Robert Walters (RWA) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: £123.93M
• Dividend Yield: 13.85%
• Average Volume (3M): 94.17K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): 29.7
• Beta (1Y): 0.24
• Revenue Growth: -16.16%
• EPS Growth: -145.46%
• Country: UK
• Employees: 3,294
• Sector: Industrials
• Sector Strength: 86
• Industry: Staffing & Employment Services
• EPS (TTM): -0.06
• Shares Outstanding: 72,357,700
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 180,930
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 94,169
• PEG Ratio: 0.44
• Price to Book (P/B): 2.04
• Price to Sales (P/S): 0.00
• P/FCF Ratio: 16.92
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: N/A
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: N/A
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: N/A
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: N/A
• 1Y Price Target: £400.00
• Price Target Upside: 126.63% Upside
• Rating Consensus: Moderate Buy
• Number of Analyst Covering: 1

• Rating: 56 Neutral
• Price Target: 200.00p ▲(13.31%Upside)

The overall stock score of 56 reflects significant financial challenges, including declining profitability and cash flow. While technical analysis indicates bearish momentum, the stock's high dividend yield and positive corporate governance events provide some support.

Robert Walters Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Robert Walters plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides professional recruitment consultancy services worldwide. The company offers permanent, contract, and interim recruitment services in the fields of accounting and finance, banking and financial services, engineering, human resources, information technology, legal, sales and marketing, secretarial and support, and supply chain and procurement. It also provides staffing and recruitment process outsourcing and managed services. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

How the Company Makes Money

Robert Walters makes money primarily through fees charged for its recruitment services. The company earns revenue by matching employers with suitable candidates, for which it charges a percentage of the candidate's salary as a placement fee. This fee structure applies to both permanent and contract placements, although the percentages may vary. Additionally, Robert Walters generates income from its recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) services, where it manages the entire recruitment process for clients, including sourcing, screening, and onboarding candidates. This model allows the company to earn recurring revenue through long-term contracts with organizations seeking efficient and tailored recruitment solutions.

Robert Walters Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Robert Walters is facing significant financial challenges with declining revenue, profitability, and cash flow. The balance sheet shows moderate stability, but the negative net income and reduced free cash flow highlight operational inefficiencies and liquidity concerns.

Income Statement

Robert Walters experienced a decline in revenue and profitability over the past year. The gross profit margin declined from 36.4% in 2023 to 36.0% in 2024, and the net profit margin turned negative at -0.67% due to a net loss. Revenue decreased by 16.2% from 2023 to 2024, indicating a challenging period. The EBIT and EBITDA margins have also deteriorated, showing reduced operational efficiency.

Balance Sheet

The balance sheet shows moderate stability with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, indicating manageable leverage levels. However, the return on equity (ROE) turned negative at -4.33% due to the net loss, reflecting a poor return on shareholders' investment. The equity ratio decreased to 38.96%, indicating lower equity financing in the asset base.

Cash Flow

Free cash flow declined significantly by 67.2% from 2023 to 2024, impacting liquidity. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is negative due to net loss, showing inefficiency in converting income to cash. The free cash flow to net income ratio is also negative, indicating challenges in sustaining positive cash flow from operations.

Breakdown	Dec 2024	Dec 2023	Dec 2022	Dec 2021	Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue	892.10M	1.06B	1.10B	970.70M	938.40M
Gross Profit	321.40M	386.80M	428.20M	353.60M	302.40M
EBITDA	28.10M	49.60M	80.80M	74.20M	39.20M
Net Income	-6.00M	13.40M	39.10M	33.50M	5.70M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets	355.50M	415.70M	474.10M	446.30M	412.60M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	68.10M	95.70M	123.20M	142.30M	155.50M
Total Debt	88.00M	95.00M	102.50M	82.10M	63.80M
Total Liabilities	217.00M	250.80M	290.20M	271.50M	243.30M
Stockholders Equity	138.50M	164.90M	183.90M	174.80M	169.30M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow	9.70M	29.60M	22.20M	20.40M	89.00M
Operating Cash Flow	19.80M	45.50M	38.10M	33.60M	98.90M
Investing Cash Flow	-9.40M	-14.20M	-15.50M	-12.80M	-8.90M
Financing Cash Flow	-33.90M	-52.20M	-47.50M	-27.20M	-49.10M

Robert Walters Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Negative
• Last Price: 176.50
• 50DMA: Negative
• 100DMA: Negative
• 200DMA: Negative
• MACD: Positive
• RSI: Positive
• STOCH: Positive

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For GB:RWA, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 176.5 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 196.03, below the 50-day MA of 209.83, and below the 200-day MA of 265.04, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -9.32 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 22.85 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 13.55 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for GB:RWA.

