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Exponent

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FY2016 Annual Report · Exponent
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2016 

Annual Report 

 
 
 
 
 
Dear Fellow Stockholders:  

2016 was a productive year for Exponent.  During the year, we continued to grow revenues, produce 
good margins, maintain an active share repurchase program and increase our quarterly cash dividend.  

Total revenues for the year grew to $315,076,000 and revenues before reimbursements reached 
$299,197,000. The revenue growth was tempered by a challenging year over year comparison in the 
first half of the year and softness in a few industry sectors, especially in oil and gas. During the 
second half of 2016, we began to see an increase in demand, especially for our expertise in the 
consumer products and construction industry sectors.   

We generated $66.9 million in cash from operating activities, repurchased $24.5 million of common 
stock, paid dividends of $18.8 million and closed the year with $173.7 million in cash, cash 
equivalents and short-term investments.  Our ability to deliver solid results and maintain a healthy 
balance sheet amid softer market conditions speaks to the resilience of our model. 

After 50 years, the Exponent brand is growing globally, as illustrated by recent high-profile 
engagements with companies in the automotive industry for issues related to unintended acceleration 
and airbags; in the consumer electronics industry for battery fires; and international construction 
disputes related to mines, gas terminals and power plants. In 2017, we will continue to leverage our 
experience and reputation in reactive services to drive growth and development of our proactive 
services globally.   

Although market conditions tempered our underlying growth in 2016, we remain confident in our 
value proposition. Our diversified portfolio of clients, world-class team of highly skilled 
professionals, unique market position and expanding international profile leave us well-positioned 
for long-term growth. Our financial goals are unchanged: produce organic revenue growth, improve 
profitability and maintain a healthy balance sheet.  

We believe that our share repurchase program and ongoing quarterly dividend payments demonstrate 
our confidence in the model and our commitment to deliver long-term shareholder value.  

We would like to thank the Exponent team for their dedication in 2016, and our clients and investors 
for their continued support. 

With Regards,  

Paul R. Johnston, Ph.D.  
Chief Executive Officer 

 
 
 
UNITED STATES 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 

Washington, D.C. 20549 

________________________________ 

FORM 10-K 
________________________________ 

[X] 

Annual Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the fiscal 
year ended December 30, 2016. 

OR 

[  ] 

Transition  report  pursuant  to  Section  13  or  15(d)  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934  for  the 
transition period from ________ to _________. 

Commission File Number 0-18655 
________________________________ 

EXPONENT, INC. 
   (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 
________________________________ 

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) 

Delaware 

77-0218904 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 

149 Commonwealth Drive, Menlo Park, California 
(Address of principal executive offices) 

94025 
(Zip Code) 

(650) 326-9400 
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:  

   Title of Each Class 

Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share 

    Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered 
The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None 

Indicate by check  mark if the registrant is a  well-known  seasoned issuer, as defined in  Rule 405 of the Securities 
Act.  

Yes   X     

No          

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 
Act.  

No   X     

Yes          

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of 
the  Act  during  the  preceding  12  months  (or  for  such  shorter  period  that  the  registrant  was  required  to  file  such 
reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. 

Yes   X    

No           

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if 
any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during 
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  

Yes   X    

No           

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Indicate by check  mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained 
herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements 
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [X] 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, 
or  a  smaller  reporting  company.  See  definitions  of  “large  accelerated  filer”,  “accelerated  filer”  and  “smaller 
reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  

Large accelerated filer [X]  Accelerated filer [  ] 

Non-accelerated filer [  ] 
(Do not check if a smaller 
reporting company) 

Smaller reporting company [  ] 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). 

Yes          

No   X     

The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant based on the closing sales 
price of the common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on July 1, 2016, the last business day 
of the registrant’s most recently completed second quarter, was $1,315,000,349. Shares of the registrant’s common 
stock held by each executive officer and director and by each entity or person that, to the registrant’s knowledge, 
owned 10% or more of registrant’s outstanding common stock as of July 1, 2016 have been excluded in that such 
persons  may be deemed to be affiliates of the registrant.  This determination of affiliate status is not  necessarily a 
conclusive determination for other purposes.  

The number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding as of February 17, 2017 was 25,597,038. 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 

Portions of the registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement for the registrant’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to 
be held on June 1, 2017 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EXPONENT, INC. 
FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT 
FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 30, 2016 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Business 

PART I 
Item 1. 
Item 1A.  Risk Factors 
Item 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments 
Item 2.  
Item 3. 
Item 4.   Mine Safety Disclosures 

Properties 
Legal Proceedings 

PART II 
Item 5.  Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer 

  Purchases of Equity Securities 
Selected Financial Data 

Item 6. 
Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 
Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 
Item 8. 
Item 9. 
Item 9A.  Controls and Procedures 
Item 9B.  Other Information 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 

Page 

4 
14 
18 
18 
18 
18 

19 
21 
21 
31 
32 
32 
32 
32 

PART III 
32 
Item 10.  Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance 
Item 11.  Executive Compensation 
33 
Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters  33 
33 
Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence 
33 
Item 14.  Principal Accounting Fees and Services 

PART IV 
Item 15.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules 

Signatures  
Exhibit Index 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 

This  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  contains,  and 
incorporates  by  reference,  certain  “forward-looking” 
statements  (as  such  term  is  defined  in  the  Private 
Securities  Litigation  Reform  Act  of  1995,  and  the 
rules  promulgated  pursuant  to  the  Securities  Act  of 
1933,  as  amended,  and  the  Securities  Exchange  Act 
of  1934,  as  amended),  including  but  not  limited  to 
statements  regarding  future  growth  and  market 
opportunities, 
headcount, 
utilization and operating expenses, that are based on 
the beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as 
assumptions  made  by,  and  information  currently 
available  to,  the  Company’s  management.  Such 
forward-looking  statements  are  subject  to  the  safe 
harbor  created  by  the  Private  Securities  Litigation 

revenue,  margins, 

3 

34 

64 
65 

in 

the  documents 

Reform  Act  of  1995.  When  used  in  this  document 
and 
incorporated  herein  by 
reference, statements other than statements of current 
or historical fact are forward-looking statements. The 
words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue”, 
“could”,  “may”,  “plan”,  “expect”  and  similar 
expressions,  as  they  relate  to  the  Company  or  its 
identify  certain  of  such  forward-
management, 
looking  statements.  Such  statements  reflect 
the 
current  views  of  the  Company  or  its  management 
with respect to future events and are subject to certain 
risks,  uncertainties  and  assumptions.  Should  one  or 
more  of  these  risks  or  uncertainties  materialize,  or 
should  underlying  assumptions  prove  incorrect,  the 
Company’s 
or 
results, 
achievements  could  differ  materially  from  those 
expressed  in,  or  implied  by,  any  such  forward-

performance, 

actual 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
looking  statements.  Factors  that  could  cause  or 
contribute  to  such  material  differences  include  the 
possibility  that  the  demand  for  our  services  may 
decline as a result of changes in general and industry 
specific  economic  conditions, 
timing  of 
the 
the  effects  of 
for  our  services, 
engagements 
competitive  services  and  pricing,  the  absence  of 
backlog related to our business, our ability to attract 
and  retain  key  employees,  the  effect  of  tort  reform 
and  government  regulation  on  our  business,  and 
liabilities  resulting  from  claims  made  against  us. 
Additional  risks  and  uncertainties  are  discussed  in 
this Annual Report under the heading “Risk Factors” 
and elsewhere.  

The  inclusion  of  such  forward-looking  information 
should  not  be  regarded  as  a  representation  by  the 
Company or any other person that the  future events, 
plans, or expectations contemplated by the Company 
will  be  achieved.  The  Company  undertakes  no 
obligation  to  update  or  revise  any  such  forward-
looking statements. 

PART I 

Item 1. Business 

Inc., 

GENERAL 
Exponent, 
its  subsidiaries, 
together  with 
(“Exponent”, the “Company”, “we”, “us” and “our”) 
is  a  science  and  engineering  consulting  firm  that 
to  complex  problems.  Our 
provides  solutions 
multidisciplinary 
team  of  scientists,  engineers, 
business  and  regulatory  consultants  brings  together 
more  than  90  different  technical  disciplines  to  solve 
complicated  issues  facing  industry  and  government 
today.  Our  services  include  analysis  of  product 
development,  product  recall,  regulatory  compliance, 
and  the  discovery  of  potential  problems  related  to 
products, people, property and impending litigation. 

The history of Exponent, Inc. goes back to 1967, with 
the  founding  of  the  partnership  Failure  Analysis 
Associates,  which  was  incorporated  the  following 
year in California and reincorporated in Delaware as 
Failure Analysis Associates, Inc. in 1988. The Failure 
Group,  Inc.  was  organized  in  1989  as  a  holding 
company  for  Failure  Analysis  Associates,  Inc.  and 
changed its name to Exponent, Inc. in 1998. 

CLIENTS 

General 

Exponent  serves  clients  in  chemical,  construction, 
consumer  products,  energy,  food,  beverage  and 

technology, 

life  sciences, 

insurance, 
nutrition,  government, 
manufacturing, 
industrial  equipment, 
transportation  and  other  sectors  of  the  economy. 
Many  of  our  engagements  are  initiated  directly  by 
large  corporations  or  by 
insurance 
companies  whose  clients  anticipate,  or  are  engaged 
in,  litigation  related  to  their  products,  equipment, 
processes  or  services.  The  scope  of  our  services  in 
failure  prevention  and  technology  evaluation  has 
grown  as  the  technological  complexity  of  products 
has increased over the years.  

lawyers  or 

Pricing and Terms of Engagements 

We provide our services on either a fixed-price basis 
or on a time and material basis, charging in the latter 
case hourly rates for each staff member involved in a 
project, based on his or her skills and experience. Our 
standard  rates  for  professionals  range  from  $170  to 
$750 per hour. Our engagement agreements typically 
provide  for  monthly  billing,  require  payment  of  our 
invoices within 30 days of receipt and permit clients 
time.  Clients 
to 
normally  agree  to  indemnify  us  and  our  personnel 
against liabilities arising out of the use or application 
of the results of our work or recommendations. 

terminate  engagements  at  any 

SERVICES  

Exponent  provides  high  quality  engineering  and 
scientific  consulting  services  to  clients  around  the 
world.  Our  service  offerings  are  provided  on  a 
project-by-project  basis.  Many  projects 
require 
support from multiple practices. We currently operate 
19  practices  in  two  reportable  operating  segments, 
Engineering  and  Other  Scientific  and  Environmental 
and Health:  

ENGINEERING AND OTHER SCIENTIFIC  

•  Biomechanics  
•  Biomedical Engineering  
•  Buildings & Structures  
•  Civil Engineering  
•  Construction Consulting  
•  Electrical Engineering & Computer Science  
•  Engineering Management Consulting  
•  Human Factors  
• 
•  Materials & Corrosion Engineering  
•  Mechanical Engineering  
•  Polymer Science & Materials Chemistry  
•  Statistical & Data Sciences  
•  Thermal Sciences  
•  Vehicle Analysis 

Industrial Structures  

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH 

•  Chemical Regulation & Food Safety  
•  Ecological & Biological Sciences  
•  Environmental & Earth Sciences  
•  Health Sciences 

ENGINEERING AND OTHER SCIENTIFIC  

Biomechanics 

Our  Biomechanics  Practice  uses  engineering  and 
biomedical science to solve complex problems at the 
intersection  of  biology  and  engineering.  Our 
expertise  is  used  to  understand  and  evaluate  the 
interaction  between  the  human  body  as  a  biological 
system  and  the  physical  environment  to  explore  the 
cause, nature, and severity of injuries. 

During 
the  past  year,  our  biomechanics  staff 
performed analyses of human injuries which occurred 
while individuals were utilizing a variety of products 
recreational  vehicles,  sporting  goods, 
including 
trucks,  trains,  aircraft,  industrial  equipment,  and 
automobiles.  They also looked at the implications of 
using  protective  devices  (such  as  restraint  systems, 
airbags,  and  helmets)  on  reducing  the  potential  for 
injury, and assessed injuries in the workplace, in the 
home, and during recreational activities. 

Biomedical Engineering 

Our  Biomedical  Engineering  Practice  applies 
engineering principles to the medical field, including 
the evaluation of designs and performance of medical 
devices  and  biologics.  Our  engineers  and  scientists 
assist  clients  with  characterization  of  cells,  tissues, 
biomaterials,  and  medical  devices.  As  part  of  our 
regulatory  compliance,  we  can  perform  preclinical 
testing  and  formulate  a  related  regulatory  strategy, 
conduct design verification and validation, as well as 
design  and  manufacturing  failure  analyses,  recall 
management, and medical device explant analysis. In 
addition,  our  staff  can  perform  analysis  of  clinical 
outcomes  for  medical  devices  using  administrative 
claims  databases.  Our  expertise  is  also  utilized  in 
product 
litigation, 
technology acquisition and due diligence matters.  

intellectual  property 

liability, 

Buildings & Structures 

The  basic  function  of  a  building  is  to  provide 
structurally  sound,  durable  and  environmentally 
controlled  space  to  house  and  protect  occupants  and 
contents.  If  this  basic  function  is  not  achieved,  it  is 
because one or more aspect(s) of the building design 

5 

its 

to  perform 

intended 
or  construction  failed 
function.  Our  architects,  structural  engineers,  and 
material  scientists  have  been  investigating  such 
failures  for  decades,  and  we  use  this  experience  to 
solve  problems  with  building 
and 
components, including finding the best repair options 
and mitigating the risk of future failures.  

systems 

include  property 

During  the  past  year,  we  have  evaluated  numerous 
problems  with residential, commercial and industrial 
structures  for  insurers,  attorneys  and  owners.  Our 
evaluations  often 
inspections, 
laboratory  or  on  site  testing,  engineering  analysis, 
and  the  development  of  repair  recommendations.  In 
addition, we have  worked with owners to assess and 
mitigate  the  risk  of  failure  associated  with  hazards 
such  as  hurricanes,  earthquakes,  tsunamis  and  aging 
infrastructure. We  have assessed these risks to  high-
rise  buildings,  industrial  facilities,  pipelines  and 
nuclear power plant structures.  

Civil Engineering 

Our  Civil  Engineering  Practice  provides  broad 
expertise  that  includes  geotechnical  engineering, 
geological  engineering,  engineering  geology,  and 
geology  to  address  a  host  of  geo-failures,  including 
landslides,  foundation  and  retaining  wall  failures, 
pipeline  failures,  dam  and 
levee  failures,  and 
construction  claims.  We  also  provide  peer  review 
services  for  complicated  structures.  Our  water 
resources  staff  specializes  in  the  application  of 
proven  hydrologic,  hydraulic,  hydrodynamic,  and 
sediment  transport  research  and  science  to  provide 
scientifically  sound  and  cost-effective  solutions  to 
our clients. 

fires, 

Over  the  past  year,  our  consultants  have  been 
engaged  in  a  number  of  investigations  related  to 
retaining  wall  and 
wildland 
large  construction  claims, 
foundation 
flooding  and  sediment 
transport.  This  practice 
provided  services  for  property  owners,  contractors, 
design professionals, attorneys and insurance carriers. 

landslides, 

failures, 

Construction Consulting 

Our  Construction  Consulting  Practice  provides 
project  advisory,  risk  analysis,  strategic  planning, 
dispute  resolution,  delay  analysis  and  financial 
damages services. During the past year, we expanded 
the practice by leveraging key client relationships in 
including  utilities, 
several  construction  sectors 
mining, and oil and gas. The practice has expanded to 
Asia by  hiring  senior personnel based in Exponent’s 
Hong  Kong  office  and  has  been  retained  on 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
numerous  complex  international  arbitrations.  Our 
multi-disciplinary  staff,  which  includes  engineers, 
architects, 
schedulers, 
construction  managers, 
accountants, and technical specialists, provides these 
services  to  both  the  public  and  private  sectors  for 
clients who represent a diverse mix of companies and 
agencies.  

Our projects include many sectors of the construction 
and engineering industry which include power plants, 
transmission and distribution facilities, petrochemical 
facilities,  water  treatment  plants,  bridges  and  roads, 
rail  systems,  tunnels,  airports,  sporting  arenas  and 
gaming  facilities.  We  provide  services  to  firms 
involved in the engineering and construction industry 
including  corporate  clients,  public  agencies,  lending 
agencies,  engineering  and  construction  contractors, 
subcontractors, attorneys and insurance carriers.  

Electrical Engineering & Computer Science 

Our  Electrical  Engineering  and  Computer  Science 
Practice  offers  a  broad  range  of  expertise  to  address 
complex issues for industrial, government and private 
clients.  Our  power  engineers  advise  and  offer 
guidance to clients on problems relating to electrical 
systems  including  power  generation,  transmission 
and  distribution.  Our  team  of  electrical  engineers 
works  on  failure  analysis,  product  robustness  and 
reliability  for  consumer  and  industrial  electronics. 
Our  computer  engineers  and  scientists  work  with 
controlled 
and 
high-tech 
applications  to  evaluate  product  safety  and  software 
reliability.  The  computer  engineering  and  science 
expertise  we  offer  encompasses  a  breadth  of  areas 
sciences, 
information  and  numerical 
including 
algorithms  and  data  structures,  computer  graphics, 
and 
computer 
communications, 
and 
cryptography.  We  operate  laboratories  for  testing 
heavy  equipment  and  electronics  and  we  have  a 
broad capability in analyzing computer software.  

networking 
as 

architecture, 

as  well 

industries 

computer 

security 

ranging 

Over  the  past  year,  we  performed  a  wide  array  of 
from  assessing  electrical 
investigations 
damage  to  infrastructure  from  the  effect  of  weather 
related  events  to  working  with  clients  to  develop 
sophisticated  machine learning algorithms applied to 
large quantities of unstructured data. We continue to 
work  with  consumer  electronics  manufacturers  and 
the  transportation  industry  on  the  reliability  and 
robustness of computer controlled equipment for user 
safety.  

Engineering Management Consulting 

Our  Engineering  Management  Consulting  Practice 
provides  multi-disciplinary  expertise  and 
rapid 
response 
to  assist  clients  with  management 
consulting  services  related  to  technical  issues.  Our 
consultants  provide  services  in  the  areas  of  asset 
strategy,  technology  strategy,  regulatory  strategy, 
asset  planning,  project  management,  engineering, 
risk 
construction,  maintenance,  operations,  and 
management.  This  practice  primarily  services  the 
electric  and  gas  utility 
including 
transmission,  distribution,  fossil  fuel  generation, 
nuclear generation, and renewable generation.  

industries, 

include 

services 

Risk  management 
unique 
capabilities  in  the  areas  of  risk  and  reliability 
assessment  and  mitigation.  Our  scientists  and 
engineers  assist  our  clients  in  minimizing  losses 
related  to  asset  failures  and/or  business  operations. 
Accidents,  unanticipated  events,  and  system  failures 
are the primary causes of deferred or lost production 
interruptions  and  may  lead  to  loss  of  life,  injury, 
property damage, and undesired releases. Our  multi-
disciplinary  staff  has  also  performed  diverse 
technical,  business  interruption,  and  compliance-
related  risk  and  reliability  assessments  for  chemical, 
petrochemical,  petroleum,  and  manufacturing  clients 
worldwide.  

Human Factors 

Our  Human  Factors  Practice  evaluates  human 
performance  and  safety  in  product  and  system  use. 
Our  consultants  study  how  the  limitations  and 
capabilities of people, including memory, perception, 
reaction  time,  judgment,  physical  size  and  dexterity, 
affect  the  way  they  use  a  product,  interact  with  an 
organization  or  environment,  process  information  or 
participate in an activity.  

We  address  the  reliability  of  human  memory  and 
retrospective reporting in the  gathering of fact-based 
evidence.  We  review  warnings  and  labeling  issues 
related to consumer products, pharmaceuticals, motor 
vehicles, medical devices and industrial products. We 
support clients, including manufacturers, by assessing 
the usability and manner in which consumers may be 
expected to interact with products and how this may 
relate  to  safety  and  users’  experiences  with  the 
product.    In  addition,  we  assist  manufacturers  with 
compliance  with  regulatory  guidelines  related  to 
products  and  work  with  them  regarding  analysis  of 
adverse  event  reports  and  consumer  complaints  in 
publicly  available  databases  overseen  by 
the 
Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Food 

6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
and  Drug  Administration.  We  also  provide  support 
assessing  alleged 
for 
false  advertising  claims 
consumer products, foods and pharmaceuticals.  

Industrial Structures 

Our 
in 
Industrial  Structures  Practice,  based 
Düsseldorf,  Germany  with  offices  in  Hamburg  and 
Berlin,  provides  specialized  engineering  expertise 
required  for  industrial  structures  subject  to  extreme 
conditions.  We  have  provided  planning,  condition 
assessment,  rehabilitation  design  and  engineered 
demolition  and  dismantling  for  more  than  1,000 
industrial  facilities  around  the  world.    Much  of  our 
Industrial  Structures  Practice  centers  on  three  types 
of facilities: antenna masts and towers, power plants, 
and 
such  as 
against  high  process 
refractories 
potentially 
containing 
temperatures 
dangerous  product.  Each  year  we  provide  quality 
assurance, including both inspection and engineering 
analysis,  on  almost  1,000  tower  structures  for  a 
variety  of  facilities  including  telecommunications, 
wind  energy,  and  industrial  chimneys.  In  addition, 
our  consultants  provide  inspection  services  to  assist 
our clients with on-time, quality construction on their 
projects.  

to  protect 
tanks 

specialized 

structures 

industrial 

or 

We  have  developed  in-house,  specialized  computer 
software  for  non-linear  material  behavior  that  can 
provide  realistic  performance  assessment  of  a  wide 
variety  of  specialized  structures  such  as  cracked 
reinforced 
components,  multi-layer 
refractories and masonry towers. In addition, our staff 
regularly  participates  in  the  creation  of  consensus 
engineering  standards  for  assessment  and  design  of 
industrial facilities.  

concrete 

Materials & Corrosion Engineering 

Our 
in-depth  knowledge  of  materials  science, 
corrosion,  and  metallurgical  engineering,  combined 
with  the  breadth  of  our  collective  experience  across 
many  industries  and  disciplines  gives  our  Materials 
and  Corrosion  Engineering  Practice  a  unique  ability 
to  efficiently  provide  our  clients  with  solutions  to 
their complex materials-based problems. We use our 
knowledge  and  experience  to  understand  how  and 
why  materials,  products,  and  processes  may  not 
perform their intended function, as well as to prevent 
future  problems.  In  the  past  year,  our  Materials  and 
Corrosion  Engineering  Practice  helped  clients  solve 
critical  materials-related  issues  in  the  consumer 
electronics,  medical  device,  chemical  processing, 
transportation, energy,  utilities, and aerospace fields, 
among others.  

Mechanical Engineering 

to 

designs 

alternative 

We provide clients with a thorough comprehension of 
current 
identify 
and 
vulnerabilities  before 
failures  occur,  develop 
appropriate  risk  mitigation  methods,  and  provide 
post-failure  investigations.  Our  consultants  review 
the  safety  and  reliability  of  industrial  processes, 
manufactured products, and engineered systems, and 
we determine the root cause of failures. We assist in 
legal  and  insurance  matters,  failure  investigations, 
product  recall  investigations,  internal  compliance 
programs,  product  development,  workplace  safety 
evaluations, and intellectual property matters.  

Our  staff  members  develop  and  utilize  detailed  and 
validated  computational  models  and 
laboratory 
experimental  methods  to  evaluate  products,  systems, 
and equipment. We perform field inspections, rely on 
industry  standards,  and  utilize  operational  data  to 
inform  our  analyses.  We  have  performed  these 
activities  in  a  broad  range  of  industries  including 
transportation,  heavy  equipment,  building  systems, 
medical  devices,  energy,  and  consumer  products.  
During  the  past  year,  our  mechanical  engineers 
worked  on  a  wide  variety  of  projects  ranging  from 
high-profile consumer product recall investigations to 
oilfield  equipment  failures  and  workplace  safety 
issues. 

Polymer Science & Materials Chemistry 

Our  Polymer  Science  and  Materials  Chemistry 
Practice  consults  with  industrial,  government,  legal, 
insurance  and  individual  clients  regarding  polymers 
and  textiles  used  in  diverse  applications  as  well  as 
chemical aspects of batteries, drug delivery systems, 
and  other  products  that  depend  on  highly  controlled 
manufacturing  environments.  We  assist  clients  in 
understanding  the  short-  and  long-term  performance 
of  plastic,  rubber,  adhesive,  coating,  composite, 
reactive  chemical  systems,  and  electrochemical 
energy storage systems when challenged by physical, 
chemical, 
operational 
and 
includes  customized 
stressors.   Our  work  also 
chemical, electrochemical and rheological testing and 
leverages  significant  internal  electron  microscopy 
and computerized tomography imaging capabilities.  

thermal 

other 

Our  consultants  participate  in  product  development 
programs,  perform  failure  analyses  and  provide 
support  to  clients  involved  in  regulatory  and  legal 
intellectual 
proceedings  and 
property. Clients value our technical expertise related 
to  chemistry, 
formulation,  manufacturing  and 
materials  performance,  our  understanding  of  the 

the  protection  of 

7 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
sporting  goods, 

history  and  evolution  of  these  materials,  and  our 
ability to assist them in identifying and incorporating 
emerging  materials  and  manufacturing  technologies 
into their businesses. During the past year, significant 
program  activities  addressed  aspects  of  automotive 
materials,  battery  systems,  consumer  electronics, 
wearable  devices, 
implantable 
medical devices, combination drug delivery systems, 
historical 
components, 
textiles, 
manufacturing 
performance  apparel,  building  materials,  technology 
scouting,  materials  science  aspects  of  health  risk, 
service life prediction, sustainability, and intellectual 
property  related  to  consumer,  recreational,  medical, 
pharmaceutical  and  other  products,  including  trade 
secrets.  

and 
industrial 

formulations 

technology, 

Statistical & Data Sciences 

working 

frequently 

The Statistical and Data Sciences Practice comprises 
our  core  capabilities  in  methods  for  the  collection, 
management, visualization, and inferential analysis of 
in  a  breadth  of 
data.  Drawing  on  experience 
engineering,  science,  health,  and  environmental 
applications—and 
in 
collaboration  with  other  practices—we  assist  clients 
at  all  stages  of  the  product  or  process  life  cycle: 
designing  and  analyzing  product  development 
studies;  improving  and  controlling  manufacturing 
process  and  product  quality;  and  monitoring  the 
safety, reliability, and performance of products in use 
by  customers.   We  design  sample  surveys  and 
experiments,  create  value-added  databases  through 
synthesis  of  client-supplied  and  public  data,  and 
implement 
for  machine 
learning  and  predictive  analytics.  Our  approach  to 
studies  is  intended  to  support  data-driven  decision 
making  and  to  help  clients  measure  their  risks  and 
benefits to determine appropriate courses of action. 

techniques 

innovative 

and 

legal 

clients. 

