Specialty Business Services
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UNF vs G vs KFRC vs MMS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Information Technology Services
Staffing & Employment Services
Specialty Business Services
UNF vs G vs KFRC vs MMS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Specialty Business Services | Information Technology Services | Staffing & Employment Services | Specialty Business Services |
| Market Cap | $4.76B | $5.85B | $790M | $3.64B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.45B | $5.16B | $1.33B | $5.32B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $140M | $570M | $35M | $373M |
| Gross Margin | 36.5% | 36.3% | 27.2% | 24.6% |
| Operating Margin | 7.1% | 14.9% | 3.8% | 10.8% |
| Forward P/E | 36.0x | 8.6x | 18.0x | 7.8x |
| Total Debt | $72M | $1.76B | $70M | $1.44B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $204M | $854M | $2M | $260M |
UNF vs G vs KFRC vs MMS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| UniFirst Corporation (UNF) | 100 | 142.6 | +42.6% |
| Genpact Limited (G) | 100 | 95.9 | -4.1% |
| Kforce Inc. (KFRC) | 100 | 143.1 | +43.1% |
| Maximus, Inc. (MMS) | 100 | 92.6 | -7.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: UNF vs G vs KFRC vs MMS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
UNF is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night.
- Lower volatility, beta 0.58, Low D/E 3.3%, current ratio 3.18x
- +42.6% vs G's -29.0%
G carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and valuation efficiency.
- Rev growth 6.6%, EPS growth 9.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 5.1%
- PEG 0.58 vs UNF's 15.82
- 6.6% revenue growth vs KFRC's -5.4%
- Lower P/E (8.6x vs 18.0x)
KFRC is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if income & stability and long-term compounding is your priority.
- Dividend streak 8 yrs, beta 0.53, yield 3.6%
- 195.5% 10Y total return vs UNF's 140.5%
- Beta 0.53, yield 3.6%, current ratio 1.78x
- Beta 0.53 vs MMS's 0.72, lower leverage
MMS lags the leaders in this set but could rank higher in a more targeted comparison.
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 6.6% revenue growth vs KFRC's -5.4% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (8.6x vs 18.0x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 11.0% margin vs KFRC's 2.6% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.53 vs MMS's 0.72, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 3.6% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs UNF's 0.5% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +42.6% vs G's -29.0% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 10.3% ROA vs UNF's 5.1%, ROIC 17.2% vs 6.8% |
UNF vs G vs KFRC vs MMS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
UNF vs G vs KFRC vs MMS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 4 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Who Leads Where
G leads in 2 of 6 categories
KFRC leads 2 • UNF leads 1 • MMS leads 0 • 1 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
G leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MMS is the larger business by revenue, generating $5.3B annually — 4.0x KFRC's $1.3B. G is the more profitable business, keeping 11.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to KFRC's 2.6%. On growth, G holds the edge at +6.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.4B | $5.2B | $1.3B | $5.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $318M | $819M | $56M | $645M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $140M | $570M | $35M | $373M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $93M | $666M | $43M | $372M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +36.5% | +36.3% | +27.2% | +24.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.1% | +14.9% | +3.8% | +10.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +5.7% | +11.0% | +2.6% | +7.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +3.8% | +12.9% | +3.3% | +7.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.7% | +6.7% | +0.1% | -4.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -18.2% | +17.8% | +2.2% | +6.5% |
Valuation Metrics
G leads this category, winning 3 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 11.0x trailing earnings, G trades at a 66% valuation discount to UNF's 32.1x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), G offers better value at 0.74x vs UNF's 14.10x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.8B | $5.9B | $790M | $3.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.6B | $6.8B | $858M | $4.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 32.13x | 11.02x | 22.05x | 12.10x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 36.05x | 8.58x | 17.96x | 7.83x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 14.10x | 0.74x | — | 1.19x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.17x | 7.91x | 15.42x | 6.67x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.96x | 1.15x | 0.59x | 0.67x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.20x | 2.39x | 6.17x | 2.31x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 33.70x | 7.97x | 16.88x | 9.93x |
Profitability & Efficiency
KFRC leads this category, winning 4 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
KFRC delivers a 27.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $27 in annual profit, vs $6 for UNF. UNF carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MMS's 0.86x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MMS scores 8/9 vs KFRC's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +6.5% | +22.4% | +27.2% | +21.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.1% | +10.3% | +9.2% | +8.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.8% | +17.2% | +19.1% | +15.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.4% | +18.4% | +20.1% | +17.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.03x | 0.69x | 0.56x | 0.86x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$131M | $911M | $68M | $1.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $204M | $854M | $2M | $260M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $72M | $1.8B | $70M | $1.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 16.55x | — | 4.93x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
