary data, assessment tools, and responsible AI implementation across its service offerings. Recent margin improvements to 17.1% EBITDA reflect operational efficiency gains and the strategic pivot toward higher-value, more profitable work.
KFY company profile · for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
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