Business overview: An international human resource consulting firm

Intro

Their mission is – bringing top-tier companies and specialized talent together to fuel business success and build rewarding careers. Founded 76 years ago, these folks were pioneers in the professional talent solutions game, linking skilled job seekers with great opportunities.

Robert Half International

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do” – Deep dive into the International human resource consulting firm founded 70 years ago

Key Dates

• 1948: Robert Half Finance & Accounting gets rolling.
  
• 1985: More than 150 Robert Half and Accountemps franchises are independently operating across the U.S.
  
• 1987: Company goes public
  
• 1989: New offices pop up as the temp-staffing industry booms.
  
• 1993: Expansion hits Europe.
  
• 2023: Ranked #1 on Forbes’ list of America’s Best Professional Recruiting Firms; also named one of America’s Best Temporary Staffing Firms and America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms.
  
• 2024: Still killing it—Ranked #1 again on Forbes’ list.
  

Company History

During World War II in New York City, Maxine Half met CPA and part-time volunteer ambulance driver Robert Half who came by to offer advice on air raids and protocol. Two years later, 1945, they married.

 

In 1948, they started the first employment agency specializing in the placement of financial personnel, known as Robert Half International and Accountemps.

Robert Half International Inc. (RHI) is a heavyweight in the staffing world, leading the charge with temporary, full-time, and contract gigs. They’ve been around the block, specializing in placing accounting, finance, and IT pros since day one. With seven divisions and a subsidiary, they’re like a Swiss Army knife for talent solutions.

• Accountemps: Handling temporary accountants and financial pros.
  
• Robert Half Finance & Accounting: Locking in full-time finance talent.
  
• Robert Half Technology: Supplying IT pros on contract.
  
• OfficeTeam: High-end temp administrative roles.
  
• Robert Half Legal: Lawyers, paralegals, and legal support, whether it’s temp, project-based, or full-time.
  
• Robert Half Management Resources: Project-based finance pros.
  
• The Creative Group: Freelancers in creative, advertising, marketing, and web design.
  
• Protiviti (Subsidiary): Independent internal audit and business tech risk consulting.
  

By the end of 2004, RHI was everywhere—330 offices across 43 states and all over the globe.

Origins

Robert Half was one of the OGs in the employment services industry, kicking off Robert Half Inc. in 1948, originally catering to accountants. He later launched Accountemps to fill the temp finance roles that companies desperately needed, while still offering permanent placements through his Robert Half offices.

This model took off in California, and soon enough, he was franchising the concept nationwide. The temp staffing game was slow to grow in the ’60s and ’70s but exploded in the ’80s. By 1985, 150 independent Robert Half and Accountemps franchises were up and running.

Then came the game-changer. In 1985, Harold M. “Max” Messmer, Jr. took the reins as president. A year later, Boothe Financial Corporation scooped up all of Robert Half’s stock, and Messmer immediately started buying up all the franchises under the Robert Half brand.

By 1987, Robert Half International Inc. was public, with Messmer as CEO and president, and by the following year, he was also chairman of the board.

Back in 1989, RHI started expanding by opening new offices. At the same time, a merchant banking group, Gibbons, Breen, Van Amerongen, L.P., scooped up 3.1 million shares of RHI, about 27% of the company. By the end of the decade, RHI was raking in $234.5 million, marking a 29% jump from the previous year.

The ’80s were a wild ride for the temp staffing industry, with double-digit growth all around. Everyone thought these temp firms could weather any recession. But with rapid consolidation, the big national firms multiplied, and competition got fierce, leading to a price war that started with clerical staffing and quickly spread to specialized areas like accounting.

Recession and Recovery in the Early ’90s

In 1990, RHI’s focus on accounting and financial placements helped it dodge most of the price war bullets, and they even acquired a Florida-based financial recruiting firm, Wayne S. Mello & Associates. Robert Half’s permanent placement division hit a peak with $450 million in revenue. But then the recession kicked in, slowing revenue growth to just 9%, a significant drop from ’89.

In a typical year, Robert Half’s permanent placements made up 15-20% of total revenue. But as the demand for permanent hires fell due to corporate downsizing, RHI started to feel the heat.

