ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The purpose of this Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) is to facilitate an understanding of significant factors influencing the operating results, financial condition and cash flows of Gartner, Inc. Additionally, the MD&A conveys our expectations of the potential impact of known trends, events or uncertainties that may impact future results. You should read this discussion in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Historical results and percentage relationships are not necessarily indicative of operating results for future periods. References to “Gartner,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” in this MD&A are to Gartner, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
This MD&Aprovides an analysis of our consolidated financial results, segment results and cash flows for 2024 and 2023 under the headings “Results of Operations,” “Segment Results” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”For a similar detailed
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discussion comparing 2023 and 2022, refer to those headings under Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
In addition to GAAP results, we provide foreign currency neutral dollar amounts and percentages for our revenues, certain expenses, contract values and other metrics. These foreign currency neutral dollar amounts and percentages eliminate the effects of exchange rate fluctuations and thus provide a more accurate and meaningful trend in the underlying data being measured. We calculate foreign currency neutral dollar amounts by converting the underlying amounts in local currency for different periods into U.S. dollars by applying the same foreign exchange rates to all periods presented.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
In addition to historical information, this Annual Report on Form 10-K contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are any statements other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, hopes, intentions, projections or strategies regarding the future. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “should,” “could,” “believe,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue” or other words of similar meaning.
We operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment that involves numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond our control. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in any of our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any of our forward-looking statements. Our future quarterly and annual revenues, operating income, results of operations and cash flows, as well as any forward-looking statement, are subject to change and to inherent risks and uncertainties, such as those disclosed or incorporated by reference in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Important factors that could cause our actual results, performance and achievements, or industry results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in our forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: the impact of general economic conditions, including inflation (and related monetary policy by governments in response to inflation), on economic activity and our operations; changes in macroeconomic and market conditions and market volatility, including interest rates and the effect on the credit markets and access to capital; the impact of global economic and geopolitical conditions, including inflation, and recession; our ability to carry out our strategic initiatives and manage associated costs; the timing of conferences and meetings, in particular our Gartner Symposium/Xpo series that normally occurs during the fourth quarter; our ability to achieve and effectively manage growth, including our ability to integrate our acquisitions and consummate and integrate future acquisitions; our ability to pay our debt obligations; our ability to maintain and expand our products and services; our ability to expand or retain our customer base; our ability to grow or sustain revenue from individual customers; our ability to attract and retain a professional staff of research analysts and consultants as well as experienced sales personnel upon whom we are dependent, especially in light of labor competition; our ability to achieve continued customer renewals and achieve new contract value, backlog and deferred revenue growth in light of competitive pressures; our ability to successfully compete with existing competitors and potential new competitors; our ability to enforce and protect our intellectual property rights; our ability to keep pace with technological developments in artificial intelligence (“AI”) and comply with evolving AI regulations; additional risks associated with international operations, including foreign currency fluctuations; the impact on our business resulting from changes in international conditions, including those resulting from the conflict in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine and current and future sanctions imposed by governments or other authorities; the impact of restructuring and other charges on our businesses and operations; cybersecurity incidents or other disruptions to our information systems; risks associated with the creditworthiness, budget cuts, and shutdown of governments and agencies; our ability to meet sustainability commitments and comply with applicable regulatory requirements; the impact of changes in tax policy (including global minimum tax legislation) and heightened scrutiny from various taxing authorities globally; changes to laws and regulations; and other risks and uncertainties. The potential fluctuations in our operating income could cause period-to-period comparisons of operating results not to be meaningful and could provide an unreliable indication of future operating results. A description of the risk factors associated with our business is included under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, estimates and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those listed above or described under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition, historical, current and forward-looking sustainability-related statements may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve, and assumptions that are subject to change in the future. Readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s opinion only as of the date on which they were made. Forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K speak only as of the date hereof, and forward-looking statements in documents attached that are incorporated by reference speak only
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as of the date of those documents. Except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation to review or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances as they occur.
BUSINESS OVERVIEW
Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) delivers actionable, objective insight that drives smarter decisions and stronger performance on an organization’s mission-critical priorities.
We are a trusted advisor and an objective resource for close to 14,000 enterprises in approximately 90 countries and territories — across all major functions, in every industry and enterprise size.
Gartner delivers its products and services globally through three business segments – Research, Conferences and Consulting, as described below.
•Research equips executives and their teams from every function and across all industries with actionable, objective insight, guidance and tools. Our experienced experts deliver all this value informed by a combination of practitioner-sourced and data-driven research to help our clients address their mission critical priorities.
•Conferences provides executives and teams across an organization the opportunity to learn, share and network. From our Gartner Symposium/Xpo series, to industry-leading conferences focused on specific business roles and topics, to peer-driven sessions, our offerings enable attendees to experience the best of Gartner insight and guidance.
•Consulting serves senior executives leading technology-driven strategic initiatives leveraging the power of Gartner’s actionable, objective insight. Through custom analysis and on-the-ground support we enable optimized technology investments and stronger performance on our clients’ mission critical priorities.
Recent Event
On July 25, 2024 the Company entered into a settlement agreement to resolve litigation concerning the Company's event cancellation insurance for 2020 and 2021. The settlement resolved all remaining 2020 and 2021 event cancellation insurance claims for $300.0 million.
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BUSINESS MEASUREMENTS
We believe that the following business measurements are important performance indicators for our business segments:
BUSINESS SEGMENT BUSINESS MEASUREMENT
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL POSITION
The fundamentals of our strategy include a focus on creating actionable insights for executive leaders and their teams, delivering innovative and highly differentiated product offerings, building a strong sales capability, providing world class client service with a focus on client engagement and retention, and continuously improving our operational effectiveness.
We had total revenues of $6.3 billion in 2024, an increase of 6% compared to 2023 on both a reported basis and excluding the foreign currency impact. Net income increased to $1.3 billion in 2024 from $882.5 million in 2023 and diluted earnings per share was $16.00 in 2024 compared to $11.08 in 2023.
Research revenues increased to $5.1 billion in 2024, an increase of 5% compared to 2023 on both a reported basis and excluding the foreign currency impact. The Research gross contribution margin was 74% in both 2024 and 2023. Contract value was $5.3 billion at December 31, 2024, an increase of 8% compared to December 31, 2023 on a foreign currency neutral basis.
Conferences revenues increased to $583.2 million in 2024, an increase of 15% compared to 2023 on both a reported basis and excluding the foreign currency impact. The Conferences gross contribution margin was 48% and 50% in 2024 and 2023, respectively. We held 51 and 47 in-person conferences in 2024 in 2023, respectively.
Consulting revenues increased to $558.5 million in 2024, an increase of 9% compared to 2023 on both a reported basis and excluding the foreign currency impact. The Consulting gross contribution margin was 36% and 35% in 2024 and 2023, respectively. Backlog was $191.5 million at December 31, 2024.
Cash provided by operating activities was $1.5 billion and $1.2 billion during 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, we had $1.9 billion of cash and cash equivalents and approximately $0.7 billion of available borrowing capacity on our revolving credit facility. During 2024, we repurchased 1.6 million shares of the Company’s common stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $0.7 billion.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires the application of appropriate accounting policies and the use of estimates. Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 — Business and Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Management considers the policies discussed below to be critical to an understanding of our consolidated financial statements because their application requires complex and subjective management judgments and estimates. Specific risks for these critical accounting policies are also described below.
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions about future events. We develop our estimates using both current and historical experience, as well as other factors, including the general economic environment and actions we may take in the future. We adjust such estimates when facts and circumstances dictate. However, our estimates may involve significant uncertainties and judgments and cannot be determined with precision. In addition, these estimates are based on our best judgment at a point in time and, as such, they may ultimately differ materially from actual results. Ongoing changes in our estimates could be material and would be reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements in future periods.
Our critical accounting policies and estimates are described below.
Revenue recognition — Our revenue by significant source is accounted for as follows:
•Research revenues are mainly derived from subscription contracts for research products. The related revenues are deferred and recognized ratably over the applicable contract term. Fees derived from assisting organizations in selecting the right business software for their needs are recognized when the leads are provided to vendors.
•Conferences revenues are deferred and recognized upon the completion of the related conference or meeting.
•Consulting revenues are principally generated from fixed fee or time and materials engagements. Revenues from fixed fee contracts are recognized as we work to satisfy our performance obligations. Revenues from time and materials engagements are recognized as work is delivered and/or services are provided. Revenues related to contract optimization engagements are contingent in nature and are only recognized upon satisfaction of all conditions related to their payment.
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The majority of our Research contracts are billable upon signing, absent special terms granted on a limited basis from time to time. Research contracts are generally non-cancelable and non-refundable, except for government contracts that may have cancellation or fiscal funding clauses. Generally, it is our policy to record the amount of a subscription contract that is billable as a fee receivable at the time the contract is signed with a corresponding amount as deferred revenue because the contract represents a legally enforceable claim.
Note 1 — Business and Significant Accounting Policies and Note 9 — Revenue and Related Matters in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements provide additional information regarding our revenues.
Accounting for income taxes — We use the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. We estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions where we operate. This process involves estimating our current tax expense or benefit together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in our consolidated balance sheets. When assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, we consider if it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In making this assessment, we consider the availability of loss carryforwards, projected reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. The Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained based on the technical merits of the position. Recognized tax positions are measured at the largest amount of benefit with greater than a 50% likelihood of being realized. We use estimates in determining the amount of unrecognized tax benefits associated with uncertain tax positions. Significant judgment is required in evaluating tax law and measuring the benefits likely to be realized. Uncertain tax positions are periodically re-evaluated and adjusted as more information about their ultimate realization becomes available. In December 2024, we completed an intercompany transfer of certain intellectual property (IP). As a result, we recorded a deferred tax asset of approximately $163.2 million, based on the fair value of the IP rights transferred. The deferred tax asset represents the value of future tax deductions for amortization of the assets in the acquiring jurisdiction. The fair value of the intellectual property was determined using an income approach based on unobservable inputs and involves significant judgments such as, but not limited to, future cash flows and discount rates. Management’s estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable and, as a result, actual results may differ from estimates.
Accounting for stock-based compensation — We account for stock-based compensation awards in accordance with FASB ASC Topics 505 and 718 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletins No. 107 and No. 110. We recognize stock-based compensation expense, which is based on the fair value of the award on the date of grant, over the related service period. Note 10 — Stock-Based Compensation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements provides additional information regarding stock-based compensation. Determining the appropriate fair value model and calculating the fair value of stock-based compensation awards requires the use of certain subjective assumptions, including the expected life of a stock-based compensation award and our common stock price volatility. In addition, determining the appropriate periodic stock-based compensation expense requires management to estimate the likelihood of the achievement of certain performance targets. The assumptions used in calculating the fair values of stock-based compensation awards and the related periodic expense represent management’s best estimates, which involve inherent uncertainties and the application of judgment. As a result, if circumstances change and we deem it necessary in the future to modify the assumptions we made or to use different assumptions, or if the quantity and nature of our stock-based compensation awards changes, then the amount of expense may need to be adjusted and future stock-based compensation expense could be materially different from what has been recorded in the current period.
