Investing IdeasBrowse All StocksMarkets
Have your own idea? Try our Stock Screener
Header cover image

U.S. HR Services Industry Analysis

UpdatedMar 16, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies42
  • 7D-7.0%
  • 3M-21.7%
  • 1Y-34.7%
  • YTDn/a

Over the last 7 days, the HR Services industry has dropped 7.9%, driven by a pullback from Automatic Data Processing of 7.8%. However, the industry is down 34% over the past year. Looking forward, earnings are forecast to grow by 11% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Mon, 16 Mar 2026US$150.5bUS$80.2bUS$4.0b18.3x37.8x1.9x
Wed, 11 Feb 2026US$168.7bUS$85.1bUS$5.1b20.9x33x2x
Fri, 09 Jan 2026US$205.1bUS$86.5bUS$5.0b21.7x41x2.4x
Sun, 07 Dec 2025US$206.7bUS$87.4bUS$5.0b20.1x41x2.4x
Tue, 04 Nov 2025US$209.8bUS$87.0bUS$6.1b25.1x34.4x2.4x
Thu, 02 Oct 2025US$232.6bUS$86.6bUS$6.3b27.3x37x2.7x
Sat, 30 Aug 2025US$245.0bUS$86.9bUS$6.2b30.3x39.5x2.8x
Mon, 28 Jul 2025US$241.2bUS$85.0bUS$6.7b25.4x36x2.8x
Wed, 25 Jun 2025US$238.7bUS$79.7bUS$6.8b31.5x35.1x3x
Fri, 23 May 2025US$247.7bUS$79.7bUS$6.8b32.3x36.3x3.1x
Sun, 20 Apr 2025US$226.9bUS$79.0bUS$6.9b22.2x32.8x2.9x
Tue, 18 Mar 2025US$233.6bUS$80.0bUS$6.7b24.1x34.8x2.9x
Thu, 13 Feb 2025US$249.5bUS$85.9bUS$6.8b23.5x36.7x2.9x
Sat, 11 Jan 2025US$241.5bUS$85.7bUS$6.7b23.6x36.1x2.8x
Mon, 09 Dec 2024US$254.0bUS$85.7bUS$6.7b26.4x38.1x3x
Wed, 06 Nov 2024US$240.2bUS$85.8bUS$6.6b27.8x36.3x2.8x
Fri, 04 Oct 2024US$230.0bUS$81.4bUS$6.2b25.6x37x2.8x
Sun, 01 Sep 2024US$222.3bUS$81.4bUS$6.2b23.7x35.9x2.7x
Tue, 30 Jul 2024US$210.4bUS$81.2bUS$6.2b22.6x34x2.6x
Thu, 27 Jun 2024US$210.6bUS$87.3bUS$6.5b20.5x32.3x2.4x
Sat, 25 May 2024US$219.7bUS$87.6bUS$6.5b23.1x34x2.5x
Mon, 22 Apr 2024US$214.6bUS$87.1bUS$6.1b23.6x35x2.5x
Wed, 20 Mar 2024US$219.6bUS$87.4bUS$6.3b22.9x34.7x2.5x
Fri, 16 Feb 2024US$222.9bUS$87.3bUS$6.4b27.1x34.9x2.6x
Sun, 14 Jan 2024US$215.0bUS$87.3bUS$6.4b26.4x33.8x2.5x
Tue, 12 Dec 2023US$216.3bUS$87.2bUS$6.3b27.5x34.2x2.5x
Thu, 09 Nov 2023US$200.6bUS$87.2bUS$5.8b23.2x34.5x2.3x
Sat, 07 Oct 2023US$229.0bUS$92.1bUS$6.3b20x36.4x2.5x
Mon, 04 Sep 2023US$238.6bUS$92.0bUS$6.2b21x38.5x2.6x
Wed, 02 Aug 2023US$243.0bUS$91.2bUS$6.1b18x39.8x2.7x
Fri, 30 Jun 2023US$216.2bUS$91.8bUS$6.2b16.6x34.6x2.4x
Sun, 28 May 2023US$208.2bUS$91.8bUS$6.3b15.7x33x2.3x
Tue, 25 Apr 2023US$174.3bUS$86.7bUS$6.0b12.2x29.1x2x
Thu, 23 Mar 2023US$171.7bUS$87.3bUS$6.0b12.8x28.6x2x
Price to Earnings Ratio

28.6x


Total Market Cap: US$171.7bTotal Earnings: US$6.0bTotal Revenue: US$87.3bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. HR Services Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 35.7x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are relatively neutral on the American Human Resource and Employment Services industry at the moment, indicating that they anticipate long term growth rates to remain steady.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PE ratio of 35.7x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 2.6x is higher than the industry's current PS ratio of 1.9x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Human Resource and Employment Services industry have declined 13% per year over the last three years,
  • Revenues have also declined 2.8% per year.
  • This means overall sales from these companies are declining and profits are subsequently falling as well.