The management’s strategy? Slow and steady. They slashed overhead, tightened the ad budget, and improved cash management. The rough economy also made it easier for RHI to buy up struggling Robert Half and Accountemps franchises and snag a Seattle-based temp firm focused on accounting and data-processing roles.

Management also figured it was time to diversify. In late ’91, they launched OfficeTeam, a new division focused on high-end office admin personnel. This move was in response to long-time clients asking for temp help with admin, word processing, and office management tasks. To keep costs down, they placed OfficeTeam reps in a few Accountemps offices. Despite the tough year, the new division brought in $2 million, even as overall revenues dropped 16% and earnings per share fell by more than 50%.

By ’92, OfficeTeam was pulling in $12 million, accounting for nearly 5% of RHI’s total bookings. Meanwhile, the permanent placement side was struggling, bringing in just $22 million, less than half of what it made in 1990. RHI responded by merging most Robert Half offices with Accountemps branches and consolidating smaller offices into larger hubs.

Things started looking up towards the end of ’92 as employers got comfortable enough to bring on temporary staff. With the success of OfficeTeam, RHI decided to dive into legal placements, acquiring The Affiliates, a Southern California firm specializing in temp and permanent paralegal and legal support staff.

In ’93, RHI expanded to the East Coast by buying D.C.-based Key Financial and opened offices in France, Belgium, and the UK. OfficeTeam was on fire, bringing in nearly $41 million, over 13% of total revenue. RHI found little competition from the big players like Kelly or Manpower since most of OfficeTeam’s placements were with long-standing clients who only needed a few workers at a time. By the end of the year, RHI’s revenues hit $306.2 million.

By the last half of ’93, U.S. employment started to bounce back, and RHI’s permanent placement business began to recover. As the economy strengthened and corporate downsizing slowed, the temp staffing industry thrived. Employers wanted the flexibility to adjust quickly to market changes without overstaffing.

What was once a niche for temp workers during busy periods expanded into a growing demand for professionals in fields like home healthcare, prison management, science, and tech.

New Directions in the Mid-1990s

RHI saw the demand for specialized placements blowing up and jumped on it by creating RHI Consulting. This new division was all about matching companies with top IT talent—systems analysts, computer engineers, and other tech specialists on a contract basis.

The IT staffing scene was hot during the mid-’90s, not just because there was a huge demand, but because these gigs were longer-term and the profit margins were way better.

Even as RHI was branching out into new areas, they were tightening up their core business. By March ’94, they had bought back almost all the original 150 Robert Half and Accountemps franchises.

According to a report from Kidder Peabody, management believed centralized ownership would help slash costs, bring in advanced data processing systems, and enhance marketing, accounting, and legal practices that were previously stand-alone operations. They completed this buyback by 2003.

The temp industry was on fire. According to the National Association of Temporary Staffing Services (NATSS), in 1995, around 2.16 million people were working as temps daily, a massive jump from 185,000 in 1970. Temps made up 1.78% of total employment, grabbing one out of every 56 jobs, compared to just one in 100 in 1990 and one in 384 in 1970. A solid 24.2% of the temp payroll came from specialized pros like accountants and IT specialists.

The industry itself was worth $39.2 billion in 1995, nearly double what it was five years earlier at $20.5 billion.

1995 was a stellar year for RHI. Revenues skyrocketed by 41% to $628.5 million, all thanks to internal growth. OfficeTeam raked in $147 million, and the two-year-old RHI Consulting pulled in $39 million across its 38 locations. The company was ranked 18th on the NYSE for total return to investors over the 1993-1995 period.

The temp industry’s growth was driven by a few key factors that benefited both employers and employees. Flexibility was a big one. Employers could better manage their workflow by using temps for special projects, covering short-term vacancies, and avoiding overstaffing.

For temps, the gig meant flexibility, independence, extra income, and the chance to build skills or find permanent work. RHI even offered a competitive benefits package to its temp workers.

RHI wasn’t just about staffing; they were also known for their research. Their salary guides were used by the U.S. Department of Labor, and their hiring indexes were essential for projecting job market trends. Both Max Messmer and company founder Robert Half published books on job searching and hiring practices, like “Job Hunting for Dummies” and “Finding, Hiring, and Keeping the Best Employees.”

RHI’s rep was further boosted by endorsements from top professional associations and marketing alliances with major accounting and software companies.