A change in any of the terms or conditions of stock-based compensation awards is accounted for as a modification of the award. Incremental compensation cost is measured as the excess, if any, of the fair value of the modified award over the fair value of the original award immediately before its terms are modified, measured based on the fair value of the awards at the modification date. For vested awards, we recognize incremental compensation cost in the period the modification occurs. For unvested awards, we recognize any incremental compensation expense at the modification date or ratably over the requisite remaining service period, as appropriate. If the fair value of the modified award is lower than the fair value of the original award immediately before modification, the minimum compensation cost we recognize is the cost of the original award.
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Consolidated Results
The table below presents an analysis of selected line items and year-over-year changes in our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years indicated (in thousands).
Costs and expenses:
nm = not meaningful
Total revenues for 2024 were $6.3 billion, an increase of $360.5 million compared to 2023, or 6% on both a reported basis and excluding the foreign currency impact. The tables below present (i) revenues by geographic region (based on where the sale is fulfilled) and (ii) revenues by segment for the years indicated (in thousands).
Refer to the section of this MD&A below entitled “Segment Results” for a discussion of revenues and results by segment.
Cost of services and product development was $2.0 billion in 2024, an increase of $119.8 million compared to 2023, or 6% on both a reported basis and excluding the foreign currency impact. The increase in Cost of services and product development was primarily due to a $82.8 million increase in personnel expenses associated with headcount and merit increases as well a $37.0 million increase in conference expenses due to an increase in the number of conferences. Cost of services and product development as a percent of revenues was 32% for both 2024 and 2023.
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Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expense was $2.9 billion in 2024, an increase of $183.3 million compared to 2023, or 7% on both a reported basis and excluding the foreign currency impact. The increase in SG&A during the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to the prior fiscal year, was primarily a result of a $165.4 million increase in personnel expenses due to increased headcount and merit increases.
The number of quota-bearing sales associates in Global Technology Sales increased by 4% to 3,804 and in Global Business Sales increased by 9% to 1,298, compared to December 31, 2023. On a combined basis, the total number of quota-bearing sales associates increased by 6% when compared to December 31, 2023. SG&A expense as a percent of revenues was 46% during both 2024 and 2023.
Depreciation increased by 14% during 2024 compared to 2023. The increase for the year ended December 31, 2024 was primarily due to increased software additions during the last twelve months.
Amortization of intangibles decreased by 2% during 2024 compared to 2023.
Acquisition and integration charges decreased by $8.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.
Gain from sale of divested operation during the prior year was attributable to the sale of our TalentNeuron business in February 2023. We recognized a pre-tax gain of $135.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Operating income was $1.16 billion and $1.24 billion during 2024 and 2023, respectively. The 7% decrease in operating income was primarily due to the gain from sale of divested operation recognized during the prior year period, and increases in cost of services and product development and selling, general and administrative expenses, partially offset by increased revenue.
Interest expense, net decreased by $24.8 million during 2024 compared to 2023. The decrease in interest expense, net was due to increased interest income, primarily as a result of higher cash balances than the prior year.
Gain on event cancellation insurance claims of $300.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2024 reflected proceeds from a settlement agreement to resolve litigation concerning the Company's event cancellation insurance for 2020 and 2021. The settlement resolved all remaining 2020 and 2021 event cancellation insurance claims. Gain on event cancellation insurance claims of $3.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2023 reflected proceeds related to 2020 conference cancellation insurance claims.
Other income, net for the years presented herein included the net impact of foreign currency gains and losses from our hedging activities, as well as sales of certain state tax credits and the recognition of other tax incentives. During both 2024 and 2023, Other income, net included a $3.9 million gain on de-designated interest rate swaps.
Provision for income taxes was $133.7 million and $264.7 million during 2024 and 2023, respectively, with an effective income tax rate of 9.6% and 23.1% for 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease in the effective income tax rate in 2024 was primarily the result of net tax benefits of approximately $161.9 million recognized as a result of an intercompany transfer of certain intellectual property in December 2024. Note 12 — Income Taxes in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements provides additional information regarding the Company’s income taxes.
Net income was $1.3 billion and $882.5 million during 2024 and 2023, respectively. Additionally, our diluted net income per share increased by $4.92 in 2024 compared to 2023. The increase in net income during 2024 was primarily due to the gain on event cancellation insurance claims, as well as an increase in revenue and lower provision for income taxes and interest expense, net, partially offset by the gain from sale of divested operation recognized during the year ended December 31, 2023 and increased operating expenses.
SEGMENT RESULTS
We evaluate reportable segment performance and allocate resources based on gross contribution margin. Gross contribution is defined as operating income or loss excluding certain Cost of services and product development expenses, SG&A expenses, Depreciation, Amortization of intangibles, and Acquisition and integration charges. Gross contribution margin is defined as gross contribution as a percent of revenues.
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Reportable Segments
The sections below present the results of the Company’s three business segments – Research, Conferences and Consulting, as described below.
Research
Financial Measurements:
Gross contribution margin 74 % 74 % — point —
Business Measurements:
Global Technology Sales (2):
Client retention 84 % 83 % 1 point —
Wallet retention 102 % 101 % 1 point —
Global Business Sales (2):
Client retention 87 % 87 % — point —
Wallet retention 106 % 107 % (1) point —
(1)Dollars in thousands.
(2)Global Technology Sales includes sales to users and providers of technology. Global Business Sales includes sales to all other functional leaders.
(3)Contract values are on a foreign exchange neutral basis. Contract values as of December 31, 2023 have been calculated using the same foreign currency rates as 2024.
Research revenues increased by $238.6 million during 2024 compared to 2023, or 5% on both a reported basis excluding the foreign currency impact. The increase in revenues during 2024 was primarily due to Research contract value growth in 2023. The gross contribution margin was 74% in both 2024 and 2023, as the increase in revenue and decreased research program expenses were offset by an increase in personnel expenses to support future growth.
Contract value increased to $5.3 billion at December 31, 2024, or 8% compared to December 31, 2023 on a foreign currency neutral basis. All industry sectors grew at mid single-digit rates or faster, other than media. The fastest growth was in the manufacturing, healthcare and public sectors. Global Technology Sales (“GTS”) contract value increased by 7% at December 31, 2024 when compared to December 31, 2023. The increase in GTS contract value was primarily due to new business from existing clients. GTS contract value increased by at least mid single-digits for nearly all enterprise sizes and sectors. Global Business Sales (“GBS”) contract value increased by 12% year-over-year, also primarily driven by new business from existing clients. The majority of our GBS practices achieved double-digit growth rates, with all enterprise sizes and the majority of sectors also growing double-digits year-over-year.
GTS client retention was 84% and 83% as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, while wallet retention was 102% and 101%, as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. GBS client retention was 87% as of both December 31, 2024 and 2023, while wallet retention was 106% and 107% as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
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Conferences
Financial Measurements:
Gross contribution margin 48 % 50 % (2) points —
Business Measurements:
Number of destination conferences (2) 51 47 4 9 %
(1)Dollars in thousands.
(2)Single day, local meetings are excluded.
Conferences revenues increased by $78.1 million during 2024 compared to 2023, or 15% on both a reported basis and excluding the foreign currency impact. We held 51 in-person destination conferences during the year ended December 31, 2024. We held 47 in-person conferences during the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024 was due to an increase of 15% in both exhibitor revenue and attendee revenue compared to the same period in 2023. The segment gross contribution margin was 48% and 50% in 2024 and 2023, respectively. The lower gross contribution margin during 2024 was primarily the result of an increase in conference-related expenses and increased headcount partially offset by the increase in revenue.
Consulting
Financial Measurements:
Gross contribution margin 36 % 35 % 1 point —
Business Measurements:
Consultant utilization 65 % 65 % — point —
(1)Dollars in thousands.
(2)Backlog is on a foreign currency neutral basis. Backlog as of December 31, 2023 has been calculated using the same foreign currency rates as 2024.
Consulting revenues increased 9% during 2024 compared to 2023 on both a reported basis and excluding the foreign currency impact. The increase in revenues on a reported basis was due to a 5% increase in labor-based consulting, and a 21% increase in contract optimization. Contract optimization revenue may vary significantly and, as such, 2024 revenues may not be indicative of future results. The segment gross contribution margin was 36% and 35% in 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase in gross contribution margin during 2024 was primarily due to the increase in revenue.
Backlog increased by $28.5 million, or 17%, from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2024.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
We finance our operations through cash generated from our operating activities and borrowings. Note 6 — Debt in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements provides additional information regarding the Company’s outstanding debt obligations. At December 31, 2024, we had $1.9 billion of cash and cash equivalents and approximately $0.7 billion of available borrowing
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capacity on the revolving credit facility under our 2024 Credit Agreement. We believe that the Company has adequate liquidity and access to capital markets to meet its currently anticipated needs for both the next twelve months and the foreseeable future.
We have historically generated significant cash flows from our operating activities, benefiting from the favorable working capital dynamics of our subscription-based business model in our Research segment, which is our largest business segment and historically has constituted a significant portion of our total revenues. The majority of our Research customer contracts are paid in advance and, combined with a strong customer retention rate and high incremental margins, our subscription-based business model has resulted in continuously strong operating cash flow. Cash flow generation has also benefited from our ongoing efforts to improve the operating efficiencies of our businesses as well as a focus on the optimal management of our working capital as we increase sales.
During the fourth quarter of 2024, we entered into an amended lease agreement to significantly reduce the square footage and reduce future lease payments at one of our leased locations. We made an installment payment of $24.0 million during the fourth quarter of 2024, and will make an equal installment payment during the second quarter of 2025 in consideration for the lease amendment.
Our cash and cash equivalents are held in numerous locations throughout the world with 43% held overseas at December 31, 2024. We intend to distribute a portion of the accumulated undistributed earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries as of December 31, 2024 in conjunction with global restructuring activity. We continue to assert our intention to reinvest substantially all remaining accumulated undistributed foreign earnings, except in instances where repatriation would result in minimal additional tax.
The table below summarizes the changes in the Company’s cash balances for the years indicated (in thousands).
Year Ended December 31, Increase(Decrease)
Operating
Cash provided by operating activities was $1.5 billion and $1.2 billion in 2024 and 2023, respectively. The year-over-year increase was primarily due to the $300.0 million of insurance proceeds received during 2024 as well as reduced net cash interest expense and increased operating income, excluding the 2023 gain from sale of divested operation.
