ROBERT HALF INC. (RHI) FY 2024 MD&A
This page reproduces the company's own Item 7 MD&A text from the linked SEC filing. It is filer text, not grepcent analysis, scoring, or investment advice.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Certain information contained in Management’s Discussion and Analysis and in other parts of this report may be deemed forward-looking statements regarding events and financial trends that may affect the future operating results or financial positions of Robert Half Inc. (the “Company”). Forward-looking statements are not guarantees or promises that goals or targets will be met. These statements may be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “potential,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “target,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “believe,” “expect,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “may,” “might,” “will,” or variations or negatives thereof or by similar or comparable words or phrases. In addition, historical, current and forward-looking information about the Company’s environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) and compliance programs, including targets or goals, may not be considered material for the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or other mandatory reporting purposes and may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, on internal controls, diligence or processes that are evolving, on representations reviewed or provided by third parties, and on assumptions that are subject to change in the future. Forward-looking statements are estimates only and are based on management’s current expectations, currently available information and current strategy, plans or forecasts, and involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, often beyond our control and are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes, or the timing of these results or outcomes, to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: changes to or new interpretations of United States of America (“U.S.”) or international tax regulations; the global financial and economic situation; changes in levels of unemployment and other economic conditions in the U.S. or foreign countries where the Company does business, or in particular regions or industries; reduction in the supply of candidates for contract employment or the Company’s ability to attract candidates; the development, proliferation and adoption of artificial intelligence (“AI”) by the Company and the third parties it serves; the entry of new competitors into the marketplace or expansion by existing competitors; the ability of the Company to maintain existing client relationships and attract new clients in the context of changing economic or competitive conditions; the impact of competitive pressures, including any change in the demand for the Company’s services, or the Company’s ability to maintain its margins; the possibility of the Company incurring liability for its activities, including the activities of its engagement professionals, or for events impacting its engagement professionals on clients’ premises; the possibility that adverse publicity could impact the Company’s ability to attract and retain clients and candidates; the success of the Company in attracting, training and retaining qualified management personnel and other staff employees; the Company’s ability to comply with governmental regulations affecting personnel services businesses in particular or employer/employee relationships in general; whether there will be ongoing demand for Sarbanes-Oxley or other regulatory compliance services; the Company’s reliance on short-term contracts for a significant percentage of its business; litigation relating to prior or current transactions or activities, including litigation that may be disclosed from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings; the impact of extreme weather conditions on the Company and its candidates and clients; the ability of the Company to manage its international operations and comply with foreign laws and regulations; the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; the possibility that the additional costs the Company will incur as a result of health care or other reform legislation may adversely affect the Company’s profit margins or the demand for the Company’s services; the possibility that the Company’s computer and communications hardware and software systems could be damaged or their service interrupted or that the Company could experience a cybersecurity breach; and the possibility that the Company may fail to maintain adequate financial and management controls, and as a result suffer errors in its financial reporting. Additionally, with respect to Protiviti, other risks and uncertainties include the fact that future success will depend on its ability to retain employees and attract clients; there can be no assurance that there will be ongoing demand for broad-based consulting, regulatory compliance, technology services, public sector or other high-demand advisory services; failure to produce projected revenues could adversely affect financial results; and there is the possibility of involvement in litigation relating to prior or current transactions or activities. Because long-term contracts are not a significant part of the Company’s business, future results cannot be reliably predicted by considering past trends or extrapolating past results. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update information in this report, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, and notwithstanding any historical practice of doing so.
Executive Overview
The Company’s results were impacted by the ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty that affects client and candidate confidence, lengthening decision cycles and delaying hiring activities and projects in the short term.
The Company’s service revenues were $5.80 billion in 2024, a decrease of 9.3% from the prior year. Full-year 2024 net income decreased 38.8% to $252 million and diluted net income per share decreased 37.1% to $2.44.