By 1996, business was still booming, with RHI reporting record revenues of nearly $900 million and income of over $61 million after a two-for-one stock split.

Even though the temp staffing market was crowded, RHI had an edge over smaller firms. As CEO Max Messmer pointed out in a ’96 Barron’s article, smaller firms just couldn’t attract the top-tier talent—accountants, medical professionals, techies—because they didn’t offer nationwide jobs.

In just over a decade, RHI grew from a small franchise to a leading international player, carving out specialized niches tied to their core accounting and finance placements.

Fun Facts About Robert Half International

1. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Robert Half: This quote embodies the company’s philosophy and commitment to quality in staffing services.
   
2. Stock Splits: Since its IPO, Robert Half has undergone 8 stock splits, with the most recent occurring on June 13, 2000. For example, if you bought one share of RHI in 1983, after all the splits, you would now own 144 shares.
   
3. Robert Half’s Global Reach: Started in the U.S., but they didn’t stop there. They’ve gone international, hooking up job seekers with gigs all around the globe. This global footprint lets them connect talent with opportunities, no matter where they are.
   
4. A Millennial Magnet: Robert Half was named one of the best workplaces for millennials in 2024, and that’s no small feat.
   
5. Forbes Favorite: They didn’t just rank once—they’ve topped Forbes’ list of America’s Best Professional Recruiting Firms five years running. That’s some serious street cred.
   
6. Disability Inclusion Champs: In 2024, Robert Half and Protiviti nailed perfect scores on the Disability Equality Index®, making them one of the best places to work for disability inclusion.
   
    
   

Robert Half International Inc. (RHI) Business Model

Key Partnerships

Through well-curated alliances and collaboration, RHI is positioned to meet the dynamic needs of the job market and client organizations efficiently. The company’s key partnerships are categorized into several broad domains:

Collaborations with Large Corporations

By forming alliances with large corporations across various industries, RHI gains competitive insights into emerging market trends and the evolving needs of businesses. This collaboration enables RHI to tailor its staffing solutions, ensuring a precise match between client requirements and candidate skills. These partnerships also facilitate exclusive access to a wider pool of high-demand job opportunities, enhancing placements for RHI’s candidates and providing a robust talent acquisition solution for its corporate clients.

Alliances with Educational Institutions

RHI collaborates with universities, colleges, and vocational schools to bridge the gap between academic achievements and career readiness. These alliances assist in creating curriculum enhancements that incorporate the latest industry standards and skills in demand, ensuring students are job-ready upon graduation. Additionally, Robert Half leverages these partnerships for campus recruitment and internship programs, providing students and recent graduates with valuable industry exposure and career opportunities.

Partnerships with Online Platforms

RHI enhances its technological edge and outreach by partnering with leading online platforms specializing in professional development and remote working solutions. These platforms facilitate innovative staffing solutions like virtual internships, online training for skill enhancement, and flexible remote working options for candidates. Such partnerships are essential in today’s digital era, where remote work capabilities and tech-savviness are critically valued by employers across sectors.

Affiliations with Professional Organizations

Engaging with professional organizations allows RHI to stay ahead in the industry by aligning with the standards and practices that these bodies advocate. These affiliations provide RHI with opportunities for active participation in policy-making forums, industry-specific trainings, and networking events, all of which contribute to the company’s professional development and reputation. Moreover, they enhance RHI’s credibility and reliability as a market-leading provider of workforce solutions.

Key Activities

Robert Half International Inc. (RHI) operates a refined suite of services centered primarily on human resources and talent acquisition domains. These activities ensure that RHI meets the diverse needs of different sectors, ranging from finance and legitimate to technology and creative fields. The underpinning aim is to facilitate optimal job matches that support client companies’ strategic goals and foster career advancement for individual professionals.

Staffing and Recruitment Services

RHI’s cornerstone activity involves providing temporary, temporary-to-hire, and permanent staffing solutions across various industries. This service caters to the need for flexibility and scalability in workforce management among client companies. Staffing services not only help manage fluctuating skill demands but also mitigate employment-related risks and costs associated with long-term commitments.