Investing
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities was $(103.7) million and $54.2 million in 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease from 2023 to 2024 was primarily the result of the $161.1 million in proceeds received from the sale of our TalentNeuron business in February 2023.
Financing
Cash used in financing activities was $0.7 billion and $0.6 billion in 2024 and 2023, respectively. During the 2024 period, we used $0.7 billion of cash for share repurchases. In March 2024, we borrowed $274.4 million under the 2024 Credit Agreement. The initial borrowing was used to repay the outstanding amounts under the 2020 Credit Agreement. During the 2023 period, we used $0.6 billion for share repurchases and paid a net $7.8 million in debt principal repayments.
OBLIGATIONS AND COMMITMENTS
Debt
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As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $2.5 billion of principal amount of debt outstanding. Note 6 — Debt in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements provides additional information regarding the Company’s outstanding debt obligations. From time to time, the Company may seek to retire or repurchase its outstanding debt through various methods including open market repurchases, negotiated block transactions, or otherwise, all or some of which may be effected through Rule 10b5-1 plans. Such transactions, if any, depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity and capital requirements, contractual restrictions, and other factors, and may involve material amounts.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Through December 31, 2024, the Company has not entered into any material off-balance sheet arrangements or transactions with unconsolidated entities or other persons.
Contractual Cash Commitments
The table below summarizes the Company’s future contractual cash commitments as of December 31, 2024 (in thousands).
(1)Principal repayments of the Company’s debt obligations were classified in the above table based on the contractual repayment dates. Interest payments were based on the effective interest rates as of December 31, 2024. Commitment fees were based on unused balances and commitment rates as of December 31, 2024. Note 6 — Debt in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements provides information regarding the Company’s debt obligations and interest rate swap contracts.
(2)The Company leases various facilities, automobiles, computer equipment and other assets under non-cancelable operating lease agreements expiring between 2025 and 2038. The total commitment excludes approximately $145.5 million of estimated future cash receipts from the Company’s subleasing arrangements. Note 1 — Business and Significant Accounting Policies and Note 7 — Leases in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements provide additional information regarding the Company’s leases.
(3)The Company has supplemental deferred compensation arrangements with certain of its employees. Amounts payable with known payment dates have been classified in the above table based on those scheduled payment dates. Amounts payable whose payment dates are unknown have been included in the Due In More Than 5 Years category because the Company cannot determine when the amounts will be paid. Note 15 — Employee Benefits in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements provides additional information regarding the Company’s supplemental deferred compensation arrangements.
(4)Other includes: (i) contractual commitments (a) for software, telecom and other services and (b) to secure sites for our Conferences business; and (ii) projected cash contributions to the Company’s defined benefit pension plans. Note 15 — Employee Benefits in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements provides additional information regarding the Company’s defined benefit pension plans.
In addition to the contractual cash commitments included in the above table, the Company has other payables and liabilities that may be legally enforceable but are not considered contractual commitments. Information regarding the Company’s payables and liabilities is included in Note 5 — Accounts Payable and Accrued and Other Liabilities and Note 12 — Income Taxesin the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
The FASB has issued accounting standards that had not yet become effective as of December 31, 2024 and may impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements or its disclosures in future periods. Note 1 — Business and Significant
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Accounting Policies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements provides information regarding those accounting standards.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
INTEREST RATE RISK
As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $2.5 billion in total debt principal outstanding. Note 6 — Debt in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements provides additional information regarding the Company’s outstanding debt obligations.
Approximately $274.0 million of the Company’s total debt outstanding as of December 31, 2024 was based on a floating base rate of interest, which potentially exposes the Company to increases in interest rates. However, we reduce our overall exposure to interest rate increases through our interest rate swap contract, which effectively converts the floating base interest rates on all of our variable rate borrowings to fixed rates.
FOREIGN CURRENCY RISK
A significant portion of our revenues are typically derived from sales outside of the United States. Among the major foreign currencies in which we conduct business are the Euro, the British Pound, the Japanese Yen, the Australian dollar and the Canadian dollar. The reporting currency of our Consolidated Financial Statements is the U.S. dollar. As the values of the foreign currencies in which we operate fluctuate over time relative to the U.S. dollar, the Company is exposed to both foreign currency translation and transaction risk.
Translation risk arises as our foreign currency assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars because the functional currencies of our foreign operations are generally denominated in the local currency. Adjustments resulting from the translation of these assets and liabilities are deferred and recorded as a component of stockholders’ equity. A measure of the potential impact of foreign currency translation can be determined through a sensitivity analysis of our cash and cash equivalents. At December 31, 2024, we had $1.9 billion of cash and cash equivalents, with a substantial portion denominated in foreign currencies. If the exchange rates of the foreign currencies we hold all changed in comparison to the U.S. dollar by 10%, the amount of cash and cash equivalents we would have reported on December 31, 2024 could have increased or decreased by approximately $78.6 million. The translation of our foreign currency revenues and expenses historically has not had a material impact on our consolidated earnings because movements in and among the major currencies in which we operate tend to impact our revenues and expenses fairly equally. However, our earnings could be impacted during periods of significant exchange rate volatility, or when some or all of the major currencies in which we operate move in the same direction against the U.S. dollar.
Transaction risk arises when we enter into a transaction that is denominated in a currency that may differ from the local functional currency. As these transactions are translated into the local functional currency, a gain or loss may result, which is recorded in current period earnings. We typically enter into foreign currency forward exchange contracts to mitigate the effects of some of this foreign currency transaction risk. Our outstanding foreign currency forward exchange contracts as of December 31, 2024 had an immaterial net unrealized loss.
CREDIT RISK
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist primarily of short-term, highly liquid investments classified as cash equivalents, fees receivable, interest rate swap contracts and foreign currency forward exchange contracts. The majority of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, interest rate swap contracts and foreign currency forward exchange contracts are with large investment grade commercial banks. Fees receivable balances deemed to be collectible from customers have limited concentration of credit risk due to our diverse customer base and geographic dispersion.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.
Our financial statements for 2024, 2023 and 2022, together with the reports of KPMG LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, are included herein in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING ANDFINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
None.
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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
We have established disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that the information we are required to disclose in our reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and such information is accumulated and communicated to our executive management team, including our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management conducted an evaluation, as of December 31, 2024, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, under the supervision and with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer. Based upon that evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that, as of December 31, 2024, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective..
MANAGEMENT’S ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Gartner management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Gartner’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. In addition, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions and that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth in the Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Management’s assessment was reviewed with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
Based on its assessment of internal control over financial reporting, management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2024, Gartner’s internal control over financial reporting was effective. The effectiveness of management’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024 has been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K in Part IV, Item 15.
CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.
Insider Trading Arrangements
No director or Section 16 officer adopted or terminated a trading arrangement intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c) or a non-Rule 10b5–1 trading arrangement during the three months ended December 31, 2024.
ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
None.
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PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.
The information required to be furnished pursuant to this item is incorporated by reference from the information set forth under the captions “The Board of Directors,” “Proposal One: Election of Directors,” “Executive Officers,” “Corporate Governance,” “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports” (if necessary) and “Proxy and Voting Information — Available Information” in the Company’s 2025 Proxy Statement. See also Item 1. Business — Available Information.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
The information required to be furnished pursuant to this item is incorporated by reference from the information set forth under the captions “Compensation Discussion & Analysis,” “Compensation Tables and Narrative Disclosures,” “Compensation Committee Report,” “The Board of Directors - Compensation of Directors,” “The Board of Directors - Director Compensation Table,” “Corporate Governance - Risk Oversight - Risk Assessment of Compensation Policies and Practices,” and “Corporate Governance - Compensation Committee” in the Company’s 2025 Proxy Statement.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.
The information required to be furnished pursuant to this item is incorporated by reference from the information set forth under the captions “Compensation Tables and Narrative Disclosures — Equity Compensation Plan Information” and “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in the Company’s 2025 Proxy Statement.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.
The information required to be furnished pursuant to this item is incorporated by reference from the information set forth under the captions “Transactions With Related Persons” and “Corporate Governance — Director Independence” in the Company’s 2025 Proxy Statement.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
The information required to be furnished pursuant to this item is incorporated by reference from the information set forth under the caption “Proposal Three: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Company’s 2025 Proxy Statement.
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PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
(a) 1. and 2. Financial Statements and Schedules
The reports of our independent registered public accounting firm and financial statements listed in the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements herein are filed as part of this report.
All financial statement schedules not listed in the Index have been omitted because the information required is not applicable or is shown in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
3. Exhibits
EXHIBIT NUMBER DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
3.1(1) Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
4.4(6)+ Description of Gartner, Inc.’s Common Stock.
10.2(12) Executive Performance Bonus Plan, effective January 1, 2024.
10.4(10)+ Long-Term Incentive Plan, June 1, 2023 Amendment and Restatement.
10.8(8)+ Company Deferred Compensation Plan, effective January 1, 2009.
10.9(6)+ Form of 2022 Stock Appreciation Right Agreement for executive officers.
10.10(6)+ Form of 2022 Performance Stock Unit Agreement for executive officers.
10.12(11)+ Form of 2023 Performance Stock Unit Agreement for executive officers.
10.14(15)+ Form of 2024 Performance Stock Unit Agreement for executive officers.
10.15(15)+ Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for executive officers.
10.16+* Form of 2025 Stock Appreciation Right Agreement for executive officers.
10.17+* Form of 2025 Performance Stock Unit Agreement for executive officers.
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10.18(9)+ Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for non-employee directors.
10.19(15)+ Enhanced Executive Rewards Policy.
19.1* Insider Trading Policy.
21.1* Subsidiaries of Registrant.
23.1* Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
24.1* Power of Attorney (see Signature Page).
32* Certification under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
97(15)+ Gartner, Inc. Compensation Recoupment (Clawback) Policy.
101.SCH* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.LAB* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
* Filed with this document.
+ Management compensation plan or arrangement.
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INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
GARTNER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 38
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 39
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 44
All financial statement schedules have been omitted because the information required is not applicable or is shown in the Consolidated Financial Statements or notes thereto.
35
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
Gartner, Inc.:
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Gartner, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2024, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated February 13, 2025 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of a critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Assessment of tax benefits on intercompany transfer of intellectual property
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained based on the technical merits of the position. Recognized tax positions are measured at the largest amount of benefit with greater than a 50 percent likelihood of being realized. As discussed in Note 12, in December 2024, the Company completed an intercompany transfer of certain intellectual property. As a result, the Company recorded a deferred tax asset of approximately $163.2 million. The deferred tax asset represents the value of future tax deductions for amortization of the assets in the acquiring jurisdiction. These amounts have been reduced for associated unrecognized tax benefits.
