TBI vs ASGN

For growth investors, TrueBlue, Inc.

(TBI) is the stronger pick with 3. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 9% for ASGN Incorporated (ASGN). ASGN Incorporated (ASGN) offers the better valuation at 8. 1x trailing P/E (5. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate TrueBlue, Inc. (TBI) a "Buy" — 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.

Over the past 5 years, TrueBlue, Inc.

(TBI) delivered a total return of -78. 7%, compared to -80. 4% for ASGN Incorporated (ASGN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ASGN returned -41. 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), TrueBlue, Inc.

(TBI) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 13β versus ASGN Incorporated's 1. 34β — meaning ASGN is approximately 18% more volatile than TBI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, TrueBlue, Inc. (TBI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 62% versus 65% for ASGN Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(TBI) is pulling ahead at 3. 1% versus -2. 9% for ASGN Incorporated (ASGN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: TrueBlue, Inc. grew EPS 61. 4% year-over-year, compared to -32. 1% for ASGN Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, ASGN leads at -4. 6% 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.

ASGN Incorporated (ASGN) is the more profitable company, earning 2.

9% net margin versus -3. 0% for TrueBlue, Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ASGN leads at 6. 5% versus -1. 7% for TBI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ASGN leads at 27. 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ASGN: 79.

4% to $37. 60.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, TrueBlue, Inc.

(TBI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 13)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (TBI: -68. 4%, ASGN: -41. 9%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (TBI (Industrials) and ASGN (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: TBI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ASGN is a small-cap deep-value 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.