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U.S. Professional Services Industry Analysis

UpdatedJan 25, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies151
  • 7D-1.6%
  • 3M-3.7%
  • 1Y-8.8%
  • YTD2.0%

Over the last 7 days, the Professional Services industry has dropped 1.6%, driven by a pullback from Paychex of 4.1%. However, the industry is down 8.9% over the past year. Looking forward, earnings are forecast to grow by 16% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

Has the U.S. Professional Services Industry valuation changed over the past few years?

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Sun, 25 Jan 2026US$474.5bUS$262.7bUS$12.4b24.4x38.3x1.8x
Tue, 23 Dec 2025US$470.7bUS$251.6bUS$13.8b24.6x34x1.9x
Thu, 20 Nov 2025US$453.8bUS$249.9bUS$14.0b23.7x32.3x1.8x
Sat, 18 Oct 2025US$482.5bUS$250.1bUS$14.8b24.9x32.7x1.9x
Mon, 15 Sep 2025US$511.6bUS$251.1bUS$14.9b27x34.3x2x
Wed, 13 Aug 2025US$508.9bUS$253.9bUS$14.6b26.1x34.8x2x
Fri, 11 Jul 2025US$510.4bUS$245.0bUS$14.9b25x34.3x2.1x
Sun, 08 Jun 2025US$516.8bUS$244.8bUS$15.0b21.7x34.4x2.1x
Tue, 06 May 2025US$494.5bUS$241.9bUS$15.3b21.3x32.4x2x
Thu, 03 Apr 2025US$498.4bUS$241.7bUS$14.9b21.3x33.5x2.1x
Sat, 01 Mar 2025US$503.7bUS$241.7bUS$14.7b21.5x34.2x2.1x
Mon, 27 Jan 2025US$565.0bUS$246.5bUS$14.8b24.5x38.1x2.3x
Wed, 25 Dec 2024US$553.1bUS$245.1bUS$15.0b23.8x37x2.3x
Fri, 22 Nov 2024US$561.4bUS$242.2bUS$15.2b24.7x37x2.3x
Sun, 20 Oct 2024US$567.6bUS$241.2bUS$12.8b28.6x44.2x2.4x
Tue, 17 Sep 2024US$542.8bUS$234.8bUS$12.7b28.1x42.8x2.3x
Thu, 15 Aug 2024US$517.8bUS$234.8bUS$12.8b26.2x40.3x2.2x
Sat, 13 Jul 2024US$497.4bUS$237.9bUS$12.5b25.7x39.9x2.1x
Mon, 10 Jun 2024US$497.1bUS$238.6bUS$12.5b25.4x39.9x2.1x
Wed, 08 May 2024US$507.9bUS$238.6bUS$12.0b26.2x42.3x2.1x
Fri, 05 Apr 2024US$499.0bUS$233.7bUS$11.4b26.3x43.7x2.1x
Sun, 03 Mar 2024US$509.4bUS$232.9bUS$11.5b27x44.3x2.2x
Tue, 30 Jan 2024US$509.5bUS$238.1bUS$13.0b26.7x39.3x2.1x
Thu, 28 Dec 2023US$503.9bUS$237.0bUS$12.7b25.8x39.5x2.1x
Sat, 25 Nov 2023US$481.1bUS$237.0bUS$12.2b24.3x39.4x2x
Mon, 23 Oct 2023US$480.2bUS$239.1bUS$9.5b21.2x50.6x2x
Wed, 20 Sep 2023US$485.0bUS$230.9bUS$9.7b22.5x50.2x2.1x
Fri, 18 Aug 2023US$498.8bUS$234.3bUS$9.2b22.9x54.4x2.1x
Sun, 16 Jul 2023US$471.2bUS$230.3bUS$9.1b20.8x51.5x2x
Tue, 13 Jun 2023US$481.3bUS$231.9bUS$9.5b22.7x50.7x2.1x
Thu, 11 May 2023US$456.3bUS$231.6bUS$9.8b20.9x46.6x2x
Sat, 08 Apr 2023US$453.5bUS$228.5bUS$10.7b23.4x42.5x2x
Mon, 06 Mar 2023US$262.4bUS$163.4bUS$3.3b19.5x79.4x1.6x
Wed, 01 Feb 2023US$264.8bUS$162.3bUS$3.3b21.1x81.2x1.6x
Price to Earnings Ratio

81.2x


Total Market Cap: US$264.8bTotal Earnings: US$3.3bTotal Revenue: US$162.3bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Professional Services Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 42.4x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are pessimistic on the American Professional Services industry, indicating that they anticipate long term growth rates will be lower than they have historically.
  • The industry is trading at a PE ratio of 38.6x which is lower than its 3-year average PE of 42.4x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 2.1x is higher than the industry's current PS ratio of 1.8x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Professional Services industry have grown 56% per year over the last three years.
  • Revenues for these companies have grown 17% per year.
  • This means that more sales are being generated by these companies overall, and subsequently their profits are increasing too.