Demand for the Company’s contract talent solutions, permanent placement talent solutions and Protiviti is largely dependent upon general economic and labor trends both domestically and abroad. The U.S. real gross domestic product increased 2.3% in 2024, compared to an increase of 2.5% in 2023, while the unemployment rate rose from 3.8% in December
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2023 to 4.1% in December 2024. Global labor markets remain resilient with U.S. job openings significantly above historical averages indicating pent-up demand for talent. In the U.S., unemployment stands at 4.1% and remains even lower for those with a college degree, where the rate is 2.4%.
The Company is confident about its ability to weather the current economic cycle. The NFIB’s Small Business Optimism Index continues to climb and recently reached levels not seen in more than six years. Rising business confidence is conducive to hiring urgency, accelerated project demand and reprioritization of deferred growth initiatives. The Company is encouraged by the current combination of elevated job openings, low unemployment and strong business confidence. The Company is well-positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities and support its clients’ talent and consulting needs through the strength of its industry-leading brand, people, technology and unique business model.
The Company continues to invest in technology and innovation, including AI. Major focus areas include providing a world-class digital experience for clients and candidates that is seamlessly connected to the Company’s specialized professional recruiters. Also, the Company will continue to leverage its proprietary data assets to enhance the AI tools its recruiters use to discover, assess and select talent for its clients, and the AI tools recruiters use to effectively target leads for additional revenue.
The Company monitors various economic indicators and business trends in all of the countries in which it operates to anticipate demand for the Company’s services. These trends are evaluated to determine the appropriate level of investment, including personnel, which will best position the Company for success in the current and future global macroeconomic environment. The Company’s investments in headcount are typically structured to proactively support and align with expected revenue growth trends and productivity metrics. Visibility into future revenues is limited not only due to the dependence on macroeconomic and labor market conditions noted above, but also because of the relatively short duration of the Company’s client engagements. Accordingly, the Company’s headcount and other investments are typically assessed on at least a quarterly basis. During 2024 the Company decreased headcount for its contract talent solutions and permanent placement talent solutions segments, when compared to prior year-end levels. In addition, the full-time headcount for Protiviti increased when compared to prior year-end levels.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
As described below, the Company’s most critical accounting policies and estimates are those that involve subjective decisions or assessments.
Service Revenues. The Company derives its revenues from three segments: contract talent solutions, permanent placement talent solutions and Protiviti. Revenues are recognized when promised goods or services are delivered to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. See Note C—“Revenue Recognition” to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II—Item 8 of this report.
Income Taxes. The Company’s operations are subject to U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income taxes. In establishing its deferred income tax assets and liabilities and its provision for income taxes, the Company makes judgments and interpretations based on the enacted tax laws that are applicable to its operations in various jurisdictions. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured and recorded using current enacted tax rates, which the Company expects will apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are recovered or settled. The likelihood of a material change in the Company’s expected realization of its deferred tax assets is dependent on future taxable income and the effectiveness of its tax planning in the various relevant jurisdictions.
The Company also evaluates the need for valuation allowances to reduce the deferred tax assets to realizable amounts. Management evaluates all positive and negative evidence and uses judgment regarding past and future events, including operating results, to help determine when it is more likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred tax assets may not be realized. When appropriate, a valuation allowance is recorded against deferred tax assets to offset future tax benefits that may not be realized. Valuation allowances of $26.4 million and $25.8 million were recorded as of December 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively. The valuation allowances recorded relate primarily to net operating losses in certain international operations. If such losses are ultimately utilized to offset future operating income, the Company will recognize a tax benefit up to the full amount of the related valuation reserve.
The Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (“OECD”), an international association of many countries, has introduced a framework to impose a 15% global minimum corporate tax, referred to as Pillar Two, effective for tax years beginning in 2024. Currently, there are no laws enacted incorporating Pillar Two in the U.S., however, certain countries in which the Company operates have adopted, or are in the process of adopting legislation to implement Pillar Two. The OECD continues to release additional guidance and countries are implementing legislation with widespread adoption of the Global Anti-Base Erosion (“GloBE”) Model Rules for Pillar Two. The Company is continuing to evaluate the GloBE Model Rules for Pillar Two and related legislation; no material tax impacts are expected.
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While management believes that its judgments and interpretations regarding income taxes are appropriate, significant differences in actual experience may materially affect the future financial results of the Company.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note B—“New Accounting Pronouncements” to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II—Item 8 of this report.
