RHI vs MAN vs KFY vs KELYA vs TBI

For growth investors, TrueBlue, Inc.

(TBI) is the stronger pick with 3. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 2% for Robert Half International Inc. (RHI). 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 Robert Half International Inc. at 20. 6x. On forward P/E, ManpowerGroup Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

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

1%, compared to -78. 7% for TrueBlue, Inc. (TBI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KFY returned +169. 9% versus TBI's -68. 4%. 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.

85β versus TrueBlue, Inc. 's 1. 13β — meaning TBI is approximately 34% more volatile than KFY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 16% versus 116% for ManpowerGroup Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(TBI) is pulling ahead at 3. 1% versus -7. 2% for Robert Half International Inc. (RHI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: TrueBlue, Inc. grew EPS 61. 4% year-over-year, compared to -427. 4% for Kelly Services, 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.

Korn Ferry (KFY) is the more profitable company, earning 8.

9% net margin versus -6. 0% for Kelly Services, 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. 7% for TBI. 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.

On forward earnings alone, ManpowerGroup Inc.

(MAN) trades at 8. 3x forward P/E versus 20. 8x for Robert Half International Inc. — 12. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KELYA: 54. 6% to $15. 00.

In this comparison, RHI (8.

7% yield), MAN (4. 7% yield), KELYA (3. 2% yield), KFY (2. 4% yield) pay a dividend. TBI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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, +169. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (KFY: +169. 9%, TBI: -68. 4%), 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: RHI is a small-cap income-oriented stock; MAN is a small-cap income-oriented stock; KFY is a small-cap deep-value stock; KELYA is a small-cap income-oriented stock; TBI is a small-cap quality compounder stock. RHI, MAN, KFY, KELYA pay a dividend while TBI 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.