During  the  past  year,  our  statisticians  and  data 
scientists worked on diverse projects for government, 
industry, 
 We  performed 
assessments  of  manufacturing  quality  systems, 
evaluated the durability and reliability of smart cards 
for  identity  management  and  credentialing,  applied 
data  mining  methods  in  reinterpreting  the  results  of 
medical  device  clinical  trials,  examined  the  field 
reliability  of  consumer  electronic  equipment,  and 
integrated and analyzed data to support the launch of 
an environmental remediation program. 

to 

small 

insurance 

installations 

fire protection, and mechanical engineering. We have 
investigated  and  analyzed  thousands  of  fires  and 
explosions  ranging  from  high 
loss  disasters  at 
manufacturing facilities, energy facilities and oil and 
gas 
claims. 
Information gained from these analyses has helped us 
assist clients with preventive measures related to the 
design  of  their  facilities  and  products.  We  assist 
clients in minimizing the risk of fires and explosions, 
we provide regulatory consulting for permitting new 
industrial  facilities,  and  we  assist  manufacturers  in 
addressing the risk of fires associated with consumer 
products.  Our  engineers  use  fire  modeling  and  other 
computational  fluid  dynamics  modeling  tools  to 
supplement  our  analytical,  experimental,  and  field-
based  activities.  Preventive  services  include  process 
safety  hazard  analysis  for  the  chemical  and  oil  and 
gas  industries,  fire  protection  engineering  and  dust 
explosion consulting.  

In  recent  years,  the  Thermal  Sciences  Practice  has 
developed  tools  to  evaluate  fire  and  explosion  risks 
of  lithium-ion  batteries.  We  have  consulted  with  a 
variety  of  clients  to  evaluate  and  mitigate  fire  and 
explosion  hazards  of  batteries 
in  applications 
including  consumer  products,  vehicles  and  energy 
storage.  

During  the  past  year,  our  work  in  oil  and  gas 
exploration  and  production,  Liquefied  Natural  Gas 
(LNG)  and  downstream  oil  and  gas  sectors  has 
include 
continued.  Our  services 
assessing new oil well control technologies, assessing 
potential  fire  and  explosion  risks  and  consequences, 
investigating 
incidents  and 
loss  of  containment 
assessing the integrity of fixed assets. 

these  areas 

in 

Vehicle Analysis 

trucking, 

We  have  performed  thousands  of  investigations  for 
recreational  vehicle, 
the  automotive, 
marine,  aerospace,  and  rail 
industries.  Internal 
research programs and client projects have resulted in 
technological  contributions 
that  have  assisted 
the  understanding  of  product 
manufacturers 
performance  and  provided  insight  to  government 
agencies  in  establishing  policy  and  regulations. 
Information  gained  from  these  analyses  has  also 
assisted  clients  in  assessing  preventive  measures 
related  to  the  design  of  their  products,  as  well  as 
evaluating failures. 

in 

Thermal Sciences 

Our  Thermal  Sciences  Practice  provides  multi-
disciplinary  expertise  to  assist  clients  in  chemical, 

Our Test and Engineering Center located in Phoenix, 
Arizona,  is  used  for  our  most  complex  testing  and 
analysis. We have gained a worldwide reputation for 
our  ability  to  mobilize  resources  expeditiously  and 

8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
advances 

efficiently,  integrate  a  broad  array  of  technical 
disciplines,  and  provide  valuable  insight  that  is 
objective  and  withstands  rigorous  scrutiny.  Many  of 
our projects involve addressing the cause of accidents 
and  our  clients  rely  on  us  to  determine  what 
happened  in  an  accident  and  why  it  happened.  In 
many cases, clients also want us to assess what could 
have been done to reduce the severity of the accident 
or  to  mitigate  occupant  injuries  to  those  involved. 
transportation 
Current 
technologies  and  concepts  allow  the  multi-discipline 
team  of  scientists,  engineers,  and  analysts  across 
numerous practices to focus on the development and 
implementation  of  connected  vehicles,  automated 
vehicles,  connected/smart  cities,  and  data  analyses. 
Whether the objective is design analysis, component 
testing,  failure  analysis,  or  accident  reconstruction, 
our  knowledge  of  vehicle  systems  and  engineering 
from 
principles  coupled  with  our  experience 
conducting  full-scale  tests  aim  to  add  insight  and 
proficiency to every project. 

emerging 

in 

ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES 

Chemical Regulation & Food Safety 

Our  Chemical  Regulation  and  Food  Safety  Practice 
includes  both  technical  and  regulatory  specialists 
who  are  experienced  in  dealing  with  foods,  food 
ingredients, cosmetics, dietary supplements, and with 
pesticide  and  non-pesticide  products 
including 
conventional  chemicals,  biochemicals,  microbials, 
antimicrobials/biocides, 
of 
biotechnology, and industrial  chemicals. We provide 
practical,  scientific  and  regulatory  support  to  meet 
global  business  objectives  at  every  stage  of  the 
product  cycle,  from  research  and  development  to 
retail and beyond.  

products 

and 

During  the  past  year  our  Chemical  Regulation  and 
Food  Safety  staff  have  conducted  a  wide  array  of 
work.  The  European  and  U.S.  sides  of  the  practice 
were  jointly  involved  with  the  ongoing  support  of 
multiple new pesticide active ingredients and end-use 
products.  The  European  side  of  our  business  was 
involved  with  many  projects 
to  plant 
protection 
regulatory 
and 
submissions,  from  new  active  substances  and  those 
for 
under 
individual  European  member  states.  In  addition,  we 
provided  many  specialist  assessments  relating  to 
human  and  environmental  exposure  and  product 
efficacy  and  national  and  international  Maximum 
Residue  Limit/import 
tolerance  submissions.  In 
Europe and the U.S., we continued to provide clients 
with  regulatory  compliance  support  for  food  contact 

to  product-specific  dossiers 

biocidal 

product 

related 

review 

materials,  food  additives,  novel  foods,  nutrition-
related  analyses,  as  well  as  undertaking  safety 
assessments  for  food  and  cosmetics  products.  We 
also  provided  proactive  and  reactive  product  safety 
and  litigation  support.  For  industrial  chemicals  we 
continued  to  provide  full  regulatory  support  for  our 
clients who prepared and submitted registrations and 
risk assessments. In the U.S. we continued to provide 
services  related  to  new  pesticide  active  ingredients 
and end-use product development and registrations in 
the  U.S.,  Canada,  and  Mexico,  registration  review 
under  EPA,  import  tolerances  in  the  U.S.  and 
Canada,  due  diligence  related  to  product  and/or 
business sales, and data compensation, as well as the 
approval  of  new  pesticide  inert  ingredients  and  new 
non-pesticide active ingredient approvals.  

Ecological & Biological Sciences 

Our  ecological  and  biological  scientists  provide 
strategic support on issues related to natural resources 
damages  associated  with  chemicals  and  forest  fires, 
international  environmental  disputes,  ecosystem 
service  assessments  for  businesses,  climate  change, 
ecological  risk  assessment,  ecotoxicology,  novel 
remediation  methods,  restoration  of  wetlands  and 
other  natural  resources,  large  development  projects, 
resource  utilization  (mineral  mining,  oil  and  gas, 
wood  pulp),  genomic  assessments,  and  the  use  of 
chemicals  and  other  products  in  commerce.  The 
practice  specializes 
the  effects  of 
chemical,  biological,  and  physical  stressors  on 
aquatic  and  terrestrial  ecosystems.  Many  of  these 
assessments  utilize  a  causal  analysis  approach  to 
systematically  and  transparently  determine  causation 
in complex and interrelated situations. The practice is 
comprised of nationally recognized experts that cover 
disciplines related to the ecological implications and 
risks associated with these projects.  

in  assessing 

Environmental & Earth Sciences 

Our  environmental  scientists  and  engineers  provide 
cost-effective,  scientifically  defensible  and  realistic 
assessments and solutions to complex environmental 
issues.  We  offer  technical,  regulatory  and  litigation 
support to industries that include oil and gas, mining 
and  minerals,  chemicals,  forest  products,  railroads, 
aerospace,  and  trade  associations,  and  to  municipal 
and government clients. Our consultants specialize in 
transport, 
the  areas  of  environmental  fate  and 
environmental 
forensics, 
hydrogeology,  air  toxics,  modeling  and  monitoring, 
water  quality  and  water  supply,  data  analytics, 
remediation  consulting,  environmental  engineering 
impacts,  and 
and  waste  management,  climate 

chemistry 

and 

9 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
evaluation  of  environmental  and  social  risks.  Our 
work  often  involves  complex  and  high  visibility 
environmental  problems  and  issues,  often  the  focus 
of  environmental  or 
tort  claims,  where 
toxic 
evaluation of contamination, historical reconstruction 
of  events,  releases,  and  doses,  and  water  resource 
issues are central to problem  resolution. We provide 
case-specific  strategic  and  advisory  consulting  on 
risk  mitigation,  planning,  and  regulatory  issues,  as 
well  as  high-level  technical  strategic  consulting  for 
complex  matters  where  understanding  the  long-term 
implications  of  early  technical  actions  is  critical  to 
managing overall liability. 

Health Sciences 

Our  health  scientists,  epidemiologists,  toxicologists, 
industrial  hygienists,  biostatisticians,  risk  assessors, 
and  physicians  apply  epidemiology,  exposure 
assessment, and toxicology principles to examine and 
address complex health-related risk issues in a variety 
of settings.   The members of our staff are recognized 
nationally  and  internationally  for  their  outstanding 
credentials  and  decades  of  experience 
from 
government,  academia  and  industry.    Our  research 
work  has  included  numerous  community  health 
assessments,  disease  cluster  investigations,  survey 
research,  occupational  cohort  and  case-control 
studies,  exposure  assessment  and  simulation  studies, 
cancer  modeling,  meta-analyses,  and  state-of-the-art 
reviews.    We  have  addressed  issues  for  clients  on 
industrial  chemicals,  pesticides,  drugs,  medical 
devices, nanotechnology, and other agents. 

Our  multidisciplinary  team  has  extensive  experience 
investigating a broad variety of health concerns such 
as  claims  of  illnesses  from  exposures  to  ionizing 
radiation and electromagnetic fields, chemicals, dusts 
and  other  airborne  particulates,  smoke  and  fumes, 
nanoparticles,  molds  and  other  micro-organisms.  
Our  atmospheric  scientists  provide  air  quality  and 
meteorological  modeling,  permitting,  and  licensing 
support  services.  Our  environmental  and  health 
scientists investigate accidental releases of chemicals, 
evaluate  fate  and  transport  of  chemical  substances, 
simulate  home  and  workplace  exposures,  develop 
measures  of  prevention  and  exposure  control,  and 
assist  clients  with  emergency  preparedness  and 
response.  

COMPETITION 

The  marketplace  for  our  services  is  fragmented  and 
we face different sources of competition in providing 
various  services.  In  addition,  the  services  that  we 
provide  to  some  of  our  clients  can  be  performed  in-

those  clients.  Clients 

the 
house  by 
capability  to  perform  such  services  themselves  will 
retain  Exponent  or  other  independent  consultants 
because of independence concerns. 

that  have 

In each of our practices, we believe that the principal 
competitive  factors  are:    technical  capability  and 
breadth  of  services,  ability  to  deliver  services  on  a 
timely  basis,  professional  reputation  and  knowledge 
of  litigation  and  regulatory  processes.  Although  we 
believe  that  we  generally  compete  favorably  in  each 
of these areas, some of our competitors  may be able 
to provide services acceptable to our clients at lower 
prices. 

We believe that the barriers to entry are low and that 
for  many of our technical disciplines, competition is 
increasing.  In  response  to  competitive  forces  in  the 
marketplace, we continue to look for new markets for 
our various technical disciplines. 

BUSINESS SEGMENTS AND GEOGRAPHIC 
OPERATIONS OVERVIEW 

in 

and  health 

epidemiology 

and  Environmental 

We  report  two  operating  segments  based  on  two 
primary  areas  of  service:  Engineering  and  Other 
and  Health. 
Scientific, 
Engineering  and  Other  Scientific  is  a  broad  service 
group  providing  technical  consulting  in  different 
practices  primarily  in  engineering.  Environmental 
and  Health  provides  services 
the  area  of 
risk 
environmental, 
analysis.  This  segment  provides  a  wide  range  of 
consulting services relating to environmental hazards 
and  risks  and  the  impact  on  both  human  health  and 
the  environment.  For  more  information  about  the 
financial  condition  and  results  of  operations  of  each 
segment, please see Part II - “Item 7: Management's 
Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and 
Results  of  Operations”  and  “Item  8:  Financial 
Statements  and  Supplementary  Data.” 
  For 
information  about  the  Company’s  operations  in 
different  geographical  areas,  please  see  “Note  16: 
Segment  Reporting”  of  our  Notes  to  Consolidated 
Financial  Statements.  For  information  about  the 
Company’s  disclosures  regarding  foreign  currency 
exchange rate risk, please see “Item 7A. Quantitative 
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.” 

EMPLOYEES 

As  of  December  30,  2016,  we  employed  1,023  full-
time, part-time and hourly employees, including 790 
engineering  and  scientific  staff,  66  technical  support 
staff  and  167  administrative  and  support  staff.  Our 
staff includes 716 employees with advanced degrees, 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
of  which  502  employees  have  achieved  the  level  of 
Ph.D., Sc.D. or M.D. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

of 

our 

address 

Internet  website 

is 
The 
www.exponent.com.  We  make  available,  free  of 
charge  through  our  website,  access  to  our  Annual 
Reports  on  Form  10-K,  Quarterly  Reports  on  Form 
10-Q,  Current  Reports  on  Form  8-K  and  other 
periodic  and  current  Securities  and  Exchange 
Commission  (SEC)  reports,  along  with  amendments 
to  all  of  those  reports,  as  soon  as  reasonably 
practicable  after  we  file  or  furnish  the  reports  with 
the  SEC.  Additionally,  copies  of  materials  filed  or 

furnished by us with the SEC may be accessed at the 
SEC’s  Public  Reference  Room  at  100  F  Street  NE, 
Washington,  D.C.  or  at  the  SEC’s  website  at 
http://www.sec.gov. For information about the SEC’s 
Public  Reference  Room,  the  public  may  contact  1-
800-SEC-0330. Copies of material filed or furnished 
by us with the SEC may also be obtained by writing 
to  us  at  our  corporate  headquarters,  Exponent,  Inc., 
Attention:  Investor  Relations,  149  Commonwealth 
Drive,  Menlo  Park,  CA  94025,  or  by  calling  (650) 
326-9400. The content of our  Internet  website is not 
incorporated  into  and  is  not  part  of  this  Annual 
Report on Form 10-K. 

11 

 
 
 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT 

The executive officers of Exponent and their ages as of February 24, 2017 are as follows: 

Name 

Age 

Position 

Paul R. Johnston, Ph.D. 

Catherine Ford Corrigan, Ph.D. 

Robert I. Haddad, Ph.D. 

Harri K. Kytomaa, Ph.D. 

Steven J. Murray, Ph.D. 

John D. Osteraas, Ph.D. 

John D. Pye, Ph.D. 

Richard Reiss, Sc.D. 

Richard L. Schlenker, Jr. 

Sally B. Shepard 

63 

48 

59 

58 

42 

62 

46 

50 

51 

56 

Executive  officers  of  Exponent  are  appointed  by  the 
Board of Directors and serve at the discretion of the 
Board  or  until  the  appointment  of  their  successors. 
There  is  no  family  relationship  between  any  of  the 
directors and officers of the Company. 

for 

the  Health 

responsibility 

Paul  R.  Johnston,  Ph.D.,  joined  the  Company  in 
1981,  was  promoted  to  Principal  Engineer  in  1987, 
and  to  Vice  President  in  1996.  In  1997,  he  assumed 
responsibility  for  the  firm’s  network  of  offices.  In 
2003  he  was  appointed  Chief  Operating  Officer  and 
added 
and 
Environmental  Groups.  In  2006,  he  assumed  line 
responsibility for all of the firm’s consulting groups. 
Dr. Johnston  was  named President in May 2007. He 
was  named  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  elected  to 
the  Board  of  Directors  in  May  2009.  Dr.  Johnston 
received  his  Ph.D.  (1981)  in  Civil  Engineering  and 
M.S. (1977) in Structural Engineering from Stanford 
University.  He  received  his  B.A.I.  (1976)  in  Civil 
Engineering  with  First  Class  Honors  from  Trinity 
College, University of Dublin, Ireland where he was 
elected a Foundation Scholar in 1975. Dr. Johnston is 
a Registered Professional Civil Engineer in the State 
of California and a Chartered Engineer in Ireland. 

Catherine  Ford  Corrigan,  Ph.D., 
the 
Company in 1996. She was promoted to Principal in 
the Biomechanics practice in 2002 and was appointed 

joined 

12 

Chief Executive Officer and Director 

President 

Group Vice President 

Group Vice President 

Group Vice President 

Group Vice President 

Group Vice President 

Group Vice President 

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and 
Corporate Secretary 

Vice President – Human Resources 

Group Vice President in May 2012. Dr. Corrigan was 
named President in July 2016. She earned her Ph.D. 
(1996)  in  Medical  Engineering  and  Medical  Physics 
and M.S. (1992) in Mechanical Engineering from the 
Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technology  and  her  B.S. 
from 
in  Bioengineering 
of 
the  University 
joining  Exponent,  Dr. 
Pennsylvania.  Prior 
to 
Corrigan  was  a  researcher 
the  Orthopaedic 
Biomechanics Laboratory at Beth Israel Hospital and 
Harvard Medical School. 

in 

Robert  I.  Haddad,  Ph.D.,  joined  the  Company  in 
May  2016  as  a  Corporate  Vice  President  and 
Principal  Scientist.  He  was  promoted  to  Group  Vice 
President  in  October  2016.  Prior  to  joining  the 
Company,  Dr.  Haddad  was  Chief,  Assessment  & 
Restoration  Division,  Office  of  Response  & 
Restoration at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration  from  2007  to  2016  where  he  was 
responsible  for  the  strategic  evaluation  and  tactical 
resolution of environmental problems.  From 2002 to 
2007,  Dr.  Haddad  was  President  and  Principal 
Scientist  at  Applied  Geochemical  Strategies,  Inc. 
where  he  was  responsible  for  providing  litigation 
support  and  expertise  in  environmental  forensics, 
human  health  and  ecological  risk  assessments,  and 
natural  resource  damage  assessments  to  regional, 
national,  and 
international  clients.  Dr.  Haddad 
received his Ph.D. (1989) in Chemical Oceanography 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
from  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  Chapel  Hill 
and  B.S.  (1979)  in  Geology  from  the  University  of 
California, Los Angeles. Dr. Haddad has published in 
peer-reviewed  technical  publications  and  scientific 
journals, and has authored over 300 technical reports 
and confidential documents for a variety of projects. 

Harri  K.  Kytomaa,  Ph.D.,  joined  the  Company  in 
1994. He was promoted to Principal Engineer in 1999 
and was appointed Corporate Vice President in 2006. 
Dr. Kytomaa was appointed Group Vice President in 
October  2016.  Dr.  Kytomaa  received  his  Ph.D. 
(1986) in Mechanical Engineering and M.S. (1981) in 
Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute 
of  Technology,  and  B.Sc.  (1979)  in  Engineering 
Science  from  Durham  University,  England.    He  is  a 
Registered  Professional  Engineer  in  9  states  and  a 
Certified  Fire  and  Explosion 
in 
accordance  with  the  National  Association  of  Fire 
Investigators  National  Certification  Board.  Prior  to 
joining  Exponent,  Dr.  Kytomaa  was  Assistant 
Professor  and  Associate  Professor  of  Mechanical 
Institute  of 
Engineering  at 
Technology,  where  he  was  head  of 
the  Fluid 
Mechanics Laboratory. 

the  Massachusetts 

Investigator 

Steven  J.  Murray,  Ph.D.,  joined  the  Company  in 
2001.  He  was  promoted  to  Principal  Engineer  in 
2008.  Dr.  Murray  was  promoted  to  Corporate  Vice 
President  in  May  2014  and  Group  Vice  President  in 
January 2015. Dr. Murray received his Ph.D. (2000) 
in  Materials  Science  and  Engineering  (Electronic 
Materials  Panel)  from  the  Massachusetts  Institute  of 
Technology,  B.S.  (1996)  in  Materials  Science  and 
Mineral  Engineering  and  B.S.  (1996)  in  Mechanical 
the  University  of  California, 
Engineering  from 
Berkeley.  He  is  a  Registered  Professional  Electrical 
Engineer  in  the  State  of  Oregon  and  Registered 
Professional  Mechanical  Engineer  in  the  State  of 
California.  

John  D.  Osteraas,  Ph.D.,  worked  for  the  Company 
from 1982 to 1985 as a Senior Engineer. He rejoined 
the  Company  in  1990  as  a  Managing  Engineer.  He 
was  promoted  to  Principal  Engineer  in  1992  and 
Group Vice President in 2006. Dr. Osteraas received 
his Ph.D. (1990) in Civil Engineering, M.S. (1977) in 
Civil  Engineering:  Structural  Engineering 
from 
Stanford  University  and  B.S.  (1976)  in  Civil  and 
Environmental  Engineering  from  the  University  of 
Wisconsin. Dr. Osteraas is a Registered Professional 
Engineer in 17 states and is a Fellow of the American 
Society of Civil Engineers. 

John D. Pye, Ph.D., joined the Company in 1999. He 
was promoted to Principal Engineer in 2006 and was 

appointed Corporate Vice President in 2009. Dr. Pye 
was appointed Group Vice President in January 2014. 
Dr.  Pye  received  his  Ph.D.  (1999)  in  Aerospace 
Engineering,  M.S.  (1993)  in  Aerospace  Engineering 
from  Stanford  University,  and  B.A.Sc.  (1992)  in 
Engineering Science from the University of Toronto, 
Canada.  He is a Registered Professional Mechanical 
Engineer  in  the  State  of  California.  Prior  to  joining 
Exponent,  Dr.  Pye  held  a  research  position  in  the 
Aerospace  Fluid  Mechanics  Lab  at  Stanford 
University  where  he  was 
the 
renovation  and  redesign  of  the  Stanford  Low-Speed 
wind  tunnel  as  well  as  managing  the  Stanford 
experimental  facilities  for  the  Stanford/NASA  Ames 
Joint Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics. 

responsible 

for 

Richard  Reiss,  Sc.D.,  joined  the  Company  in  2006 
as  a  Principal  Scientist.  He  was  promoted  to  Group 
Vice President in January 2015. Dr. Reiss earned his 
Sc.D.  (1994)  in  Environmental  Health  from  the 
Harvard  University  School  of  Public  Health,  M.S. 
from 
(1991) 
in  Environmental  Engineering 
in 
Northwestern  University  and  B.S. 
Chemical  Engineering 
the  University  of 
California,  Santa  Barbara.  Prior  to  joining  Exponent 
he  was a Vice President  with Sciences International. 
Dr. Reiss is a Fellow of the Society of Risk Analysis. 

(1989) 

from 

the  Company 

Richard  L.  Schlenker,  Jr.  joined  the  Company  in 
1990. Mr. Schlenker is the Executive Vice President, 
Chief  Financial  Officer  and  Corporate  Secretary  of 
the  Company.  He  was  appointed  Executive  Vice 
President  in  April  2010,  Chief  Financial  Officer  in 
July  1999  and  Secretary  of 
in 
November  1997.  Mr.  Schlenker  was  the  Director  of 
Human Resources from 1998 until his appointment as 
Chief  Financial  Officer.  He  was  the  Manager  of 
Corporate Development from 1996 until 1998. From 
1993  to  1996,  Mr.  Schlenker  was  a  Business 
Manager,  where  he  managed  the  business  activities 
for  multiple  consulting  practices  within 
the 
Company.  Prior  to  1993,  he  held  several  different 
positions  in  finance  and  accounting  within  the 
Company.  Mr.  Schlenker  holds  a  B.S.  in  Finance 
from the University of Southern California. 

Sally B. Shepard, rejoined the Company in 2014 as 
Vice  President  -  Human  Resources.  From  2012  to 
2014 she served as Vice President Human Resources 
at  41st Parameter.  From  2002  to  2009  she  served  as 
Vice  President  Human  Resources  at  CoWare,  Inc., 
which was acquired by Synopsys. From 2000 to 2001 
Ms.  Shepard  served  as  Vice  President  Human 
Resources at Lutris Technologies. She also provided 
Human Resources consulting services for a variety of 
companies  between  roles.  From  1981  to  1999  Ms. 

13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shepard held a variety of roles at Exponent including 
Managing  Engineer,  Business  Manager,  Director  of 
Human  Resources  and  Information  Technology,  and 
Vice  President  of  Corporate  Human  Resources.  Ms. 
Shepard  holds  a  B.S. 
in  Mechanical 
Engineering from Stanford University. 

(1982) 

Item 1A. Risk Factors 

Exponent operates in a rapidly changing environment 
that  involves  a  number  of  uncertainties,  some  of 
which  are  beyond  our  control  and  may  have  a 
material adverse effect on our financial condition and 
results of operations. These uncertainties include, but 
are not limited to, those mentioned elsewhere in this 
report and those set forth below.  

The  unpredictable  and  reactive  nature  of  our 
business  can  create  uneven  performance  in  any 
given quarter or fiscal year. 

Revenues  are  primarily  derived 
from  services 
provided in response to client requests or events that 
occur  without  notice,  and  engagements,  generally 
billed  as  services  are  performed,  are  terminable  or 
subject  to  postponement  or  delay  at  any  time  by 
clients. As a result, backlog at any particular time is 
small in relation to our quarterly or annual revenues 
and  is  not  a  reliable  indicator  of  revenues  for  any 
future  periods.  Revenues  and  operating  margins  for 
any  particular  quarter  are  generally  affected  by 
staffing  mix,  resource  requirements  and  timing  and 
size of engagements. 

Our  financial  results  could  suffer  if  our  clients’ 
needs  change  more  rapidly  than  we  are  able  to 
secure  the  appropriate  mix  of  trained,  skilled  and 
experienced personnel. 