We identified the assessment of tax benefits related to the December 2024 intercompany transfer of intellectual property as a critical audit matter. Subjective and complex auditor judgment was required in evaluating the tax position in accordance with tax laws and the valuation and measurement of the uncertain tax position based on the tax benefits more likely than
36
not to be realized. The future revenue forecasts and the discount rate used by the Company to estimate the fair value of the intellectual property and to measure the uncertain tax position involved significant judgments that could have a material effect on the value of the deferred tax asset recognized. Specialized skills and knowledge were required to evaluate the tax position in accordance with tax laws, as well as the reasonableness of the discount rate and measurement of the uncertain tax position.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls over the Company’s process for recognizing tax benefits. This included controls related to the evaluation of the tax position in accordance with tax laws, and the selection of the future revenue forecasts and the discount rate used in the valuation and measurement of the uncertain tax position. We evaluated the Company’s future revenue forecast assumptions by comparing the assumptions to the entity’s historical revenue growth rates, to third-party analyst projections for the Company, and to third-party projected industry-wide revenue growth rates. We compared the Company’s historical revenue forecasts to actual results to assess the Company’s ability to accurately forecast. We involved tax and transfer pricing professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in evaluating the tax position in accordance with tax laws and the measurement of the uncertain tax position by evaluating the Company’s assessment of the technical tax merits applicable to the transaction, the more-likely-than-not recognition and measurement thresholds, and the Company’s application of the relevant tax laws. We involved transfer pricing and valuation professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in evaluating the reasonableness of the discount rate, and the valuation and measurement of the uncertain tax position by:
•comparing the discount rate to a range of discount rates that was independently developed using publicly available market data.
•developing an independent estimate of value of the uncertain tax position using the Company’s forecasts and the independently developed range of discount rates and comparing it to the uncertain tax position recognized by the Company.
/s/ KPMG LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1996.
New York, New York
February 13, 2025
37
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
Gartner, Inc.:
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Gartner, Inc. and subsidiaries' (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our report dated February 13, 2025 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ KPMG LLP
New York, New York
February 13, 2025
38
GARTNER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
December 31,
ASSETS
Current assets:
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net 242,968 262,718
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt — 9,600
Stockholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock:
$0.01 par value, authorized 5,000,000 shares; none issued or outstanding — —
Common stock:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net (88,333) (76,331)
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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GARTNER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
Year Ended December 31,
Revenues:
Costs and expenses:
Gain from sale of divested operation — (135,410) —
Gain on event cancellation insurance claims 300,000 3,077 —
Net income per share:
Weighted average shares outstanding:
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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GARTNER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(IN THOUSANDS)
Year Ended December 31,
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Interest rate swaps - net change in deferred gain or loss 14,362 15,086 17,075
Pension plans - net change in deferred actuarial gain or loss 517 (1,484) 2,425
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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GARTNER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(IN THOUSANDS)
Stock-based compensation expense — 90,566 — — — 90,566
Common share repurchases (including excise tax) — — — — (609,962) (609,962)
Common share repurchases (including excise tax) — — — — (746,246) (746,246)
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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GARTNER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(IN THOUSANDS)
Year Ended December 31,
Operating activities:
Gain from sale of divested operation — (135,410) —
Amortization and write-off of deferred financing fees 4,591 4,689 4,574
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and divestitures:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (28,933) (7,893) (3,039)
Investing activities:
Acquisitions - cash paid (net of cash acquired) (2,000) (3,800) (9,508)
Proceeds from sale of divested operation — 161,081 —
Financing activities:
Payments for deferred financing fees (2,972) — —
Proceeds from revolving credit facility 274,400 — —
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the year for:
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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GARTNER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 — Business and Significant Accounting Policies
Business. Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) delivers actionable, objective insight that drives smarter decisions and stronger performance on an organization’s mission-critical priorities.
We are a trusted advisor and an objective resource for nearly 14,000 enterprises in approximately 90 countries and territories — across all major functions, in every industry and enterprise size.
Segments. Gartner delivers its products and services globally through three business segments – Research, Conferences and Consulting. Note 9 — Revenue and Related Matters and Note 16 — Segment Information describe the products and services offered by each of our segments and provide additional financial information for those segments.
Basis of presentation. The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), as defined in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”), for financial information and with the applicable instructions of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Regulation S-X.
The fiscal year of Gartner is the twelve-month period from January 1 through December 31. All references to 2024, 2023 and 2022 herein refer to the fiscal year unless otherwise indicated. When used in these notes, the terms “Gartner,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to Gartner, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
Principles of consolidation. The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.
Use of estimates. The preparation of the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported, disclosures about contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Such estimates include the valuation of fees receivable, goodwill, intangible assets, deferred tax assets and other long-lived assets, as well as tax accruals and other liabilities. In addition, estimates are used in revenue recognition, income tax expense or benefit, performance-based compensation charges, depreciation and amortization. Management believes its use of estimates in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements to be reasonable.
Management continually evaluates and revises its estimates using historical experience and other factors, including the general economic environment and actions it may take in the future. Management adjusts these estimates when facts and circumstances dictate. However, these estimates may involve significant uncertainties and judgments and cannot be determined with precision. In addition, these estimates are based on management’s best judgment at a point in time. As a result, differences between our estimates and actual results could be material and would be reflected in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements in future periods.
Business acquisitions. The Company accounts for business acquisitions in accordance with the acquisition method of accounting as prescribed by FASB ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations. The acquisition method of accounting requires the Company to record the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date, with certain exceptions. Any excess of the consideration transferred over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired, including identifiable intangible assets, is recorded as goodwill. Under the acquisition method, the operating results of acquired companies are included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements beginning on the date of acquisition. The Company completed business acquisitions in 2023 and 2022. Note 2 — Acquisitions and Divestiture provides additional information regarding those business acquisitions.
The determination of the fair values of intangible and other assets acquired in an acquisition requires management judgment and the consideration of a number of factors, including the historical financial performance of acquired businesses and their projected future performance, and estimates surrounding customer turnover, as well as assumptions regarding the level of competition and the costs necessary to reproduce certain assets. Establishing the useful lives of intangible assets also requires management judgment and the evaluation of a number of factors, including the expected use of an asset, historical client retention rates, consumer awareness and trade name history, as well as any contractual provisions that could limit or extend an asset’s useful life.
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Charges that are directly related to the Company’s acquisitions are expensed as incurred and classified as Acquisition and integration charges in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Note 2 — Acquisitions and Divestiture provides additional information regarding the Company’s Acquisition and integration charges.
Revenue recognition. The Company’s revenue by significant source is accounted for as follows:
•Research revenues are mainly derived from subscription contracts for research products. The related revenues are deferred and recognized ratably over the applicable contract term. Fees derived from assisting organizations in selecting the right business software for their needs are recognized when the leads are provided to vendors.
•Conferences revenues are deferred and recognized upon the completion of the related conference or meeting.
•Consulting revenues are principally generated from fixed fee or time and materials engagements. Revenues from fixed fee contracts are recognized as the Company works to satisfy its performance obligations. Revenues from time and materials engagements are recognized as work is delivered and/or services are provided. Revenues related to contract optimization engagements are contingent in nature and are only recognized upon satisfaction of all conditions related to their payment.
The majority of the Company’s Research contracts are billable upon signing, absent special terms granted on a limited basis from time to time. Research contracts are generally non-cancellable and non-refundable, except for government contracts that may have cancellation or fiscal funding clauses. The Company generally records the amount of a subscription contract that is billable as a fee receivable at the time the contract is signed with a corresponding amount as deferred revenue because the contract represents a legally enforceable claim. Note 9 — Revenue and Related Matters provides additional information regarding the Company’s business and revenues.
Allowance for losses. The Company estimates uncollectible amounts on its fees receivable using a historical loss rate method.
Cost of services and product development (“COS”). COS expense includes the direct costs incurred in the creation and delivery of the Company’s products and services. These costs primarily relate to personnel.
Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”). SG&A expense includes direct and indirect selling costs, general and administrative costs, facility costs and bad debt expense.
Commission expense. The Company records deferred commissions upon the recognition of commission liabilities, which is generally aligned with the obtaining of a customer contract or the commencement of subsequent terms in the case of multi-year contracts. The deferred amount is amortized over a period that aligns with the transfer to the customer of the services to which the commissions relate. Note 9 — Revenue and Related Matters provides additional information regarding deferred commissions and the amortization of such costs.
Stock-based compensation expense. The Company accounts for stock-based compensation awards in accordance with FASB ASC Topics 505 and 718 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletins No. 107 and No. 110. Stock-based compensation expense for equity awards is based on the fair value of the award on the date of grant. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense over the period that the related service is performed, which is generally the same as the vesting period of the underlying award. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur. A change in any of the terms or conditions of stock-based compensation awards is accounted for as a modification of the award. Incremental compensation cost is measured as the excess, if any, of the fair value of the modified award over the fair value of the original award immediately before its terms are modified, as measured on the modification date. For vested awards, the Company recognizes incremental compensation cost in the period the modificationoccurs. For unvested awards, the Company recognizes any incremental compensation expense at the modificationdate or ratably over the requisite remaining service period, as appropriate. If the fair value of the modified award is lower than the fair value of the original award immediately before modification, the minimum compensation cost the Company recognizes is the cost of the original award. Note 10 — Stock-Based Compensation provides additional information regarding the Company’s stock-based compensation activity.
Income taxes. The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. The Company estimates its income taxes in each of the jurisdictions where it operates. This process involves estimating the Company’s current tax expense or benefit together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. When assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, the Company considers if it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In making this assessment, the Company considers the availability of loss carryforwards, projected reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and ongoing prudent and feasible
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tax planning strategies. The Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained based on the technical merits of the position. Recognized tax positions are measured at the largest amount of benefit with greater than a 50% likelihood of being realized. The Company uses estimates in determining the amount of unrecognized tax benefits associated with uncertain tax positions. Significant judgment is required in evaluating tax law and measuring the benefits likely to be realized. Uncertain tax positions are periodically re-evaluated and adjusted as more information about their ultimate realization becomes available. Note 12 — Income Taxes provides additional information regarding the Company’s income taxes.
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash. Cash and cash equivalents includes cash and all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, which are considered to be cash equivalents. The carrying value of cash equivalents approximates fair value due to the short-term maturity of such instruments. Investments with maturities of more than three months are classified as marketable securities. Interest earned is recorded in Interest income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
U.S. GAAP requires that amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents be presented with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts presented on an entity’s statement of cash flows. Below is a table presenting the beginning-of-period and end-of-period cash amounts from the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and the total cash amounts presented in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands).