Professional Consulting

Through its consulting division, particularly under the Robert Half Management Resources and Protiviti brands, RHI offers specialized business consulting services. These services include internal audit and financial advisory, technology consulting, and governance, risk, and compliance solutions. This professional consulting is integral in helping organizations navigate complex operational and strategic challenges, thereby enhancing their efficiency and competitiveness.

Job Placement and Career Counseling

A significant aspect of RHI’s operation is assisting individuals in finding appropriate job placements. This is complemented by career counseling services designed to help candidates make informed decisions about their professional pathways and development. These services are tailored to align with the candidate’s career aspirations and the market demand, ensuring mutually beneficial outcomes for both employees and employers.

Talent Management and Development

RHI provides comprehensive talent management solutions that extend beyond mere recruitment. These include workforce planning, skill development, performance management, and succession planning. By addressing these areas, RHI plays a crucial role in helping organizations develop robust talent pipelines capable of driving future growth and innovation.

The synergy among these key activities forms the backbone of RHI’s business model, enabling it to uphold its reputation as a premier global staffing and consulting company. Through these activities, RHI effectively addresses both immediate and strategic staffing and consulting needs of its clients, fostering long-term partnerships and continual business growth.

Key Resources

Extensive Database of Professionals:

Robert Half International Inc. leverages a vast and continually updated database of professionals which constitutes one of its paramount resources. This database includes a wide range of skilled individuals from various sectors such as finance, technology, legal, administrative support, and creative fields. The utility of this resource extends beyond mere volume; it encompasses the quality, diversity, and the detailed skill sets of the registered professionals, making it crucial for fulfilling specific client requirements effectively and efficiently.

Network of Corporate Clients:

Another critical resource for Robert Half is its robust network of corporate clients. This network includes small businesses, mid-sized companies, and large corporations across numerous industries, which helps in diversifying the risk and dependency on any single market segment. The relationships maintained with these clients are not only foundational but also strategic, as they often lead to repeat business and referrals, which are integral for sustained growth and market presence.

Skilled Recruitment Teams:

The efficacy of Robert Half’s business model significantly relies on the specialized capabilities of its recruitment teams. These teams are adept in identifying, vetting, and securing top talent, tailored to the specific needs of their clients. Each team member’s expertise in talent acquisition and workforce management ensures that they can provide timely and effective staffing solutions, which is critical in maintaining high levels of client satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Industry Expertise and Knowledge:

Industry expertise stands as a cornerstone within Robert Half’s key resources. This encompasses thorough knowledge of employment trends, salary scales, and the evolving needs within various sectors. Such insights enable Robert Half to offer not only recruitment services but also valuable consultation for clients regarding workforce strategy and market dynamics. This deep industry knowledge is continuously cultivated through ongoing research, participation in industry forums, and the synthesis of vast amounts of employment data collected via their business operations.

• Comprehensive professionals’ database enhances custom recruitment solutions.
  
• Strong client network fosters long-term service contracts and reliability.
  
• Recruitment expertise ensures client satisfaction through optimal matchmaking.
  
• Deep industry knowledge provides a strategic edge in workforce solutions advising.
  

Value Propositions

Robert Half International Inc. (RHI) is distinguished in the staffing industry by its strong value propositions, which are tailored to meet the nuanced needs of businesses seeking specialized staffing solutions. These value propositions are fundamentally designed to offer unmatched services that cater specifically to the professional job markets. The core components of RHI’s value propositions include:

Specialized Staffing Solutions:

RHI offers a wide range of staffing and consulting services, particularly focusing on specialized sectors such as finance, technology, legal, creative, and administrative fields. Their bespoke service allows them to meet the specific needs of each industry, providing clients with staff who are not only qualified but also aligned with the sector’s unique demands and challenges.

Expertise in Professional Job Markets:

With decades of experience, RHI brings a deep understanding of the dynamics and trends of professional job markets. This expertise enables them to adeptly navigate the complexities of various industries, making them a valuable partner for businesses looking for candidates who can seamlessly integrate and excel in their new roles.

High-Quality Candidate Matching:

Using advanced matching technology and a thorough candidate assessment process, RHI excels at pairing the right candidates with the right positions. This commitment to high-quality matchups minimizes the time and resources businesses spend on the hiring process and enhances the productivity of teams with well-suited new hires.

