FTI Consulting’s Strategic Communications operation saw revenues rally 3.2 percent in 2016’s fourth quarter to $50.3 million, an impressive turnaround from Q3’s disappointing $45.8 million and a strong gain from the $48.8 million that unit produced during the same quarter a year prior.

For the year, Strategic Communications revenues were $191.2 million, a .6 percent gain from 2015’s $189,974.      

FTI Consulting

The Washington-based corporate services company in an earnings statement today said Strategic Communications’ performance was primarily the result of higher project-based revenues in the Europe, Middle East and Africa regions, which experienced an upswing in public affairs and financial communications engagements.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization in the Strategic Communications Unit was $8.4 million for the three months ending December 31, compared to $7.6 million during the same period a year prior. EBITDA for the year was 30.4 million, an impressive leap of 9.7 percent from 2015’s $27.7 million.

Across the company, FTI Consulting reported Q4 revenue of $441.9 million, an uptick from Q3’s $438 million but down slightly from the $442.2 million reported in 2015’s final quarter (in a statement, FTI said revenues had increased 2.6 percent when excluding the estimated negative impact of foreign currency translation).

Net income for the fourth quarter was down 31.4 percent to $7.1 million (compared to $10.3 million in the prior year quarter), and adjusted EBITDA also declined for the quarter, to $30.3 million from $35.2 million in 2015’s fourth quarter.

For the year, revenues increased 1.8 percent in 2016 to $1.81 billion, with net income up 29.5 percent to $85.5 million. Adjusted EBITDA for 2016 was $203.0 million, compared to 2015's $205.8 million.

FTI president and CEO Steven Gunby in a statement today referred to 2016 as “a superb year,” aided particularly by record revenues in its Economic Consulting and Corporate Finance & Restructuring segments as well as a strong performance from its Strategic Communications unit.

Gunby noted that FTI’s EMEA region is “benefitting from our multi-year commitment to grow our global platform, delivering record revenues and continuing to grow headcount substantially.”