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U.S. Professional Services Industry Analysis

UpdatedMar 02, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies150
  • 7D1.7%
  • 3M-11.2%
  • 1Y-18.4%
  • YTD-10.4%

The Professional Services industry is up 1.7% in the last week, with Verisk Analytics up 18%. Meanwhile, Verra Mobility actually underperformed within the industry, shrinking 10% in the last week. In contrast, the industry has lost 18% in the last 12 months. Looking forward, earnings are forecast to grow by 14% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Wed, 04 Mar 2026US$399.9bUS$245.9bUS$11.8b20.3x33.9x1.6x
Fri, 30 Jan 2026US$461.0bUS$263.3bUS$12.5b23x36.9x1.8x
Sun, 28 Dec 2025US$473.9bUS$251.6bUS$13.8b24x34.3x1.9x
Tue, 25 Nov 2025US$456.6bUS$250.1bUS$13.9b23.8x32.9x1.8x
Thu, 23 Oct 2025US$492.2bUS$250.3bUS$14.8b25.9x33.3x2x
Sat, 20 Sep 2025US$510.0bUS$251.1bUS$14.9b26.2x34.1x2x
Mon, 18 Aug 2025US$513.0bUS$253.9bUS$14.6b27.4x35x2x
Wed, 16 Jul 2025US$503.7bUS$245.0bUS$14.9b24x33.8x2.1x
Fri, 13 Jun 2025US$506.1bUS$244.8bUS$15.0b23.1x33.7x2.1x
Sun, 11 May 2025US$504.6bUS$244.4bUS$15.1b22x33.4x2.1x
Tue, 08 Apr 2025US$460.1bUS$241.7bUS$14.8b20.1x31.1x1.9x
Thu, 06 Mar 2025US$500.2bUS$241.7bUS$14.7b21.4x34x2.1x
Sat, 01 Feb 2025US$569.6bUS$247.0bUS$15.1b24.6x37.7x2.3x
Mon, 30 Dec 2024US$551.2bUS$245.1bUS$15.0b23.9x36.8x2.2x
Wed, 27 Nov 2024US$582.2bUS$242.2bUS$15.2b25.7x38.4x2.4x
Fri, 25 Oct 2024US$560.9bUS$241.6bUS$13.3b28.2x42.1x2.3x
Sun, 22 Sep 2024US$543.7bUS$234.8bUS$12.7b28.2x42.9x2.3x
Tue, 20 Aug 2024US$524.0bUS$234.8bUS$12.8b26.9x40.8x2.2x
Thu, 18 Jul 2024US$521.0bUS$237.9bUS$12.5b27x41.8x2.2x
Sat, 15 Jun 2024US$494.3bUS$238.3bUS$12.5b23.9x39.5x2.1x
Mon, 13 May 2024US$507.6bUS$238.5bUS$12.0b26.1x42.2x2.1x
Wed, 10 Apr 2024US$500.9bUS$233.7bUS$11.4b26.5x43.8x2.1x
Fri, 08 Mar 2024US$506.0bUS$233.1bUS$11.5b26.6x44.1x2.2x
Sun, 04 Feb 2024US$513.3bUS$238.1bUS$12.8b26.3x40x2.2x
Tue, 02 Jan 2024US$503.7bUS$237.0bUS$12.8b25.7x39.5x2.1x
Thu, 30 Nov 2023US$480.0bUS$237.0bUS$12.2b24.7x39.3x2x
Sat, 28 Oct 2023US$446.6bUS$234.9bUS$8.6b19.9x51.7x1.9x
Mon, 25 Sep 2023US$475.7bUS$234.3bUS$9.4b22.3x50.5x2x
Wed, 23 Aug 2023US$492.3bUS$234.3bUS$9.2b22.9x53.6x2.1x
Fri, 21 Jul 2023US$475.2bUS$230.1bUS$9.0b20.8x52.6x2.1x
Sun, 18 Jun 2023US$488.0bUS$231.9bUS$9.5b22.3x51.3x2.1x
Tue, 16 May 2023US$456.3bUS$231.7bUS$9.8b20.8x46.6x2x
Thu, 13 Apr 2023US$456.5bUS$228.5bUS$10.7b23.4x42.8x2x
Sat, 11 Mar 2023US$247.5bUS$163.4bUS$3.2b18.5x76.4x1.5x
Price to Earnings Ratio

76.4x


Total Market Cap: US$247.5bTotal Earnings: US$3.2bTotal Revenue: US$163.4bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Professional Services Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 40.6x202420252026
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 33.9x which is lower than its 3-year average PE of 40.7x.
  • 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 54% per year over the last three years.
  • Revenues for these companies have grown 15% 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-0.57%
Industrials-0.32%
Professional Services1.74%
Research and Consulting Services2.23%
HR Services0.57%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the HR Services industry, which is trading close to its 3-year average PE ratio of 35.6x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 11.8%, 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 146x.
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 5.4% 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
VRSK Verisk AnalyticsUS$214.7918.3%
+US$4.6b		-28.7%PE32.6x
ADP Automatic Data ProcessingUS$214.974.5%
+US$3.7b		-32.5%PE20.4x
PAYX PaychexUS$94.257.8%
+US$2.5b		-38.5%PE21.2x
EFX EquifaxUS$208.0310.4%
+US$2.4b		-14.9%PE37.9x
TRU TransUnionUS$78.319.9%
+US$1.4b		-12.8%PE33.1x

