HSII
Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
Staffing & Employment Services
Market Cap$1.23B
5Y Perf.+166.1%
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Stock Comparison
HSII vs MWA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
MWA
Mueller Water Products, Inc.
Industrial - Machinery
Market Cap$4.12B
5Y Perf.+159.5%
HSII vs MWA — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | HSII | MWA |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Staffing & Employment Services | Industrial - Machinery |
| Market Cap | $1.23B | $4.12B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.21B | $1.46B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $37M | $207M |
| Gross Margin | 23.3% | 37.6% |
| Operating Margin | 3.0% | 19.4% |
| Forward P/E | 16.7x | 17.9x |
| Total Debt | $101M | $452M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $516M | $432M |
HSII vs MWA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
HSII
MWA
| Stock | May 20 | Dec 25 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heidrick & Struggle… (HSII) | 100 | 266.1 | +166.1% |
| Mueller Water Produ… (MWA) | 100 | 259.5 | +159.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: HSII vs MWA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: HSII leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. Mueller Water Products, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
HSII
Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
The Income Pick
HSII carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.77, yield 1.0%
- 240.0% 10Y total return vs MWA's 174.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.77, Low D/E 22.3%, current ratio 1.60x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
MWA
Mueller Water Products, Inc.
The Growth Play
MWA is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 8.7%, EPS growth 64.9%, 3Y rev CAGR 4.7%
- 8.7% revenue growth vs HSII's 7.2%
- 14.2% margin vs HSII's 3.1%
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | MWA | 8.7% revenue growth vs HSII's 7.2% |
| Value | HSII | Lower P/E (16.7x vs 17.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | MWA | 14.2% margin vs HSII's 3.1% |
| Stability / Safety | HSII | Beta 0.77 vs MWA's 0.94, lower leverage |
| Dividends | HSII | 1.0% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs MWA's 1.0% |
| Momentum (1Y) | HSII | +39.9% vs MWA's +7.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | MWA | 11.4% ROA vs HSII's 2.9%, ROIC 19.7% vs 6.0% |
HSII vs MWA — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2023
FY 2024
HSII vs MWA — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLHSIILAGGINGMWA
MWAMueller Water Product…
2leads
HSIIHeidrick & Struggles …
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs MWAMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
MWA4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
HSII4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
MWA5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
HSII4/5
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
HSII2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MWA leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MWA and HSII operate at a comparable scale, with $1.5B and $1.2B in trailing revenue. MWA is the more profitable business, keeping 14.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to HSII's 3.1%. On growth, HSII holds the edge at +14.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | HSIIHeidrick & Strugg… | MWAMueller Water Pro… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.2B | $1.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $57M | $333M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $37M | $207M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $132M | $171M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +23.3% | +37.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.0% | +19.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.1% | +14.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +10.9% | +11.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.2% | +5.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +16.9% | +15.2% |
MWA leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
HSII leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 21.6x trailing earnings, MWA trades at a 85% valuation discount to HSII's 143.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, MWA's 13.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than HSII's 30.8x.
| Metric | HSIIHeidrick & Strugg… | MWAMueller Water Pro… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.2B | $4.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $812M | $4.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 143.93x | 21.61x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 16.72x | 17.89x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 30.78x | 13.80x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.10x | 2.88x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.76x | 4.23x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 9.88x | 23.98x |
HSII leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MWA leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MWA delivers a 20.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $21 in annual profit, vs $7 for HSII. HSII carries lower financial leverage with a 0.22x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MWA's 0.46x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MWA scores 7/9 vs HSII's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | HSIIHeidrick & Strugg… | MWAMueller Water Pro… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.3% | +20.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.9% | +11.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.0% | +19.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +1.1% | +17.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.22x | 0.46x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$415M | $20M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $516M | $432M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $101M | $452M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 22.98x |
MWA leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
HSII leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in MWA five years ago would be worth $18,663 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,738 for HSII. Over the past 12 months, HSII leads with a +39.9% total return vs MWA's +7.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors HSII at 34.9% vs MWA's 22.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | HSIIHeidrick & Strugg… | MWAMueller Water Pro… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | — | +10.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +39.9% | +7.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +145.7% | +85.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +47.4% | +86.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +240.0% | +174.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +34.9% | +22.8% |
HSII leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HSII leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HSII is the less volatile stock with a 0.77 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MWA's 0.94 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. HSII currently trades 99.9% from its 52-week high vs MWA's 85.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | HSIIHeidrick & Strugg… | MWAMueller Water Pro… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.77x | 0.94x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $59.05 | $31.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $40.10 | $22.74 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.9% | +85.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 77.9 | 39.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 0 | 1.0M |
HSII leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — HSII and MWA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates HSII as "Hold" and MWA as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 22.3% upside for MWA (target: $32) vs -0.0% for HSII (target: $59). For income investors, HSII offers the higher dividend yield at 1.03% vs MWA's 1.01%.
| Metric | HSIIHeidrick & Strugg… | MWAMueller Water Pro… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $59.00 | $32.25 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 5 | 21 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.0% | +1.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 12 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.61 | $0.27 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.3% | +0.4% |
Evenly matched — HSII and MWA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
HSII leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). MWA leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). 1 tied.
Best OverallHeidrick & Struggles Intern… (HSII)Leads 3 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
HSII vs MWA: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HSII or MWA a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Mueller Water Products, Inc.
(MWA) is the stronger pick with 8. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 2% for Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (HSII). Mueller Water Products, Inc. (MWA) offers the better valuation at 21. 6x trailing P/E (17. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (HSII) a "Hold" — based on 5 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — HSII or MWA?
On trailing P/E, Mueller Water Products, Inc.
(MWA) is the cheapest at 21. 6x versus Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. at 143. 9x. On forward P/E, Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. is actually cheaper at 16. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — HSII or MWA?
Over the past 5 years, Mueller Water Products, Inc.
(MWA) delivered a total return of +86. 6%, compared to +47. 4% for Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (HSII). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HSII returned +240. 0% versus MWA's +174. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — HSII or MWA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
(HSII) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 77β versus Mueller Water Products, Inc. 's 0. 94β — meaning MWA is approximately 22% more volatile than HSII relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (HSII) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 22% versus 46% for Mueller Water Products, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — HSII or MWA?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Mueller Water Products, Inc.
(MWA) is pulling ahead at 8. 7% versus 7. 2% for Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (HSII). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Mueller Water Products, Inc. grew EPS 64. 9% year-over-year, compared to -84. 4% for Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MWA leads at 4. 7% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — HSII or MWA?
Mueller Water Products, Inc.
(MWA) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 4% net margin versus 0. 8% for Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MWA leads at 18. 2% versus 0. 7% for HSII. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MWA leads at 36. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is HSII or MWA more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
(HSII) trades at 16. 7x forward P/E versus 17. 9x for Mueller Water Products, Inc. — 1. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MWA: 22. 3% to $32. 25.
08Which pays a better dividend — HSII or MWA?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (HSII) offers the highest yield at 1. 0%, versus 1. 0% for Mueller Water Products, Inc. (MWA).
09Is HSII or MWA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
(HSII) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 77), 1. 0% yield, +240. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HSII: +240. 0%, MWA: +174. 4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between HSII and MWA?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(HSII: 14.2% · MWA: 5.5%)Net Margin>
%
(HSII: 3.1% · MWA: 14.2%)P/E Ratio<
x
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