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KORN FERRY

KFY · Technology · $3.7B mkt cap · FY2026 filings · · Wide moat ·

Wonderful & reasonably priced

Wide moat
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The five investor questions

49

2022–2026 (latest 5 aligned FYs; v3 window cap 5): revenue $2.6B to $2.9B, increasing; diluted EPS 5.98 to 5.22, decreasing.

—

Not enough years of gross-margin data to score pricing power.

72

Median ROIC 14.3%, above the 12% hurdle in 90% of years.

100

Net cash position — no leverage risk.

100

Owner earnings changed +14.6%/yr over up to the ten most recent annual observations.

The pricingPower component abstained: Not enough years of gross-margin data to score pricing power. The other four 20% weights were renormalized over the scored 80%.

Price vs. value if growth stopped today

A cautious baseline, not a price target: what the shares may support if normalized owner earnings simply hold steady.

Above value if growth stopped todayBelow value if growth stopped today
25% above value if growth stopped today
$264M
$58.37
$94.57
$73.03
25% above value if growth stopped today

What today’s price assumes: owner earnings growing ~5%/yr over 5 years. The zero-growth estimate assumes owner earnings stay flat (0% growth).

How to read this

We solve for the constant annual change in owner earnings that would make the five-year zero-growth estimate equal today’s price. This keeps the existing model inputs and calculation unchanged; it is an expectations lens, not a forecast.

This zero-growth estimate assumes trailing owner earnings persist — unreliable for declining businesses. The recent FY revenue series does not trigger the three-consecutive-declines flag.

Among the current top-score group, the median current price is 243% above the zero-growth estimate across 49 of the current top 50 companies by Moat Score with both values.

Score records captured Oct 18, 2026.

Exactly which 50 companies?

FTNT, IBEX, META, MEDP, MSFT, GOOG, LULU, ANF, IDXX, TXRH, FHI, QLYS, FFIV, ADBE, LLY, MANH, CPRT, VEEV, RMD, GRMN, PCTY, EAT, UI, SSD, MNST, DOCS, LRCX, MCO, NTAP, NVDA, CORT, SFM, MPTI, ULTA, SN, ROL, CTAS, PAYC, IRMD, DECK, MORN, INTU, JKHY, TPR, LGCY, DAL, GWW, ISRG, MPWR, LOPE

Missing a usable price or zero-growth estimate: ANF.

Model details under moat-index@3.0.0: zero-growth multiple 11.1×, capped-growth comparison at no more than 18×; 9% discount rate; high-end growth 4% (capped at 4%) using min(5y revenue CAGR, 5y diluted-EPS CAGR), clamped to 0%–4%; maintenance capex uses min(capex, D&A); abstain when D&A is unavailable. This is a disclosed model range, not intrinsic value as fact.

19 years of fundamentals

The business, in plain English

Across the filed record, revenue grew from $600M (FY2010) to $2.9B (FY2026) — about 10.4% a year compounded over 16 years.

It earned 21.2% on invested capital in the latest filed year, FY2026. Across the full 17-year measurable filed record, median ROIC was 14.8%. Over the v3 recent window (10 measurable filed years), median ROIC was 14.3%. The Returns on Capital filter above scores it 72/100.

The balance sheet carried $399M of total debt in FY2026 against $286M of owner earnings — roughly 1.4 years of owner earnings to retire it all. Balance-Sheet Safety scores it 100/100.

This breakdown is generated from the filed numbers and sub-scores above — no outside narrative, no estimates. Where a filing doesn’t disclose an input, the sentence that would need it is omitted instead of guessed.

FY2008–FY2026 · 19 fiscal years, normalized from KFY’s SEC filings

Sales, as filed$2.9B FY2026
$0$2B2008201420202026
Revenue kept after cost of goods

Not disclosed in KFY’s filings for these years — we don’t estimate it.

Standard ROIC or separately labeled Operating ROICStandard ROIC 21.4% FY2026

Exact FY and FY-1 financing invested-capital inputs are required.

