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U.S. Professional Services Industry Analysis

UpdatedApr 01, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies149
  • 7D-0.7%
  • 3M-16.9%
  • 1Y-22.8%
  • YTD-16.2%

Over the last 7 days, the Professional Services industry has dropped 3.2%, driven by a pullback from Planet Labs PBC of 12%. In contrast, Equifax has gained 6.2%. However, the industry is down 22% over the past year. As for the next few years, earnings are expected to grow by 15% per annum.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Wed, 01 Apr 2026US$369.4bUS$245.7bUS$11.5b19x32.1x1.5x
Fri, 27 Feb 2026US$390.5bUS$245.9bUS$12.0b20.6x32.6x1.6x
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
Price to Earnings Ratio

42.5x


Total Market Cap: US$453.5bTotal Earnings: US$10.7bTotal Revenue: US$228.5bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Professional Services Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 39.9x202420252026
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 32.0x which is lower than its 3-year average PE of 39.9x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 2.1x is higher than the industry's current PS ratio of 1.5x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Professional Services industry have grown 2.6% 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-0.61%
Industrials-1.44%
Professional Services-0.66%
HR Services-0.45%
Research and Consulting Services-0.60%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the HR Services industry, which is trading close to its 3-year average PE ratio of 35.8x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 11.5%, which is higher than its past year's earnings decline of 1.6% 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
EFX EquifaxUS$180.076.2%
+US$1.3b		-26.2%PE32.9x
VRSK Verisk AnalyticsUS$189.752.5%
+US$648.3m		-36.7%PE28.8x
PSN ParsonsUS$54.177.4%
+US$400.2m		-9.0%PE24x
FBYD Falcon's Beyond GlobalUS$14.1083.6%
+US$310.8m		65.5%PE240.4x
FCN FTI ConsultingUS$176.773.3%
+US$167.4m		7.7%PE19.6x

Latest News

FCN
US$176.77
FTI Consulting
7D
3.3%
1Y
7.7%
PL
US$27.95
Planet Labs PBC
7D
-12.2%
1Y
714.9%

PL: Expanding Defense Contracts And AI Partnerships Will Drive Long-Term Upside

Analysts now estimate Planet Labs PBC’s fair value at roughly $34.44 per share, up from about $14.55, reflecting updated assumptions that include higher revenue growth, slightly stronger profit margins, a modestly higher discount rate, and a higher future P/E. What's in the News Issued earnings guidance for the quarter ending April 30, 2026, with expected revenue of US$87 million to US$91 million, and for fiscal 2027 with expected revenue of US$415 million to US$440 million (corporate guidance).
ADP
US$203.18
Automatic Data Processing
7D
-0.8%
1Y
-33.7%

AI Payroll Demand And International Expansion Will Shape A Steady But Limited Outlook

Catalysts About Automatic Data Processing Automatic Data Processing provides payroll and broader human capital management services and outsourcing solutions to employers of various sizes across multiple countries. What are the underlying business or industry changes driving this perspective?
PAYX
US$92.12
Paychex
7D
-1.3%
1Y
-40.5%

AI Rollout And PEO Demand Will Support Steady Outlook Despite Integration Risks

Catalysts About Paychex Paychex provides HR, payroll, benefits and PEO solutions to businesses of various sizes, with a large small business client base. What are the underlying business or industry changes driving this perspective?
BR
US$162.48
Broadridge Financial Solutions
7D
-1.3%
1Y
-33.6%

BR: Crypto Connectivity Will Drive Future Upside Potential

Analysts are keeping their price target for Broadridge Financial Solutions steady at about $245.88, with only minor tweaks to inputs like the discount rate and assumed future P/E. This suggests their overall view on the stock's valuation is largely unchanged.
PAYC
US$121.54
Paycom Software
7D
2.2%
1Y
-45.0%

PAYC: Aggressive Early 2026 Buybacks Will Support Future Upside

Analyst price targets for Paycom Software have ticked higher in recent research, with moves such as Cantor Fitzgerald lifting its target to $135 and Barclays to $150. Analysts point to the company’s refreshed share buyback authorization and sizable recent repurchases as key support for the updated valuations.
TASK
US$6.71
TaskUs
7D
-35.3%
1Y
-50.9%
VRSK
US$189.75
Verisk Analytics
7D
2.5%
1Y
-36.7%

VRSK: Proprietary Insurance Data And Margins Will Drive Future Reassessment

Narrative Update on Verisk Analytics The updated analyst price framework points to a fair value of about $230 per share, reflecting small tweaks to discount rate, growth, and margin assumptions. Street analysts cite proprietary insurance data, resilient margins, and ongoing debate around AI disruption and near term growth headwinds as key drivers of their revised targets.
TRU
US$69.19
TransUnion
7D
0.8%
1Y
-17.5%

TRU: AI Analytics And Fraud Prevention Will Support Stronger Future Returns

Analysts have kept their $94.60 price target for TransUnion unchanged, citing updated assumptions that reflect a slightly higher discount rate, a modestly revised revenue growth outlook, and a small adjustment to expected future P/E and profit margin levels. What's in the News Launched TruLookup for Real Estate, a mobile first app that combines ownership verification, fraud checks, safety screening and prospecting tools for real estate professionals, with rollout planned through participating associations and brokerages in early April (Key Developments).
EFX
US$180.07
Equifax
7D
6.2%
1Y
-26.2%

EFX: AI Credit Tools And Marketing Shift Will Support Future Upside

Analysts have made only a small trim to the Equifax fair value estimate to $237.35, as recent price target cuts sit alongside views that the $1 VantageScore pricing move is mainly marketing and that sector wide expectations for revenue, EPS and free cash flow growth remain intact. Analyst Commentary Recent commentary around Equifax reflects a split between analysts who see the latest headlines as more noise than substance and those who are recalibrating their assumptions and price targets more cautiously.
ULS
US$85.71
UL Solutions
7D
-1.8%
1Y
48.2%

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.
LDOS
US$155.52
Leidos Holdings
7D
-2.2%
1Y
15.2%
FA
US$11.76
First Advantage
7D
5.7%
1Y
-18.5%

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).
CACI
US$543.87
CACI International
7D
-5.7%
1Y
47.0%

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.
PSN
US$54.17
Parsons
7D
7.4%
1Y
-9.0%
FBYD
US$14.10
Falcon's Beyond Global
7D
83.6%
1Y
65.5%