Results of Operations
The Company analyzes its operating results for three reportable segments: contract talent solutions, permanent placement talent solutions and Protiviti. The contract talent solutions and permanent placement talent solutions segments provide engagement professionals and full-time personnel, respectively, for finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, administrative and customer support, and executive search. The Protiviti segment provides internal audit, risk, business and technology consulting solutions.
Demand for the Company’s services is largely dependent upon global economic and labor trends. Because of the inherent difficulty in predicting economic trends, future demand for the Company’s services cannot be forecast with certainty.
The Company’s talent solutions segments conduct operations through offices in the U.S. and 17 other countries, while Protiviti has offices in the U.S. and 13 other countries.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The financial results of the Company are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”) and the rules of the SEC. To help readers understand the Company’s financial performance, the Company supplements its GAAP financial results with the following non-GAAP measures: adjusted gross margin; adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses; combined segment income; and as adjusted revenue growth rates.
The following measures, adjusted gross margin and adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses, include gains and losses on investments held to fund the Company’s obligations under employee deferred compensation plans. The Company provides these measures because they are used by management to review its operational results.
Combined segment income is income before income taxes, adjusted for interest income and amortization of intangible assets. The Company provides combined segment income because it is how management evaluates performance.
As adjusted revenue growth rates represent year-over-year revenue growth rates after removing the impacts on reported revenues from the changes in the number of billing days and foreign currency exchange rates. The Company provides this data because it focuses on the Company’s revenue growth rates attributable to operating activities and aids in evaluating revenue trends over time. The impacts from the changes in billing days and foreign currency exchange rates are calculated as follows:
•Billing days impact is calculated by dividing each comparative period’s reported revenues by the number of billing days for that period to arrive at a per billing day amount. Same billing day growth rates are then calculated based on the per billing day amounts. Management calculates a global, weighted-average number of billing days for each reporting period based upon inputs from all countries and all functional specializations and segments.
•Foreign currency impact is calculated by retranslating current period international revenues using foreign currency exchange rates from the prior year’s comparable period.
The non-GAAP financial measures provided herein may not provide information that is directly comparable to that provided by other companies in the Company’s industry, as other companies may calculate such financial results differently. The Company’s non-GAAP financial measures are not measurements of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to amounts presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company does not consider these non-GAAP financial measures to be a substitute for, or superior to, the information provided by GAAP financial results. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is provided on the following pages.
Refer to Item 7A. “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” of this report for further discussion of the impact of foreign currency exchange rates on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
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Years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023
Service Revenues. The Company’s revenues were $5.80 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024, a decrease of 9.3%, compared to $6.39 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023. Revenues from U.S. operations decreased 8.8% to $4.52 billion (78.0% of total revenue) for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $4.96 billion (77.5% of total revenue) for the year ended December 31, 2023. Revenues from international operations decreased 11.1% to $1.28 billion (22.0% of total revenue) for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $1.44 billion (22.5% of total revenue) for the year ended December 31, 2023. Contributing factors for each reportable segment are discussed below in further detail.
Contract talent solutions revenues were $3.36 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024, decreasing by 13.8% compared to revenues of $3.90 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023. Key drivers of contract talent solutions revenues include average hourly bill rates and the number of hours worked by the Company’s engagement professionals on client engagements. The decrease in contract talent solutions revenues for 2024 was primarily due to a 14.6% decrease in the number of hours worked by the Company’s engagement professionals, partially offset by a 1.5% increase in average bill rates. On an as adjusted basis, contract talent solutions revenues decreased 14.0% for 2024, compared to 2023. In the U.S., 2024 revenues decreased 14.6% on a reported basis, and decreased 15.1% on an as adjusted basis, compared to 2023. International revenues for 2024 decreased 11.0% on a reported basis, and decreased 10.6% on an as adjusted basis, compared to 2023.
