HireQuest, Inc. (HQI) Financial Ratios
25 years of historical data (2001–2025) · Industrials · Staffing & Employment Services
EV/EBITDA
↓
15.07
↓-25% vs avg
5yr avg: 20.11
30Y Low5.7·High41.0
P/FCF
↓
14.41
↓-11% vs avg
5yr avg: 16.15
30Y Low5.2·High71.3
P/B Ratio
↓
2.54
↓-30% vs avg
5yr avg: 3.63
30Y Low1.0·High37.9
ROE
↓
9.5%
↑-39% vs avg
5yr avg: 15.5%
30Y Low-229%·High74%
Debt/EBITDA
↑
N/A
—
5yr avg: 0.83
30Y Low0.0·High11.9
Percentile shows where the current value sits in 30-year historical distribution. Sparklines show 5-year trend.
HQI Valuation Multiples
Price-based multiples — how expensive the stock is relative to earnings, sales, book value, and cash flow
HireQuest, Inc. trades at 27.5x earnings, 10% below its 5-year average of 30.6x, sitting at the 67th percentile of its historical range. Compared to the Industrials sector median P/E of 25.5x, the stock trades at a premium of 8%. On a free-cash-flow basis, the stock trades at 14.4x P/FCF, 11% below the 5-year average of 16.2x.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $173M | $147M | $197M | $212M | $217M | $274M | $140M | $82M | $19M | $30M | $23M |
| Enterprise Value | $169M | $143M | $202M | $225M | $230M | $276M | $126M | $78M | $12M | $23M | $20M |
| P/E Ratio → | 27.53 | 23.36 | 54.46 | 34.89 | 17.37 | 23.17 | 26.21 | — | 20.00 | 17.88 | 39.27 |
| P/S Ratio | 5.64 | 4.81 | 5.70 | 5.59 | 7.01 | 12.18 | 10.11 | 5.18 | 0.20 | 0.31 | 0.24 |
| P/B Ratio | 2.54 | 2.16 | 3.04 | 3.38 | 3.72 | 5.87 | 3.84 | 2.63 | 1.03 | 1.54 | 1.20 |
| P/FCF | 14.41 | 12.29 | 16.47 | 20.13 | 14.09 | 17.80 | 15.31 | 18.46 | 7.88 | 6.49 | — |
| P/OCF | 14.34 | 12.23 | 16.37 | 19.95 | 12.85 | 15.78 | 12.83 | 16.57 | 7.40 | 6.34 | 1724.18 |
P/E links to full P/E history page with 30-year chart
HQI EV Ratios
Enterprise-value multiples — capital-structure-neutral measures of total business value
HireQuest, Inc.'s enterprise value stands at 15.1x EBITDA, 25% below its 5-year average of 20.1x. The Industrials sector median is 13.8x, placing the stock at a 9% premium on an enterprise-value basis.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV / Revenue | — | 4.68 | 5.83 | 5.95 | 7.44 | 12.26 | 9.12 | 4.91 | 0.12 | 0.24 | 0.22 |
| EV / EBITDA | 15.07 | 12.80 | 28.20 | 16.77 | 12.75 | 30.03 | 24.64 | 24.49 | 9.33 | 5.68 | 10.54 |
| EV / EBIT | 20.60 | 17.50 | 39.81 | 24.58 | 16.18 | 36.11 | 19.14 | 9.89 | 10.06 | 6.28 | 18.18 |
| EV / FCF | — | 11.97 | 16.86 | 21.41 | 14.96 | 17.93 | 13.81 | 17.52 | 4.82 | 5.00 | — |
HQI Profitability
Margins and return-on-capital ratios measuring operating efficiency
HireQuest, Inc. earns an operating margin of 26.7%, significantly above the Industrials sector average of 4.3%. Operating margins have compressed from 28.1% to 26.7% over the past 3 years, signaling potential cost pressures or competitive headwinds. ROE of 9.5% is modest. ROIC of 9.2% represents adequate returns on invested capital versus a sector median of 6.1%.
