BBSI Reports Strong Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Raises Quarterly Dividend

Rhea-AI Summary

Barrett Business Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: BBSI) reported strong Q2 2024 financial results, with revenues up 6% to $279.7 million and gross billings up 6% to $2.03 billion. Net income was $16.7 million, or $0.62 per diluted share. The company's performance was driven by increased worksite employees (WSEs) from new clients and higher average billings per WSE. BBSI raised its quarterly dividend by 7% to $0.08 per share and repurchased 222,780 shares. The company expects 6-8% gross billings growth and 4-5% WSE growth for 2024. BBSI remains debt-free with $110.4 million in unrestricted cash and investments as of June 30, 2024.

Positive

• Revenues increased 6% to $279.7 million in Q2 2024
• Gross billings grew 6% to $2.03 billion
• Average worksite employees (WSEs) up 4%
• Quarterly dividend raised by 7% to $0.08 per share
• Company remains debt-free with $110.4 million in unrestricted cash and investments

Negative

• Net income slightly decreased from $17.0 million in Q2 2023 to $16.7 million in Q2 2024

Insights

Financial Analyst

BBSI's Q2 2024 results demonstrate solid financial performance and strategic execution. The 6% increase in revenues to $279.7 million and 6% growth in gross billings to $2.03 billion indicate robust business expansion. The company's focus on PEO services is paying off, with a 4% increase in average worksite employees (WSEs).

The stability in net income ($16.7 million vs. $17.0 million year-over-year) and consistent EPS ($0.62) suggest effective cost management amidst growth. The improved workers' compensation expense ratio (2.5% vs. 2.6%) reflects prudent risk management.

BBSI's strong liquidity position, with $110.4 million in unrestricted cash and investments and zero debt, provides financial flexibility. The 7% increase in quarterly dividend to $0.08 per share and ongoing share repurchases ($44.9 million remaining in the program) underscore management's confidence and commitment to shareholder returns.

The company's outlook for 2024, projecting 6-8% gross billings growth and 4-5% WSE growth, indicates a positive trajectory. However, investors should note the slight decrease in gross margin as a percentage of gross billings (3.3% vs. 3.5% year-over-year), which warrants monitoring in future quarters.

Market Research Analyst

BBSI's Q2 2024 results reflect a growing demand for business management solutions in a competitive labor market. The 4% increase in average WSEs suggests that small and mid-sized businesses are increasingly turning to PEO services to manage their workforce effectively.

The company's success in client retention and acquisition, coupled with the roll-out of value-added offerings like BBSI Benefits, indicates a strong market position. This strategy of expanding service offerings could be a key differentiator in the PEO industry, potentially leading to higher client retention rates and increased revenue per client.

The projected 6-8% growth in gross billings for 2024 outpaces the expected GDP growth, implying BBSI is capturing market share. However, the slight deceleration in ending WSEs growth (2.1% vs. 2.8% year-over-year) might suggest increasing competition or market saturation, which investors should monitor closely.

The company's focus on increasing the top of its sales funnel is a proactive approach to sustain growth. As the labor market evolves post-pandemic, BBSI's ability to adapt its services and attract a diverse client base will be important for long-term success in the business management solutions sector.

- Q2 2024 Net Income of $16.7 Million, or $0.62 per Diluted Share -
- Raises Dividend by 7% to $0.08 per Share -

VANCOUVER, Wash., July 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Barrett Business Services, Inc. (“BBSI” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: BBSI), a leading provider of business management solutions, reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

All share and per share amounts presented herein have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the impact of the four-for-one stock split that was distributed in the form of a stock dividend in June 2024 (the "Stock Split").

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Summary vs. Year-Ago Quarter

• Revenues up 6% to $279.7 million.
• Gross billings up 6% to $2.03 billion.
• Average worksite employees (“WSEs”) up 4%.
• Net Income of $16.7 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, compared to net income of $17.0 million, or $0.62 per diluted share.

“Our strong performance continued through the second quarter, with gross billings growth and new client adds keeping us on track to meet our full year financial objectives,” said BBSI President and CEO Gary Kramer. “This continues to be driven by various strategies to increase the top of our sales funnel, our track record of client retention, and the roll-out of value-added offerings like BBSI Benefits. Given our consecutive quarters of great momentum and the opportunities ahead of us, we are confident 2024 will be another strong year for our shareholders.”

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Revenues in the second quarter of 2024 increased 6% to $279.7 million compared to $264.6 million in the second quarter of 2023.

Total gross billings in the second quarter of 2024 increased 6% to $2.03 billion compared to $1.91 billion in the same year-ago quarter (see “Key Performance Metrics” below). The increase was driven by growth in professional employer ("PEO") services, specifically resulting from increased WSEs from net new clients and higher average billings per WSE.

