Why Is Robert Half (RHI) Down 9.7% Since Last Earnings Report?

Core Viewpoint - Robert Half's recent earnings report shows a mixed performance with earnings and revenues beating estimates, but significant year-over-year declines raise concerns about future performance [2][10]. Financial Performance - Q2 fiscal 2026 earnings were reported at 41 cents per share, exceeding the consensus estimate by 2.5%, but down 37.9% year-over-year [2]. - Revenues for the quarter reached $1.37 billion, surpassing the consensus by 1.4%, yet reflecting a 7% decline year-over-year [2]. Segment Performance - Talent Solutions revenues were $874.521 million, down 11.3% year-over-year and below the estimate of $914.2 million [3]. - U.S. Talent Solutions revenues were $668 million, a decrease of 11% year-over-year [3]. - Protiviti revenues were $495.2 million, up 2% year-over-year but below expectations [4]. - U.S. Protiviti revenues decreased by 1% year-over-year, while non-U.S. revenues increased by 11% [4]. Currency Impact - Currency exchange rate movements contributed an additional $8 million to total revenues year-over-year, with $4 million attributed to both Talent Solutions and Protiviti [5]. Profitability Metrics - Adjusted gross profit was $522.3 million, down 9.9% year-over-year, with a gross profit margin of 39.1%, declining by 210 basis points [6]. Balance Sheet and Cash Flow - The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $380.6 million, down from $547.4 million in the same quarter of the previous year [7]. - Operating cash flow was $119 million, with capital expenditures of $15.2 million and $59 million paid out in dividends [7]. Future Guidance - For Q3 2025, Robert Half expects revenues between $1.31 billion and $1.41 billion, with EPS projected between 37 cents and 47 cents [8]. - Capital expenditures for 2025 are anticipated to be between $75 million and $90 million, with $15 million to $25 million expected in Q3 [9]. Estimate Trends - Since the earnings release, there has been a downward trend in estimates, with a consensus estimate shift of -20.19% [10][11]. VGM Scores - Robert Half holds a Growth Score of B, a Momentum Score of C, and a Value Score of A, placing it in the top 20% for value investment strategy [12]. Overall Outlook - The overall trend in estimates indicates a downward shift, leading to a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell), suggesting below-average returns in the coming months [13].