In the second quarter, revenue was $5.3 billion, up 31% year-over-year in constant currency.
Our operating profit for the quarter was $170 million, Operating profit was up significantly as we anniversary the depth of the pandemic's financial impact.
Operating profit margin was 3.2%.
And after excluding special charges in the prior year, operating profit margin increased 260 basis points.
Earnings per diluted share was $2.02.
Our most recent talent shortage survey of 42,000 employers in 43 countries found that 69% of employers globally, a 15-year high, are reporting difficulties hiring skilled workers across many industries.
Operating profit was $170 million, representing a significant increase from the prior year period, which was heavily impacted by the pandemic.
Operating profit margin was 3.2%, which was 80 basis points above the midpoint of our guidance.
Breaking our revenue trend down into a bit more detail, after adjusting for the positive impact of currency of about 10%, our constant currency revenue increased 31%.
As the impact of net dispositions and slightly more billing days was very minor, the organic days-adjusted revenue increase was also 31%.
Comparing to pre-pandemic revenues, our second quarter revenues were below 2019 levels by 4% on an organic days-adjusted constant currency basis, representing a 1.5% improvement from the first quarter trend on the same basis.
Earnings per share was $2.02, which significantly exceeded our guidance range.
Marking from our guidance midpoint, our results included improved operational performance of $0.55, slightly higher than expected foreign currency exchange rates, which had a positive impact of $0.03, and slightly better than expected effective tax rate that added $0.02, and favorable other expenses which added $0.02.
Our gross margin came in at 16.3%.
Staffing margin contributed 60 basis point increase, which included 20 basis points related to direct cost accrual adjustments in France, representing a 40 basis points underlying improvement in staffing margin.
Permanent recruitment contributed 50 basis point GP margin improvement as hiring activity was strong across our largest markets.
Our Experis Managed Services business in Europe contributed 10 basis point margin improvement.
During the quarter, the Manpower brand comprised 64% of gross profit.
Our Experis Professional business comprised 21% and Talent Solutions comprised 15%.
During the quarter, our Manpower brand reported an organic constant currency gross profit year-over-year growth of 51%.
Compared to pre-pandemic levels, this represented a decrease of 4% from the second quarter of 2019 on an organic constant currency basis.
Gross profit in our Experis brand increased 23% year-over-year during the quarter on an organic constant currency basis.
This represented a decrease of 1% from the second quarter of 2019 on an organic constant currency basis.
Organic gross profit increased 27% in constant currency year-over-year.
This represented an increase of 12% from the second quarter of 2019 on an organic constant currency basis.
Our Right Management business continues to see a runoff in outplacement activity as the recovery strengthens and experienced a reduction in gross profit of about 9% year-over-year.
Our SG&A expense in the quarter was $690 million and represented a 10% increase on a reported basis from the prior year.
Excluding goodwill and other impairment charges in the prior year, SG&A was 17% higher on a constant currency basis.
This compares to an increase in gross profit of 40% in constant currency and reflects balanced investment, allowing for strong gross profit flow-through during the quarter.
Operational costs increased by $96 million and net dispositions represented $1 million reduction.
Currency changes reflected an increase of $42 million.
SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenue represented 13.1% in the second quarter, representing ongoing improvement in our efficiency as revenue recovers.
The Americas segment comprised 20% of consolidated revenue.
Revenue in the quarter was $1 billion, an increase of 23% in constant currency.
OUP was $56 million.
Excluding impairment costs in the prior year, OUP increased 116% in constant currency and OUP margin increased 230 basis points to 5.4%.
The U.S. is the largest country in the Americas segment, comprising 60% of segment revenues.
Revenue in the U.S. was $629 million, representing 22% increase compared to the prior year.
Adjusting for franchise acquisition in days, this represented a 21% increase.
Excluding impairment charges in the prior year, OUP for our U.S. business increased 149% year-over-year to $38 million in the quarter.
OUP margin was 6%.
Within the U.S., the Manpower brand comprised 35% of gross profit during the quarter.
Revenue for the Manpower brand in the U.S. increased 36% during the quarter.
The Experis brand in the U.S. comprised 32% of gross profit in the quarter.
Within Experis in the U.S., IT skills comprise approximately 80% of revenues.
Experis U.S. revenues grew 5% during the quarter.
Talent Solutions in the U.S. contributed 33% of gross profit and experienced revenue growth of 14% in the quarter.
In the third quarter, we expect ongoing underlying improvement in revenue growth for the U.S. in the range of 11% to 15% year-over-year.
Comparing estimated third quarter revenues to precrisis levels in constant currency, this represented a 2% decline compared to 2019 levels in the third quarter using the midpoint of our guidance.
Our Mexico operation experienced revenue growth of 6% in constant currency in the quarter.
Although it is difficult to forecast based on how quickly the legislation is being enacted, we are currently estimating a revenue decrease for the Mexican business in the third quarter in the range of minus 28% to minus 32% in constant currency.
Mexico represented 2.8% of our 2020 revenues.
Revenue in Canada increased 22% in days-adjusted constant currency during the quarter.
Revenue in the other countries within Americas increased 40% in constant currency.
Southern Europe revenue comprised 46% of consolidated revenue in the quarter.