0%20%40%2008201420202026
Cash an owner could take out$286M FY2026
$0$200M2008201420202026

The explained ROIC gaps have filed inputs but no meaningful positive invested-capital denominator. Other gaps mean the item is not in the filings for that year. The series is never interpolated or estimated. The Table view lists every filed value, including operating and net margins, total debt, and share count.

Flagship explainer

How KORN FERRY makes its money

KORN FERRY's filing does not supply enough comparable lines for a truthful flow chart — here's what is filed:

Table alternative
Filed lineValue% of revenueSource
$2.9B100%
  • 10-K · FY 2026Filing detailsAccession 0000056679-26-000021 · filed Jun 26, 2026
$375M13%
  • 10-K · FY 2026Filing detailsAccession 0000056679-26-000021 · filed Jun 26, 2026
Income before tax$388M13%
  • 10-K · FY 2026Filing detailsAccession 0000056679-26-000021 · filed Jun 26, 2026
Income tax$108M4%
  • 10-K · FY 2026Filing detailsAccession 0000056679-26-000021 · filed Jun 26, 2026
$277M9%
  • 10-K · FY 2026Filing detailsAccession 0000056679-26-000021 · filed Jun 26, 2026
Source:
  • 10-K · FY 2026Filing detailsAccession 0000056679-26-000021 · filed Jun 26, 2026
· event Apr 30, 2026 · retrieved Oct 18, 2026 · annual-row source set

Flagship explainer

What KORN FERRY owns — and owes

KORN FERRY's filing tags don't support a full breakdown — here's what is filed:

Table alternative
Filed lineValue% of assetsSource
Total assets$4.1B100%
  • 10-K · FY 2026Filing detailsAccession 0000056679-26-000021 · filed Jun 26, 2026
Cash and equivalents$1.1B27%
  • 10-K · FY 2026Filing detailsAccession 0000056679-26-000021 · filed Jun 26, 2026
$399M10%
  • 10-K · FY 2026Filing detailsAccession 0000056679-26-000021 · filed Jun 26, 2026
Stockholders’ equity$2.0B49%
  • 10-K · FY 2026Filing detailsAccession 0000056679-26-000021 · filed Jun 26, 2026
Source:
  • 10-K · FY 2026Filing detailsAccession 0000056679-26-000021 · filed Jun 26, 2026
· event Apr 30, 2026 · retrieved Oct 18, 2026 · annual-row source set

Flagship explainer

What drives KORN FERRY’s return on equity?

ROE is five filed business factors multiplied together.

DuPont return on equity factor treeReturn on equity branches into tax burden, interest burden, operating margin, asset turnover, and the equity multiplier.Return on equity14%Tax burden71%net income ÷ pretax incomeInterest burden104%pretax ÷ operating incomeOperating margin13%operating income ÷ revenueAsset turnover0.74×revenue ÷ average assetsEquity multiplier2.06×average assets ÷ average equityAs of 2026-04-30 · 1 SEC filing sourceBuy Like Buffett · buylikebuffett.com
DuPont source inputs
InputValueFiscal yearSource
$277MFY2026
  • 10-K · FY 2026Filing detailsAccession 0000056679-26-000021 · filed Jun 26, 2026
Income before tax$388MFY2026
  • 10-K · FY 2026Filing detailsAccession 0000056679-26-000021 · filed Jun 26, 2026
Operating income$375MFY2026
  • 10-K · FY 2026Filing detailsAccession 0000056679-26-000021 · filed Jun 26, 2026
$2.9BFY2026
  • 10-K · FY 2026Filing detailsAccession 0000056679-26-000021 · filed Jun 26, 2026
Ending assets$4.1BFY2026
  • 10-K · FY 2026Filing detailsAccession 0000056679-26-000021 · filed Jun 26, 2026
Beginning assets$3.9BFY2025
  • 10-K · FY 2025Filing detailsAccession 0000056679-26-000021 · filed Jun 26, 2026
$2.0BFY2026
  • 10-K · FY 2026Filing detailsAccession 0000056679-26-000021 · filed Jun 26, 2026
$1.9BFY2025
  • 10-K · FY 2025Filing detailsAccession 0000056679-26-000021 · filed Jun 26, 2026
Source: · event Apr 30, 2026 · retrieved Oct 18, 2026 · annual-row source set
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Flagship explainer

