Staffing & Employment Services
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KFY vs RHI
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Staffing & Employment Services
KFY vs RHI — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Staffing & Employment Services | Staffing & Employment Services |
| Market Cap | $3.40B | $2.65B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.89B | $5.38B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $269M | $133M |
| Gross Margin | 26.1% | 36.8% |
| Operating Margin | 13.2% | 1.4% |
| Forward P/E | 12.4x | 19.8x |
| Total Debt | $571M | $421M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.01B | $464M |
KFY vs RHI — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Korn Ferry (KFY) | 100 | 218.1 | +118.1% |
| Robert Half Interna… (RHI) | 100 | 51.6 | -48.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: KFY vs RHI
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
KFY carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth -1.2%, EPS growth 42.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 1.5%
- 168.3% 10Y total return vs RHI's 7.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.85, Low D/E 30.5%, current ratio 1.83x
RHI is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability.
- Dividend streak 22 yrs, beta 0.99, yield 9.1%
- 9.1% yield, 22-year raise streak, vs KFY's 2.4%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | -1.2% revenue growth vs RHI's -7.2% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (12.4x vs 19.8x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 9.3% margin vs RHI's 2.5% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.85 vs RHI's 0.99, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 9.1% yield, 22-year raise streak, vs KFY's 2.4% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +6.6% vs RHI's -34.2% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 7.1% ROA vs RHI's 4.7%, ROIC 18.5% vs 4.6% |
KFY vs RHI — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
KFY vs RHI — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
KFY leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
RHI is the larger business by revenue, generating $5.4B annually — 1.9x KFY's $2.9B. KFY is the more profitable business, keeping 9.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to RHI's 2.5%. On growth, KFY holds the edge at +7.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.9B | $5.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $479M | $150M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $269M | $133M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $288M | $267M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +26.1% | +36.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +13.2% | +1.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.3% | +2.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +10.0% | +5.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.2% | -5.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.8% | -39.6% |
Valuation Metrics
KFY leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 14.3x trailing earnings, KFY trades at a 27% valuation discount to RHI's 19.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, KFY's 6.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than RHI's 20.6x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.4B | $2.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.0B | $2.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 14.35x | 19.68x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.40x | 19.83x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.74x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.94x | 20.58x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.23x | 0.49x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.86x | 2.06x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 11.25x | 9.92x |
Profitability & Efficiency
KFY leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
KFY delivers a 13.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $14 in annual profit, vs $10 for RHI. KFY carries lower financial leverage with a 0.31x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to RHI's 0.33x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), KFY scores 7/9 vs RHI's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +13.9% | +10.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.1% | +4.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +18.5% | +4.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.3% | +5.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.31x | 0.33x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$436M | -$43M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.0B | $464M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $571M | $421M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 18.94x | — |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
KFY leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in KFY five years ago would be worth $10,516 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,016 for RHI. Over the past 12 months, KFY leads with a +6.6% total return vs RHI's -34.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors KFY at 14.3% vs RHI's -21.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +0.2% | -2.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +6.6% | -34.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +49.4% | -51.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +5.2% | -59.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +168.3% | +7.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +14.3% | -21.3% |
Risk & Volatility
KFY leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
KFY is the less volatile stock with a 0.85 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than RHI's 0.99 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. KFY currently trades 84.1% from its 52-week high vs RHI's 53.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.85x | 0.99x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $78.50 | $48.54 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $58.95 | $21.84 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +84.1% | +53.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 60.2 | 52.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 513K | 3.0M |
Analyst Outlook
RHI leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates KFY as "Buy" and RHI as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 55.4% upside for RHI (target: $41) vs 6.1% for KFY (target: $70). For income investors, RHI offers the higher dividend yield at 9.07% vs KFY's 2.40%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $70.00 | $40.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 11 | 25 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.4% | +9.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 5 | 22 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.58 | $2.37 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.6% | +3.5% |
KFY leads in 5 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). RHI leads in 1 (Analyst Outlook).
KFY vs RHI: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is KFY or RHI a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Korn Ferry (KFY) is the stronger pick with -1.
2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 2% for Robert Half International Inc. (RHI). Korn Ferry (KFY) offers the better valuation at 14. 3x trailing P/E (12. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Korn Ferry (KFY) a "Buy" — based on 11 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 — KFY or RHI?
On trailing P/E, Korn Ferry (KFY) is the cheapest at 14.
3x versus Robert Half International Inc. at 19. 7x. On forward P/E, Korn Ferry is actually cheaper at 12. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — KFY or RHI?
Over the past 5 years, Korn Ferry (KFY) delivered a total return of +5.
2%, compared to -59. 8% for Robert Half International Inc. (RHI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KFY returned +168. 3% versus RHI's +7. 7%. 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 — KFY or RHI?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Korn Ferry (KFY) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
85β versus Robert Half International Inc. 's 0. 99β — meaning RHI is approximately 17% more volatile than KFY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Korn Ferry (KFY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 31% versus 33% for Robert Half International Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — KFY or RHI?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Korn Ferry (KFY) is pulling ahead at -1.
2% versus -7. 2% for Robert Half International Inc. (RHI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Korn Ferry grew EPS 42. 4% year-over-year, compared to -45. 5% for Robert Half International Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, KFY leads at 1. 5% 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 — KFY or RHI?
Korn Ferry (KFY) is the more profitable company, earning 8.
9% net margin versus 2. 5% for Robert Half International Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KFY leads at 12. 5% versus 1. 4% for RHI. 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 KFY or RHI more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Korn Ferry (KFY) trades at 12.
4x forward P/E versus 19. 8x for Robert Half International Inc. — 7. 4x 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 — KFY or RHI?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Robert Half International Inc. (RHI) offers the highest yield at 9. 1%, versus 2. 4% for Korn Ferry (KFY).
09Is KFY or RHI better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Korn Ferry (KFY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
85), 2. 4% yield, +168. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (KFY: +168. 3%, RHI: +7. 7%), 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 KFY 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.
In terms of investment character: KFY is a small-cap deep-value stock; RHI 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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