KELYA
Kelly Services, Inc.
Staffing & Employment Services
Market Cap$345M
5Y Perf.-34.7%
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Stock Comparison
KELYA vs RHI
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
RHI
Robert Half International Inc.
Staffing & Employment Services
Market Cap$2.65B
5Y Perf.-48.4%
KELYA vs RHI — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | KELYA | RHI |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Staffing & Employment Services | Staffing & Employment Services |
| Market Cap | $345M | $2.65B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $4.25B | $5.38B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-254M | $133M |
| Gross Margin | 20.1% | 36.8% |
| Operating Margin | -1.6% | 1.4% |
| Forward P/E | 11.1x | 19.8x |
| Total Debt | $159M | $421M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $33M | $464M |
KELYA vs RHI — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
KELYA
RHI
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA) | 100 | 65.3 | -34.7% |
| Robert Half Interna… (RHI) | 100 | 51.6 | -48.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: KELYA vs RHI
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: RHI leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. Kelly 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.
KELYA
Kelly Services, Inc.
The Growth Play
KELYA is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- Rev growth -1.9%, EPS growth -427.4%, 3Y rev CAGR -5.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.01, Low D/E 16.3%, current ratio 1.54x
- -1.9% revenue growth vs RHI's -7.2%
Best for: growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night
RHI
Robert Half International Inc.
The Income Pick
RHI carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 22 yrs, beta 0.99, yield 9.1%
- 7.7% 10Y total return vs KELYA's -33.2%
- Beta 0.99, yield 9.1%, current ratio 1.52x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | KELYA | -1.9% revenue growth vs RHI's -7.2% |
| Value | KELYA | Lower P/E (11.1x vs 19.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | RHI | 2.5% margin vs KELYA's -6.0% |
| Stability / Safety | RHI | Beta 0.99 vs KELYA's 1.01 |
| Dividends | RHI | 9.1% yield, 22-year raise streak, vs KELYA's 3.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | KELYA | -12.0% vs RHI's -34.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | RHI | 4.7% ROA vs KELYA's -11.3%, ROIC 4.6% vs -4.0% |
KELYA vs RHI — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
KELYA vs RHI — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLRHILAGGINGKELYA
KELYAKelly Services, Inc.
2leads
RHIRobert Half Internati…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs KELYAMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
RHI6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
KELYA5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
RHI5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
KELYA5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
RHI2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
RHI leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
RHI and KELYA operate at a comparable scale, with $5.4B and $4.3B in trailing revenue. RHI is the more profitable business, keeping 2.5% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to KELYA's -6.0%. On growth, RHI holds the edge at -5.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | KELYAKelly Services, I… | RHIRobert Half Inter… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.3B | $5.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$27M | $150M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$254M | $133M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $114M | $267M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +20.1% | +36.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -1.6% | +1.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -6.0% | +2.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.7% | +5.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -11.9% | -5.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.2% | -39.6% |
RHI leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
KELYA leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | KELYAKelly Services, I… | RHIRobert Half Inter… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $345M | $2.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $471M | $2.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -1.35x | 19.68x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 11.06x | 19.83x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 20.58x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.08x | 0.49x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.35x | 2.06x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 3.02x | 9.92x |
KELYA leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
RHI leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
RHI delivers a 10.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $10 in annual profit, vs $-26 for KELYA. KELYA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.16x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to RHI's 0.33x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), KELYA scores 5/9 vs RHI's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | KELYAKelly Services, I… | RHIRobert Half Inter… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -26.0% | +10.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -11.3% | +4.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -4.0% | +4.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -4.3% | +5.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.16x | 0.33x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $126M | -$43M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $33M | $464M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $159M | $421M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -5.02x | — |
RHI leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
KELYA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in KELYA five years ago would be worth $4,202 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,016 for RHI. Over the past 12 months, KELYA leads with a -12.0% total return vs RHI's -34.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors KELYA at -12.8% vs RHI's -21.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | KELYAKelly Services, I… | RHIRobert Half Inter… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +14.2% | -2.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -12.0% | -34.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -33.6% | -51.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -58.0% | -59.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -33.2% | +7.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -12.8% | -21.3% |
KELYA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — KELYA and RHI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
RHI is the less volatile stock with a 0.99 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than KELYA's 1.01 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. KELYA currently trades 65.5% from its 52-week high vs RHI's 53.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | KELYAKelly Services, I… | RHIRobert Half Inter… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.01x | 0.99x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $14.94 | $48.54 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $7.98 | $21.84 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +65.5% | +53.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 65.1 | 52.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 352K | 3.0M |
Evenly matched — KELYA and RHI each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
RHI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates KELYA as "Buy" and RHI as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 55.4% upside for RHI (target: $41) vs 53.2% for KELYA (target: $15). For income investors, RHI offers the higher dividend yield at 9.07% vs KELYA's 3.20%.
| Metric | KELYAKelly Services, I… | RHIRobert Half Inter… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $15.00 | $40.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 5 | 25 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.2% | +9.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 5 | 22 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.31 | $2.37 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.6% | +3.5% |
RHI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
RHI leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). KELYA leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallRobert Half International I… (RHI)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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KELYA vs RHI: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is KELYA or RHI a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Kelly Services, Inc.
(KELYA) is the stronger pick with -1. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 2% for Robert Half International Inc. (RHI). Robert Half International Inc. (RHI) offers the better valuation at 19. 7x trailing P/E (19. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA) 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 — KELYA or RHI?
On forward P/E, Kelly Services, Inc.
is actually cheaper at 11. 1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — KELYA or RHI?
Over the past 5 years, Kelly Services, Inc.
(KELYA) delivered a total return of -58. 0%, compared to -59. 8% for Robert Half International Inc. (RHI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RHI returned +7. 7% versus KELYA's -33. 2%. 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 — KELYA or RHI?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Robert Half International Inc.
(RHI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 99β versus Kelly Services, Inc. 's 1. 01β — meaning KELYA is approximately 2% more volatile than RHI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 16% versus 33% for Robert Half International Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — KELYA or RHI?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Kelly Services, Inc.
(KELYA) is pulling ahead at -1. 9% versus -7. 2% for Robert Half International Inc. (RHI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Robert Half International Inc. grew EPS -45. 5% year-over-year, compared to -427. 4% for Kelly Services, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, KELYA leads at -5. 0% 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 — KELYA or RHI?
Robert Half International Inc.
(RHI) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 5% net margin versus -6. 0% for Kelly Services, Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RHI leads at 1. 4% versus -1. 6% for KELYA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RHI leads at 37. 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 KELYA or RHI more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Kelly Services, Inc.
(KELYA) trades at 11. 1x forward P/E versus 19. 8x for Robert Half International Inc. — 8. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RHI: 55. 4% to $40. 67.
08Which pays a better dividend — KELYA or RHI?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Robert Half International Inc. (RHI) offers the highest yield at 9. 1%, versus 3. 2% for Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA).
09Is KELYA or RHI better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Robert Half International Inc.
(RHI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 99), 9. 1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (RHI: +7. 7%, KELYA: -33. 2%), 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 KELYA and RHI?
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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