Core Insights - Robert Half (NYSE: RHI) has experienced a significant decline in share value, losing over 50% in the past year due to a weakening labor market impacting demand for its placement and contract services [1] Company Performance - The company's stock performance has been notably poor, with a loss of more than half of its value over the last year [1] Market Conditions - A weakening labor market has led to a substantial reduction in demand for the services offered by Robert Half, affecting its overall business performance [1]

Core Insights - Robert Half International Inc. (RHI) reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 results, with earnings and revenues meeting the Zacks Consensus Estimate, but the stock has not shown significant movement since the earnings release on October 22 [1] Financial Performance - Quarterly earnings were 43 cents per share, matching the consensus but declining 32.8% year over year [1][10] - Revenues totaled $1.35 billion, in line with the consensus but down 7.5% year over year [1][10] Segment Performance - Talent Solutions revenues were $856.35 million, a decrease of 11% year over year, falling short of the estimate of $914.2 million [3] - U.S. Talent Solutions revenues were $649 million, down 11% year over year, while non-U.S. revenues declined 12% to $207 million [3] - Protiviti revenues were $498 million, down 3% year over year and below the expectation of $503.1 million [4] - U.S. Protiviti revenues decreased 6% to $398 million, while non-U.S. revenues increased 8% to $100 million [4] Currency Impact - Currency exchange rate movements contributed an increase of $9 million to total revenues year over year, with $6 million attributed to both Talent Solutions and Protiviti [5] Profitability Metrics - Adjusted gross profit was $514.65 million, down 10.9% year over year, with a gross profit margin of 38.9%, remaining flat year over year [6] Balance Sheet and Cash Flow - The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $365.3 million, down from $570.47 million in the third quarter of 2024 [7] - Cash flow from operations was $77 million, with capital expenditures of $41.4 million and $59 million paid out in dividends [7] Future Guidance - For Q4 2025, RHI expects revenues between $1.245 billion and $1.345 billion, with an EPS forecast of 25 to 35 cents [8] - The midpoint of the revenue guidance is slightly above the current Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.29 billion [8] - Capital expenditures for Q4 are projected to be between $15 million and $25 million [9] - For 2025, total capital expenditures are expected to range from $75 million to $90 million [11]

Company Overview - Robert Half Inc. (NYSE: RHI) is a global staffing firm specializing in finance, accounting, and administrative sectors, competing with firms like ManpowerGroup and Randstad [1] - The company has a market capitalization of approximately $2.93 billion, indicating its significant presence in the staffing industry [4][5] Stock Performance - RHI's stock is currently priced at $28.80, reflecting a decrease of 2.83% or $0.84, with a trading volume of 3,908,800 shares on the NYSE [3][4] - The stock has experienced significant volatility, with a yearly high of $78.41 and a low of $26.99, indicating fluctuations in investor sentiment [3][5] Analyst Insights - Barclays has set a new price target for RHI at $36, suggesting a potential increase of approximately 23.54% from the current price of $29.14 [1][5] - The recent Q3 2025 earnings call provided insights into the company's financial performance and strategic direction, featuring key leaders such as M. Waddell and Michael Buckley [2]

Core Insights - Robert Half has been recognized by Fortune as one of the Best Workplaces for Women and by Forbes as one of the World's Top Companies for Women 2025, highlighting the company's commitment to fostering a supportive environment for women in the workplace [1][2][3]. Group 1: Recognition and Awards - The recognition from Fortune is based on feedback from 605,000 women working for Great Place To Work Certified companies, focusing on workplace culture, benefits, and advancement opportunities [2]. - Forbes' recognition is derived from insights from over 120,000 women across 36 countries, evaluating perceptions of employers, gender equality, and women's representation in leadership roles [2]. Group 2: Company Commitment and Initiatives - The CEO of Robert Half emphasized the company's dedication to creating a workplace that provides growth, leadership, and success opportunities for women at every career stage [3]. - Robert Half offers a comprehensive suite of family-focused benefits, including paid parental leave, infertility treatment, adoption and surrogacy assistance, and child and elder care support [3]. - The Global Women's Employee Network (GWEN) is designed to foster growth, empowerment, and learning for women and allies within the organization [3][4]. Group 3: Company Overview - Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized talent solutions and business consulting firm, connecting skilled job seekers with opportunities in various fields including finance, technology, and legal [4]. - The company has also been recognized as one of the Fortune Most Admired Companies and 100 Best Companies to Work For in the past year [4].

