Staffing & Employment Services
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4 / 10Stock Comparison
TBI vs KFY vs MAN vs HSII
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Staffing & Employment Services
Staffing & Employment Services
Staffing & Employment Services
TBI vs KFY vs MAN vs HSII — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Staffing & Employment Services | Staffing & Employment Services | Staffing & Employment Services | Staffing & Employment Services |
| Market Cap | $182M | $3.45B | $1.41B | $1.23B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.25B | $2.89B | $17.96B | $1.21B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-53M | $269M | $-13M | $37M |
| Gross Margin | 28.4% | 26.1% | 16.7% | 23.3% |
| Operating Margin | -2.6% | 13.2% | 0.8% | 3.0% |
| Forward P/E | — | 12.6x | 8.3x | 16.7x |
| Total Debt | $171M | $571M | $2.39B | $101M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $25M | $1.01B | $871M | $516M |
TBI vs KFY vs MAN vs HSII — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| TrueBlue, Inc. (TBI) | 100 | 38.9 | -61.1% |
| Korn Ferry (KFY) | 100 | 221.7 | +121.7% |
| ManpowerGroup Inc. (MAN) | 100 | 44.0 | -56.0% |
| Heidrick & Struggle… (HSII) | 100 | 265.4 | +165.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: TBI vs KFY vs MAN vs HSII
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
TBI is the clearest fit if your priority is momentum.
- +51.0% vs MAN's -17.0%
KFY carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and defensive.
- Dividend streak 5 yrs, beta 0.85, yield 2.4%
- Beta 0.85, yield 2.4%, current ratio 1.83x
- 9.3% margin vs TBI's -4.3%
- 2.4% yield, 5-year raise streak, vs MAN's 4.7%, (1 stock pays no dividend)
MAN is the clearest fit if your priority is value.
- Lower P/E (8.3x vs 12.6x)
HSII is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if growth exposure and long-term compounding is your priority.
- Rev growth 7.2%, EPS growth -84.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 3.4%
- 240.0% 10Y total return vs KFY's 169.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.76, Low D/E 22.3%, current ratio 1.60x
- 7.2% revenue growth vs KFY's -1.2%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 7.2% revenue growth vs KFY's -1.2% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (8.3x vs 12.6x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 9.3% margin vs TBI's -4.3% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.76 vs TBI's 1.13, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 2.4% yield, 5-year raise streak, vs MAN's 4.7%, (1 stock pays no dividend) | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +51.0% vs MAN's -17.0% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 7.1% ROA vs TBI's -8.1%, ROIC 18.5% vs -5.2% |
TBI vs KFY vs MAN vs HSII — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
TBI vs KFY vs MAN vs HSII — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 4 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Who Leads Where
HSII leads in 2 of 6 categories
MAN leads 1 • KFY leads 1 • TBI leads 0 • 2 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — KFY and HSII each lead in 2 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MAN is the larger business by revenue, generating $18.0B annually — 14.8x HSII's $1.2B. KFY is the more profitable business, keeping 9.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to TBI's -4.3%. On growth, HSII holds the edge at +14.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.2B | $2.9B | $18.0B | $1.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$10M | $479M | $236M | $57M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$53M | $269M | -$13M | $37M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$60M | $288M | -$161M | $132M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +28.4% | +26.1% | +16.7% | +23.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -2.6% | +13.2% | +0.8% | +3.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -4.3% | +9.3% | -0.1% | +3.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -4.8% | +10.0% | -0.9% | +10.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -100.0% | +7.2% | +7.1% | +14.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -37.5% | +11.8% | +36.2% | +16.9% |
Valuation Metrics
MAN leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 14.6x trailing earnings, KFY trades at a 90% valuation discount to HSII's 143.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, KFY's 7.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than TBI's 160.0x.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $182M | $3.5B | $1.4B | $1.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $329M | $3.0B | $2.9B | $812M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -3.73x | 14.58x | -104.90x | 143.93x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 12.60x | 8.28x | 16.72x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.75x | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 160.03x | 7.07x | 9.02x | 30.78x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.11x | 1.25x | 0.08x | 1.10x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.65x | 1.89x | 0.69x | 2.76x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 11.44x | — | 9.88x |
Profitability & Efficiency
KFY leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
KFY delivers a 13.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $14 in annual profit, vs $-19 for TBI. HSII carries lower financial leverage with a 0.22x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MAN's 1.16x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), KFY scores 7/9 vs MAN's 1/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -18.7% | +13.9% | -0.6% | +7.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -8.1% | +7.1% | -0.1% | +2.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -5.2% | +18.5% | +5.6% | +6.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -5.3% | +12.3% | +6.2% | +1.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.62x | 0.31x | 1.16x | 0.22x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $146M | -$436M | $1.5B | -$415M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $25M | $1.0B | $871M | $516M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $171M | $571M | $2.4B | $101M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -46.19x | 18.94x | 1.98x | — |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