Revenue in Southern Europe came in at $2.4 billion, growing 51% in constant currency.
OUP equaled $115 million and OUP margin was 4.8%.
France revenue comprised 56% of the Southern Europe segment in the quarter and increased 67% in days-adjusted constant currency.
Compared to the same period in 2019, France revenues were down 12%.
OUP was $66 million in the quarter and OUP margin was 4.9%.
As previously referenced, direct cost accrual adjustments, representing approximately $10 million, benefited France's results.
As we begin the third quarter, we are estimating a year-over-year constant currency increase in revenues for France in the range of 12% to 16%.
Comparing estimated third quarter revenues to precrisis levels in constant currency, this represents a 5% decline compared to 2019 levels in the third quarter using the midpoint of our guidance.
Revenue in Italy equaled $469 million in the quarter, reflecting an increase of 57% in days-adjusted constant currency.
OUP equaled $32 million and OUP margin was 6.8%.
We estimate that Italy will continue to perform very well in the third quarter with year-over-year constant currency revenue growth in the range of 20% to 24%.
Revenue in Spain increased 12% in days-adjusted constant currency from the prior year, and revenue in Switzerland increased 33% in days-adjusted constant currency.
Our Northern Europe segment comprised 22% of consolidated revenue in the quarter.
Revenue increased 23% in constant currency to $1.2 billion, driven by all major markets.
OUP represented $18 million and OUP margin was 1.5%.
Our largest market in the Northern Europe segment is the U.K., which represented 37% of segment revenues in the quarter.
During the quarter, U.K. revenues grew 30% in days-adjusted constant currency, which included significant new business.
We expect continued strong growth in the 34% to 38% constant currency range year-over-year in the third quarter.
In Germany, revenues increased 9% in days-adjusted constant currency in the second quarter.
In the Nordics, revenues grew 17% in days-adjusted constant currency.
Revenue in the Netherlands increased 9% in days-adjusted constant currency.
Belgium experienced days-adjusted revenue growth of 24% in constant currency during the quarter.
Revenue in other markets in Northern Europe grew 41% in constant currency in the quarter.
The Asia Pacific Middle East segment comprises 12% of total company revenue.
In the quarter, revenue grew 6% in constant currency to $620 million.
OUP was $22 million and OUP margin was 3.6%.
Revenue in Japan grew 10% in days-adjusted constant currency, which represents an improvement from the 6% growth rate in the first quarter.
Revenues in Australia were down 11% in days-adjusted constant currency.
Revenue in other markets in Asia Pacific Middle East grew 9% in constant currency.
During the first six months of the year, free cash flow equaled $171 million compared to $577 million in the prior year quarter, reflecting significant accounts receivable declines in the prior year period.
At quarter-end, days sales outstanding decreased year-over-year by almost two days to 56 days.
Capital expenditures represented $12 million during the quarter.
During the second quarter, we purchased 432,000 shares of stock for $50 million.
Our year-to-date purchases stand at 1.5 million shares of stock for $150 million.
As of June 30, we have 1.9 million shares remaining for repurchase under the 6 million share program approved in August of 2019.
Our balance sheet was strong at quarter-end with cash of $1.46 billion and total debt of $1.09 billion, resulting in a net cash position of $368 million.
Our debt ratios at quarter-end reflect total gross debt to trailing 12 months adjusted EBITDA of 1.79 and total debt to total capitalization at 31%.
In addition, our revolving credit facility for $600 million remained unused.
On that basis, we are forecasting earnings per share for the third quarter to be in the range of $1.86 to $1.94, which includes a favorable impact from foreign currency of $0.04 per share.
Our constant currency revenue guidance growth range is between 12% and 16%.
The midpoint of our constant currency guidance is 14%.
A minor decrease in billing days in the third quarter and the slight impact of net dispositions impact the growth rate slightly, resulting in an outlook for organic days adjusted revenue growth of 15% at the midpoint.
Adding the context of comparisons to precrisis activity levels, this would represent a third quarter organic constant currency range of 1% to 3% compared to 2019 revenues.
We expect our operating profit margin during the third quarter to be up 50 basis points at the midpoint compared to the prior year.
We estimate the effective tax rate in the third quarter will be 33%.
Based on our improved earnings mix, we are now estimating the full year effective tax rate will approximate 33%, a 1% improvement from our previous estimate of 34% provided last quarter.
As usual, our guidance does not incorporate restructuring charges or additional share repurchases, and we estimate our weighted average shares will be 55.2 million.
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Summary:
In the second quarter, revenue was $5.3 billion, up 31% year-over-year in constant currency.
Earnings per diluted share was $2.02.
Earnings per share was $2.02, which significantly exceeded our guidance range.
Compared to pre-pandemic levels, this represented a decrease of 4% from the second quarter of 2019 on an organic constant currency basis.
Although it is difficult to forecast based on how quickly the legislation is being enacted, we are currently estimating a revenue decrease for the Mexican business in the third quarter in the range of minus 28% to minus 32% in constant currency.
Revenue in the Netherlands increased 9% in days-adjusted constant currency.
On that basis, we are forecasting earnings per share for the third quarter to be in the range of $1.86 to $1.94, which includes a favorable impact from foreign currency of $0.04 per share.
The midpoint of our constant currency guidance is 14%.