VOLT
Volt Information Sciences, Inc.
Staffing & Employment Services
Market Cap$891M
5Y Perf.+4534.0%
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Stock Comparison
VOLT vs TBI vs MAN vs KELYA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
TBI
TrueBlue, Inc.
Staffing & Employment Services
Market Cap$182M
5Y Perf.-61.1%
MAN
ManpowerGroup Inc.
Staffing & Employment Services
Market Cap$1.41B
5Y Perf.-56.0%
KELYA
Kelly Services, Inc.
Staffing & Employment Services
Market Cap$349M
5Y Perf.-35.3%
VOLT vs TBI vs MAN vs KELYA — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | VOLT | TBI | MAN | KELYA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Staffing & Employment Services | Staffing & Employment Services | Staffing & Employment Services | Staffing & Employment Services |
| Market Cap | $891M | $182M | $1.41B | $349M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $895M | $1.25B | $17.96B | $3.09B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-460K | $-53M | $-13M | $-266M |
| Gross Margin | 15.9% | 28.4% | 16.7% | 26.3% |
| Operating Margin | 0.2% | -2.6% | 0.8% | -2.8% |
| Forward P/E | 663.2x | — | 8.3x | 11.0x |
| Total Debt | $100M | $171M | $2.39B | $159M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $71M | $25M | $871M | $33M |
VOLT vs TBI vs MAN vs KELYA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
VOLT
TBI
MAN
KELYA
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volt Information Sc… (VOLT) | 100 | 4634.0 | +4534.0% |
| TrueBlue, Inc. (TBI) | 100 | 38.9 | -61.1% |
| ManpowerGroup Inc. (MAN) | 100 | 44.0 | -56.0% |
| Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA) | 100 | 64.7 | -35.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: VOLT vs TBI vs MAN vs KELYA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: VOLT leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. ManpowerGroup Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
VOLT
Volt Information Sciences, Inc.
The Growth Play
VOLT carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 7.7%, EPS growth 103.9%, 3Y rev CAGR -5.2%
- 11.6% 10Y total return vs MAN's -30.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.98, current ratio 1.87x
- Beta 0.98, current ratio 1.87x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
TBI
TrueBlue, Inc.
The Specific-Use Pick
TBI plays a supporting role in this comparison — it may shine differently against other peers.
Best for: industrials exposure
MAN
ManpowerGroup Inc.
The Value Play
MAN is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if value and dividends is your priority.
- Better valuation composite
- 4.7% yield, vs KELYA's 3.2%, (2 stocks pay no dividend)
- -0.1% ROA vs KELYA's -11.3%, ROIC 5.6% vs -4.0%
Best for: value and dividends
KELYA
Kelly Services, Inc.
The Income Pick
KELYA is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability.
- Dividend streak 5 yrs, beta 1.01, yield 3.2%
Best for: income & stability
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | VOLT | 7.7% revenue growth vs KELYA's -1.9% |
| Value | MAN | Better valuation composite |
| Quality / Margins | VOLT | -0.1% margin vs KELYA's -8.6% |
| Stability / Safety | VOLT | Beta 0.98 vs TBI's 1.13 |
| Dividends | MAN | 4.7% yield, vs KELYA's 3.2%, (2 stocks pay no dividend) |
| Momentum (1Y) | VOLT | +78.4% vs MAN's -17.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | MAN | -0.1% ROA vs KELYA's -11.3%, ROIC 5.6% vs -4.0% |
VOLT vs TBI vs MAN vs KELYA — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2021
FY 2025
FY 2024
FY 2025
VOLT vs TBI vs MAN vs KELYA — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 4 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLVOLTLAGGINGKELYA
Who Leads Where
VOLT leads in 2 of 6 categories
MAN leads 1 • TBI leads 0 • KELYA leads 0 • 3 tied
Explore the data ↓KELYAKelly Services, Inc.
0leads
TBITrueBlue, Inc.
0leads
MANManpowerGroup Inc.
1leads
VOLTVolt Information Scie…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs MANvs TBIMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
MAN4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
Tied
—
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
VOLT5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
VOLT2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — VOLT and MAN 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 — 20.1x VOLT's $895M. VOLT is the more profitable business, keeping -0.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to KELYA's -8.6%. On growth, MAN holds the edge at +7.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | VOLTVolt Information … | TBITrueBlue, Inc. | MANManpowerGroup Inc. | KELYAKelly Services, I… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $895M | $1.2B | $18.0B | $3.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $6M | -$10M | $236M | -$54M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$460,000 | -$53M | -$13M | -$266M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $6M | -$60M | -$161M | $66M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +15.9% | +28.4% | +16.7% | +26.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +0.2% | -2.6% | +0.8% | -2.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -0.1% | -4.3% | -0.1% | -8.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +0.7% | -4.8% | -0.9% | +2.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.1% | -100.0% | +7.1% | -100.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +50.0% | -37.5% | +36.2% | -2.1% |
Evenly matched — VOLT and MAN each lead in 2 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
MAN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, MAN's 9.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than TBI's 160.0x.
