Robert Half International News Release (04/23/13)

Robert Half International Inc. reported net income of $55.9 million on revenues of $1.02 billion for the first quarter of 2013, up from $48.3 million on revenues of $1.02 billion during the same period last year. On a same-day constant currency basis, global staffing revenues increased 2% year-to-year, with U.S. revenues growing by 6% and international staffing revenues declining by 9%.

Harold M. Messmer Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Robert Half International, said, “We were pleased with the company’s overall performance in the first quarter. Demand for our professional services remained strongest in the U.S., most notably in our permanent placement, information technology staffing, and Protiviti operations. Despite softness in international markets, this is the 12th consecutive quarter in which both net income and earnings per share have grown 15% or more on a year-to-year basis.”

Mastech Holdings News Release (04/24/13)

Mastech Holdings today reported revenues of $27 million for the first quarter of 2013, a 10% increase over the same quarter a year earlier and a 2% increase over the fourth quarter of 2012. Net income for the first quarter was $575,000, up from $352,000 during the same quarter a year earlier. Market conditions in the health care staffing business were generally steady and the company was able to achieve sequential revenue growth for the eleventh consecutive quarter.

MarketWatch (04/23/13)

Barrett Business Services Inc. reported net revenues of $111.6 million for the first quarter of 2013, up 35% from $82.4 million during the same period last year. The company also reported a net loss of $2.5 million for the first quarter, versus a net loss of $2.2 million during the first quarter of 2012. BBSI’s net revenues for its professional employer services were $81.8 million for the first quarter, up 45% from $56.2 million, and net revenues for its staffing services were $29.7 million, up 12% from $26.2 million.

General Employment Enterprises News Release (04/23/2013)

General Employment Enterprises Inc. announced its financial results for the first quarter ended Dec. 31, 2012. Net revenues for the quarter increased more than 14.5% to approximately $14.6 million, compared with approximately $12.8 million for the same period in the prior year. Net income from operations for the first quarter ended Dec. 31 increased to $186,000, up 809% from the $23,000 reported for the same period in the previous year.

Command Center Inc. News Release (04/24/13)

Command Center Inc. today announced revenue of $19.9 million for the first quarter of 2013, a 4.2% increase over revenue of $19.1 million recorded in the first quarter of 2012.

Bubba Sandford, chief executive officer, stated, “First quarter revenues were impacted by several items, including the harsh weather conditions that our North Dakota store locations had to contend with at the start of the year. In addition, we made a strategic decision to focus our sales and retention efforts on accounts that will help us to grow our average company gross margins. As a result, we have put some pressure on our top line growth rate as we continue to emphasize improving gross margins.” Gross margin, as a percentage of revenue, is expected to improve to 25% from the 24.3% reported in the comparable period in 2012.

MarketWatch (04/24/13) Jeffry Bartash

Orders for large-ticket U.S. goods fell 5.7% in March, primarily due to fewer jetliner bookings, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Economists polled by MarketWatch had expected orders to decline 3.2%. Without the volatile transportation numbers, orders declined 1.4%. However, orders for core capital goods, a key indicator of private-sector business investment, ticked up 0.2% after falling 4.8% in February. Overall, the durable goods report suggests manufacturing activity cooled slightly toward the end of the first quarter.

UPI (04/23/13)

The U.S. Department of Labor reports the number of mass layoffs in March fell by 85 compared with February. Employers took 1,337 mass layoff actions in March, which affected 127,939 jobs as measured by new fillings for unemployment insurance benefits. In the manufacturing sector, there were 311 mass layoff events in the month, resulting in 36,696 initial benefit claims. The largest number of initial claims from mass layoffs in the month were in school and employee bus transportation jobs, resulting in 11,169 initial claims. Among food service contractors, 10,408 initial claims associated with mass layoffs were filed.