Fact based stock research
Recruits (TSE:6098)

JP3970300004

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For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".

Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".

Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.

Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.

(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).

(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.

Recruits stock research in summary

recruit-holdings.com

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 24 (worse than 76% compared with investment alternatives), Recruits (HR- & Employment Services, Japan) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Recruits are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 11 (worse than 89% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 73) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 57, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 24, is a sell recommendation based on Recruits's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company Recruits exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 11), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 73). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 57) are a double-edged sword: if the company continues growing, low debt limits shareholder returns. But if the company increases its debt, it will also increase risk. In other words, this is an investment on the safer side, despite the above-average price (low value). Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more

Latest Obermatt Ranks


360° View^new
Sentiment Rank^new
Value Rank	11
Growth Rank	73
Safety Rank	57
Combined Rank	24

Country	Japan
Industry	HR- & Employment Services
Index	TOPIX 100, Nikkei 225
Size class	XX-Large

This stock has achievements: Top 10 Stock.

20-Feb-2025. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.

Further information

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Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.

Research History: Recruits

RESEARCH HISTORY	2022	2023	2024	2025
VALUE
VALUE	33	24	11	11
GROWTH
GROWTH	93	29	73	73
SAFETY
SAFETY	40	58	57	57
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT	87	55	79	^new
360° VIEW
360° VIEW	87	25	60	^new

Most recent update of the stock research: 20-Feb-2025. Financial reporting date used for calculating ranks: 30-Sep-2024. Stock research history is based on the Obermatt Method. The higher the rank, the better Recruits is in the corresponding investment strategy.
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Combined financial peformance in Detail

RESEARCH HISTORY	2022	2023	2024	2025
VALUE
VALUE	33	24	11	11
GROWTH
GROWTH	93	29	73	73
SAFETY
SAFETY	40	58	57	57
COMBINED
COMBINED	64	9	24	24

Last update of combined financial performance: 20-Feb-2025. Stock analysis on combined financial performance: The higher the rank of Recruits the better the performance.

Value Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 11 (worse than 89% compared with alternatives), Recruits shares are significantly more expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all four indicators below average for Recruits. Price-to-Sales is 27 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 73% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning Recruits's sales levels. Price-to-Book Capital (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) also has a low Price-to-Book Rank of 17, which means that both reliable company size indicators, sales, and invested capital cannot explain the high stock price of Recruits. In addition, the two profit-related value indicators, Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a low rank of 24 and Dividend Yield, which is lower than 74% of comparable companies, also make the stock more expensive compared with investment alternatives. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 11, is a sell recommendation based on Recruits's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. How can market participants pay such a high price for Recruits? One reason may be that the company is simply too popular. If enough people want a particular stock, its price can exceed reasonable levels. This is often the case for companies offering new and exciting products and everybody wants a piece of the action. Should you pay a lot for a hot stock such as Recruits? It's risky, and even if the stock price continues to grow because of popular demand, it may return to more typical lower levels later. And that return can be sudden and quick, making it impossible for retail investors to exit on time. Sometimes, high prices are deserved. This is the case when it is justified to believe that the company will dominate a market with high profit margins. It has happened in the past for many technology companies and indeed for commercially successful pharmaceutical discoveries. Sometimes they last, sometimes, they get eaten alive. Recruits may be such a type of stock. That would mean, retail investors should be careful, only considering investing a small part of their wealth in this exciting category and always being ready to lose more than half, if not all of the investment. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision, which is essential in this case, as the financial indicators are inconclusive. ...read more

VALUE METRICS	2022	2023	2024	2025
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)	54	43	27	27
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)	32	30	24	24
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)	26	30	17	17
DIVIDEND YIELD
DIVIDEND YIELD	43	29	26	26
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE	33	24	11	11

Last update of Value Rank: 20-Feb-2025. Stock analysis on value ratios: The higher the rank, the lower the value ratio of Recruits; except for dividend yield where the rank is higher, the higher the yield.

Growth Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 73 (better than 73% compared with alternatives), Recruits shows an above-average growth dynamic in its industry. Investors also speak of positive momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for Recruits. Profit Growth has a rank of 54, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its profits more than 54% of its competitors. This is a good sign for shareholders, which is confirmed by an above-average Stock Returns rank of 93 (above 93% of alternative investments). But Sales Growth has a below the median rank of 31, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow less than 69% of its competitors, and Capital Growth also has a lower rank of 46. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 73, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Because revenues and invested capital are the more solid growth indicators, the positive development on the profit side is less relevant. It may have been caused by cost-cutting, which may be a negative growth indicator. Finally, the above-average stock returns recently are a thing of the past and not a good indicator of future returns. Investors should be confident that the cost-cutting initiative leading to higher profits is to benefit the company's future. If not, there is little growth momentum, and investment is only advisable if the Value Ranks suggest a good investment timing for Recruits. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case, especially since the growth performance is mixed here. ...read more

GROWTH METRICS	2022	2023	2024	2025
REVENUE GROWTH
REVENUE GROWTH	25	10	31	31
PROFIT GROWTH
PROFIT GROWTH	91	55	54	54
CAPITAL GROWTH
CAPITAL GROWTH	60	7	46	46
STOCK RETURNS
STOCK RETURNS	87	87	93	93
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH	93	29	73	73

Last update of Growth Rank: 20-Feb-2025. Stock analysis on growth metrics: The higher the rank, the higher the growth and returns of Recruits.

Safety Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 57 (better than 57% compared with alternatives), the company Recruits has financing practices on the safer side, which mean that their overall debt burden is lower than average. This doesn't mean that the business of Recruits is safe, it only means that the company is on the safer side regarding possible bankruptcy, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with two out of three indicators above average for Recruits. Leverage is at a rank of 64, meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 64% of its competitors. Liquidity is also good at a rank of 75, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 75% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is on the safer side when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is lower at a rank of 30, which means that the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is above-average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 70% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 57 (better than 57% compared with alternatives), Recruits has a financing structure that is safer than that of its competitors. The refinancing issues could be a short-term problem, especially if the company has reputation issues. Banks and investors don't like to refinance debt if there are clouds on the horizon. For this reason, investors should look at the refinancing environment for Recruits. Does it look safe that debt that is coming due can be covered with new debt? If that is the case, then the financing situation of the company is on the safer side. If not, it may be better to wait until refinancing has been completed and the Refinancing rank is good again. Investors may have a short-term debt challenge with Recruits and should also compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before making a decision. ...read more

SAFETY METRICS	2022	2023	2024	2025
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE	35	52	64	64
REFINANCING
REFINANCING	38	44	30	30
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY	46	65	75	75
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY	40	58	57	57

Last update of Safety Rank: 20-Feb-2025. Stock analysis on safety metrics: The higher the rank, the lower the leverage of Recruits and the more cash is available to service its debt.

Sentiment Metrics in Detail

SENTIMENT	2022	2023	2024	2025
ANALYST OPINIONS
ANALYST OPINIONS	n/a	57	81	^new
OPINIONS CHANGE
OPINIONS CHANGE	44	45	50	^new
PRO HOLDINGS
PRO HOLDINGS	79	80	67	^new
MARKET PULSE
MARKET PULSE	48	31	38	^new
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT	87	55	79	^new

Last update of Sentiment Rank: 20-Feb-2025. Stock analysis on sentiment metrics: The higher the rank, the more positive the sentiment for Recruits.
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