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ManpowerGroup Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue up 7% as reported: Revenues were $4.7 billion, up 7% as reported, up 1% in constant currency, and up 2% on an organic constant currency basis. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $0.92, down 17%: Diluted EPS was $0.64, against $0.47 a year earlier. Excluding charges, EPS was $0.92, a 17% decrease in constant currency. Source
  • Southern Europe revenue up 10%: Southern Europe revenue was $2,247.5 million, up 10.0% as reported and 0.7% in constant currency. Italy rose 16.0% reported, and France fell 3.4% in constant currency. Source
  • Stabilization across North America and Europe: Management described stabilization across North America and Europe overall as ongoing during the quarter. Source
  • Free cash flow $168 million: Operating cash flow was $179 million in the quarter. After capital expenditures, free cash flow was $168 million. Source
  • First-quarter EPS range $0.45 to $0.55: Management anticipates first-quarter 2026 diluted EPS between $0.45 and $0.55. Source

“We are pleased with our solid fourth quarter results, which reflect improving stabilization in market trends and continued execution of our go-to market and cost optimization strategy.”

Jonas Prising, ManpowerGroup Chair & CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Diluted EPS Sourcefirst quarter of 2026$0.45 to $0.55New
Currency impact on EPS Sourcefirst quarter of 20266 cents favorableNew
Effective tax rate Sourcefirst quarter of 202643.0%New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: A first-quarter 2026 diluted EPS range was given. The previous release gave a fourth-quarter range of $0.78 to $0.88. Source
  • New: The euro note due June 2026 was refinanced, and the revolving credit facility was reset to a new five-year period. Source

Fourth quarter results

  • Revenue up 7% as reported: Revenues were $4.7 billion, up 7% as reported, up 1% in constant currency, and up 2% on an organic constant currency basis. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $0.92, down 17%: Diluted EPS was $0.64, against $0.47 a year earlier. Excluding charges, EPS was $0.92, a 17% decrease in constant currency. Source
  • Full-year net loss of $13.3 million: Full-year results were a net loss of $13.3 million, or $0.29 per basic share, against net earnings of $145.1 million, or $3.01 per diluted share, a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year EPS excluding charges $2.97: Excluding the net impact of charges, full-year EPS was $2.97 per diluted share, a 38% decrease in constant currency. Source

Segments and regions

  • Southern Europe revenue up 10%: Southern Europe revenue was $2,247.5 million, up 10.0% as reported and 0.7% in constant currency. Italy rose 16.0% reported, and France fell 3.4% in constant currency. Source
  • Other Americas and APME growth: Other Americas revenue rose 18.3% as reported to $451.7 million. APME revenue was $519.7 million, and APME operating profit rose to $27.4 million from $15.8 million. Source
  • United States revenue down 1.5%: United States revenue was $681.7 million, down 1.5% in both reported and constant currency. Operating profit was $14.4 million against $16.0 million. Source

“Throughout 2025, we delivered sequential progress in both revenue and profitability, as adjusted, exiting the year with strengthening trends.”

Jonas Prising, ManpowerGroup Chair & CEO

Brands and service lines

  • Manpower growth rose, declines eased: Year-over-year revenue growth in Manpower increased from the previous quarter. The rate of revenue decline in Experis and Talent Solutions also improved. Source
  • Franchise fee income rose: Fees received from franchise offices were $4.1 million, against $3.8 in the prior-year quarter, as shown in the revenue footnote. Source
  • Sold businesses now run as franchises: Full-year results included net losses from sales of businesses, which will now operate as franchises. Source

Costs and margins

  • SG&A flat; cost actions continued: Selling and administrative expenses were $686.1 million, down 0.1% as reported and 4.6% in constant currency. Management cited cost actions and further restructuring in the quarter. Source
  • Gross margin 16.3%, from 16.6%: Gross profit margin was 16.3% in the fourth quarter, against 16.6% in the third. Management said staffing margin trends held steady from the previous quarter. Source
  • Switzerland and UK impairment: Full-year impairment charges of $88.7 million covered goodwill for Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and an indefinite-lived intangible asset in Switzerland. Source

Demand and market trends

  • Stabilization across North America and Europe: Management described stabilization across North America and Europe overall as ongoing during the quarter. Source
  • Permanent recruitment in Europe softer: Management said softer than expected permanent recruitment in Europe was reflected in the gross profit margin of 16.3%. Source
  • Demand improvement if trends hold: Management said it sees improving market demand, assuming current trends hold, and tied capturing it to technology initiatives. Source

Cash, debt and returns

  • Free cash flow $168 million: Operating cash flow was $179 million in the quarter. After capital expenditures, free cash flow was $168 million. Source
  • June 2026 euro note refinanced: The €500 million euro note, previously due June 2026, was refinanced. The revolving credit facility was reset for a new five-year period. Source
  • Full-year buybacks and dividends fell: Full-year repurchases and excise tax were $38.2 million, against $140.0 million. Dividends paid were $66.7 million, against $145.8 million. Source

Strategy and transformation

  • Technology initiatives to diversify capabilities: Management said it is progressing technology initiatives to diversify its capabilities and win market share. Source
  • Disciplined transformation drives productivity: Management said it will remain agile and keep executing its disciplined transformation to drive productivity gains and operating leverage. Source
  • Earlier focus on share and costs: The previous release named two focus areas: Winning In The Market for share gains, and accelerating initiatives to remove structural costs.

Charges and adjusted earnings

  • Fourth-quarter charges cut EPS 28 cents: Restructuring, pension settlements, and Argentina currency translation losses reduced fourth-quarter diluted EPS by $0.28. Source
  • Prior-year adjustments of $0.55: The prior-year period had adjustments reducing EPS by $0.55 in the fourth quarter and $1.54 for the year. These are excluded from the adjusted trend. Source
  • Full-year non-cash impairment and restructuring: Full-year charges included non-cash goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges and restructuring costs, among other items. Source

Next quarter guidance

  • First-quarter EPS range $0.45 to $0.55: Management anticipates first-quarter 2026 diluted EPS between $0.45 and $0.55. Source
  • Currency adds 6 cents: The first-quarter range includes an estimated favorable currency impact of 6 cents on diluted EPS. Source
  • First-quarter tax rate 43.0%: The first-quarter range assumes a 43.0% effective tax rate. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Franchise office revenues Source$395.2 million in fourth quarter 2025, against $278.1 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited continued headwinds in RPO and permanent recruitment in North America, while Experis stabilized. Source
  • External: Currency movements affected reported results. Reported revenue growth was 7% against 1% in constant currency. Source
  • Financial: Argentina hyperinflation-related non-cash translation losses reduced full-year EPS by $3.26, alongside impairment and restructuring items. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The previous release gave this range. The current release does not state whether it was met.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.