Where KORN FERRY's cash went

KORN FERRY’s filing does not supply enough provenance-matched cash-flow lines for a truthful flow chart — here’s what is filed:

Table alternative
Filed lineValue% of cash from operationsSource
Cash from operations$414M100%
  • 10-K · FY 2026Filing detailsAccession 0000056679-26-000021 · filed Jun 26, 2026
Depreciation and amortization$98.8M24%
  • 10-K · FY 2026Filing detailsAccession 0000056679-26-000021 · filed Jun 26, 2026
Source:
  • 10-K · FY 2026Filing detailsAccession 0000056679-26-000021 · filed Jun 26, 2026
· event Apr 30, 2026 · retrieved Oct 18, 2026 · annual-row source set

Curated 19-manager tier

Who reported holding KORN FERRY

Delayed public 13F reports for 2026-Q2—not live positions, trades, or recommendations.

0 holding0 exited0 not holding0/19 resolved19 not retrieved

Named manager positions and quarter-over-quarter changes
ManagerReported positionQuarter-over-quarterFiling accession
Abrams CapitalNot retrievedComparison not retrievedFiling not retrieved
Akre CapitalNot retrievedComparison not retrievedFiling not retrieved
Baupost GroupNot retrievedComparison not retrievedFiling not retrieved
Berkshire HathawayNot retrievedComparison not retrievedFiling not retrieved
Brave Warrior AdvisorsNot retrievedComparison not retrievedFiling not retrieved
Dodge & CoxNot retrievedComparison not retrievedFiling not retrieved
First EagleNot retrievedComparison not retrievedFiling not retrieved
FundsmithNot retrievedComparison not retrievedFiling not retrieved
Gardner Russo & QuinnNot retrievedComparison not retrievedFiling not retrieved
Gates Foundation TrustNot retrievedComparison not retrievedFiling not retrieved
Mairs & PowerNot retrievedComparison not retrievedFiling not retrieved
Markel / Markel-GaynerNot retrievedComparison not retrievedFiling not retrieved
Oakmark / Harris AssociatesNot retrievedComparison not retrievedFiling not retrieved
Pershing SquareNot retrievedComparison not retrievedFiling not retrieved
Polen CapitalNot retrievedComparison not retrievedFiling not retrieved
Sequoia / Ruane CunniffNot retrievedComparison not retrievedFiling not retrieved
Southeastern Asset ManagementNot retrievedComparison not retrievedFiling not retrieved
Tweedy, BrowneNot retrievedComparison not retrievedFiling not retrieved
Yacktman Asset ManagementNot retrievedComparison not retrievedFiling not retrieved

Position size uses shares and filed value from each manager’s 13F. Portfolio weight uses the eligible long-share filing denominator. Changes compare only with the immediately preceding calendar quarter.

Source: Filing source not retrieved · event Jun 30, 2026 · retrieved Oct 18, 2026

Flagship explainer

What KORN FERRY insiders reported

We could not retrieve insider activity for this rendering; no zero-activity claim is shown.

Unavailable: Form 4 activity could not be retrieved for this rendering.

Moat Score history

31 logged readings since Jul 17, 2026 · append-only, never rewritten

Moat Score over timeLast scored reading of each day, on the 0–100 scale80.1 / 100
0406080100WideNarrowShallowNo moatJul 20, 2026Oct 18, 2026

Breaks in the line mark methodology or normalizer upgrades — readings across versions aren’t compared, so a level shift there isn’t a change in the business.

Tier changesSame-methodology and same-normalizer crossings of the Wide / Narrow / Shallow bars

  1. Normalizer upgraded unstamped (version unknown)moat-xbrl-normalizer@1.1.0 — readings across versions aren’t comparedJul 26, 2026
  2. Methodology upgraded moat-index@2.0.0moat-index@3.0.0 — readings across versions aren’t comparedJul 23, 2026
  3. Methodology upgraded moat-index@1.2.0moat-index@2.0.0 — readings across versions aren’t comparedJul 20, 2026

Scores are logged append-only and never overwritten — this record cannot be reconstructed retroactively, which is exactly why it’s worth keeping.

