Release – Kelly Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2024 Earnings

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Research News and Market Data on KELYA

February 13, 2025

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TROY, Mich., Feb. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  Kelly (Nasdaq: KELYA, KELYB), a leading specialty talent solutions provider, today announced fourth-quarter and full-year 2024 earnings.

  • Q4 revenue of $1.2 billion, down 3.3% year-over-year reflecting the previously disclosed dispositions and acquisitions, and up 4.4% on an organic basis. Full-year revenue of $4.3 billion, down 10.4% as reported and up 0.5% on an organic basis.
  • Q4 operating loss of $56.7 million on $80.8 million non-cash impairment charges; $29.2 million of operating income on an adjusted basis, up 32% versus the prior year period
  • Q4 adjusted EBITDA of $43.5 million, up 34% versus the prior year; adjusted EBITDA margin increased 110 basis points versus the prior year period to 3.7%
  • Full-year operating loss of $15.1 million resulting from non-cash impairment charges; adjusted operating income of $92.1 million; adjusted EBITDA of $143.5 million, up 31% versus the prior year, and adjusted EBITDA margin of 3.3%, an increase of 100 basis points versus the prior year
  • Company expects to deliver incremental organic revenue growth and adjusted EBITDA margin expansion during fiscal 2025
  • Announces planned retirement of president and chief executive officer Peter Quigley by the end of 2025

“We are pleased with our results in the fourth quarter, during which we drove organic revenue growth that outpaced the market and increased adjusted EBITDA by 34 percent. Our positive performance bookended a year of significant strategic progress on our specialty growth journey as we continued to shift toward higher margin, higher growth markets and solutions,” said Peter Quigley, president and chief executive officer. “In 2024, we delivered 100 basis points of net margin expansion, unlocked more than $100 million in capital by further streamlining our operating model, and redeployed that capital toward our transformational acquisition of Motion Recruitment Partners. We enter 2025 a more efficient and focused company well positioned to capitalize as demand improves and deliver top- and bottom-line growth.”

Financial Results for the thirteen-week period ended December 29, 2024:

  • Revenue of $1.2 billion, a 3.3% decrease compared to the corresponding quarter of 2023 resulting primarily from the sale of the Company’s European staffing operations on January 2, 2024, partially offset by the May 2024 acquisition of Motions Recruitment Partners (“MRP”). Excluding the European staffing operations and MRP, revenue was up 4.4% on an organic basis as organic growth initiatives drove market share gains despite broader industry declines. MRP revenue added 9.8% to reported fourth-quarter year-over-year revenue growth.
  • Operating loss of $56.7 million, reflecting $80.8 million in non-cash impairment charges compared to earnings of $7.3 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2023. Adjusted earnings1 were $29.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $22.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA1 of $43.5 million, an increase of 34% versus the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 3.7%, an increase of 110 basis points. Reflects organic improvement of 50 basis points and a 60 basis point impact from the European staffing operations sale.
  • Loss per share was $0.90 compared to earnings per share of $0.31 in the fourth quarter of 2023. On an adjusted basis1, earnings per share were $0.82 in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to $0.93 per share in the corresponding quarter of 2023.

Financial results for the 52-week period ended December 29, 2024:

  • Revenue of $4.3 billion, a decrease of 10.4% compared to the prior year resulting primarily from the sale of the European staffing operations partially offset by the acquisition of MRP. Excluding the impact of the European staffing operations sale and MRP, revenue was up 0.5% on an organic basis. MRP added 5.9% to reported year-over-year revenue growth.
  • Operating loss of $15.1 million, reflecting $86.3 million of non-cash impairment charges compared to earnings of $24.3 million reported in 2023. Adjusted earnings1 were $92.1 million in 2024 and $69.1 million in 2023. Adjusted EBITDA of $143.5 million, an increase of 31% versus the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA1 margin of 3.3%, an increase of 100 basis points. Reflects organic improvement of 50 basis points, a 40 basis point impact from the European staffing sale and 10 basis point improvement from the acquisition of MRP.
  • Loss per share was $0.02 compared to earnings per share of $0.98 in 2023. On an adjusted basis1, earnings per share were $2.34 in 2024 compared to $2.20 per share in 2023.

