Hardware, Equipment & Parts
Build Your Comparison
Side-by-side financial analysisStock Comparison
ALNT vs KFRC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Staffing & Employment Services
ALNT vs KFRC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Hardware, Equipment & Parts | Staffing & Employment Services |
| Market Cap | $1.55B | $914M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $561M | $1.33B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $24M | $35M |
| Gross Margin | 31.2% | 27.2% |
| Operating Margin | 8.4% | 3.8% |
| Forward P/E | 36.2x | 20.8x |
| Total Debt | $197M | $70M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $41M | $2M |
ALNT vs KFRC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Jun 20 | Jun 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allient Inc. (ALNT) | 100 | 258.8 | +158.8% |
| Kforce Inc. (KFRC) | 100 | 170.9 | +70.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ALNT vs KFRC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
ALNT is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 4.6%, EPS growth 67.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 3.3%
- 314.8% 10Y total return vs KFRC's 226.5%
- 4.6% revenue growth vs KFRC's -5.4%
KFRC carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 8 yrs, beta 0.27, yield 3.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.27, Low D/E 56.0%, current ratio 1.78x
- Beta 0.27, yield 3.1%, current ratio 1.78x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 4.6% revenue growth vs KFRC's -5.4% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (20.8x vs 36.2x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 4.3% margin vs KFRC's 2.6% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.27 vs ALNT's 2.10, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 3.1% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs ALNT's 0.1% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +166.9% vs KFRC's +25.9% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 9.2% ROA vs ALNT's 4.1%, ROIC 19.1% vs 7.7% |
ALNT vs KFRC — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
ALNT vs KFRC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ALNT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
KFRC is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.3B annually — 2.4x ALNT's $561M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 4.3% (ALNT) to 2.6% (KFRC). On growth, ALNT holds the edge at +4.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $561M | $1.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $72M | $56M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $24M | $35M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $41M | $43M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +31.2% | +27.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +8.4% | +3.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.3% | +2.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +7.3% | +3.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.6% | +0.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +52.4% | +2.2% |
Valuation Metrics
KFRC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 25.5x trailing earnings, KFRC trades at a 63% valuation discount to ALNT's 69.2x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, KFRC's 17.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ALNT's 23.3x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.6B | $914M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.7B | $981M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 69.22x | 25.51x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 36.19x | 20.77x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 10.18x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 23.27x | 17.64x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.80x | 0.69x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 5.07x | 7.13x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 31.26x | 19.53x |
Profitability & Efficiency
KFRC leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
KFRC delivers a 27.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $27 in annual profit, vs $8 for ALNT. KFRC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.56x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ALNT's 0.65x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ALNT scores 6/9 vs KFRC's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.0% | +27.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.1% | +9.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.7% | +19.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.4% | +20.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.65x | 0.56x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $156M | $68M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $41M | $2M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $197M | $70M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.31x | — |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ALNT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ALNT five years ago would be worth $25,019 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,077 for KFRC. Over the past 12 months, ALNT leads with a +166.9% total return vs KFRC's +25.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ALNT at 33.3% vs KFRC's -3.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +64.5% | +62.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +166.9% | +25.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +136.9% | -11.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +150.2% | -9.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +314.8% | +226.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +33.3% | -3.9% |
Risk & Volatility
KFRC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
KFRC is the less volatile stock with a 0.27 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ALNT's 2.10 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. KFRC currently trades 98.6% from its 52-week high vs ALNT's 95.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.10x | 0.27x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $95.65 | $50.70 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $33.02 | $24.49 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.5% | +98.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 70.7 | 73.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 217K | 239K |
Analyst Outlook
KFRC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ALNT as "Buy" and KFRC as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 42.0% upside for KFRC (target: $71) vs -15.9% for ALNT (target: $77). For income investors, KFRC offers the higher dividend yield at 3.09% vs ALNT's 0.13%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $76.80 | $71.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 5 | 10 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.1% | +3.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 8 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.12 | $1.55 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +5.6% |
KFRC leads in 4 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). ALNT leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns).
ALNT vs KFRC: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ALNT or KFRC a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Allient Inc.
(ALNT) is the stronger pick with 4. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 4% for Kforce Inc. (KFRC). Kforce Inc. (KFRC) offers the better valuation at 25. 5x trailing P/E (20. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Allient Inc. (ALNT) 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 — ALNT or KFRC?
On trailing P/E, Kforce Inc.
(KFRC) is the cheapest at 25. 5x versus Allient Inc. at 69. 2x. On forward P/E, Kforce Inc. is actually cheaper at 20. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ALNT or KFRC?
Over the past 5 years, Allient Inc.
(ALNT) delivered a total return of +150. 2%, compared to -9. 2% for Kforce Inc. (KFRC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ALNT returned +314. 8% versus KFRC's +226. 5%. 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 — ALNT or KFRC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Kforce Inc.
(KFRC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 27β versus Allient Inc. 's 2. 10β — meaning ALNT is approximately 675% more volatile than KFRC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kforce Inc. (KFRC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 56% versus 65% for Allient Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ALNT or KFRC?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Allient Inc.
(ALNT) is pulling ahead at 4. 6% versus -5. 4% for Kforce Inc. (KFRC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Allient Inc. grew EPS 67. 1% year-over-year, compared to -25. 2% for Kforce Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ALNT leads at 3. 3% 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 — ALNT or KFRC?
Allient Inc.
(ALNT) is the more profitable company, earning 4. 0% net margin versus 2. 6% for Kforce Inc. — meaning it keeps 4. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ALNT leads at 8. 7% versus 3. 8% for KFRC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ALNT leads at 30. 5%, 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 ALNT or KFRC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Kforce Inc.
(KFRC) trades at 20. 8x forward P/E versus 36. 2x for Allient Inc. — 15. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KFRC: 42. 0% to $71. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — ALNT or KFRC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Kforce Inc. (KFRC) offers the highest yield at 3. 1%, versus 0. 1% for Allient Inc. (ALNT).
09Is ALNT or KFRC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Kforce Inc.
(KFRC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 27), 3. 1% yield, +226. 5% 10Y return). Allient Inc. (ALNT) carries a higher beta of 2. 10 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (KFRC: +226. 5%, ALNT: +314. 8%), 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 ALNT and KFRC?
These companies operate in different sectors (ALNT (Technology) and KFRC (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: ALNT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; KFRC is a small-cap income-oriented stock. KFRC pays a dividend while ALNT does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.
You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.