GOOSE CREEK, SC / ACCESSWIRE / November 7, 2024 / HireQuest, Inc. (Nasdaq:HQI), a national franchisor of direct dispatch, executive search, and commercial staffing services, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024.

Third Quarter 2024 Summary

• Franchise royalties increased 0.9% to $9.0 million compared to $8.9 million in the prior year period.

• Total revenue increased 1.6% to $9.4 million compared to $9.3 million in the prior year period.

• Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses were $5.4 million, a decrease of 15.3% compared to $6.4 million in the prior year period.

• Loss from operations was$(2.7 million), compared to income from operations of $2.2 million in the third quarter of 2023. Loss from operations in the third quarter of 2024 included a one-time non-cash impairment charge of $6.0 million.

• Net loss was $(2.2 million), or $(0.16) per diluted share compared to net income of $1.5 million, or $0.11 per diluted share in the prior year period. Adjusted net income for the quarter was $2.8 million, or $0.20 per diluted share compared to adjusted net income of $2.2 million, or $0.16 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2023.

• Adjusted EBITDA was $4.9 million compared to $3.7 million in the prior year period.

Year-To-Date 2024 Summary

• Franchise royalties decreased 7.4% to $25.0 million compared to $27.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

• Total revenue decreased 5.7% to $26.5 million compared to $28.1 million in the prior year period.

• SG&A expenses decreased 8.6% to $16.3 million compared to $17.8 million in the prior year period.

• Income from operations decreased to $2.1 million compared to $8.2 million in the prior year period. Loss from operations for the first nine months of 2024 included a one-time non-cash impairment charge of $6.0 million in the third quarter of 2024.

• Net income was $1.5 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, compared to net income of $6.1 million, or $0.45 per diluted share in the prior year period. Adjusted net income was $7.3 million, or $0.52 per diluted share compared to adjusted net income of $7.3 million, or $0.53 per diluted share in the prior year period.

• Adjusted EBITDA was $12.3 million compared to $12.2 million in the prior year period.

System-wide sales for the third quarter of 2024 decreased 1.7% to $148.6 million compared to $151.2 million for the same period in 2023. System-wide sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, decreased 7.1% to $428.8 million compared to $461.7 million in the prior year period.

Rick Hermanns, HireQuest's President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "During the third quarter we achieved slight growth in total revenue compared to the third quarter of 2023, and saw sequential revenue growth of 8.5% compared to the second quarter of 2024. Our temporary staffing brands collectively grew year over year this quarter for the first time since the beginning of 2023. That said, employers remained cautious in their hiring decisions during the third quarter influenced by the presidential election, as well as an unpredictable economic landscape.

"Our third quarter profitability was impacted by a one-time non-cash impairment charge related to the MRINetwork assets we acquired in December 2022. The overall market for executive recruiting and permanent staffing services has faced challenges over the past several quarters exacerbating the decline we had originally built into our projections, and we made the decision to write down certain non-cash assets to better reflect the current value of MRINetwork to our business. However, adjusted net income in the quarter increased 29% compared to the third quarter of 2023.

"As we close out the fiscal year, we believe that we're beginning to enter a period of favorable comparisons related to lower operational costs, a stabilizing staffing market, and reduced impact of workers' compensation expense on our business. We're optimistic that the market for both temporary and permanent staffing solutions is entering a more favorable economic environment, and we are ready to capitalize on the opportunities that become available to us as demand for staffing services strengthens."

Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Franchise royalties in the third quarter of 2024 were $9.0 million compared to $8.9 million in the prior-year period. Service revenue was $428,000 compared to $366,000 in the prior-year period. Total revenue in the third quarter of 2024 was $9.4 million compared to $9.3 million in the year-ago quarter, an increase of 1.6%.

SG&A expenses in the third quarter of 2024 were $5.4 million compared to $6.4 million in the third quarter of 2023, a decrease of 15.3% driven by a reduction in net workers' compensation expense.

Depreciation and amortization in the third quarter of 2024 was approximately $697,000, consistent with $699,000 in the third quarter of 2023.

Interest and other financing expense in the third quarter of 2024 was approximately $268,000 compared to $302,000 for the third quarter of 2023. Interest and other financing expense will fluctuate as the Company utilizes the line of credit for acquisitions or other short-term liquidity needs.

Net loss in the third quarter of 2024 was $(2.2 million), or $(0.16) per diluted share, compared to net income of $1.5 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, in the third quarter last year. Included in the net loss in the quarter was a one-time non-cash impairment charge of $6.0 million related to industry and market conditions affecting the overall financial performance of MRINetwork. Adjusted net income for the quarter was $2.8 million, or $0.20 per diluted share compared to adjusted net income of $2.2 million, or $0.16 per diluted share in the third quarter last year.

Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2024 was $4.9 million compared to $3.7 million in the third quarter last year.

Year-To-Date 2024 Financial Results

Franchise royalties for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, were $25.0 million compared to $27.0 million for the same period in 2023. Service revenue was $1.5 million compared to $1.1 million in the prior-year period. Total revenue was $26.5 million compared to $28.1 million in the same year-ago period.

SG&A expenses in the first nine months of 2024 were $16.3 million compared to $17.8 million for the same period of 2023.

Interest and other financing expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was approximately $763,000, compared to $1.2 million in the prior year period. The first nine months of 2023 included fees and expenses related to switching our credit facility to a new financial institution. Interest and other financing expense will fluctuate as the Company utilizes the line of credit for acquisitions or other short-term liquidity needs.