1 Adjusted measures represent non-GAAP financial measures. Refer to our reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most closely related GAAP measure included in this document.

Financial Outlook*:

First Half 2025:

  • Revenue – total Company first half revenue up approximately 10% due to the benefit of the MRP acquisition, up modestly on an organic basis
    • Total Company revenue growth will be slightly higher in Q1 than in Q2 given the May 31, 2024 MRP transaction closing date
  • GP rate – total Company rate up approximately 80 basis points reflecting the benefit of the MRP acquisition; organic GP rate roughly flat
  • Adjusted SG&A – increase modestly on a quarterly run rate basis relative to Q4 2024, includes impact of payroll tax and performance-based incentive resets
    • Total D&A of approximately $13.5 million per quarter expected
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin – up 10 basis points to approximately 3.6%
  • Tax rate – effective rate in the high teens

*Assumes relatively consistent staffing market conditions in the first half of the year

Planned Retirement of President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Quigley:

Kelly also announced that Peter Quigley has informed Kelly’s board of directors of his intention to retire from his role as president and chief executive officer by the end of 2025. Quigley intends to serve in his current role until his successor is appointed and an orderly transition is completed. The compensation and talent management committee of the board, which is responsible for executive development and succession, has initiated a process to identify Quigley’s successor and engaged a nationally recognized search firm. The board will consider internal and external candidates with the skills and experience to continue accelerating the Company’s progress on its specialty growth journey.

The anticipated retirement of Quigley, who will turn 64 in April, follows a successful career that includes 22 years with Kelly. Prior to being named president and chief executive officer in 2019, he served as an officer in key roles including general counsel and chief administrative officer, and president of global staffing. Quigley’s leadership and passion for serving customers and talent have been instrumental to Kelly’s transformation into a leading global specialty talent solutions provider.

Quarterly Cash Dividend and Share Repurchase:

Kelly also reported that on February 11, its board of directors declared a dividend of $0.075 per share. The dividend is payable on March 12, 2025, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 26, 2025. In addition, Kelly executed share repurchases of $10.0 million during the fourth quarter of 2024 as part of the previously announced, board approved share repurchase program.

In conjunction with its earnings release, Kelly has published a financial presentation and will host a live webcast of a conference call with financial analysts at 9 a.m. ET on February 13 to review the results from the quarter and answer questions. The presentation and a link to the live webcast will be accessible through the Company’s public website on the Investor Relations page under Events & Presentations. The webcast will be recorded, and a replay will be available within one hour of completion of the event through the same link as the live webcast.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains statements that are forward looking in nature and, accordingly, are subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Kelly’s financial expectations, are forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in this release include, but are not limited to, (i) changing market and economic conditions, (ii) disruption in the labor market and weakened demand for human capital resulting from technological advances, loss of large corporate customers and government contractor requirements, (iii) the impact of laws and regulations (including federal, state and international tax laws), (iv) unexpected changes in claim trends on workers’ compensation, unemployment, disability and medical benefit plans, (v) litigation and other legal liabilities (including tax liabilities) in excess of our estimates, (vi) our ability to achieve our business’s anticipated growth strategies, (vii) our future business development, results of operations and financial condition, (viii) damage to our brands, (ix) dependency on third parties for the execution of critical functions, (x) conducting business in foreign countries, including foreign currency fluctuations, (xi) availability of temporary workers with appropriate skills required by customers, (xii) cyberattacks or other breaches of network or information technology security, and (xiii) other risks, uncertainties and factors discussed in this release and in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release and we undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the Company’s expectations.

About Kelly®

Kelly Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: KELYA, KELYB) helps companies recruit and manage skilled workers and helps job seekers find great work. Since inventing the staffing industry in 1946, we have become experts in the many industries and local and global markets we serve. With a network of suppliers and partners around the world, we connect more than 400,000 people with work every year. Our suite of outsourcing and consulting services ensures companies have the people they need, when and where they are needed most. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, we empower businesses and individuals to access limitless opportunities in industries such as science, engineering, technology, education, manufacturing, retail, finance, and energy. Revenue in 2024 was $4.3 billion. Learn more at kellyservices.com.

KLYA-FIN

ANALYST & MEDIA CONTACT:
Scott Thomas
(248) 251-7264
scott.thomas@kellyservices.com

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