December 31,
Restricted cash classified in (1):
Prepaid expenses and other current assets — 600 — 4,109
Other assets — — 600 —
(1)Restricted cash consisted of an escrow account established in connection with one of the Company’s business acquisitions. Generally, such cash is restricted to use due to provisions contained in the underlying acquisition agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company paid $0.6 million of restricted cash for deferred consideration related to a 2022 acquisition.
Leases. ASC 842 requires accounting for leases under a right-of-use model whereby a lessee must record a right-of-use asset and a related lease liability on its balance sheet for most of its leases. Under ASC 842, leases are classified as either operating or finance arrangements, with such classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in an entity’s income statement. For operating leases, ASC 842 requires recognition in an entity’s income statement of a single lease cost, calculated so that the cost of the lease is allocated over the lease term, generally on a straight-line basis.During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, as a result and in consideration of the changing nature of the Company’s use of office space for its workforce and the transitioning to a hybrid work environment, the Company evaluated its existing real estate lease portfolio. As a result of the evaluation, the Company recognized impairment losses of $10.9 million, $20.4 million, and $54.0 million during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Note 7 — Leases provides additional information regarding the Company’s leases.
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements. Equipment, leasehold improvements and other fixed assets owned by the Company are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Fixed assets, other than leasehold improvements, are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the underlying asset. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the improvement or the remaining term of the related lease. Depreciation and amortization expense for fixed assets was $112.1 million, $98.6 million and $93.4 million in 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net are presented in the table below (in thousands).
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Useful Life December 31,
Less — accumulated depreciation and amortization (405,871) (354,174)
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net $ 242,968 $ 262,718
The Company incurs costs to develop internal-use software used in its operations. Certain of those costs that meet the criteria in FASB ASC Topic 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other are capitalized and amortized over future periods. Net capitalized internal-use software development costs were $122.0 million and $105.2 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and are included in Computer equipment and software in the table above. Amortization expense for capitalized internal-use software development costs, which is included with Depreciation in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, totaled $60.1 million, $47.8 million and $39.6 million in 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Goodwill. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of acquired businesses over the estimated fair values of the tangible and identifiable intangible net assets acquired. Evaluations of the recoverability of goodwill are performed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 350, which requires an annual assessment of potential goodwill impairment at the reporting unit level and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of goodwill may not be recoverable.
When performing the annual assessment of the recoverability of goodwill, the Company initially performs a qualitative analysis evaluating whether any events or circumstances occurred or exist that provide evidence that it is more likely than not that the fair value of any of the Company’s reporting units is less than the related carrying amount. If the Company does not believe that it is more likely than not that the fair value of any of the Company’s reporting units is less than the related carrying amount, then no quantitative impairment test is performed. However, if the results of the qualitative assessment indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its respective carrying amount, then the Company performs a quantitative impairment test. Evaluating the recoverability of goodwill requires judgments and assumptions regarding future trends and events. As a result, both the precision and reliability of management estimates are subject to uncertainty.
The Company’s most recent annual impairment test of goodwill was a qualitative analysis conducted during the quarter ended September 30, 2024 that indicated no impairment. Subsequent to completing the 2024 annual impairment test, no events or changes in circumstances were noted that required an interim goodwill impairment test. Note 3 — Goodwill and Intangible Assets provides additional information regarding the Company’s goodwill.
Finite-lived intangible assets. The Company has finite-lived intangible assets that are amortized using the straight-line method over the expected useful life of the underlying asset. Note 3 — Goodwill and Intangible Assets provides additional information regarding the Company’s finite-lived intangible assets.
Impairment of long-lived assets. The Company’s long-lived assets primarily consist of intangible assets other than goodwill, right-of-use assets and property, equipment and leasehold improvements. The Company reviews its long-lived asset groups for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or an asset group may not be recoverable. Such evaluation may be based on a number of factors, including current and projected operating results and cash flows, and changes in management’s strategic direction as well as external economic and market factors. The Company evaluates the recoverability of assets and asset groups by determining whether their carrying values can be recovered through undiscounted future operating cash flows. If events or circumstances indicate that the carrying values might not be recoverable based on undiscounted future operating cash flows, an impairment loss may be recognized. The amount of impairment is measured based on the difference between the projected discounted future operating cash flows, using a discount rate reflecting the Company’s average cost of funds, and the carrying value of the asset or asset group.
Debt. The Company presents amounts borrowed in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, net of deferred financing fees. Interest accrued on amounts borrowed is recorded as Interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Note 6 — Debtprovides additional information regarding the Company’s debt arrangements.
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Foreign currency exposure. The functional currency of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is typically the local currency. All assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Income and expense items are translated at average exchange rates throughout the year. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded as foreign currency translation adjustments, a component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net within Stockholders’ Equity on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Currency transaction gains or losses arising from transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of a subsidiary are recognized in results of operations as part of Other income, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company had net currency transaction (losses) / gains of $(6.9) million, $(6.0) million and $25.6 million in 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company enters into foreign currency forward exchange contracts to mitigate the effects of adverse fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates on certain transactions. Those contracts generally have short durations and are recorded at fair value with both realized and unrealized gains and losses recorded in Other income, net. The net gain / (loss) from foreign currency forward exchange contracts was $2.5 million, $1.9 million and $(31.9) million in 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Note 13 — Derivatives and Hedging provides additional information regarding the Company’s foreign currency forward exchange contracts.
Fair value disclosures. The Company has a limited number of assets and liabilities that are adjusted to fair value at each balance sheet date. The Company’s required fair value disclosures are provided at Note 14 — Fair Value Disclosures.
Concentrations of credit risk. Assets that may subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist primarily of short-term, highly liquid investments classified as cash equivalents, fees receivable, contract assets, interest rate swaps and a pension reinsurance asset. The majority of the Company’s cash equivalent investments and its interest rate swap contracts are with investment grade commercial banks. Fees receivable and contract asset balances deemed to be collectible from customers have limited concentration of credit risk due to the Company’s diverse customer base and geographic dispersion. The Company’s pension reinsurance asset (see Note 15 — Employee Benefits) is maintained with a large international insurance company that was rated investment grade as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.
Stock repurchase programs. The Company records the cost to repurchase shares of its own common stock as treasury stock. Shares repurchased by the Company are added to treasury shares and are not retired. Note 8 — Stockholders’ Equity provides additional information regarding the Company’s common stock repurchase activity.
Gain on event cancellation insurance claims. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company received $300.0 million in proceeds from a settlement agreement to resolve litigation concerning the Company's event cancellation insurance for 2020 and 2021. The settlement resolved all remaining 2020 and 2021 event cancellation insurance claims. The Company received $3.1 million in proceeds during the year ended December 31, 2023 related to 2020 conference cancellation insurance claims. The Company does not record any gain on insurance claims in excess of expenses incurred until the receipt of the insurance proceeds is deemed to be realizable.
Adoption of new accounting standard. The Company adopted the accounting standard described below during 2024.
Segment Reporting— In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting: Improvements in Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU No. 2023-07”). The amendments in the ASU are expected to improve disclosures about a public entity’s reportable segments and addresses requests from investors and other allocators of capital for additional, more detailed information about a reportable segment’s expenses. ASU 2023-07 requires public companies to disclose, on an annual and interim basis, significant expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (CODM) and included within each reported measure of segment profit and loss. The amendments in the ASU require that a public company provide all annual disclosures about a reportable segment’s profit or loss and assets currently required under ASC 280 in interim periods. The amendments in the ASU also require that a public entity disclose, on an annual and interim basis, an amount for other segment items by reportable segment and a description of its composition. The other segment items category is the difference between segment revenue less the significant expenses disclosed and each reported measure of segment profit or loss. The amendments in the ASU, among other items, also requires that a public company disclose the title and position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. The ASU applies to all public entities that are required to report segment information in accordance with Topic 280. All public entities will be required to report segment information in accordance with the new guidance starting in annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023. The Company adopted ASU 2023-07 effective with the 2024 10-K and the adoption only impacted its disclosures with no impacts to the Company's results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition.
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Accounting standards issued but not yet adopted. The FASB has issued accounting standards that have not yet become effective as of December 31, 2024 and may impact the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements or related disclosures in future periods. The standards and their potential impacts are discussed below.
Income Taxes— In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU No. 2023-09”). The amendments in this ASU are expected to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. ASU 2023-09 requires entities to enhance income tax disclosures primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. Companies will need to disaggregate the disclosure of income taxes paid (net of refunds received) by federal, state, and foreign taxes on an annual basis. Additionally, on an annual basis, companies would disclose income taxes paid disaggregated by individual jurisdiction using a quantitative threshold of 5% of total income taxes paid. Public business entities would also be required to provide, on an annual basis, rate reconciliation information by specific categories, including state and local income tax, the effect of cross-border tax laws, foreign tax effects, changes in prior year unrecognized tax benefits, and tax credits, among others. Additionally, some categories would then require disaggregation based on a quantitative threshold of 5%. The foreign tax effect category requires disaggregation by both jurisdiction and nature. The ASU also requires additional qualitative disclosures. All public entities will be required to report income tax information in accordance with the new guidance starting in annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company expects this ASU to only impact its disclosures with no impacts to the Company's results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition.
Income Statement— In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income- Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (“ASU No. 2024-03”). The amendments in this ASU are expected to improve the disclosures about a public business entity’s expenses and address requests from investors for more detailed information about the types of expenses (including employee compensation, depreciation and amortization) in commonly presented expense captions (such as cost of sales, SG&A and research and development). ASU 2024-03 will require a quantitative disclosure of the components of each income statement line item (e.g., cost of services and product development and selling, general and administrative expenses). It will also require entities to disclose the total amount of selling expenses, and, on an annual basis, an entity’s definition of selling expenses. The amendments are effective for annual periods with fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. The Company expects this ASU to only impact its disclosures with no impacts to the Company's results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition.
Note 2 — Acquisitions and Divestiture
Acquisitions
Year Ended December 31, 2023
In September 2023, the Company acquired 100% of a formerly independent sales agent of Gartner research products in the Czech Republic for an aggregate purchase price of $7.9 million, including cash acquired and deferred consideration. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company paid $2.0 million of deferred consideration.
Year Ended December 31, 2022
In October 2022, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding capital stock of UpCity, Inc. (“UpCity”), a privately-held company based in Chicago, Illinois, for an aggregate purchase price of $6.4 million. UpCity’s online marketplace helps small businesses by connecting them to ratings and reviews of more than 50,000 B2B service providers.
Divestiture
In February 2023, the Company completed the sale of a non-core business, TalentNeuron, for approximately $161.1 million after consideration of post-close adjustments. The Company recorded a pre-tax gain of $135.4 million on the sale of TalentNeuron, which is included in Gain from sale of divested operation in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2023. TalentNeuron was included in the Company’s Research segment.
