Robert Half (NYSE:RHI) Sets New 52-Week Low – Should You Sell?

Robert Half Inc. (NYSE:RHI) shares reached a new 52-week low on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $51.18 and last traded at $51.23, with a volume of 165910 shares. The stock had previously closed at $54.71.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

RHI has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. StockNews.com downgraded Robert Half from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, March 21st. Barclays raised Robert Half from an “underweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and raised their price objective for the company from $60.00 to $80.00 in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. BNP Paribas upgraded shares of Robert Half from an “underperform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $71.50 target price on the stock in a report on Monday, February 10th. Truist Financial raised Robert Half from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price target for the company from $62.00 to $90.00 in a research report on Friday, December 13th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of Robert Half from $69.00 to $65.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $74.92.

Robert Half Price Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $5.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.93 and a beta of 1.22. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $58.55 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $66.24.

Robert Half (NYSE:RHI) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The business services provider reported $0.53 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.54 by ($0.01). Robert Half had a net margin of 4.34% and a return on equity of 17.20%. On average, research analysts anticipate that Robert Half Inc. will post 2.48 EPS for the current year.

Robert Half Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 25th were issued a $0.59 dividend. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.62%. This is an increase from Robert Half’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.53. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 25th. Robert Half’s dividend payout ratio is presently 96.72%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank lifted its position in Robert Half by 17.7% during the third quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 21,770 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $1,468,000 after purchasing an additional 3,281 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its holdings in Robert Half by 139.7% during the 3rd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 32,078 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $2,162,000 after acquiring an additional 18,697 shares during the period. Verition Fund Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Robert Half by 73.4% in the third quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 54,817 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $3,695,000 after purchasing an additional 23,196 shares during the last quarter. Holocene Advisors LP increased its position in shares of Robert Half by 2.0% in the third quarter. Holocene Advisors LP now owns 139,244 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $9,386,000 after acquiring an additional 2,717 shares during the period. Finally, HighTower Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Robert Half by 11.1% during the 3rd quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 36,048 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $2,436,000 after purchasing an additional 3,606 shares during the period. 92.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Robert Half Company Profile

Robert Half Inc provides talent solutions and business consulting services in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company operates through Contract Talent Solutions, Permanent Placement Talent Solutions, and Protiviti segments. The Contract Talent Solutions segment provides contract engagement professionals in the fields of finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal and administrative, and customer support.