Kelly Reports Second-Quarter 2023 Earnings, Substantial Progress on Business Transformation

August 10, 2023
  • Q2 revenue down 3.9%; down 4.5% in constant currency; organic revenue down 2.2% in constant currency
  • Q2 gross profit down 8.3%; GP rate, 19.8%, down 90 bps year-over-year due primarily to lower permanent placement fees as customer full-time hiring decelerates
  • Q2 operating earnings of $6.2 million, including $8.0 million of transformation-related restructuring and impairment charges, or $14.2 million on an adjusted basis
  • Comprehensive business transformation program expected to drive meaningful improvement in EBITDA margin beginning in the second half of 2023

TROY, Mich., Aug. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kelly (Nasdaq: KELYA, KELYB), a leading global specialty talent solutions provider, today announced results for the second quarter of 2023.

Peter Quigley, president and chief executive officer, announced revenue for the second quarter of 2023 totaled $1.2 billion, a 3.9% decrease, or 4.5% decrease in constant currency, compared to the corresponding quarter of 2022, with organic, constant currency revenue down 2.2%. Year-over-year revenue trends were impacted by the sale of Russian operations in July 2022 and customers' more guarded approach to hiring, partially offset by favorable currency impacts.

"In the second quarter, we remained focused on seeking out pockets of demand in more resilient markets, while the effects of ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty became more noticeable in certain parts of our portfolio," said Quigley. "Our Education segment and higher-margin outcome-based solutions in P&I continued to deliver year-over-year growth, while lower demand for temporary and permanent placement services impacted results in our P&I and SET segments."

Kelly reported operating earnings in the second quarter of 2023 of $6.2 million, compared to earnings of $8.2 million reported in the second quarter of 2022. Earnings in the second quarter of 2023 include $8.0 million of transformation-related restructuring and impairment charges. Excluding the transformation-related charges, adjusted earnings from operations were $14.2 million. Earnings in the second quarter of 2022 included an $18.5 million asset impairment charge related to our Russian operations and a $4.4 million gain on sale of assets related to underutilized real property and adjusted earnings were $22.3 million. Adjusted earnings declined year-over-year primarily as a result of lower revenues.

Earnings per share in the second quarter of 2023 were $0.20 compared to earnings per share of $0.06 in the second quarter of 2022. Included in the earnings per share in the second quarter of 2023 is an $0.11 loss per share related to transformation-related restructuring charges, net of tax, and a $0.05 loss per share, net of tax, related to an asset impairment charge. Included in the second quarter of 2022 is a $0.48 loss per share, net of tax, asset impairment charge, partially offset by a $0.08 per share gain on sale of real property, net of tax. On an adjusted basis, earnings per share were $0.36 in the second quarter of 2023, a decline of 20% from $0.45 per share in the corresponding quarter of 2022.

Quigley went on to provide an update on the company's business transformation following the strategic restructuring actions it announced in July. "The change we set out to create through this transformation is no longer hypothetical. The efficiency actions we have implemented to date will deliver an immediate, meaningful improvement to the company's EBITDA margin, creating a strong foundation for further EBITDA margin expansion going forward. With these actions unlocking additional resources to invest in our future, we are quickly shifting our focus to the growth phase of our transformation to realize the full potential of our specialty strategy."

As a result of the strategic restructuring and additional cost optimization actions that Kelly will complete in 2023, the Company expects an adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 3% exiting 2023. Assuming the benefit of a full year of its transformation-related savings and no change in current top-line expectations, the Company would expect to achieve a normalized, adjusted EBITDA margin in the range of 3.3% to 3.5%.

Kelly also reported that on August 9, its board of directors declared a dividend of $0.075 per share. The dividend is payable on September 6, 2023, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 23, 2023.

In conjunction with its second-quarter earnings release, Kelly has published a financial presentation on the Investor Relations page of its public website and will host a conference call at 9 a.m. ET on August 10 to review the results and answer questions. The call may be accessed in one of the following ways:

Via the Internet:
Kellyservices.com

Via the Telephone
(877) 692-8955 (toll free) or (234) 720-6979 (caller paid)
Enter access code 5728672
After the prompt, please enter "#"

A recording of the conference call will be available after 2:30 p.m. ET on August 10, 2023, at (866) 207-1041 (toll-free) and (402) 970-0847 (caller-paid). The access code is 7516480#. The recording will also be available at kellyservices.com during this period.

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 450,000 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 2022 was $5.0 billion. Learn more at kellyservices.com.