Acquisition and Integration Charges
The Company recognized $1.0 million, $9.6 million and $9.1 million of Acquisition and integration charges during 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Acquisition and integration charges reflect additional costs and expenses resulting from the Company’s acquisitions and divestitures and include, among other items, professional fees and personnel related expenses.
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Note 3 — Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill.The table below presents changes to the carrying amount of goodwill by segment during the two-year period ended December 31, 2024 (in thousands).
Research Conferences Consulting Total
Additions due to an acquisition (2) 4,176 — — 4,176
(1)The Company does not have any accumulated goodwill impairment losses.
(2)The additions were due to the acquisition of an independent sales agent in September 2023. See Note 2 — Acquisitions and Divestiture for additional information.
Finite-lived intangible assets. Changes in finite-lived intangible assets during the two-year period ended December 31, 2024 are presented in the tables below (in thousands).
December 31, 2024 CustomerRelationships Technology-related Other Total
Intangible assets fully amortized — (11,200) — (11,200)
Foreign currency translation impact (5,266) — — (5,266)
December 31, 2023 CustomerRelationships Technology-related Other Total
Additions due to an acquisition (1) 990 — — 990
(1)The additions were due to the acquisition of an independent sales agent in September 2023. See Note 2 — Acquisitions and Divestiture for additional information.
(2)Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over the following periods: Customer relationships—6 to 13 years; Technology-related—3 to 7 years; and Other —4 to 11 years.
Amortization expense related to finite-lived intangible assets was $90.2 million, $92.5 million and $98.5 million in 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The estimated future amortization expense by year for finite-lived intangible assets is presented in the table below (in thousands).
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Note 4 — Other Assets
The Company’s other assets are summarized in the table below (in thousands).
December 31,
Note 5 — Accounts Payable and Accrued and Other Liabilities
The Company’s Accounts payable and accrued liabilities are summarized in the table below (in thousands).
December 31,
Current portion of operating lease liabilities 100,312 98,493
The Company’s Other liabilities are summarized in the table below (in thousands).
December 31,
Note 6 — Debt
The Company’s total outstanding borrowings are summarized in the table below (in thousands).
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December 31,
2024 Credit Agreement - Revolving credit facility (1), (2) $ 274,400 $ —
2020 Credit Agreement - Revolving credit facility — —
(1)The contractual annualized interest rate as of December 31, 2024 on the 2024 Credit Agreement was 5.73%, which consisted of Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) of 4.375% plus a margin of 1.350%. However, the Company has an interest rate swap contracts that effectively converts the floating SOFR on outstanding amounts to a fixed base rate.
(2)The Company had approximately $0.7 billion of available borrowing capacity on the 2024 Credit Agreement revolver (not including the expansion feature) as of December 31, 2024.
(3)Consists of a State of Connecticut economic development loan originated in 2019 with a 10-year maturity and bears interest at a fixed rate of 1.75%. This loan may be repaid at any time by the Company without penalty.
(4)The weighted average annual effective rate on the Company’s outstanding debt for 2024, including the effects of its interest rate swaps discussed below, was 4.97%.
(5)Deferred financing fees are being amortized to Interest expense over the term of the related debt obligation.
2024 Credit Agreement
On March 26, 2024, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement (the “2024 Credit Agreement”) among the Company, as borrower, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”).
The 2024 Credit Agreement provides for a $1.0 billion senior unsecured five-year revolving facility. The facility may be increased, at the Company’s option and under certain conditions, by up to an additional $750 million in the aggregate. The facility may be used for revolving loans, and up to $75.0 million may be used for letters of credit. The revolving loans may be borrowed, repaid and re-borrowed until March 26, 2029, at which time all amounts borrowed must be repaid, subject to customary extension mechanics.
On March 26, 2024, the Company borrowed $274.4 million under the 2024 Credit Agreement. The initial borrowing was used to repay the outstanding amounts under the 2020 Credit Agreement. Additional amounts borrowed under the 2024 Credit Agreement will be used for working capital needs and general corporate purposes of the Company and its subsidiaries, including the funding of acquisitions and investments, payment of capital expenditures and the repurchase of shares.
Interest under the revolving facility accrues, at a variable rate, based on, at our option, (i) the Secured Overnight Funding Rate (“SOFR”) plus a credit spread adjustment of 0.10% or (ii) an alternate base rate (“Base Rate”) plus, in each case, an applicable margin, and is payable monthly. The applicable margin ranges between 1.125% and 1.75%, depending on the lower rate determined by either the Company’s leverage ratio or the credit rating of the Company’s senior unsecured debt. At December 31, 2024, the applicable all-in margin on the revolving facility was 1.350% (including the credit spread adjustment). The commitment fee payable on the unused portion of the facility is equal to between 0.125% and 0.25% based on utilization of the facility. The Company has also agreed to pay customary letter of credit fees.
The 2024 Credit Agreement contains certain customary restrictive loan covenants, including, among others, a financial covenant requiring a maximum leverage ratio and covenants limiting the Company’s ability to grant liens, make acquisitions, be acquired and the ability of the Company’s subsidiaries to incur indebtedness. Subsidiaries of the Company are not required to guarantee obligations under the facility, unless such subsidiaries guarantee indebtedness in excess of a threshold set out in the 2024 Credit Agreement, subject to certain limitations and exceptions.
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The 2024 Credit Agreement contains customary events of default that include, among others, non-payment of principal, interest or fees, material inaccuracy of representations and warranties, violation of covenants, cross defaults to certain other indebtedness, bankruptcy and insolvency events, ERISA defaults, material judgments, and events constituting a change of control. The occurrence of an event of default allows the lenders to terminate their obligations to lend under the 2024 Credit Agreement and could result in the acceleration of the Company’s obligations under the facility.
2029 Notes
On June 18, 2021, the Company issued $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.625% Senior Notes due 2029. The 2029 Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of June 18, 2021 (the “2029 Note Indenture”), among the Company, the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.
The 2029 Notes were issued at an issue price of 100.0% and bear interest at a rate of 3.625% per annum. Interest on the 2029 Notes is payable on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on December 15, 2021. The 2029 Notes will mature on June 15, 2029. The Company may redeem some or all of the 2029 Notes at any time on or after June 15, 2024 for cash at the redemption prices set forth in the 2029 Note Indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date.
2030 Notes
On September 28, 2020, the Company issued $800.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.75% Senior Notes due 2030. The 2030 Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of September 28, 2020 (the “2030 Note Indenture”), among the Company, the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.
The 2030 Notes were issued at an issue price of 100.0% and bear interest at a rate of 3.75% per annum. Interest on the 2030 Notes is payable on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on April 1, 2021. The 2030 Notes will mature on October 1, 2030.
The Company may redeem some or all of the 2030 Notes at any time on or after October 1, 2025 for cash at the redemption prices set forth in the 2030 Note Indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. Prior to October 1, 2025, the Company may redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2030 Notes in connection with certain equity offerings, or some or all of the 2030 Notes with a “make-whole” premium, in each case subject to the terms set forth in the 2030 Note Indenture.
2028 Notes
On June 22, 2020, the Company issued $800.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.50% Senior Notes due 2028. The 2028 Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of June 22, 2020 (the “2028 Note Indenture”), among the Company, the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.
The 2028 Notes were issued at an issue price of 100.0% and bear interest at a rate of 4.50% per annum. Interest on the 2028 Notes is payable on January 1 and July 1 of each year, beginning on January 1, 2021. The 2028 Notes will mature on July 1, 2028.
The Company may redeem some or all of the 2028 Notes at any time on or after July 1, 2023 for cash at the redemption prices set forth in the 2028 Note Indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date.
2020 Credit Agreement
Prior to entering into the 2024 Credit Agreement, the Company had a credit facility that provided for a $400.0 million Term loan facility and a $1.0 billion Revolving credit facility (the “2020 Credit Agreement”). The 2020 Credit Agreement contained certain customary restrictive loan covenants, including, among others, financial covenants that applied a maximum consolidated leverage ratio and a minimum consolidated interest expense coverage ratio. On March 26, 2024, concurrently with the Company’s entry into the 2024 Credit Agreement, the Company terminated the 2020 Credit Agreement and repaid all amounts outstanding.
Interest Rate Swaps
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As of December 31, 2024, the Company had one fixed-for-floating interest rate swap contract with a total notional value of $350.0 million that matures in 2025. Under the amended agreement, the Company pays a base fixed rate of 2.98% and in return receives a floating Term SOFR base rate on 30-day notional borrowings.
Effective June 30, 2020, the Company de-designated all of its interest rate swaps and discontinued hedge accounting. Accordingly, subsequent changes to the fair value of the interest rate swaps are recorded in Other income, net. The amounts previously recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss are amortized into Interest expense over the terms of the hedged forecasted interest payments. As of December 31, 2024, $13.2 million is remaining in Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net. See Note 13 — Derivatives and Hedging for the amounts remaining in Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax effect, at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.See Note 14 — Fair Value Disclosures for the determination of the fair values of Company’s interest rate swaps.
Note 7 — Leases
The Company’s leasing activities are primarily for facilities under cancelable and non-cancelable lease agreements expiring during 2025 and through 2038. These facilities support the Company’s executive and administrative activities, research and consulting, sales, systems support, operations, and other functions. The Company also has leases for office equipment and other assets, which are not significant. Certain of the Company’s lease agreements include (i) renewal options to extend the lease term for up to ten years and/or (ii) options to terminate the agreement within one year. Additionally, certain of the Company’s lease agreements provide standard recurring escalations of lease payments for, among other things, increases in a lessor’s maintenance costs and taxes. Under some lease agreements, the Company may be entitled to allowances, free rent, lessor-financed tenant improvements and other incentives. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.
The Company subleases certain office space that it does not intend to occupy. Such sublease arrangements expire during 2025 and through 2032 and primarily relate to facilities in Arlington, Virginia. Certain of the Company’s sublease agreements: (i) include renewal and termination options; (ii) provide for customary escalations of lease payments in the normal course of business; and (iii) grant the subtenant certain allowances, free rent, Gartner-financed tenant improvements and other incentives.
Lease Accounting under ASC 842
Under ASC 842, a lease is a contract or an agreement, or a part of another arrangement, between two or more parties that, at its inception, creates enforceable rights and obligations that conveys the right to control the use of identified property, plant or equipment for a period of time in exchange for consideration.
