Staffing & Employment Services
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MAN vs KELYA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Staffing & Employment Services
MAN vs KELYA — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Staffing & Employment Services | Staffing & Employment Services |
| Market Cap | $1.36B | $345M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $17.96B | $4.25B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-13M | $-254M |
| Gross Margin | 16.7% | 20.1% |
| Operating Margin | 0.8% | -1.6% |
| Forward P/E | 8.0x | 11.1x |
| Total Debt | $2.39B | $159M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $871M | $33M |
MAN vs KELYA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| ManpowerGroup Inc. (MAN) | 100 | 42.3 | -57.7% |
| Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA) | 100 | 65.3 | -34.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: MAN vs KELYA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
MAN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 0.6%, EPS growth -109.6%, 3Y rev CAGR -3.2%
- -32.3% 10Y total return vs KELYA's -33.2%
- 0.6% revenue growth vs KELYA's -1.9%
KELYA is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 5 yrs, beta 1.01, yield 3.2%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.01, Low D/E 16.3%, current ratio 1.54x
- Beta 1.01, yield 3.2%, current ratio 1.54x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 0.6% revenue growth vs KELYA's -1.9% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (8.0x vs 11.1x) | |
| Quality / Margins | -0.1% margin vs KELYA's -6.0% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.01 vs MAN's 1.03, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 4.9% yield, vs KELYA's 3.2% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | -12.0% vs MAN's -21.0% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | -0.1% ROA vs KELYA's -11.3%, ROIC 5.6% vs -4.0% |
MAN vs KELYA — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
MAN vs KELYA — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MAN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MAN is the larger business by revenue, generating $18.0B annually — 4.2x KELYA's $4.3B. MAN is the more profitable business, keeping -0.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to KELYA's -6.0%. On growth, MAN holds the edge at +7.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $18.0B | $4.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $236M | -$27M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$13M | -$254M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$161M | $114M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +16.7% | +20.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +0.8% | -1.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -0.1% | -6.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -0.9% | +2.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.1% | -11.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +36.2% | -3.2% |
Valuation Metrics
MAN leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.4B | $345M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.9B | $471M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -100.93x | -1.35x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 7.96x | 11.06x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.86x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.08x | 0.08x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.66x | 0.35x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 3.02x |
Profitability & Efficiency
MAN leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MAN delivers a -0.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-1 in annual profit, vs $-26 for KELYA. KELYA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.16x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MAN's 1.16x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), KELYA scores 5/9 vs MAN's 1/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -0.6% | -26.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.1% | -11.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.6% | -4.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.2% | -4.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 1 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.16x | 0.16x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.5B | $126M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $871M | $33M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.4B | $159M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.98x | -5.02x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
KELYA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in KELYA five years ago would be worth $4,202 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,406 for MAN. Over the past 12 months, KELYA leads with a -12.0% total return vs MAN's -21.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors KELYA at -12.8% vs MAN's -19.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -2.6% | +14.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -21.0% | -12.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -48.0% | -33.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -65.9% | -58.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -32.3% | -33.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -19.6% | -12.8% |
Risk & Volatility
KELYA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
KELYA is the less volatile stock with a 1.01 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MAN's 1.03 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. KELYA currently trades 65.5% from its 52-week high vs MAN's 61.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.03x | 1.01x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $47.34 | $14.94 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $25.15 | $7.98 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +61.8% | +65.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 49.2 | 65.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.1M | 352K |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — MAN and KELYA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates MAN as "Hold" and KELYA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 53.2% upside for KELYA (target: $15) vs 29.3% for MAN (target: $38). For income investors, MAN offers the higher dividend yield at 4.89% vs KELYA's 3.20%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $37.86 | $15.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 29 | 5 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.9% | +3.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 5 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.43 | $0.31 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.8% | +3.6% |
MAN leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). KELYA leads in 2 (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
MAN vs KELYA: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MAN or KELYA a better buy right now?
For growth investors, ManpowerGroup Inc.
(MAN) is the stronger pick with 0. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 9% for Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA). Analysts rate Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA) a "Buy" — 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 is the better long-term investment — MAN or KELYA?
Over the past 5 years, Kelly Services, Inc.
(KELYA) delivered a total return of -58. 0%, compared to -65. 9% for ManpowerGroup Inc. (MAN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MAN returned -32. 3% versus KELYA's -33. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — MAN or KELYA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Kelly Services, Inc.
(KELYA) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 01β versus ManpowerGroup Inc. 's 1. 03β — meaning MAN is approximately 2% more volatile than KELYA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 16% versus 116% for ManpowerGroup Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — MAN or KELYA?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), ManpowerGroup Inc.
(MAN) is pulling ahead at 0. 6% versus -1. 9% for Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ManpowerGroup Inc. grew EPS -109. 6% year-over-year, compared to -427. 4% for Kelly Services, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MAN leads at -3. 2% 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.
05Which has better profit margins — MAN or KELYA?
ManpowerGroup Inc.
(MAN) is the more profitable company, earning -0. 1% net margin versus -6. 0% for Kelly Services, Inc. — meaning it keeps -0. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MAN leads at 1. 3% versus -1. 6% for KELYA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KELYA leads at 20. 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.
06Is MAN or KELYA more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, ManpowerGroup Inc.
(MAN) trades at 8. 0x forward P/E versus 11. 1x for Kelly Services, Inc. — 3. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KELYA: 53. 2% to $15. 00.
07Which pays a better dividend — MAN or KELYA?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
ManpowerGroup Inc. (MAN) offers the highest yield at 4. 9%, versus 3. 2% for Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA).
08Is MAN or KELYA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Kelly Services, Inc.
(KELYA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 01), 3. 2% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (KELYA: -33. 2%, 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.
09What are the main differences between MAN and KELYA?
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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