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Heidrick & Struggles International (HSII)
NASDAQ:HSII
US Market

Heidrick & Struggles (HSII) AI Stock Analysis

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HSII

Heidrick & Struggles

(NASDAQ:HSII)

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Neutral 67 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:67Neutral
Price Target:
$64.00
▲(8.46% Upside)
The overall score reflects strong financial stability and positive corporate events, offset by technical indicators suggesting an overbought condition and a high valuation. The acquisition is a key positive factor, expected to drive future growth.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
Consistent revenue growth indicates a strong market position and effective business model, supporting long-term sustainability and expansion.
Cash Flow Management
Efficient cash flow management ensures financial stability and provides resources for reinvestment and shareholder returns, enhancing long-term resilience.
Strategic Acquisition
The acquisition supports a multi-year growth strategy, enhancing strategic positioning and operational scale, crucial for long-term competitive advantage.
Negative Factors
Profitability Margins
Low profitability margins indicate potential challenges in cost management and pricing power, which could impact long-term financial performance.
Leadership Changes
Leadership changes can create strategic uncertainty and require time for new management to align with company goals, affecting long-term execution.
Transparency Issues
Concerns over transparency can undermine investor trust and impact the company's reputation, potentially affecting long-term stakeholder relationships.

Heidrick & Struggles (HSII) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Heidrick & Struggles Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description
How the Company Makes MoneyHeidrick & Struggles generates revenue primarily through its executive search services, which involve identifying and recruiting top-level executives for client organizations. This segment typically accounts for a significant portion of the company's income, as it charges clients a fee based on a percentage of the executive's first-year compensation. Additionally, HSII earns income from its leadership consulting services, which include assessments, coaching, and advisory services aimed at enhancing organizational effectiveness and leadership capability. The firm also benefits from partnerships with various organizations and institutions that enhance its service offerings and market reach. Furthermore, by leveraging its extensive network and industry expertise, HSII can attract high-profile clients seeking strategic advice and talent solutions, contributing to its overall earnings.

Heidrick & Struggles Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 04, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Mar 02, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call highlighted strong revenue growth, improved profitability, and a solid cash position, demonstrating the company's ability to perform well across various service lines. However, increased operating expenses, expected margin pressure, and potential project delays due to economic uncertainty were noted as concerns. Overall, the positive aspects slightly outweigh the challenges.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Revenue Growth
Second quarter revenue reached approximately $317 million, marking a 14% increase compared to Q2 2024.
Strong Performance Across Service Lines
All three reported solution lines saw growth, with Executive Search revenue growing 13%, On-Demand Talent revenue increasing 14%, and Heidrick Consulting revenue rising 17% year-over-year.
Improved Profitability
Adjusted EBITDA improved by $5 million to $34 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin expansion of 40 basis points to 10.7%.
Strong Cash Position
The company ended the second quarter with a strong cash position of $400 million, up $103 million from the previous year.
Positive Executive Search Productivity
Consultant productivity in Executive Search annualized at $2.3 million, up from $2 million in the previous year.
Negative Updates
Increased Operating Expenses
Salary and benefits increased 17.6% from the prior year quarter due to higher base salaries, payroll taxes, and talent acquisition costs.
Margin Pressure Expected
Quarterly margins are expected to cycle down in the second half of the year due to progress on hiring plans.
Potential Project Delays
The current economic climate can heighten uncertainty, leading clients to potentially delay initiating new projects.
Company Guidance
During the Heidrick & Struggles Q2 2025 earnings call, CEO Tom Monahan and CFO Nirupam Sinha provided robust guidance, highlighting a 14% year-over-year revenue increase to $317 million and an adjusted EBITDA of $34 million with a margin of 10.7%. The company emphasized strong growth across all service lines: Executive Search revenue rose 13% to $238 million, On-Demand Talent climbed 14% to $48 million, and Heidrick Consulting increased 17% to $31 million. They reported high consultant productivity with an annualized $2.3 million in Executive Search and a notable cash position of $400 million. Looking ahead, they project Q3 revenue between $295 million and $315 million, anticipating a 10% growth at the midpoint compared to Q3 2024. The company remains focused on strategic priorities, including expanding their talent base and leveraging technology to enhance client solutions, while navigating macroeconomic uncertainties.