Industry Comparison

How does U.S. HR Services compare with similar industries?

US Market-2.40%
Industrials-3.83%
Professional Services-6.09%
HR Services-6.99%
Research and Consulting Services-5.61%
Industry PEThere are no additional sub-industries under this industry.
Forecasted GrowthThere are no additional sub-industries under this industry.

Top Stock Gainers and Losers

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

CompanyLast Price7D1YValuation
BGSF BGSFUS$6.403.4%
+US$2.5m		85.0%PS0.8x
DLHC DLH HoldingsUS$5.992.4%
+US$2.0m		29.1%PS0.3x
JOB GEE GroupUS$0.257.0%
+US$1.8m		16.8%PS0.3x
NIXX NixxyUS$0.578.1%
+US$1.1m		-70.0%PS0.3x

Latest News

PAYX
US$92.61
Paychex
7D
-8.2%
1Y
-36.3%

AI Adoption And HCM Data Scale Will Reshape This Payroll Leader’s Long-Term Potential

Catalysts About Paychex Paychex provides payroll, HR, benefits and HCM technology solutions to small and midsize businesses across its Paychex Flex, SurePayroll and Paycor platforms. What are the underlying business or industry changes driving this perspective?
BGSF
US$6.40
BGSF
7D
3.4%
1Y
85.0%
ADP
US$208.52
Automatic Data Processing
7D
-6.5%
1Y
-29.7%

ADP: Dividend Strength And AI HR Execution Will Support Premium P/E

Analysts have trimmed their average price target on Automatic Data Processing by about $5 to $272. This reflects slightly softer revenue growth assumptions, a modestly higher discount rate, and only a small adjustment to long term P/E expectations, despite relatively steady margin forecasts.
PAYC
US$125.71
Paycom Software
7D
-9.1%
1Y
-41.8%

PAYC: Early 2026 Buybacks And Governance Changes Will Support Future Upside

Analyst fair value for Paycom has been revised slightly higher to $152.94 from $151.18, as analysts factor in the recent $135 and $150 price target increases and highlight the company's sizable early 2026 buyback activity as a sign of management confidence at current share levels. Analyst Commentary Analysts are reacting to Paycom's recent buyback activity and past target cuts with a mix of cautious optimism and lingering concern, which is showing up in a wide range of valuation views.
PCTY
US$109.39
Paylocity Holding
7D
-7.3%
1Y
-42.5%

PCTY: 2026 Software Setup And Buybacks Will Support Upside Potential

Analyst price targets for Paylocity Holding have been reset lower, with a series of cuts ranging from $5 to $75 as analysts factor updated macro assumptions, sector-wide software rerating, and company specific expectations into their models. Analyst Commentary Despite the latest round of lower price targets, some bullish analysts are still highlighting areas where they see potential upside for Paylocity, particularly around execution and the setup for software over the next couple of years.
RHI
US$22.37
Robert Half
7D
-9.7%
1Y
-57.9%

RHI: Limited AI Disruption And Cost Actions Will Support A More Constructive Outlook

Analysts trimmed their price targets on Robert Half, with our updated fair value estimate easing from about $48.45 to $47.84. This reflects recent target cuts into the mid $20s to low $30s range and new expectations around cost actions, profitability trends, and limited AI disruption risk in its business services exposure.
BZ
US$14.17
Kanzhun
7D
-6.4%
1Y
-28.3%
FA
US$10.87
First Advantage
7D
-6.5%
1Y
-18.9%

FA: Buyback Plan And 2026 Guidance Will Support Balanced Outlook

Analysts have trimmed their price target on First Advantage from $14.19 to $13.00, reflecting updated views on fair value, discount rate assumptions, revenue growth expectations, profit margins, and the P/E multiple they are willing to apply. What's in the News First Advantage issued full year 2026 earnings guidance, with revenue expected in a range of US$1.625b to US$1.7b (company guidance).
JOB
US$0.25
GEE Group
7D
7.0%
1Y
16.8%
UPWK
US$12.21
Upwork
7D
-8.4%
1Y
-7.1%

UPWK: Share Buybacks And Governance Changes Will Support Long Term Earnings Power

Analysts have trimmed their average price target on Upwork by a few dollars to reflect a slightly higher discount rate and modestly adjusted assumptions on revenue growth, profit margins, and future P/E, even though one firm raised its target by $1 while several others reduced theirs by $1 to $5. Analyst Commentary Even with several firms trimming their targets, the latest batch of research still includes a clear pocket of optimism around Upwork.
NIXX
US$0.57
Nixxy
7D
8.1%
1Y
-70.0%
DLHC
US$5.99
DLH Holdings
7D
2.4%
1Y
29.1%