Permanent placement talent solutions revenues were $487 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, decreasing by 14.1% compared to revenues of $567 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Key drivers of permanent placement talent solutions revenues consist of the number of candidate placements and average fees earned per placement. The decrease in permanent placement talent solutions revenues for 2024 was due to a 17.0% decrease in the number of placements, partially offset by a 2.9% increase in average fees earned per placement. On an as adjusted basis, permanent placement talent solutions revenues decreased 14.3% for 2024 compared to 2023. In the U.S., 2024 revenues decreased 12.6% on a reported basis, and decreased 13.1% on an as adjusted basis, compared to 2023. International revenues for 2024 revenues decreased 17.8% on a reported basis, and decreased 17.4% on an as adjusted basis, compared to 2023. Historically, demand for permanent placement talent solutions is even more sensitive to economic and labor market conditions than demand for contract talent solutions and this is expected to continue.
Protiviti revenues were $1.95 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024, increasing by 1.1% compared to revenues of $1.93 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023. Key drivers of Protiviti revenues are the billable hours worked on client engagements and average hourly bill rates. The increase in Protiviti revenues for 2024 was primarily due to a 2.4% increase in average hourly bill rate, partially offset by a 1.3% decrease in billable hours. On an as adjusted basis, Protiviti revenues increased 0.6% for 2024 compared to 2023. In the U.S., 2024 revenues increased 3.5% on a reported basis, and increased 3.0% on an as adjusted basis, compared to 2023. International revenues for 2024 revenues decreased 8.5% on a reported basis, and decreased 8.9% on an as adjusted basis, compared to 2023.
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A reconciliation of the non-GAAP year-over-year revenue growth rates to the reported year-over-year revenue growth rates for the year ended December 31, 2024, is presented in the following table:
| Global | United States | International | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contract talent solutions | ||||||||
| As Reported | -13.8 | % | -14.6 | % | -11.0 | % | ||
| Billing Days Impact | -0.4 | % | -0.5 | % | -0.4 | % | ||
| Currency Impact | 0.2 | % | — | 0.8 | % | |||
| As Adjusted | -14.0 | % | -15.1 | % | -10.6 | % | ||
| Permanent placement talent solutions | ||||||||
| As Reported | -14.1 | % | -12.6 | % | -17.8 | % | ||
| Billing Days Impact | -0.4 | % | -0.5 | % | -0.4 | % | ||
| Currency Impact | 0.2 | % | — | 0.8 | % | |||
| As Adjusted | -14.3 | % | -13.1 | % | -17.4 | % | ||
| Protiviti | ||||||||
| As Reported | 1.1 | % | 3.5 | % | -8.5 | % | ||
| Billing Days Impact | -0.5 | % | -0.5 | % | -0.4 | % | ||
| Currency Impact | — | — | — | |||||
| As Adjusted | 0.6 | % | 3.0 | % | -8.9 | % |
Gross Margin. The Company’s gross margin dollars were $2.25 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024, down 12.7% from $2.58 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023. Contributing factors for each reportable segment are discussed below in further detail.
Gross margin dollars for contract talent solutions represent revenues less costs of services, which consist of payroll, payroll taxes and benefit costs for engagement professionals, and reimbursable expenses. The key drivers of gross margin are: i) pay-bill spreads, which represent the differential between wages paid to engagement professionals and amounts billed to clients; ii) fringe costs, which are primarily composed of payroll taxes and benefit costs; and iii) conversion revenues, which are earned when a contract position converts to a permanent position with the Company’s client.
Gross margin dollars for contract talent solutions were $1.32 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024, down 15.0% from $1.55 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023. As a percentage of revenues, gross margin dollars for contract talent solutions were 39.2% in 2024, down from 39.8% in 2023. The decrease in gross margin percentage was primarily due to lower conversions and a smaller mix of higher margin services which impacted pay-bill spreads.
Gross margin dollars for permanent placement talent solutions represent revenues less reimbursable expenses. Gross margin dollars for permanent placement talent solutions were $486 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, down 14.2% from $566 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Because reimbursable expenses for permanent placement talent solutions are de minimis, the decrease in gross margin dollars is substantially explained by the decrease in revenues previously discussed.