Right-of-use assets represent a right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and the related lease liability represents an obligation to make lease payments pursuant to the contractual terms of the lease agreement. Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are initially recognized on the lease commencement date based on the present value of the lease payments over the lease term. For all of the Company’s facilities leases, the Company accounts for both lease components and nonlease components (e.g., common area maintenance charges, etc.) as a single lease component when determining the present value of the Company’s lease payments. Variable lease payments that are not dependent on an index or a rate are excluded from the determination of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities and such payments are recognized as expense in the period when the related obligation is incurred.
The Company’s lease agreements do not provide implicit interest rates. Instead, the Company uses an incremental borrowing rate determined on the lease commencement date to calculate the present value of future lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate is calculated for each individual lease and represents the rate of interest that the Company would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis (in the currency that the lease is denominated) over a similar term an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. Right-of-use assets also include initial direct costs incurred by the Company and lease payments made to a lessor on or before the related lease commencement date, less any lease incentives received directly from the lessor.
Certain of the Company’s facility lease agreements include options to extend or terminate the lease. When it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise a renewal or termination option, the present value of the lease payments for the affected lease is adjusted accordingly. Leases with a term of twelve months or less are accounted for in the same manner as long-term lease arrangements, including any related disclosures. Lease expense for operating leases is generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, unless the related right-of-use asset was previously impaired.
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All of the Company’s existing sublease arrangements have been classified as operating leases with sublease income recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the sublease arrangement. To measure the Company’s periodic sublease income, the Company elected to use a practical expedient under ASC 842 to aggregate nonlease components with the related lease components when (i) the timing and pattern of transfer for the nonlease components and the related lease components are the same and (ii) the lease components, if accounted for separately, would be classified as an operating lease. This practical expedient applies to all of the Company’s existing sublease arrangements.
When the projected lease cost for the term of a sublease exceeds the anticipated sublease income for that same period, the Company treats that circumstance as an indicator that the carrying amount of the related right-of-use asset may not be fully recoverable. In those situations, the Company performs an impairment analysis and, if indicated, the Company records a charge against earnings to reduce the right-of-use asset to the amount deemed to be recoverable in the future.
On the Consolidated Balance Sheet, right-of-use assets are classified and reported in Operating lease right-of-use assets, and the related lease liabilities are included in Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (current) and Operating lease liabilities (long-term). On the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, the reduction in the carrying amount of right-of-use assets is presented separately and the change in operating lease liabilities is included under Accounts payable and accrued and other liabilities in the reconciliation of net income to cash provided by operating activities.
All of the Company’s leasing and subleasing activities are recognized in Selling, general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The table below presents the Company’s net lease cost and certain other information related to the Company’s leasing activities as of and for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 (dollars in thousands).
Year Ended December 31,
Weighted average discount rate for operating leases 6.4 % 6.6 % 6.6 %
(1)Included in operating lease cost was $36.4 million, $43.1 million and $41.9 million of costs for subleasing activities during 2024, 2023, and 2022 respectively.
(2)These amounts are primarily variable lease and nonlease costs that were not fixed at the lease commencement date or are dependent on something other than an index or a rate.
(3)The Company did not capitalize any initial direct costs for operating leases during 2024, 2023, or 2022.
(4)Amount excludes impairment charges of $10.9 million, $20.4 million, and $54.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022 respectively, as discussed below.
As of December 31, 2024, the (i) maturities of operating lease liabilities under non-cancelable arrangements and (ii) estimated future sublease cash receipts from non-cancelable arrangements were as follows (in thousands):
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Operating Sublease
Lease Cash
Period ending December 31, Payments Receipts
Total operating lease liabilities per the Consolidated Balance Sheet $ 440,091
(1)Approximately 77% of the operating lease payments pertain to properties in the United States.
The table below indicates where the discounted operating lease payments from the above table are classified in the Consolidated Balance Sheet (in thousands).
December 31,
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 100,312 $ 98,493
As of December 31, 2024, the Company had additional operating leases for facilities that have not yet commenced. These operating leases, which aggregated $1.3 million of undiscounted lease payments, are scheduled to commence during 2025 with lease terms of up to 5 years.
As a result and in consideration of the changing nature of the Company’s use of office space, the Company continues to evaluate its existing real estate lease portfolio. In connection with this evaluation, the Company reviewed certain of its right-of-use assets and related other long-lived assets for impairment under ASC 360.
As a result of the evaluation, the Company recognized impairment losses of $10.9 million, $20.4 million and $54.0 million during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively, which are included as a component of Selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. The impairment loss for the year ended December 31, 2024 includes $10.3 million related to other long-lived assets, primarily leasehold improvements, as well as $56.7 million related to right-of-use assets partially offset by a $56.1 million reduction in lease liabilities. During the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company entered into an amended lease agreement to significantly reduce the square footage and reduce future lease payments at one of its leased locations. The Company made an installment payment of $24.0 million during the fourth quarter of 2024, and will make an equal installment payment during the second quarter of 2025 in consideration for the lease amendment.
The impairment loss for the year ended December 31, 2023 includes $14.7 million related to right-of-use assets and $5.7 million related to other long-lived assets, primarily leasehold improvements. The impairment loss for the year ended December 31, 2022 includes $40.7 million related to right-of-use assets and $13.3 million related to other long-lived assets, primarily leasehold improvements.
The fair values for the asset groups relating to the impaired long-lived assets were estimated primarily using discounted cash flow models (income approach) with Level 3 inputs. The significant assumptions used in estimating fair value include the expected downtime prior to the commencement of future subleases, projected sublease income over the remaining lease periods and discount rates that reflect the level of risk associated with receiving future cash flows.
Note 8 — Stockholders’ Equity
Common stock. Holders of Gartner’s common stock, par value $0.0005 per share, are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted by stockholders. The Company does not currently pay cash dividends on its common stock. Also, the 2024
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Credit Agreement contains a negative covenant that may limit the Company’s ability to pay dividends. The table below summarizes transactions relating to the Company’s common stock for the three years ended December 31, 2024.
IssuedShares TreasuryStockShares
Issuances under stock plans — (599,081)
Issuances under stock plans — (975,745)
Issuances under stock plans — (666,193)
(1)The Company used a total of $735.4 million, $606.2 million and $1.0 billion in cash for share repurchases during 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Share repurchase authorization. In 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) authorized a share repurchase program to repurchase up to $1.2 billion of the Company’s common stock. From February 2021 to July 2024, the Board authorized incremental share repurchases of up to an aggregate additional $4.1 billion of the Company’s common stock. $953.8 million remained available as of December 31, 2024. The Company may repurchase its common stock from time-to-time in amounts, at prices and in the manner that the Company deems appropriate, subject to the availability of stock, prevailing market conditions, the trading price of the stock, the Company’s financial performance and other conditions. Repurchases may be made through open market purchases (which may include repurchase plans designed to comply with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), accelerated share repurchases, private transactions or other transactions and will be funded by cash on hand and borrowings. Repurchases may also be made from time-to-time in connection with the settlement of the Company’s stock-based compensation awards.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net (“AOCI/L”)
The tables below provide information about the changes in AOCI/L by component and the related amounts reclassified out of AOCI/L to income during the years indicated (net of tax, in thousands) (1).
Year Ended December 31, 2024
Other comprehensive income (loss) activity during the year:
Change in AOCI/L before reclassifications to income — 315 (26,881) (26,566)
Year Ended December 31, 2023
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Other comprehensive income (loss) activity during the year:
Change in AOCI/L before reclassifications to income — (1,616) 11,677 10,061
(1)Amounts in parentheses represent debits (deferred losses).
(2)$19.1 million and $20.1 million of the reclassifications related to interest rate swaps (cash flow hedges) were recorded in Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. See Note 6 — Debt and Note 13 — Derivatives and Hedging for information regarding the cash flow hedges.
(3)The reclassifications related to defined benefit pension plans were primarily recorded in Selling, general and administrative expense, net of tax effect. See Note 15 — Employee Benefits for information regarding the Company’s defined benefit pension plans.
The estimated net amount of the existing losses on the Company’s interest rate swaps that are reported in Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net at December 31, 2024 that is expected to be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months is $9.8 million.
Note 9 — Revenue and Related Matters
Our Business and Revenues
Gartner delivers its products and services globally through three business segments – Research, Conferences and Consulting, as described below.
Research
Research equips executives and their teams from every function and across all industries with actionable, objective insight, guidance and tools. Our experienced experts deliver all this value informed by a combination of practitioner-sourced and data-driven research to help our clients address their mission critical priorities.
Research revenues are mainly derived from subscription contracts for research products, representing approximately 94% of the segment’s revenue. The related revenues are deferred and recognized ratably over the applicable contract term (i.e., as services are provided over the contract period). Fees derived from assisting organizations in selecting the right business software for their needs are recognized at a point in time (i.e., when the lead is provided to the vendor).
The Company enters into subscription contracts for research products that generally are for twelve-month periods or longer. Approximately 80% to 85% of the Company’s annual and multi-year Research subscription contracts provide for billing of the first full service period upon signing. In subsequent years, multi-year subscription contracts are normally billed prior to the contract’s anniversary date. Other Research subscription contracts are usually invoiced in advance, commencing with the contract signing, on (i) a quarterly, monthly or other recurring basis or (ii) in accordance with a customized invoicing schedule. Research contracts are generally non-cancelable and non-refundable, except for government contracts that may have cancellation or fiscal funding clauses, which have not historically resulted in material cancellations. It is the Company’s policy to record the amount of a subscription contract that is billable as a fee receivable at the time the contract is signed with a corresponding amount as deferred revenue because the contract represents a legally enforceable claim.
Conferences
Conferences provides executives and teams across an organization the opportunity to learn, share and network. From our Gartner Symposium/Xpo series, to industry-leading conferences focused on specific business roles and topics, to peer-driven sessions, our offerings enable attendees to experience the best of Gartner insight and guidance.
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The Company earns revenues from both the attendees and exhibitors at Gartner conferences and meetings. Attendees are generally invoiced for the full attendance fee upon their completion of an online registration form or their signing of a contract, while exhibitors typically make several individual payments commencing with the signing of a contract. Almost all of the invoiced amounts are collected in advance of the related activity, resulting in the recording of deferred revenue. Both the attendee and exhibitor revenues are recognized as the related performance obligations are satisfied (i.e., when the related conference is held).
The Company defers certain costs directly related to specific conferences and meetings and expenses those costs in the period during which the related activity occurs. The Company’s policy is to defer only those costs that are incremental and directly attributable to a specific activity, primarily prepaid site and production services costs. Other costs of organizing and producing conference activities, primarily Company personnel and non-conference specific expenses, are expensed in the period incurred.
Consulting
Consulting serves senior executives leading technology-driven strategic initiatives leveraging the power of Gartner’s actionable, objective insight. Through custom analysis and on-the-ground support we enable optimized technology investments and stronger performance on our clients’ mission critical priorities.
