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U.S. Professional Services Industry Analysis

UpdatedMar 25, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies150
  • 7D-2.9%
  • 3M-18.1%
  • 1Y-21.5%
  • YTD-15.9%

Over the last 7 days, the Professional Services industry has dropped 2.9%, driven by pullbacks in Equifax and Automatic Data Processing of 9.5% and 2.3%, respectively. On the other hand Planet Labs PBC is actually up 18%. However, the industry is down 21% over the past year. As for the next few years, earnings are expected to grow by 14% per annum.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Wed, 25 Mar 2026US$382.6bUS$245.3bUS$11.5b18.9x33.2x1.6x
Fri, 20 Feb 2026US$395.5bUS$245.7bUS$12.5b19.9x31.7x1.6x
Sun, 18 Jan 2026US$480.4bUS$251.7bUS$12.3b24.6x39x1.9x
Tue, 16 Dec 2025US$472.8bUS$250.6bUS$13.8b24.8x34.3x1.9x
Thu, 13 Nov 2025US$465.7bUS$249.7bUS$13.9b24.4x33.5x1.9x
Sat, 11 Oct 2025US$497.1bUS$251.4bUS$14.9b25.4x33.3x2x
Mon, 08 Sep 2025US$507.7bUS$251.5bUS$14.8b26.9x34.4x2x
Wed, 06 Aug 2025US$507.0bUS$250.4bUS$14.4b22.5x35.2x2x
Fri, 04 Jul 2025US$510.3bUS$245.0bUS$14.9b25.7x34.3x2.1x
Sun, 01 Jun 2025US$511.5bUS$244.7bUS$15.0b22.4x34x2.1x
Tue, 29 Apr 2025US$482.4bUS$241.3bUS$15.2b20.7x31.8x2x
Thu, 27 Mar 2025US$492.1bUS$241.9bUS$14.8b21x33.3x2x
Sat, 22 Feb 2025US$545.6bUS$243.7bUS$15.8b22.5x34.5x2.2x
Mon, 20 Jan 2025US$563.7bUS$246.2bUS$14.8b24.8x38.1x2.3x
Wed, 18 Dec 2024US$565.1bUS$245.0bUS$14.9b25x37.8x2.3x
Fri, 15 Nov 2024US$593.5bUS$247.7bUS$15.2b25.1x39x2.4x
Sun, 13 Oct 2024US$560.3bUS$241.2bUS$12.9b27.8x43.5x2.3x
Tue, 10 Sep 2024US$535.5bUS$234.8bUS$12.7b27x42.2x2.3x
Thu, 08 Aug 2024US$511.1bUS$234.5bUS$12.8b26.2x40x2.2x
Sat, 06 Jul 2024US$491.7bUS$237.9bUS$12.5b24.4x39.5x2.1x
Mon, 03 Jun 2024US$494.6bUS$238.7bUS$12.5b25.3x39.7x2.1x
Wed, 01 May 2024US$495.7bUS$241.2bUS$11.8b25.5x42x2.1x
Fri, 29 Mar 2024US$507.4bUS$233.7bUS$11.4b27.1x44.5x2.2x
Sun, 25 Feb 2024US$513.4bUS$232.8bUS$12.7b27.5x40.4x2.2x
Tue, 23 Jan 2024US$510.8bUS$237.0bUS$12.8b26.7x39.8x2.2x
Thu, 21 Dec 2023US$504.4bUS$237.0bUS$12.7b25.7x39.7x2.1x
Sat, 18 Nov 2023US$474.7bUS$236.6bUS$12.3b25.1x38.7x2x
Mon, 16 Oct 2023US$493.6bUS$239.1bUS$9.6b23x51.6x2.1x
Wed, 13 Sep 2023US$493.6bUS$234.3bUS$9.4b23x52.4x2.1x
Fri, 11 Aug 2023US$501.9bUS$234.3bUS$9.2b23.2x54.7x2.1x
Sun, 09 Jul 2023US$452.9bUS$229.7bUS$9.1b21.4x49.6x2x
Tue, 06 Jun 2023US$472.8bUS$231.9bUS$9.5b21.7x49.7x2x
Thu, 04 May 2023US$460.6bUS$230.9bUS$9.7b22.3x47.5x2x
Sat, 01 Apr 2023US$464.2bUS$228.3bUS$10.6b23.3x43.6x2x
Price to Earnings Ratio

43.6x


Total Market Cap: US$464.2bTotal Earnings: US$10.6bTotal Revenue: US$228.3bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Professional Services Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 40x202420252026
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 33.2x which is lower than its 3-year average PE of 40.0x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 2.1x is higher than the industry's current PS ratio of 1.6x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Professional Services industry have grown 2.7% per year over the last three years.
  • Revenues for these companies have grown 2.4% 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-2.29%
Industrials-1.23%
Professional Services-2.87%
HR Services-2.27%
Research and Consulting Services-2.29%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the HR Services industry, which is trading close to its 3-year average PE ratio of 35.7x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 11.5%, which is higher than its past year's earnings decline of 2.2% per year.
  • Investors are most pessimistic about the Research and Consulting Services industry, which is trading below its 3-year average of 144x.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Research and Consulting Services industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 18% over the next 5 years.
  • This is better than its past earnings decline of 0.4% per year.
  • In contrast, the HR Services industry is expected to see its earnings grow by 12% 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
PL Planet Labs PBCUS$31.8317.5%
+US$1.8b		697.7%PS35.8x
ULS UL SolutionsUS$87.321.8%
+US$307.6m		59.5%PE54x
FCN FTI ConsultingUS$171.194.8%
+US$233.2m		6.1%PE19x
BAH Booz Allen Hamilton HoldingUS$78.882.3%
+US$212.2m		-25.8%PE11.4x
RHI Robert HalfUS$24.558.2%
+US$185.9m		-54.1%PE18.3x