Gross margin dollars for Protiviti represent revenues less costs of services, which consist primarily of professional staff payroll, payroll taxes, benefit costs and reimbursable expenses. The primary drivers of Protiviti’s gross margin are: i) the relative composition of and number of professional staff and their respective pay and bill rates; and ii) staff utilization, which is the relationship of time spent on client engagements in proportion to the total time available for the Company’s Protiviti staff. Gross margin dollars for Protiviti were $444 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, down 3.2% from $459 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. As a percentage of revenues, reported gross margin dollars for Protiviti were 22.8% in 2024, down from 23.8% in 2023. As a percentage of revenues, adjusted gross margin dollars for Protiviti were 23.7% in 2024, down from 24.6% in 2023. The year-over-year decrease in adjusted gross margin percentage was primarily due to the relative composition of and number of professional staff and their respective pay and bill rates.
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The Company’s gross margin by reporting segment is summarized as follows (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | Relationships | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As Reported | As Adjusted | As Reported | As Adjusted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Margin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contract talent solutions | $ | 1,316,524 | $ | 1,549,312 | $ | 1,316,524 | $ | 1,549,312 | 39.2 | % | 39.8 | % | 39.2 | % | 39.8 | % | |||||||||||
| Permanent placement talent solutions | 486,219 | 566,381 | 486,219 | 566,381 | 99.8 | % | 99.8 | % | 99.8 | % | 99.8 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Protiviti | 444,487 | 459,311 | 463,250 | 475,572 | 22.8 | % | 23.8 | % | 23.7 | % | 24.6 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,247,230 | $ | 2,575,004 | $ | 2,265,993 | $ | 2,591,265 | 38.8 | % | 40.3 | % | 39.1 | % | 40.5 | % |
The following tables provide reconciliations of the non-GAAP adjusted gross margin to reported gross margin for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023 (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contract talent solutions | Permanent placement talent solutions | Protiviti | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | % of Revenue | $ | % of Revenue | $ | % of Revenue | $ | % of Revenue | ||||||||||||||||
| Gross Margin | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| As Reported | $ | 1,316,524 | 39.2 | % | $ | 486,219 | 99.8 | % | $ | 444,487 | 22.8 | % | $ | 2,247,230 | 38.8 | % | |||||||
| Adjustments (1) | — | — | — | — | 18,763 | 0.9 | % | 18,763 | 0.3 | % | |||||||||||||
| As Adjusted | $ | 1,316,524 | 39.2 | % | $ | 486,219 | 99.8 | % | $ | 463,250 | 23.7 | % | $ | 2,265,993 | 39.1 | % |
| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contract talent solutions | Permanent placement talent solutions | Protiviti | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | % of Revenue | $ | % of Revenue | $ | % of Revenue | $ | % of Revenue | ||||||||||||||||
| Gross Margin | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| As Reported | $ | 1,549,312 | 39.8 | % | $ | 566,381 | 99.8 | % | $ | 459,311 | 23.8 | % | $ | 2,575,004 | 40.3 | % | |||||||
| Adjustments (1) | — | — | — | — | 16,261 | 0.8 | % | 16,261 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||||
| As Adjusted | $ | 1,549,312 | 39.8 | % | $ | 566,381 | 99.8 | % | $ | 475,572 | 24.6 | % | $ | 2,591,265 | 40.5 | % |
(1)Changes in the Company’s deferred compensation obligations related to Protiviti operations are included in costs of services, while the related investment income is presented separately. The non-GAAP financial adjustments shown in the table above are to reclassify investment income from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts to the same line item that includes the corresponding change in obligation. These adjustments have no impact on income before income taxes.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. The Company’s selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of staff compensation, advertising, variable overhead, depreciation and occupancy costs. The Company’s reported selling, general and administrative expenses were $2.00 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024, down 4.9% from $2.11 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023. As a percentage of revenues, reported selling, general and administrative expenses were 34.6% in 2024, up from 33.0% in 2023. The Company’s adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses were $1.93 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024, down 5.2% from $2.04 billion in 2023. As a percentage of revenues, adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses were 33.3% in 2024, up from 31.8% in 2023. Contributing factors for each reportable segment are discussed below in further detail.