As  our  clients’  needs  change,  new  technologies 
develop,  and  legal  and  regulatory  processes  change, 
we  may  be  unable  to  timely  hire  or  train  personnel 
with the appropriate new set of skills and experience 
which  could  negatively  impact  our  growth  and 
profitability. 

provide any assurance that we can continue to attract 
sufficient  numbers  of  highly  qualified  technical  and 
managerial  personnel  and 
retain  existing 
employees.  The  loss  of  key  managerial  employees, 
business  generators  or  any  significant  number  of 
employees  could  have  a  material  adverse  impact  on 
our  business,  including  our  ability  to  secure  and 
complete engagements. 

to 

Competition could reduce our pricing and adversely 
affect our business. 

The markets  for our services  are highly competitive. 
In  addition,  there  are  relatively  low  barriers  to  entry 
into  our  markets  and  we  have  faced,  and  expect  to 
continue  to  face,  additional  competition  from  new 
entrants into our markets. Competitive pressure could 
reduce  the  market  acceptance  of  our  services  and 
result  in  price  reductions  that  could  have  a  material 
adverse effect on our business, financial condition or 
results of operations. 

The loss of a large client could adversely affect our 
business. 

We  currently  derive  a  significant  portion  of  our 
revenues  from  clients  in  the  chemical,  consumer 
electronics,  energy,  insurance,  transportation  and 
utilities  industries  and  the  government  sector.  The 
loss of any large client, organization or insurer could 
have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business, 
financial condition or results of operations. 

Our clients may be unable to pay for our services. 

If  a  client's  financial  difficulties  become  severe,  the 
client may be unwilling or unable to pay our invoices 
in  the  ordinary  course  of  business,  which  could 
adversely  affect  collections  of  both  our  accounts 
receivable  and  unbilled  services.  On  occasion,  some 
of  our  clients  have  entered  bankruptcy,  which  has 
prevented  us  from  collecting  amounts  owed  to  us. 
The  bankruptcy  of  a  client  with  substantial  accounts 
receivable could have a material adverse effect on our 
financial condition and results of operations. 

Failure  to  attract  and  retain  key  employees  may 
adversely affect our business. 

We  hold  substantial  investments  that  could  present 
liquidity risks. 

involves 

Exponent’s  business 
the  delivery  of 
professional  services  and  is  labor-intensive.  Our 
success  depends  in  large  part  upon  our  ability  to 
attract, retain and motivate highly qualified technical 
and managerial personnel. Qualified personnel are in 
great  demand  and  are  likely  to  remain  a  limited 
resource  for  the  foreseeable  future.  We  cannot 

Our  cash  equivalent  and  short-term 
investment 
portfolio  as  of  December  30,  2016,  consisted 
primarily of obligations of U.S. government agencies 
and  the  U.S.  Treasury.  We  follow  an  established 
investment  policy  to  monitor,  manage  and  limit  our 
exposure  to  interest  rate  and  credit  risk.  The  policy 
sets  forth  credit  quality  standards  and  limits  our 

14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
exposure to any one issuer, as well as our maximum 
exposure to various asset classes. 

Our  engagements  may  result  in  professional  or 
other liability.  

Investments  in  some  financial  instruments  may  pose 
risks arising from liquidity and credit concerns. As of 
December  30,  2016,  we  had  no  impairment  charge 
associated  with  our  investment  portfolio  relating  to 
such  adverse  financial  market  conditions.  Although 
we believe our current investment portfolio has a low 
risk  of  impairment,  we  cannot  predict  future  market 
conditions  or  market  liquidity  and  can  provide  no 
assurance  that  our  investment  portfolio  will  remain 
unimpaired. 

Our  business  is  dependent  on  our  professional 
reputation. 

The  professional  reputation  of  Exponent  and  its 
consultants  is  critical  to  our  ability  to  successfully 
compete  for  new  client  engagements  and  attract  or 
retain  professionals.  Proven  or  unproven  allegations 
against  us  may  damage  our  professional  reputation. 
Any  factors  that  damage  our  professional  reputation 
could have a material adverse effect on our business. 

Our  business  can  be  adversely 
deregulation or reduced regulatory enforcement. 

impacted  by 

Public concern over health, safety and preservation of 
the  environment  has  resulted  in  the  enactment  of  a 
broad  range  of  environmental  and/or  other  laws  and 
regulations by local, state and federal lawmakers and 
agencies. These laws and the implementation of new 
regulations affect nearly every industry, as well as the 
agencies  of  federal,  state  and  local  governments 
the  extent 
charged  with 
changes in such laws, regulations and enforcement or 
other  factors  significantly  reduce  the  exposures  of 
manufacturers,  owners,  service  providers  and  others 
to  liability,  the  demand  for  our  services  may  be 
significantly reduced. 

their  enforcement.  To 

Tort reform can reduce demand for our services. 

in 

significant 
Several  of  our  practices  have  a 
concentration 
consulting 
support 
litigation 
services.  To  the  extent  tort  reform  reduces  the 
exposure of manufacturers, owners, service providers 
and  others  to  liability,  the  demand  for  our  litigation 
support  consulting  services  may  be  significantly 
reduced. 

Our  services  typically  involve  difficult  engineering 
and  scientific  assignments  and  carry  risks  of 
liability.  Many  of  our 
professional  and  other 
engagements involve matters that could have a severe 
impact  on  a  client's  business,  cause  a  client  to  lose 
significant  amounts  of  money,  or  prevent  a  client 
from  pursuing  desirable  business  opportunities. 
Accordingly,  if  a  client  is  dissatisfied  with  our 
performance,  the  client  could  threaten  or  bring 
litigation in order to recover damages or to contest its 
obligation to pay our fees. Litigation alleging that we 
performed  negligently,  disclosed  client  confidential 
information,  lost  or  damaged  evidence,  infringed  on 
patents, were forced to withdraw from a legal matter 
due 
to  a  conflict  or  otherwise  breached  our 
obligations to a client could  expose  us  to significant 
liabilities  to  our  clients  or  other  third  parties  or 
tarnish our reputation. 

Potential conflicts of interest may preclude us from 
accepting some engagements.  

We  provide  litigation  support  consulting  and  other 
services  primarily  in  connection  with  significant 
disputes, or other matters that are usually adversarial 
or  that  involve  sensitive  client  information.  The 
nature  of  our  consulting  services  may  preclude  us 
from  accepting  engagements  with  other  potential 
clients  because  of  conflicts.  Accordingly,  the  nature 
of  our  business  limits  the  number  of  both  potential 
clients and potential engagements.  

We are subject to unpredictable risks of litigation. 

Although  we  seek  to  avoid  litigation  whenever 
possible,  from  time  to  time  we  are  party  to  various 
lawsuits and claims. Disputes may arise, for example, 
from employment issues, regulatory actions, business 
acquisitions  and  real  estate  and  other  commercial 
transactions.  There  can  be  no  assurances  that  any 
lawsuits  or  claims  will  be  immaterial  in  the  future. 
Any  material  lawsuits  or  claims  could  adversely 
affect our business and reputation.  

We  may  experience  security  breaches  that  could 
to  protect  confidential 
lead 
information. 

inability 

the 

to 

Despite the implementation of security measures, our 
to  electronic 
operating  systems  are  vulnerable 
breaches  of  security.  Such  breaches  could  lead  to 
disruptions  of  our  operations 
and  potential 
unauthorized  disclosure  of  confidential  information, 

15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
which  could  result  in  legal  claims  or  proceedings. 
While we have taken reasonable steps to prevent and 
mitigate 
the  damage  of  a  security  breach  by 
continuously  improving  our  design  and  coordination 
of  security  controls  across  our  business,  those  steps 
may  not  be  effective  and  there  can  be  no  assurance 
that  any  such  steps  can  be  effective  against  all 
possible risks.  

Impairment of goodwill may require us to record a 
significant charge to earnings.  

subject 

evaluation 

to  periodic 

On  our  balance  sheet,  we  have  $8,607,000  of 
for 
goodwill 
impairment.  Failure  to  achieve  sufficient  levels  of 
cash  flow  at  reporting  units,  the  loss  of  key 
employees, changes to the scope of operations of our 
business or a significant and sustained decline in our 
stock  price  could  result  in  goodwill  impairment 
charges.  During  times  of  financial  market  volatility, 
significant  judgment  is  required  to  determine  the 
underlying  cause  of  the  decline  and  whether  stock 
price declines are short-term in nature or indicative of 
an event or change in circumstances.  

Impairment  of  long-lived  assets  or  restructuring 
activities  may  require  us  to  record  a  significant 
charge to earnings. 

Our long-lived assets, including our office, laboratory 
and  warehouse  space  in  Menlo  Park,  California  and 
our  test  and  engineering  center  in  Phoenix,  Arizona, 
are subject to periodic testing for impairment. Failure 
to  achieve  sufficient  levels  of  cash  flow  at  the  asset 
group  level  could  result  in  impairment  of  our  long-
lived  assets.  In  addition,  we  have  operating  lease 
commitments  for  office,  warehouse  and  laboratory 
space  of  $21,055,000  as  of  December  30,  2016. 
Changes  in  the  business  environment  could  lead  to 
changes  in  the  scope  of  operations  of  our  business. 
These changes, including the closure of one or more 
offices,  could  result  in  restructuring  and/or  asset 
impairment charges.  

Our  international  operations  create  special  risks 
that could adversely affect our business.  

In  addition  to  our  offices  in  the  United  States,  we 
the  United  Kingdom, 
in 
have  physical  offices 
Germany,  Switzerland,  Hong  Kong  and  China  and 
conduct  business  in  several  other  countries.  We 
expect  to  continue  to  expand  globally  and  our 
international revenues may account for an increasing 
future.  Our 
portion  of  our 
international  operations  carry  special 
financial, 
business  and  legal  risks,  including  cultural  and 

revenues 

the 

in 

regulatory 

language  differences;  employment  laws  and  related 
factors  that  could  result  in  lower  utilization,  higher 
staffing  costs,  and  cyclical  fluctuations  of  utilization 
and  revenues;  currency  fluctuations  that  adversely 
affect  our  financial  position  and  operating  results; 
requirements  and  other 
burdensome 
barriers  to  conducting  business;  managing  the  risks 
associated  with  engagements  with  foreign  officials 
and  governmental  agencies, 
the  risks 
arising  from  the  United  States  Foreign  Corrupt 
Practices Act and the United Kingdom Bribery Act of 
2010;  greater  difficulties  in  managing  and  staffing 
foreign operations; successful entry and execution in 
new  markets;  restrictions  on  the  repatriation  of 
earnings; and potentially adverse tax consequences.  

including 

Inherent risks related to government contracts may 
adversely affect our business. 

to 

and 

criminal 
sanctions,  which  may 

We  work  for  various  United  States  and  foreign 
governmental  entities  and  agencies.  Government 
entities  reserve  the  right  to  audit  our  contracts  and 
conduct  inquiries  and  investigations  of  our  business 
practices  with  respect 
to  government  contracts. 
Findings  from  an  audit  may  result  in  fees  being 
refunded 
the  government  or  prospective 
adjustment  to  previously  agreed  upon  rates  that  will 
affect  future  margins.  If  a  government  client 
discovers  improper  or  illegal  activities  in  the  course 
of audits or investigations, we may become subject to 
and 
various 
civil 
include 
administrative 
termination  of  contracts, 
forfeiture  of  profits, 
suspension  of  payments,  fines  and  suspensions  or 
debarment  from  doing  business  with  other  agencies 
of  the  government.  The  inherent  limitations  of 
internal  controls  may  not  prevent  or  detect  all 
improper  or  illegal  activities,  regardless  of  the 
adequacy  of  such  controls.  Government  contracts, 
and  the  proceedings  surrounding  them,  are  often 
subject to more extensive scrutiny and publicity than 
other  commercial  contracts.  Negative  publicity 
related  to  our  government  contracts,  regardless  of 
whether  it  is  accurate,  may  further  damage  our 
business by affecting our ability to compete for new 
contracts. 

penalties 

A  decline  in  the  U.S.  Government  defense  budget, 
changes in budgetary priorities or timing of contract 
awards may adversely affect our business. 

Our operating results could be adversely affected by 
spending  caps  or  changes  in  the  budgetary  priorities 
of  the  U.S.  Government  or  the  Department  of 
Defense (DoD), as well as delays in program starts or 
the award of contracts or task orders under contracts. 

16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
levels 

for 
Current  U.S.  Government  spending 
defense-related  programs  may  not  be  sustained  and 
future  spending and program  authorizations  may  not 
increase or may decrease or shift to programs in areas 
in which we do not provide services or are less likely 
to  be  awarded  contracts.  Such  changes  in  spending 
authorizations and budgetary  priorities  may occur as 
a  result  of  the  rapid  growth  of  the  federal  budget 
deficit,  increasing  political  pressure  and  legislation. 
The U.S. Government also conducts periodic reviews 
of  U.S.  defense  strategies  and  priorities,  which  may 
shift  DoD  budgetary  priorities,  reduce  overall  U.S. 
Government spending or delay contract or task order 
awards  for  defense-related  programs.  In  addition, 
changes 
the  DoD  acquisition  system  and 
contracting models could affect whether and how we 
pursue  certain  opportunities  and  the  terms  under 
which  we  are  able  to  do  so. A  significant  decline  in 
overall  U.S.  Government  spending,  the  substantial 
reduction or elimination of particular defense-related 
programs  or  significant  delays  in  contract  or  task 
order awards could adversely affect our business. 

to 

Governments  may  terminate,  cancel,  modify  or 
curtail  our  contracts  at  any  time  prior  to  their 
completion.  

Under our government contracts, the client generally 
has  the  right  not  to  exercise  options  to  extend  or 
expand  our  contracts  and  may  otherwise  terminate, 
cancel,  modify  or  curtail  our  contracts  at 
its 
convenience.  Any  decision  by  the  client  not  to 
exercise  contract  options  or  to  terminate,  cancel, 
modify  or  curtail  our  programs  or  contracts  would 
adversely  affect  our  revenues,  revenue  growth  and 
profitability. 

We  could  incur  significant  liabilities  and  suffer 
negative publicity if people or properties are harmed 
by  the  products  and  systems  we  sell  or  the  services 
we offer. 

We  design,  develop,  manufacture,  sell,  service  and 
maintain  various  products  and  systems.  In  some 
instances,  we  also  train  operators  of  such  products 
and  systems.  Many  of  these  products  and  systems 
utilize  software  algorithms  that  are  probabilistic  in 
nature and subject to significant technical limitations. 
There  are  many  factors,  some  of  which  are  beyond 
our  control,  which  could  result  in  the  failure  of  our 
products  or  systems.  The  failure  of  our  products  or 
systems  could  lead  to  injury,  death,  or  extensive 
property  damage  and  may  lead  to  product  liability, 
professional  liability,  or  other  claims  against  us. 
Further,  if  our  products  or  systems  fail,  or  are 
perceived to have failed, the  negative publicity  from 

such incident could have a material adverse effect on 
our business. 

in,  or 

Changes 
interpretations  of,  accounting 
principles  could  have  a  significant  impact  on  our 
financial position and results of operations. 

We  prepare  our  consolidated  financial  statements  in 
accordance  with  accounting  principles  generally 
accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). 
These  principles  are  subject  to  interpretation  by  the 
SEC  and  various  bodies  formed  to  interpret  and 
create appropriate accounting principles. A change in 
these  principles  can  have  a  significant  effect  on  our 
reported  results  and  may  even  retroactively  affect 
previously  reported  transactions.  Additionally,  the 
adoption of new or revised accounting principles may 
require  that  we  make  significant  changes  to  our 
systems, processes and controls. 

Our  business  can  be  adversely  affected  by 
downturns in the overall economy. 

The markets that we serve are cyclical and subject to 
general  economic  conditions.  The  direction  and 
relative  strength  of  the  global  economy  continues  to 
be  uncertain.  If  economic  growth  in  the  United 
States, where we primarily operate, slows, our clients 
may  consolidate  or  go  out  of  business  and  thus 
demand 
reduced 
significantly.  

services  could  be 

for  our 

Our quarterly results may vary. 

as 

the 

such 

significance  of 

Variations  in  our  revenues  and  operating  results 
occur  from  time  to  time,  as  a  result  of  a  number  of 
factors, 
client 
engagements  commenced  and  completed  during  a 
quarter,  the  timing  of  engagements,  the  number  of 
working  days  in  a  quarter,  employee  hiring  and 
utilization  rates,  and 
integration  of  companies 
acquired. Because a high percentage of our expenses, 
particularly personnel and facilities related expenses, 
are  relatively  fixed  in  advance  of  any  particular 
quarter,  a  variation  in  the  timing  of  the  initiation  or 
the  completion  of  our  client  assignments  can  cause 
significant  variations 
in  operating  results  from 
quarter to quarter. 

The  market  price  of  our  common  stock  may  be 
volatile. 

Many  factors  could  cause  the  market  price  of  our 
common stock to rise and fall. These include the risk 
factors listed above and below; changes in estimates 
of our performance or recommendations by securities 

17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments 

None. 

Item 2. Properties 

Our  Silicon  Valley  office  facilities  consist  of  a 
153,738  square  foot  building,  with  office  and 
laboratory  space  located  on  a  6.3-acre  tract  of  land 
we  own  in  Menlo  Park,  California  and  an  adjacent 
27,000  square  feet  of  warehouse  storage  space  that 
we also own. 

Our Test and Engineering Center (TEC) occupies 147 
acres  in  Phoenix,  Arizona.  We  lease  this  land  from 
the state of Arizona under a 30-year lease agreement 
that  expires  in  January  2028  and  have  options  to 
renew  for  two  fifteen-year  periods.  We  constructed 
an  indoor  test  facility  as  well  as  an  engineering  and 
test preparation building at the TEC. 

In  addition,  we 
lease  office,  warehouse  and 
laboratory space in 18 other locations in 13 states and 
the  District  of  Columbia,  as  well  as  in  Germany, 
China,  Hong  Kong,  Switzerland  and  the  United 
Kingdom.  Leases  for  these  offices,  warehouse  and 
laboratory  facilities  have  terms  generally  ranging 
between one and ten  years.  Aggregate lease expense 
in 
leased  properties  was 
$6,478,000. 

fiscal  2016 

for  all 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings 

Exponent  is  not  engaged  in  any  material  legal 
proceedings. 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 

Not applicable. 

analysts;  future  sales  of  shares  of  common  stock  in 
the  public  market;  market  conditions  in  the  industry 
and  economy  as  a  whole;  acquisitions  or  strategic 
alliances involving us or our competitors; restatement 
of  financial  results;  and  changes  in  accounting 
principles  or  methods.  In  addition,  the  stock  market 
fluctuations. 
often  experiences  significant  price 
These  fluctuations  are  often  unrelated 
the 
to 
operating  performance  of  particular  companies. 
These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect 
the  market  price  of  our  common  stock.  When  the 
market  price  of 
stock  drops 
significantly,  shareholders  often  institute  securities 
class  action  litigation  against  that  company.  Any 
litigation  against  us  could  cause  us 
incur 
substantial costs, divert the time and attention of our 
management  and  other  resources,  or  otherwise  harm 
our business.  

company's 

to 

a 

There can be no assurance that we will continue to 
declare cash dividends or repurchase our  shares at 
all or in any particular amounts. 

Our  Board  of  Directors  has  declared  quarterly 
dividends  since  March  2013.  Our  intent  to  continue 
to  pay  quarterly  dividends  and  to  repurchase  our 
shares  is  subject  to  capital  availability  and,  in  the 
case  of  dividends,  periodic  determinations  by  our 
Board of Directors that cash dividends are in the best 
interest  of  our  stockholders  and  are  in  compliance 
with  all  laws  and  agreements  applicable  to  the 
declaration  and  payment  of  cash  dividends  by  us. 
Future  dividends  and  share  repurchases  may  also  be 
affected  by,  among  other  factors:  our  views  on 
potential future capital requirements for investments, 
including  acquisitions;  legal  risks;  stock  repurchase 
programs;  changes  in  federal  and  state  income  tax 
laws  or  corporate  laws;  contractual  restrictions;  and 
changes 
to  our  business  model.  Our  dividend 
payments  and  share  repurchases  may  change  from 
time  to  time,  and  we  cannot  provide  assurance  that 
we  will  continue  to  declare  dividends  or  repurchase 
shares at all or in any particular amounts. A reduction 
or  suspension  in  our  dividend  payments  or  share 
repurchase  activity  could  have  a  negative  effect  on 
our stock price. 

18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
As  of  February  17,  2017,  there  were  189  holders  of 
record  of  our  common  stock.  Because  many  of  the 
shares of our common stock are held by brokers and 
other  institutions  on  behalf  of  stockholders,  we 
believe  that  there  are  considerably  more  beneficial 
holders of our common stock than record holders. 

We  paid  $18.6  million,  $15.5  million  and  $13.0 
million  of  dividends  during  fiscal  2016,  2015  and 
2014,  respectively.  Total  dividends  paid  per  share 
were $0.72, $0.60 and $0.50 during fiscal 2016, 2015 
and  2014,  respectively.  On  February  1,  2017,  our 
Board  of  Directors  announced  a  quarterly  cash 
dividend  of  $0.21  per  share  of  the  Company’s 
common  stock,  payable  March  24,  2017, 
to 
stockholders  of  record  as  of  March  3,  2017.  We 
anticipate  paying  quarterly  dividends  each  year  in 
March,  June,  September  and  December,  subject  to 
declaration  by  our  Board  of  Directors.  See  Part  II, 
“Item  7:  Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of 
Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations  – 
Liquidity and Capital Resources.” 

PART II 

Item 5.  Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, 
Related 
Issuer 
Purchases of Equity Securities 

Stockholder  Matters 

and 

Exponent’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ 
Global  Select  Market,  under  the  symbol  “EXPO.”  
The  following  table  sets  forth  for  the  fiscal  periods 
indicated  the  high  and  low  sales  prices  for  our 
common stock.  

Stock prices by quarter 
Fiscal Year Ended January 1, 2016: 
  First Quarter 
  Second Quarter 
  Third Quarter 
  Fourth Quarter 

High 

Low 

  $  45.95 
  $  48.50 
  $  46.74 
  $  54.73 

 $  39.20 
 $  41.50 
 $  40.58 
 $  45.66 

Fiscal Year Ended December 30, 2016:   
  First Quarter 
  Second Quarter 
  Third Quarter 
  Fourth Quarter 

  $  51.99    $  44.82 
  $  58.65    $  48.39 
  $  59.71    $  45.00 
  $  64.80    $  48.42 

19 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table provides information on the Company’s share repurchases (of Company common stock) for the 
quarter ended December 30, 2016 (in thousands, except price per share): 

Total Number 
of Shares 
Purchased 

Average 
Price Paid 
Per Share   

Total Number of 
Shares Purchased 
as Part of Publicly 
Announced Plans 
or Programs 

Approximate Dollar 
Value of Shares That 
May Yet Be Purchased 
Under the Plan or 
Program  

October 1 to October 28 
Additional funds authorized for  

share repurchases 
October 29 to November 25 
November 26 to December 30 
Total 

- 

- 
- 
- 

    $ 

- 

- 
- 
- 

    $ 
    $ 

- 

- 
- 
- 

$22,307 

$35,000 
$57,307 
$57,307 

Repurchases  of  the  Company’s  common  stock  were  effected  pursuant  to  a  repurchase  program  authorized  by  the 
Company’s Board of Directors. On May 29, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized $35,000,000 for 
the  repurchase  of  the  Company’s  common  stock.  On  October  20,  2015,  the  Company’s  Board  of  Directors 
authorized $35,000,000 for the repurchase of the Company’s common stock.  On October 18, 2016, the Company’s 
Board of Directors authorized $35,000,000 for the repurchase of the Company’s common stock. These repurchase 
programs have no expiration dates. As of December 30, 2016, there remained $57,307,000 available for repurchases 
under these authorizations. 

COMPANY STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE GRAPH 

The graph compares the  Company’s cumulative total stockholder return calculated on a  dividend-reinvested basis 
from 2011 through 2016 with those of the Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) 500 Index and the S&P SmallCap 600 Index. 
The  Company  does  not  have  a  comparable  peer  group  and  thus  has  selected  the  S&P  Small  Cap  600  Index.  The 
graph assumes that $100 was invested on the last day of 2011. Note that the historic stock price performance is not 
necessarily indicative of future stock price performance. 

TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURNS 

300

250

200

150

100

50

s
r
a
l
l

o
D

0
Dec 11

Dec 12

Dec 13

Dec 14

Dec 15

Dec 16

Years Ending 

S&P 500 Index

S&P SmallCap 600 Index

Exponent, Inc.