Global and Localized Market Insight:

RHI operates across a global network, yet maintains a deep appreciation for local market conditions and cultural nuances. This dual perspective ensures that they are equipped to handle staffing needs with a comprehensive understanding of global trends while also catering to specific local demands.

These value propositions are integral to RHI’s ability to serve its clients effectively, ensuring that the staffing solutions provided are not only comprehensive but also highly specific to the needs of each professional sector they serve. Through these dedicated services, Robert Half International continues to stand out as a leader in the global staffing industry.

Customer Relationships

At Robert Half International Inc. (RHI), the approach to customer relationships is centered around creating and maintaining strong, responsive, and personalized connections with clients. This focus is crucial in the competitive field of staffing and consulting services, where the quality of client relationships directly impacts business success. RHI’s model for customer relationships incorporates several strategic elements:

• Personalized Client Management
  
• 24/7 Customer Support Services
  
• Ongoing Professional Support and Consulting
  
• Customer Feedback and Continuous Improvement
  

Personalized Client Management is fundamental to RHI’s approach. Each client is assigned a dedicated account manager who is responsible for understanding the specific needs and preferences of the client. This personalized approach ensures that clients receive tailored solutions that fit their unique situations, contributing significantly to client satisfaction and loyalty.

24/7 Customer Support Services are provided to ensure that clients can reach out for assistance at any time. This round-the-clock availability is particularly important in the staffing industry, where urgent needs can arise outside of standard business hours, and swift responses can be crucial. RHI’s support system includes a mix of telephone, email, and chat options, facilitating easy and flexible communication methods for clients worldwide.

Channels

Robert Half International Inc. implements a multipronged approach in its channel strategy to optimize client engagement and effectively reach a wider candidate base. These streamlined channels are vital in ensuring that RHI can deliver staffing solutions efficiently while maintaining high levels of service quality.

Company Website and Job Portals

The primary channel for RHI is its comprehensive company website, which functions as both a service conduit and an information hub. This platform allows for detailed listings of job opportunities, personalized candidate portals, and resources for both job seekers and employers. The digital nature of this channel ensures accessibility and convenience for users.

In addition to its own website, RHI leverages the breadth and reach of various third-party job portals. These platforms are essential in expanding RHI’s visibility in multiple markets and demographics, enabling them to attract diverse applications from potential talent globally.

Social Media and Professional Networks

RHI recognizes the power of social media in contemporary business and utilizes platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to connect with clients and candidates. These networks provide a seamless blend of marketing, customer service, and engagement functionalities, allowing RHI to share industry insights, company updates, and job postings in real-time.

The utilization of strong>professional networking sites, predominantly LinkedIn, plays a critical role in talent scouting and relationship building. LinkedIn allows RHI to target specific industries and professionals, particularly for hard-to-fill or specialized positions.

Direct Sales and Partnership Channels

Within the direct sales framework, RHI capitalizes on face-to-face engagements, which foster deeper client relationships and trust, essential in the staffing industry. The dedicated sales teams are adept at identifying business opportunities and aligning RHI’s services with client expectations.

RHI has established various strategic partnerships with other entities and associations across different industries. These collaborations extend RHI’s reach and fortify its business through shared resources, heightened brand credibility, and combined market penetration efforts.

Industry Conferences and Events

Participating in industry-specific conferences and events provides a platform for RHI to showcase its expertise, network with professionals, and keep abreast of the latest trends and technologies influencing the staffing and recruiting landscape. These gatherings are crucial in strengthening existing partnerships and developing new ones, thereby supporting business growth.

Furthermore, these events serve as a unique opportunity for RHI to engage directly with potential new clients and candidates, providing them with insights into the benefits of partnering with RHI for their staffing needs.

In conclusion, Robert Half International Inc.’s diversified and strategic approach to channels augments its ability to attract high-quality candidates and service its clients effectively, reinforcing its position as a leader in the global staffing industry.

Customer Segments

The strategic focus of Robert Half International Inc. (RHI) on diverse customer segments highlights its broad-based approach to address varying market needs through specialized staffing and consulting services. This segmentation supports the alignment of their services with the specific requirements of different client groups, optimizing both service delivery and customer satisfaction.