Selling, general and administrative expenses for contract talent solutions, on an as-reported basis, were $1.25 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024, decreasing 5.2% from $1.32 billion the year ended December 31, 2023. As a percentage of revenues, reported selling, general and administrative expenses for contract talent solutions were 37.3% in 2024, up from 33.9% in 2023. Selling, general and administrative expenses for contract talent solutions, on an adjusted basis, were $1.19 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024, down 5.6% from $1.26 billion in 2023. As a percentage of revenues, adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses for contract talent solutions were 35.3% in 2024, up from 32.3% in 2023, due primarily to negative leverage as revenues decreased as a result of economic conditions.
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Selling, general and administrative expenses for permanent placement talent solutions were $449 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, decreasing by 10.0% from $499 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. As a percentage of revenues, reported selling, general and administrative expenses for permanent placement talent solutions services were 92.1% in 2024, up from 87.9% in 2023. As a percentage of revenues, adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses for permanent placement talent solutions were 90.3% in 2024, up from 86.6% in 2023, due primarily to negative leverage as revenues decreased as a result of economic conditions.
Selling, general and administrative expenses for Protiviti were $303 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, increasing by 5.3% from $288 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. As a percentage of revenues, selling, general and administrative expenses for Protiviti were 15.5% in 2024, up from 14.9% in 2023.
The Company’s selling, general and administrative expenses by reportable segment are summarized as follows (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | Relationships | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As Reported | As Adjusted | As Reported | As Adjusted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, General and Administrative Expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contract talent solutions | $ | 1,252,588 | $ | 1,320,752 | $ | 1,186,006 | $ | 1,256,497 | 37.3 | % | 33.9 | % | 35.3 | % | 32.3 | % | |||||||||||
| Permanent placement talent solutions | 448,901 | 498,881 | 440,167 | 491,377 | 92.1 | % | 87.9 | % | 90.3 | % | 86.6 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Protiviti | 303,050 | 287,898 | 303,050 | 287,898 | 15.5 | % | 14.9 | % | 15.5 | % | 14.9 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,004,539 | $ | 2,107,531 | $ | 1,929,223 | $ | 2,035,772 | 34.6 | % | 33.0 | % | 33.3 | % | 31.8 | % |
The following tables provide reconciliations of the non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses to reported selling, general and administrative expenses for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023 (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contract talent solutions | Permanent placement talent solutions | Protiviti | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | % of Revenue | $ | % of Revenue | $ | % of Revenue | $ | % of Revenue | ||||||||||||||||
| Selling, General and Administrative Expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| As Reported | $ | 1,252,588 | 37.3 | % | $ | 448,901 | 92.1 | % | $ | 303,050 | 15.5 | % | $ | 2,004,539 | 34.6 | % | |||||||
| Adjustments (1) | (66,582) | (2.0 | %) | (8,734) | (1.8 | %) | — | — | (75,316) | (1.3 | %) | ||||||||||||
| As Adjusted | $ | 1,186,006 | 35.3 | % | $ | 440,167 | 90.3 | % | $ | 303,050 | 15.5 | % | $ | 1,929,223 | 33.3 | % |
| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contract talent solutions | Permanent placement talent solutions | Protiviti | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | % of Revenue | $ | % of Revenue | $ | % of Revenue | $ | % of Revenue | ||||||||||||||||
| Selling, General and Administrative Expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| As Reported | $ | 1,320,752 | 33.9 | % | $ | 498,881 | 87.9 | % | $ | 287,898 | 14.9 | % | $ | 2,107,531 | 33.0 | % | |||||||
| Adjustments (1) | (64,255) | (1.6 | %) | (7,504) | (1.3 | %) | — | — | (71,759) | (1.2 | %) | ||||||||||||
| As Adjusted | $ | 1,256,497 | 32.3 | % | $ | 491,377 | 86.6 | % | $ | 287,898 | 14.9 | % | $ | 2,035,772 | 31.8 | % |
(1)Changes in the Company’s employee deferred compensation plan obligations related to talent solutions operations are included in selling, general and administrative expenses, while the related investment income is presented separately. The non-GAAP financial adjustments shown in the table above are to reclassify investment income from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts to the same line item that includes the corresponding change in obligation. These adjustments have no impact on income before income taxes.
