Alpha Financial Markets Consulting PLC (AIM:AFM) is navigating longer sales cycles and a slow start to the year, impacting consultant utilisation rates and delaying the onset of new client projects, the global consultancy said in a Wednesday trading update.
Despite these hurdles, Alpha FMC anticipates its full-year results to show modest net fee income growth of up to 5% compared to the previous year, with adjusted EBITDA forecast to be in the range of £42 million to £43 million.
This outlook is attributed to the company's strategic focus on maintaining consistent day rates, selective hiring in key growth areas, and active cost management.
Alpha FMC said it continues to see robust client demand and has seen higher sales wins in recent months, while maintaining a strong pipeline of new business opportunities.
These factors, together with the strong long-term structural growth drivers that underpin demand for Alpha's services, “gives us confidence that the group remains well positioned for continued growth, in line with our ambition to double the business again by 2028”, said the trading update.
Luc Baqué, chief executive, commented: "The challenging market environment previously reported remains prevalent. While trading is improving in the second half it has not recovered at the pace we envisaged when reporting our interim results, as the market continues to rebalance supply and demand.
“However, we continue to see improving market conditions and with the group's ongoing strong pipeline, leading expertise, strong propositions and multiple growth opportunities, we remain well positioned for future growth."