| Metric | VOLTVolt Information … | TBITrueBlue, Inc. | MANManpowerGroup Inc. | KELYAKelly Services, I… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $891M | $182M | $1.4B | $349M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $919M | $329M | $2.9B | $475M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 663.16x | -3.73x | -104.90x | -1.34x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — | 8.28x | 10.96x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 75.71x | 160.03x | 9.02x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.01x | 0.11x | 0.08x | 0.08x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 29.32x | 0.65x | 0.69x | 0.35x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 42.93x | — | — | 3.06x |
MAN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — VOLT and MAN each lead in 4 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MAN delivers a -0.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-1 in annual profit, vs $-25 for KELYA. KELYA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.16x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to VOLT's 3.20x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), VOLT scores 7/9 vs MAN's 1/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | VOLTVolt Information … | TBITrueBlue, Inc. | MANManpowerGroup Inc. | KELYAKelly Services, I… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -1.5% | -18.7% | -0.6% | -24.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.2% | -8.1% | -0.1% | -11.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.5% | -5.2% | +5.6% | -4.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.0% | -5.3% | +6.2% | -4.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 3.20x | 0.62x | 1.16x | 0.16x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $28M | $146M | $1.5B | $126M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $71M | $25M | $871M | $33M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $100M | $171M | $2.4B | $159M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.37x | -46.19x | 1.98x | -12.07x |
Evenly matched — VOLT and MAN each lead in 4 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
VOLT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in VOLT five years ago would be worth $103,993 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,130 for TBI. Over the past 12 months, VOLT leads with a +78.4% total return vs MAN's -17.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors VOLT at 17.4% vs TBI's -26.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | VOLTVolt Information … | TBITrueBlue, Inc. | MANManpowerGroup Inc. | KELYAKelly Services, I… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +35.6% | +36.6% | +1.2% | +13.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +78.4% | +51.0% | -17.0% | -12.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +61.8% | -60.2% | -46.4% | -34.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +939.9% | -78.7% | -64.9% | -58.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1164.2% | -68.4% | -30.8% | -33.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +17.4% | -26.4% | -18.8% | -13.0% |
VOLT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
VOLT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
VOLT is the less volatile stock with a 0.98 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. VOLT currently trades 96.6% from its 52-week high vs MAN's 64.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | VOLTVolt Information … | TBITrueBlue, Inc. | MANManpowerGroup Inc. | KELYAKelly Services, I… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.98x | 1.13x | 1.03x | 1.01x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $41.72 | $7.78 | $47.34 | $14.94 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $22.54 | $3.18 | $25.15 | $7.98 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +96.6% | +77.2% | +64.3% | +64.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 76.5 | 83.2 | 47.1 | 63.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 290K | 386K | 1.1M | 361K |
VOLT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — MAN and KELYA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: TBI as "Buy", MAN as "Hold", KELYA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 54.6% upside for KELYA (target: $15) vs -4.3% for TBI (target: $6). For income investors, MAN offers the higher dividend yield at 4.71% vs KELYA's 3.23%.
| Metric | VOLTVolt Information … | TBITrueBlue, Inc. | MANManpowerGroup Inc. | KELYAKelly Services, I… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $5.75 | $37.86 | $15.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 10 | 29 | 5 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — | +4.7% | +3.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — | $1.43 | $0.31 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.6% | +2.7% | +3.5% |
Evenly matched — MAN and KELYA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
VOLT leads in 2 of 6 categories (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). MAN leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 3 tied.
Best OverallVolt Information Sciences, … (VOLT)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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VOLT vs TBI vs MAN vs KELYA: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is VOLT or TBI or MAN or KELYA a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Volt Information Sciences, Inc.
(VOLT) is the stronger pick with 7. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 9% for Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA). Volt Information Sciences, Inc. (VOLT) offers the better valuation at 663. 2x trailing P/E, 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 — VOLT or TBI or MAN or KELYA?
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 — VOLT or TBI or MAN or KELYA?
Over the past 5 years, Volt Information Sciences, Inc.
(VOLT) delivered a total return of +939. 9%, compared to -78. 7% for TrueBlue, Inc. (TBI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VOLT returned +1164% 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 — VOLT or TBI or MAN or KELYA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Volt Information Sciences, Inc.
(VOLT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 98β versus TrueBlue, Inc. 's 1. 13β — meaning TBI is approximately 16% more volatile than VOLT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 16% versus 3% for Volt Information Sciences, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — VOLT or TBI or MAN or KELYA?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Volt Information Sciences, Inc.
(VOLT) is pulling ahead at 7. 7% versus -1. 9% for Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Volt Information Sciences, Inc. grew EPS 103. 9% year-over-year, compared to -427. 4% for Kelly Services, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MAN leads at -3. 2% 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 — VOLT or TBI or MAN or KELYA?
Volt Information Sciences, Inc.
(VOLT) is the more profitable company, earning 0. 2% net margin versus -6. 0% for Kelly Services, Inc. — meaning it keeps 0. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MAN leads at 1. 3% versus -1. 7% for TBI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TBI leads at 21. 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.
07Is VOLT or TBI or MAN or KELYA more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, ManpowerGroup Inc.
(MAN) trades at 8. 3x forward P/E versus 11. 0x for Kelly Services, Inc. — 2. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KELYA: 54. 6% to $15. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — VOLT or TBI or MAN or KELYA?
In this comparison, MAN (4.
7% yield), KELYA (3. 2% yield) pay a dividend. VOLT, TBI do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is VOLT or TBI or MAN or KELYA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Volt Information Sciences, Inc.
(VOLT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 98), +1164% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (VOLT: +1164%, 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 VOLT and TBI and MAN and KELYA?
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: VOLT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; TBI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MAN is a small-cap income-oriented stock; KELYA is a small-cap income-oriented stock. MAN, KELYA pay a dividend while VOLT, TBI do 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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