Company Overview - Resources Connection, Inc. (NASDAQ: RGP) is a professional services firm that provides on-demand consultants and project teams for companies seeking specialized expertise without the need for full-time staff [1] Investment Focus - The analysis primarily targets small- to mid-cap companies, which are often overlooked by many investors, while also occasionally reviewing large-cap companies to provide a broader perspective on equity markets [1]

Core Viewpoint - Resources Connection, Inc. (RGP) will announce its second quarter results for fiscal 2026 on January 7, 2026, after market close [1] Company Overview - RGP is a global professional services firm with three decades of experience, providing On-Demand Talent, Consulting, and Outsourced Services to help organizations navigate change [3] - The company engages with over 1,600 clients globally from 41 physical and multiple virtual offices, serving 88 percent of the Fortune 100 as of May 2025 [4] - RGP has received recognition from U.S. News & World Report and Forbes for its workplace and consulting services [4] Market Engagement - A conference call to discuss the results will take place at 5:00 p.m. ET on January 7, 2026, with a live webcast available on the company's website [2] - Participants are encouraged to join the call 15 minutes early to avoid delays, and a replay will be accessible for a limited time [2] Listing Information - RGP is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, which is the highest tier by listing standards [5]

Core Viewpoint - Resources Connection, Inc. is undergoing a leadership change to support its strategic transformation, appointing Roger Carlile as the new President and CEO while Kate Duchene transitions to an Executive Advisor role until January 3, 2026 [1] Leadership Change - Roger Carlile, who has been a Board member since June 2024, has been appointed as President and CEO effective immediately [1] - Kate Duchene has moved from her roles as President, CEO, and Board member to become an Executive Advisor, a position she will hold until January 3, 2026, to assist the company during this transition [1]

Core Insights - Generative AI is viewed as a transformative technology by Amazon's leadership, with potential to significantly enhance customer experiences [1] - Elon Musk predicts a future with 10 billion humanoid robots, suggesting a market value of $250 trillion by 2040, indicating a massive shift in the global economy driven by AI [2][3] - Major firms like PwC and McKinsey recognize the multi-trillion-dollar potential of AI, reinforcing the optimistic outlook on its economic impact [3] Company and Industry Analysis - A breakthrough in AI technology is seen as pivotal, with hedge funds and top investors actively seeking opportunities in this space [4] - There is speculation about an under-owned company that may play a crucial role in the AI revolution, potentially concerning its competitors [4][6] - Prominent investors, including Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, are positioning themselves around AI, highlighting its potential to transform various sectors such as healthcare and education [8]

Group 1 - The recent commentary on Resources Connection, Inc. (NASDAQ: RGP) highlighted the need for the consulting-oriented business to report improved earnings trends to attract investor interest [1] - The investment strategy focuses on acquiring undervalued profitable stocks with strong balance sheets and minimal debt, while also considering writing calls against positions for additional income [1] - Risk management is emphasized through position sizing and the use of trailing stop losses over time [1]

Core Insights - Resources Connection, Inc. (RGP) operates in the professional services sector, specifically within the Zacks Staffing Firms industry, providing consulting services in finance, accounting, and human resources [1] Financial Performance - RGP reported an earnings per share (EPS) of -$0.07 for the quarter ending in August 2025, which was better than the estimated EPS of -$0.15, indicating a significant improvement from the previous quarter [2][6] - The company's revenue for the same quarter was approximately $120.23 million, slightly exceeding the estimated revenue of $119.97 million, although it represents a decrease from $136.93 million reported in the same period last year [3][6] - RGP has consistently exceeded consensus revenue estimates in each of the last four quarters, with the latest revenue exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.19% [3] Valuation Metrics - RGP has a negative price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of -0.85, while maintaining a price-to-sales ratio of 0.30, indicating that investors are paying 30 cents for every dollar of sales [4][6] - The enterprise value to sales ratio is 0.19, and the enterprise value to operating cash flow ratio is 5.51, reflecting the company's valuation relative to its revenue and operating cash flow [4] Financial Health - The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, indicating a relatively low level of debt compared to equity, and a current ratio of 2.70, suggesting a strong ability to cover short-term liabilities with short-term assets [5][6] - RGP's financial metrics demonstrate resilience and potential for future growth despite challenges [5]