Latest News

ADP
US$214.97
Automatic Data Processing
7D
4.5%
1Y
-32.5%
VRSK
US$214.79
Verisk Analytics
7D
18.3%
1Y
-28.7%
FC
US$12.81
Franklin Covey
7D
-6.7%
1Y
-58.8%

FC: Buybacks And 2026 Guidance Will Support Future Earnings Power

Analysts have maintained their $22.00 price target on Franklin Covey, citing only modest adjustments to assumptions around the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E that do not materially change their overall view of the stock. What's in the News Franklin Covey affirmed earnings guidance for fiscal 2026, with total revenue expected in the range of $265 million to $275 million (company guidance).
EFX
US$208.03
Equifax
7D
10.4%
1Y
-14.9%
CBZ
US$28.80
CBIZ
7D
4.0%
1Y
-62.5%
BBSI
US$27.88
Barrett Business Services
7D
-9.8%
1Y
-30.6%
WLDN
US$87.48
Willdan Group
7D
-20.7%
1Y
177.9%
PAYX
US$94.25
Paychex
7D
7.8%
1Y
-38.5%

PAYX: AI And Buybacks Will Counter Defensive Competitive Pressures Over Time

Analysts have trimmed their Paychex price target slightly to about $119 per share, reflecting modest adjustments to fair value, discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E assumptions following new bearish coverage that characterizes recent competitive moves as largely defensive. Analyst Commentary Recent research frames the latest competitive response, including the Paycor related move, as more defensive than opportunistic.
VRRM
US$16.70
Verra Mobility
7D
-10.1%
1Y
-27.3%

Expanded Enforcement And Slower MOSAIC Savings Will Pressure Margins Yet Long-Term Potential Remains

Catalysts About Verra Mobility Verra Mobility provides technology and services that support automated traffic enforcement, tolling and parking management for governments, rental car companies and fleets. What are the underlying business or industry changes driving this perspective?
BR
US$186.50
Broadridge Financial Solutions
7D
6.1%
1Y
-23.8%

BR: AI And Automation Partnerships Will Drive Future Upside Potential

Analysts now hold their fair value estimate for Broadridge Financial Solutions steady at $245.88, with only small tweaks to inputs such as discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E assumptions informing this unchanged price target. What's in the News Nissay Asset Management Corporation in Japan implemented Broadridge's Mortgage-Backed Securities Trade Assignment Portal for TBA mortgage-backed securities trading, automating AOT contracts, electronic signatures, and real-time tracking while storing completed assignments in the cloud (Key Developments).
TRU
US$78.31
TransUnion
7D
9.9%
1Y
-12.8%

TRU: Rental Data And Media Partnerships Will Support Stronger Future Returns

Analysts have trimmed their price target on TransUnion to $94.75 from $105.25 as they now apply slightly higher discount rates, slightly softer revenue growth and profit margin assumptions, and a lower future P/E multiple in their valuation work. What's in the News The board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.125 per share for Q4 2025, payable on March 13, 2026, to shareholders of record on February 26, 2026 (company announcement).
SSNC
US$75.19
SS&C Technologies Holdings
7D
8.1%
1Y
-14.8%

SSNC: Client Wins And Buybacks Will Support Higher Future Earnings Multiple

Analysts have adjusted their price targets on SS&C Technologies Holdings, with the latest changes implying a modest move in fair value to about $99.00. This reflects updated views on the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E assumptions.
RHI
US$23.72
Robert Half
7D
-0.5%
1Y
-57.9%

RHI: Cost Actions Will Support Future Margins And Fair Value Reassessment

The updated analyst price target for Robert Half shifts to $32.39 from $30.67 as analysts weigh a lower discount rate, modestly higher revenue growth and profit margin assumptions, and a slightly reduced future P/E multiple, along with mixed recent Street target revisions that reflect both optimism and tempered expectations after the company's $17 million cost-action charge. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Robert Half shows a split view, with some analysts lifting targets and others pulling back after the company disclosed a US$17 million cost action charge in its latest 10-K.
CACI
US$624.96
CACI International
7D
9.5%
1Y
89.6%

CACI: Raised FY26 Outlook And Backlog Wins Will Support Repricing

Analysts lifted their price target on CACI International by $85 to $670, citing updated assumptions around revenue growth, profit margins, and a higher future P/E multiple, as reflected in recent research from firms raising their targets on the stock. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research around CACI International has featured several price target revisions, with a cluster of updates centered on new assumptions for revenue growth, profitability, and valuation multiples.
BZ
US$16.18
Kanzhun
7D
-0.7%
1Y
4.1%

BZ: Leadership Transition And Profitability Outlook Will Support Bullish View On Shares

Analysts have nudged their fair value estimate for Kanzhun slightly higher to $29.02 from $28.69, citing updated assumptions around revenue growth, profit margins, and a modestly lower future P/E multiple. What's in the News Kanzhun Limited announced that Mr. Phil Yu Zhang will step down as Chief Financial Officer, effective December 11, 2025, marking a planned transition in the finance leadership team (Key Developments).
RHLD
US$179.28
Resolute Holdings Management
7D
-2.5%
1Y
255.1%

Resolute Holdings Management: Overvalued, M&A-Fueled Growth

Jan 05