Workers’ compensation expense as a percent of gross billings was 2.5% in the second quarter of 2024 and benefited from favorable prior year liability and premium adjustments of $8.9 million. This compares to 2.6% in the second quarter of 2023, which included favorable prior year liability and premium adjustments of $6.3 million.

Net Income for the second quarter of 2024 was $16.7 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, compared to net income of $17.0 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter.

Liquidity

As of June 30, 2024, unrestricted cash and investments were $110.4 million compared to $123.7 million as of March 31, 2024. BBSI remained debt free at quarter end.

Capital Allocation

BBSI’s board of directors raised its quarterly split-adjusted stock cash dividend from $0.075 to $0.08 per share, a 7% increase. The cash dividend will be paid on August 30, 2024, to all stockholders of record as of August 16, 2024.

Continuing under the Company’s stock repurchase program established in July 2023, BBSI repurchased 222,780 shares in the second quarter at an average price of $31.63. At June 30, 2024, approximately $44.9 million remained available under the $75 million repurchase program.

Outlook

BBSI expects the following for 2024:

• Gross billings growth of 6% to 8%
• Growth in the average number of WSEs of 4% to 5%
• Gross margin as a percent of gross billings of 3.0% to 3.10%
• Effective annual tax rate to remain at 26% to 27%

Conference Call

BBSI will conduct a conference call on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time (2:00 p.m. Pacific time) to discuss its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2024.

BBSI’s CEO Gary Kramer and CFO Anthony Harris will host the conference call, followed by a question and answer period.

Date: Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time (2:00 p.m. Pacific time)
Toll-free dial-in number: 1-877-407-4018
International dial-in number: 1-201-689-8471
Conference ID: 13747439

Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Gateway Investor Relations at 1-949-574-3860.

The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay here and via the Investors section of the BBSI website at ir.bbsi.com.

A replay of the conference call will be available after 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on the same day through August 31, 2024.

Toll-free replay number: 1-844-512-2921
International replay number: 1-412-317-6671
Replay ID: 13747439

Key Performance Metrics

We report PEO revenues net of direct payroll costs because we are not the primary obligor for wage payments to our clients’ employees. However, management believes that gross billings and wages are useful in understanding the volume of our business activity and serve as important performance metrics in managing our operations, including the preparation of internal operating forecasts and establishing executive compensation performance goals. We therefore present for purposes of analysis gross billings and wage information for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.

	(Unaudited)								(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
(in thousands)	2024				2023				2024				2023
Gross billings	$	2,029,036			$	1,911,550			$	3,936,584			$	3,700,768
PEO and staffing wages	$	1,764,182			$	1,661,668			$	3,420,626			$	3,213,021

In monitoring and evaluating the performance of our operations, management also reviews the following ratios, which represent selected amounts as a percentage of gross billings. Management believes these ratios are useful in understanding the efficiency and profitability of our service offerings.

	(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)
	Percentage of Gross Billings				Percentage of Gross Billings
	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
PEO and staffing wages	86.9%		86.9%		86.9%		86.9%
Payroll taxes and benefits	7.3%		7.0%		7.9%		7.5%
Workers' compensation	2.5%		2.6%		2.5%		2.7%
Gross margin	3.3%		3.5%		2.7%		2.9%

We refer to employees of our PEO clients as WSEs. Management reviews average and ending WSE growth to monitor and evaluate the performance of our operations. Average WSEs are calculated by dividing the number of unique individuals paid in each month by the number of months in the period. Ending WSEs represents the number of unique individuals paid in the last month of the period.

	(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended June 30,
	2024			Year-over-year % Growth		2023			Year-over-year % Growth
Average WSEs	128,734			3.7%		124,186			1.6%
Ending WSEs	130,046			2.1%		127,336			2.8%

 

	(Unaudited)
	Six Months Ended June 30,
	2024			Year-over-year % Growth		2023			Year-over-year % Growth
Average WSEs	125,892			3.4%		121,749			2.1%
Ending WSEs	130,046			2.1%		127,336			2.8%

