KFRC
Kforce Inc.
Staffing & Employment Services
Market Cap$790M
5Y Perf.+43.1%
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Stock Comparison
KFRC vs HSII
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
HSII
Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
Staffing & Employment Services
Market Cap$1.23B
5Y Perf.+165.4%
KFRC vs HSII — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | KFRC | HSII |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Staffing & Employment Services | Staffing & Employment Services |
| Market Cap | $790M | $1.23B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.33B | $1.21B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $35M | $37M |
| Gross Margin | 27.2% | 23.3% |
| Operating Margin | 3.8% | 3.0% |
| Forward P/E | 18.0x | 16.7x |
| Total Debt | $70M | $101M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $2M | $516M |
KFRC vs HSII — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
KFRC
HSII
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kforce Inc. (KFRC) | 100 | 143.1 | +43.1% |
| Heidrick & Struggle… (HSII) | 100 | 265.4 | +165.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: KFRC vs HSII
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: HSII leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Kforce Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
KFRC
Kforce Inc.
The Income Pick
KFRC is the clearest fit if your priority is 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
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
HSII
Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
The Growth Play
HSII carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 7.2%, EPS growth -84.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 3.4%
- 240.0% 10Y total return vs KFRC's 195.5%
- 7.2% revenue growth vs KFRC's -5.4%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | HSII | 7.2% revenue growth vs KFRC's -5.4% |
| Value | HSII | Lower P/E (16.7x vs 18.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | HSII | 3.1% margin vs KFRC's 2.6% |
| Stability / Safety | KFRC | Beta 0.53 vs HSII's 0.76 |
| Dividends | KFRC | 3.6% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs HSII's 1.0% |
| Momentum (1Y) | HSII | +46.2% vs KFRC's +18.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | KFRC | 9.2% ROA vs HSII's 2.9%, ROIC 19.1% vs 6.0% |
KFRC vs HSII — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2023
KFRC vs HSII — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLKFRCLAGGINGHSII
HSIIHeidrick & Struggles …
2leads
KFRCKforce Inc.
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs HSIIMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
HSII4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
KFRC5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
HSII5/5
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
KFRC2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HSII leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
KFRC and HSII operate at a comparable scale, with $1.3B and $1.2B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 3.1% (HSII) to 2.6% (KFRC). On growth, HSII holds the edge at +14.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | KFRCKforce Inc. | HSIIHeidrick & Strugg… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.3B | $1.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $56M | $57M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $35M | $37M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $43M | $132M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +27.2% | +23.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.8% | +3.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +2.6% | +3.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +3.3% | +10.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +0.1% | +14.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.2% | +16.9% |
HSII leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — KFRC and HSII each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 22.1x trailing earnings, KFRC trades at a 85% valuation discount to HSII's 143.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, KFRC's 15.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than HSII's 30.8x.
| Metric | KFRCKforce Inc. | HSIIHeidrick & Strugg… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $790M | $1.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $858M | $812M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 22.05x | 143.93x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 17.96x | 16.72x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 15.42x | 30.78x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.59x | 1.10x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 6.17x | 2.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 16.88x | 9.88x |
Evenly matched — KFRC and HSII each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
KFRC leads this category, winning 5 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 $7 for HSII. HSII carries lower financial leverage with a 0.22x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to KFRC's 0.56x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), HSII scores 6/9 vs KFRC's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | KFRCKforce Inc. | HSIIHeidrick & Strugg… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +27.2% | +7.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +9.2% | +2.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +19.1% | +6.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +20.1% | +1.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.56x | 0.22x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $68M | -$415M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2M | $516M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $70M | $101M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | — |
KFRC leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
HSII leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in HSII five years ago would be worth $14,577 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,325 for KFRC. Over the past 12 months, HSII leads with a +46.2% total return vs KFRC's +18.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors HSII at 34.9% vs KFRC's -4.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | KFRCKforce Inc. | HSIIHeidrick & Strugg… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +39.2% | — |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +18.9% | +46.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -13.8% | +145.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -16.8% | +45.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +195.5% | +240.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -4.8% | +34.9% |
HSII leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — KFRC and HSII each lead in 1 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 HSII's 0.76 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. HSII currently trades 99.9% from its 52-week high vs KFRC's 91.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | KFRCKforce Inc. | HSIIHeidrick & Strugg… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.53x | 0.76x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $47.48 | $59.05 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $24.49 | $39.84 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +91.0% | +99.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 65.6 | 77.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 305K | 0 |
Evenly matched — KFRC and HSII each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
KFRC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates KFRC as "Hold" and HSII as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 64.3% upside for KFRC (target: $71) vs -0.0% for HSII (target: $59). For income investors, KFRC offers the higher dividend yield at 3.58% vs HSII's 1.03%.
| Metric | KFRCKforce Inc. | HSIIHeidrick & Strugg… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $71.00 | $59.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 10 | 5 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.6% | +1.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 8 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.55 | $0.61 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +6.4% | +0.3% |
KFRC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
HSII leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). KFRC leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Analyst Outlook). 2 tied.
Best OverallKforce Inc. (KFRC)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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KFRC vs HSII: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is KFRC or HSII a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
(HSII) is the stronger pick with 7. 2% 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 Kforce Inc. (KFRC) a "Hold" — based on 10 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 — KFRC or HSII?
On trailing P/E, Kforce Inc.
(KFRC) is the cheapest at 22. 1x versus Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. at 143. 9x. On forward P/E, Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. is actually cheaper at 16. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — KFRC or HSII?
Over the past 5 years, Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
(HSII) delivered a total return of +45. 8%, compared to -16. 8% for Kforce Inc. (KFRC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HSII returned +240. 0% 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 — KFRC or HSII?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Kforce Inc.
(KFRC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 53β versus Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. 's 0. 76β — meaning HSII is approximately 44% more volatile than KFRC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (HSII) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 22% versus 56% for Kforce Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — KFRC or HSII?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
(HSII) is pulling ahead at 7. 2% 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 -84. 4% for Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HSII leads at 3. 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 — KFRC or HSII?
Kforce Inc.
(KFRC) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 6% net margin versus 0. 8% for Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KFRC leads at 3. 8% versus 0. 7% for HSII. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KFRC leads at 26. 8%, 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 KFRC or HSII more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
(HSII) trades at 16. 7x forward P/E versus 18. 0x for Kforce Inc. — 1. 2x 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 — KFRC or HSII?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Kforce Inc. (KFRC) offers the highest yield at 3. 6%, versus 1. 0% for Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (HSII).
09Is KFRC or HSII 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). Both have compounded well over 10 years (KFRC: +195. 5%, HSII: +240. 0%), 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 KFRC and HSII?
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: KFRC is a small-cap income-oriented stock; HSII is a small-cap quality compounder 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(KFRC: 0.1% · HSII: 14.2%)Net Margin>
%
(KFRC: 2.6% · HSII: 3.1%)P/E Ratio<
x
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