Latest Ratios: P/E Ratio 663.5x · EV/EBITDA 75.7x · ROE 4.7%. (1994–2021 historical series)
Price-based multiples — how expensive the stock is relative to earnings, sales, book value, and cash flow
| Metric | TTM | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 | FY 2015 | FY 2014 | FY 2013 | FY 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $891M | $74M | $27M | $63M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Enterprise Value | $920M | $102M | $93M | $88M | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| P/E Ratio → | 663.49 | 53.95 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| P/S Ratio | 1.01 | 0.08 | 0.03 | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| P/B Ratio | 29.33 | 2.39 | 0.98 | 1.73 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| P/FCF | 42.95 | 3.57 | 2.12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| P/OCF | 37.35 | 3.11 | 1.50 | 8.48 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
P/E links to full P/E history page with 30-year chart
Enterprise-value multiples — capital-structure-neutral measures of total business value
| Metric | TTM | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 | FY 2015 | FY 2014 | FY 2013 | FY 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV / Revenue | — | 0.12 | 0.11 | 0.09 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| EV / EBITDA | 75.75 | 8.44 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| EV / EBIT | 200.73 | 22.35 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| EV / FCF | — | 4.93 | 7.24 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Margins and return-on-capital ratios measuring operating efficiency
Full margin charts and quarterly trend are on the Earnings History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 | FY 2015 | FY 2014 | FY 2013 | FY 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 16.2% | 16.2% | 15.6% | 15.3% | 14.8% | 15.7% | 15.2% | 15.3% | 15.1% | 14.7% | 14.9% |
| Operating Margin | 0.5% | 0.5% | -3.7% | -1.1% | -2.8% | 2.9% | -0.7% | -1.1% | -0.6% | -1.3% | -0.4% |
| Net Profit Margin | 0.2% | 0.2% | -4.1% | -1.5% | -3.1% | 2.4% | -1.1% | -1.3% | -0.2% | -0.5% | -0.8% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 | FY 2015 | FY 2014 | FY 2013 | FY 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE | 4.7% | 4.7% | -104.9% | -35.0% | -48.6% | 43.4% | -25.7% | -25.4% | -3.4% | -8.1% | -11.1% |
| ROA | 0.5% | 0.5% | -14.6% | -6.7% | -12.5% | 9.6% | -4.5% | -5.3% | -0.7% | -1.9% | -2.9% |
| ROIC | 4.5% | 4.5% | -29.2% | -12.2% | -25.3% | 21.8% | -4.5% | -6.6% | -3.1% | -7.3% | -2.5% |
| ROCE | 3.0% | 3.0% | -21.8% | -8.5% | -22.4% | 22.0% | -4.8% | -10.8% | -7.9% | -16.7% | -4.4% |
Solvency and debt-coverage ratios — lower is generally safer
| Metric | TTM | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 | FY 2015 | FY 2014 | FY 2013 | FY 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt / Equity | 3.20 | 3.20 | 3.75 | 1.49 | 0.97 | 0.60 | 1.98 | 1.66 | 1.49 | 1.60 | 1.08 |
| Debt / EBITDA | 8.21 | 8.21 | — | — | — | 1.18 | — | — | — | — | 18.94 |
| Net Debt / Equity | — | 0.91 | 2.37 | 0.70 | 0.48 | 0.15 | 1.85 | 1.51 | 1.42 | — | — |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.33 | 2.33 | — | — | — | 0.31 | — | — | — | — | 15.70 |
| Debt / FCF | — | 1.36 | 5.12 | — | — | — | — | 3.08 | 9.57 | — | — |
| Interest Coverage | 2.54 | 2.54 | -13.17 | -3.50 | -10.47 | 9.05 | -2.75 | -5.16 | -2.90 | -6.87 | -2.91 |
Short-term solvency ratios and asset-utilisation metrics
| Metric | TTM | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 | FY 2015 | FY 2014 | FY 2013 | FY 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 1.87 | 1.87 | 2.18 | 1.94 | 2.04 | 1.50 | 2.06 | 2.06 | 1.20 | 1.17 | 1.24 |
| Quick Ratio | 1.87 | 1.87 | 2.18 | 1.94 | 2.04 | 1.50 | 2.06 | 2.06 | 1.20 | 1.17 | 1.24 |
| Cash Ratio | 0.65 | 0.65 | 0.48 | 0.33 | 0.28 | 0.25 | 0.08 | 0.11 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.08 |
| Asset Turnover | — | 3.40 | 3.40 | 4.57 | 4.39 | 4.19 | 4.22 | 4.58 | 4.03 | 4.02 | 3.85 |
| Inventory Turnover | 38.76 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Days Sales Outstanding | — | 52.44 | 54.13 | 49.77 | 55.34 | 53.62 | 57.66 | 52.66 | 53.17 | 53.84 | 59.31 |
Earnings, FCF, buyback, and dividend yields — total returns to shareholders
Full dividend history and growth charts are on the Dividend History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 | FY 2015 | FY 2014 | FY 2013 | FY 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Payout Ratio | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 | FY 2015 | FY 2014 | FY 2013 | FY 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Yield | 0.2% | 1.9% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| FCF Yield | 2.3% | 28.0% | 47.2% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Buyback Yield | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Total Shareholder Yield | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Shares Outstanding | — | $23M | $22M | $21M | $21M | $21M | $21M | $21M | $21M | $21M | $21M |
High leverage, thin margins
Based on reported figures, Volt's P/E ratio of 663.49 and EV/EBITDA of 75.75 appear significantly detached from the company's historical profitability, suggesting that market participants may be pricing in speculative acquisition synergies rather than the underlying fundamental performance of the firm's core staffing operations.
