Kelly Services (KELYA) vs Kforce (KFRC)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Kforce (KFRC) has outperformed Kelly Services (KELYA) over the past year, gaining 75.8% versus a gain of 24.3%. Over five years, KELYA leads with a -17.8% price change compared with -18.7% for KFRC. Kforce is the larger company by market cap ($937.5 million vs $561.6 million), about 1.7 times the size.
On valuation, Kelly Services trades at a lower forward P/E (8.9x vs 17.0x for Kforce). Kforce offers the higher dividend yield (3.02% vs 1.86%).
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 | KELYA | KFRC |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $16.17 | $52.35 |
| Market cap | $561.62M | $937.54M |
| 1-day change | +1.70% | +1.18% |
| YTD return | +83.75% | +69.31% |
| 1-year return | +24.29% | +75.85% |
| 5-year return | -17.84% | -18.69% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 24.69 |
| Forward P/E | 8.88 | 16.95 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-7.79 | $2.12 |
| Dividend yield | 1.86% | 3.02% |
| Annual dividend | $0.30 | $1.58 |
| 52-week high | $17.75 | $61.68 |
| 52-week low | $7.98 | $24.49 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -8.90% | -15.13% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +23.69% | +15.89% |
| Average volume | 311.33K | 256.46K |
| Shares outstanding | 31.44M | 17.91M |
| Employees | 4,900 | 1,600 |
| 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
- KFRC has outperformed KELYA by 51.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Kforce offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.02% vs 1.86%).
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
About Kforce
KFRC stock →Kforce Inc. provides professional staffing services and solutions in the United States.
Consumer Discretionary · Professional Services · 1,600 employees
KELYA vs KFRC FAQ
Which is bigger, Kelly Services or Kforce?
Kforce (KFRC) is larger, with a market capitalization of $937.54M compared with $561.62M for Kelly Services (KELYA).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, KELYA or KFRC?
KFRC returned +75.85% 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, Kelly Services or Kforce?
Kforce has the higher yield at 3.02%, compared with 1.86% for Kelly Services.
Are Kelly Services and Kforce in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Professional Services industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.