HQI vs TBI vs MAN vs KELYA vs KFRC

For growth investors, TrueBlue, Inc.

(TBI) is the stronger pick with 3. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 7% for HireQuest, Inc. (HQI). Kforce Inc. (KFRC) offers the better valuation at 22. 2x trailing P/E (18. 1x 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.

On trailing P/E, Kforce Inc.

(KFRC) is the cheapest at 22. 2x versus HireQuest, Inc. at 45. 9x. On forward P/E, ManpowerGroup Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Kforce Inc.

(KFRC) delivered a total return of -15. 0%, compared to -79. 6% for TrueBlue, Inc. (TBI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KFRC returned +196. 8% versus TBI's -70. 5%. 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. 46β versus HireQuest, Inc. 's 1. 04β — meaning HQI is approximately 127% more volatile than KFRC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, HireQuest, Inc. (HQI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 11% versus 116% for ManpowerGroup Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), TrueBlue, Inc.

(TBI) is pulling ahead at 3. 1% versus -8. 7% for HireQuest, Inc. (HQI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: TrueBlue, Inc. grew EPS 61. 4% year-over-year, compared to -427. 4% for Kelly Services, 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.

HireQuest, Inc.

(HQI) is the more profitable company, earning 10. 6% net margin versus -6. 0% for Kelly Services, Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HQI leads at 12. 6% versus -1. 7% for TBI. 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.

On forward earnings alone, ManpowerGroup Inc.

(MAN) trades at 8. 1x forward P/E versus 22. 1x for HireQuest, Inc. — 14. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KFRC: 63. 4% to $71. 00.

In this comparison, MAN (4.

8% yield), KFRC (3. 6% yield), KELYA (3. 2% yield), HQI (2. 0% yield) pay a dividend. TBI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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. 46), 3. 6% yield, +196. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (KFRC: +196. 8%, TBI: -70. 5%), 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: HQI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; TBI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MAN is a small-cap income-oriented stock; KELYA is a small-cap income-oriented stock; KFRC is a small-cap income-oriented stock. HQI, MAN, KELYA, KFRC pay a dividend while TBI 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.