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HRI vs KFRC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Staffing & Employment Services
HRI vs KFRC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Rental & Leasing Services | Staffing & Employment Services |
| Market Cap | $4.41B | $790M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $4.65B | $1.33B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-5M | $35M |
| Gross Margin | 29.2% | 27.2% |
| Operating Margin | 16.4% | 3.8% |
| Forward P/E | 22.1x | 18.0x |
| Total Debt | $11.16B | $70M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $52M | $2M |
HRI vs KFRC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Herc Holdings Inc. (HRI) | 100 | 463.0 | +363.0% |
| Kforce Inc. (KFRC) | 100 | 143.1 | +43.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: HRI vs KFRC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
HRI is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 22.6%, EPS growth -99.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 16.9%
- 445.9% 10Y total return vs KFRC's 195.5%
- 22.6% revenue growth vs KFRC's -5.4%
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
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 22.6% revenue growth vs KFRC's -5.4% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (18.0x vs 22.1x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 2.6% margin vs HRI's -0.1% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.53 vs HRI's 2.02, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 3.6% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs HRI's 2.1% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +18.9% vs HRI's +18.2% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 9.2% ROA vs HRI's -0.0%, ROIC 19.1% vs 5.2% |
HRI vs KFRC — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
HRI vs KFRC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — HRI and KFRC each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HRI is the larger business by revenue, generating $4.7B annually — 3.5x KFRC's $1.3B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 2.6% (KFRC) to -0.1% (HRI). On growth, HRI holds the edge at +32.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.7B | $1.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.3B | $56M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$5M | $35M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $150M | $43M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +29.2% | +27.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +16.4% | +3.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -0.1% | +2.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +3.2% | +3.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +32.3% | +0.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -14.3% | +2.2% |
Valuation Metrics
KFRC leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 22.1x trailing earnings, KFRC trades at a 99% valuation discount to HRI's 4123.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, HRI's 8.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than KFRC's 15.4x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.4B | $790M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $15.5B | $858M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 4123.75x | 22.05x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 22.09x | 17.96x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.87x | 15.42x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.01x | 0.59x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.13x | 6.17x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 16.88x |
Profitability & Efficiency
KFRC leads this category, winning 8 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 $-0 for HRI. KFRC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.56x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to HRI's 5.73x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), KFRC scores 4/9 vs HRI's 3/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -0.3% | +27.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.0% | +9.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.2% | +19.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.6% | +20.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 5.73x | 0.56x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $11.1B | $68M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $52M | $2M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $11.2B | $70M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.27x | — |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
HRI leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in HRI five years ago would be worth $12,723 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,325 for KFRC. Over the past 12 months, KFRC leads with a +18.9% total return vs HRI's +18.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors HRI at 11.1% vs KFRC's -4.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -12.9% | +39.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +18.2% | +18.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +37.3% | -13.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +27.2% | -16.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +445.9% | +195.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +11.1% | -4.8% |
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 HRI's 2.02 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 HRI's 70.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.02x | 0.53x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $188.35 | $47.48 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $88.45 | $24.49 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +70.1% | +91.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 64.0 | 65.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 615K | 305K |
Analyst Outlook
KFRC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates HRI as "Buy" and KFRC as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 64.3% upside for KFRC (target: $71) vs 39.0% for HRI (target: $183). For income investors, KFRC offers the higher dividend yield at 3.58% vs HRI's 2.10%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $183.40 | $71.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 17 | 10 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.1% | +3.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 8 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.77 | $1.55 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.2% | +6.4% |
KFRC leads in 4 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). HRI leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
HRI vs KFRC: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HRI or KFRC a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Herc Holdings Inc.
(HRI) is the stronger pick with 22. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 4% for Kforce Inc. (KFRC). Kforce Inc. (KFRC) offers the better valuation at 22. 1x trailing P/E (18. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Herc Holdings Inc. (HRI) a "Buy" — based on 17 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 — HRI or KFRC?
On trailing P/E, Kforce Inc.
(KFRC) is the cheapest at 22. 1x versus Herc Holdings Inc. at 4123. 8x. On forward P/E, Kforce Inc. is actually cheaper at 18. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — HRI or KFRC?
Over the past 5 years, Herc Holdings Inc.
(HRI) delivered a total return of +27. 2%, compared to -16. 8% for Kforce Inc. (KFRC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HRI returned +445. 9% 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 — HRI or KFRC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Kforce Inc.
(KFRC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 53β versus Herc Holdings Inc. 's 2. 02β — meaning HRI is approximately 282% more volatile than KFRC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kforce Inc. (KFRC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 56% versus 6% for Herc Holdings Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — HRI or KFRC?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Herc Holdings Inc.
(HRI) is pulling ahead at 22. 6% versus -5. 4% for Kforce Inc. (KFRC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Kforce Inc. grew EPS -25. 2% year-over-year, compared to -99. 6% for Herc Holdings Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HRI leads at 16. 9% 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 — HRI or KFRC?
Kforce Inc.
(KFRC) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 6% net margin versus 0. 0% for Herc Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HRI leads at 15. 3% versus 3. 8% for KFRC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HRI leads at 28. 2%, 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 HRI or KFRC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Kforce Inc.
(KFRC) trades at 18. 0x forward P/E versus 22. 1x for Herc Holdings Inc. — 4. 1x 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 — HRI or KFRC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Kforce Inc. (KFRC) offers the highest yield at 3. 6%, versus 2. 1% for Herc Holdings Inc. (HRI).
09Is HRI 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). Herc Holdings Inc. (HRI) carries a higher beta of 2. 02 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (KFRC: +195. 5%, HRI: +445. 9%), 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 HRI 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: HRI is a small-cap high-growth 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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