Persol (2181) Q1 2027 earnings summary

Executive summary

• Revenue increased 13.5% year-on-year to JPY 424 billion, driven by the Gojob acquisition, business expansion, and favorable foreign exchange rates.

• Adjusted EBITDA rose 21.6% year-on-year to JPY 26.4 billion, with operating profit up 22.6% to JPY 18.88 billion.

• Profit attributable to owners of parent increased 14.3% year-on-year to JPY 12.19 billion.

• AI strategy is central, leveraging proprietary data and Gojob’s AI-native HR model to drive talent mobility and productivity.

• AI investments of JPY 19 billion are expected to yield JPY 33–43 billion in returns over FY2026–FY2028.

Financial highlights

• Revenue reached JPY 424 billion, up 13.5% year-on-year, with Gojob contributing JPY 12.2 billion and FX effects adding JPY 23.3 billion.

• Adjusted EBITDA margin improved by 0.4pt to 6.2%; operating profit margin rose to 4.5%.

• Gross profit increased 7.7% year-on-year to JPY 95.24 billion.

• Adjusted EPS rose 15.8% to 6.67 yen; basic EPS increased to 5.54 yen.

• Dividend payout ratio set at 50% or higher of adjusted EPS, with FY2026 forecast at 66.3%.

Outlook and guidance

• Progress toward the full-year plan is ahead of schedule, with revenue, operating profit, and adjusted EBITDA all above 25% of full-year forecasts after Q1.

• Full-year revenue forecast for FY2027 is JPY 1,665 billion (+7.0% year-on-year); profit attributable to owners projected at JPY 44.5 billion (+4.2%).

• Adjusted EBITDA for the full year is forecast at JPY 97 billion (+10.0% year-on-year).

• AI-driven business model rollouts and productivity improvements are expected to support continued growth.

• Normalization in Career SBU expected from 2H as ID integration impact subsides.