HSII leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in HSII five years ago would be worth $14,577 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,130 for TBI. Over the past 12 months, TBI leads with a +51.0% total return vs MAN's -17.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors HSII at 34.9% vs TBI's -26.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +36.6% | +1.9% | +1.2% | — |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +51.0% | +7.3% | -17.0% | +46.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -60.2% | +51.8% | -46.4% | +145.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -78.7% | +8.1% | -64.9% | +45.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -68.4% | +169.9% | -30.8% | +240.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -26.4% | +14.9% | -18.8% | +34.9% |
Risk & Volatility
HSII leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HSII is the less volatile stock with a 0.76 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than TBI's 1.13 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. HSII currently trades 99.9% from its 52-week high vs MAN's 64.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.13x | 0.85x | 1.03x | 0.76x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $7.78 | $78.50 | $47.34 | $59.05 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.18 | $58.95 | $25.15 | $39.84 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +77.2% | +85.5% | +64.3% | +99.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 83.2 | 54.2 | 47.1 | 77.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 386K | 508K | 1.1M | 0 |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — KFY and MAN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: TBI as "Buy", KFY as "Buy", MAN as "Hold", HSII as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 24.5% upside for MAN (target: $38) vs -4.3% for TBI (target: $6). For income investors, MAN offers the higher dividend yield at 4.71% vs HSII's 1.03%.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $5.75 | $70.00 | $37.86 | $59.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 10 | 11 | 29 | 5 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +2.4% | +4.7% | +1.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.58 | $1.43 | $0.61 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.6% | +2.6% | +2.7% | +0.3% |
HSII leads in 2 of 6 categories (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). MAN leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
TBI vs KFY vs MAN vs HSII: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is TBI or KFY or MAN or HSII a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
(HSII) is the stronger pick with 7. 2% 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 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.
02Which has the better valuation — TBI or KFY or MAN or HSII?
On trailing P/E, Korn Ferry (KFY) is the cheapest at 14.
6x versus Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. at 143. 9x. On forward P/E, ManpowerGroup Inc. is actually cheaper at 8. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — TBI or KFY or MAN or HSII?
Over the past 5 years, Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
(HSII) delivered a total return of +45. 8%, compared to -78. 7% for TrueBlue, Inc. (TBI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HSII returned +240. 0% 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.
04Which is safer — TBI or KFY or MAN or HSII?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
(HSII) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 76β versus TrueBlue, Inc. 's 1. 13β — meaning TBI is approximately 49% more volatile than HSII relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (HSII) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 22% versus 116% for ManpowerGroup Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — TBI or KFY or MAN or HSII?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
(HSII) is pulling ahead at 7. 2% versus -1. 2% for Korn Ferry (KFY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: TrueBlue, Inc. grew EPS 61. 4% year-over-year, compared to -109. 6% for ManpowerGroup Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HSII leads at 3. 4% 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 — TBI or KFY or MAN or HSII?
Korn Ferry (KFY) is the more profitable company, earning 8.
9% net margin versus -3. 0% for TrueBlue, 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 — KFY leads at 26. 0%, 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 TBI or KFY or MAN or HSII more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, ManpowerGroup Inc.
(MAN) trades at 8. 3x forward P/E versus 16. 7x for Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. — 8. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MAN: 24. 5% to $37. 86.
08Which pays a better dividend — TBI or KFY or MAN or HSII?
In this comparison, MAN (4.
7% yield), KFY (2. 4% yield), HSII (1. 0% yield) pay a dividend. TBI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is TBI or KFY or MAN or HSII better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
(HSII) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 76), 1. 0% yield, +240. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HSII: +240. 0%, 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.
10What are the main differences between TBI and KFY and MAN and HSII?
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: TBI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; KFY is a small-cap deep-value stock; MAN is a small-cap income-oriented stock; HSII is a small-cap quality compounder stock. KFY, MAN, HSII 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.
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