20 

 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
 
   
     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 6. Selected Financial Data 

The following selected consolidated financial data are derived from our consolidated financial statements. This data 
should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, and with Part II - “Item 
7: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”  

(In thousands, except per share data) 

2016 

2015 

Fiscal Year 
2014 

2013 

2012 

Consolidated Statements of Income Data: 

Revenues before reimbursements 
Revenues 
Operating income  
Net income 

Net income per share: 

Basic 
Diluted 

  $ 299,197 
  $ 315,076 
  $  61,911 
  $  47,480 

  $ 295,705 
  $ 312,832 
  $  68,933 
  $  43,599 

  $ 289,209 
  $ 304,704 
  $  63,549 
  $  40,701 

  $ 280,043 
  $ 296,168 
  $  55,946 
  $  38,640 

  $ 266,562 
  $ 292,653 
  $  57,620 
  $  37,225 

  $ 
  $ 

1.79 
1.75 

  $ 
  $ 

1.64 
1.60 

  $ 
  $ 

1.51 
1.47 

  $ 
  $ 

1.42 
1.38 

  $ 
  $ 

1.35 
1.30 

Cash dividends declared per share 

  $ 

0.72 

  $ 

0.60 

  $ 

0.50 

  $ 

0.30 

  $ 

- 

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data: 

Cash and cash equivalents 
Short-term investments 
Working capital 
Total assets 
Long-term liabilities 
Total stockholders’ equity 

  $ 114,967 
  $  58,755 
  $ 193,808 
  $ 403,744 
  $  50,162 
  $ 273,346 

  $ 125,751 
  $  45,842 
  $ 192,312 
  $ 387,507 
  $  44,229 
  $ 262,804 

  $ 129,490 
  $  24,913 
  $ 176,153 
  $ 365,299 
  $  41,666 
  $ 244,288 

  $ 122,948 
  $  33,171 
  $ 171,402 
  $ 344,166 
  $  36,960 
  $ 235,059 

  $ 113,268 
  $  20,881 
  $ 156,016 
  $ 315,417 
  $  27,217 
  $ 216,429 

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of 
Financial Condition and Results of Operations 

OVERVIEW 

Inc. 

is  a  science  and  engineering 
Exponent, 
consulting  firm  that  provides  solutions  to  complex 
problems.  Our  multidisciplinary  team  of  scientists, 
engineers, business and regulatory consultants brings 
together  more  than  90  different  technical  disciplines 
to  solve  complicated  issues  facing  industry  and 
government  today.  Our  services  include  analysis  of 
product  development,  product  recall,  regulatory 
compliance,  and  the  discovery  of  potential  problems 
related  to  products,  people,  property  and  impending 
litigation. 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES 

In  preparing  our  consolidated  financial  statements, 
we  make  assumptions,  judgments  and  estimates  that 
can  have  a  significant  impact  on  our  revenue, 

21 

balance 

sheet.  We 

operating  income  and  net  income,  as  well  as  on  the 
liabilities  on  our 
value  of  certain  assets  and 
consolidated 
our 
base 
assumptions,  judgments  and  estimates  on  historical 
experience  and  various  other  factors  that  we  believe 
to  be  reasonable  under  the  circumstances.  Actual 
results  could  differ  materially  from  these  estimates 
under  different  assumptions  or  conditions.  On  a 
regular basis we evaluate our assumptions, judgments 
and  estimates  and  make  changes  accordingly.  We 
judgments  and 
believe 
estimates 
revenue 
recognition and estimating the allowance for contract 
losses  and  doubtful  accounts  have  the  greatest 
impact  on  our  consolidated  financial 
potential 
statements,  so  we  consider  these  to  be  our  critical 
accounting  policies.  We  discuss  below 
the 
assumptions,  judgments  and  estimates  associated 
with  these  policies.  Historically,  our  assumptions, 
judgments  and  estimates  relative  to  our  critical 
accounting policies have not differed materially from 
actual results. For further information on our critical 

the  assumptions, 

in  accounting 

involved 

that 

for 

 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
different  estimates,  the  amount  and  timing  of  our 
revenue for any period could be materially different. 

requires  a  positive  assessment  of 

All  contracts  are  subject  to  review  by  management, 
which 
the 
collectability  of  contract  amounts.  If,  during  the 
course of the contract, we determine that collection of 
revenue  is  not  reasonably  assured,  we  do  not 
recognize  the  revenue  until  its  collection  becomes 
reasonably  assured,  which  in  those  situations  would 
generally  be  upon  receipt  of  cash.  We  assess 
collectability based on a number of factors, including 
past transaction history with the client, as well as the 
credit-worthiness of the client. Losses on fixed-price 
contracts  are  recognized  during  the  period  in  which 
the  loss  first  becomes  evident.  Contract  losses  are 
determined to be the amount by which the estimated 
total costs of the contract exceeds the total fixed price 
of the contract. 

Estimating  the  allowance  for  contract  losses  and 
doubtful accounts. We make estimates of our ability 
to  collect  accounts  receivable  and  our  unbilled  but 
recognized  work-in-process.  In  circumstances  where 
we  are  aware  of  a  specific  customer’s  inability  to 
meet  its  financial  obligations  to  us  or  for  disputes 
with customers that affect our ability to fully collect 
our  accounts  receivable  and  unbilled  work-in-
process, we record a specific allowance to reduce the 
net 
the  amount  we 
reasonably  believe  will  be  collected.  For  all  other 
customers  we  recognize  allowances  for  contract 
losses 
into 
consideration  factors  such  as  historical  write-offs, 
customer  concentration,  customer  credit-worthiness, 
current  economic  conditions,  and  aging  of  amounts 
due. 

recognized 

receivable 

accounts 

doubtful 

taking 

and 

to 

accounting  policies,  see  “Note  1:  Summary  of 
Significant  Accounting  Policies”  of  our  Notes  to 
Consolidated Financial Statements. 

Revenue  recognition.  We  derive  our  revenues 
primarily from professional fees earned on consulting 
engagements,  fees  earned  for 
the  use  of  our 
equipment  and  facilities,  as  well  as  reimbursements 
for  outside  direct  expenses  associated  with  the 
services that are billed to our clients. 

fixed-price 

all  of  our 

Substantially  all  of  our  engagements  are  service 
contracts performed under time and material or fixed-
price billing arrangements. For time and material and 
fixed-price  service  projects,  revenue  is  generally 
the  services  are  performed.  For 
recognized  as 
substantially 
service 
engagements,  we  recognize  revenue  based  on  the 
relationship of incurred labor hours at  standard rates 
to  our  estimate  of  the  total  labor  hours  at  standard 
rates we expect to incur over the term of the contract. 
Our  estimate  of  total  labor  hours  we  expect  to  incur 
over the term of the contract is based on the nature of 
the  project  and  our  past  experience  on  similar 
projects.  We  believe  this  methodology  achieves  a 
reliable  measure  of  the  revenue  from  the  consulting 
services  we  provide  to  our  customers  under  fixed-
price contracts. 

Significant  management  judgments  and  estimates 
must  be  made  and  used  in  connection  with  the 
revenues recognized in any accounting period. These 
judgments  and  estimates  include  an  assessment  of 
collectability  and,  for  fixed-price  engagements,  an 
estimate as to the total effort required to complete the 
project.  If  we  made  different  judgments  or  utilized 

22 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  following  table  sets  forth,  for  the  periods  indicated,  the  percentage  of  revenues  of  certain  items  in  our 
consolidated statements of income and the percentage increase (decrease) in the dollar amount of such items year to 
year: 

PERCENTAGE OF REVENUES 
FOR FISCAL YEARS 
2015 

2016 

2014 

PERIOD TO 
PERIOD CHANGE 
2016 vs. 2015  2015 vs. 2014 

Revenues 

100.0% 

100.0% 

100.0% 

0.7% 

2.7% 

Operating expenses: 
  Compensation and related expenses 
  Other operating expenses 
  Reimbursable expenses 
  General and administrative expenses 

Operating income  

Other income, net 

Income before income taxes 

Provision for income taxes 

61.4 
9.0 
5.0 
4.9 
80.3 
19.7 

2.3 

22.0 

6.9 

59.0 
8.6 
5.5 
4.9 
78.0 
22.0 

0.7 

22.7 

8.8 

60.2 
8.6 
5.1 
5.2 
79.1 
20.9 

1.4 

22.3 

8.9 

4.8 
5.3 
(7.3) 
1.3 
3.8 
(10.2) 

0.5 
2.6 
10.5 
(3.5) 
1.1 
8.5 

227.8 

(50.2) 

(2.8) 

(21.4) 

4.7 

1.0 

Net income  

15.1% 

13.9% 

13.4% 

8.9% 

7.1% 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

reimbursements  also 

Revenues for fiscal 2016 increased 1% and revenues 
before 
increased  1%  as 
compared to the prior year. The increase in revenues 
before  reimbursements  was  due  to  an  increase  in 
billing rates. Billable hours for fiscal 2016 decreased 
1% as compared to the prior year.  

The low revenue growth and the decrease in billable 
hours  during  fiscal  2016  was  due  to  a  challenging 
year over year comparison due to the completion of a 
major  project  during  the  third  quarter  of  fiscal  2015 
and  lower  revenues  from  the  oil  and  gas  and 
industrial chemicals industries. 

impacts  of 
products, 

During  2016  we  were  retained  to  investigate  many 
significant  accidents  and  product  recalls  and  to 
reliability,  safety,  human  health  and 
evaluate 
environmental 
increasingly  complex 
processes.  We 
technologies, 
experienced strong demand for our multi-disciplinary 
battery  consulting  services  to  investigate  product 
performance  for  potential  recalls  as  well  as  to  assist 
the  product  development  and 
clients  during 
manufacturing process.   

and 

corrosion 

engineering 

During  fiscal  2016,  we  had  notable  performances  in 
several  practices  including  materials  &  corrosion 
engineering, polymer science  &  materials chemistry, 
biomedical  engineering,  and  human  factors.  The 
materials  & 
practice 
experienced  growth  from  the  utilities  industry  in 
failure analyses of  systems and proactive services in 
asset  integrity  management.  The  polymer  science  & 
materials  chemistry  practice  experienced  growth  in 
biomedical 
battery 
engineering  practice  realized  growth 
in  design 
consulting and product liability claims support.  The 
human factors practice realized growth in user study 
services for the consumer products industry.   

services.  The 

consulting 

Net  income  increased  to  $47,480,000  during  fiscal 
2016 as compared to $43,599,000 during fiscal 2015.  
Diluted  earnings  per  share  increased  to  $1.75  for 
fiscal  2016  as  compared  to  $1.60  for  fiscal  2015.  
The  increase  in  net  income  and  diluted  earnings  per 
share  was  due  to  the  early  adoption  of  ASU  No. 
2016-09,  on  a  prospective  basis,  during  the  first 
quarter  of  fiscal  2016.    Under  ASU  No.  2016-09 
excess  tax  benefits  are  recorded  as  an  income  tax 
benefit  in  the  consolidated  statement  of  income.  
Prior to the adoption of ASU No. 2016-09 excess tax 
benefits were recognized in additional paid-in capital.  

23 

 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  tax  benefit  realized  during  fiscal  2016  was 
$4,827,000 or $0.18 per diluted share.  Excluding the 
excess  tax  benefit,  net  income  would  have  been 
$42,653,000  for  fiscal  2016  representing  a  decrease 
of  2%  as  compared  to  fiscal  2015.    Excluding  the 
excess  tax  benefit,  diluted  earnings  per  share  would 
have been $1.57 per share during fiscal 2016. 

We  remain  focused  on  selectively  adding  top  talent 
and  developing  the  skills  necessary  to  expand  upon 
our  market  position,  providing  clients  with  in-depth 
scientific  research  and  analysis  to  determine  what 
happened and how to prevent failures or exposures in 
the future. We also remain focused on capitalizing on 
emerging  growth  areas,  managing  other  operating 
expenses, 
operations, 
maintaining  a  strong  balance  sheet  and  undertaking 
activities such as share repurchases and dividends to 
enhance shareholder value. 

generating 

from 

cash 

OVERVIEW OF THE YEAR ENDED  
DECEMBER 30, 2016 

Our  revenues  consist  of  professional  fees  earned  on 
consulting  engagements, 
for  use  of  our 
equipment  and  facilities,  and  reimbursements  for 
outside  direct  expenses  associated  with  the  services 
performed that are billed to our clients.  

fees 

We  operate  on  a  52-53  week  fiscal  year  with  each 
year  ending  on  the  Friday  closest  to  December  31st. 
The  fiscal  years  ended  December  30,  2016,  January 
1,  2016  and  January  2,  2015  included  52  weeks  of 
activity.  Fiscal  2017  will  end  on  Friday,  December 
29, 2017. 

During fiscal 2016, billable hours decreased 0.6% to 
1,118,000  as  compared  to  1,125,000  during  fiscal 
2015.  Our  utilization  decreased  to  70%  for  fiscal 
2016 as compared to 72% for fiscal 2015. Technical 
full-time equivalent employees increased 1.7% to 764 
during  fiscal  2016  as  compared  to  751  during  fiscal 
2015  due  to  our  recruiting  and  retention  efforts.  We 
continue  to  selectively  hire  key  talent  to  expand  our 
capabilities. 

FISCAL YEARS  ENDED  DECEMBER 30, 2016, 
AND JANUARY 1, 2016 

Revenues 

(In thousands except 
  percentages) 

Fiscal Years 

2016 

2015 

Percent 
Change 

Engineering 
  and Other Scientific  $  248,297  $  237,959 
Percentage of 

4.3% 

total revenues 
Environmental  
  and Health 
Percentage of 

total revenues 

78.8%   

76.1%   

66,779    

74,873 

(10.8)% 

21.2%   

23.9%   

  Total revenues 

$  315,076  $  312,832 

0.7% 

corrosion 

engineering 

The  increase  in  revenues  for  our  Engineering  and 
Other  Scientific  segment  was  due  to  an  increase  in 
billable hours and an increase in billing rates. During 
fiscal 2016, billable hours for this segment increased 
by  2.5%  to  856,000  as  compared  to  835,000  during 
fiscal  2015.  The  increase  was  due  to  demand  for 
services  in  our  materials  &  corrosion  engineering, 
polymer  science  &  materials  chemistry,  biomedical 
engineering,  and  human  factors  practices.  The 
practice 
materials  & 
experienced  growth  from  the  utilities  industry  in 
failure analyses of  systems and proactive services in 
asset  integrity  management.  The  polymer  science  & 
materials  chemistry  practice  experienced  growth  in 
biomedical 
battery 
engineering  practice  realized  growth 
in  design 
consulting and product liability claims support.  The 
human factors practice realized growth in user study 
services  for  the  consumer  products  industry.  This 
growth  was  partially  offset  by  shifts  in  market 
conditions,  such  as  reduced  spending  in  the  oil  and 
gas industry and a slowdown in intellectual property 
litigation.  Utilization  decreased  to  73%  for  fiscal 
2016 as compared to 75% for fiscal 2015. Technical 
full-time equivalents increased 5.0% to 564 for fiscal 
2016  from  537  for  fiscal  2015  due  to  our  recruiting 
and retention efforts.  

services.  The 

consulting 

The  decrease  in  revenues  from  our  Environmental 
and Health segment was due to a decrease in billable 
hours.  During  fiscal  2016,  billable  hours  for  this 
segment decreased by 9.7% to 262,000 as compared 
to  290,000  during  fiscal  2015.  Utilization  decreased 
to 63% for fiscal 2016 as compared to 65% for fiscal 
2015.  The  decrease  in  billable  hours  and  utilization 
was due to completion of a  major project during the 
third quarter of fiscal 2015 and lower revenues from 
the  oil  and  gas  and  industrial  chemicals  industries. 
Technical  full-time  equivalents  decreased  6.5%  to 

24 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
200 during fiscal 2016 as compared to 214 for fiscal 
2015  due  to  our  efforts  to  align  resources  with 
anticipated demand. 

Revenues  are  primarily  derived 
from  services 
provided in response to client requests or events that 
occur  without  notice  and  engagements  are  generally 
terminable or subject to postponement or delay at any 
time  by  our  clients.  As  a  result,  backlog  at  any 
particular time is small in relation to our quarterly or 
annual  revenues  and  is  not  a  reliable  indicator  of 
revenues for any future periods. 

Compensation and Related Expenses 

(In thousands except 
  percentages) 

Fiscal Years 

2016 

2015 

Percent 
Change 

Compensation 
  and related expenses 
Percentage of 

total revenues 

$  193,397  $  184,502 

4.8% 

61.4%   

59.0%   

The  increase  in  compensation  and  related  expenses 
during  fiscal  2016  was  due  to  an  increase  in  payroll 
and  a  change  in  the  value  of  assets  associated  with 
our  deferred  compensation  plan.  During  fiscal  2016 
payroll  increased  $4,730,000  due  to  the  increase  in 
technical  full-time  equivalent  employees  and  our 
annual  salary  increase.  During  fiscal  2016,  deferred 
compensation  expense  increased  $4,186,000  with  a 
corresponding increase  to other income as compared 
with  the  prior  year  due  to  the  change  in  value  of 
assets  associated  with  our  deferred  compensation 
plan.  This  increase  consisted  of  an  increase  in  the 
value  of  the  plan  assets  of  $3,861,000  during  fiscal 
2016  as  compared  to  a  decrease  in  the  value  of  the 
plan  assets  of  $325,000  during  fiscal  2015.  We 
expect  our  compensation  expense,  excluding  the 
change in value of deferred compensation plan assets, 
to  increase  as  we  selectively  add  new  talent  and 
adjust compensation to market conditions. 

Other Operating Expenses 

(In thousands except 
  percentages) 

Fiscal Years 

2016 

2015 

Percent 
Change 

Other operating 
  Expenses 
Percentage of 

total revenues 

 $ 28,397 

 $ 26,975 

5.3% 

9.0% 

8.6% 

Other  operating  expenses  include  facilities-related 
costs, technical  materials, computer-related expenses 
and  depreciation  and  amortization  of  property, 
equipment and leasehold improvements. The increase 
in  other  operating  expenses  was  primarily  due  to  an 

25 

increase  in  depreciation  expense  of  $652,000,  an 
increase  in  occupancy  expense  of  $344,000,  an 
increase  in  computer  expense  of  $250,000,  and 
several  individually  insignificant  increases,  which 
were  associated  with  the  increase  in  technical  full-
time  equivalent  employees  and  investments  in  our 
corporate  infrastructure.  We  expect  other  operating 
expense to grow as we selectively add new talent and 
make investments in our corporate infrastructure. 

Reimbursable Expenses 

(In thousands except 
  percentages) 

Fiscal Years 

2016 

2015 

Percent 
Change 

Reimbursable expenses 
Percentage of 

 $  15,879 

 $  17,127 

(7.3)% 

total revenues 

  5.0% 

  5.5% 

The decrease in reimbursable expenses was primarily 
due  to  a  decrease  in  project-related  costs  in  our 
materials  &  corrosion  engineering,  polymer  science 
&  materials  chemistry,  and  mechanical  engineering 
practices within our Engineering and Other Scientific 
segment.  The  amount  of  reimbursable  expenses  will 
vary from year to year depending on the nature of our 
projects. 

General and Administrative Expenses 

(In thousands except 
  percentages) 

Fiscal Years 

2016 

2015 

Percent 
Change 

General and  
  administrative expenses   $ 15,492 
Percentage of 

 $ 15,295 

1.3% 

total revenues 

4.9% 

4.9% 

The  increase  in  general  and  administrative  expenses 
during fiscal 2016 was primarily due to an increase in 
travel  and  meals  and  bad  debt  partially  offset  by  a 
decrease  in  outside  consulting.  We  expect  general 
and  administrative  expenses  to  increase  as  we 
selectively  add  new  talent,  expand  our  business 
development  efforts,  pursue  staff  development 
initiatives  and  hold  a  firm-wide  managers’  meeting 
during fiscal 2017. 

Other Income 

(In thousands except 
  percentages) 

Fiscal Years 

2016 

2015 

Percent 
Change 

Other income 
Percentage of 

total revenues 

 $  7,211 

 $  2,200 

227.8% 

2.3% 

0.7% 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other  income  consists  primarily  of  interest  income 
earned on available cash, cash equivalents and short-
term  investments,  changes  in  the  value  of  assets 
associated  with  our  deferred  compensation  plan  and 
rental  income  from  leasing  excess  space  in  our 
Silicon Valley facility. The increase in other income 
was  primarily  due  to  the  change  in  value  of  assets 
associated  with  our  deferred  compensation  plan. 
During 
increased 
$4,186,000 with a corresponding increase to deferred 
compensation  expense  as  compared  to  fiscal  2015. 
This  change  consisted  of  an  increase  in  the  value  of 
the  plan  assets  of  $3,861,000  during  fiscal  2016  as 
compared to a decrease in the value of the plan assets 
of $325,000 during fiscal 2015. The increase in other 
income during fiscal 2016 was also due to an increase 
in  interest  income  of  $476,000  and  an  increase  in 
rental income of $420,000. 

fiscal  2016,  other 

income 

Income Taxes 

(In thousands except 
  percentages) 

Fiscal Years 

2016 

2015 

Percent 
Change 

Income taxes 
Percentage of 

total revenues 
Effective tax rate 

$ 21,642  $ 27,534 

(21.4)% 

6.9% 
  31.3% 

8.8% 
  38.7% 

The decrease in income taxes and the decrease in our 
effective  tax  rate  were  primarily  due  to  the  early 
adoption  of  ASU  No.  2016-09,  on  a  prospective 
basis,  during  the  first  quarter  of  fiscal  2016.    Under 
ASU No. 2016-09 excess tax benefits are recorded as 
an  income  tax  benefit  in  the  consolidated  statement 
of income.  Prior to the adoption of  ASU No. 2016-
09  excess  tax  benefits  were  recognized  in  additional 
paid-in capital.  The tax benefit realized during fiscal 
2016  was  $4,827,000.  Excluding  the  excess  tax 
benefit, the effective tax rate would have been 38.3% 
for fiscal 2016. 

FISCAL  YEARS  ENDED  JANUARY  1,  2016, 
AND JANUARY 2, 2015 

Revenues 

(In thousands except 
  percentages) 

Fiscal Years 

2015 

2014 

Percent 
Change 

Engineering 
  and Other Scientific  $  237,959  $  223,384 
Percentage of 

6.5% 

total revenues 
Environmental  
  and Health 
Percentage of 

total revenues 

76.1%   

73.3%   

74,873    

81,320 

(7.9)% 

23.9%   

26.7%   

  Total revenues 

$  312,832  $  304,704 

2.7% 

The  increase  in  revenues  for  our  Engineering  and 
Other  Scientific  segment  was  due  to  an  increase  in 
billable hours and an increase in billing rates. During 
fiscal 2015, billable hours for this segment increased 
by  5.2%  to  835,000  as  compared  to  794,000  during 
fiscal  2014.  The  increase  was  due  to  demand  for 
services  in  our  materials  &  corrosion  engineering, 
biomedical engineering, polymer science & materials 
chemistry  practices,  as  well  as  our  infrastructure 
group. Utilization increased to 75% for fiscal 2015 as 
compared to 74% for fiscal 2014. Technical full-time 
equivalents  increased  3.5%  to  537  for  fiscal  2015 
from  519  for  fiscal  2014  due  to  our  recruiting  and 
retention efforts.  

The  decrease  in  revenues  from  our  Environmental 
and Health segment was due to a decrease in billable 
hours.  During  fiscal  2015,  billable  hours  for  this 
segment decreased by 7.3% to 290,000 as compared 
to  313,000  during  fiscal  2014.  Utilization  decreased 
to 65% for fiscal 2015 as compared to 68% for fiscal 
2014.  The  decrease  in  billable  hours  and  utilization 
was due to one of our major investigations ending in 
July of 2015 and  weaker demand for our services in 
our  health  centers.  Technical  full-time  equivalents 
decreased  3.6% 
to  214  during  fiscal  2015  as 
compared to 222 for fiscal 2014 due to our efforts to 
align resources with anticipated demand. 

Compensation and Related Expenses 

(In thousands except 
  percentages) 

Fiscal Years 

2015 

2014 

Percent 
Change 

Compensation 
  and related expenses 
Percentage of 

total revenues 

$  184,502  $  183,533 

0.5% 

59.0%   

60.2%   

26 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
to 

the 

increase 

The  increase  in  compensation  and  related  expenses 
during fiscal 2015 was due to an increase in payroll, 
fringe benefits, and bonus expense partially offset by 
a  change  in  the  value  of  assets  associated  with  our 
deferred  compensation  plan.  During  fiscal  2015 
payroll and fringe benefits increased $1,683,000 and 
$971,000,  respectively,  due 
in 
technical  full-time  equivalent  employees,  our  annual 
salary  increase  and,  an  increase  in  health  insurance 
to  a 
rates.  Bonuses 
corresponding  increase  in  income  before  income 
taxes,  before  bonus  expense,  and  before  stock-based 
compensation  expense.  During  fiscal  2015,  deferred 
compensation  expense  decreased  $2,850,000  with  a 
corresponding decrease to other income as compared 
with  the  prior  year  due  to  the  change  in  value  of 
assets  associated  with  our  deferred  compensation 
plan.  This  decrease  consisted  of  a  decrease  in  the 
value  of  the  plan  assets  of  $325,000  during  fiscal 
2015  as  compared  to  an  increase  in  the  value  of  the 
plan assets of $2,525,000 during fiscal 2014. 

increased  $1,204,000  due 

Other Operating Expenses 

amount of reimbursable expenses will vary from year 
to year depending on the nature of our projects. 

General and Administrative Expenses 

(In thousands except 
  percentages) 

Fiscal Years 

2015 

2014 

Percent 
Change 

General and  
  administrative expenses   $ 15,295 
Percentage of 

 $ 15,842 

(3.5)% 

total revenues 

4.9% 

5.2% 

The decrease in  general and  administrative expenses 
during fiscal 2015 was primarily due to a decrease in 
legal  fees  of  $566,000  and  a  decrease  in  charitable 
contributions  of  $507,000,  partially  offset  by  an 
increase  in  outside  consulting  services  of  $218,000 
and an increase in accounting fees of $164,000. The 
decrease in legal fees was due to a decrease in costs 
associated  with  legal  claims  during  fiscal  2015  as 
compared  to  fiscal  2014.  The  increase  in  outside 
consulting  services  was  due  to  investments  in  our 
corporate infrastructure. 

(In thousands except 
  percentages) 

Fiscal Years 

2015 

2014 

Percent 
Change 

Other Income 

Other operating 
  Expenses 
Percentage of 

total revenues 

 $ 26,975 

 $ 26,285 

2.6% 

8.6% 

8.6% 

Other  operating  expenses  include  facilities-related 
costs, technical  materials, computer-related expenses 
and  depreciation  and  amortization  of  property, 
equipment and leasehold improvements. The increase 
in  other  operating  expenses  was  primarily  due  to  an 
increase  in  computer  expense  of  $274,000,  an 
increase in office expense of $167,000, an increase in 
technical  materials  of  $150,000,  and 
several 
increases,  which  were 
individually 
associated  with  the  increase  in  technical  full-time 
equivalent  employees  and 
in  our 
corporate infrastructure. 

insignificant 

investments 

Reimbursable Expenses 

(In thousands except 
  percentages) 

Fiscal Years 

2015 

2014 

Percent 
Change 

(In thousands except 
  percentages) 

Fiscal Years 

2015 

2014 

Percent 
Change 

Other income 
Percentage of 

total revenues 

 $  2,200 

 $  4,416 

(50.2)% 

0.7% 

1.4% 

Other  income  consists  primarily  of  interest  income 
earned on available cash, cash equivalents and short-
term  investments,  changes  in  the  value  of  assets 
associated  with  our  deferred  compensation  plan  and 
rental  income  from  leasing  excess  space  in  our 
Silicon Valley facility. The decrease in other income 
was  primarily  due  to  the  change  in  value  of  assets 
associated  with  our  deferred  compensation  plan. 
During 
income  decreased 
$2,850,000 with a corresponding decrease to deferred 
compensation  expense  as  compared  to  fiscal  2014. 
This  change  consisted  of  a  decrease  in  the  value  of 
the  plan  assets  of  $325,000  during  fiscal  2015  as 
compared  to  an  increase  in  the  value  of  the  plan 
assets of $2,525,000 during fiscal 2014.  

fiscal  2015,  other 

Reimbursable expenses 
Percentage of 

 $  17,127 

 $  15,495 

10.5% 

Income Taxes 

total revenues 

  5.5% 

  5.1% 

(In thousands except 
  percentages) 

Fiscal Years 

2015 

2014 

Percent 
Change 

The increase in reimbursable expenses was primarily 
due  to  an  increase  in  project-related  costs  in  our 
materials & corrosion engineering practice within our 
Engineering  and  Other  Scientific  segment.  The 

Income taxes 
Percentage of 

total revenues 
Effective tax rate 

$ 27,534  $ 27,264 

1.0% 

8.8% 
  38.7% 

8.9% 
  40.1% 

27 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
excess tax benefit of $4,827,000 for fiscal 2016 was 
classified as an operating activity in the statement of 
cash flows. The excess tax benefit of $6,396,000 for 
fiscal 2015 was classified as a financing activity. The 
increase  in  net  cash  provided  by  operating  activities 
during  fiscal  2015  as  compared  to  fiscal  2014  was 
primarily  due  to  an  increase  in  cash  receipts  from 
clients. 

During fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014, net cash provided 
by (used in) investing activities was primarily related 
to  the  purchase  and  sale  or  maturity  of  short-term 
investments.  During  fiscal  2016  we  completed  the 
purchase  of  a  1.1  acre  parcel  of  land  with  27,000 
square  feet  of  warehouse  storage  space  in  Menlo 
Park, California adjacent to our owned office and lab 
facilities.  We  had  leased  this  warehouse  storage 
space for the past 25  years. The total purchase price 
was $8,250,000. 

The  increase  in  net  cash  used  in  financing  activities 
during  fiscal  2016,  as  compared  to  fiscal  2015,  was 
primarily due to the early adoption of ASU No. 2016-
09.  Under  ASU  No.  2016-09,  the  excess  tax  benefit 
of  $4,827,000  for  fiscal  2016  was  classified  as  an 
operating activity in the statement of cash flows. The 
excess tax benefit of $6,396,000 for fiscal 2015 was 
classified as a financing activity. The increase in net 
cash  used  in  financing  activities  during  fiscal  2016 
was also due to an increase in our quarterly dividend 
payments. The decrease in net cash used in financing 
activities  during  fiscal  2015,  as  compared  to  fiscal 
2014,  was  due  to  a  decrease  in  repurchases  of  our 
common  stock  partially  offset  by  an  increase  in  our 
quarterly dividend payments. 

We  expect  to  continue  our  investing  activities, 
including  capital  expenditures.  Furthermore,  cash 
reserves  may  be  used  to  repurchase  common  stock 
under our stock repurchase programs, pay dividends, 
procure  facilities  and  equipment  or  strategically 
acquire  professional 
are 
service 
complementary to our business.  

firms 

that 

The  decrease  in  our  effective  tax  rate  was  due  to  an 
increase  in  foreign  earnings  in  jurisdictions  with 
lower income tax rates and a decrease in state income 
taxes. 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES 

(In thousands) 

2016 

Fiscal Years 
2015 

2014 

Net cash provided 
  by (used in): 
Operating activities  $  66,946  $  60,489  $  48,252 
Investing activities 
$ (27,443)  $ (27,035)  $  2,435 
Financing activities  $ (49,166)  $ (36,916)  $ (43,128) 

invest  our  excess  cash 

We  financed  our  business  in  fiscal  2016  through 
available  cash  and  cash  flows  from  operating 
in  cash 
activities.  We 
equivalents  and  short-term 
investments.  As  of 
December  30,  2016,  our  cash,  cash  equivalents  and 
short-term investments were $173,722,000 compared 
to  $171,593,000  at  January  1,  2016.  We  believe  our 
existing balances of cash, cash equivalents and short-
term  investments  will  be  sufficient  to  satisfy  our 
expenditures, 
working 
repurchases, 
outstanding 
dividends  and  other  liquidity  requirements  over  at 
least the next 12 months. 

capital 
stock 

commitments, 

capital 

needs, 

Approximately 6% of our cash, cash equivalents, and 
short-term  investments  was  held  by  our  foreign 
subsidiaries  and  subject  to  repatriation  tax  effects. 
Our  intent  is  to  permanently  reinvest  our  earnings 
from  foreign  operations,  and  current  plans  do  not 
anticipate  that  we  will  need  funds  generated  from 
foreign operations to fund our domestic operations. 

Generally,  our  net  cash  provided  by  operating 
activities  is  used  to  fund  our  day-to-day  operating 
activities.  First  quarter  operating  cash  requirements 
are  generally  higher  due  to  payment  of  our  annual 
bonuses  accrued  during  the  prior  year.  Our  largest 
source  of  operating  cash  flows  is  cash  collections 
from  our  clients.  Our  primary  uses  of  cash  from 
operating 
employee-related 
are 
expenditures,  leased  facilities,  taxes,  and  general 
operating expenses including marketing and travel. 

activities 

for 

Net  cash  provided  by  operating  activities  was  $66.9 
million for fiscal 2016 as compared to $60.5 million 
and  $48.3  million 
fiscal  2015  and  2014, 
respectively.  The  increase  in  net  cash  provided  by 
operating activities during fiscal 2016 as compared to 
fiscal 2015 was primarily due to the early adoption of 
ASU  No.  2016-09.  Under  ASU  No.  2016-09,  the 

in 

28 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
law,  we  have 
As  permitted  under  Delaware 
agreements  whereby  we  indemnify  our  officers  and 
directors  for  certain  events  or  occurrences  while  the 
officer or director is, or was serving, at our request in 
such  capacity.  The  indemnification  period  covers  all 
pertinent events and occurrences during the officer’s 
or  director’s 
lifetime.  The  maximum  potential 
amount  of  future  payments  we  could  be  required  to 
make  under  these  indemnification  agreements  is 
unlimited;  however,  we  have  director  and  officer 
insurance  coverage  that  reduces  our  exposure  and 
enables us to recover a portion of any future amounts 
paid.  We  believe  the  estimated  fair  value  of  these 
indemnification  agreements  in  excess  of  applicable 
insurance coverage is minimal. 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements 
As part of our ongoing business, we do not engage in 
relationships  with 
generate 
transactions 
unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such 
as  entities  often  referred  to  as  structured  finance  or 
special purpose entities. 

that 

The  following  schedule  summarizes  our  principal 
contractual  commitments  as  of  December  30,  2016 
(in thousands): 

Fiscal 
year 

2017 
2018 
2019 
2020 
2021 
Thereafter 

Operating 
lease 

Purchase 

commitments  Obligations 
  $  7,227 
  5,597 
  3,480 
  2,480 
  1,921 
  1,058 
   $ 21,763 

  $  583 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
  $  583 

Total 
$  7,810 
  5,597 
  3,480 
  2,480 
  1,921 
  1,058 
$ 22,346 

The  above  table  does  not  reflect  unrecognized  tax 
benefits  of  $1,956,000,  the  timing  of  which  is 
uncertain.  Refer  to  “Note  7:  Income  Taxes”  of  the 
Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  for 
additional discussion on unrecognized tax benefits. 

We  maintain  nonqualified  deferred  compensation 
plans  for  the  benefit  of  a  select  group  of  highly 
compensated  employees.  Vested  amounts  due  under 
the  plans  of  $46,503,000  were  recorded  as  a  long-
term  liability  on  our  consolidated  balance  sheet  at 
that  are 
December  30,  2016.  Company  assets 
earmarked to pay benefits under the plans are held in 
a  rabbi  trust  and  are  subject  to  the  claims  of  our 
creditors.  As  of  December  30,  2016, 
invested 
the  plans  of  $41,153,000  were 
amounts  under 
recorded  as  a  long-term  asset  on  our  consolidated 
balance sheet.  

29 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-GAAP Financial Measures 

Regulation  G,  conditions  for  use  of  Non-Generally  Accepted  Accounting  Principles  (“Non-GAAP”)  financial 
measures,  and  other  SEC  regulations  define  and  prescribe  the  conditions  for  use  of  certain  Non-GAAP  financial 
information.  Generally,  a  Non-GAAP  financial  measure  is  a  numerical  measure  of  a  company's  performance, 
financial position or cash flow that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in 
the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. We closely monitor two 
financial  measures,  EBITDA  and  EBITDAS,  which  meet  the  definition  of  Non-GAAP  financial  measures.  We 
define  EBITDA  as  net  income  before  income  taxes,  interest  income,  depreciation  and  amortization.  We  define 
EBITDAS as EBITDA before stock-based compensation. We regard EBITDA and EBITDAS as useful measures of 
operating  performance  and  cash  flow  to  complement  operating  income,  net  income  and  other  GAAP  financial 
performance  measures.  Additionally,  management  believes  that  EBITDA  and  EBITDAS  provide  meaningful 
comparisons of past, present and future operating results. These measures are used to evaluate our financial results, 
develop budgets and determine employee compensation. These measures, however, should be considered in addition 
to, and not as a substitute or superior to, operating income, cash flows, or other measures of financial performance 
prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of the Non-GAAP measures to the nearest comparable GAAP 
measure is set forth below. 

The following table shows EBITDA as a percentage of revenues before reimbursements for fiscal years 2016, 2015 
and 2014: 

(in thousands, except percentages) 

2016 

 Fiscal Years  
2015 

2014 

Revenues before reimbursements 

  $  299,197 

  $  295,705 

  $  289,209 

EBITDA 

  $  74,570 

  $  76,405 

  $  73,219 

EBITDA as a % of revenues 
  before reimbursements 

24.9% 

25.8% 

25.3% 

The decrease in EBITDA as a percentage of revenues before reimbursements for fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 
2015  was due to a decrease in utilization.  Utilization  for fiscal 2016  was 70% as compared to 72% during fiscal 
2015.  The decrease in utilization was due to the completion of a major project during the third quarter of fiscal 2015 
and lower revenues from the oil and gas and industrial chemicals industries. 

The increase in EBITDA as a percentage of revenues before reimbursements for fiscal 2015 as compared to fiscal 
2014 was primarily due to the increase in revenues before reimbursements and low expense growth. 

30 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
The  following  table  is  a  reconciliation  of  EBITDA  and  EBITDAS  to  the  most  comparable  GAAP  measure,  net 
income, for fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014: 

(in thousands) 

2016 

Fiscal Years 
2015 

2014 

Net Income 

  $ 

47,480 

  $ 

43,599 

  $ 

40,701 

Add back (subtract): 

  Income taxes 
  Interest income, net 
Depreciation and 
  amortization 

EBITDA  

Stock-based compensation 

21,642 
(683) 

6,131 

74,570 

13,333 

27,534 
(207) 

5,479 

76,405 

12,959 

27,264 
(150) 

5,404 

73,219 

13,079 

EBITDAS 

  $ 

87,903 

  $ 

89,364 

  $ 

86,298 

Item  7A.  Quantitative  and  Qualitative  Disclosure 
About Market Risk 

Exponent  is  exposed  to  interest  rate  risk  associated 
with our balances of cash, cash equivalents and short-
term  investments.  We  manage  our  interest  rate  risk 
by  maintaining  an  investment  portfolio  primarily 
consisting  of  debt  instruments  with  high  credit 
relatively  short  average  effective 
quality  and 
maturities 
the  Company’s 
investment  policy.  The  maximum  effective  maturity 
of any issue in our portfolio of cash equivalents and 
short-term  investments  is  3  years  and  the  maximum 
average  effective  maturity  of  the  portfolio  cannot 
exceed 12 months. 

in  accordance  with 

If  interest  rates  were  to  instantaneously  increase  or 
decrease  by  100  basis  points,  the  change  in  the  fair 
value of our portfolio of cash equivalents and  short-
term  investments  would  not  have  a  material  impact 
on our financial statements. We do not use derivative 
financial  instruments  in  our  investment  portfolio. 
Notwithstanding  our  efforts  to  manage  interest  rate 
risk,  there  can  be  no  assurances  that  we  will  be 
adequately protected against the risks associated with 
interest rate fluctuations. 

We have foreign currency risk related to our revenues 
and  expenses  denominated  in  currencies  other  than 
the U.S. dollar, primarily the British Pound, the Euro, 
and  the  Chinese  Yuan.  Accordingly,  changes  in 
exchange  rates  may  negatively  affect  the  revenues 

and  net  income  of  our  foreign  subsidiaries  as 
expressed in U.S. dollars. Our foreign currency risk is 
primarily in our Environmental and Health operating 
segment.  

At  December  30,  2016,  we  had  net  assets  of 
functional 
approximately  $6.2  million  with  a 
the  British  Pound,  net  assets  of 
currency  of 
approximately  $2.8  million  with  a 
functional 
currency of the Euro, and net assets of approximately 
$3.4  million  with  a  functional  currency  of  the 
Chinese  Yuan  associated  with  our  operations  in  the 
United Kingdom, Germany, and China, respectively. 

We also have foreign currency risk related to foreign 
transactions  and  monetary  assets  and 
currency 
liabilities  denominated  in  currencies  that  are  not  the 
functional  currency.  We  have  experienced  and  will 
continue to experience fluctuations in our net income 
as a result of gains (losses) on these foreign currency 
transactions  and  the  re-measurement  of  monetary 
assets and liabilities. At December 30, 2016, we had 
net  assets  denominated 
the  non-functional 
currency of approximately $1.8 million. 

in 

We  do  not  use  foreign  exchange  contracts  to  hedge 
any foreign currency exposures. To date, the impacts 
of  foreign  currency  exchange  rate  changes  on  our 
consolidated  revenues  and  consolidated  net  income 
have  not  been  material.  However,  our  continued 
international  expansion  increases  our  exposure  to 
exchange  rate  fluctuations  and  as  a  result  such 

31 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
fluctuations  could  have  a  significant  impact  on  our 
future results of operations. 

Item  8.  Financial  Statements  and  Supplementary 
Data 

See Item 15 of this Form 10-K for required financial 
statements and supplementary data. 

Item  9.  Changes  in  and  Disagreements  with 
Accountants  on  Accounting  and  Financial 
Disclosure 

None. 

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures 

KPMG  LLP,  an 
independent  registered  public  
accounting firm, has audited the internal control over 
financial  reporting  of  Exponent,  Inc.,  as  stated  in 
their report  which is included in Part IV, Item 15 of 
this Form 10-K. 

(a)  Conclusion  Regarding  the  Effectiveness  of 
Disclosure Controls and Procedures. 

Under  the  supervision  and  with  the  participation  of 
our  management,  including  our  principal  executive 
officer  and  principal  financial  officer,  we  conducted 
an  evaluation  of  our  disclosure  controls  and 
procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13(a)-
15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act 
of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Based on 
this  evaluation,  our  principal  executive  officer  and 
our  principal  financial  officer  concluded  that  our 
disclosure  controls  and  procedures  were  effective  as 
of the end of the period covered by this annual report. 

(b)  Management’s  Report  on  Internal  Control 

Over Financial Reporting. 

to  provide 

is  designed 

Our  management  is  responsible  for  establishing  and 
maintaining  adequate  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting,  as  such  term  is  defined  in  Exchange  Act 
Rule  13a-15(f).  Our  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting 
reasonable 
assurance,  but  not  absolute  assurance,  regarding  the 
reliability  of  financial  reporting  and  the  preparation 
of  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  U.S. 
generally  accepted  accounting  principles.  There  are 
inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system 
of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting.  These 
limitations include the possibility of human error, the 
circumvention  or  overriding  of  the  system  and 
reasonable  resource  constraints.  Because  of 
its 
internal  control  over 
inherent 

limitations,  our 

that 

in  conditions,  or 

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 
the  degree  of 
compliance  with  the  policies  or  procedures  may 
deteriorate.  Under  the  supervision  and  with  the 
participation  of  our  management,  including  our 
principal  executive  officer  and  principal  financial 
the 
officer,  we  conducted  an  evaluation  of 
effectiveness  of  our  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting based on the framework in Internal Control 
the 
-  Integrated  Framework  (2013) 
issued  by 
the 
Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of 
Treadway  Commission.  Based  on  our  evaluation 
under the framework in Internal Control - Integrated 
Framework  (2013),  our  management  concluded  that 
our  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  was 
effective  at  the  reasonable  assurance  level  as  of 
December 30, 2016. 

(c)  Changes in Internal Control Over Financial 

Reporting. 

There  have  not  been  any  changes  in  the  Company’s 
internal control over financial reporting, as such term 
is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act, 
during  the  most  recent  fiscal  quarter  that  have 
materially  affected,  or  are  reasonably  likely  to 
materially affect, the Company’s internal control over 
financial reporting. 

Item 9B. Other Information 

None. 

PART III 

Certain  information  required  by  Part  III  is  omitted 
from this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We intend to 
file  a  definitive  Proxy  Statement  pursuant 
to 
Regulation 14A not later than 120 days after the end 
of  the  fiscal  year  covered  by  this  Annual  Report  on 
Form 10-K, and certain information included therein 
is incorporated herein by reference.  

Item  10.  Directors,  Executive  Officers  and 
Corporate Governance 

The information required by this item is incorporated 
by  reference  to  the  Company’s  definitive  Proxy 
Statement 
its  2017  Annual  Meeting  of 
Stockholders (the "Proxy Statement"). See Item 1 for 
information  regarding  the  executive  officers  of  the 
Company.  

for 

32 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 11. Executive Compensation 

The information required by this item is incorporated 
by reference to the Proxy Statement. 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial 
Owners 
and  Related 
Stockholder Matters 

and  Management 

The information required by this item is incorporated 
by  reference  to  the  Proxy  Statement.  See  also  the 
table on the Company’s share repurchases in Part II, 
Item 5 above. 

Item  13.  Certain  Relationships  and  Related 
Transactions, and Director Independence 

The information required by this item is incorporated 
by reference to the Proxy Statement. 

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services 

The information required by this item is incorporated 
by reference to the Proxy Statement. 

33 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PART IV 

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules 

(a)   The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 

1.  Financial Statements 

The following consolidated financial statements of Exponent, Inc. and subsidiaries and the 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm are included herewith: 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 30, 2016, 
  January 1, 2016 and January 2, 2015 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended 
  December 30, 2016, January 1, 2016 and January 2, 2015 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 30, 2016 and January 1, 2016 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 30, 2016, 
  January 1, 2016 and January 2, 2015 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 30, 2016, 
  January 1, 2016 and January 2, 2015 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

2.  Financial Statement Schedules 

Page 

35 

37 

38 

39 

40 

42 

43 

The following financial statement schedule of Exponent, Inc. for the years ended December 30, 2016, 
January 1, 2016 and January 2, 2015 is filed as part of this Report and should be read in conjunction with the 
consolidated financial statements of Exponent, Inc. and subsidiaries: 

  Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts 

Page 

62 

Schedules other than those listed above have been omitted since they are either not required, not applicable, 
or the information is otherwise included elsewhere in the report. 

3.  Exhibits  

(a) 

Exhibit Index 

Page 

65 

34 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm  

The Board of Directors and Stockholders  
Exponent, Inc.:  

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Exponent, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 30, 
2016 and January 1, 2016, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ 
equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 30, 2016. In connection with our 
audits of the consolidated financial statements, we have also audited the accompanying financial statement schedule II.  
We also have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Exponent, Inc. as of December 30, 2016, based on 
criteria  established  in  Internal  Control  –  Integrated  Framework  (2013)  issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring 
Organizations  of  the  Treadway  Commission  (COSO).  The  management  of  Exponent,  Inc.  is  responsible  for  these 
consolidated  financial  statements,  the  financial  statement  schedule,  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 Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, appearing under Item 9A(b). Our 
responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule, and 
an opinion on the internal control over financial reporting of Exponent, Inc. based on our audits. 

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  Public  Company  Accounting  Oversight  Board 
(United  States).  Those  standards  require  that  we  plan  and  perform  the  audits  to  obtain  reasonable  assurance  about 
whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial 
reporting  was  maintained  in  all  material  respects.  Our  audits  of  the  consolidated  financial  statements  included 
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the 
accounting  principles  used  and  significant  estimates  made  by  management,  and  evaluating  the  overall  financial 
statement presentation. 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  audits  also  included 
performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide 
a reasonable basis for our opinions. 

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. 

In  our  opinion,  the  consolidated  financial  statements  referred  to  above  present  fairly,  in  all  material  respects,  the 
financial position of Exponent, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 30, 2016 and January 1, 2016, and the results of 
their  operations  and  their  cash  flows  for  each  of  the  years  in  the  three-year  period  ended  December 30,  2016,  in 
conformity  with  U.S.  generally  accepted  accounting  principles.  Also,  in  our  opinion,  the  related  financial  statement 
schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in 
all material respects, the information set forth herein.  Also in our opinion, Exponent, Inc. maintained, in all material 
respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 30, 2016, based on criteria established in 

35 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Internal  Control  –  Integrated  Framework  (2013)  issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the 
Treadway Commission (COSO). 

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting 
for excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies related to stock-based compensation as well as forfeitures of share-based 
awards  as  of  January  2,  2016  due  to  the  adoption  of  Accounting  Standards  Update  2016-09,  Improvements  to 
Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. 

/s/ KPMG LLP 
San Francisco, California  
February 24, 2017  

36 

 
 
 
 
 
Exponent, Inc. and Subsidiaries 
Consolidated Statements of Income 

(In thousands, except per share data) 

Revenues: 

Revenues before reimbursements 
Reimbursements 
Revenues 

Operating expenses: 

Compensation and related expenses 
Other operating expenses 
Reimbursable expenses 
General and administrative expenses 

Operating income 

Other income: 

Interest income 
Miscellaneous income, net 

Income before income taxes 

Provision for income taxes 

Net income 

Net income per share: 

Basic 
Diluted 

Shares used in per share computations: 

Basic 
Diluted 

2016 

Fiscal Years 
2015 

2014 

  $ 299,197 
  15,879 
  315,076 

  $ 295,705 
  17,127 
  312,832 

  $ 289,209 
  15,495 
  304,704 

  193,397 
  28,397 
  15,879 
  15,492 
  253,165 
  61,911 

  184,502 
  26,975 
  17,127 
  15,295 
  243,899 
  68,933 

  183,533 
  26,285 
  15,495 
  15,842 
  241,155 
  63,549 

683 
6,528 
  69,122 

207 
1,993 
  71,133 

150 
4,266 
  67,965 

  21,642 
  $  47,480 

  27,534 
  $  43,599 

  27,264 
  $  40,701 

  $ 
  $ 

1.79 
1.75 

  $ 
  $ 

1.64 
1.60 

  $ 
  $ 

1.51 
1.47 

  26,488 
  27,166 

  26,606 
  27,298 

  26,910 
  27,666 

Cash dividends declared per common share 

  $ 

0.72 

  $ 

0.60 

  $ 

0.50 

See accompanying notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. 

37 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exponent, Inc. and Subsidiaries 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income  

(In thousands) 

Net income 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: 

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax 
  of $0, $(38), and $304, respectively 
Unrealized gain (loss) arising during the period 
  on investments, net of tax of $53, $53, and 
  $(3), respectively  
Comprehensive income 

See accompanying notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. 

2016 

Fiscal Years 
2015 

2014 

$  47,480 

$  43,599 

$  40,701 

(1,240) 

(822) 

(1,017) 

(81) 
$  46,159 

(79) 
$  42,698 

4 
$  39,688 

38 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exponent, Inc. and Subsidiaries 
Consolidated Balance Sheets 

(In thousands, except par value) 

Assets 

Current assets: 

Cash and cash equivalents 
Short-term investments 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for contract losses and   

doubtful accounts of $3,417 and $2,792, respectively 

Prepaid expenses and other assets 

Total current assets 

Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net 
Goodwill 
Deferred income taxes 
Deferred compensation plan assets 
Other assets 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity 

Current liabilities: 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 
Accrued payroll and employee benefits 
Deferred revenues 

Total current liabilities 

Other liabilities 
Deferred compensation 
Deferred rent 

Total liabilities 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 12) 

Stockholders’ equity: 

Preferred stock, $.001 par value; 2,000 shares authorized; 

no shares outstanding 

Common stock, $.001 par value; 80,000 shares authorized; 

32,853 shares issued 
Additional paid-in capital 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)  
Investment securities, available for sale 
Foreign currency translation adjustments 

Retained earnings 
Treasury stock, at cost: 7,256 and 7,133 shares held, respectively 

Total stockholders’ equity 

See accompanying notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. 

39 

December 30, 
2016 

January 1, 
2016 

  $ 114,967 
  58,755 

  $ 125,751 
  45,842 

  87,409 
  12,913 
 274,044 

  36,710 
8,607 
  42,166 
  41,153 
1,064 
   $ 403,744 

  $  10,073 
  62,539 
7,624 
  80,236 

2,005 
  46,503 
1,654 
 130,398 

  88,577 
  12,616 
 272,786 

  28,485 
8,607 
  39,456 
  36,522 
1,651 
  $ 387,507 

  $  10,580 
  62,092 
7,802 
  80,474 

1,913 
  40,322 
1,994 
 124,703 

- 

- 

33 
 194,632 

33 
 179,816 

(146) 
(2,980) 
(3,126) 
 291,243 
(209,436) 
273,346 
   $ 403,744 

(65) 
(1,740) 
(1,805) 
 269,259 
(184,499) 
262,804 
  $ 387,507 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Exponent, Inc. and Subsidiaries  
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity 

(In thousands) 

Balance at  
  January 3, 2014 

Employee stock  
  purchase plan 
Exercise of stock options, 
  net of swaps 
Excess tax benefit for  
  equity incentive plans 
Amortization of unrecognized 
  stock-based compensation 
Purchase of treasury shares 
Foreign currency translation 
  adjustments 
Grant of restricted stock units 
to settle accrued bonus 

Settlement of restricted 
  stock units 
Unrealized gain 
  on investments 
Dividends and 
  dividend equivalent rights 
Net income 
Balance at  
  January 2, 2015 

Employee stock  
  purchase plan 
Exercise of stock options, 
  net of swaps 
Excess tax benefit for  
  equity incentive plans 
Amortization of unrecognized 
  stock-based compensation 
Purchase of treasury shares 
Foreign currency translation 
  adjustments 
Grant of restricted stock units 
to settle accrued bonus 

Settlement of restricted 
  stock units 
Unrealized loss 
  on investments 
Dividends and 
  dividend equivalent rights 
Net income 
Balance at  
  January 1, 2016 

  Additional 

  Accumulated 
other 

Common Stock 
Shares  Amount 

paid-in 
capital 

Treasury Stock 
comprehensive  Retained 
income (loss)  earnings  Shares  Amount 

Total 

  32,853    $ 

33    $141,233 

  $ 

109 

 $ 226,040 

6,727  $ (132,356) $ 235,059 

- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

810 

67 

5,100 

6,792 
- 

- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

(1,017) 

6,008 

(343) 

- 

541 
- 

- 

- 

4 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

(32) 

(84) 

- 

- 
850 

- 

- 

337 

1,147 

893 

960 

- 

5,100 

- 
(30,921) 

6,792 
(30,921) 

- 

- 

(1,017) 

6,008 

(6,050) 

(350) 

37 

(6,356) 

- 

(13,730) 
40,701 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 

4 

(13,189) 
40,701 

  32,853    $ 

33    $160,208 

  $ 

(904) 

 $ 246,961 

7,111  $ (162,010) $ 244,288 

- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

836 

(94) 

6,396 

6,618 
- 

- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

(822) 

- 

- 

6,169 

(975) 

- 

658 
- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

(27) 

350 

1,186 

(150) 

1,922 

1,828 

- 

- 
530 

- 

- 

- 

6,396 

- 
(23,314) 

6,618 
(23,314) 

- 

- 

(822) 

6,169 

(4,943) 

(331) 

(1,447) 

(7,365) 

(79) 

- 

- 
- 

(16,358) 
43,599 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 

(79) 

(15,700) 
43,599 

  32,853    $ 

33    $179,816 

  $  (1,805) 

 $ 269,259 

7,133  $ (184,499) $ 262,804 

See accompanying notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. 

