SThree PLC on Tuesday reported falling net fees in its first half amid ‘challenging’ market conditions, but the company said its overall performance was ‘stable’ and predicted full-year earnings in line with guidance.
Shares in SThree climbed 8.4% to 242.15 pence on Tuesday morning in London.
The science, technology, engineering and mathematics-focused recruiter expects its performance for the year ending November 30 to be in line with its outlook in December, 2024, when SThree forecast approximately £25 million in pretax profit.
For the first half ended May 31, meanwhile, SThree reported £159.1 million in group net fees, down 14% from £188.7 million the previous year. [It reported all annual growth rates at constant currency.] The London-based company said this reflected continued softness in both Contract and Permanent new business, and was partially offset by strong contract extensions.
Contract net fees decreased 14% on-year to £133.8 million, while Permanent fees declined 13% to £25.2 million, the London-based company stated.
SThree in Germany generated £47.0 million in net fees, down 14% on an annual basis, which ‘primarily reflected levels of demand for Technology skills’.
Netherlands results ‘were affected by reduced demand for Engineering and Technology skills, compared with strong prior-year comparators’ with net fees falling 22% to £28.6 million.
In the UK, net fees dropped 28% to £14.2 million.
SThree will release its results for the half-year ended May 31 on July 29.
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