The current valuation multiples imply an expectation of significant margin expansion that is not supported by the company's historical operating margin of 0.52%. Investors should monitor whether these elevated multiples reflect a mispricing of the firm's cyclical sensitivity or an over-optimistic outlook on the integration with its new parent company.
According to recent SEC filings, Volt's ROIC has frequently dipped into negative territory, reaching -0.6% in 2022Q1, which indicates that the firm has struggled to generate returns on invested capital that exceed its cost of capital throughout the observed ten-quarter period.
The persistent inability to achieve positive, sustained ROIC suggests that the company's capital allocation has been inefficient, likely hampered by the high variable cost structure of its staffing model. This trend warrants further investigation into whether the firm's recent strategic shifts can actually drive the necessary efficiency gains to improve long-term shareholder value.
As reported in financial statements, Volt's DSO has remained stubbornly high, consistently exceeding 200 days in most quarters, which highlights a significant structural challenge in managing the gap between weekly payroll obligations and the delayed collection cycles typical of large enterprise staffing contracts.
This extended collection period forces the company to rely heavily on revolving credit facilities, effectively turning working capital management into a primary driver of financial risk. The lack of improvement in DSO suggests that the firm may have limited leverage over its client base, potentially forcing it to accept unfavorable payment terms to maintain its market position.
Based on Volt's reported figures, the debt-to-equity ratio has escalated to 3.32 as of 2022Q1, a concerning trend that indicates the company is increasingly reliant on external financing to bridge operational gaps while maintaining a very thin net margin of only 0.16%.
The high leverage relative to the firm's razor-thin profitability suggests that any minor disruption in billable hours or an increase in interest rates could severely impact the company's ability to service its debt. Investors should monitor the firm's interest coverage ratios, as the current structure appears to leave little room for operational error.
As indicated by historical income statement data, the most commonly misapplied metric for Volt is the assumption of high operating leverage, which obscures the reality that the firm's cost structure is predominantly variable, thereby limiting the potential for margin expansion during periods of revenue growth.
Analysts often incorrectly assume that increased revenue will lead to significant bottom-line growth, failing to account for the fact that direct labor costs scale almost linearly with volume. A more appropriate metric for evaluating this business model would be the 'Bill-Pay Spread' or 'Gross Profit per Consultant,' which better captures the true earning power of the firm's specialized staffing services.
Includes 30+ ratios · 28 years · Updated daily
DCF models, multiple analysis, and analyst estimates.
10-year return with dividends reinvested.
See how regular investing compounds over time.
Compare growth, multiples, and margins vs sector.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying VOLT stock.
Volt Information Sciences, Inc.'s current P/E ratio is 663.5x. The historical average is 53.9x. This places it at the 100th percentile of its historical range.
Volt Information Sciences, Inc.'s current EV/EBITDA is 75.7x. This enterprise value multiple compares the company's total value (equity + debt - cash) to its EBITDA. The historical average is 8.4x.
Volt Information Sciences, Inc.'s return on equity (ROE) is 4.7%. The historical average is -5.2%.
Based on historical data, Volt Information Sciences, Inc. is trading at a P/E of 663.5x. This is at the 100th percentile of its historical P/E range. Compare with industry peers and growth rates for a complete picture.
Volt Information Sciences, Inc. has 16.2% gross margin and 0.5% operating margin.
Volt Information Sciences, Inc.'s Debt/EBITDA ratio is 8.2x, indicating high leverage. A ratio above 4x may signal elevated financial risk.