Core Insights - The Kelly Global Re:work Report highlights a significant disconnect between executives and employees regarding the adoption and benefits of AI in the workplace [4][6] - Executives view acquiring AI skills as essential for career success, while many employees remain skeptical about the technology's advantages [1][2] Group 1: Executive Perspectives - 69% of executives believe that refusing to adopt AI poses a greater threat to job security than the technology itself [2] - More than half (59%) of executives would consider replacing workers who resist adopting AI tools [2] - Executives acknowledge that AI should enable employees to focus on high-value tasks, yet only 47% of workers report time savings from AI [3] Group 2: Employee Perspectives - Less than half of employees (47%) feel they are benefiting from AI tools, and 32% do not see any advantages [3] - There is a notable gap in trust and understanding of AI's role in enhancing job performance among employees [4][5] Group 3: Implementation Challenges - 80% of executives admit that AI implementation is stalling due to a lack of expertise among teams [3] - Organizations face technical challenges, security concerns, and slow user adoption, which hinder effective AI integration [4] - The report identifies a skills gap as a critical barrier to realizing the full potential of AI in the workplace [4][5] Group 4: Recommendations for Organizations - The report urges employers to address three interconnected gaps: technology, talent, and trust [5] - Recommendations include linking AI fluency to career development, providing hands-on demonstrations to alleviate fears, and establishing feedback loops to align leadership and employee experiences [5][6] - Leaders are encouraged to model AI usage in their roles and foster a culture that promotes AI-driven problem-solving [6]

Core Viewpoint - HireQuest, Inc. reported financial results for Q3 2025, highlighting challenges in the U.S. staffing industry due to a muted hiring landscape as employers adopt a cautious approach to hiring activities [1] Company Summary - HireQuest, Inc. is a national franchisor specializing in on-demand staffing and executive search services [1] - The company’s President and CEO, Rick Hermanns, noted the ongoing challenges faced by the staffing industry in the current economic environment [1] Industry Summary - The U.S. staffing industry is experiencing a subdued hiring environment, with employers taking a "wait and see" approach regarding their hiring decisions [1]

Core Insights - The October job losses are the highest in 20 years, indicating a significant cooling in the labor market [2][3] - There is an expectation of continued layoffs through the end of the year, reflecting ongoing weakness in the labor market [3][6] - Wall Street appears to reward companies that announce job layoffs, creating a potential momentum for such actions [7][12] Labor Market Analysis - The labor market is showing signs of cooling, with various indicators being monitored to assess the overall health of the economy [4][5] - Challenger data provides a comprehensive view of job losses, contextualizing current figures with historical data [6] - Bank of America data suggests that while the market is cooling, conditions did not worsen from September to October [8] Impact of Artificial Intelligence - AI is becoming increasingly integrated into job postings, with 13% of tracked job posts including AI-related roles [11] - The trend indicates a shift towards more precise hiring practices, as companies leverage AI for productivity [12] - Companies are adopting smarter strategies in workforce management, balancing layoffs with targeted hiring in AI and technology sectors [10][12]