40 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
(In thousands) 

Balance at  
  January 1, 2016 

Employee stock  
  purchase plan 
Exercise of stock options, 
  net of swaps 
Amortization of unrecognized 
  stock-based compensation 
Purchase of treasury shares 
Foreign currency translation 
  adjustments 
Grant of restricted stock units 
to settle accrued bonus 

Settlement of restricted 
  stock units 
Unrealized loss 
  on investments 
Dividends and 
  dividend equivalent rights 
Other 
Net income 
Balance at  
  December 30, 2016 

  Additional 

  Accumulated 
other 

Common Stock 
Shares  Amount 

paid-in 
capital 

comprehensive  Retained 
Treasury Stock 
income (loss)  earnings  Shares  Amount 

Total 

  32,853    $ 

33    $179,816 

  $  (1,805) 

 $ 269,259 

7,133  $ (184,499) $ 262,804 

- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 
- 
- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 
- 
- 

883 

161 

7,152 
- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

(1,240) 

- 

- 

6,334 

(701) 

- 

854 
133 
- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

(23) 

(30) 

307 

1,190 

405 

566 

- 
491 

- 
(24,456) 

7,152 
(24,456) 

- 

- 

- 

- 

(1,240) 

6,334 

(5,791) 

(315) 

(1,193) 

(7,685) 

(81) 

- 

- 
- 
- 

(19,627) 
(78) 
47,480 

- 

- 
- 
- 

- 

- 
- 
- 

(81) 

(18,773) 
55 
47,480 

  32,853    $ 

33    $194,632 

  $  (3,126) 

 $291,243 

7,256  $ (209,436) $ 273,346 

See accompanying notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. 

41 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
Exponent, Inc. and Subsidiaries 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 

(In thousands) 

Cash flows from operating activities: 

 Net income 
 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash 

 provided by operating activities: 

2016 

Fiscal Years 
2015 

2014 

  $  47,480 

 $  43,599  $  40,701 

 Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment 

and leasehold improvements 

6,131 

5,479 

5,404 

 Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts 
   on short-term investments 
 Deferred rent expense 
 Provision for contract losses and doubtful accounts 
 Stock-based compensation 
 Deferred income tax provision 
 Excess tax benefit for equity incentive plans 
 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: 

 Accounts receivable 
 Prepaid expenses and other assets 
 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 
 Accrued payroll and employee benefits 
 Deferred revenues 

 Net cash provided by operating activities 

Cash flows from investing activities: 

 Capital expenditures 
 Purchase of short-term investments 
 Maturity of short-term investments 
 Sale of short-term investments 

Net cash (used in) provided by 
  investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities: 

 Excess tax benefit for equity incentive plans 
 Payroll taxes for restricted stock units 
 Repurchase of common stock 
 Exercise of share-based payment awards 
 Dividends and dividend equivalent rights 

  Net cash used in financing activities  

2 
(340) 
2,452 
  13,333 
(2,602) 
- 

(1,284) 
(598) 
(370) 
2,920 
(178) 
  66,946 

595 
(65) 
929 
  12,959 
(3,827) 
(6,396) 

(3,138) 
421 
7,718 
2,639 
(424) 
  60,489 

885 
(273) 
1,718 
  13,079 
(6,077) 
(5,100) 

  (11,106) 
(5,320) 
6,142 
6,744 
1,455 
  48,252 

  (14,393) 
  (51,000) 
  37,950 
- 

(5,379) 
  (43,946) 
  22,290 
- 

(4,947) 
(5,260) 
  11,642 
1,000 

(27,443) 

  (27,035) 

2,435 

- 
(7,685) 
(24,456) 
1,756 
  (18,781) 
  (49,166) 

6,396 
(7,365) 
(23,314) 
3,014 
  (15,647) 
  (36,916) 

5,100 
(6,356) 
(30,921) 
2,107 
  (13,058) 
(43,128) 

Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash 

and cash equivalents 

(1,121) 

(277) 

(1,017) 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 

  (10,784) 
  125,751 
  $ 114,967 

(3,739) 
  129,490 
 $  125,751 

6,542 
  122,948 
 $ 129,490 

See accompanying notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. 

42 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
   
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exponent, Inc. and Subsidiaries 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Note 1:  Summary of Significant Accounting 
Policies 

its 

Inc. 

Basis of Presentation 
Exponent, 
subsidiaries 
together  with 
(collectively  referred  to  as  the  “Company”)  is  a 
science and engineering consulting firm that provides 
solutions  to  complex  problems.  The  accompanying 
consolidated 
the 
accounts  of  the  Company  and  its  wholly  owned 
intercompany 
subsidiaries. 
transactions  and  balances  have  been  eliminated  in 
consolidation. 

significant 

statements 

financial 

include 

All 

The  Company  operates  on  a  52-53  week  fiscal  year 
with  each  year  ending  on  the  Friday  closest  to 
December  31st.  Fiscal  periods  2016,  2015  and  2014 
included  52  weeks  of  activity  and  ended  on 
December 30, 2016, January  1, 2016 and January 2, 
2015,  respectively.  Fiscal  period  2017  will  end  on 
December 29, 2017. 

incorporation 

Stock Split 
On  May  28,  2015,  the  Company’s  stockholders 
approved an amendment to the Company’s certificate 
of 
the  number  of 
to  (i)  amend 
authorized  shares  of  common  stock  to  80,000,000, 
(ii)  amend  the  number  of  authorized  shares  of 
preferred  stock  to  2,000,000,  and  (iii)  effect  a  two-
for-one stock split. As a result of the stock split, each 
shareholder of record at the close of business on May 
28,  2015,  received  one  additional  share  of  common 
stock.  Restricted  stock  unit  awards  and  stock  option 
awards have also been adjusted to reflect the two-for-
one stock split. For periods prior to the stock split, all 
share  and  per  share  data 
the  Company’s 
consolidated  financial  statements  and  related  notes 
have  been  retroactively  adjusted  to  reflect  the  stock 
split. 

in 

Use of Estimates 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity 
with  accounting  principles  generally  accepted  in  the 
United  States  of  America  requires  management  to 
make  estimates  and  assumptions  that  affect  the 
liabilities  and 
reported  amounts  of  assets  and 
disclosure  of  contingent  assets  and  liabilities  at  the 
date  of  the  financial  statements  and  the  reported 
amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. 
Actual results could differ from those estimates. 

43 

Revenue Recognition 
The  Company  derives  its  revenues  primarily  from 
professional  fees  earned  on  consulting  engagements, 
fees earned for the use of its equipment and facilities, 
and  reimbursements  for  outside  direct  expenses 
associated  with  the  services  that  are  billed  to  its 
clients.  Any  taxes  assessed  on  revenues  relating  to 
services provided to its clients are recorded on a net 
basis. 

The  Company  reports  service  revenues  net  of 
subcontractor fees. The Company has determined that 
it  is  not  the  primary  obligor  with  respect  to  these 
subcontractors because: 

• 

• 

• 

its clients are directly involved in the 
subcontractor selection process; 
the subcontractor is responsible for fulfilling 
the scope of work; and  
the Company passes through the costs of 
subcontractor agreements with only a 
minimal fixed percentage mark-up to 
compensate it for processing the 
transactions. 

Reimbursements, including those related to travel and 
other out-of-pocket expenses, and other similar third 
party costs such as the cost of materials, are included 
in 
revenues,  and  an  equivalent  amount  of 
reimbursable  expenses  are  included  in  operating 
expenses.  Any  mark-up  on  reimbursable  expenses  is 
included in revenues. 

Substantially  all  of  the  Company’s  engagements  are 
performed  under  time  and  material  or  fixed-price 
billing arrangements. On time and material and fixed-
price projects, revenue is generally recognized as the 
services  are  performed.  For  substantially  all  of  the 
Company’s  fixed-price  engagements,  it  recognizes 
revenue  based  on  the  relationship  of  incurred  labor 
hours  at  standard  rates  to  its  estimate  of  the  total 
labor hours at  standard rates  it expects to incur over 
the  term  of  the  contract.  The  Company  believes  this 
methodology  achieves  a  reliable  measure  of  the 
revenue from the consulting services it provides to its 
customers  under  fixed-price  contracts  given  the 
nature  of  the  consulting  services  the  Company 
provides and the following additional considerations: 

• 

• 

the Company considers labor hours at 
standard rates and expenses to be incurred 
when pricing its contracts; 
the Company generally does not incur set up 
costs on its contracts; 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the Company does not believe that there are 
reliable milestones to measure progress 
toward completion; 
if the contract is terminated early, the 
customer is required to pay the Company for 
time at standard rates plus materials incurred 
to date; 
the Company does not recognize revenue for 
award fees or bonuses until specific 
contractual criteria are met; 
the Company does not include revenue for 
unpriced change orders until the customer 
agrees with the changes; 
historically the Company has not had 
significant accounts receivable write-offs or 
cost overruns; and  
its contracts are typically progress billed on 
a monthly basis. 

Product  revenue  is  recognized  when  both  title  and 
risk  of  loss  transfer  to  the  customer  and  customer 
acceptance has occurred, provided that no significant 
obligations remain.  

Gross revenues and reimbursements for fiscal years 
2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, were: 

(In thousands) 

Fiscal Years 
2015 

2014 

2016 

Gross revenues 
Less: Subcontractor fees    
  Revenues 

$ 322,293  $ 320,404  $ 313,723 
9,019 
   315,076     312,832     304,704 

7,217    

7,572    

Reimbursements: 
  Out-of-pocket 

reimbursements 

5,474    

5,967    

5,862 

  Other outside  

    direct expenses 

Revenues before 

   10,405     11,160    
9,633 
   15,879     17,127     15,495 

reimbursements 

 $ 299,197   $ 295,705   $ 289,209 

Significant  management  judgments  and  estimates 
must  be  made  in  connection  with  the  revenues 
in  any  accounting  period.  These 
recognized 
judgments  and  estimates  include  an  assessment  of 
collectability  and,  for  fixed-price  engagements,  an 
estimate as to the total effort required to complete the 
project. If the Company made different judgments or 
utilized different estimates, the amount and timing of 
its  revenue  for  any  period  could  be  materially 
different.  

All  consulting  contracts  are  subject  to  review  by 
management, which requires a positive assessment of 
the  collectability  of  contract  amounts.  If,  during  the 

44 

in 

course of the contract,  the Company determines that 
collection  of  revenue  is  not  reasonably  assured,  it 
does  not  recognize  the  revenue  until  its  collection 
becomes 
those 
reasonably  assured,  which 
situations  would  generally  be  upon  receipt  of  cash. 
The  Company  assesses  collectability  based  on  a 
number  of  factors,  including  past  transaction  history 
with the client, as well as the credit-worthiness of the 
client. Losses on fixed-price contracts are recognized 
during  the  period  in  which  the  loss  first  becomes 
evident.  Contract  losses  are  determined  to  be  the 
amount  by  which  the  estimated  total  costs  of  the 
contract exceeds the total fixed price of the contract. 

Foreign Currency Translation  
The  Company  translates  the  assets  and  liabilities  of 
foreign subsidiaries, whose functional currency is the 
local  currency,  at  exchange  rates  in  effect  at  the 
balance  sheet  date.  Revenues  and  expenses  are 
translated at the average rates of exchange prevailing 
during  the  year.  The  adjustment  resulting  from 
translating  the  financial  statements  of  such  foreign 
in  accumulated  other 
subsidiaries 
comprehensive  income,  which  is  reflected  as  a 
separate component of stockholders’ equity.  

included 

is 

Cash Equivalents 
Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments 
such  as  money  market  mutual  funds,  commercial 
paper  and  debt  securities  with  original  remaining 
maturities  of  three  months  or  less  from  the  date  of 
purchase. 

Short-term Investments 
Short-term  investments  consist  of  debt  securities 
classified as available-for-sale and are carried at their 
fair  value  as  of  the  balance  sheet  date.  Short-term 
investments  generally  mature  between  three  months 
and  three  years  from  the  purchase  date.  Investments 
with  maturities  beyond  one  year  are  classified  as 
short-term  based  on  their  highly  liquid  nature  and 
because 
represent 
investments readily available for current operations.  

such  marketable 

securities 

The  amortized  cost  of  securities  is  adjusted  for 
amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts 
to maturity. Such amortization is included in interest 
income.  Realized  gains  or  losses  are  determined  on 
the specific identification method and are reflected in 
other  income.  Net  unrealized  gains  and  losses  are 
recorded 
other 
in 
comprehensive  income  except  for  unrealized  losses 
that  are  deemed  to  be  other-than-temporary,  which 
are reflected in net income. 

accumulated 

directly 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
investments 

Investments  are  reviewed  on  a  regular  basis  to 
evaluate whether or not any security has experienced 
an  other-than  temporary  decline  in  fair  value.  When 
assessing 
for  other-than-temporary 
declines  in  fair  value,  the  Company  considers  the 
significance of the decline in value as a percentage of 
the  original  cost,  how  long  the  market  value  of  the 
investment  has  been  less  than  its  original  cost,  any 
news  that  has  been  released  specific  to  the  investee, 
and  the  Company’s  intent  to  sell,  or  whether  it  is 
more  likely  than  not  it  will  be  required  to  sell  the 
investment  before  recovery  of  the  investment’s  cost 
basis. 

Allowances  for  Contract  Losses  and  Doubtful 
Accounts  
The  Company  maintains  allowances  for  estimated 
losses  resulting  from  the  inability  of  customers  to 
meet  their  financial  obligations  or  for  disputes  that 
affect the Company’s ability to fully collect amounts 
due.  In  circumstances  where  the  Company  is  aware 
of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial 
obligations  or  aware  of  a  dispute  with  a  specific 
customer, a  specific allowance is recorded to reduce 
the  net  recognized  receivable  to  the  amount  the 
Company  reasonably  believes  will  be  collected.  For 
recognizes 
all  other  customers 
the  Company 
for  doubtful  accounts  based  upon 
allowances 
concentration, 
historical  write-offs, 
customer 
economic 
conditions,  aging  of  amounts  due  and  changes  in 
customer payment terms. 

credit-worthiness, 

customer 

current 

Property, Equipment and Leasehold 
Improvements 
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements are 
stated  at  cost  less  accumulated  depreciation  and 
amortization.  Depreciation  and  amortization  are 
recognized  using  the  straight-line  method.  Buildings 
are  depreciated  over  their  estimated  useful  lives 
ranging  from  thirty  to  forty  years.  Equipment  is 
depreciated  over  its  estimated  useful  life,  which 
generally ranges from two to seven years. Leasehold 
improvements are amortized over the shorter of their 
estimated  useful  lives,  generally  seven  years,  or  the 
term of the related lease. 

events  or 

long-lived  assets 
changes 

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets  
for 
The  Company  evaluates 
impairment  whenever 
in 
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an 
asset  may  not  be  recoverable.  Recoverability  of 
assets  to  be  held  and  used  is  measured  by  a 
comparison  of  the  carrying  amount  of  the  assets  to 
future undiscounted cash flows to be generated by the 
asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the 

45 

impairment  to  be  recognized  is  measured  as  the 
amount  by  which  the  carrying  amount  of  the  assets 
exceeds  the  fair  value  of  the  assets.  The  Company 
has  not  recognized  impairment  losses  on  any  long-
lived assets in fiscal years 2016, 2015 or 2014. 

the 

to  perform 

Goodwill 
The  Company  assesses  the  impairment  of  goodwill 
annually  and  whenever  events  or  changes 
in 
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may 
be 
impaired.  The  Company’s  annual  goodwill 
impairment  review  is  completed  during  the  fourth 
quarter  of  each  year.  The  Company  evaluates 
goodwill  for  each  reporting  unit  for  impairment  by 
assessing  qualitative  factors  to  determine  whether  it 
is  necessary 
two-step  goodwill 
impairment  test.  The  Company  considers  events  and 
circumstances, 
to, 
including  but  not 
industry  and  market 
macroeconomic  conditions, 
factors,  overall 
considerations, 
financial 
performance,  changes 
in  management  or  key 
personnel, changes in strategy, changes in customers, 
a change in the composition or carrying amount of a 
reporting unit’s net assets and changes in the price of 
its  common  stock.  If,  after  assessing  the  totality  of 
events  or  circumstances,  the  Company  determines 
that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a 
reporting  unit  is  greater  than  its  carrying  amount, 
then  the  two-step  goodwill  impairment  test  is  not 
performed.  

limited 

cost 

If  the  two-step  goodwill  test  is  performed,  the 
Company determines the existence of impairment by 
assessing  the  fair  value  of  the  applicable  reporting 
unit,  including  goodwill,  using  expected  future  cash 
flows  to  be  generated  by  the  reporting  unit.  If  the 
carrying  amount  of  a  reporting  unit  exceeds  its  fair 
value,  an  impairment  loss  is  recognized  for  any 
excess of the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s 
goodwill over the implied fair value of the goodwill. 
The  implied  fair  value  of  goodwill  is  determined  by 
allocating  the  fair  value  of  the  reporting  unit  in  a 
manner  similar  to  a  purchase  price  allocation.  The 
residual fair value after this allocation is the implied 
value of the reporting unit goodwill.  

the 

The Company completed its annual assessment for all 
reporting  units  with  goodwill  for  fiscal  2016  and 
the 
determined,  after  assessing 
qualitative factors, that it is more likely than not that 
the fair value of each reporting unit is greater than its 
respective  carrying  amount.  Accordingly  there  was 
no  indication  of  impairment  of  goodwill  for  any  of 
the  Company’s  reporting  units  and  the  two-step 
goodwill  impairment  test  was  not  performed.  The 

totality  of 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Company did not recognize any goodwill impairment 
losses in fiscal years 2016, 2015 or 2014.  

Deferred Revenues 
Deferred revenues represent amounts billed to clients 
in advance of services provided.  

Income Taxes 
Income  taxes  are  accounted  for  under  the  asset  and 
liability  method.  Deferred  tax  assets  and  liabilities 
are  recognized  for  the  expected  tax  consequences  of 
temporary  differences  between  the  tax  basis  and  the 
financial  reporting  basis  of  assets  and  liabilities. 
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using 
the  enacted  tax  rates  and  laws  in  effect  when  the 
differences  are  expected  to  reverse.  The  effect  on 
deferred tax assets and liabilities from changes in tax 
rates  is  recognized  in  income  in  the  period  that 
includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is 
recorded  for  deferred  tax  assets  if  it  is  more  likely 
than  not  that  some  portion  or  all  of  the  deferred  tax 
assets  will  not  be  realized.  U.S.  income  taxes  are 
provided  on  the  earnings  of  foreign  subsidiaries 
unless  the  subsidiaries’  earnings  are  considered 
permanently reinvested outside the U.S. An uncertain 
tax position is recognized if it is determined that it is 
to  be  sustained  upon 
more 
examination.  The  tax  position  is  measured  as  the 
largest  amount  of  benefit  that  is  greater  than  fifty 
percent 
likely  of  being  realized  upon  ultimate 
settlement.  The  Company’s  policy  is  to  recognize 
interest  and  penalties  related  to  unrecognized  tax 
benefits as income tax expense. Accrued interest and 
penalties are insignificant at December 30, 2016 and 
January 1, 2016. 

than  not 

likely 

short-term 

investments, 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments 
Financial  instruments  consist  of  cash  and  cash 
equivalents, 
accounts 
receivable,  other  assets  and  accounts  payable.  Cash, 
cash  equivalents  and  short-term  investments  are 
recorded  at  fair  value.  The  carrying  amount  of  the 
Company’s  accounts  receivable,  other  assets  and 
accounts  payable  approximates  their  fair  values  due 
to their short maturities. 

Stock-Based Compensation 
Stock-based  compensation  is  measured  at  the  grant 
date  based  on  the  fair  value  of  the  award  and  is 
recognized  as  expense  on  a  straight-line  basis  over 
the  requisite  service  period  of  the  entire  award.  The 
Company  estimates  the  number  of  awards  that  are 
expected  to  vest  and  revises  the  estimate  as  actual 
forfeitures  differ  from 
that  estimate.  Estimated 
forfeiture rates are based on the Company’s historical 
experience. 

46 

Net Income Per Share 
Basic  per  share  amounts  are  computed  using  the 
weighted-average  number  of 
shares 
outstanding  during  the  period.  Dilutive  per  share 
amounts  are  computed  using  the  weighted-average 
shares  outstanding  and 
number  of  common 
potentially dilutive securities, using the treasury stock 
method if their effect would be dilutive. 

common 

The  following  schedule  reconciles  the  denominators 
of  the  Company’s  calculation  for  basic  and  diluted 
net income per share: 

(In thousands) 

Shares used in basic 

Fiscal Years 
2015 

2016 

2014 

per share computation 

  26,488    26,606    26,910 

Effect of dilutive common 

stock options outstanding 

124    

135    

136 

Effect of unvested restricted  
stock units outstanding 

Shares used in diluted 

554    

557    

620 

per share computation 

  27,166    27,298    27,666 

There  were  no  equity  awards  excluded  from  the 
diluted  per  share  calculation  for  fiscal  years  2016, 
2015 and 2014.  

intended 

(“ASU”)  No. 

  ASU  No.  2016-09 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncement. 
 On  March  30,  2016,  the  Financial  Accounting 
issued  Accounting 
(“FASB”) 
Standards  Board 
Standard  Update 
2016-09, 
Improvements  to  Employee  Share-Based  Payment 
Accounting,  which  amends  Accounting  Standard 
Codification  Topic  718,  Compensation  –  Stock 
Compensation. 
includes 
provisions 
to  simplify  various  aspects 
related  to  how  share-based  payments  are  accounted 
for and presented in the financial statements.  Under 
ASU No. 2016-09, entities will record all excess tax 
benefits and tax deficiencies as an income tax benefit 
or  expense  in  the  income  statement.    Prior  to  ASU 
No. 2016-09, excess tax benefits  were recognized in 
the  balance  sheet.  
additional  paid-in-capital  on 
Under ASU No. 2016-09, excess tax benefits will be 
classified as an operating activity in the statement of 
cash  flows.    Prior  to  ASU  No.  2016-09,  excess  tax 
benefits were classified as a financing activity in the 
statement  of  cash  flows.    Under  ASU  No.  2016-09, 
entities  will also elect an accounting policy to either 
estimate  the  number  of  forfeitures  of  share-based 
awards  or  account  for  forfeitures  when  they  occur.  
Prior to ASU No. 2016-09, entities  were required to 
estimate  forfeitures.    In  addition,  ASU  No.  2016-09 
allows  entities  to  withhold  from  employees  upon 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
exercise  or  settlement  of  share-based  awards  up  to 
the  maximum  individual  statutory  tax  rate  without 
classifying the awards as a liability. 

ASU  No.  2016-09  is  effective  for  public  business 
entities  for  annual  reporting  periods  beginning  after 
December  15,  2016,  and  interim  periods  within  that 
reporting  period.  Early  adoption  is  permitted  in  any 
interim  or  annual  period,  with  any  adjustments 
reflected  as  of  the  beginning  of  the  fiscal  year  of 
adoption.  The Company elected to early adopt ASU 
No. 2016-09 as of the beginning of its first quarter of 
fiscal 2016. 

During fiscal 2016, the Company recorded an excess 
tax benefit of $4,827,000 as an income tax benefit in 
the  consolidated  statement  of  income  and  classified 
this excess tax benefit as an operating activity in the 
consolidated statement of cash flows.  Excluding the 
excess  tax  benefit,  net  income  would  have  been 
$42,653,000  and  diluted  earnings  per  share  would 
have  been  $1.57  per  share  during  fiscal  2016.    The 
recognition  of  excess  tax  benefits  and  deficiencies 
was applied prospectively and thus prior periods were 
not  adjusted.    The  formula  for  calculating  diluted 
earnings  per  share  under  the  treasury  stock  method 
no  longer  includes  the  estimated  excess  tax  benefits 
that were recorded in additional paid-in capital.  The 
impact  of  the  adoption  of  ASU  No.  2016-09  had  an 
immaterial 
impact  on  weighted  average  diluted 
shares outstanding during fiscal 2016.   

the  Company  elected 

In  connection  with  the  early  adoption  of  ASU  No. 
2016-09, 
to  account  for 
forfeitures  of  share-based  awards  when  they  occur.  
This  election  is  applied  prospectively  and  thus  prior 
periods were not adjusted.  An adjustment of $78,000 
was  made  fiscal  2016  to  reduce  beginning  retained 
earnings for estimated forfeitures previously recorded 
on  outstanding  share-based  awards.    The  election  to 
account  for  forfeitures  of  share-based  awards  when 
they  occur  did  not  have  a  material  impact  on  stock-
based compensation expense during fiscal 2016. 