Income from Investments Held in Employee Deferred Compensation Trusts. Under the Company’s employee deferred compensation plans, employees direct the investment of their account balances, and the Company invests amounts held in the associated investment trusts consistent with these directions. As realized and unrealized investment gains and losses occur, the Company’s employee deferred compensation plan obligations change and adjustments are recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses, or in the case of Protiviti, costs of services. The value of the related investment trust assets also changes by the equal and offsetting amount, leaving no net costs to the Company, and therefore no effect on reported net
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income. The Company’s income from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts consists primarily of unrealized and realized gains and losses and dividend income from trust investments and is presented separately on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company’s income from investments held in employee deferred compensation trusts was $94 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, and $88 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The income from trust investments was due to positive market returns during 2024.
Income Before Income Taxes and Segment Income. The Company’s total income before income taxes was $358 million, or 6.2% of revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2024, down from $577 million, or 9.0% of revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2023. Combined segment income was $337 million, or 5.8% of revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2024, down from $555 million, or 8.7% of revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2023.
The Company’s non-GAAP combined segment income is summarized as follows (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | % of Revenue | 2023 | % of Revenue | ||||||||
| Combined Segment Income | |||||||||||
| Contract talent solutions | $ | 130,518 | 3.9 | % | $ | 292,815 | 7.5 | % | |||
| Permanent placement talent solutions | 46,052 | 9.5 | % | 75,004 | 13.2 | % | |||||
| Protiviti | 160,200 | 8.2 | % | 187,674 | 9.7 | % | |||||
| Total | $ | 336,770 | 5.8 | % | $ | 555,493 | 8.7 | % |
The following table provides a reconciliation of the non-GAAP combined segment income to reported income before income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023 (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | % of Revenue | 2023 | % of Revenue | ||||||||
| Income before income taxes | $ | 357,671 | 6.2 | % | $ | 576,583 | 9.0 | % | |||
| Interest income, net | (22,118) | (0.4) | % | (23,973) | (0.3) | % | |||||
| Amortization of intangible assets | 1,217 | 0.0 | % | 2,883 | 0.0 | % | |||||
| Combined segment income | $ | 336,770 | 5.8 | % | $ | 555,493 | 8.7 | % |
Provision for income taxes. The provision for income taxes was 29.7% and 28.7% for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The higher tax rate for 2024 can be attributed to an increased impact of nondeductible expenses and fewer tax credits.
Years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022
A discussion of changes regarding the Company’s financial condition and results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 20, 2024, which is available free of charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and at www.roberthalf.com/investor-center.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The change in the Company’s liquidity during the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, is primarily the net effect of funds generated by operations and the funds used for capital expenditures, investments in employee deferred compensation trusts, net of redemptions from employee deferred compensation trusts, repurchases of common stock, and payments of dividends.
Cash and cash equivalents were $538 million and $732 million at December 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively. Operating activities provided $410 million during the year ended December 31, 2024, offset by $87 million and $496 million of net cash used in investing activities and financing activities, respectively. Operating activities provided $637 million during the year ended December 31, 2023, offset by $112 million and $461 million of net cash used in investing and financing activities, respectively. Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates had the effect of decreasing reported cash and cash equivalents by $21 million during the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to an increase of $9 million in 2023.
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Operating activities—Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2024, was $410 million. This was composed of net income of $252 million, adjusted upward for non-cash items of $68 million, and cash provided by changes in working capital of $90 million. Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2023, was $637 million. This was composed of net income of $411 million, adjusted upward for non-cash items of $79 million, and cash provided by changes in working capital of $147 million.
Investing activities—Cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2024, was $87 million. This was composed of capital expenditures of $56 million and investments in employee deferred compensation trusts of $69 million, partially offset by proceeds from employee deferred compensation trust redemptions of $38 million. Cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023, was $112 million. This was composed of capital expenditures of $46 million, investments in employee deferred compensation trusts of $103 million, and $1 million cash paid for an acquisition, partially offset by proceeds from employee deferred compensation trust redemptions of $38 million.
