KFY vs TRU vs EFX vs MAN

For growth investors, TransUnion (TRU) is the stronger pick with 9.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 2% for Korn Ferry (KFY). Korn Ferry (KFY) offers the better valuation at 14. 6x trailing P/E (12. 6x 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.

On trailing P/E, Korn Ferry (KFY) is the cheapest at 14.

6x versus Equifax Inc. at 33. 0x. On forward P/E, ManpowerGroup Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Korn Ferry wins at 0. 65x versus Equifax Inc. 's 4. 39x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Korn Ferry (KFY) delivered a total return of +8.

1%, compared to -64. 9% for ManpowerGroup Inc. (MAN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KFY returned +172. 4% versus MAN's -31. 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), Korn Ferry (KFY) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

81β versus TransUnion's 1. 36β — meaning TRU is approximately 69% 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 116% for ManpowerGroup Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), TransUnion (TRU) is pulling ahead at 9.

4% versus -1. 2% for Korn Ferry (KFY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: TransUnion grew EPS 60. 0% year-over-year, compared to -109. 6% for ManpowerGroup Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, TRU leads at 7. 2% 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.

Equifax Inc.

(EFX) is the more profitable company, earning 10. 9% net margin versus -0. 1% for ManpowerGroup Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TRU leads at 18. 7% versus 1. 3% for MAN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TRU leads at 59. 1%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Korn Ferry (KFY) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 65x versus Equifax Inc. 's 4. 39x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, ManpowerGroup Inc. (MAN) trades at 8. 1x forward P/E versus 20. 4x for Equifax Inc. — 12. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TRU: 30. 1% to $94. 88.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

ManpowerGroup Inc. (MAN) offers the highest yield at 4. 7%, versus 0. 6% for TransUnion (TRU).

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.

81), 2. 4% yield, +172. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (KFY: +172. 4%, TRU: +139. 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.

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; TRU is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; EFX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; MAN 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.