UNF leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in UNF five years ago would be worth $11,655 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,921 for G. Over the past 12 months, UNF leads with a +42.6% total return vs G's -29.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors UNF at 17.6% vs KFRC's -4.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +32.6% | -24.5% | +39.2% | -22.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +42.6% | -29.0% | +18.9% | +1.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +62.5% | -7.4% | -13.8% | -11.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +16.5% | -20.8% | -16.8% | -20.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +140.5% | +42.5% | +195.5% | +39.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +17.6% | -2.5% | -4.8% | -4.0% |
Risk & Volatility
KFRC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
KFRC is the less volatile stock with a 0.53 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MMS's 0.72 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. KFRC currently trades 91.0% from its 52-week high vs MMS's 66.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.58x | 0.67x | 0.53x | 0.72x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $283.77 | $50.24 | $47.48 | $100.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $147.66 | $33.12 | $24.49 | $60.75 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +90.4% | +68.6% | +91.0% | +66.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 47.0 | 35.4 | 65.6 | 35.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 328K | 2.3M | 305K | 683K |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — UNF and KFRC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: UNF as "Hold", G as "Hold", KFRC as "Hold", MMS as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 65.0% upside for MMS (target: $110) vs -21.2% for UNF (target: $202). For income investors, KFRC offers the higher dividend yield at 3.58% vs UNF's 0.52%.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $202.00 | $46.00 | $71.00 | $110.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 6 | 39 | 10 | 16 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.5% | +1.9% | +3.6% | +1.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 9 | 8 | 8 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.33 | $0.67 | $1.55 | $1.19 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.5% | +4.8% | +6.4% | +12.3% |
G leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). KFRC leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
UNF vs G vs KFRC vs MMS: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is UNF or G or KFRC or MMS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Genpact Limited (G) is the stronger pick with 6.
6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 4% for Kforce Inc. (KFRC). Genpact Limited (G) offers the better valuation at 11. 0x trailing P/E (8. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Maximus, Inc. (MMS) a "Buy" — based on 16 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 — UNF or G or KFRC or MMS?
On trailing P/E, Genpact Limited (G) is the cheapest at 11.
0x versus UniFirst Corporation at 32. 1x. On forward P/E, Maximus, Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 8x — 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: Genpact Limited wins at 0. 58x versus UniFirst Corporation's 15. 82x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — UNF or G or KFRC or MMS?
Over the past 5 years, UniFirst Corporation (UNF) delivered a total return of +16.
5%, compared to -20. 8% for Genpact Limited (G). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KFRC returned +195. 5% versus MMS's +39. 7%. 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 — UNF or G or KFRC or MMS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Kforce Inc.
(KFRC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 53β versus Maximus, Inc. 's 0. 72β — meaning MMS is approximately 37% more volatile than KFRC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, UniFirst Corporation (UNF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 86% for Maximus, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — UNF or G or KFRC or MMS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Genpact Limited (G) is pulling ahead at 6.
6% versus -5. 4% for Kforce Inc. (KFRC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Maximus, Inc. grew EPS 10. 4% year-over-year, compared to -25. 2% for Kforce Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, UNF leads at 6. 7% 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 — UNF or G or KFRC or MMS?
Genpact Limited (G) is the more profitable company, earning 10.
9% net margin versus 2. 6% for Kforce Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: G leads at 15. 0% versus 3. 8% for KFRC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — G leads at 35. 6%, 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 UNF or G or KFRC or MMS more undervalued right now?
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, Genpact Limited (G) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 58x versus UniFirst Corporation's 15. 82x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Maximus, Inc. (MMS) trades at 7. 8x forward P/E versus 36. 0x for UniFirst Corporation — 28. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MMS: 65. 0% to $110. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — UNF or G or KFRC or MMS?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Kforce Inc. (KFRC) offers the highest yield at 3. 6%, versus 0. 5% for UniFirst Corporation (UNF).
09Is UNF or G or KFRC or MMS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Kforce Inc.
(KFRC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 53), 3. 6% yield, +195. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (KFRC: +195. 5%, MMS: +39. 7%), 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 UNF and G and KFRC and MMS?
These companies operate in different sectors (UNF (Industrials) and G (Technology) and KFRC (Industrials) and MMS (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: UNF is a small-cap quality compounder stock; G is a small-cap deep-value stock; KFRC is a small-cap income-oriented stock; MMS 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.
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