Core Insights - Resources Connection (RGP) reported quarterly earnings of $0.03 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.15 per share, marking a significant earnings surprise of +120.00% [1] - The company posted revenues of $120.23 million for the quarter ended August 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.19%, although this represents a decline from year-ago revenues of $136.93 million [2] - The stock has underperformed, losing approximately 43.1% since the beginning of the year, compared to a 14.2% gain in the S&P 500 [3] Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.07 on revenues of $134.28 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $0.24 on revenues of $535.01 million [7] - The estimate revisions trend for Resources Connection was mixed ahead of the earnings release, resulting in a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) for the stock, indicating expected performance in line with the market [6] Industry Context - The Staffing Firms industry, to which Resources Connection belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 26% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges for stock performance [8] - Insperity, Inc., another company in the same industry, is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.22 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decline of -43.6%, with revenues projected at $1.63 billion, up 4.7% from the previous year [9]

Core Insights - The company is focused on transforming its business model to integrate consulting, professional staffing, and outsourced services, aiming to enhance value for clients and shareholders [2][4][16] - The consulting segment is experiencing double-digit fill rate improvements, increasing deal sizes, and a growing pipeline, indicating positive momentum [2][18] - The company reported Q1 revenue of $120.2 million, exceeding expectations, with a gross margin of 39.5% and improved adjusted EBITDA of $3.1 million [28][29] Business Transformation - The company is evolving from a professional staffing organization to a diversified platform that combines on-demand talent with consulting and outsourced services [2][12] - Key focus areas include CFO advisory and digital transformation, which are aligned with client priorities for cost efficiency and process automation [6][18] - The company is actively upskilling its talent to meet the specialized needs of clients in high-demand areas such as finance transformation and AI [7][12] Financial Performance - Q1 revenue exceeded the outlook range, with significant improvements in gross margin and general & administrative expenses [4][28] - The consulting segment saw a year-over-year revenue decline of 22%, but improvements in bill rates and utilization were noted [19][32] - The Europe and Asia-Pacific segments delivered 5% and 4% revenue growth, respectively, indicating strong regional performance [28][33] Market Positioning - The company differentiates itself through a client-centric approach, integrating with client teams to provide tailored solutions rather than acting as an external advisor [10][11] - The diversified services model allows clients flexibility in engagement, which is increasingly important in today's market [5][7] - The company is capitalizing on the demand for outsourced services, particularly targeting startups and scale-ups in the AI sector [26][27] Future Outlook - The company anticipates continued revenue stability in Q2, with a forecast range of $115 to $120 million, while maintaining a gross margin outlook of 38% to 39% [36][37] - Ongoing cost reduction efforts are expected to yield annual savings of $6 to $8 million, enhancing operating leverage [31][34] - The company is well-positioned to rebound quickly as the demand environment improves, aiming for a return to double-digit profitability [15][36]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q1 was reported at $120.2 million, exceeding the outlook range, with a gross margin of 39.5%, which is 300 basis points higher than the prior year [26][28] - SG&A expenses were $44.5 million, a 7% improvement from $47.7 million a year ago, driven by lower management compensation and reductions in other G&A expenses [29] - Adjusted EBITDA improved to $3.1 million, representing a 2.5% adjusted EBITDA margin [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - On-demand segment revenue declined by 16% year-over-year to $44.4 million, but segment-adjusted EBITDA improved to $4.4 million, or a 10% margin [30] - Consulting segment revenue was $43.6 million, a decline of 22% from the prior year, with segment-adjusted EBITDA at $5 million, or an 11.6% margin [30] - Europe and Asia-Pacific segment revenue grew by 5% year-over-year to $19.9 million, with segment-adjusted EBITDA of $0.8 million, or a 4.2% margin [31] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Europe and Asia-Pacific achieved solid growth, with a strong pipeline for Q2, driven by deepening multinational client relationships and expanding local client bases [24] - Demand for CFO advisory and digital transformation offerings remains strong, with a focus on cost efficiency and process automation [24][26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is transforming from a professional staffing organization to a diversified platform combining on-demand talent with consulting and outsourced services, focusing on CFO advisory and digital transformation [5][8] - The strategy includes enhancing the addressable market and becoming known for a focused set of solutions, with a unique value proposition based on agility, expertise, and experience [6][10] - The company is actively redesigning its cost structure to