About BBSI

BBSI (NASDAQ: BBSI) is a leading provider of business management solutions, combining human resource outsourcing and professional management consulting to create a unique operational platform that differentiates it from competitors. The Company’s integrated platform is built upon expertise in payroll processing, employee benefits, workers’ compensation coverage, risk management and workplace safety programs, and human resource administration. BBSI’s partnerships help businesses of all sizes improve the efficiency of their operations. The company works with more than 8,000 clients across all lines of business and is licensed to operate in all 50 states. For more information, please visit www.bbsi.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this release about future events and financial outlook are forward-looking statements. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect future results include: economic conditions in the Company’s service areas; the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; the effects of inflation on our operating expenses and those of our clients; the availability of certain fully insured medical and other health and welfare benefits to qualifying worksite employees; the effect of changes in the Company’s mix of services on gross margin; the Company’s ability to attract and retain clients and to achieve revenue growth; the availability of financing or other sources of capital; the Company’s relationship with its primary bank lender; the potential for material deviations from expected future workers’ compensation claims experience; changes in the workers’ compensation regulatory environment in the Company’s primary markets; PEO client benefits costs; litigation costs; security breaches or failures in the Company’s information technology systems; the collectability of accounts receivable; changes in executive management; changes in effective payroll tax rates and federal and state income tax rates; the carrying value of deferred income tax assets and goodwill; the outcome of tax audits; the effects of conditions in the global capital markets on the Company’s investment portfolio; and the potential for and effect of acquisitions, among others. Other important factors that may affect the Company’s prospects are described in the Company’s 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Although forward-looking statements help to provide complete information about the Company, readers should keep in mind that forward-looking statements are less reliable than historical information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements in this release to reflect events or changes in circumstances that occur after the date of this release.

Barrett Business Services, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
	June 30,				December 31,
(in thousands)	2024				2023
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	40,348			$	71,168
Investments		70,100				81,027
Trade accounts receivable, net		211,565				171,407
Income taxes receivable		1,184				7,987
Prepaid expenses and other		17,459				18,443
Restricted cash and investments		80,818				97,470
Total current assets		421,474				447,502
Property, equipment and software, net		54,240				50,295
Operating lease right-of-use assets		20,278				19,898
Restricted cash and investments		133,617				145,583
Goodwill		47,820				47,820
Other assets		6,352				6,222
Deferred income taxes		4,806				4,218
Total assets	$	688,587			$	721,538
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	4,396			$	6,593
Accrued payroll, payroll taxes and related benefits		250,630				234,080
Current operating lease liabilities		6,245				6,623
Current premium payable		16,134				35,276
Other accrued liabilities		10,496				10,674
Workers' compensation claims liabilities		44,929				50,006
Total current liabilities		332,830				343,252
Long-term workers' compensation claims liabilities		104,701				117,757
Long-term premium payable		27,127				37,812
Long-term operating lease liabilities		15,220				14,590
Customer deposits and other long-term liabilities		9,748				8,987
Stockholders' equity		198,961				199,140
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	688,587			$	721,538

Barrett Business Services, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended								Six Months Ended
	June 30,								June 30,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)	2024				2023				2024				2023
Revenues:
Professional employer services	$	259,887			$	244,256			$	506,076			$	476,563
Staffing services		19,764				20,374				39,357				42,734
Total revenues		279,651				264,630				545,433				519,297
Cost of revenues:
Direct payroll costs		14,693				15,110				29,410				31,981
Payroll taxes and benefits		148,810				134,109				310,705				278,691
Workers' compensation		48,251				48,365				97,854				100,035
Total cost of revenues		211,754				197,584				437,969				410,707
Gross margin		67,897				67,046				107,464				108,590
Selling, general and administrative expenses		45,577				43,808				87,991				85,034
Depreciation and amortization		1,912				1,729				3,764				3,406
Income from operations		20,408				21,509				15,709				20,150
Other income (expense):
Investment income, net		3,069				2,129				6,343				4,444
Interest expense		(44	)			—				(88	)			(38	)
Other, net		27				19				93				55
Other income, net		3,052				2,148				6,348				4,461
Income before income taxes		23,460				23,657				22,057				24,611
Provision for income taxes		6,759				6,641				5,492				6,776
Net income	$	16,701			$	17,016			$	16,565			$	17,835
Basic income per common share(1)	$	0.64			$	0.63			$	0.63			$	0.65
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding(1)		26,067				27,005				26,174				27,235
Diluted income per common share(1)	$	0.62			$	0.62			$	0.62			$	0.64
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding(1)		26,765				27,500				26,794				27,721

⁽¹⁾ Prior period results have been adjusted to reflect the Stock Split.

Investor Relations:
Gateway Group, Inc.
Cody Slach
Tel 1-949-574-3860
BBSI@gateway-grp.com

FAQ

What were BBSI's Q2 2024 financial results?

BBSI reported Q2 2024 revenues of $279.7 million, up 6% year-over-year, and net income of $16.7 million, or $0.62 per diluted share.

How much did BBSI increase its quarterly dividend?

BBSI raised its quarterly dividend by 7%, from $0.075 to $0.08 per share.

What is BBSI's outlook for 2024?

BBSI expects gross billings growth of 6% to 8% and growth in average worksite employees of 4% to 5% for 2024.

How many shares did BBSI repurchase in Q2 2024?

BBSI repurchased 222,780 shares in Q2 2024 at an average price of $31.63 per share.