BBSI
Barrett Business Services, Inc.
Staffing & Employment Services
Market Cap$734M
5Y Perf.+135.8%
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Stock Comparison
BBSI vs KFRC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
KFRC
Kforce Inc.
Staffing & Employment Services
Market Cap$790M
5Y Perf.+43.1%
BBSI vs KFRC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | BBSI | KFRC |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Staffing & Employment Services | Staffing & Employment Services |
| Market Cap | $734M | $790M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.25B | $1.33B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $41M | $35M |
| Gross Margin | 20.8% | 27.2% |
| Operating Margin | 4.8% | 3.8% |
| Forward P/E | 17.1x | 18.0x |
| Total Debt | $24M | $70M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $95M | $2M |
BBSI vs KFRC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
BBSI
KFRC
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrett Business Se… (BBSI) | 100 | 235.8 | +135.8% |
| Kforce Inc. (KFRC) | 100 | 143.1 | +43.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: BBSI vs KFRC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: KFRC leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for capital preservation and lower volatility and dividend income and shareholder returns. Barrett Business Services, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
BBSI
Barrett Business Services, Inc.
The Growth Play
BBSI is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 8.4%, EPS growth 5.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 5.6%
- 326.4% 10Y total return vs KFRC's 195.5%
- 8.4% revenue growth vs KFRC's -5.4%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
KFRC
Kforce Inc.
The Income Pick
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 0.53, yield 3.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.53, Low D/E 56.0%, current ratio 1.78x
- Beta 0.53, yield 3.6%, current ratio 1.78x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | BBSI | 8.4% revenue growth vs KFRC's -5.4% |
| Value | BBSI | Lower P/E (17.1x vs 18.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | BBSI | 3.2% margin vs KFRC's 2.6% |
| Stability / Safety | KFRC | Beta 0.53 vs BBSI's 0.82 |
| Dividends | KFRC | 3.6% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs BBSI's 1.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | KFRC | +18.9% vs BBSI's -25.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | KFRC | 9.2% ROA vs BBSI's 5.3%, ROIC 19.1% vs 26.1% |
BBSI vs KFRC — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
BBSI vs KFRC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLBBSILAGGINGKFRC
KFRCKforce Inc.
2leads
BBSIBarrett Business Serv…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs KFRCMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
BBSI6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
BBSI5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
BBSI4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
KFRC2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
KFRC2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — BBSI and KFRC each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
KFRC and BBSI operate at a comparable scale, with $1.3B and $1.3B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 3.2% (BBSI) to 2.6% (KFRC). On growth, BBSI holds the edge at +4.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | BBSIBarrett Business … | KFRCKforce Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.3B | $1.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $68M | $56M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $41M | $35M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $19M | $43M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +20.8% | +27.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +4.8% | +3.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.2% | +2.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +1.5% | +3.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.9% | +0.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -13.8% | +2.2% |
Evenly matched — BBSI and KFRC each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
BBSI leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 14.3x trailing earnings, BBSI trades at a 35% valuation discount to KFRC's 22.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, BBSI's 9.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than KFRC's 15.4x.
| Metric | BBSIBarrett Business … | KFRCKforce Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $734M | $790M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $664M | $858M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 14.31x | 22.05x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 17.06x | 17.96x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.04x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 9.43x | 15.42x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.59x | 0.59x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.20x | 6.17x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 15.57x | 16.88x |
BBSI leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
BBSI leads this category, winning 5 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 $18 for BBSI. BBSI carries lower financial leverage with a 0.10x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to KFRC's 0.56x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BBSI scores 5/9 vs KFRC's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | BBSIBarrett Business … | KFRCKforce Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +17.8% | +27.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.3% | +9.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +26.1% | +19.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +16.4% | +20.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.10x | 0.56x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$71M | $68M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $95M | $2M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $24M | $70M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 859.58x | — |
BBSI leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
BBSI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in BBSI five years ago would be worth $16,038 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,325 for KFRC. Over the past 12 months, KFRC leads with a +18.9% total return vs BBSI's -25.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors BBSI at 16.0% vs KFRC's -4.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | BBSIBarrett Business … | KFRCKforce Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -17.6% | +39.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -25.9% | +18.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +56.0% | -13.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +60.4% | -16.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +326.4% | +195.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +16.0% | -4.8% |
BBSI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
KFRC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
KFRC is the less volatile stock with a 0.53 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BBSI's 0.82 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. KFRC currently trades 91.0% from its 52-week high vs BBSI's 60.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | BBSIBarrett Business … | KFRCKforce Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.82x | 0.53x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $49.65 | $47.48 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $25.33 | $24.49 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +60.2% | +91.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 43.2 | 65.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 266K | 305K |
KFRC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
KFRC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BBSI as "Buy" and KFRC as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 64.3% upside for KFRC (target: $71) vs 53.8% for BBSI (target: $46). For income investors, KFRC offers the higher dividend yield at 3.58% vs BBSI's 1.06%.
| Metric | BBSIBarrett Business … | KFRCKforce Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $46.00 | $71.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 5 | 10 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.1% | +3.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 8 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.32 | $1.55 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +6.5% | +6.4% |
KFRC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
BBSI leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). KFRC leads in 2 (Risk & Volatility, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Best OverallBarrett Business Services, … (BBSI)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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BBSI vs KFRC: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BBSI or KFRC a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Barrett Business Services, Inc.
(BBSI) is the stronger pick with 8. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 4% for Kforce Inc. (KFRC). Barrett Business Services, Inc. (BBSI) offers the better valuation at 14. 3x trailing P/E (17. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Barrett Business Services, Inc. (BBSI) 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 — BBSI or KFRC?
On trailing P/E, Barrett Business Services, Inc.
(BBSI) is the cheapest at 14. 3x versus Kforce Inc. at 22. 1x. On forward P/E, Barrett Business Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 17. 1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BBSI or KFRC?
Over the past 5 years, Barrett Business Services, Inc.
(BBSI) delivered a total return of +60. 4%, compared to -16. 8% for Kforce Inc. (KFRC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BBSI returned +326. 4% versus KFRC's +195. 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 — BBSI or KFRC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Kforce Inc.
(KFRC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 53β versus Barrett Business Services, Inc. 's 0. 82β — meaning BBSI is approximately 55% more volatile than KFRC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Barrett Business Services, Inc. (BBSI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 10% versus 56% for Kforce Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — BBSI or KFRC?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Barrett Business Services, Inc.
(BBSI) is pulling ahead at 8. 4% versus -5. 4% for Kforce Inc. (KFRC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Barrett Business Services, Inc. grew EPS 5. 6% year-over-year, compared to -25. 2% for Kforce Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, BBSI leads at 5. 6% 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 — BBSI or KFRC?
Barrett Business Services, Inc.
(BBSI) is the more profitable company, earning 4. 4% net margin versus 2. 6% for Kforce Inc. — meaning it keeps 4. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BBSI leads at 5. 0% versus 3. 8% for KFRC. 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.
07Is BBSI or KFRC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Barrett Business Services, Inc.
(BBSI) trades at 17. 1x forward P/E versus 18. 0x for Kforce Inc. — 0. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KFRC: 64. 3% to $71. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — BBSI or KFRC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Kforce Inc. (KFRC) offers the highest yield at 3. 6%, versus 1. 1% for Barrett Business Services, Inc. (BBSI).
09Is BBSI 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. 53), 3. 6% yield, +195. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (KFRC: +195. 5%, BBSI: +326. 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.
10What are the main differences between BBSI and KFRC?
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: BBSI is a small-cap deep-value 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(BBSI: 4.9% · KFRC: 0.1%)Net Margin>
%
(BBSI: 3.2% · KFRC: 2.6%)P/E Ratio<
x
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