fit the current size and scale of the business, aiming for a more stable and profitable operation [15][24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the global macro environment remains uncertain and slow-moving for professional services, but they are positioning the business for an upturn [3][12] - The company expects to maintain revenue stability through Q2, with an outlook for revenue between $115 million and $120 million [32][33] - Management emphasized the importance of improving sales execution and driving an efficient cost structure to deliver more value [33] Other Important Information - The company has a strong balance sheet with $77.5 million in cash and cash equivalents and zero outstanding debt [31] - The company is targeting venture-backed AI startups for outsourced services, capitalizing on the broader venture funding environment [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Pricing Trends - Management indicated that while staffing rates have remained steady, there are pricing pressures in consulting, but the value provided allows for rate increases on new projects [37][38] Question: Pipeline and Cross-Selling - The pipeline is seeing an increase in $1 million+ deals, with expectations for continued growth through cross-selling efforts [39] Question: Revenue Guidance Breakdown - Revenue guidance for Q2 indicates continued strength in Europe and Asia-Pacific, while on-demand and consulting segments are expected to perform similarly to Q1 [42] Question: Regional Demand Differences - Demand is strong in the West Coast and Southeast regions, attributed to team tenure and alignment with client priorities [45] Question: Client Spending Appetite - Management noted that client appetite for spending remains choppy, with ongoing uncertainty affecting the operating environment [61] Question: Board Refresh Impact - New board members bring fresh perspectives, focusing on optimizing bottom-line performance and fostering collaborative teams [63][64]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q1 was reported at $120.2 million, exceeding the outlook range, with a gross margin of 39.5%, which is 300 basis points higher than the prior year [26][27] - SG&A expenses were $44.5 million, a 7% improvement from $47.7 million a year ago, driven by lower management compensation and reductions in other G&A spend [28] - Adjusted EBITDA improved to $3.1 million, representing a 2.5% adjusted EBITDA margin [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - On-demand segment revenue declined by 16% year-over-year to $44.4 million, but segment-adjusted EBITDA improved to $4.4 million, or a 10% margin [29] - Consulting segment revenue was $43.6 million, a decline of 22% from the prior year, with segment-adjusted EBITDA at $5 million, or an 11.6% margin [29] - Europe and Asia-Pacific segment revenue grew by 5% year-over-year to $19.9 million, with segment-adjusted EBITDA of $0.8 million, or a 4.2% margin [30] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Europe and Asia-Pacific achieved solid growth, with a 5% increase in revenue, driven by strong client relationships and effective regional strategy [23] - Demand for CFO advisory and digital transformation offerings remains strong, with a focus on local delivery combined with scalable global delivery centers [24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is transforming from a professional staffing organization to a diversified platform combining on-demand talent with consulting and outsourced services [5] - Focus areas include CFO advisory and digital transformation, which are critical for driving client transformation and enhancing value [8][10] - The company aims to increase its addressable market and improve return for shareholders through strategic investments and enhanced service offerings [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the global macro environment remains uncertain, but they are positioning the company for an upturn [3] - There is a belief that improvements in key operating metrics will lead to tangible revenue growth over time [27] - The outlook for Q2 anticipates revenue stability between $115 to $120 million, with gross margin expectations similar to Q1 [31][32] Other Important Information - The company is actively redesigning its cost structure to fit its current size and scale, with expected annual cost savings of $6 to $8 million from recent organizational changes [15][28] - The company maintains a strong balance sheet with $77.5 million in cash and no outstanding debt [30] Q&A Session Summary Question: What would you say regarding the trend in pricing? - Management indicated that while staffing rates have remained steady, there are pricing pressures in consulting, but value-added services are allowing for rate increases on new projects [35][36] Question: How much of the pipeline would you attribute to cross-selling? - The company is still building its pipeline but has seen an increase in $1 million-plus deals, anticipating further growth through cross-selling efforts [37] Question: Can you break out the revenue guide between segments? - The revenue guide for Q2 expects continued strength in Europe and Asia-Pacific, while on-demand and consulting segments are expected to perform similarly to Q1 [40][41] Question: Are there regional differences in demand? - Demand is strong in the West Coast and Southeast, attributed to team tenure and alignment with client priorities in CFO advisory and digital transformation [43] Question: What changes have new board members brought? - New board members have provided fresh perspectives, focusing on optimizing bottom-line performance and fostering collaborative teams [59][60]