ABM
ABM Industries Incorporated
Specialty Business Services
Market Cap$2.36B
5Y Perf.+30.8%
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Stock Comparison
ABM vs KELYA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
KELYA
Kelly Services, Inc.
Staffing & Employment Services
Market Cap$355M
5Y Perf.-34.2%
ABM vs KELYA — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ABM | KELYA |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Specialty Business Services | Staffing & Employment Services |
| Market Cap | $2.36B | $355M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $8.87B | $3.09B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $158M | $-266M |
| Gross Margin | 11.5% | 26.3% |
| Operating Margin | 3.7% | -2.8% |
| Forward P/E | 10.2x | 11.2x |
| Total Debt | $1.69B | $159M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $104M | $33M |
ABM vs KELYA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ABM
KELYA
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABM Industries Inco… (ABM) | 100 | 130.8 | +30.8% |
| Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA) | 100 | 65.8 | -34.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ABM vs KELYA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ABM leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Kelly Services, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ABM
ABM Industries Incorporated
The Income Pick
ABM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 36 yrs, beta 0.71, yield 2.6%
- Rev growth 4.6%, EPS growth 102.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 3.9%
- 47.0% 10Y total return vs KELYA's -32.0%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
KELYA
Kelly Services, Inc.
The Defensive Pick
KELYA is the clearest fit if your priority is defensive.
- Beta 0.96, yield 3.2%, current ratio 1.54x
- 3.2% yield, 5-year raise streak, vs ABM's 2.6%
Best for: defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ABM | 4.6% revenue growth vs KELYA's -1.9% |
| Value | ABM | Lower P/E (10.2x vs 11.2x) |
| Quality / Margins | ABM | 1.8% margin vs KELYA's -8.6% |
| Stability / Safety | ABM | Beta 0.71 vs KELYA's 0.96 |
| Dividends | KELYA | 3.2% yield, 5-year raise streak, vs ABM's 2.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | ABM | -18.6% vs KELYA's -18.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ABM | 3.0% ROA vs KELYA's -11.3%, ROIC 7.5% vs -4.0% |
ABM vs KELYA — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
ABM vs KELYA — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLABMLAGGINGKELYA
KELYAKelly Services, Inc.
1leads
ABMABM Industries Incorp…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs KELYAMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
ABM5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
KELYA4/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ABM6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
ABM5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
ABM2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
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Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ABM leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ABM is the larger business by revenue, generating $8.9B annually — 2.9x KELYA's $3.1B. ABM is the more profitable business, keeping 1.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to KELYA's -8.6%. On growth, ABM holds the edge at +6.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ABMABM Industries In… | KELYAKelly Services, I… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $8.9B | $3.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $431M | -$54M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $158M | -$266M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $327M | $66M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +11.5% | +26.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.7% | -2.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +1.8% | -8.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +3.7% | +2.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.1% | -100.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -7.2% | -2.1% |
ABM leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
KELYA leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ABMABM Industries In… | KELYAKelly Services, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.4B | $355M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.9B | $481M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 15.52x | -1.36x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 10.15x | 11.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.05x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 9.16x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.27x | 0.08x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.41x | 0.35x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 15.19x | 3.11x |
KELYA leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ABM leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ABM delivers a 8.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $-25 for KELYA. KELYA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.16x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ABM's 0.95x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ABM scores 6/9 vs KELYA's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ABMABM Industries In… | KELYAKelly Services, I… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.8% | -24.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.0% | -11.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.5% | -4.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +8.2% | -4.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.95x | 0.16x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.6B | $126M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $104M | $33M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.7B | $159M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.25x | -12.07x |
ABM leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ABM leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ABM five years ago would be worth $8,552 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,269 for KELYA. Over the past 12 months, ABM leads with a -18.6% total return vs KELYA's -18.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ABM at 0.7% vs KELYA's -12.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ABMABM Industries In… | KELYAKelly Services, I… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -4.5% | +15.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -18.6% | -18.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +2.0% | -33.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -14.5% | -57.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +47.0% | -32.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +0.7% | -12.6% |
ABM leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ABM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ABM is the less volatile stock with a 0.71 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than KELYA's 0.96 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ABM currently trades 75.9% from its 52-week high vs KELYA's 66.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ABMABM Industries In… | KELYAKelly Services, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.71x | 0.96x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $52.94 | $14.94 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $36.96 | $7.98 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +75.9% | +66.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.8 | 59.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 513K | 364K |
ABM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — ABM and KELYA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ABM as "Hold" and KELYA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 52.0% upside for KELYA (target: $15) vs 24.4% for ABM (target: $50). For income investors, KELYA offers the higher dividend yield at 3.18% vs ABM's 2.60%.
| Metric | ABMABM Industries In… | KELYAKelly Services, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $50.00 | $15.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 11 | 5 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.6% | +3.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 36 | 5 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.05 | $0.31 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +5.2% | +3.5% |
Evenly matched — ABM and KELYA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
ABM leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). KELYA leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Best OverallABM Industries Incorporated (ABM)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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ABM vs KELYA: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ABM or KELYA a better buy right now?
For growth investors, ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) is the stronger pick with 4.
6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 9% for Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA). ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) offers the better valuation at 15. 5x trailing P/E (10. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. 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 has the better valuation — ABM or KELYA?
On forward P/E, ABM Industries Incorporated is actually cheaper at 10.
2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ABM or KELYA?
Over the past 5 years, ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) delivered a total return of -14.
5%, compared to -57. 3% for Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ABM returned +47. 0% versus KELYA's -32. 0%. 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 — ABM or KELYA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
71β versus Kelly Services, Inc. 's 0. 96β — meaning KELYA is approximately 35% more volatile than ABM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 16% versus 95% for ABM Industries Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ABM or KELYA?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) is pulling ahead at 4.
6% versus -1. 9% for Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ABM Industries Incorporated grew EPS 102. 3% year-over-year, compared to -427. 4% for Kelly Services, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ABM leads at 3. 9% 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 — ABM or KELYA?
ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) is the more profitable company, earning 1.
9% net margin versus -6. 0% for Kelly Services, Inc. — meaning it keeps 1. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ABM leads at 3. 7% 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.
07Is ABM or KELYA more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) trades at 10.
2x forward P/E versus 11. 2x for Kelly Services, Inc. — 1. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KELYA: 52. 0% to $15. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — ABM or KELYA?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA) offers the highest yield at 3. 2%, versus 2. 6% for ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM).
09Is ABM or KELYA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
71), 2. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ABM: +47. 0%, KELYA: -32. 0%), 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 ABM 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.
In terms of investment character: ABM is a small-cap deep-value stock; KELYA 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.
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