Margins
Full margin charts and quarterly trend are on the Earnings History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 90.2% | 90.2% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 25.6% | 25.9% | 25.4% |
| Operating Margin | 26.7% | 26.7% | 12.6% | 28.1% | 51.8% | 34.0% | 36.1% | 17.5% | 1.2% | 3.8% | 1.7% |
| Net Profit Margin | 20.7% | 20.7% | 10.6% | 16.2% | 40.2% | 52.6% | 38.8% | -1.8% | 1.0% | 1.7% | 0.8% |
Return on Capital
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE | 9.5% | 9.5% | 5.8% | 10.1% | 23.7% | 28.5% | 15.8% | -1.2% | 5.1% | 8.7% | 3.9% |
| ROA | 6.9% | 6.9% | 3.7% | 5.9% | 13.8% | 18.7% | 11.2% | -0.8% | 4.0% | 6.8% | 3.0% |
| ROIC | 9.2% | 9.2% | 4.5% | 10.8% | 20.0% | 16.1% | 15.0% | 10.9% | 7.4% | 19.2% | 8.4% |
| ROCE | 11.5% | 11.5% | 6.3% | 15.8% | 26.2% | 16.0% | 13.2% | 10.0% | 5.9% | 18.0% | 7.6% |
HQI Leverage & Debt
Solvency and debt-coverage ratios — lower is generally safer
The company holds a net cash position — cash of $4M exceeds total debt of $0, providing substantial financial flexibility for buybacks, acquisitions, or weathering downturns. Interest coverage of 26.7x signals virtually no risk of debt distress — earnings comfortably cover interest obligations.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt / Equity | — | — | 0.11 | 0.24 | 0.28 | 0.07 | — | — | 0.02 | 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Debt / EBITDA | — | — | 0.97 | 1.10 | 0.91 | 0.35 | — | — | 0.31 | 0.21 | 0.20 |
| Net Debt / Equity | — | -0.06 | 0.07 | 0.21 | 0.23 | 0.04 | -0.38 | -0.13 | -0.40 | -0.35 | -0.14 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -0.35 | -0.35 | 0.66 | 1.00 | 0.75 | 0.22 | -2.68 | -1.32 | -5.91 | -1.69 | -1.38 |
| Debt / FCF | — | -0.32 | 0.39 | 1.28 | 0.88 | 0.13 | -1.50 | -0.94 | -3.06 | -1.49 | — |
| Interest Coverage | 26.70 | 26.70 | 5.49 | 6.61 | 38.69 | 48.73 | 132.45 | 14.09 | 558.35 | 318.14 | 44.14 |
Net cash position: cash ($4M) exceeds total debt ($0)
HQI Liquidity & Efficiency
Short-term solvency ratios and asset-utilisation metrics
HireQuest, Inc.'s current ratio of 3.15x is well above the 1.0 safety threshold, indicating strong short-term liquidity with ample room to cover current liabilities. The current ratio has improved from 1.44x to 3.15x over the past 3 years.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 3.15 | 3.15 | 2.04 | 1.44 | 1.41 | 1.96 | 4.12 | 3.36 | 4.82 | 3.75 | 3.98 |
| Quick Ratio | 3.15 | 3.15 | 2.04 | 1.44 | 1.39 | 1.96 | 3.97 | 3.36 | 4.74 | 3.69 | 3.67 |
| Cash Ratio | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.09 | 0.04 | 0.08 | 0.06 | 1.45 | 0.38 | 2.17 | 1.60 | 0.79 |
| Asset Turnover | — | 0.35 | 0.37 | 0.36 | 0.30 | 0.29 | 0.28 | 0.34 | 4.16 | 3.87 | 3.84 |
| Inventory Turnover | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 257.26 | 259.37 | 59.23 |
| Days Sales Outstanding | — | 480.72 | 459.06 | 444.97 | 548.88 | 643.52 | 621.75 | 726.96 | 33.89 | 34.96 | 40.26 |
HQI Shareholder Yields
Earnings, FCF, buyback, and dividend yields — total returns to shareholders
HireQuest, Inc. returns 2.2% to shareholders annually — split between a 1.9% dividend yield and 0.2% buyback yield. A payout ratio of 53.3% is moderate and appears sustainable, balancing shareholder returns with reinvestment capacity. The earnings yield of 3.6% (inverse of P/E) provides a useful comparison to bond yields when assessing the stock's relative attractiveness to fixed income.
