OSK vs MAN vs CMI vs RHI

For growth investors, ManpowerGroup Inc.

(MAN) is the stronger pick with 0. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 2% for Robert Half International Inc. (RHI). Oshkosh Corporation (OSK) offers the better valuation at 15. 3x trailing P/E (13. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Oshkosh Corporation (OSK) a "Buy" — based on 37 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, Oshkosh Corporation (OSK) is the cheapest at 15.

3x versus Cummins Inc. at 33. 3x. On forward P/E, ManpowerGroup Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 3x — 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: Cummins Inc. wins at 2. 30x versus Oshkosh Corporation's 2. 86x.

Over the past 5 years, Cummins Inc.

(CMI) delivered a total return of +168. 7%, compared to -64. 9% for ManpowerGroup Inc. (MAN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CMI returned +557. 4% versus MAN's -30. 8%. 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), Robert Half International Inc.

(RHI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 99β versus Cummins Inc. 's 1. 57β — meaning CMI is approximately 59% more volatile than RHI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Oshkosh Corporation (OSK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 24% versus 116% for ManpowerGroup Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), ManpowerGroup Inc.

(MAN) is pulling ahead at 0. 6% versus -7. 2% for Robert Half International Inc. (RHI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Oshkosh Corporation grew EPS -3. 5% year-over-year, compared to -109. 6% for ManpowerGroup Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, OSK leads at 11. 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.

Cummins Inc.

(CMI) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 4% net margin versus -0. 1% for ManpowerGroup Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CMI leads at 11. 5% versus 1. 3% for MAN. 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.

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, Cummins Inc. (CMI) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 30x versus Oshkosh Corporation's 2. 86x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, ManpowerGroup Inc. (MAN) trades at 8. 3x forward P/E versus 25. 9x for Cummins Inc. — 17. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RHI: 48. 4% to $40. 67.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Robert Half International Inc. (RHI) offers the highest yield at 8. 7%, versus 0. 2% for Oshkosh Corporation (OSK).

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), 8. 7% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (RHI: +10. 2%, OSK: +268. 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.

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: OSK is a small-cap deep-value stock; MAN is a small-cap income-oriented stock; CMI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; RHI is a small-cap income-oriented stock. MAN, CMI, RHI pay a dividend while OSK does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.