Core Insights - Kelly Services reported a revenue of $935.0 million for Q3 2025, reflecting a 9.9% decrease compared to Q3 2024, primarily due to lower demand in the ETM and SET segments, partially offset by a 0.9% growth in the Education segment [3][8][9] - The company experienced an operating loss of $102.1 million in Q3 2025, a significant decline from earnings of $2.6 million in Q3 2024, largely attributed to non-cash goodwill impairment charges [4][6] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q3 2025 was $16.5 million, down 36.7% year-over-year, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 1.8%, a decrease of 70 basis points [4][8] Financial Performance - Revenue for the 39-week period ended September 28, 2025, was $3.2 billion, a 1.9% increase compared to the same period in 2024, primarily due to the acquisition of MRP [9][10] - The operating loss for the first nine months of 2025 was $69.1 million, compared to earnings of $41.6 million in the same period of 2024 [10][12] - The company reported a net loss of $150.1 million for Q3 2025, compared to a net income of $0.8 million in Q3 2024 [20][22] Segment Analysis - In Q3 2025, the Enterprise Talent Management segment generated $487.9 million in revenue, down 13.1% from Q3 2024, while the Science, Engineering & Technology segment saw a 9.0% decline to $304.9 million [27][28] - The Education segment reported a slight revenue increase of 0.9% to $143.3 million, indicating resilience amidst overall declines in other segments [27][28] - Adjusted SG&A expenses decreased by 9.7% in Q3 2025, reflecting ongoing expense optimization initiatives [8] Tax and Earnings Per Share - Income tax expense for Q3 2025 was $46.4 million, compared to a tax benefit of $2.6 million in Q3 2024, influenced by non-cash goodwill impairment charges [5][11] - Loss per share for Q3 2025 was $4.26, including non-cash goodwill impairment charges of $2.37 per share, compared to earnings per share of $0.02 in Q3 2024 [6][12] Future Outlook - The company anticipates no significant changes in macroeconomic conditions for Q4 2025 and expects a positive resolution to the federal government shutdown [14] - Kelly Services declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.075 per share, payable on December 3, 2025, reflecting confidence in its strategy [14]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenues for Q3 2025 were $332.6 million, exceeding expectations, with earnings per share of $0.63, surpassing the high end of guidance [2][19] - Overall gross margins improved to 27.7%, up 60 basis points sequentially, while flex margins in the technology business increased by 50 basis points [19][20] - SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenue increased to 22.8%, primarily due to lower revenue and gross profit levels [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Technology business revenues declined 1.1% sequentially and 5.6% year-over-year, while finance and accounting business grew approximately 7% sequentially but declined slightly more than 8% year-over-year [11][19] - Consultants on assignment grew roughly 4% from early third quarter lows, indicating a positive trend in staffing [11][12] - Flex revenues in the finance and accounting business, which currently represent about 7% of total revenues, declined 7.3% year-over-year but saw 6.9% sequential growth [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The labor market remains weak, with prolonged stagnation in job gains, but internal KPIs improved throughout Q3, leading to an increase in consultants on assignment [4][11] - Demand for services is broad-based across various industries, with no specific industry driving growth, indicating a stable market environment [56][58] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on organic growth strategies, emphasizing partnerships with clients to address critical business challenges [9][24] - There is a strong commitment to investing in AI readiness and evolving skill sets to meet growing client demands [9][15] - The company aims to achieve double-digit operating margins and approximately 8% profitability when annual revenues return to $1.7 billion [26] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's strategic position and ability to deliver above-market results despite macroeconomic uncertainties [26] - The ongoing federal government shutdown and global trade negotiations create a challenging near-term outlook, but there is optimism for sequential growth in Q4 [3][4] - The company anticipates a sequential billing day increase in the technology business during Q4, supported by momentum from new engagements [15][19] Other Important Information - The company returned $16.2 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, maintaining a strong balance sheet with conservative leverage [22][24] - The board approved an increase in share authorization to $100 million, reaffirming the company's commitment to returning capital to shareholders [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide a sense of typical July through September performance compared to this year? - Management noted a 4% increase in consultants on assignment, indicating a healthy growth rate compared to pre-pandemic levels, though slightly lower than historical highs [28][29] Question: What contributed to the improvement in gross margins? - The increase in flex gross margins was attributed to lower healthcare costs and a favorable mix shift towards consulting engagements, which typically carry higher margins [30][32] Question: What is the company's exposure to H1B visa changes? - The company has minimal exposure as it does not sponsor new H1B visas, focusing instead on transitioning existing employees, thus expecting no immediate impact on talent access [34][36] Question: What types of AI-related projects are driving demand? - The majority of work involves foundational readiness, data modernization, and operational AI use cases, with a focus on measurable returns [42][44] Question: How close is the company to a staffing revenue bottom? - Management indicated promising signs of stabilization in staffing revenue, with growth observed in both staff augmentation and consulting services [49][50]