KLYA-FIN

MEDIA CONTACT:

ANALYST CONTACT:

Jane Stehney

Scott Thomas

(248) 765-6864

(248) 251-7264

stehnja@kellyservices.com 

scott.thomas@kellyservices.com 

                 

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

FOR THE 13 WEEKS ENDED JULY 2, 2023 AND JULY 3, 2022

(UNAUDITED)

(In millions of dollars except per share data)








%

CC %


2023

2022

Change

Change

Change












Revenue from services

$

1,217.2

$

1,267.3

$

(50.1)

(3.9)

%

(4.5)

%












Cost of services

976.6

1,004.9

(28.3)

(2.8)














Gross profit

240.6

262.4

(21.8)

(8.3)

(8.5)












Selling, general and administrative expenses

232.0

240.1

(8.1)

(3.4)

(3.9)












Asset impairment charge

2.4

18.5

(16.1)

(86.8)














Gain on sale of assets

—

(4.4)

4.4

NM














Earnings from operations

6.2

8.2

(2.0)

(23.1)














Other income (expense), net

(0.6)

(1.1)

0.5

40.2














Earnings before taxes

5.6

7.1

(1.5)

(20.6)














Income tax expense (benefit)

(1.9)

4.9

(6.8)

(137.4)














Net earnings

$

7.5

$

2.2

$

5.3

237.2














Basic earnings per share

$

0.20

$

0.06

$

0.14

233.3


Diluted earnings per share

$

0.20

$

0.06

$

0.14

233.3


























STATISTICS:






















Permanent placement revenue (included in revenue from services)

$

15.7

$

24.8

$

(9.1)

(36.8)

%

(37.3)

%












Gross profit rate

19.8

%

20.7

%

(0.9)

pts.















Conversion rate

2.6

%

3.1

%

(0.5)

pts.















Adjusted EBITDA

$

24.6

$

31.7

$

(7.1)




Adjusted EBITDA margin

2.0

%

2.5

%

(0.5)

pts.















Effective income tax rate

(32.4)

%

68.8

%

(101.2)

pts.















Average number of shares outstanding (millions):










     Basic

36.0

37.9






     Diluted

36.4

38.2






 

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

FOR THE 26 WEEKS ENDED JULY 2, 2023 AND JULY 3, 2022

(UNAUDITED)

(In millions of dollars except per share data)








%

CC %


2023

2022

Change

Change

Change












Revenue from services

$

2,485.5

$

2,563.7

$

(78.2)

(3.0)

%

(2.9)

%












Cost of services

1,990.8

2,042.7

(51.9)

(2.5)














Gross profit

494.7

521.0

(26.3)

(5.0)

(4.7)












Selling, general and administrative expenses

475.4

476.2

(0.8)

(0.2)

(0.1)












Asset impairment charge

2.4

18.5

(16.1)

(86.8)














Gain on sale of assets

—

(5.3)

5.3

NM














Earnings from operations

16.9

31.6

(14.7)

(46.4)














Loss on investment in Persol Holdings

—

(67.2)

67.2

NM














Loss on currency translation from liquidation of subsidiary(1)

—

(20.4)

20.4

NM














Other income (expense), net

1.4

1.7

(0.3)

(19.7)














Earnings (loss) before taxes and equity in net earnings of affiliate

18.3

(54.3)

72.6

NM














Income tax expense (benefit)

(0.1)

(8.1)

8.0

99.3














Net earnings (loss) before equity in net earnings of affiliate

18.4

(46.2)

64.6

NM














Equity in net earnings of affiliate

—

0.8

(0.8)

NM














Net earnings (loss)

$

18.4

$

(45.4)

$

63.8

NM














Basic earnings (loss) per share

$

0.49

$

(1.19)

$

1.68

NM


Diluted earnings (loss) per share

$

0.49

$

(1.19)

$

1.68

NM


























STATISTICS:






















Permanent placement revenue (included in revenue from services)

$

33.2

$

51.4

$

(18.2)

(35.5)

%

(35.2)

%












Gross profit rate

19.9

%

20.3

%

(0.4)

pts.















Conversion rate

3.4

%

6.1

%

(2.7)

pts.















Adjusted EBITDA

$

51.4

$

62.4

$

(11.0)




Adjusted EBITDA margin

2.1

%

2.4

%

(0.3)

pts.















Effective income tax rate

(0.3)

%

15.0

%

(15.3)

pts.















Average number of shares outstanding (millions):










     Basic

36.5

38.3






     Diluted

36.9

38.3






(1) Subsequent to the sale of the Persol Holdings investment, the Company commenced the dissolution process of the Kelly Services Japan subsidiary, which was considered substantially liquidated as of the first quarter-end 2022, resulting in the recognition of the $20.4 million loss on currency translation from liquidation of this subsidiary in the first quarter of 2022.

