KFY vs MAN

For growth investors, ManpowerGroup Inc.

(MAN) is the stronger pick with 0. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 2% for Korn Ferry (KFY). Korn Ferry (KFY) offers the better valuation at 14. 3x trailing P/E (12. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Korn Ferry (KFY) a "Buy" — based on 11 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.

On forward P/E, ManpowerGroup Inc.

is actually cheaper at 8. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Korn Ferry (KFY) delivered a total return of +5.

2%, compared to -65. 9% for ManpowerGroup Inc. (MAN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KFY returned +168. 3% versus MAN's -32. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Korn Ferry (KFY) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

85β versus ManpowerGroup Inc. 's 1. 03β — meaning MAN is approximately 22% more volatile than KFY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Korn Ferry (KFY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 31% versus 116% for ManpowerGroup Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), ManpowerGroup Inc.

(MAN) is pulling ahead at 0. 6% versus -1. 2% for Korn Ferry (KFY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Korn Ferry grew EPS 42. 4% year-over-year, compared to -109. 6% for ManpowerGroup Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, KFY leads at 1. 5% 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.

Korn Ferry (KFY) is the more profitable company, earning 8.

9% net margin versus -0. 1% for ManpowerGroup Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KFY leads at 12. 5% versus 1. 3% for MAN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KFY leads at 26. 0%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, ManpowerGroup Inc.

(MAN) trades at 8. 0x forward P/E versus 12. 4x for Korn Ferry — 4. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MAN: 29. 3% to $37. 86.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

ManpowerGroup Inc. (MAN) offers the highest yield at 4. 9%, versus 2. 4% for Korn Ferry (KFY).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Korn Ferry (KFY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

85), 2. 4% yield, +168. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (KFY: +168. 3%, MAN: -32. 3%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: KFY is a small-cap deep-value stock; MAN is a small-cap income-oriented stock. 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.