New York, Jan 30, 2026, 13:04 EST — Regular session
- Shares climbed roughly 26% in midday trading following Robert Half’s recent quarterly report
- Company signals a rebound in sequential growth following an extended pause in hiring
- The next hurdles will be the Q1 revenue outlook and the upcoming U.S. hiring data
Robert Half Inc’s shares surged roughly 26% on Friday, marking one of the company’s largest single-day rallies in months. Investors responded to indications that demand could be leveling off. The stock closed up $7.04, trading at $34.13.
This matters because staffing firms often catch hiring shifts early, particularly in professional jobs. Robert Half’s results and outlook come as investors wrestle with whether the slowdown in white-collar hiring has finally leveled off.
U.S. labor figures are sending mixed signals: layoffs stay low, yet hiring shows inconsistency. The Federal Reserve has held rates steady, waiting for clearer evidence the labor market is cooling without collapsing. 1
Robert Half reported fourth-quarter net income dropped to $32 million, or $0.32 per share, on $1.302 billion in revenue, down from $54 million, or $0.53 per share, on $1.382 billion a year earlier. CEO M. Keith Waddell said he was “very pleased to see” the business post sequential growth, noting weekly revenue trends held steady through the first three weeks of January. 2
On the earnings call, CFO Michael Buckley projected first-quarter revenue between $1.260 billion and $1.360 billion, with earnings per share ranging from $0.08 to $0.18. He urged caution on short-term results, noting, “We caution against reading too much into them.” 3
“Sequential growth” refers to growth compared to the previous quarter, a key metric traders watch for signs of shifts in cyclical sectors. Robert Half also highlights results on a “same-day” and “constant-currency” basis — methods that remove the effects of billing day variations and currency fluctuations to provide a clearer picture of core demand.
Core staffing operations faced continued pressure this quarter, with both contract talent solutions and permanent placement revenue dipping compared to the same period last year. Protiviti, the consulting arm, held steady but still saw a year-on-year decline, raising questions about whether consulting pipelines can make up for weaker hiring.
But the upside depends on follow-through. The company’s first-quarter outlook still suggests year-on-year revenue will be down at the midpoint, and staffing demand can shift fast if clients halt projects or hit the brakes on hiring again.
Investors are set to eye whether stronger activity translates into wider hiring trends. Job openings data and the monthly U.S. employment report drop next week, with the potential to shift sentiment around staffing firms like Robert Half, ManpowerGroup, and Korn Ferry.
The spotlight now turns to the U.S. Employment Situation report for January, set for release on Feb. 6. This data will be crucial to gauge if hiring is picking up or slowing down as 2026 gets underway. 4
