ALTG vs KFRC

For growth investors, Alta Equipment Group Inc.

(ALTG) is the stronger pick with -2. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 4% for Kforce Inc. (KFRC). Kforce Inc. (KFRC) offers the better valuation at 21. 5x trailing P/E (17. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Alta Equipment Group Inc. (ALTG) 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.

Over the past 5 years, Kforce Inc.

(KFRC) delivered a total return of -18. 0%, compared to -31. 7% for Alta Equipment Group Inc. (ALTG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KFRC returned +187. 9% versus ALTG's -7. 4%. 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), Kforce Inc.

(KFRC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 53β versus Alta Equipment Group Inc. 's 2. 30β — meaning ALTG is approximately 335% more volatile than KFRC relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Alta Equipment Group Inc.

(ALTG) is pulling ahead at -2. 2% versus -5. 4% for Kforce Inc. (KFRC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Kforce Inc. grew EPS -25. 2% year-over-year, compared to -30. 1% for Alta Equipment Group Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ALTG leads at 5. 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.

Kforce Inc.

(KFRC) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 6% net margin versus -4. 4% for Alta Equipment Group Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KFRC leads at 3. 8% versus 1. 3% for ALTG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KFRC leads at 26. 8%, 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KFRC: 68.

9% to $71. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Kforce Inc. (KFRC) offers the highest yield at 3. 7%, versus 1. 1% for Alta Equipment Group Inc. (ALTG).

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. 53), 3. 7% yield, +187. 9% 10Y return). Alta Equipment Group Inc. (ALTG) carries a higher beta of 2. 30 — 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: +187. 9%, ALTG: -7. 4%), 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: ALTG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; KFRC 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.