 

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS BY SEGMENT

(UNAUDITED)

(In millions of dollars)













Second Quarter


















%

CC %


2023

2022

Change

Change

Professional & Industrial









Revenue from services

$

377.0

$

415.8

(9.3)

%

(8.9)

%

Gross profit

65.1

77.8

(16.4)

(15.9)

Total SG&A expenses

58.6

67.4

(13.1)

(12.8)

Asset impairment charge

0.3

—

NM


Earnings from operations

6.2

10.4

(41.5)













Gross profit rate

17.3

%

18.7

%

(1.4)

 pts.












Science, Engineering & Technology









Revenue from services

$

301.4

$

324.3

(7.0)

%

(7.0)

%

Gross profit

68.1

75.2

(9.3)

(9.3)

Total SG&A expenses

50.0

54.8

(8.6)

(8.6)

Asset impairment charge

0.1

—

NM


Earnings from operations

18.0

20.4

(11.5)













Gross profit rate

22.6

%

23.2

%

(0.6)

 pts.












Education









Revenue from services

$

206.4

$

155.5

32.6

%

32.6

%

Gross profit

32.5

26.0

25.0

25.0

Total SG&A expenses

23.1

20.4

12.9

12.9

Earnings from operations

9.4

5.6

69.5













Gross profit rate

15.8

%

16.7

%

(0.9)

 pts.












Outsourcing & Consulting









Revenue from services

$

113.7

$

124.4

(8.6)

%

(8.2)

%

Gross profit

41.3

46.2

(10.5)

(10.0)

Total SG&A expenses

37.7

39.8

(5.4)

(5.6)

Asset impairment charge

2.0

—

NM


Earnings from operations

1.6

6.4

(73.9)













Gross profit rate

36.4

%

37.2

%

(0.8)

pts.












International









Revenue from services

$

225.1

$

247.6

(9.1)

%

(12.8)

%

Gross profit

33.6

37.2

(9.5)

(13.1)

Total SG&A expenses

32.6

34.6

(5.7)

(9.3)

Earnings from operations

1.0

2.6

(60.5)













Gross profit rate

14.9

%

15.0

%

(0.1)

pts.

 

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS BY SEGMENT

(UNAUDITED)

(In millions of dollars)













June Year to Date


















%

CC %


2023

2022

Change

Change

Professional & Industrial









Revenue from services

$

766.8

$

860.1

(10.9)

%

(10.3)

%

Gross profit

134.9

160.9

(16.2)

(15.6)

SG&A expenses excluding restructuring charges

122.8

138.8

(11.3)

(11.0)

Restructuring charges

3.3

—

NM

NM

Total SG&A expenses

126.1

138.8

(9.2)

(8.8)

Asset impairment charge

0.3

—

NM


Earnings from operations

8.5

22.1

(61.9)


Earnings from operations excluding restructuring charges

11.8

22.1

(47.6)













Gross profit rate

17.6

%

18.7

%

(1.1)

 pts.












Science, Engineering & Technology









Revenue from services

$

607.8

$

641.4

(5.2)

%

(5.1)

%

Gross profit

139.4

149.0

(6.5)

(6.4)

Total SG&A expenses

102.8

108.0

(4.8)

(4.8)

Asset impairment charge

0.1

—

NM


Earnings from operations

36.5

41.0

(10.9)













Gross profit rate

22.9

%

23.2

%

(0.3)

 pts.












Education









Revenue from services

$

455.8

$

328.9

38.6

%

38.6

%

Gross profit

71.8

52.6

36.6

36.6

Total SG&A expenses

46.9

39.0

20.2

20.2

Earnings from operations

24.9

13.6

83.7













Gross profit rate

15.8

%

16.0

%

(0.2)

 pts.












Outsourcing & Consulting









Revenue from services

$

228.3

$

233.5

(2.2)

%

(1.4)

%

Gross profit

82.9

83.5

(0.7)

0.5

Total SG&A expenses

78.2

74.1

5.4

5.8

Asset impairment charge

2.0

—

NM


Earnings from operations

2.7

9.4

(70.7)













Gross profit rate

36.3

%

35.8

%

0.5

pts.












International









Revenue from services

$

436.9

$

500.4

(12.7)

%

(13.3)

%

Gross profit

65.7

75.0

(12.2)

(12.6)

Total SG&A expenses

65.0

67.8

(4.0)

(4.5)

Earnings from operations

0.7

7.2

(89.7)













Gross profit rate

15.1

%

15.0

%

0.1

pts.

