BBSI
Barrett Business Services, Inc.
Staffing & Employment Services
Market Cap$734M
5Y Perf.+135.8%
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Stock Comparison
BBSI vs TNET
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
TNET
TriNet Group, Inc.
Staffing & Employment Services
Market Cap$1.98B
5Y Perf.-20.2%
BBSI vs TNET — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | BBSI | TNET |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Staffing & Employment Services | Staffing & Employment Services |
| Market Cap | $734M | $1.98B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.25B | $4.94B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $41M | $159M |
| Gross Margin | 20.8% | 17.7% |
| Operating Margin | 4.8% | 5.5% |
| Forward P/E | 17.1x | 10.1x |
| Total Debt | $24M | $979M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $95M | $1.98B |
BBSI vs TNET — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
BBSI
TNET
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrett Business Se… (BBSI) | 100 | 235.8 | +135.8% |
| TriNet Group, Inc. (TNET) | 100 | 79.8 | -20.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: BBSI vs TNET
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: BBSI leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. TriNet Group, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
BBSI
Barrett Business Services, Inc.
The Income Pick
BBSI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta 0.82, yield 1.1%
- Rev growth 8.4%, EPS growth 5.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 5.6%
- 326.4% 10Y total return vs TNET's 147.4%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
TNET
TriNet Group, Inc.
The Value Play
TNET is the clearest fit if your priority is value.
- Lower P/E (10.1x vs 17.1x)
Best for: value
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | BBSI | 8.4% revenue growth vs TNET's -0.9% |
| Value | TNET | Lower P/E (10.1x vs 17.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | BBSI | 3.2% margin vs TNET's 3.2% |
| Stability / Safety | BBSI | Beta 0.82 vs TNET's 0.83, lower leverage |
| Dividends | BBSI | 1.1% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs TNET's 2.5% |
| Momentum (1Y) | BBSI | -25.9% vs TNET's -45.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | BBSI | 5.3% ROA vs TNET's 4.4% |
BBSI vs TNET — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
BBSI vs TNET — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLBBSILAGGINGTNET
TNETTriNet Group, Inc.
1leads
BBSIBarrett Business Serv…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs TNETMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
TNET5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
Tied
—
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
BBSI6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
BBSI2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — BBSI and TNET each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
TNET is the larger business by revenue, generating $4.9B annually — 3.9x BBSI's $1.3B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 3.2% (BBSI) to 3.2% (TNET). On growth, BBSI holds the edge at +4.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | BBSIBarrett Business … | TNETTriNet Group, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.3B | $4.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $68M | $372M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $41M | $159M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $19M | $330M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +20.8% | +17.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +4.8% | +5.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.2% | +3.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +1.5% | +6.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.9% | -5.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -13.8% | +10.5% |
Evenly matched — BBSI and TNET each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
TNET leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 13.6x trailing earnings, TNET trades at a 5% valuation discount to BBSI's 14.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, TNET's 2.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than BBSI's 9.4x.
| Metric | BBSIBarrett Business … | TNETTriNet Group, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $734M | $2.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $664M | $976M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 14.31x | 13.57x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 17.06x | 10.07x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.04x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 9.43x | 2.77x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.59x | 0.39x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.20x | 38.12x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 15.57x | 6.46x |
TNET leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — BBSI and TNET each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
TNET delivers a 179.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $180 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 TNET's 18.13x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), TNET scores 6/9 vs BBSI's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | BBSIBarrett Business … | TNETTriNet Group, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +17.8% | +179.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.3% | +4.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +26.1% | — |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +16.4% | +23.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.10x | 18.13x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$71M | -$1.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $95M | $2.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $24M | $979M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 859.58x | 5.20x |
Evenly matched — BBSI and TNET each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
BBSI leads this category, winning 6 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 $5,539 for TNET. Over the past 12 months, BBSI leads with a -25.9% total return vs TNET's -45.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors BBSI at 16.0% vs TNET's -20.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | BBSIBarrett Business … | TNETTriNet Group, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -17.6% | -24.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -25.9% | -45.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +56.0% | -50.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +60.4% | -44.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +326.4% | +147.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +16.0% | -20.7% |
BBSI leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
BBSI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
BBSI is the less volatile stock with a 0.82 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than TNET's 0.83 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BBSI currently trades 60.2% from its 52-week high vs TNET's 49.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | BBSIBarrett Business … | TNETTriNet Group, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.82x | 0.83x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $49.65 | $86.78 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $25.33 | $33.60 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +60.2% | +49.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 43.2 | 51.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 266K | 433K |
BBSI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — BBSI and TNET each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BBSI as "Buy" and TNET as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 59.7% upside for TNET (target: $69) vs 53.8% for BBSI (target: $46). For income investors, TNET offers the higher dividend yield at 2.53% vs BBSI's 1.06%.
| Metric | BBSIBarrett Business … | TNETTriNet Group, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $46.00 | $68.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 5 | 14 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.1% | +2.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.32 | $1.08 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +6.5% | +9.3% |
Evenly matched — BBSI and TNET each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
BBSI leads in 2 of 6 categories (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). TNET leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 3 tied.
Best OverallBarrett Business Services, … (BBSI)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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BBSI vs TNET: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BBSI or TNET 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 -0. 9% for TriNet Group, Inc. (TNET). TriNet Group, Inc. (TNET) offers the better valuation at 13. 6x trailing P/E (10. 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 TNET?
On trailing P/E, TriNet Group, Inc.
(TNET) is the cheapest at 13. 6x versus Barrett Business Services, Inc. at 14. 3x. On forward P/E, TriNet Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BBSI or TNET?
Over the past 5 years, Barrett Business Services, Inc.
(BBSI) delivered a total return of +60. 4%, compared to -44. 6% for TriNet Group, Inc. (TNET). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BBSI returned +326. 4% versus TNET's +147. 4%. 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 TNET?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Barrett Business Services, Inc.
(BBSI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 82β versus TriNet Group, Inc. 's 0. 83β — meaning TNET is approximately 2% more volatile than BBSI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Barrett Business Services, Inc. (BBSI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 10% versus 18% for TriNet Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — BBSI or TNET?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Barrett Business Services, Inc.
(BBSI) is pulling ahead at 8. 4% versus -0. 9% for TriNet Group, Inc. (TNET). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Barrett Business Services, Inc. grew EPS 5. 6% year-over-year, compared to -7. 9% for TriNet Group, 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 TNET?
Barrett Business Services, Inc.
(BBSI) is the more profitable company, earning 4. 4% net margin versus 3. 1% for TriNet Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 4. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TNET leads at 5. 3% versus 5. 0% for BBSI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BBSI leads at 21. 0%, 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 TNET more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, TriNet Group, Inc.
(TNET) trades at 10. 1x forward P/E versus 17. 1x for Barrett Business Services, Inc. — 7. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TNET: 59. 7% to $68. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — BBSI or TNET?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
TriNet Group, Inc. (TNET) offers the highest yield at 2. 5%, versus 1. 1% for Barrett Business Services, Inc. (BBSI).
09Is BBSI or TNET better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Barrett Business Services, Inc.
(BBSI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 82), 1. 1% yield, +326. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BBSI: +326. 4%, TNET: +147. 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 TNET?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
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% · TNET: -5.1%)Net Margin>
%
(BBSI: 3.2% · TNET: 3.2%)P/E Ratio<
x
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