Group 1 - Approximately 66% of U.S. workers are willing to return to the office full-time if offered higher pay, indicating that compensation is a significant factor in employee satisfaction [1][2] - The survey by Robert Half reveals that many employees view hybrid or fully remote work as the new norm, but office-based roles are still viable if the right compensation is provided [2] - A majority of workers open to returning to the office would consider full-time onsite work with at least a 10% salary increase [2] Group 2 - Employers need to offer higher pay, better perks, or create an appealing office environment to encourage employees to return to the office [3] - A report from Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. indicates that the majority of Fortune 100 employees now have a fully in-office policy from their employers [4] - Employees should evaluate the trade-offs of returning to the office, considering factors like commuting costs and time lost in traffic [7] Group 3 - Employees are encouraged to negotiate for more than just salary, such as hybrid workdays, flexible hours, or additional paid time off, which may provide greater value than a salary increase [7] - Utilizing Robert Half's Salary Guide can help employees understand their worth and ensure that offers reflect the additional costs and time associated with returning to the office [7] - Employees should be clear about their priorities, especially if remote work is essential for them, and feel empowered to decline offers that do not align with their needs [7]

Core Insights - Metavesco, Inc. reported sales results for its Epic Labor staffing subsidiary, indicating a slight increase in weekly revenue for September 2025 compared to August 2025 [2][3]. Financial Performance - Epic Labor generated $33,583 in revenue per week during September, up from $33,423 per week in August, despite September having four weeks of operations compared to five weeks in August [2]. - Total revenue for September was $134,332, a decrease from $167,115 in August [2]. Business Strategy - The company aims for Epic Labor to achieve cash-flow positivity as part of its broader strategy to convert operational profits into Bitcoin and efficient Bitcoin mining [3]. - Epic Labor currently operates four staffing locations and provides on-demand blue-collar staffing across various sectors, including construction, warehousing, hospitality, and events [3]. - Metavesco plans to expand Epic Labor's presence in the Southeast with additional branch locations expected to open soon [3]. Company Overview - Metavesco, Inc. is a diversified holding company focused on acquiring and managing assets across multiple sectors, including consumer packaged goods and staffing services [4]. - The company is committed to long-term growth through organic expansion, strategic acquisitions, and innovative market solutions [4].

Core Insights - Three stocks have been added to the Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell) List, indicating a negative outlook for these companies [1][2][3] Company Summaries - **Adecco (AHEXY)**: This company provides a variety of services connecting colleagues with clients. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised downward by approximately 46.1% over the last 60 days [1] - **Carter Bankshares (CARE)**: A bank holding company offering various financial services including checking and savings accounts, loans, and retirement accounts. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised downward by 7.3% over the last 60 days [2] - **Cantaloupe (CTLP)**: A software and payments company that delivers end-to-end technology solutions for the unattended retail market. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has been revised downward by nearly 6.7% over the last 60 days [3]

Core Insights - Western Union Company (WU) reported third-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 47 cents, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 9.3% and reflecting a year-over-year growth of 2.2% [1][9] - Total revenues remained flat at $1 billion, surpassing the consensus mark by 1.2% [1][9] Financial Performance - The adjusted operating margin improved by 100 basis points year over year to 20%, driven by cost efficiencies [3] - Total expenses decreased by 5% year over year to $830.7 million, lower than the estimated $833.7 million [3] - Operating income increased by 22% year over year to $201.9 million, exceeding the estimate of $191.3 million [4] Segment Analysis - The Consumer Money Transfer (CMT) segment reported revenues of $878 million, down 6% year over year, falling short of both the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $891 million and the estimate of $903.7 million [5] - Operating income for the CMT segment declined by 9% year over year to $172.2 million, although it beat the consensus mark of $171 million [5] - The Branded Digital business experienced a 12% transaction growth, with revenues rising 7% on a reported basis [6] - The Consumer Services (CS) segment's revenues surged by 49% year over year to $154.6 million, significantly exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $128 million [7] Financial Position - As of September 30, 2025, Western Union had cash and cash equivalents of $947.8 million, a decrease of 35.7% from the end of 2024 [8] - Total assets declined by 7% to $7.8 billion, while borrowings decreased by 11.9% to $2.6 billion [8] Shareholder Returns - In the first nine months of 2025, Western Union returned $230 million to shareholders through dividends and $200 million via share buybacks [11] Future Outlook - Management maintains guidance for adjusted revenues between $4.035 billion and $4.135 billion, with adjusted EPS forecasted in the range of $1.65-$1.75, indicating a 2.3% decline from 2024 [12]

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]