Core Viewpoint - Robert Half Inc is currently yielding above 8% based on its quarterly dividend, which is annualized to $2.36, with shares trading as low as $26.99 on the day [1] Group 1: Dividend Importance - Dividends have historically provided a significant portion of the stock market's total return, making them an important consideration for investors [1] - An example illustrates that an investment in the iShares Russell 3000 ETF (IWV) from 2000 to 2012 resulted in a nominal loss of 0.6%, but dividends collected during that period increased the total return to 13.15% [1] Group 2: Company Status - Robert Half Inc is a member of the Russell 3000, indicating its status as one of the largest 3000 companies in the U.S. stock markets [1]

Core Insights - The financial sector, particularly banking institutions, exhibits significant size variation and classification diversity [1] - The Federal Reserve conducts stress tests on banks to ensure their risk tolerance and ability to withstand financial challenges [1]

Core Insights - Robert Half (RHI) reported $1.35 billion in revenue for the quarter ended September 2025, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 7.5% and an EPS of $0.43 compared to $0.64 a year ago, aligning with Zacks Consensus Estimate [1] - The company has not delivered an EPS surprise, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.43 [1] Revenue Performance - Service Revenues from Permanent placement talent solutions were $110.13 million, below the average estimate of $116.24 million, marking a year-over-year decline of 10.7% [4] - Service Revenues from Protiviti reached $498.13 million, slightly below the average estimate of $504.88 million, representing a year-over-year change of -2.6% [4] - Total contract talent solutions generated $746.22 million, exceeding the average estimate of $735.84 million, but still reflecting a year-over-year decline of 10.1% [4] - Contract talent solutions in Technology reported $157.85 million, below the average estimate of $162.26 million, with a year-over-year change of -1.5% [4] - Contract talent solutions in Finance & Accounting totaled $553.36 million, surpassing the average estimate of $532.19 million, but showing a year-over-year decline of 9.9% [4] - Administrative and customer support contract talent solutions generated $158.69 million, slightly above the average estimate of $155.7 million, with a year-over-year decline of 11.1% [4] - The elimination of intersegment contract talent solutions reported $-123.68 million, compared to the average estimate of $-119.88 million, reflecting a year-over-year change of +1.1% [4] Stock Performance - Shares of Robert Half have returned -8.3% over the past month, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.1% change, indicating underperformance relative to the broader market [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Core Viewpoint - Robert Half reported quarterly earnings of $0.43 per share, matching the Zacks Consensus Estimate, but down from $0.64 per share a year ago [1] - The company generated revenues of $1.35 billion for the quarter, also in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate, compared to $1.47 billion in the same quarter last year [2] Financial Performance - Earnings per share (EPS) for the last quarter was $0.43, consistent with expectations, and a slight increase from the previous quarter's expected EPS of $0.40, where the actual was $0.41, resulting in a surprise of +2.5% [1][3] - Revenue for the quarter was $1.35 billion, which is a decrease of approximately 8.16% from $1.47 billion year-over-year [2] Market Performance - Robert Half shares have declined about 56% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with the S&P 500's gain of 14.5% [3] - The company's current Zacks Rank is 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the market in the near future [6] Future Outlook - The consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.38 on revenues of $1.29 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $1.39 on revenues of $5.37 billion [7] - The staffing industry, to which Robert Half belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 18% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges ahead [8]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Global enterprise revenues for Q3 2025 were $1.354 billion, down 8% year-over-year on both reported and adjusted bases [3][4] - Net income per share decreased to $0.43 from $0.64 in the same quarter last year [4] - Cash flow from operations was $77 million, with a cash dividend of $0.59 per share distributed, totaling $59 million [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Talent Solutions revenues were $649 million in the U.S., down 11% year-over-year, while non-U.S. revenues were $207 million, down 12% [6] - Protiviti's global revenues were $498 million, with U.S. revenues at $398 million (down 6%) and non-U.S. revenues at $100 million (up 8%) [7] - Contract Talent Solutions bill rates increased by 3.7% compared to the previous year [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The third quarter had 64.2 billing days compared to 64.1 in the same quarter last year, while the fourth quarter is expected to have 61.4 billing days [6] - Currency exchange rate movements positively impacted reported revenues by $9 million year-over-year [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to capitalize on emerging opportunities in staffing and consulting services, leveraging its brand, technology, and talent [5][16] - Protiviti's growth rates are expected to improve, with a focus on returning to double-digit operating margins in the