Dividends
Full dividend history and growth charts are on the Dividend History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | 1.9% | 2.3% | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.5% | 1.1% | 1.0% | — | 36.1% | 3.9% | — |
| Payout Ratio | 53.3% | 53.3% | 91.5% | 54.4% | 26.6% | 26.5% | 25.3% | — | 720.2% | 69.9% | — |
Total Shareholder Return Metrics
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Yield | 3.6% | 4.3% | 1.8% | 2.9% | 5.8% | 4.3% | 3.8% | — | 5.0% | 5.6% | 2.5% |
| FCF Yield | 6.9% | 8.1% | 6.1% | 5.0% | 7.1% | 5.6% | 6.5% | 5.4% | 12.7% | 15.4% | — |
| Buyback Yield | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 10.2% | 9.4% | 1.2% | 6.7% |
| Total Shareholder Yield | 2.2% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.5% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 10.2% | 45.5% | 5.1% | 6.7% |
| Shares Outstanding | — | $14M | $14M | $14M | $14M | $14M | $14M | $12M | $5M | $5M | $5M |
Peer Comparison
Compare HQI with 10 similar companies in its peer group
| Company | Market Cap | P/E | EV/EBITDA | P/FCF | Gross Margin | Op Margin | ROE | ROIC | Debt/EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 HQIYou | $173M | 27.5 | 15.1 | 14.4 | 90.2% | 26.7% | 9.5% | 9.2% | — |
 KELYA | $382M | -1.5 | — | 3.3 | 20.1% | -1.6% | -23.0% | -4.0% | — |
 KFRC | $803M | 22.4 | 15.7 | 17.2 | 26.8% | 3.8% | 24.9% | 19.1% | 1.3 |
 TBI | $191M | -3.9 | 164.3 | — | 21.2% | -1.7% | -16.3% | -5.2% | 83.1 |
 MAN | $1B | -108.0 | 9.2 | — | 16.7% | 1.3% | -0.6% | 5.6% | 7.4 |
 ADP | $86B | 21.5 | 15.6 | 18.1 | 50.8% | 26.3% | 76.0% | 47.1% | 1.5 |
 NSP | $1B | -189.5 | 31.3 | — | 13.2% | -0.1% | -9.8% | — | 12.4 |
 ASGN | $895M | 8.1 | 5.3 | 3.1 | 27.2% | 6.5% | 6.3% | 6.9% | 3.2 |
 PAYC | $7B | 15.3 | 8.8 | 16.5 | 78.6% | 27.6% | 27.4% | 30.7% | 0.2 |
 PAYX | $34B | 20.9 | 15.7 | 19.6 | 72.4% | 39.6% | 41.8% | 30.9% | 2.1 |
 WK | $3B | -97.8 | — | 18.7 | 78.5% | -4.8% | — | -7.0% | — |
| Industrials Median | — | 25.5 | 13.8 | 20.0 | 32.0% | 4.3% | 8.2% | 6.1% | 3.2 |
Peer selection based on competitive and market overlap. Compare multiple stocks →
Download Financial Ratios Data
Includes 30+ ratios · 25 years · Updated daily
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HQI — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying HQI stock.
What is HireQuest, Inc.'s P/E ratio?
HireQuest, Inc.'s current P/E ratio is 27.5x. The historical average is 28.1x. This places it at the 67th percentile of its historical range.
What is HireQuest, Inc.'s EV/EBITDA?
HireQuest, Inc.'s current EV/EBITDA is 15.1x. This enterprise value multiple compares the company's total value (equity + debt - cash) to its EBITDA. The historical average is 15.6x.
What is HireQuest, Inc.'s ROE?
HireQuest, Inc.'s return on equity (ROE) is 9.5%. The historical average is -4.7%.
Is HQI stock overvalued?
Based on historical data, HireQuest, Inc. is trading at a P/E of 27.5x. This is at the 67th percentile of its historical P/E range. Compare with industry peers and growth rates for a complete picture.
What is HireQuest, Inc.'s dividend yield?
HireQuest, Inc.'s current dividend yield is 1.94% with a payout ratio of 53.3%.
What are HireQuest, Inc.'s profit margins?
HireQuest, Inc. has 90.2% gross margin and 26.7% operating margin. Operating margin above 20% indicates strong pricing power and cost efficiency.