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ZIP vs TASK
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Information Technology Services
ZIP vs TASK — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Staffing & Employment Services | Information Technology Services |
| Market Cap | $280M | $601M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $449M | $906M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-33M | $105M |
| Gross Margin | 89.2% | 15.4% |
| Operating Margin | -4.3% | 15.6% |
| Forward P/E | — | 4.8x |
| Total Debt | $568M | $298M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $188M | $212M |
ZIP vs TASK — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Jun 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZipRecruiter, Inc. (ZIP) | 100 | 12.5 | -87.5% |
| TaskUs, Inc. (TASK) | 100 | 19.5 | -80.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ZIP vs TASK
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
In this particular matchup, ZIP is outpaced on most metrics by others in the set.
TASK carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 1.12
- Rev growth 19.0%, EPS growth 120.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 7.2%
- -66.8% 10Y total return vs ZIP's -85.2%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 19.0% revenue growth vs ZIP's -5.3% | |
| Value | Better valuation composite | |
| Quality / Margins | 11.6% margin vs ZIP's -7.3% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.12 vs ZIP's 2.80 | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | -25.9% vs ZIP's -41.9% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 10.3% ROA vs ZIP's -5.6%, ROIC 16.3% vs -4.5% |
ZIP vs TASK — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
ZIP vs TASK — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — ZIP and TASK each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TASK is the larger business by revenue, generating $906M annually — 2.0x ZIP's $449M. TASK is the more profitable business, keeping 11.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ZIP's -7.3%. On growth, ZIP holds the edge at +0.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $449M | $906M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$7M | $188M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$33M | $105M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $6M | $88M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +89.2% | +15.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -4.3% | +15.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -7.3% | +11.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +1.4% | +9.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +0.6% | -100.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +91.0% | +13.0% |
Valuation Metrics
TASK leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $280M | $601M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $661M | $687M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -8.43x | 6.07x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 4.81x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.24x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 3.40x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.62x | 0.51x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 1.03x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 28.38x | 8.16x |
Profitability & Efficiency
TASK leads this category, winning 7 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), TASK scores 7/9 vs ZIP's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | — | +21.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -5.6% | +10.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -4.5% | +16.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -3.6% | +16.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.50x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $380M | $86M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $188M | $212M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $568M | $298M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.59x | 7.30x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
TASK leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in TASK five years ago would be worth $3,323 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $1,479 for ZIP. Over the past 12 months, TASK leads with a -25.9% total return vs ZIP's -41.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors TASK at -5.5% vs ZIP's -43.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -17.2% | -9.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -41.9% | -25.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -82.0% | -15.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -85.2% | -66.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -85.2% | -66.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -43.5% | -5.5% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — ZIP and TASK each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
TASK is the less volatile stock with a 1.12 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ZIP's 2.80 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ZIP currently trades 47.6% from its 52-week high vs TASK's 36.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.80x | 1.12x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $6.55 | $18.39 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $1.65 | $6.20 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +47.6% | +36.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 65.7 | 35.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.2M | 724K |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ZIP as "Hold" and TASK as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 102.1% upside for TASK (target: $14) vs 76.3% for ZIP (target: $6).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $5.50 | $13.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 8 | 11 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +36.4% | +4.6% |
TASK leads in 3 of 6 categories — strongest in Valuation Metrics and Profitability & Efficiency. 2 categories are tied.
ZIP vs TASK: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ZIP or TASK a better buy right now?
For growth investors, TaskUs, Inc.
(TASK) is the stronger pick with 19. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 3% for ZipRecruiter, Inc. (ZIP). TaskUs, Inc. (TASK) offers the better valuation at 6. 1x trailing P/E (4. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate TaskUs, Inc. (TASK) 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.
02Which is the better long-term investment — ZIP or TASK?
Over the past 5 years, TaskUs, Inc.
(TASK) delivered a total return of -66. 8%, compared to -85. 2% for ZipRecruiter, Inc. (ZIP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TASK returned -66. 8% versus ZIP's -85. 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 — ZIP or TASK?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), TaskUs, Inc.
(TASK) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 12β versus ZipRecruiter, Inc. 's 2. 80β — meaning ZIP is approximately 149% more volatile than TASK relative to the S&P 500.
04Which is growing faster — ZIP or TASK?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), TaskUs, Inc.
(TASK) is pulling ahead at 19. 0% versus -5. 3% for ZipRecruiter, Inc. (ZIP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: TaskUs, Inc. grew EPS 120. 0% year-over-year, compared to -184. 6% for ZipRecruiter, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, TASK leads at 7. 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 — ZIP or TASK?
TaskUs, Inc.
(TASK) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 6% net margin versus -7. 3% for ZipRecruiter, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TASK leads at 11. 9% versus -4. 3% for ZIP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ZIP leads at 89. 2%, 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 ZIP or TASK more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TASK: 102.
1% to $13. 50.
07Which pays a better dividend — ZIP or TASK?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
08Is ZIP or TASK better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, TaskUs, Inc.
(TASK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 12)). ZipRecruiter, Inc. (ZIP) carries a higher beta of 2. 80 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (TASK: -66. 8%, ZIP: -85. 2%), 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 ZIP and TASK?
These companies operate in different sectors (ZIP (Industrials) and TASK (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: ZIP is a small-cap quality compounder stock; TASK is a small-cap high-growth 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.
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