Corporate Clients Across Various Industries:

RHI serves a wide range of industries including finance, technology, healthcare, legal, and marketing. By catering to corporate clients, RHI capitalizes on the demand for skilled professionals and positions itself as a vital resource for companies seeking expertise in managing workforce solutions. Whether it’s accommodating the fluctuating staffing needs or providing permanent staffing solutions, RHI provides tailor-made services to enhance client workforce quality and operational efficiency.

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs):

Recognizing the unique challenges faced by SMEs, RHI offers scaled and flexible staffing solutions that are critical for the growth and sustainability of these enterprises. SMEs often require swift staffing solutions that can adapt to dynamic business conditions without the overhead of large corporate recruitment processes. RHI aids these businesses in navigating these challenges by providing quick and reliable access to a broad talent pool.

Job Seekers in Finance, Technology, and Administrative Roles:

A significant portion of RHI’s strategic operations is focused on job seekers. By offering a multitude of placement services, resume-building tips, interview preparation advice, and career counseling, RHI ensures that individuals seeking employment in specialized sectors find roles that best match their skills and career ambitions. This focus not only aids individuals in their job search but also helps RHI in maintaining a comprehensive and skilled database of professionals, which in turn, enhances their service offering to corporate clients.

Educational Institutions:

Through partnerships with universities and educational institutions, Robert Half aids in the successful transition of students from academic environments to professional settings. By facilitating student placements and internships, particularly in business roles such as accounting or IT, RHI provides valuable industry exposure to students, which is essential for their professional growth and development. These partnerships are mutually beneficial as they also assist RHI in tapping into a young talent pool equipped with recent educational insights and cutting-edge skills relevant to market needs.

• Corporate clients benefit from RHI’s broad industry expertise and extensive network, ensuring they receive suitable candidates that match their exact business needs.
  
• SMEs leverage RHI’s flexibility in staffing which allows them to remain resilient and competitive in fast-changing market conditions.
  
• Job seekers gain from RHI’s deep industry links and insightful career services that boost their employment opportunities.
  

Cost Structure

Robert Half International Inc. (RHI) operates with a multifaceted cost structure essential for executing its business strategy professionally and efficiently. This structure reflects the significant areas where financial resources are allocated to support operations. The main components of Robert Half’s cost structure include:

Salaries and Commissions for Staff:

As a staffing agency, RHI’s largest expense categorically falls under compensation for its employees and the commissions paid to its recruiters. These costs are crucial as they directly affect the firm’s capacity to attract and maintain a skilled workforce proficient in sourcing and placing qualified candidates for clients.

Marketing and Advertising Expenses:

To maintain and grow its brand presence in the competitive staffing industry, RHI allocates substantial resources towards marketing and advertising. This includes digital marketing, traditional advertising mediums, promotional events, and public relations efforts to ensure high visibility in both local and global markets.

Technology Development and Maintenance:

In today’s technologically driven marketplace, investing in the development and continuous improvement of proprietary software platforms and IT infrastructure is essential. For Robert Half, this means funding its technology stack that supports matchmaking between job seekers and employers, alongside maintaining robust data security measures to protect sensitive client and candidate information.

Administrative and Operational Costs:

These costs entail the day-to-day expenses necessary to support the corporate operations. Components include office leases, utilities, routine office supplies, and the administrative staff payroll. Moreover, compliance with regulations and quality assurance procedures also fall under this category, ensuring that operational practices align with industry standards and legal requirements.

RHI’s emphasis on maintaining a balanced cost structure allows it to optimize operational efficiency and sustain profitability while nurturing growth in a competitive marketplace. Managing these expenses is strategic to ensuring the company remains agile and responsive to industry dynamics.

Revenue Streams

The revenue model of Robert Half International Inc. (RHI) is diversified across multiple streams, central to which are fees from permanent placements, commissions from temporary staffing, revenue from consulting services, and online job posting revenues. These streams are vital to RHI’s financial health and growth strategy.

Fees from Permanent Placements

One of RHI’s primary revenue streams comes from the fees charged for permanent job placements within client companies. This service involves identifying, assessing, and recruiting candidates for permanent positions. Typically, the company charges a fee based on a percentage of the hired candidate’s first-year salary. This percentage varies depending on the level of the position filled and the industry sector. For higher-level executive placements, fees can be significantly larger, contributing substantially to this revenue stream.

