DHI Group Q1 2025 slides: ClearanceJobs growth offsets Dice segment challenges

Introduction & Market Context

DHI Group Inc. (NYSE:DHX) presented its Q1 2025 financial results on May 7, 2025, revealing a mixed performance with its ClearanceJobs platform showing continued growth while the Dice segment faced challenges. The company’s stock exhibited significant volatility following the announcement, rising 12.4% during regular trading to close at $1.36, before dropping 7.35% in after-hours trading to $1.26.

The tech recruitment specialist operates two distinct marketplaces: Dice, serving general tech professionals, and ClearanceJobs, focused on security-cleared candidates. According to the presentation, the tech workforce is projected to grow twice as fast as the overall U.S. workforce over the next decade, creating a favorable long-term market environment despite current headwinds.

As shown in the following chart, the tech workforce is expected to grow 18% from 6 million in 2024 to 7.1 million by 2034, with particularly high growth rates in specialized fields:

Quarterly Performance Highlights

DHI Group reported Q1 2025 revenue of $32.3 million, representing a 10% year-over-year decline but exceeding earnings per share expectations with $0.04 versus a forecasted -$0.01. The company maintained a solid adjusted EBITDA of $7 million, translating to a 19% margin according to the presentation slides.

The quarterly financial performance shows a clear downward trend in revenue over the past five quarters, though the company has maintained relatively stable adjusted EBITDA margins:

Despite the revenue challenges, DHI Group emphasized its subscription-based business model, with approximately 90% recurring revenue providing stability and predictability. The company’s operating cash flow for Q1 2025 was $2.2 million, with capitalized development costs (comprising about 90% of capital expenditures) trending downward.

Segment Analysis: ClearanceJobs vs. Dice

The presentation highlighted the stark contrast between DHI’s two main business segments. ClearanceJobs continued its growth trajectory with a 3% year-over-year revenue increase to $13.4 million in Q1 2025, maintaining impressive metrics including a 92% revenue renewal rate and 106% retention rate.

As shown in the following chart, ClearanceJobs has demonstrated consistent revenue growth over the past five years:

ClearanceJobs’ profitability remains strong, with Q1 2025 adjusted EBITDA of $5.7 million representing a 43% margin. The platform serves approximately 1,900 subscription clients, including major defense contractors and government agencies:

In contrast, the Dice segment faced significant challenges, with Q1 2025 revenue declining 18% year-over-year to $18.9 million. The platform’s renewal rate fell to 70%, though retention among remaining customers remained relatively strong at 92%.

The following chart illustrates Dice’s revenue performance, showing the recent decline after several years of modest growth:

Despite these challenges, Dice maintains relationships with 4,500 subscription clients across commercial sectors, including major corporations and staffing firms:

Strategic Positioning and Growth Catalysts

DHI Group emphasized its unique market position, noting that many active Dice tech professionals cannot be found on competing platforms like Monster, CareerBuilder, ZipRecruiter, Indeed, or LinkedIn. Similarly, ClearanceJobs faces minimal competition in the security clearance space, as LinkedIn lacks specific fields for government clearance information.

The company highlighted its compelling return on investment proposition for clients. With tech recruiters typically charging 20-25% of a candidate’s first-year salary, DHI’s platforms offer significant value at $8,000-$10,000 for a standard entry-level license. This value proposition is particularly strong given the high median annual wages for tech professionals.

Looking forward, DHI Group identified several growth catalysts, including:

• Annual contract value expansion through subscription packages
• Expansion of Dice transactional services
• New ClearanceJobs revenue line: Live Streaming
• New cross-platform revenue line: Contract Talent Solutions

CEO Art Saleh stated during the earnings call, "We believe that tech hiring demand is gradually returning to normal levels," suggesting potential improvement for the Dice segment as market conditions normalize.

Financial Outlook and Guidance

DHI Group provided full-year 2025 guidance projecting revenue between $131 million and $135 million, with Q2 expectations of $32-33 million. The company aims to maintain a 24% adjusted EBITDA margin for the year.

The five-year financial performance shows the company’s overall growth trajectory and profitability improvements:

DHI Group’s balance sheet remains relatively strong with $3 million in cash and $33 million in debt as of Q1 2025, representing a leverage ratio of 0.98. The company has repurchased $70 million in shares since 2020 and currently has a $5 million stock repurchase plan in place through February 2026.

The company’s long-term goal is to deliver free cash flow at 10% of revenue, with reduced product development costs expected to lower capital expenditures in 2025. Management emphasized that while Dice is a cyclical business currently facing challenges, it is entering what they expect to be a growth phase as tech hiring recovers.

CFO Greg Skippers added during the earnings call, "We anticipate that companies across all industries will steadily increase their investment in technology initiatives in 2025 and beyond," highlighting the company’s optimism about future growth opportunities despite current market challenges.

Full presentation:

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