Capital expenditures, including $29 million related to cloud computing implementations, in 2024 totaled $86 million, approximately 59% of which represented investments in software initiatives and technology infrastructure, both of which are important to the Company’s sustainability and future growth opportunities. Capital expenditures for cloud computing arrangements are included in cash flows from operating activities on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Capital expenditures included amounts spent on tenant improvements and furniture and equipment in the Company’s leased offices. The Company currently expects 2025 capitalized expenditures will range from $75 million to $95 million, of which $45 million to $55 million relates to software initiatives and technology infrastructure, including capitalized costs relating to the implementation of cloud computing arrangements.
Financing activities—Cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2024, was $496 million. This included repurchases of $276 million in common stock and $220 million in dividends paid to stockholders. Cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023, was $461 million. This included repurchases of $255 million in common stock and $206 million in dividends paid to stockholders.
As of December 31, 2024, the Company is authorized to repurchase, from time to time, up to 7.3 million additional shares of the Company’s common stock on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, depending on market conditions. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company repurchased 3.5 million shares, at a cost of $249 million, and 3.0 million shares, at a cost of $232 million, on the open market, respectively. Additional stock repurchases were made in connection with employee stock plans, whereby Company shares were tendered by employees for the payment of applicable statutory withholding taxes. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, such repurchases totaled 0.3 million shares, at a cost of $23 million, and 0.3 million shares, at a cost of $26 million, respectively. Repurchases of shares have been funded with cash generated from operations.
The Company’s working capital as of December 31, 2024, included $538 million in cash and cash equivalents and $772 million in net accounts receivable, both of which will be a significant source of ongoing liquidity and financial resilience. The Company expects that internally generated cash will be sufficient to support the working capital needs of the Company, the Company’s fixed payments, dividends, and other obligations on both a short-term and long-term basis.
There is limited visibility into future cash flows as the Company’s revenues and net income are largely dependent on macroeconomic conditions. The Company’s variable direct costs related to its contract talent solutions business will largely fluctuate in relation to its revenues.
In May 2023, the Company entered into an amendment to extend the maturity of its $100 million unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Credit Agreement”) to May 2026. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement will bear interest in accordance with the terms of the borrowing which will be calculated according to the Adjusted Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), or an alternative base rate, plus an applicable margin. The Credit Agreement is subject to certain financial covenants and the Company was in compliance with these covenants as of December 31, 2024. There were no borrowings under the Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2024, or December 31, 2023.
On February 12, 2025, the Company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.59 per share to be paid to all shareholders of record as of February 25, 2025. The dividend will be paid on March 14, 2025.
Material Cash Requirements from Contractual Obligations
Leases. As of December 31, 2024, the Company reported current and long-term operating lease liabilities of $65 million and $169 million, respectively. These balances consist of the minimum rental commitments for 2025 and thereafter, discounted to reflect the Company’s cost of borrowing, under noncancelable lease contracts executed as of December 31, 2024.
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The majority of these leases are for real estate. In the event the Company vacates a location prior to the end of the lease term, the Company may be obliged to continue making lease payments. For further information, see Note G—“Leases” to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II—Item 8 of this report.
Purchase Obligations. As of December 31, 2024, the Company’s contractual purchase obligations were $255 million, primarily related to software subscriptions, services, telecom services and software maintenance agreements. Of this amount, $112 million is expected to be paid within the next 12 months. These purchase obligations are incurred during the normal course of business.
Employee Deferred Compensation Plan. As of December 31, 2024, the Company reported employee deferred compensation plan obligations of $678 million in its accompanying Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. The balances are due to employees based upon elections they make at the time of deferring their funds. The timing of these payments may change based upon factors including termination of the Company’s employment arrangement with a participant. These obligations are funded through contributions to investment trusts, whose assets as of December 31, 2024, were substantially equal to the obligations. Assets of these plans are held by an independent trustee for the sole benefit of participating employees and consist of money market funds and mutual funds. For further information, see Note J—“Employee Deferred Compensation Plans” to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II—Item 8 of this report.