Commissions from Temporary Staffing

RHI also generates revenue through commissions from temporary staffing solutions. These solutions are offered to organizations needing temporary personnel, often to fill in during employee absences, peak business periods, or for special projects. Here, RHI earns by marking up the hourly rate paid to the temporary workers. The markup covers RHI’s services, which include recruiting, screening, administering payroll, and handling other employment-related issues for the temporary staffers. This revenue model allows flexibility and constant adjustment to market demand, making it a dynamic component of RHI’s revenue system.

Revenue from Consulting Services

Consulting services constitute another significant portion of RHI’s revenue streams. This sector offers expertise in specific areas such as cybersecurity, compliance, or technology management. The fees for these services vary based on the project’s complexity, the consultancy duration, and the level of expertise required. Due to the specialized nature of these services, RHI can capture higher margins, particularly in niche markets where advanced knowledge or unique skills are in demand.

Online Job Posting Revenues

• Subscription Fees: RHI provides tailored subscription services where companies can pay to post job advertisements on RHI’s online portals.
  
• Pay-Per-Post Model: Alternatively, clients might opt for a pay-per-post model, which allows them to purchase individual posts as and when needed.
  
• Featured Listings: Companies can also pay additional fees to have their job posts featured more prominently, increasing visibility to potential candidates.
  

These online services are supported by RHI’s proprietary software and platforms, maintaining competitive positioning in the digital recruiting space, enhancing job matchmaking efficiency, and facilitating broader geographic and demographic reach.

Overall, the diversified revenue streams of Robert Half International Inc. are strategically aligned to cater to evolving market demands and client needs across various sectors, driving robust financial performance and ongoing business resilience.

Robert Half’s Financials Today

Their history shows that Robert Half knows how to roll with the punches, adapting to shifting business climates and staying competitive over the years. Now, let’s dive into the financials of Robert Half for the last 10-12 years to see what the numbers are telling us.

Details

Sales: The trend’s looking good, and overall, the company’s sales are on the rise. The growth might not be explosive, but it’s steady and reliable.

 

Operating Income and Profit: The company’s been consistently raking in profits.

 

Historically, during the last crisis—yep, the Covid mess—revenue stayed stable and the income was solid. No sudden drops, just smooth sailing.

Dividends

Robert Half International has been paying out dividends since 1987, and get this—they’ve increased payouts 20 times over the last 20 years, hiking them every single year. The payout per share has shot up tenfold during that time.

Dividend payments come straight out of net income, and they’re sitting pretty at a safe level, around 40% for the last year and about 40% on average over the past five years.

The company didn’t just keep the dividends rolling during the Covid crisis—they actually bumped them up.

 

Market expectations

• Based on the most recent data, Robert Half International (RHI) is navigating a challenging period in the market. As of mid-2024, the company’s stock has received a mixed consensus from analysts, with most rating it as “Hold.” Analysts have set a 1-year target price for the stock around $67.86, reflecting some caution in the market.
  
• Recent financial performance has been under pressure, with Robert Half reporting a 10.2% decline in revenue year-over-year, and missing earnings expectations slightly with an EPS of $0.66, compared to the expected $0.71. The company’s return on equity remains strong at 20.41%, though the overall financials suggest a more challenging environment ahead.
  
• Despite these hurdles, Robert Half continues to deliver steady dividends. The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.53, yielding around 3.51%, which remains an attractive point for income-focused investors. The payout ratio is also relatively healthy at 63.47%, indicating that the dividends are sustainable even in the current environment.
  
• The stock has been trading within a 52-week range of $57.05 to $88.39, reflecting the volatility in the broader market and specific sector challenges. However, with a PE ratio of 18.06, the stock might be viewed as fairly valued in the current economic conditions.
  
• If you’re thinking about how RHI fits into your portfolio, the company’s solid history of dividend payouts and its adaptability in tough markets are points in its favor. However, the near-term market conditions and the company’s recent earnings miss suggest that you might want to watch the stock closely before making any major moves.
  

💡 Final Thoughts

As the pioneer and leader in temporary and permanent professional staffing for nearly 80 years, Robert Half has remained committed to providing service beyond the expectations of their clients and job candidates, and to becoming a strategic staffing partner to the customers.