AMTM vs MAN

For growth investors, Amentum Holdings, Inc.

(AMTM) is the stronger pick with 71. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 6% for ManpowerGroup Inc. (MAN). Amentum Holdings, Inc. (AMTM) offers the better valuation at 90. 9x trailing P/E (10. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Amentum Holdings, Inc. (AMTM) a "Hold" — 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.

On forward P/E, ManpowerGroup Inc.

is actually cheaper at 8. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Amentum Holdings, Inc.

(AMTM) delivered a total return of -16. 8%, compared to -64. 9% for ManpowerGroup Inc. (MAN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AMTM returned -16. 8% versus MAN's -30. 8%. 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), ManpowerGroup Inc.

(MAN) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 03β versus Amentum Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 17β — meaning AMTM is approximately 14% more volatile than MAN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Amentum Holdings, Inc. (AMTM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 94% versus 116% for ManpowerGroup Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Amentum Holdings, Inc.

(AMTM) is pulling ahead at 71. 6% versus 0. 6% for ManpowerGroup Inc. (MAN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Amentum Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 179. 4% year-over-year, compared to -109. 6% for ManpowerGroup Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AMTM leads at 23. 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.

Amentum Holdings, Inc.

(AMTM) is the more profitable company, earning 0. 5% net margin versus -0. 1% for ManpowerGroup Inc. — meaning it keeps 0. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AMTM leads at 3. 5% versus 1. 3% for MAN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MAN leads at 16. 7%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, ManpowerGroup Inc.

(MAN) trades at 8. 3x forward P/E versus 10. 2x for Amentum Holdings, Inc. — 1. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AMTM: 47. 8% to $36. 29.

In this comparison, MAN (4.

7% yield) pays a dividend. AMTM does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, ManpowerGroup Inc.

(MAN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 03), 4. 7% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MAN: -30. 8%, AMTM: -16. 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.

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: AMTM is a small-cap high-growth stock; MAN is a small-cap income-oriented stock. MAN pays a dividend while AMTM 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.