Latest News

PL
US$31.83
Planet Labs PBC
7D
17.5%
1Y
697.7%
TRU
US$68.62
TransUnion
7D
-6.8%
1Y
-21.7%
ULS
US$87.32
UL Solutions
7D
1.8%
1Y
59.5%

ULS: Margin Delivery And Capital Returns Will Support Balanced Future Outcomes

The analyst price target for UL Solutions is now $93.25, reflecting a blended view of recent Street revisions. Several firms raised their targets into the $87 to $96 range, while others trimmed forecasts slightly as analysts balanced strong margins and Q4 execution with more measured expectations for growth and 2026 performance.
EFX
US$169.50
Equifax
7D
-9.5%
1Y
-30.3%
RHI
US$24.55
Robert Half
7D
8.2%
1Y
-54.1%

RHI: Cost Actions And Limited AI Risk Will Shape Future Performance

Robert Half's updated analyst price target moves lower to $22, reflecting an $11 reset as analysts factor in a higher discount rate, slightly different revenue expectations, reduced profit margin assumptions, and recent Street research that trims targets after cost actions and revised profitability ramps, even as some highlight relatively limited AI disruption risk. Analyst Commentary Recent research paints a mixed picture, with several firms trimming price targets and flagging execution risks, even as others adjust targets higher.
NSP
US$26.54
Insperity
7D
12.9%
1Y
-69.8%

NSP: HR Partnership And Earnings Outlook Will Support Future Upside Potential

Analysts have nudged their price target for Insperity slightly higher to $56.00, reflecting updated assumptions around the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margins, and future P/E that collectively suggest a modestly improved outlook for the shares. What's in the News Insperity and Workday announced the general availability of Insperity HRScale, combining Insperity's PEO model and HR services with the Workday Human Capital Management suite to offer small and midsized businesses an integrated HR, payroll, and workforce analytics platform (Client Announcements).
LDOS
US$158.99
Leidos Holdings
7D
-5.9%
1Y
16.7%
BAH
US$78.88
Booz Allen Hamilton Holding
7D
2.3%
1Y
-25.8%
FA
US$11.13
First Advantage
7D
4.2%
1Y
-20.6%

FA: Share Repurchases And 2026 Guidance Will Support Future Earnings Upside

Analysts have revised their 12 month price target for First Advantage to $15.00 from $17.57, reflecting updated assumptions for revenue growth, profit margins, and future P/E multiples. What's in the News First Advantage issued full year 2026 earnings guidance, with expected revenue in the range of US$1.625b to US$1.7b (company guidance).
RHLD
US$156.33
Resolute Holdings Management
7D
7.3%
1Y
378.2%
CACI
US$576.71
CACI International
7D
-5.9%
1Y
54.7%

CACI: ARKA Acquisition And New Defense Awards Will Support Future Earnings

Analysts have nudged their CACI International price targets higher, with moves such as Jefferies taking its target to $690, alongside others lifting their views after factoring in the $2.6b ARKA acquisition and its expected 2% EPS accretion by FY28. Analyst Commentary Recent research updates show a cluster of higher price targets on CACI International, with bullish analysts reflecting the ARKA acquisition and its projected 2% EPS accretion by FY28 in their models.
FCN
US$171.19
FTI Consulting
7D
4.8%
1Y
6.1%

FCN: AI Adoption And Leadership Transition Will Support Measured Future Opportunity

Analysts have reduced their price target on FTI Consulting from $177.50 to $174.00, reflecting updated assumptions around the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margins, and future P/E expectations. What's in the News FTI Consulting highlighted growing adoption of IQ.AI by FTI Technology among large corporate legal departments and law firms, positioning the tool as a generative AI solution used across antitrust, data breach, cross border litigation, and complex investigations globally.
VRSK
US$194.73
Verisk Analytics
7D
-4.4%
1Y
-32.3%

VRSK: Proprietary Insurance Data And AI Partnerships Will Drive Future Reassessment

The analyst price target for Verisk Analytics has been raised from $221.12 to $230.06, with analysts pointing to reaffirmed medium term targets, resilient proprietary data assets in a regulated insurance market, and the ongoing debate around AI disruption as key drivers behind the updated view. Analyst Commentary Recent research paints a mixed picture around Verisk Analytics, with targets moving both higher and lower as analysts weigh resilient fundamentals against execution risks and questions around AI disruption.
BR
US$164.63
Broadridge Financial Solutions
7D
-7.6%
1Y
-30.5%

BR: Digital Asset Connectivity And Voting Technology Will Drive Future Upside Potential

Analysts have kept their fair value estimate for Broadridge Financial Solutions steady at about $245.88 per share, with only slight adjustments to assumptions on discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E refining rather than changing their overall view. What's in the News Broadridge is integrating Crypto.com with its NYFIX order routing network globally, supporting NYFIX's first cryptocurrency connection in Asia and allowing crypto orders to use the same FIX-based infrastructure as traditional markets (Key Developments).
ADP
US$204.89
Automatic Data Processing
7D
-2.3%
1Y
-31.6%

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.
SSNC
US$67.70
SS&C Technologies Holdings
7D
-6.8%
1Y
-18.7%

SSNC: Client Wins And Buybacks Will Support Higher Future Cash Flows

Analysts have adjusted their price target on SS&C Technologies Holdings by $6, reflecting updated views on discount rates, profit expectations, and future P/E assumptions informed by recent research commentary. Analyst Commentary Recent research on SS&C Technologies Holdings points to a mixed but focused view on valuation, execution, and growth, with one firm reducing its price target by $6 and another raising it by $4.