Kforce Reports Fourth Quarter 2024 Revenue of $343.8 Million; Full Year 2024 EPS of $2.68 Per Share; Board of Directors Approves Increase in Quarterly Dividend for Sixth Consecutive Yea
Kforce Inc. (NYSE: KFRC) reported Q4 2024 revenue of
$343.8 million, a
5.4% YoY decline, with a full-year 2024 revenue of
$1.41 billion, down
7.4% YoY. Despite a stabilized demand for technology services, earnings per share (EPS) fell to
$2.68, a
14.4% decrease YoY. The firm’s operating margins declined to
5.0% for the year, reflecting increased SG&A expenses and competitive market conditions. However, Kforce maintained its commitment to shareholder returns, distributing
$64.7 million via dividends and stock repurchases. The Board approved a
6th consecutive annual dividend increase, raising the quarterly dividend to
$0.39 per share. Looking ahead, Kforce forecasts Q1 2025 revenue between
$330 million and $338 million, with EPS guidance of
$0.44 to $0.52.
TAMPA, Fla.---
Kforce Inc. (NYSE: KFRC), a solutions firm that specializes in technology and other professional staffing services, today announced results for the fourth quarter and full year 2024. References to “as adjusted” figures within this press release relate to results for the year ended December 31, 2023, as adjusted for certain expenses. These references pertain to non-GAAP measures that are more fully described in the Adjusted Financial Performance Measures section of this press release.
Joseph J. Liberatore, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We have been operating in an uncertain macro environment for more than two years, though demand for our technology services stabilized early in 2024, and remained stable throughout the year. I am extremely proud of how our teams have operated in this relatively subdued environment as evidenced by our industry-leading performance in our Technology business yet again in 2024. Our teams have continued to persevere and make the necessary adjustments within the business to maintain these high levels of performance while also advancing our strategic initiatives. This should provide a great foundation moving forward to return to higher levels of profitability as revenues inflect.”
Mr. Liberatore continued, “We believe that we enter 2025 well positioned to take additional market share as we have been doing successfully for years and to continue laying the foundation to generate significant long-term returns for our shareholders. Our organic growth strategy has resulted in us carrying a strong balance sheet and generating healthy predictable cash flows. This has again put us in a great position to return significant capital to our shareholders through share repurchases and our quarterly dividend. Additionally, our Board of Directors recently approved an increase in our dividend for the 6th consecutive year to support our ongoing objective of returning capital. We are blessed to have a high performing team that is tenured, dedicated, and passionate, and I could not be more excited about the future of Kforce.”
Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights
- Revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 was $343.8 million compared to $363.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023.
- Technology Flex revenue decreased 2.5% sequentially (increased 0.6% on a billing day basis) and 3.7% year over year (5.2% on a billing day basis). FA Flex revenue decreased 2.7% sequentially (increased 0.5% on a billing day basis) and 22.1% year over year (23.3% on a billing day basis).
- Gross profit margins of 27.0% decreased 90 basis points sequentially and 30 basis points year over year. Flex gross profit margins of 25.5% decreased 80 basis points sequentially and 20 basis points year over year.
- Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses as a percentage of revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 was 22.0%, which decreased 20 basis points sequentially and increased 100 basis points year over year.
- Operating margins were 4.5% for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, which decreased 80 basis points sequentially and 150 basis points year over year.
- Diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 was $0.60 per share, a decrease of 20.0% sequentially and 26.8% year over year.
Full Year 2024 Financial Highlights
- Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $1.41 billion compared to $1.53 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023.
- Technology revenue of $1.29 billion decreased 6.6% year over year (7.4% on a billing day basis).
- Operating margins were 5.0% for the year ended December 31, 2024, which decreased 70 basis points year over year. Operating margins of 5.0% for the year ended December 31, 2024 decreased 120 basis points from 6.2% for the year ended December 31, 2023, as adjusted.
- Diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $2.68 per share, a decrease of 14.4% year over year. Diluted earnings per share were $2.68 and $3.49 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, a decrease of 23.2%, as adjusted.
- We returned $64.7 million of capital to our shareholders through $36.5 million of share repurchases and $28.2 million in dividends during the year ended December 31, 2024, which represented approximately 75% of operating cash flows.
Our Board of Directors recently approved an increase in our quarterly dividend, representing the sixth consecutive annual increase, to $0.39 per share, with the first quarter cash dividend payable on March 21, 2025, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 7, 2025.
First Quarter 2025 - Guidance
Looking forward to the first quarter of 2025, there will be 63 billing days compared to 62 billing days in the fourth quarter of 2024 and 64 billing days in the first quarter of 2024.
Current estimates for the first quarter of 2025 are:
- Revenue of $330 million to $338 million
- Earnings per share of $0.44 to $0.52
- Gross profit margin of 27.0% to 27.2%
- Flex gross profit margin of 25.4% to 25.6%
- SG&A expenses as a percent of revenue of 22.8% to 23.0%
- Operating margin of 3.6% to 4.0%
- WASO of 18.5 million
- Effective tax rate of 27.0%
Conference Call and Annual Meeting
On Monday, February 3, 2025, Kforce will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. E.T. to discuss these results. The dial-in number is (800) 715-9871 and the conference passcode is "Kforce." The prepared remarks for this call and webcast are available on the Investor Relations page of the Kforce Inc. website in the News and Events section. The replay of the call can be accessed at
http://investor.kforce.com.
Our 2025 Annual Meeting of Kforce Inc. Shareholders will be held on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 1150 Assembly Drive, Suite 500, Tampa, Florida 33607, commencing at 8:00 a.m. E.T.
About Kforce Inc.
Kforce Inc. (the “Firm”) is a solutions firm specializing in technology, finance and accounting, and other professional staffing services. Our KNOWLEDGEforce® empowers industry-leading companies to achieve their digital transformation goals. We curate teams of technical experts who deliver solutions custom-tailored to each client’s needs. These scalable, flexible outcomes are shaped by deep market knowledge, thought leadership and our multi-industry expertise.
Our integrated approach is rooted in 60 years of proven success deploying highly skilled professionals on a temporary and direct-hire basis. Each year, approximately 18,000 talented experts work with Fortune 500 and other leading companies. Together, we deliver Great Results Through Strategic Partnership and Knowledge Sharing
®.
All statements in this press release, other than those of a historical nature, are forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements regarding our movement forward to return to higher levels of profitability, our taking of additional market share, our generation of significant long-term returns for our shareholders, our ability to return significant capital to our shareholders, our payment of dividends, the trends in the operating environment, and the Firm's guidance for the first quarter of 2025. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the following: general business conditions; growth rate in temporary staffing and the general economy; competitive factors; risks due to shifts in the market demand; changes in client demand or our ability to adapt to such changes; a constraint in the supply of consultants and candidates or the Firm’s ability to attract and retain such individuals; the success of the Firm in attracting and retaining its management team and key operating employees; changes in business or service mix; the ability of the Firm to repurchase shares and issue dividends; the occurrence of unanticipated expenses, income, gains or losses; the effect of adverse weather conditions; changes in our effective tax rate; our ability to comply with government regulations, laws, orders, guidelines and policies that impact our business; risk of contract performance, delays, termination or the failure to obtain new assignments or contracts, or funding under contracts; ability to comply with our obligations in a remote work environment; continued performance, security of, and improvements to our enterprise information systems; and impacts of actual or potential litigation or other legal or regulatory matters or liabilities, including the risk factors and matters listed from time to time in the Firm’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Firm’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as well as assumptions regarding the foregoing. The terms “should,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” ”plan” and similar expressions and variations thereof contained in this press release identify certain of such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. As a result, such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. Future events and actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and the Firm undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.