Industry Trends

Which industries have driven the changes within the U.S. Industrials industry?

US Market-0.36%
Industrials-1.53%
Professional Services-1.57%
HR Services-0.97%
Research and Consulting Services-1.95%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the HR Services industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 35.4x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 15.7%, which is higher than its past year's earnings decline of 1.0% per year.
  • Investors are most pessimistic about the Research and Consulting Services industry, which is trading below its 3-year average of 150x.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Research and Consulting Services industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 17% over the next 5 years.
  • This is better than its past earnings growth rate of 12% per year.
  • In contrast, the HR Services industry is expected to see its earnings grow by 16% per year over the next few years.

Top Stock Gainers and Losers

Which companies have driven the market over the last 7 days?

CompanyLast Price7D1YValuation
CACI CACI InternationalUS$662.194.2%
+US$595.5m		62.9%PE28.2x
BAH Booz Allen Hamilton HoldingUS$102.235.0%
+US$513.6m		-23.4%PE14.8x
PCTY Paylocity HoldingUS$145.864.1%
+US$313.2m		-29.4%PE35.2x
UPWK UpworkUS$22.1111.3%
+US$292.7m		35.9%PE11.7x
PAYC Paycom SoftwareUS$152.292.6%
+US$213.0m		-26.6%PE18.5x

Latest News

PAYC
US$152.29
Paycom Software
7D
2.6%
1Y
-26.6%
BAH
US$102.23
Booz Allen Hamilton Holding
7D
5.0%
1Y
-23.4%
CACI
US$662.19
CACI International
7D
4.2%
1Y
62.9%
PL
US$26.94
Planet Labs PBC
7D
-6.4%
1Y
395.2%
EFX
US$209.74
Equifax
7D
-4.5%
1Y
-22.0%
CBZ
US$40.93
CBIZ
7D
-19.4%
1Y
-51.2%
ULS
US$71.20
UL Solutions
7D
-5.1%
1Y
33.7%

ULS: Index Additions And Equity Raise Will Support Future Upside

Analysts have trimmed their price target on UL Solutions by about US$1 to reflect slightly different views on fair value, discount rate, and forward P/E assumptions following recent research updates. Analyst Commentary Bullish Takeaways Bullish analysts see the revised US$85 price target as still implying upside from current levels, suggesting they view the stock as reasonably valued relative to its earnings outlook and risk profile.
BR
US$207.54
Broadridge Financial Solutions
7D
-5.1%
1Y
-12.6%
PAYX
US$106.63
Paychex
7D
-4.1%
1Y
-27.0%
FCN
US$182.41
FTI Consulting
7D
2.4%
1Y
-4.6%
UPWK
US$22.11
Upwork
7D
11.3%
1Y
35.9%

UPWK: AI Workflows And Index Adds Will Support Long-Term Enterprise And SMB Gains

Analysts have nudged their fair value estimate for Upwork up by $1 to $23.90, citing higher published price targets, a more constructive view on the company's three year outlook and investor day growth pillars, and updated assumptions that include a modestly higher future P/E multiple and slightly lower long term revenue growth and profit margin inputs. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Upwork clusters around a more constructive medium term view, with higher price targets grounded in the company’s investor day messaging, Q3 execution and refreshed financial targets.
ADP
US$257.87
Automatic Data Processing
7D
-1.0%
1Y
-13.2%
AMTM
US$35.38
Amentum Holdings
7D
1.7%
1Y
63.9%
TRU
US$83.93
TransUnion
7D
-2.7%
1Y
-12.0%
DAY
US$69.42
Dayforce
7D
0.4%
1Y
-2.3%

DAY: Merger Vote And Buybacks Will Shape A Balanced Risk Profile

Analysts have lifted their price target on Dayforce from US$47.00 to about US$69.36, citing updated assumptions around fair value, discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E multiples as key drivers of the change. What's in the News Dayforce issued proxy materials for a November 12, 2025 special meeting where shareholders are being asked to vote on a proposed merger with funds affiliated with Thoma Bravo, L P.
PCTY
US$145.86
Paylocity Holding
7D
4.1%
1Y
-29.4%

PCTY: Beat And Raise Cadence Will Support Long Term Capital Appreciation

Analysts have made a slight adjustment to their Paylocity fair value estimate to $193.85, reflecting updated assumptions for interest rates, earnings multiples, and recent research that includes both higher and lower price targets across firms. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Paylocity reflects a mix of optimism on execution and caution around the operating backdrop, with price targets clustering between US$175 and US$245 compared with the updated fair value estimate of US$193.85.