future [44] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted early signs of improvement in the macroeconomic environment, with increased client discussions about staffing and hiring [16] - The company remains committed to its dividend policy, with free cash flow covering the dividend despite recent downturns in the staffing industry [25][27] Other Important Information - The company has $360 million in cash on the balance sheet, providing a cushion for dividend commitments [25] - The tax rate for Q3 was 33%, up from 31% the previous year, due to non-deductible expenses [10] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on Protiviti's pipeline and pricing - Management confirmed that the pipeline is growing, but projects are shifting from large to smaller, less efficient ones, impacting margins [22][23] Question: Sustainability of the dividend - The company remains committed to the dividend, with free cash flow covering it and a strong cash position [25][27] Question: Fourth quarter revenue guidance - The guidance is described as conservative, with expectations for slight sequential growth [30] Question: Trends in permanent versus contract placements - Permanent placements are currently performing better than contract placements, which is counterintuitive given historical trends [36] Question: Protiviti's gross margin compression - Gross margin compression is attributed to inflation, project mix, and competitive pressures in the consulting market [41][42] Question: Long-term operating margin opportunities - The company is focused on improving margins through skill enhancement and technology investments [48][49] Question: Impact of government shutdown on revenue - The federal government contributes less than 0.5% to total revenue, with no significant impact expected from the shutdown [51] Question: AI's impact on the labor market - Management believes AI has not significantly impacted the staffing industry, with trends indicating stability in experienced roles [56][66]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Global enterprise revenues for Q3 2025 were $1.354 billion, down 8% year-over-year on both reported and adjusted bases [3][4] - Net income per share decreased to $0.43 from $0.64 in the same quarter last year [4] - Cash flow from operations was $77 million, with a cash dividend of $0.59 per share distributed, totaling $59 million [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Talent Solutions revenues were $649 million in the U.S., down 11% year-over-year, while non-U.S. revenues were $207 million, down 12% [6] - Protiviti's global revenues were $498 million, with U.S. revenues at $398 million (down 6%) and non-U.S. revenues at $100 million (up 8%) [7] - Contract Talent Solutions bill rates increased by 3.7% compared to the previous year [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The third quarter had 64.2 billing days compared to 64.1 in the same quarter last year, while the fourth quarter is expected to have 61.4 billing days [6] - Currency exchange rate movements positively impacted reported revenues by $9 million [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to capitalize on emerging opportunities in staffing and consulting services, leveraging its brand, technology, and talent [5][15] - Protiviti's pipeline is growing, and the company expects improvements in growth rates in Q4 [17][42] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted early signs of improvement in the macroeconomic environment, with increased client discussions about staffing and hiring [15][16] - The company remains committed to its dividend policy, with free cash flow covering the dividend despite recent downturns in the staffing industry [25][26] Other Important Information - The adjusted operating income for Q3 was $61 million, or 4.5% of revenue, with a tax rate of 33% [10][12] - The company has $360 million in cash on the balance sheet, providing a cushion for future operations [25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Regarding Protiviti's pipeline and project materialization - Management confirmed that the pipeline is growing and projects are materializing as expected, though they are replacing larger projects with smaller ones, impacting efficiency [21][22] Question: Sustainability of the dividend - Management emphasized the importance of the dividend and confirmed that free cash flow currently covers it, with a commitment to return cash to shareholders [25][26] Question: Fourth quarter revenue guidance - Management described the fourth quarter guidance as conservative, with expectations for slight sequential growth [29] Question: Trends in permanent placement versus contract - Management noted that permanent placements are currently performing better than contract placements, which is counterintuitive but reflects current market dynamics [36] Question: Protiviti's gross margin compression - Management attributed gross margin compression to inflation, competitive pressures, and a shift to smaller, lower-margin projects [42][43] Question: Long-term operating margin opportunities - Management highlighted the importance of moving up the skill curve and leveraging technology to improve margins over the next cycle [48][49] Question: Impact of government shutdown on revenue - Management indicated that the federal government contributes less than half of 1% to revenue, and no significant impact from the shutdown is expected [51] Question: AI's impact on the labor market - Management expressed confidence that AI has not significantly impacted the staffing industry, attributing recent downturns to client caution and reduced contractor usage [56][65]