Recent  Accounting  Pronouncements  Not  Yet 
Effective. 
On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-
09,  Revenue  from  Contracts  with  Customers,  which 
requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue 
to  which  it  expects  to  be  entitled  for  the  transfer  of 
promised  goods  or  services  to  customers.  The  ASU 
will  replace  most  existing  revenue  recognition 
guidance  in  U.S.  generally  accepted  accounting 
principles (“GAAP”) when it becomes effective. The 
new standard is effective for the Company on the first 
day  of  fiscal  2018  (December  30,  2017).  The  two 

47 

permitted transition methods under the new standard 
are  the  full  retrospective  method,  in  which  case  the 
standard  would  be  applied  to  each  prior  reporting 
period  presented,  or 
the  modified  retrospective 
method,  in  which  case  the  cumulative  effect  of 
applying the standard would be recognized at the date 
of initial application. 

During  2016,  the  Company  made  progress  toward 
completing  an  evaluation  of  the  potential  changes 
from  adopting  the  new  standard  on  future  financial 
reporting and disclosures. The impact of adopting the 
new  standard  is  not  expected  to  be  material  because 
the  analysis  of  the  Company’s  contracts  under  the 
new  revenue  recognition  standard  supports 
the 
recognition of revenue over time, which is consistent 
with  the  Company’s  current  revenue  recognition 
model. 

Substantially  all  of  the  Company’s  engagements  are 
performed  under  time  and  material  or  fixed-price 
arrangements.    For  time  and  materials  contracts  the 
Company anticipates utilizing the practical expedient 
under the ASU which states, if an entity has a right to 
consideration  from  a  customer  in  an  amount  that 
corresponds  directly  with  the  value  of  the  entity’s 
performance  completed  to  date  (for  example,  a 
service  contract  in  which  an  entity  bills  a  fixed 
amount for each hour or service provided), the entity 
may  recognize  revenue  in  the  amount  to  which  the 
entity  has  a  right  to  invoice.  Application  of  the 
practical  expedient  to  time  and  material  contracts  is 
consistent  with 
the  Company’s  current  revenue 
recognition policy. 

For fixed price contracts the Company will recognize 
revenue  over  time  under  the  ASU  because  of  the 
continuous  transfer  of  control  to  the  customer.    The 
customer  typically  controls  the  work  in  process  as 
evidenced  either  by  contractual  termination  clauses 
or  by  the  Company’s  rights  to  payment  for  work 
performed to date to deliver services that do not have 
an alternative use to the Company. Input methods are 
an acceptable method of measuring progress towards 
completing  under  the  ASU.  This  is  consistent  with 
the Company’s current policy of measuring progress 
towards  completion  based  on  the  relationship  of 
incurred  labor  hours  at  standard  rates  to  its  estimate 
of the total labor hours at standard rates it expects to 
incur  over  the  term  of  the  contract.    The  Company 
believes 
reliable 
this  methodology  achieves  a 
measure  of  the  revenue  from  the  consulting  services 
it  provides  to  its  customers  under  fixed  price 
contracts. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
financial 

which  requires  application  of  the  guidance  for  all 
periods  presented.   The  Company  is  evaluating  the 
effect  that  ASU  No.  2016-02  will  have  on  its 
consolidated 
related 
disclosures.   The  Company  has  not  yet  selected  a 
transition  method nor has it determined the effect of 
the standard on its ongoing  financial reporting.  The 
standard  will  require  the  Company  to  record  a  right 
of  use  asset  and  a  lease  liability  that  will  materially 
gross up its balance sheet.    

statements 

and 

The Company anticipates adopting the standard using 
the  modified  retrospective  method.  The  Company  is 
currently  evaluating  the  required  disclosures  under 
the new standard and developing appropriate changes 
to its process, systems and controls. 

On  February  25,  2016,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  No. 
2016-02, Leases, which requires lessees to recognize 
most leases on their balance sheet.  The new standard 
will be effective for the Company on the first day of 
fiscal  2019  (December  29,  2018).   Early  adoption  is 
permitted.  The standard requires use of the modified 
retrospective  transition  method,  with  elective  relief, 

48 

 
 
 
Note 2: Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments  

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments consisted of the following as of December 30, 2016: 

(In thousands) 

Classified as current assets: 
  Cash 

  Cash equivalents: 

  Money market securities 
  Total cash equivalents 

  Total cash and cash equivalents 

  Short-term investments: 

  U.S. Agency securities 

  Total short-term investments 

Total cash, cash equivalents 
  and short-term investments 

Amortized   Unrealized  Unrealized  Estimated 
Fair Value 

Losses 

Gains 

Cost 

  $  93,049 

  $ 

- 

  $ 

- 

  $  93,049 

21,918 
21,918 
  114,967 

59,000 
59,000 

- 
- 
- 

- 
- 

- 
- 
- 

21,918 
21,918 
    114,967 

(245) 
(245) 

58,755 
58,755 

  $ 173,967 

  $ 

- 

  $ 

(245) 

  $ 173,722 

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments consisted of the following as of January 1, 2016: 

(In thousands) 

Classified as current assets: 
  Cash 

  Cash equivalents: 

  Money market securities 
  Total cash equivalents 

  Total cash and cash equivalents 

  Short-term investments: 

  U.S. Agency securities 
  State and municipal bonds 

  Total short-term investments 

Total cash, cash equivalents 
  and short-term investments 

Amortized   Unrealized  Unrealized  Estimated 
Fair Value 

Losses 

Gains 

Cost 

  $ 115,221 

  $ 

- 

  $ 

- 

  $ 115,221 

10,530 
10,530 
  125,751 

41,946 
4,002 
45,948 

- 
- 
- 

1 
- 
1 

- 
- 
- 

10,530 
10,530 
    125,751 

(106) 
(1) 
(107) 

41,841 
4,001 
45,842 

  $ 171,699 

  $ 

1 

  $ 

(107) 

  $ 171,593 

49 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 3:  Fair Value Measurements 

The Company measures certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis, including available-
for-sale fixed income securities, trading fixed income and equity securities held in its deferred compensation plan 
and  the  liability  associated  with  its  deferred  compensation  plan.  There  have  been  no  transfers  between  fair  value 
measurement levels during fiscal years 2016, 2015 and 2014. Any transfers between fair value measurement levels 
would be recorded on the actual date of the event or change in circumstances that caused the transfer. The fair value 
of these certain financial assets and liabilities was determined using the following inputs at December 30, 2016 (in 
thousands):  

Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using 

Quoted Prices in 
Active Markets for 
Identical Assets 
(Level 1) 

Significant Other 
Observable Inputs 
(Level 2) 

Significant 
Unobservable 
Inputs 
(Level 3) 

Total 

Assets 
Money market  
securities (1) 

Fixed income available  
for sale securities (2) 

Fixed income trading 
securities held in deferred 
compensation plan (3) 

Equity trading securities 
held in deferred 
compensation plan (3) 

  $ 

21,918 

  $   

21,918 

  $   

- 

  $   

58,755 

- 

58,755 

11,872 

11,872 

36,395 

36,395 

- 

- 

  Total 

  $    128,940 

  $   

70,185 

  $   

58,755 

  $   

Liabilities 
Deferred compensation 
plan (4) 

53,617 

53,617 

  Total 

  $   

53,617 

  $   

53,617 

  $   

- 

- 

  $   

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

(1)  Included in cash and cash equivalents on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.  
(2)  Included in short-term investments on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.  
(3)  Included in other current assets and deferred compensation plan assets on the Company’s consolidated balance 

sheet.  

(4)  Included in accrued liabilities and deferred compensation on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.  

50 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The fair value of these certain financial assets and liabilities was determined using the following inputs at January 1, 
2016 (in thousands):  

Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using 

Quoted Prices in 
Active Markets for 
Identical Assets 
(Level 1) 

Significant Other 
Observable Inputs 
(Level 2) 

Significant 
Unobservable 
Inputs 
(Level 3) 

Total 

Assets 
Money market  
securities (1) 

Fixed income available  
for sale securities (2) 

Fixed income trading 
securities held in deferred 
compensation plan (3) 

Equity trading securities 
held in deferred 
compensation plan (3) 

  $ 

10,530 

  $   

10,530 

  $   

- 

  $   

45,842 

- 

45,842 

9,295 

9,295 

33,645 

33,645 

- 

- 

  Total 

  $   

99,312 

  $   

53,470 

  $   

45,842 

  $   

Liabilities 
Deferred compensation 
plan (4) 

46,740 

46,740 

  Total 

  $   

46,740 

  $   

46,740 

  $   

- 

- 

  $   

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

(1)  Included in cash and cash equivalents on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.  
(2)  Included in short-term investments on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.  
(3)  Included in other current assets and deferred compensation plan assets on the Company’s consolidated balance 

sheet.  

(4)  Included in accrued liabilities and deferred compensation on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.  

Fixed  income  available-for-sale  securities  as  of  December  30,  2016  and  January  1,  2016  represent  primarily 
obligations  of  United  States  agencies  and  state  and  local  government  agencies.  Fixed  income  and  equity  trading 
securities  represent  mutual  funds  held  in  the  Company’s  deferred  compensation  plan.  See  Note  11  for  additional 
information about the Company’s deferred compensation plan. 

The following table summarizes the cost and estimated fair value of short-term fixed income securities classified as 
short-term investments based on remaining effective maturities as of December 30, 2016: 

(In thousands) 

Due within one year 
Due between one and two years 

Total 

Amortized  
Cost 

$ 

$ 

16,000 
43,000 
59,000 

Estimated 
Fair Value 

$  15,992 
42,763 
$  58,755 

51 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At  December  30,  2016  and  January  1,  2016,  the  Company  did  not  have  any  assets  or  liabilities  valued  using 
significant unobservable inputs. 

The following financial instruments are not measured at fair value on the Company's consolidated balance sheet at 
December  30,  2016,  but  require  disclosure  of  their  fair  values:  accounts  receivable,  other  assets  and  accounts 
payable. The estimated fair  value of such instruments at December 30, 2016 approximates their carrying  value as 
reported on the consolidated balance sheet.  

There were no other-than-temporary impairments or credit losses related to available-for-sale securities during fiscal 
years 2016, 2015 and 2014. 

Note 4: Property, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements 

(In thousands) 

Property: 
  Land 
  Buildings  
  Construction in progress 
Equipment: 
  Machinery and equipment 
  Office furniture and equipment 
Leasehold improvements 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization 

Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net 

Fiscal Years 

2016 

2015 

$ 11,888 
  37,883 
67 

  40,440 
9,669 
  14,464 
 114,411 

  77,701 

$ 36,710 

$  4,450 
  35,817 
1,457 

  37,520 
7,824 
  13,580 
 100,648 

  72,163 

$ 28,485 

Depreciation  and  amortization  for  fiscal  years  2016, 2015  and  2014  was  $6,131,000,  $5,479,000  and  $5,404,000, 
respectively. 

Note 5: Goodwill 

Below is a breakdown of goodwill, reported by segment as of December 30, 2016 and January 1, 2016: 

(In thousands) 

Goodwill 

Environmental 
and Health 

  Engineering and   
  Other Scientific   

Total 

$  8,099 

$ 

508 

$  8,607 

There  were  no  changes  in  the  carrying  amount  of  goodwill  for  fiscal  years  2016,  2015  and  2014.  There  were  no 
goodwill impairments or gains or losses on disposals for any portion of the Company’s reporting units during fiscal 
years 2016, 2015 and 2014. 

52 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
  
   
  
   
 
   
  
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 6: Other Significant Balance Sheet 
Components 

Total income tax expense for fiscal years 2016, 2015 
and 2014 consisted of the following: 

(In thousands) 

2016 

Fiscal Years 
2015 

2014 

Current 
  Federal 
  Foreign 
  State 

Deferred 
  Federal 
  State 

Total  

  $ 18,877 
1,085 
4,282 
    24,244 

  $ 25,081 
1,385 
4,895 
    31,361 

  $ 26,647 
896 
5,798 
    33,341 

(555)     

    (2,047) 

    (3,411) 
(416) 
    (2,602)      (3,827) 
  $ 27,534 
  $ 21,642 

    (5,059) 
    (1,018) 
    (6,077) 
  $ 27,264 

The  Company’s  effective  tax  rate  differs  from  the 
statutory  federal  tax  rate  of  35%  as  shown  in  the 
following schedule: 

(In thousands) 

Fiscal Years 
2015 

2014 

2016 

2,910 
(23) 
261 

2,423 
(7) 
274 

Tax at federal statutory rate  $24,193  $24,897  $23,788 
State taxes, net of federal 
  benefit 
Tax exempt interest income 
Non-deductible expenses 
Non-deductible 
  stock-based compensation 
Excess tax benefit from 
  equity incentive plans  
Difference between statutory 
rate and foreign effective 
tax rate 

3,226 
(44) 
289 

(4,321) 

(42) 

11 

- 

- 

- 

(889) 
(42) 

(174) 
179 
$21,642  $27,534  $27,264 

(897) 
428 

Other 
  Tax expense 

Effective tax rate 

   31.3%     38.7%     40.1% 

Account receivable, net 

(In thousands) 

Billed accounts receivable 
Unbilled accounts receivable 
Allowance for contract losses 
  and doubtful accounts 
  Total accounts  

Fiscal Years 

2016 

2015 

  $ 60,510 
    30,316 

  $ 62,360 
    29,009 

    (3,417) 

    (2,792) 

receivable, net 

  $ 87,409 

  $ 88,577 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 

(In thousands) 

Fiscal Years 

2016 

2015 

Accounts payable 
Accrued liabilities 
  Total accounts payable and 
  other accrued liabilities 

  $  3,193 
6,880 

  $  3,622 
6,958 

  $ 10,073 

  $ 10,580 

Accrued payroll and employee benefits 

(In thousands) 

Accrued bonuses payable 
Accrued 401(k) contributions 
Accrued vacation 
Deferred compensation 
Other accrued payroll  
  and employee benefits 
  Total accrued payroll and 
  employee benefits 

Fiscal Years 

2016 

2015 

  $ 37,120 
7,440 
9,177 
7,114 

  $ 38,042 
7,323 
8,836 
6,418 

1,688 

1,473 

  $ 62,539 

  $ 62,092 

Other accrued payroll and employee benefits consist 
primarily  of  accrued  wages,  payroll 
taxes  and 
disability  insurance  programs.  A  portion  of  accrued 
bonuses  payable  will  be  settled  by  issuing  fully 
vested restricted stock units. See Note 9 and Note 15 
for additional information. 

Note 7: Income Taxes 

Income  before  income  taxes  includes  income  from 
foreign  operations  of  $5,616,000,  $6,656,000  and 
$4,157,000  for  fiscal  years  2016,  2015  and  2014, 
respectively. 

53 

 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise 
to  significant  portions  of  the  deferred  tax  assets  and 
deferred  tax  liabilities  at  December  30,  2016  and 
January  1,  2016  are  presented  in  the  following 
schedule: 

non-United  States  income  tax  examination  by  tax 
authorities for years prior to 2012.  

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount 
of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows: 

(In thousands) 

Deferred tax assets: 
  Accrued liabilities 
  and allowances 

  Deferred compensation 
  Other 
Total deferred tax assets 

Fiscal Years 

2016 

2015 

  $  18,335 
    30,603 
97 
    49,035 

  $  17,780 
    27,425 
43 
    45,248 

Deferred tax liabilities: 
  State taxes 
  Deductible goodwill 
  Property, equipment and 

leasehold improvements 
  Unrealized gain of deferred 
  compensation plan assets 

Total deferred tax liabilities 
Net deferred tax assets 

(1,958) 
(3,075) 

(1,850) 
(3,014) 

(195) 

(205) 

(1,641) 
(6,869) 
  $  42,166  

(723) 
(5,792) 
  $  39,456  

results  of 

Management  believes  it  is  more  likely  than  not  that 
the 
future  operations  will  generate 
sufficient  taxable  income  to  realize  the  net  deferred 
tax assets. 

The  Company  is  entitled  to  a  deduction  for  federal 
and  state  tax  purposes  with  respect  to  employees’ 
stock  award  activity.  The  net  deduction  in  taxes 
otherwise  payable  arising  from  that  deduction  has 
been recorded as an income tax benefit for fiscal year 
2016  in  accordance  with  the  early  adoption  of  ASU 
No.  2016-09.    See  “Note  1:  Recently  Adopted 
Accounting  Pronouncements”  of  our  Notes 
to 
Consolidated  Financial  Statements  for  additional 
information.  The  net  deduction  in  taxes  otherwise 
payable  arising  from  that  deduction  was  credited  to 
additional  paid-in  capital  for  fiscal  years  2015  and 
2014.  For  fiscal  years  2016,  2015  and  2014,  the  net 
deduction  in  tax  payable  arising  from  employees’ 
stock award activity was $4,827,000, $6,396,000 and 
$5,100,000, respectively. 

The  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  file  income  tax 
returns  in  the  United  States  federal  jurisdiction, 
California  and  various  other  state  and  foreign 
jurisdictions.  The  Company  is  no  longer  subject  to 
United  States  federal  income  tax  examination  for 
years  prior  to  2013.  The  Company  is  no  longer 
subject  to  California  franchise  tax  examinations  for 
years  prior  to  2012.  With  few  exceptions,  the 
Company  is  no  longer  subject  to  state  and  local  or 

Balance at January 2, 2015 
Additions based on tax positions 
  related to the current year 
Additions for tax positions  
  of prior years 
Reductions due to lapse of   
  statute of limitations 
Reductions due to change in   
  accounting method 
Settlements 

Balance at January 1, 2016 
Additions based on tax positions 
  related to the current year 
Additions for tax positions  
  of prior years 
Reductions due to lapse of   
  statute of limitations 
Reductions due to change in   
  accounting method 
Settlements 

$  1,546,000 

406,000 

80,000 

(154,000) 

- 
- 

$  1,878,000 

502,000 

6,000 

(430,000) 

- 
- 

Balance at December 30, 2016 

$  1,956,000 

Unrecognized  tax  benefits  are  included  in  other 
liabilities in the accompanying balance sheet. To the 
extent these  unrecognized tax benefits are ultimately 
recognized, they will impact the effective tax rate by 
$1,347,000 in a future period. There are no uncertain 
tax positions whose resolution in the next 12 months 
is expected to materially affect operating results.  

Deferred income taxes have not been provided on the 
undistributed  earnings  of  foreign  subsidiaries  in  the 
United  Kingdom,  Germany,  China  and  Hong  Kong. 
The  amount  of  such  earnings  at  December  30,  2016 
was  $11,783,000.  These  earnings  have  been 
permanently  reinvested  and  the  Company  does  not 
plan  to  initiate  any  action  that  would  precipitate  the 
payment  of  income  taxes  thereon.  The  unrecognized 
deferred tax liability for these earnings is estimated to 
be approximately $2,368,000.  

Note 8: Stockholders’ Equity 

Preferred Stock 
The  Company  has  authorized  2,000,000  shares  of 
undesignated  preferred  stock  with  a  par  value  of 
$0.001  per  share.  None  of  the  preferred  shares  were 

54 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
issued  and  outstanding  at  December  30,  2016  and 
January 1, 2016. 

Dividends 
The  Company  declared  and  paid  cash  dividends  per 
common  share  during  the  periods  presented  as 
follows: 

First Quarter 
Second Quarter 
Third Quarter 
Fourth Quarter 

First Quarter 
Second Quarter 
Third Quarter 
Fourth Quarter 

Fiscal Year 2016 

Dividends 
Per Share 
$  0.18 
$  0.18 
$  0.18 
$  0.18 

Amount 
(in thousands) 
  $  4,628 
4,675 
4,659 
4,607 
  $  18,569  

Fiscal Year 2015 

Dividends 
Per Share 
$  0.15 
$  0.15 
$  0.15 
$  0.15 

Amount 
(in thousands) 
  $  3,858 
3,887 
3,870 
3,867 
  $  15,482  

On  February  1,  2017  the  Company’s  Board  of 
Directors  announced  a  cash  dividend  of  $0.21  per 
share  of  the  Company’s  common  stock,  payable 
March  24,  2017,  to  stockholders  of  record  as  of 
March  3,  2017.  The  Company  expects  to  continue 
paying  quarterly  dividends  in  the  future,  subject  to 
declaration by the Company’s Board of Directors. 

Treasury Stock 
Net losses related to the re-issuance of treasury stock 
to settle restricted stock unit and stock option awards 
of  $5,791,000,  $4,943,000  and  $6,050,000  were 
recorded  as  a  reduction  to  retained  earnings  during 
fiscal 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. 

Repurchase of Common Stock  
The  Company  repurchased  491,000  shares  of  its 
common  stock  for  $24,456,000  during  fiscal  year 
2016.  The  Company  repurchased  530,000  shares  of 
its common stock for $23,314,000 during fiscal year 
2015.  The  Company  repurchased  850,000  shares  of 
its common stock for $30,921,000 during fiscal year 
2014.  On  October  18,  2016  the  Board  of  Directors 
authorized  $35,000,000 
repurchase  of 
Exponent’s common stock. On October 20, 2015 the 
Board  of  Directors  authorized  $35,000,000  for  the 
repurchase  of  Exponent’s  common  stock.  On  May 
the  Board  of  Directors  authorized 
29,  2014 
$35,000,000  for 
the  repurchase  of  Exponent’s 
common  stock.  These  repurchase  programs  have  no 

the 

for 

expiration  dates.  As  of  December  30,  2016,  the 
Company had remaining authorization under its stock 
repurchase plan of $57,307,000 to repurchase shares 
of common stock.  

Note 9: Stock-Based Compensation 

On  May 29,  2008,  the  Company’s  stockholders 
approved  the  2008  Equity  Incentive  Plan  and  the 
2008  Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan  (“ESPP”).  The 
2008  Equity 
Incentive  Plan  and  ESPP  were 
previously  adopted  by  the  Company’s  Board  of 
Directors  on  April 8,  2008,  subject  to  stockholder 
approval.  Upon  stockholder  approval  of  the  2008 
Equity  Incentive  Plan  and  ESPP  each  of 
the 
following  plans  were  terminated:  the  1999  Stock 
Option  Plan,  the  Restricted  Stock  Award  Plan,  the 
1998  Stock  Option  Plan  and  the  Employee  Stock 
Purchase Plan established in 1992. 

The 2008 Equity Incentive Plan allows for the award 
of stock options, stock awards (including stock units, 
stock  grants  and  stock  appreciation  rights  or  other 
similar  equity  awards)  and  cash  awards  to  officers, 
employees,  consultants  and  non-employee  members 
of the Board of Directors. The total number of shares 
reserved for issuance under the 2008 Equity Incentive 
Plan was 4,828,150 shares of common stock, subject 
to  adjustment  resulting  from  a  stock  split  or  the 
payment of a stock dividend or any other increase or 
decrease  in  the  number  of  issued  shares  of  the 
receipt  of 
Company’s  stock  effected  without 
consideration  by  the  Company.  As  of  December  30, 
2016,  709,918  shares  were  available  for  grant  under 
the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan. 

The  ESPP  allows  for  officers  and  employees  to 
purchase  common  stock  through  payroll  deductions 
of up to 15% of a participant’s eligible compensation. 
Shares  of  common  stock  are  purchased  under  the 
ESPP  at  95%  of  the  fair  market  value  of  the 
Company’s  common  stock  on  each  purchase  date. 
Subject  to  adjustment  resulting  from  a  stock  split  or 
the payment of a stock dividend or any other increase 
or  decrease  in  the  number  of  issued  shares  of  the 
Company’s  stock  effected  without 
receipt  of 
consideration  by  the  Company,  the  total  number  of 
shares  reserved  for  issuance  under  the  ESPP  was 
400,000  shares  of  common  stock.  As  of  December 
30,  2016,  43,123  shares  were  available  for  grant. 
Weighted  average  purchase  prices  for  shares  sold 
under  the  ESPP  plan  in  fiscal  2016,  2015  and  2014 
were $51.97, $43.88 and $35.68, respectively. 

55 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restricted Stock Units 
The  Company  grants  restricted  stock  units 
to 
employees  and  outside  directors.  These  restricted 
stock  unit  grants  are  designed  to  attract  and  retain 
employees,  and  to  better  align  employee  interests 
with  those  of  the  Company’s  stockholders.  For  a 
select group of employees, up to 40% of their annual 
bonus is settled with fully vested restricted stock unit 
awards. Under these fully vested restricted stock unit 
awards,  the  holder  of  each  award  has  the  right  to 
receive  one  share  of  the  Company’s  common  stock 
for  each  fully  vested  restricted  stock  unit  four  years 
from the date of grant. Each individual who received 
a fully vested restricted stock unit award is granted a 
matching  number  of  unvested  restricted  stock  unit 
awards.  These  unvested  restricted  stock  unit  awards 
cliff vest four years from the date of grant, at which 
time  the  holder  of  each  award  will  have  the  right  to 
receive  one  share  of  the  Company’s  common  stock 
for  each  restricted  stock  unit  award,  provided  the 
holder  of  each  award  has  met  certain  employment 
conditions. In the case of retirement at 59 ½ years or 
older,  all  unvested  restricted  stock  unit  awards  will 
continue  to  vest  provided  the  holder  of  each  award 
does  all  consulting  work  through  the  Company  and 
does  not  become  an  employee  for  a  past  or  present 
client, beneficial party or competitor of the Company. 

All  restricted  stock  units  granted  have  dividend 
equivalent  rights  (“DER”),  which  entitle  holders  of 
restricted stock  units  to the same dividend  value per 
share  as  holders  of  common  stock.  DER  are  subject 

to the same vesting and other terms and conditions as 
the  corresponding  unvested  RSUs.  DER  are 
accumulated  and  paid  in  additional  restricted  stock 
units  when  the  underlying  shares  vest  and  are 
forfeited if the underlying shares are forfeited. 

the  market  price  of 

The  value  of  these  restricted  stock  unit  awards  is 
determined  based  on 
the 
Company’s common  stock on the date of grant. The 
value  of  fully  vested  restricted  stock  unit  awards 
issued is recorded as a reduction to accrued bonuses. 
The  portion  of  bonus  expense  that  the  Company 
expects to settle with fully vested restricted stock unit 
awards  is  recorded  as  stock-based  compensation 
during the period the bonus is earned. For fiscal years 
2016,  2015  and  2014,  the  Company  recorded  stock-
based compensation expense associated with accrued 
bonus  awards  of  $6,181,000,  $6,341,000  and 
$6,287,000, respectively.  