Consulting revenues, primarily derived from custom consulting and measurement services, are principally generated from fixed fee or time and materials engagements. Revenues from fixed fee engagements are recognized as the Company works to satisfy its performance obligations, while revenues from time and materials engagements are recognized as work is delivered and/or services are provided. In both of these circumstances, performance obligations are satisfied and control of the services is passed to customers over time (i.e., during the duration of the contract or consulting engagement). On a contract-by-contract basis, the Company typically uses actual labor hours incurred compared to total expected labor hours to measure the Company’s performance in respect of fixed fee engagements. If labor and other costs on an individual contract are expected to exceed the total contract value or the contract’s funded ceiling amount, the Company reflects an adjustment to the contract’s overall profitability in the period determined. Revenues related to contract optimization engagements are contingent in nature and are only recognized at the point in time when all of the conditions related to their payment have been satisfied.
Consulting customers are invoiced based on the specific terms and conditions in their underlying contracts. They are typically invoiced after the Company has satisfied some or all of the related performance obligations and the related revenue has been recognized. The Company records fees receivable for amounts that are billed or billable. Contract assets are also recorded representing amounts for which the Company has recognized revenue but lacks the unconditional right to payment as of the balance sheet date due to the required continued performance under the relevant contract, progress billing milestones or other billing-related restrictions.
Disaggregated Revenue
Disaggregated revenue by reportable segment is presented in the tables below for the years indicated (in thousands).
By Primary Geographic Market(1)
Year Ended December 31, 2024
Primary Geographic Market Research Conferences Consulting Total
Year Ended December 31, 2023
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Primary Geographic Market Research Conferences Consulting Total
Year Ended December 31, 2022
Primary Geographic Market Research Conferences Consulting Total
(1)Revenue is reported based on where the sale is fulfilled.
The Company’s revenue is generated primarily through direct sales to clients by domestic and international sales forces and a network of independent international sales agents. Most of the Company’s products and services are provided on an integrated worldwide basis and, because of this integrated delivery approach, it is not practical to precisely separate Company’s revenue by geographic location. Accordingly, revenue information presented in the above tables is based on internal allocations, which involve certain management estimates and judgments.
By Timing of Revenue Recognition
Year Ended December 31, 2024
Timing of Revenue Recognition Research Conferences Consulting Total
Year Ended December 31, 2023
Timing of Revenue Recognition Research Conferences Consulting Total
Year Ended December 31, 2022
Timing of Revenue Recognition Research Conferences Consulting Total
(1)Research revenues were recognized in connection with performance obligations that were satisfied over time using a time-elapsed output method to measure progress. Consulting revenues were recognized over time using labor hours as an input measurement basis.
(2)The revenues in this category were recognized in connection with performance obligations that were satisfied at the point in time that the contractual deliverables were provided to the customer.
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Determining a measure of progress for performance obligations that are satisfied over time and when control transfers for performance obligations that are satisfied at a point in time requires management to make judgments that affect the timing of revenue recognition. A key factor in this determination is when the customer can direct the use of, and can obtain substantially all of the benefits from, the deliverable.
For performance obligations recognized in accordance with a time-elapsed output method, the Company’s efforts are expended consistently throughout the contractual period and the Company transfers control evenly by providing stand-ready services. For performance obligations satisfied under Consulting fixed fee or time and materials engagements, the Company believes that labor hours are the best measure of depicting the Company’s progress because labor output corresponds directly to the value of the Company’s performance to date as control is transferred.
For customer contracts that are greater than one year in duration, the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to performance obligations that are unsatisfied (or partially unsatisfied) as of December 31, 2024 was approximately $6.4 billion. The Company expects to recognize $3.7 billion, $2.1 billion and $600.0 million of this revenue (most of which pertains to Research) during the year ending December 31, 2025, the year ending December 31, 2026 and thereafter, respectively. The Company applies a practical expedient allowed in ASC 606 and, accordingly, it does not disclose such performance obligation information for customer contracts that have original durations of one year or less. The Company’s performance obligations for contracts meeting this ASC 606 disclosure exclusion primarily include: (i) stand-ready services under Research subscription contracts; (ii) holding conferences and meetings where attendees and exhibitors can participate; and (iii) providing customized Consulting solutions for clients under fixed fee or time and materials engagements. The remaining duration of these performance obligations is generally less than one year, which aligns with the period that the parties have enforceable rights and obligations under the affected contracts.
Customer Contract Assets and Liabilities
The payment terms and conditions in the Company’s customer contracts vary. In some cases, customers prepay and, in other cases, after the Company conducts a credit evaluation, payment may be due in arrears. Because the timing of the Company’s service delivery typically differs from the timing of customer payments, the Company recognizes either a contract asset (the Company performs either fully or partially under the contract but a contingency remains) or a contract liability (upfront customer payments precede the Company’s performance, resulting in deferred revenue). Amounts recorded as contract assets are reclassified to fees receivable when all of the outstanding conditions have been resolved and the Company’s right to payment becomes unconditional. Contracts with payments due in arrears are also recognized as fees receivable. As contractual performance obligations are satisfied, the Company correspondingly relieves its contract liabilities and records the associated revenue.
The table below provides information regarding certain of the Company’s balance sheet accounts that pertain to its contracts with customers (in thousands).
December 31,
Assets:
Contract liabilities:
Non-current deferred revenues recorded in Other liabilities (3) 27,389 33,490
(1)Fees receivable represent an unconditional right of payment from the Company’s customers and include both billed and unbilled amounts.
(2)Contract assets represent recognized revenue for which the Company does not have an unconditional right to payment as of the balance sheet date because the project may be subject to a progress billing milestone or some other billing restriction.
(3)Deferred revenues represent amounts (i) for which the Company has received an upfront customer payment or (ii) that pertain to recognized fees receivable. Both situations occur before the completion of the Company’s performance obligation(s).
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The Company recognized revenue of $2.3 billion, $2.0 billion and $1.9 billion during 2024, 2023 and 2022 respectively, which was attributable to deferred revenues that were recorded at the beginning of each such year. Those amounts primarily consisted of (i) Research revenues and (ii) Conferences revenues pertaining to conferences and meetings that occurred during the reporting periods. During 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company did not record any material impairments related to its contract assets.
Costs of Obtaining and Fulfilling a Customer Contract
When the Company concludes that a liability should be recognized for the costs of obtaining a customer contract and determines how such liability should be measured, certain commissions are capitalized as a recoverable direct incremental cost of obtaining the underlying contract. No other amounts are capitalized as a cost of obtaining or fulfilling a customer contract because no expenditures have been identified that meet the requisite capitalization criteria. For Research and Consulting, the Company amortizes deferred commissions on a systematic basis that aligns with the transfer to customers of the services to which the commissions relate. For Conferences, deferred commissions are expensed during the period when the related conference or meeting occurs.
During 2024, 2023 and 2022, deferred commission amortization expense was $574.3 million, $550.5 million and $562.1 million, respectively, and was included in Selling, general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company classifies Deferred commissions as a current asset on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at both December 31, 2024 and 2023 because those costs were, or will be, amortized over the twelve months following the respective balance sheet dates.
Note 10 — Stock-Based Compensation
The Company grants stock-based compensation awards as an incentive for employees and directors to contribute to the Company’s long-term success. The Company currently awards stock-settled stock appreciation rights, service-based and performance-based restricted stock units, and common stock equivalents. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had 5.6 million shares of its common stock, par value $0.0005 per share, (the “Common Stock”) available for stock-based compensation awards under its Long-Term Incentive Plan as amended and restated in June 2023 (the “Plan”). Currently, the Company issues treasury shares upon the exercise, release or settlement of stock-based compensation awards.
Determining the appropriate fair value model and calculating the fair value of stock-based compensation awards requires the use of certain subjective assumptions, including the expected life of a stock-based compensation award and Common Stock price volatility. In addition, determining the appropriate periodic stock-based compensation expense requires management to estimate the likelihood of the achievement of certain performance targets. The assumptions used in calculating the fair values of stock-based compensation awards and the related periodic expense represent management’s best estimates, which involve inherent uncertainties and the application of judgment. As a result, if circumstances change and the Company deems it necessary in the future to modify the assumptions it made or to use different assumptions, or if the quantity and nature of the Company’s stock-based compensation awards changes, then the amount of expense may need to be adjusted and future stock-based compensation expense could be materially different from what has been recorded in the current year.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
The tables below summarize the Company’s stock-based compensation expense by award type and expense category line item during the years ended December 31 (in millions).
Stock appreciation rights $ 13.5 $ 10.5 $ 8.8
Common stock equivalents 1.1 1.1 0.8
Cost of services and product development $ 61.8 $ 53.3 $ 32.7
Selling, general and administrative 93.0 76.5 57.9
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(1)The Company changed its retirement eligibility provisions for certain stock-based compensation awards in 2023. Includes charges of $71.4 million, $55.5 million and $32.2 million during 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, for awards to retirement-eligible employees. Those awards vest on an accelerated basis.
As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $154.8 million of total unrecognized stock-based compensation cost, which is expected to be expensed over the remaining weighted average service period of approximately 1.6 years.
Stock-Based Compensation Awards
The disclosures presented below provide information regarding the Company’s stock-based compensation awards, all of which have been classified as equity awards in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 505.
Stock Appreciation Rights
Stock-settled stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) permit the holder to participate in the appreciation of the value of the Common Stock. After the applicable vesting criteria have been satisfied, SARs are settled in shares of Common Stock upon exercise by the employee. SARs vest ratably over a four-year service period and expire seven years from the date of grant. The fair value of a SARs award is recognized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over four years. SARs have only been awarded to the Company’s executive officers.
When SARs are exercised, the number of shares of Common Stock issued is calculated as follows: (1) the total proceeds from the exercise of the SARs award (calculated as the closing price of the Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of exercise less the exercise price of the SARs award, multiplied by the number of SARs exercised) is divided by (2) the closing price of the Common Stock on the date of exercise. Upon exercise, the Company withholds a portion of the shares of the Common Stock to satisfy statutory tax withholding requirements. SARs recipients do not have any stockholder rights until the shares of Common Stock are issued in respect of the award, which is subject to the prior satisfaction of the vesting and other criteria relating to such grants.
The table below summarizes changes in SARs outstanding during the year ended December 31, 2024.
n/a = not applicable
(1)As of December 31, 2024, 0.2 million of the total SARs outstanding were unvested. The Company expects that substantially all of those unvested awards will vest in future periods.
(2)As of December 31, 2024, the total SARs outstanding had an intrinsic value of $80.1 million. On such date, SARs vested and exercisable had an intrinsic value of $48.0 million.
The fair value of a SARs award is determined on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model with the following weighted average assumptions for the years ended December 31: