HQI
HireQuest, Inc.
Staffing & Employment Services
Market Cap$167M
5Y Perf.+101.4%
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Stock Comparison
HQI vs ADP
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
ADP
Automatic Data Processing, Inc.
Staffing & Employment Services
Market Cap$83.43B
5Y Perf.+41.4%
HQI vs ADP — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | HQI | ADP |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Staffing & Employment Services | Staffing & Employment Services |
| Market Cap | $167M | $83.43B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $32M | $21.60B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $7M | $4.35B |
| Gross Margin | 100.0% | 47.5% |
| Operating Margin | 22.8% | 19.2% |
| Forward P/E | 22.0x | 18.8x |
| Total Debt | $7M | $9.07B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $2M | $3.35B |
HQI vs ADP — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
HQI
ADP
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| HireQuest, Inc. (HQI) | 100 | 201.4 | +101.4% |
| Automatic Data Proc… (ADP) | 100 | 141.4 | +41.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: HQI vs ADP
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ADP leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. HireQuest, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
HQI
HireQuest, Inc.
The Defensive Pick
HQI is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night.
- Lower volatility, beta 1.05, Low D/E 10.7%, current ratio 2.04x
- 21.9% margin vs ADP's 20.1%
- +17.2% vs ADP's -29.6%
Best for: sleep-well-at-night
ADP
Automatic Data Processing, Inc.
The Income Pick
ADP carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 37 yrs, beta 0.37, yield 2.8%
- Rev growth 7.1%, EPS growth 9.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 7.6%
- 185.6% 10Y total return vs HQI's 155.3%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ADP | 7.1% revenue growth vs HQI's -8.7% |
| Value | ADP | Lower P/E (18.8x vs 22.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | HQI | 21.9% margin vs ADP's 20.1% |
| Stability / Safety | ADP | Beta 0.37 vs HQI's 1.05 |
| Dividends | ADP | 2.8% yield, 37-year raise streak, vs HQI's 2.0% |
| Momentum (1Y) | HQI | +17.2% vs ADP's -29.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | HQI | 7.3% ROA vs ADP's 6.8%, ROIC 4.5% vs 47.1% |
HQI vs ADP — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
HQI vs ADP — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLADPLAGGINGHQI
HQIHireQuest, Inc.
2leads
ADPAutomatic Data Proces…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs HQIMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
HQI5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
ADP4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
HQI5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
ADP4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
ADP2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HQI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ADP is the larger business by revenue, generating $21.6B annually — 681.6x HQI's $32M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 21.9% (HQI) to 20.1% (ADP). On growth, ADP holds the edge at +7.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | HQIHireQuest, Inc. | ADPAutomatic Data Pr… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $32M | $21.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $10M | $4.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $7M | $4.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $13M | $5.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +100.0% | +47.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +22.8% | +19.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +21.9% | +20.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +40.6% | +23.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -9.8% | +7.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.0% | +10.5% |
HQI leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
ADP leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 20.8x trailing earnings, ADP trades at a 55% valuation discount to HQI's 45.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ADP's 15.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than HQI's 24.0x.
| Metric | HQIHireQuest, Inc. | ADPAutomatic Data Pr… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $167M | $83.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $172M | $89.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 45.77x | 20.76x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 22.04x | 18.76x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.75x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 24.03x | 15.11x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.83x | 4.06x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.56x | 13.69x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.97x | 17.49x |
ADP leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
HQI leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ADP delivers a 68.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $69 in annual profit, vs $10 for HQI. HQI carries lower financial leverage with a 0.11x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ADP's 1.46x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ADP scores 8/9 vs HQI's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | HQIHireQuest, Inc. | ADPAutomatic Data Pr… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.2% | +68.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.3% | +6.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.5% | +47.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.3% | +50.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.11x | 1.46x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $5M | $5.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2M | $3.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $7M | $9.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 18.47x | 13.33x |
HQI leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ADP leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ADP five years ago would be worth $11,949 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,994 for HQI. Over the past 12 months, HQI leads with a +17.2% total return vs ADP's -29.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ADP at 1.6% vs HQI's -13.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | HQIHireQuest, Inc. | ADPAutomatic Data Pr… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +11.8% | -17.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +17.2% | -29.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -36.0% | +4.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -30.1% | +19.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +155.3% | +185.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -13.8% | +1.6% |
ADP leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — HQI and ADP each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ADP is the less volatile stock with a 0.37 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than HQI's 1.05 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. HQI currently trades 95.4% from its 52-week high vs ADP's 62.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | HQIHireQuest, Inc. | ADPAutomatic Data Pr… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.05x | 0.37x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $12.48 | $329.93 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $7.38 | $188.16 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.4% | +62.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 62.5 | 56.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 19K | 3.4M |
Evenly matched — HQI and ADP each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
ADP leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates HQI as "Buy" and ADP as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 26.1% upside for HQI (target: $15) vs 20.2% for ADP (target: $249). For income investors, ADP offers the higher dividend yield at 2.83% vs HQI's 2.03%.
| Metric | HQIHireQuest, Inc. | ADPAutomatic Data Pr… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $15.00 | $249.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 3 | 36 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.0% | +2.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 37 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.24 | $5.87 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.5% |
ADP leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
ADP leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). HQI leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). 1 tied.
Best OverallAutomatic Data Processing, … (ADP)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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HQI vs ADP: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HQI or ADP a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Automatic Data Processing, Inc.
(ADP) is the stronger pick with 7. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 7% for HireQuest, Inc. (HQI). Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) offers the better valuation at 20. 8x trailing P/E (18. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate HireQuest, Inc. (HQI) a "Buy" — based on 3 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 — HQI or ADP?
On trailing P/E, Automatic Data Processing, Inc.
(ADP) is the cheapest at 20. 8x versus HireQuest, Inc. at 45. 8x. On forward P/E, Automatic Data Processing, Inc. is actually cheaper at 18. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — HQI or ADP?
Over the past 5 years, Automatic Data Processing, Inc.
(ADP) delivered a total return of +19. 5%, compared to -30. 1% for HireQuest, Inc. (HQI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ADP returned +185. 6% versus HQI's +155. 3%. 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 — HQI or ADP?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Automatic Data Processing, Inc.
(ADP) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 37β versus HireQuest, Inc. 's 1. 05β — meaning HQI is approximately 181% more volatile than ADP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, HireQuest, Inc. (HQI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 11% versus 146% for Automatic Data Processing, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — HQI or ADP?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Automatic Data Processing, Inc.
(ADP) is pulling ahead at 7. 1% versus -8. 7% for HireQuest, Inc. (HQI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Automatic Data Processing, Inc. grew EPS 9. 7% year-over-year, compared to -40. 9% for HireQuest, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HQI leads at 15. 4% 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 — HQI or ADP?
Automatic Data Processing, Inc.
(ADP) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 8% net margin versus 10. 6% for HireQuest, Inc. — meaning it keeps 19. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ADP leads at 26. 3% versus 12. 6% for HQI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HQI leads at 100. 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 HQI or ADP more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Automatic Data Processing, Inc.
(ADP) trades at 18. 8x forward P/E versus 22. 0x for HireQuest, Inc. — 3. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HQI: 26. 1% to $15. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — HQI or ADP?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) offers the highest yield at 2. 8%, versus 2. 0% for HireQuest, Inc. (HQI).
09Is HQI or ADP better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Automatic Data Processing, Inc.
(ADP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 37), 2. 8% yield, +185. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ADP: +185. 6%, HQI: +155. 3%), 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 HQI and ADP?
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>
%
(HQI: -9.8% · ADP: 7.0%)Net Margin>
%
(HQI: 21.9% · ADP: 20.1%)P/E Ratio<
x
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