Heidrick & Struggles Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Heidrick & Struggles exhibits a solid financial position with consistent revenue growth and effective cash flow management. While profitability margins indicate room for improvement, the company's low leverage and strong cash flow metrics provide a stable foundation for future growth.
Income Statement
75
Positive
Heidrick & Struggles has shown a consistent revenue growth trend, with a TTM revenue growth rate of 3.84%. The gross profit margin remains stable at 24.26%, indicating effective cost management. However, the net profit margin is relatively low at 2.92%, suggesting room for improvement in profitability. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are moderate, reflecting operational efficiency but also highlighting potential areas for cost optimization.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The company's debt-to-equity ratio is low at 0.21, indicating a conservative leverage approach, which enhances financial stability. Return on equity is modest at 7.23%, suggesting moderate efficiency in generating returns from equity. The equity ratio of 40.28% indicates a solid equity base, contributing to financial resilience.
Cash Flow
80
Positive
Heidrick & Struggles demonstrates strong cash flow management with a significant free cash flow growth rate of 18.99% in the TTM period. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is healthy, indicating efficient cash generation relative to earnings. The free cash flow to net income ratio of 0.87 suggests robust cash flow relative to profits, supporting potential reinvestment and shareholder returns.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.21B1.12B1.04B1.08B1.01B629.37M
Gross Profit283.17M281.10M276.11M275.48M238.28M174.55M
EBITDA109.42M92.80M101.11M122.87M121.62M76.47M
Net Income37.05M8.73M54.41M79.49M72.57M-37.71M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets1.26B1.19B1.14B1.18B1.11B787.81M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments528.08M563.52M478.16M621.62M545.23M336.47M
Total Debt101.28M100.81M99.70M82.85M84.96M115.80M
Total Liabilities755.04M741.37M679.31M764.99M770.78M520.21M
Stockholders Equity509.22M452.82M462.28M410.65M336.02M267.60M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow132.44M124.12M-40.23M108.15M265.16M16.03M
Operating Cash Flow161.25M150.43M-26.79M119.29M271.40M23.35M
Investing Cash Flow-57.03M-14.62M133.60M-279.60M-21.26M32.63M
Financing Cash Flow-17.49M-16.74M-53.53M-15.69M-15.52M-16.40M

Heidrick & Struggles Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price59.01
Price Trends
50DMA
58.54
Positive
100DMA
53.63
Positive
200DMA
48.27
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.30
Positive
RSI
80.71
Negative
STOCH
74.99
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For HSII, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 59.01 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 58.90, above the 50-day MA of 58.54, and above the 200-day MA of 48.27, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.30 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 80.71 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 74.99 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for HSII.

Heidrick & Struggles Risk Analysis

Heidrick & Struggles disclosed 26 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Heidrick & Struggles reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Heidrick & Struggles Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
73
Outperform
$3.57B13.8913.89%2.79%3.65%5.71%
67
Neutral
7.47%1.02%11.53%-6.32%
63
Neutral
$10.79B15.437.44%2.01%2.89%-14.66%
60
Neutral
$2.81B18.0311.27%8.36%-7.27%-43.88%
58
Neutral
$2.91B22.17111.30%1.81%0.99%-47.02%
50
Neutral
$1.47B87.9016.04%6.17%3.19%-86.21%
48
Neutral
$1.36B-62.91-1.00%4.88%-2.44%-156.01%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
HSII
Heidrick & Struggles
59.01
15.13
34.48%
NSP
Insperity
39.38
-33.91
-46.27%
KFY
Korn Ferry
69.05
4.15
6.39%
MAN
ManpowerGroup
29.51
-25.01
-45.87%
RHI
Robert Half
28.23
-38.55
-57.73%
TNET
TriNet Group
61.51
-25.82
-29.57%

Heidrick & Struggles Corporate Events

Delistings and Listing ChangesExecutive/Board ChangesM&A TransactionsBusiness Operations and Strategy
Heidrick & Struggles Goes Private in $1.3B Acquisition
Positive
Dec 10, 2025

On December 10, 2025, Heidrick & Struggles completed a significant transition to become a privately held company through a $1.3 billion acquisition led by Advent International and Corvex Private Equity, alongside other strategic investors. This move is set to enhance the company’s growth strategy, allowing it to scale operations and strengthen client relationships. The transaction also resulted in the delisting of Heidrick & Struggles’ stock from Nasdaq and changes in the company’s board and leadership structure, with Carmine Di Sibio expected to be appointed as Chairman.

M&A TransactionsShareholder Meetings
Heidrick & Struggles Stockholders Approve Merger Proposal
Neutral
Dec 5, 2025

On December 5, 2025, Heidrick & Struggles held a virtual special meeting where stockholders voted on proposals related to a merger agreement with Heron BidCo, LLC. The merger proposal was approved, but the compensation proposal for executive officers was not. The merger is expected to be finalized around December 10, 2025, pending remaining conditions.

M&A Transactions
Heidrick & Struggles Merger Clears Antitrust Hurdles
Positive
Nov 18, 2025

On October 5, 2025, Heidrick & Struggles entered into a Merger Agreement with Heron BidCo, LLC and its subsidiary, Heron Merger Sub, Inc., to merge and become a wholly owned subsidiary of Heron BidCo. By November 17, 2025, the merger received necessary antitrust clearances from the United States, Germany, and Australia, satisfying key conditions for the merger’s completion.

Delistings and Listing ChangesM&A Transactions
Heidrick & Struggles to be Acquired by Consortium
Positive
Oct 6, 2025

On October 5, 2025, Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by a consortium led by Advent International and Corvex Private Equity, transitioning the company to private ownership. The all-cash transaction, valued at approximately $1.3 billion, offers Heidrick stockholders $59.00 per share, a 26% premium on the 90-day average share price. This move aims to accelerate Heidrick’s growth and enhance its global leadership positions by investing in people, technology, and innovative solutions. The merger, approved by Heidrick’s Board of Directors, is expected to close by the first quarter of 2026, subject to stockholder and regulatory approvals. Upon completion, Heidrick will be delisted from Nasdaq, continuing operations under its current leadership.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Dec 11, 2025