Net income in the year-to-date period for 2024 was $1.5 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, compared to net income of $6.1 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, in the same year-ago period. Included in the net income in this period was a one-time non-cash impairment charge of $6.0 million in the third quarter of 2024 related to industry and market conditions affecting the overall financial performance of MRINetwork. Adjusted net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $7.3 million, or $0.52 per diluted share compared to adjusted net income of $7.3 million, or $0.53 per diluted share in the same prior-year period.

Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $12.3 million compared to $12.2 million in the same prior-year period.

Balance Sheet and Capital Structure

Cash was $1.6 million as of September 30, 2024, compared to $1.3 million as of December 31, 2023. Total assets were $102.7 million as of September 30, 2024, compared to $103.8 million as of December 31, 2023. Total liabilities were $39.7 million as of September 30, 2024, compared to $41.1 million as of December 31, 2023.

Working capital as of September 30, 2024, was $23.4 million compared to $15.7 million as of December 31, 2023.

At September 30, 2024, assuming continued covenant compliance, availability under the line of credit was approximately $26.9 million based on eligible collateral, less letter of credit reserves, bank product reserves, and current advances.

On September 16, 2024, the Company paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share of common stock to shareholders of record as of September 2, 2024. The Company intends to pay a $0.06 cash dividend on a quarterly basis, but the declaration of any dividend and the exact amount each quarter will be based on its business results and financial position and is subject to board of director discretion.

Conference Call

HireQuest will hold a conference call to discuss its financial results.

Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization.

The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay at https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2359/51500 and via the investor relations section of HireQuest's website at https://hirequest.com/.

A replay of the conference call will be available through Thursday, November 21, 2024.

About HireQuest

HireQuest, Inc. is a nationwide franchisor of direct dispatch, executive search, and commercial staffing solutions for HireQuest Direct, HireQuest, Snelling, HireQuest Health, DriverQuest, TradeCorp, MRINetwork, SearchPath Global, and Northbound Executive Search franchised offices across the United States. Through its national network of over 400 franchisee-owned offices across the United States, HireQuest provides employment for approximately 73,000 individuals annually that work for thousands of customers in numerous industries including construction, light industrial, manufacturing, hospitality, clerical, medical, travel, financial services, and event services. For more information, visit www.hirequest.com

Important Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes, and the company's officers and other representatives may sometimes make or provide certain estimates and other forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, including, among others, statements with respect to future economic conditions, future revenue or sales and the growth thereof; operating results; anticipated benefits of acquisitions, or the status of integration of those entities; the declaration, or not, of future dividends; and other similar statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "goal," "seek," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "will," and similar references to future periods.

While the company believes these statements are accurate, forward-looking statements are not historical facts and are inherently uncertain. They are based only on the company's current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions regarding the future of its business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy, and other future conditions. The company cannot assure you that these expectations will occur, and its actual results may be significantly different. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements made by the company include the following: the level of demand and financial performance of the temporary staffing industry; the financial performance of the company's franchisees; changes in customer demand; economic uncertainty caused by macroeconomic trends including potential inflation or a recessionary environment; uncertainty in the supply chain or economy caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the war between Israel and Palestine, or other global conflict; the relative success or failure of acquisitions and new franchised offerings; our success in reducing workers' compensation expenses; the extent to which the company is successful in gaining new long-term relationships with customers or retaining existing ones, and the level of service failures that could lead customers to use competitors' services; significant investigative or legal proceedings including, without limitation, those brought about by the existing regulatory environment or changes in the regulations governing the temporary staffing industry and those arising from the action or inaction of the company's franchisees and temporary employees; strategic actions, including acquisitions and dispositions and the company's success in integrating acquired businesses including, without limitation, successful integration following any of our various acquisitions; success or failure in determining how to allocate capital; disruptions to the company's technology network including computer systems and software; natural events such as severe weather, fires, floods, and earthquakes, or man-made or other disruptions of the company's operating systems; and the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section and elsewhere in the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed thereafter.

Any forward-looking statement made by the company or its management in this news release is based only on information currently available to the company and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The company and its management disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, based on the occurrence of future events, the receipt of new information, or otherwise, except as required by law.

Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures

This document contains supplemental financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). Management uses these non-U.S. GAAP measures in its analysis of the Company's performance. These measures should not be considered a substitute for U.S. GAAP basis measures nor should they be viewed as a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Management believes the presentation of non-U.S. GAAP financial measures that exclude the impact of specified items provide useful supplemental information that is essential to a proper understanding of the Company's financial condition and results. Non-U.S. GAAP measures are not formally defined under U.S. GAAP, and other entities may use calculation methods that differ from those used by us. As a complement to U.S. GAAP financial measures, our management believes these non-U.S. GAAP financial measures assist investors in comparing the financial condition and results of operations of financial institutions due to the industry prevalence of such non-U.S. GAAP measures. See the tables below for a reconciliation of these non-U.S. GAAP measures to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures.

Company Contact:
HireQuest, Inc.
David Hartley, Vice President of Corporate Development
(800) 835-6755
Email: cdhartley@hirequest.com

Investor Relations Contact:
IMS Investor Relations
John Nesbett/Jennifer Belodeau
(203) 972-9200
Email: hirequest@imsinvestorrelations.com

- Tables Follow -

HireQuest, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets

HireQuest, Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Income
(unaudited)

HireQuest, Inc.
Non-U.S. GAAP - Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA
(unaudited)

HireQuest, Inc.
Non-U.S. GAAP - Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted Net Income
(unaudited)

(1) The tax effect includes the application of our statutory rate of 26% to all taxable / deductible adjustments.

SOURCE: HireQuest Inc.