The  Company  recorded  stock-based  compensation 
expense associated with the unvested restricted stock 
and 
awards  of  $6,583,000,  $6,066,000 
unit 
$6,103,000 during fiscal years 2016, 2015 and 2014, 
respectively.  The  total  fair  value  of  restricted  stock 
unit awards vested during fiscal years 2016, 2015 and 
2014  was  $18.5  million,  $18.6  million  and  $16.5 
million,  respectively.  The  weighted-average  grant 
date  fair  values  of  restricted  stock  unit  awards 
granted during fiscal years 2016, 2015 and 2014 were 
$48.29, $43.76 and $37.29, respectively. 

The number of unvested restricted stock unit awards outstanding as of December 30, 2016 is as follows (1): 

Number  Weighted-average 
of awards 
outstanding 

grant date 
fair value 

Weighted-average 
remaining 
contractual 
term (years) 

Aggregate 
 intrinsic value  
  (in thousands) (2) 

Balance as of January 1, 2016 
  Awards granted 
  Awards vested 
  Awards forfeited 

779,977 
302,672 
(384,822) 
(2,513) 

$  31.88 
48.29 
34.02 
39.26 

Balance as of December 30, 
2016 

695,314 

$  37.82 

1.5 

$  41,927 

(1) Does not include employee stock purchase plans or stock option plans.  
(2) The intrinsic value is calculated as the market value as of the end of the fiscal period. As reported by the NASDAQ Global    

Select Market, the market value as of December 30, 2016 was $60.30. 

56 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock Options 
The  Company  currently  grants  stock  options  under 
the  2008  Equity  Incentive  Plan.  Options  are  granted 
for terms of ten years and generally vest ratably over 
a four-year period from the grant date. The Company 
grants  options  at  exercise  prices  equal  to  the  fair 
value of the Company’s common stock on the date of 
grant.  All  stock  options  have  dividend  equivalent 
rights  (“DER”),  which  entitle  holders  of  stock 
options  to  the  same  dividend  value  per  share  as 

Option activity is as follows(1): 

holders  of  common  stock.  DER  are  subject  to  the 
same  vesting  terms  as  the  corresponding  stock 
options. DER are accumulated and paid in cash when 
the underlying stock options vest and are forfeited if 
the  underlying  stock  options  do  not  vest.  During 
fiscal  years  2016,  2015  and  2014,  the  Company 
recorded  stock-based  compensation  expense  of 
$569,000,  $552,000  and  $689,000,  respectively, 
associated with stock options. 

Number 
of shares 
outstanding 

Weighted- 
average 
exercise 
price 

Weighted- 
average 
remaining 
contractual 
term (years) 

Aggregate 
intrinsic 
value 
(in 
thousands) 

Balance as of January 1, 2016 
  Options granted 
  Options forfeited and expired 
  Options exercised 

285,000 
64,000 
- 
(30,000) 

  $  26.42 
48.59 
- 
18.86 

Balance as of December 30, 2016 

319,000 

  $  31.58 

6.47 

  $  9,162 

Exercisable at December 30, 2016 

188,750 

  $  23.83 

5.20 

  $  6,884 

(1) Does not include restricted stock or employee stock purchase plans. 

The  total  intrinsic  value  of  options  exercised  during 
fiscal  years  2016,  2015  and  2014  was  $999,000, 
respectively.  The 
$5,524,000  and  $1,975,000, 
aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents 
the  total  pre-tax  intrinsic  value  (the  difference 
between  the  Company’s  closing  stock  price  on  the 
last  trading  day  of  the  fiscal  year  ended  December 
30,  2016,  and  the  exercise  price,  multiplied  by  the 
number  of  in-the-money  options)  that  would  have 
been  received  by  the  option  holders  had  all  option 
holders  exercised  their  options  on  December  30, 
2016. This amount changes based on the fair-value of 
the Company’s stock.  

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing 
model to determine the fair value of options granted. 
The  determination  of  the  fair  value  of  stock-based 
payment awards on the date of grant using an option-
pricing  model  is  affected  by  the  Company’s  stock 
price  as  well  as  assumptions  regarding  a  number  of 
complex  and  subjective  variables.  These  variables 

include  expected  stock  price  volatility  over  the  term 
of  the  award,  actual  and  projected  employee  stock 
option  exercise  behaviors,  the  risk-free  interest  rate 
and expected dividends. 

The  Company  used  historical  exercise  and  post-
vesting  forfeiture and expiration data to estimate the 
expected  term  of  options  granted.  The  historical 
volatility  of  the  Company’s  common  stock  over  a 
period  of  time  equal  to  the  expected  term  of  the 
options  granted  was  used  to  estimate  expected 
volatility.  The  risk-free  interest  rate  used  in  the 
option-pricing  model  was  based  on  United  States 
Treasury  zero  coupon  issues  with  remaining  terms 
similar  to  the  expected  term  on  the  options.  The 
dividend  yield  assumption  considers  the  expectation 
of  continued  declaration  of  dividends,  offset  by 
option holders’ dividend equivalent rights. All share-
based  payment  awards  are  recognized  on  a  straight-
line  basis  over  the  requisite  service  periods  of  the 
awards. 

57 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The assumptions used to value option grants for fiscal years 2016, 2015 and 2014 are as follows: 

Expected term (in years) 
Risk-free interest rate 
Volatility 
Dividend yield 

2016 

6.0 
1.28% 
25% 
0% 

Stock Option Plan 
2015 

6.1 
1.69% 
27% 
0% 

2014 

6.1 
1.8% 
32% 
0% 

The weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted during fiscal years 2016, 2015 and 2014 were $13.08, 
$13.30 and $12.23, respectively. 

The amount of stock-based compensation expense and the related income tax benefit recognized in the Company’s 
consolidated statements of income for fiscal years 2016, 2015 and 2014 is as follows: 

(In thousands) 
Compensation and related expenses: 
  Restricted stock units 
  Stock option grants 

Sub-total  

General and administrative expenses: 
  Restricted stock units 

Sub-total 

  $ 

Total stock-based compensation expense 

  $ 

2016 

2015 

2014 

12,225 
569 
12,794 

539 
539 
13,333 

   $ 

   $ 

11,907 
552 
12,459 

500 
500 
12,959 

   $ 

   $ 

11,889 
689 
12,578 

501 
501 
13,079 

Income tax benefit 

  $ 

5,214 

   $ 

5,068 

   $ 

5,141 

As of December 30, 2016, there was $7,220,000 of unrecognized compensation cost, expected to be recognized over 
a  weighted  average  period  of  2.4  years,  related  to  unvested  restricted  stock  unit  awards  and  $633,000  of 
unrecognized compensation cost, expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.9 years, related to 
unvested stock options.  

Note 10: Retirement Plans 

Note 11: Deferred Compensation Plans 

The  Company  provides  a  defined  contribution 
retirement  plan  for  its  employees  whereby  the 
Company  contributes  to  each  eligible  employee’s 
account  7%  of  the  employee’s  eligible  base  salary 
plus overtime. The employee does not need to make a 
contribution  to  the  plan  to  be  eligible  for  the 
Company’s 7% contribution. To be eligible under the 
plan,  an  employee  must  be  at  least  21  years  of  age 
and  be  either  a  full-time  or  part-time  salaried 
employee.  The  7%  Company  contribution  will  vest 
20% per year for the first 5 years of employment and 
then 
thereafter.  The  Company’s 
expenses  related  to  this  plan  were  $7,761,000, 
$7,317,000,  and  $6,954,000  in  fiscal  years  2016, 
2015, and 2014, respectively.  

immediately 

The  Company  maintains  nonqualified  deferred 
compensation  plans  for  the  benefit  of  a  select  group 
of highly compensated employees. Under these plans, 
participants  may  elect  to  defer  up  to  100%  of  their 
compensation. Company assets that are earmarked to 
pay benefits under the plans are held in a rabbi trust 
and  are  subject  to  the  claims  of  the  Company’s 
creditors.  As  of  December  30,  2016  and  January  1, 
2016  the  invested  amounts  under  the  plans  totaled 
$48,267,000  and  $42,940,000,  respectively.  These 
assets  are  classified  as  trading  securities  and  are 
recorded  at  fair  market  value  with  changes  recorded 
as adjustments to other income.  

As  of  December  30,  2016  and  January  1,  2016, 
vested  amounts  due  under 
totaled 
$53,617,000 and $46,740,000, respectively. Changes 
in  the  liability  are  recorded  as  adjustments  to 

the  plans 

58 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
and 

2014, 

the  Company 

compensation  expense.  During  fiscal  years  2016, 
2015 
recognized 
compensation  expense  of  $3,861,000,  $(325,000), 
and  $2,525,000,  respectively,  as  a  result  of  changes 
in the  market  value of the trust assets  with the same 
amount being recorded as other income.  

Note 12: Commitments and Contingencies 

The  following  is  a  summary  of  the  future  minimum 
payments,  required  under  non-cancelable  operating 
leases,  with  terms  in  excess  of  one  year,  as  of 
December 30, 2016: 

(In thousands) 

Fiscal year 
2017 
2018 
2019 
2020 
2021 
Thereafter 

$ 

Lease 
commitments 
7,227 
5,597 
3,480 
2,480 
1,921 
1,058 
$  21,763 

Total  rent  expense  from  property  leases  in  fiscal 
2016,  2015,  and  2014  was  $6,478,000,  $6,202,000 
and  $5,951,000,  respectively.  Total  expense  from 
other operating leases in fiscal 2016, 2015, and 2014 
and  $1,965,000, 
was  $1,749,000,  $1,794,000 
in 
respectively.  The  Company  had  $583,000 
outstanding  purchase  commitments  as  of  December 
30,  2016.  These  commitments  are  expected  to  be 
fulfilled by the end of fiscal 2017. 

The Company is a party to various legal actions from 
time  to  time  and  may  be  contingently  liable  in 
connection  with  claims  and  contracts  arising  in  the 
normal course of business, the outcome of which the 
Company  believes,  after  consultation  with  legal 
counsel, will not have a material adverse effect on its 
financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. 
However,  due  to  the  risks  and  uncertainties  inherent 
in legal proceedings, actual results could differ from 
current  expected  results.  All  legal  costs  associated 
with litigation are expensed as incurred.  

Note 13: Miscellaneous Income, Net  

Miscellaneous income, net, consisted of the 
following: 

(In thousands) 

Rental income 
Gain (loss) on deferred 
  compensation 
investments 

Gain (loss) on foreign  
  exchange 
Other 

Total 

Fiscal Years 
2015 

2016 

2014 

  2,435 

  2,015 

  2,003 

  3,861 

(325)   

  2,525 

224 
8 
  $ 6,528 

255 
48 
  $ 1,993 

(293) 
31 
  $ 4,266 

Note 14: Industry and Client Credit Risk 

The  Company  serves  clients  in  various  segments  of 
the  economy.  During  fiscal  2016  the  Company 
provided services representing approximately 20% of 
revenues to clients in the consumer products industry. 
During  fiscal  2016  the  Company  provided  services 
representing  approximately  17%  of  revenues  to 
clients  in  the  energy  and  utilities  industries.  During 
fiscal  2016 
services 
representing  approximately  15%  of  revenues  to 
clients in the transportation industry. 

the  Company  provided 

No single customer comprised more than 10% of the 
Company’s revenues for fiscal years 2016, 2015 and 
2014. No single customer comprised more than 10% 
of  the  Company’s  accounts  receivable  at  December 
30, 2016 and January 1, 2016. 

Note 15: Supplemental Cash Flow Information 

The following is supplemental disclosure of cash 
flow information: 

(In thousands) 

Cash paid during the year: 

Fiscal Years 
2015 

2014 

2016 

Income taxes 

 $22,280   $24,651   $27,421 

Non-cash investing and 
financing activities: 
Unrealized gain (loss) on    

Investments 

 $ 

(81)  $ 

(79)  $ 

4 

Vested stock unit awards 
  granted to settle  
  accrued bonus 
Accrual for capital  
  expenditures 

 $  6,334   $  6,169   $  6,008 

 $  284   $  321   $ 

- 

59 

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 16: Segment Reporting 

technical  consulting 

The Company has two reportable operating segments 
based  on 
two  primary  areas  of  service.  The 
Engineering and  Other Scientific  segment is a broad 
in 
service  group  providing 
different  practices  primarily  in  engineering.  The 
Environmental and Health segment provides services 
in  the  area  of  environmental,  epidemiology  and 
health  risk  analysis.  This  segment  provides  a  wide 
range of consulting services relating to environmental 
hazards  and  risks  and  the  impact  on  both  human 
health and the environment.  

Segment  information  is  presented  for  selected  data 
from the statements of income and statements of cash 
flows for fiscal years 2016, 2015 and 2014. Segment 
information for selected data from the balance sheets 
is presented for the fiscal years ended December 30, 
2016  and  January  1,  2016.  Our  CEO,  the  chief 
operating decision maker, does not review total assets 
in his evaluation of segment performance and capital 
allocation.  

Revenues 

(In thousands) 

Engineering and 
  Other Scientific 
Environmental and Health 

Fiscal Years 
2015 

2014 

2016 

$ 248,297  $ 237,959  $ 223,384 
81,320 

66,779 

74,873 

  Total revenues 

$ 315,076  $ 312,832  $ 304,704 

Operating Income 

(In thousands) 

Fiscal Years 
2015 

2014 

2016 

Engineering and 
  Other Scientific 
Environmental and Health  

  $ 80,494    $ 76,817    $ 72,207 
25,145 

21,810 

18,650 

Total segment operating 

income 

99,144 

98,627 

97,352 

Corporate operating 
  expense 

Total operating 

income 

(37,233) 

(29,694) 

(33,803) 

  $ 61,911    $ 68,933    $ 63,549 

Capital Expenditures 

(In thousands) 

Engineering and 
  Other Scientific 
Environmental and Health  

Total segment capital 
  expenditures 

Corporate capital 
  expenditures 

  Total capital 

  expenditures 

Fiscal Years 
2015 

2014 

2016 

 $  4,309   $  3,197  $  3,719 
211 

124    

164   

4,433    

3,361   

3,930 

9,960    

2,018   

1,017 

 $  14,393   $  5,379  $  4,947 

Depreciation and Amortization 

(In thousands) 

Engineering and 
  Other Scientific 
Environmental and Health  

Total segment depreciation 
  and amortization 

Corporate depreciation and 
  amortization 

Fiscal Years 
2015 

2014 

2016 

 $  4,429   $  3,919  $  3,637 
197 

181    

182   

4,610    

4,101   

3,834 

1,521    

1,378   

1,570 

  Total depreciation and 

  amortization 

 $  6,131   $  5,479  $  5,404 

Information regarding the Company’s operations in 
different geographical areas: 

Property, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements, net 

(In thousands) 

Fiscal Years 

2016 

2015 

United States  
Foreign Countries 

  $  35,746 
964 

  $  27,775 
710 

Total 

  $  36,710 

  $  28,485 

Revenues (1) 

(In thousands) 

United States  
Foreign Countries 

2016 

Fiscal Years 
2015 

2014 

 $ 281,223   $ 281,618   $ 273,635 
31,069 

33,853    

31,214    

Total 

 $ 315,076   $ 312,832   $ 304,704 

 (1)  Geographic  revenues  are  allocated  based  on 
location of the client. 

the 

60 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 17:  Related Party Transaction 

On  July  29,  2016,  Exponent’s  Board  of  Directors 
appointed Dr. Catherine Corrigan as its President. Dr. 
Paul  Johnston  continues  to  serve  as  the  Company’s 
Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Corrigan relocated from 
the  Company’s  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania  office  to 
its Menlo Park, California office. In connection with 

relocation, 

the  Company  purchased  Dr. 
the 
Corrigan’s  primary  residence  in  Pennsylvania  for  an 
appraised  value  of  $1.25  million.  The  Company 
intends  to  resell  the  house  as  soon  as  practicable; 
therefore,  the  house  is  recorded  in  prepaid  expenses 
and other assets. 

61 

 
 
Comparative Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited) 

Summarized quarterly financial data is as follows: 

Fiscal 2016 
(In thousands, except per share data) 

April 1, 
2016 

July 1, 
2016 

September 30,  December 30, 

2016 

2016 

Revenues before reimbursements 
Revenues 
Operating income 
Income before income taxes 

  $ 78,950 
  83,156 
  16,436 
  17,734 

  $ 73,334 
  77,295 
  14,931 
  16,677 

  $ 74,160 
    77,612 
    15,595 
  17,920 

  $ 72,753 
  77,013 
  14,949 
  16,791 

Net income 

  $ 15,350 

  $ 10,453 

  $ 11,289 

  $ 10,388 

Net income per share 
  Basic 
  Diluted 
Shares used in per share computations 
  Basic 
  Diluted 

  $ 
  $ 

0.58 
0.56 

  $ 
  $ 

0.39 
0.38 

  $ 
  $ 

0.43 
0.42 

  $ 
  $ 

0.40 
0.39 

  26,513 
  27,239 

  26,631 
  27,264 

  26,545 
  27,185 

  26,262 
  26,955 

Fiscal 2015 
(In thousands, except per share data) 

April 3, 
2015 

July 3, 
2015 

October 2, 
2015 

January 1, 
2016 

Revenues before reimbursements 
Revenues 
Operating income 
Income before income taxes 

  $ 76,141 
  80,293 
  15,028 
  17,071 

  $ 75,272 
  79,864 
  18,705 
  19,292 

  $ 74,503 
    78,994 
    20,921 
  18,773 

  $ 69,789 
  73,681 
  14,279 
  15,997 

Net income 

  $ 10,333 

  $ 11,697 

  $ 11,719 

  $  9,850 

Net income per share 
  Basic 
  Diluted 
Shares used in per share computations 
  Basic 
  Diluted 

  $ 
  $ 

0.39 
0.38 

  $ 
  $ 

0.44 
0.43 

  $ 
  $ 

0.44 
0.43 

  $ 
  $ 

0.37 
0.36 

  26,622 
  27,390 

  26,714 
  27,368 

  26,597 
  27,268 

  26,491 
  27,133 

62 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Schedule II 
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts 

(In thousands) 
Year Ended December 30, 2016 
  Allowance for bad debt 
  Allowance for contract losses 

Year Ended January 1, 2016 
  Allowance for bad debt 
  Allowance for contract losses 

Year Ended January 2, 2015 
  Allowance for bad debt 
  Allowance for contract losses 

Additions 

Balance at 

Provision 
Provision 
Beginning of   Charged to  Charged to 
Revenues 
Expense 

Year 

Deletions (1) 
Accounts 
  Written-off 

Net of  

   Recoveries 

Balance 
at End of  
Year 

  $ 
838 
  $  1,954 

  $ 
  $ 

443 
- 

  $ 
- 
  $  2,009 

    $ 
(358) 
    $  (1,469) 

  $ 
923 
  $  2,494 

  $  1,016 
  $  2,370 

  $ 
  $ 

284 
- 

  $ 
  $ 

- 
645 

    $ 
(462) 
    $  (1,061) 

  $ 
838 
  $  1,954 

  $ 
942 
  $  1,829 

  $ 
  $ 

264 
- 

  $ 
- 
  $  1,454 

    $ 
    $ 

(190) 
(913) 

  $  1,016 
  $  2,370 

(1) Balance includes currency translation adjustments. 

Recoveries of accounts receivable previously written off were $114,000, $7,000 and $135,000 for fiscal years 2016, 
2015 and 2014, respectively. 

Schedules other than above have been omitted since they are either not required, not applicable, or the information is 
otherwise included in the Report. 

63 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
SIGNATURES 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant 

has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. 

EXPONENT, INC. 
(Registrant) 

Date: February 24, 2017 

/s/ Richard L. Schlenker, Jr. 
Richard L. Schlenker, Jr., Executive Vice President,  
Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by 

the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated: 

Signature 

Title 

Date 

/s/ Paul R. Johnston 
Paul R. Johnston, Ph.D. 

Chief Executive Officer and Director 
(Principal Executive Officer) 

/s/ Richard L. Schlenker, Jr.   
Richard L. Schlenker, Jr. 

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and 
Corporate Secretary (Principal Financial and 
Accounting Officer) 

February 24, 2017 

February 24, 2017 

/s/ Michael R. Gaulke 
Michael R. Gaulke 

/s/ Carol Lindstrom 
Carol Lindstrom 

/s/ Karen A. Richardson 
Karen A. Richardson 

/s/ Stephen C. Riggins 
Stephen C. Riggins 

/s/ John B. Shoven 
John B. Shoven, Ph.D. 

/s/ Debra L. Zumwalt 
Debra L. Zumwalt 

Chairman of the Board of Directors  

February 24, 2017 

February 24, 2017 

February 24, 2017 

February 24, 2017 

February 24, 2017 

February 24, 2017 

Director 

Director 

Director 

Director 

Director 

64 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EXHIBIT INDEX 

The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into (as indicated parenthetically), 

the Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Unless otherwise indicated all filings are under SEC File Number 000-18655: 

3.1(i)  Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of  the  Company  (incorporated  by  reference  from  the  Company’s 

Registration Statement on Form S-1 as filed on June 25, 1990, registration number 33-35562). 

3.1(ii)  Certificate  of  Amendment  of  Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of  the  Company  (incorporated  by 

reference from the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 24, 2006). 

3.1(iii)  Certificate  of  Amendment  of  Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of  the  Company  (incorporated  by 

reference from the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 28, 2015). 

3.2(i)  Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended and restated May 29, 2014 (incorporated by 

reference from the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed on May 30, 2014). 

4.1 

Specimen  copy  of  Common  Stock  Certificate  of  the  Company  (incorporated  by  reference  from  the 
Company’s  Registration  Statement  on  Forms  S-1  as  filed  on  June  25,  1990,  registration  number  33-
35562). 

 *10.6 

Exponent, Inc. 1998 Non Statutory Stock Option Plan dated October 24, 1998 (incorporated by reference 
from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 1999). 

 *10.10  Exponent, Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference from the Company’s Annual Report 

on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999). 

 *10.11  Exponent,  Inc.  1999  Restricted  Stock  Plan  (incorporated  by  reference  from  the  Company’s  Annual 

Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999). 

  10.15  Commercial  Lease  No.  03-53542  between  the  Company  and  the  Arizona  State  Land  Department, 
effective January 17, 1998 (incorporated by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K 
for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2003). 

 *10.17  Exponent  Nonqualified  Deferred  Compensation  Plan  (incorporated  by  reference  from  the  Company’s 

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004). 

 *10.19 

Form of Indemnification Agreement entered into or proposed to be entered into between the Company 
and its officers and directors (incorporated by reference from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 
10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2006). 

  10.20 

Services  Agreement  between  the  Company  and  Exponent  Engineering  P.C.  (incorporated  by  reference 
from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2006). 

 *10.24  Amendment  No.  1  to  Exponent,  Inc.  1998  Nonstatutory  Stock  Option  Plan  dated  January  29,  2007 
(incorporated by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 
December 29, 2006). 

 *10.25  Amendment No. 1 to Exponent, Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan dated January 29, 2007 (incorporated by 
reference  from  the  Company’s  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  for  the  fiscal  year  ended  December  29, 
2006). 

 *10.26  Amendment No. 1 to Exponent, Inc. 1999 Restricted Stock Plan dated January 29, 2007 (incorporated by 
reference  from  the  Company’s  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  for  the  fiscal  year  ended  December  29, 
2006). 

 *10.28 

2008 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on 
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2009). 

65 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 *10.31 

 *10.32 

 *10.33 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Employee Bonus Grant Agreement under the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan 
(incorporated by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 
January 1, 2009). 

Form  of  Restricted  Stock  Unit  Employee  Matching  Grant  Agreement  under  the  2008  Equity  Incentive 
Plan  (incorporated  by  reference  from  the  Company’s  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  for  the  fiscal  year 
ended January 1, 2009). 

Form  of  Restricted  Stock  Unit  Director  Grant  Agreement  under  the  2008  Equity  Incentive  Plan 
(incorporated by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 
January 1, 2009). 

 *10.34  Amended and Restated Restricted Stock Unit Bonus Grant Agreement under the 1999 Restricted Stock 
Plan  (incorporated  by  reference  from  the  Company’s  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  for  the  fiscal  year 
ended January 1, 2009). 

 *10.35  Amended  and  Restated  Restricted  Stock  Unit  Matching  Grant  Agreement  under  the  1999  Restricted 
Stock Plan (incorporated by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal 
year ended January 1, 2009). 

 *10.36  Amended and Restated Restricted Stock Unit Director Grant Agreement under the 1999 Restricted Stock 
Plan  (incorporated  by  reference  from  the  Company’s  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  for  the  fiscal  year 
ended January 1, 2009). 

 *10.37  Exponent,  Inc.  Amended  and  Restated  2008  Equity  Incentive  Plan  (filed  as  Appendix  A  to  the 

Company’s Schedule 14A filed on April 19, 2012). 

 *10.38 

 *10.39 

 *10.40 

Exponent, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2010 (incorporated by 
reference  from  the  Company’s  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  for  the  fiscal  year  ended  December  31, 
2010). 

First Amendment to the Exponent, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan (as amended and restated January 1, 2010) 
(incorporated  by  reference  from  the  Company’s  Quarterly  Report  on  Form  10-Q  for  the  fiscal  period 
ended July 1, 2011). 

Second  Amendment  to  the  Exponent,  Inc.  401(k)  Savings  Plan  (as  amended  and  restated  January  1, 
2010) (incorporated by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 
ended December 30, 2011). 

 *10.41 

Form of Stock Option Agreement under the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from 
the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2011). 

 *10.42  Third Amendment to the Exponent, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan (as amended and restated January 1, 2010) 
(incorporated by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 
December 28, 2012). 

 *10.43  Amendment to Form of Stock Option Agreement under the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by 
reference  from  the  Company’s  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  for  the  fiscal  year  ended  December  28, 
2012). 

 *10.44 

Fourth Amendment to the Exponent, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan (as amended and restated January 1, 2010) 
(incorporated by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 
January 3, 2014). 

 *10.45 

Form of Indemnification Agreement entered into or proposed to be entered into between the Company 
and its officers and directors (incorporated by reference from the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-
K as filed on May 30, 2014). 

66 

 
 
 
 
 
 *10.46  Executive Compensation Clawback Policy (incorporated by reference from the Company’s Quarterly 

Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal period ended September 30, 2016). 

  21.1 

List of subsidiaries. 

  23.1 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. 

  31.1 

  31.2 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a – 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934. 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a – 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934. 

  32.1 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. 

  32.2 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. 

 101.INS  XBRL Instance Document 

 101.SCH  XBRL Taxonomy Schema Document 

 101.CAL  XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document 

 101.LAB  XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document 

 101.PRE  XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document 

 101.DEF  XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document 

* Indicates management compensatory plan, contract or arrangement 

67