Insider activity

Form 4 reports mix P/S market or private transactions with compensation-plan mechanics. Activity casually described as “insider selling” can include compensation mechanics; awards, tax withholding, and option exercises are shown by their exact filed class here, never collapsed into “Bought” or “Sold.”

These are disclosed filing facts and arithmetic aggregates, not a signal or verdict.

The insider-filing service is temporarily unavailable, so no partial or guessed answer is shown for KFY.

Track record

How KORN FERRY’s moat rated in each of the years we can reconstruct from its filings — scored only on what was knowable at the time — and what its price and returns did afterward. The score never saw a price; the two are joined only in hindsight, for education, not as a signal.

Point-in-time scores 2011–2025, one methodology version · reconstructed from filings on file each Dec 31 — never with hindsight

Point-in-time Moat Score (dot colored by tier)Indexed price (total-return (dividends reinvested))Rated Wide-moat that year

How to read this: each dot is what the engine would have scored KFY on that December 31; the line below is its total-return price path (dividends reinvested) in the years since.

0406080100WideNarrowShallowNo moatPoint-in-time Moat Score100200500Indexed price · log scale (2012 = 100)201120142017202020232026

Two tracks, one timeline: the score has its own 0–100 scale (top), the price its own 100-based scale (bottom) — never a shared axis. The price path is a total-return (dividends reinvested) index built from the same data the forward returns use; gaps in the score line are years with no reconstructed rating (see the table for why). The Table view carries every value.

What followed, in the years it rated Wide

In the 2 years KFY rated Wide-moat (2023 and 2025), the median forward total return that followed — measured only after each year’s filings were public — was:

  • 1 year 17% vs the S&P 500’s 24% (price basis) · median over 1 year
  • 3 years None of the 2 years it rated Wide has a fully elapsed 3-year window with a benchmark to compare against yet.
  • 5 years None of the 2 years it rated Wide has a fully elapsed 5-year window with a benchmark to compare against yet.

These are medians computed from the data, not a claim about any one year. The company figures are total returns (dividends reinvested); the S&P 500 is the price-only ^GSPC index, which excludes dividends and so understates the index — the gap flatters the company. A quality rating is not a return forecast, and past returns don’t predict future ones. Educational only, not investment advice.

Technology context

#55 of 752 scored Technology companies, ranked by Moat Score.

Nearest peers by Moat Score

  1. #53EGAN eGain Corporation80.5Wide moat
  2. #54EXLS EXLSERVICE HOLDINGS, INC.80.4Wide moat
  3. #56BBSI BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.79.7Narrow moat
  4. #57HGBL HERITAGE GLOBAL INC.79.6Narrow moat

Compare KFY with its nearest peers →All Technology companies on the Index →

Common questions about KFY

Does KORN FERRY have an economic moat?
Based on its FY2026 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores KORN FERRY (KFY) 80.1 out of 100 — a Wide moat. The five questions behind that score begin at 20% each; if exactly one genuinely lacks data, the other four weights are renormalized and disclosed. revenue and EPS trend 49, pricing power not measurable from the filings, returns on capital 72, balance-sheet safety 100, capital allocation 100.
Is KFY trading below the conservative owner-earnings estimate?
The value if growth stopped today — a zero-growth baseline — is $58.37 per share. It capitalizes normalized owner earnings at a 9% rate and assumes 0% growth. Versus a recent price of $73.03, that is 25% above value if growth stopped today. The model also publishes a capped-growth comparison, but the zero-growth estimate is the cautious baseline. It assumes trailing owner earnings persist and is unreliable for declining businesses. This is an educational estimate from primary SEC filings, not intrinsic value as a fact or investment advice.
How has KFY's Moat Score changed over time?
The record logs 31 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 80.1 out of 100 (wide moat). No tier changes on record yet. (Methodology or normalizer upgrades on Jul 20, 2026, Jul 23, 2026, Jul 26, 2026 re-based the score; readings across versions aren't compared.) The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

Scored from primary SEC filings via the public methodology. Educational only — not a recommendation to buy or sell KFY. See the disclaimer.