HireQuest (HQI) vs Kelly Services (KELYA)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
HireQuest (HQI) has outperformed Kelly Services (KELYA) over the past year, gaining 104.3% versus a gain of 24.3%. Over five years, HQI leads with a -4.3% price change compared with -17.8% for KELYA. Kelly Services is the larger company by market cap ($560.6 million vs $250.0 million), about 2.2 times the size.
On valuation, Kelly Services trades at a lower forward P/E (8.9x vs 21.3x for HireQuest). Kelly Services offers the higher dividend yield (1.86% vs 1.33%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | HQI | KELYA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $18.00 | $16.14 |
| Market cap | $249.96M | $560.57M |
| 1-day change | -1.02% | -0.19% |
| YTD return | +72.98% | +83.75% |
| 1-year return | +104.27% | +24.29% |
| 5-year return | -4.32% | -17.84% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 29.99 | — |
| Forward P/E | 21.30 | 8.87 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.60 | $-7.79 |
| Dividend yield | 1.33% | 1.86% |
| Annual dividend | $0.24 | $0.30 |
| 52-week high | $20.84 | $17.75 |
| 52-week low | $7.38 | $7.98 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -13.65% | -9.07% |
| Analyst consensus | none | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +5.58% | +23.92% |
| Average volume | 23.82K | 313.48K |
| Shares outstanding | 13.89M | 31.44M |
| Employees | 88 | 4,900 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Professional Services | Professional Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Kelly Services is about 2.2 times larger than HireQuest by market value ($560.57M vs $249.96M).
- HQI has outperformed KELYA by 80.0 percentage points over the past year.
About HireQuest
HQI stock →HireQuest, Inc. provides staffing solutions in the United States.
Consumer Discretionary · Professional Services · 88 employees
About Kelly Services
KELYA stock →Kelly Services, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides workforce solutions to various industries in the Americas, Europe, Mexico, and the Asia-Pacific region. It operates in three segments: Enterprise Talent Management, Science, Engineering & Technology, and Education.
Consumer Discretionary · Professional Services · 4,900 employees
HQI vs KELYA FAQ
Which is bigger, HireQuest or Kelly Services?
Kelly Services (KELYA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $560.57M compared with $249.96M for HireQuest (HQI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, HQI or KELYA?
HQI returned +104.27% over the past 12 months, compared with +24.29% for KELYA (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, HireQuest or Kelly Services?
Kelly Services has the higher yield at 1.86%, compared with 1.33% for HireQuest.
Are HireQuest and Kelly Services in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Professional Services industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.