Robert Walters Peers Comparison

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
STEM	72 Outperform	£305.61M	6.48	21.08%	5.55%	-10.24%	-11.60%
Sector *	71 Outperform	¥254.81B	12.92	8.49%	3.09%	6.34%	12.88%
STAF	69 Neutral	£55.83M	―	8.52%	―	5.83%	19.29%
PAGE	65 Neutral	£836.93M	29.25	10.00%	6.46%	-13.50%	-62.86%
HAS	60 Neutral	£1.10B	―	-2.60%	0.03%	-6.95%	-117.14%
GATC	60 Neutral	£24.43M	40.79	3.66%	2.58%	4.14%	-45.24%
RWA	56 Neutral	£123.93M	29.69	-3.96%	13.85%	-16.16%	-145.46%

Robert Walters Corporate Events

Liontrust Increases Stake in Robert Walters PLC

Liontrust Investment Partners LLP has increased its voting rights in Robert Walters PLC to 16.069%, following an acquisition or disposal of voting rights. This change in holdings reflects a slight increase from the previous position, indicating Liontrust’s continued interest and influence in the company, which could impact future decision-making and strategic directions.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:RWA) stock is a Hold with a £4.65 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Robert Walters stock, see the GB:RWA Stock Forecast page.

Liontrust Adjusts Stake in Robert Walters PLC

Robert Walters PLC has been notified of a change in major holdings by Liontrust Investment Partners LLP, which now holds 16.0777% of the company’s voting rights. This adjustment in holdings, effective from May 30, 2025, indicates a slight decrease from the previous position of 16.1187%. Such changes in voting rights can impact the company’s governance and decision-making processes, potentially influencing its strategic direction and stakeholder relations.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:RWA) stock is a Hold with a £4.65 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Robert Walters stock, see the GB:RWA Stock Forecast page.

Liontrust Increases Stake in Robert Walters PLC

On April 30, 2025, Robert Walters PLC announced a change in the voting rights held by Liontrust Investment Partners LLP, which now holds 16.1187% of the company’s voting rights. This adjustment in holdings reflects a slight increase from the previous 16.153% and could influence the company’s governance and strategic decisions, impacting stakeholders and potentially affecting its market positioning.

Robert Walters PLC Concludes 2025 AGM with All Resolutions Passed

Robert Walters PLC announced the successful conclusion of its 2025 Annual General Meeting, where all proposed resolutions were passed. Key resolutions included the approval of the annual report, director re-elections, and a final dividend declaration. The meeting’s outcomes reinforce the company’s governance and strategic direction, potentially impacting shareholder value positively.

Robert Walters PLC Grants Performance Share Awards to Executives

Robert Walters PLC has announced the granting of performance share awards to its Executive Directors under the Robert Walters Performance Share Plan 2023. The awards, totaling 872,434 ordinary shares, are subject to performance conditions and will vest after three years. This move is part of the company’s strategy to incentivize its leadership team, potentially impacting its operational efficiency and market positioning.

Robert Walters Faces Challenging Q1 Amidst Economic Uncertainty

Robert Walters PLC reported a challenging first quarter of 2025, with a 16% decline in group net fee income compared to the previous year, primarily due to macroeconomic uncertainties affecting client and candidate confidence. The company experienced varying regional performances, with the UK showing some growth, while Europe and the Rest of the World faced tougher conditions. Despite these challenges, Robert Walters remains committed to its strategic initiatives aimed at improving productivity and optimizing operations. The company continues to focus on enhancing its service offerings to meet the evolving needs of clients in a rapidly changing work environment.