 

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

(In millions of dollars)










July 2, 2023

January 1, 2023

July 3, 2022

Current Assets






  Cash and equivalents

$

124.8

$

153.7

$

133.9

  Trade accounts receivable, less allowances of






    $10.7, $11.2, and $12.0, respectively

1,423.6

1,491.6

1,497.9

  Prepaid expenses and other current assets

79.8

69.9

80.6

Assets held for sale

—

—

24.6

Total current assets

1,628.2

1,715.2

1,737.0








Noncurrent Assets






  Property and equipment, net

28.8

27.8

25.4

  Operating lease right-of-use assets

61.6

66.8

70.1

  Deferred taxes

308.4

299.7

298.3

  Goodwill, net

151.1

151.1

192.1

  Other assets

416.9

403.2

412.3

Total noncurrent assets

966.8

948.6

998.2








Total Assets

$

2,595.0

$

2,663.8

$

2,735.2








Current Liabilities






  Short-term borrowings

$

—

$

0.7

$

—

  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

692.7

723.3

734.7

  Operating lease liabilities

13.9

14.7

15.3

  Accrued payroll and related taxes

270.6

315.8

322.4

  Accrued workers' compensation and other claims

23.3

22.9

24.4

  Income and other taxes

54.4

51.4

50.5

Liabilities held for sale

—

—

13.7

Total current liabilities

1,054.9

1,128.8

1,161.0








Noncurrent Liabilities






  Operating lease liabilities

52.6

55.0

57.7

  Accrued workers' compensation and other claims

41.4

40.7

43.4

  Accrued retirement benefits

193.0

174.1

180.2

  Other long-term liabilities

11.2

11.0

16.0

Total noncurrent liabilities

298.2

280.8

297.3








Stockholders' Equity






  Common stock

38.5

38.5

38.5

  Treasury stock

(51.3)

(20.1)

(12.5)

  Paid-in capital

29.0

28.0

24.9

  Earnings invested in the business

1,229.1

1,216.3

1,239.2

  Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

(3.4)

(8.5)

(13.2)

Total stockholders' equity

1,241.9

1,254.2

1,276.9








Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

$

2,595.0

$

2,663.8

$

2,735.2








STATISTICS:






 Working Capital

$

573.3

$

586.4

$

576.0

 Current Ratio

1.5

1.5

1.5

 Debt-to-capital %

0.0

%

0.1

%

0.0

%

 Global Days Sales Outstanding

61

61

63

 Year-to-Date Free Cash Flow

$

14.1

$

(88.3)

$

(110.8)

 

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE 26 WEEKS ENDED JULY 2, 2023 AND JULY 3, 2022

(UNAUDITED)

(In millions of dollars)


2023

2022

Cash flows from operating activities:



Net earnings (loss)

$

18.4

$

(45.4)

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash from operating activities:



Asset impairment charge

2.4

18.5

Depreciation and amortization

17.2

16.1

Operating lease asset amortization

8.4

9.8

Provision for credit losses and sales allowances

0.4

1.3

Stock-based compensation

5.6

3.8

Gain on sale of equity securities

(2.0)

—

Loss on investment in Persol Holdings

—

67.2

Loss on currency translation from liquidation of subsidiary

—

20.4

Gain on foreign currency remeasurement

—

(5.5)

Gain on sale of assets

—

(5.3)

Equity in net earnings of PersolKelly Asia Pacific

—

(0.8)

Other, net

0.5

2.9

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisition

(27.5)

(190.3)

Net cash from (used in) operating activities

23.4

(107.3)





Cash flows from investing activities:



Capital expenditures

(9.3)

(3.5)

Proceeds from sale of assets

—

4.5

Acquisition of company, net of cash received

—

(143.1)

Proceeds from company-owned life insurance

—

1.5

Proceeds from sale of Persol Holdings investment

—

196.9

Proceeds from sale of equity method investment

—

119.5

Proceeds from equity securities

2.0

—

Other investing activities

(0.4)

(0.2)

Net cash (used in) from investing activities

(7.7)

175.6





Cash flows from financing activities:



Net change in short-term borrowings

(0.7)

—

Financing lease payments

(0.5)

(0.4)

Dividend payments

(5.6)

(4.8)

Payments of tax withholding for stock awards

(1.3)

(0.8)

Buyback of common shares

(34.8)

(27.2)

Contingent consideration payments

(2.5)

(0.7)

Net cash used in financing activities

(45.4)

(33.9)





Effect of exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

1.8

0.1





Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(27.9)

34.5

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

162.4

119.5





Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

$

134.5

$

154.0

 

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

REVENUE FROM SERVICES BY GEOGRAPHY

(UNAUDITED)

(In millions of dollars)












Second Quarter
















%

CC %


2023

2022

Change

Change










Americas








United States

$

892.4

$

928.9

(3.9)

%

(3.9)

%

Canada

46.4

40.3

15.3

21.2

Puerto Rico

27.7

28.9

(4.4)

(4.4)