Tearsheet

Kelly Services (KELYA)


Market Price (12/4/2025): $8.76 | Market Cap: $309.2 Mil
Sector: Industrials | Industry: Human Resource & Employment Services

Kelly Services (KELYA)


Market Price (12/4/2025): $8.76
Market Cap: $309.2 Mil
Sector: Industrials
Industry: Human Resource & Employment Services

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Attractive yield
Dividend Yield is 2.4%, FCF Yield is 22%
Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -107%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -118%
Weak revenue growth
Rev Chg 3Y AvgRevenue Change % averaged over trailing 3 years is -4.0%, Rev Chg QQuarterly Revenue Change % is -9.9%
1 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 40%
  Yield minus risk free rate is negative
ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is -36%
2 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Future of Work. Themes include Flexible Workforce Solutions, Talent Transformation & Reskilling, and Workforce Automation Impact.
  
0 Attractive yield
Dividend Yield is 2.4%, FCF Yield is 22%
1 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 40%
2 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Future of Work. Themes include Flexible Workforce Solutions, Talent Transformation & Reskilling, and Workforce Automation Impact.
3 Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -107%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -118%
4 Weak revenue growth
Rev Chg 3Y AvgRevenue Change % averaged over trailing 3 years is -4.0%, Rev Chg QQuarterly Revenue Change % is -9.9%
5 Yield minus risk free rate is negative
ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is -36%

Valuation, Metrics & Events

KELYA Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback



1. Kelly Services experienced a substantial decline in revenue during the third quarter of 2025, reporting $935 million, which marked a 9.9% decrease year-over-year and fell short of analyst expectations.

2. The company recorded a significant operating loss of $102.1 million in Q3 2025, primarily due to a $102 million non-cash goodwill impairment charge.

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Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
KELYA Return-9%-18%2%30%-35%-36%-58%
Peers Return42%10%-6%8%10%-12%53%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%16%112%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
KELYA Win Rate50%33%58%58%33%40% 
Peers Win Rate65%57%45%52%60%42% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%70% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
KELYA Max Drawdown-54%-21%-18%-8%-40%-41% 
Peers Max Drawdown-48%-21%-26%-15%-19%-21% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: PAYX, BBSI, JOB, ADP, DAY.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/3/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventKELYAS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-48.7%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven95.1%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-53.7%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven116.1%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven256 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-38.5%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven62.7%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-81.6%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven443.2%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days1480 days

Compare to PAYX, BBSI, JOB, ADP, DAY


In The Past

Kelly Services's stock fell -48.7% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 5/6/2021. A -48.7% loss requires a 95.1% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

About Kelly Services (KELYA)

Better Bets than Kelly Services (KELYA)

Latest Trefis Analyses

Title
0ARTICLES

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to KELYA. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
CNM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CNMCore & MainDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
7.3%7.3%-1.6%
VRRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025VRRMVerra MobilityDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
2.3%2.3%-1.2%
LII_11212025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy11212025LIILennox InternationalDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
4.8%4.8%0.0%
ADP_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025ADPAutomatic Data ProcessingMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
1.6%1.6%-1.2%
CW_11212025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%11212025CWCurtiss-WrightQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
2.2%2.2%0.0%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
CNM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CNMCore & MainDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
7.3%7.3%-1.6%
VRRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025VRRMVerra MobilityDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
2.3%2.3%-1.2%
LII_11212025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy11212025LIILennox InternationalDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
4.8%4.8%0.0%
ADP_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025ADPAutomatic Data ProcessingMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
1.6%1.6%-1.2%
CW_11212025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%11212025CWCurtiss-WrightQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
2.2%2.2%0.0%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for Kelly Services

Peers to compare with:

Financials

KELYAPAYXBBSIJOBADPDAYMedian
NameKelly Se.Paychex Barrett .GEE Automati.Dayforce  
Mkt Price8.75113.3935.480.19260.2269.1052.29
Mkt Cap0.340.90.90.0105.411.06.0
Rev LTM4,3935,5721,22411120,9031,8933,143
Op Inc LTM532,20864-45,47213298
FCF LTM1001,70927-14,210166133
FCF 3Y Avg641,6701823,84613399
CFO LTM1091,90143-14,758274192
CFO 3Y Avg781,8353324,410245161

Growth & Margins

KELYAPAYXBBSIJOBADPDAYMedian
NameKelly Se.Paychex Barrett .GEE Automati.Dayforce  
Rev Chg LTM0.5%5.6%9.6%-5.8%7.1%11.7%6.3%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg-4.0%6.5%5.7%-11.8%7.4%16.7%6.1%
Rev Chg Q-9.9%10.2%8.4%-9.3%7.1%9.5%7.7%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM-2.3%2.4%2.1%-2.2%1.7%2.2%1.9%
Op Mgn LTM1.2%39.6%5.3%-3.8%26.2%7.0%6.1%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg1.0%40.5%5.3%-2.3%25.8%6.8%6.0%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM-0.0%-1.9%0.0%0.6%-0.1%0.4%-0.0%
CFO/Rev LTM2.5%34.1%3.5%-0.5%22.8%14.5%9.0%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg1.7%34.7%2.9%1.3%22.5%14.5%8.7%
FCF/Rev LTM2.3%30.7%2.2%-0.5%20.1%8.8%5.5%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg1.4%31.6%1.6%1.2%19.6%7.7%4.7%

Valuation

KELYAPAYXBBSIJOBADPDAYMedian
NameKelly Se.Paychex Barrett .GEE Automati.Dayforce  
Mkt Cap0.340.90.90.0105.411.06.0
P/S0.18.20.90.25.75.83.3
P/EBIT-3.920.015.4-0.820.4-168.17.3
P/E-2.927.620.8-0.628.7-73.510.1
P/CFO4.224.026.4-38.125.040.124.5
Total Yield-31.5%6.8%5.2%-169.5%5.5%-1.4%1.9%
Dividend Yield2.4%3.2%0.4%0.0%2.1%0.0%1.2%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg11.7%3.7%2.3%3.4%3.5%1.3%3.4%
D/E0.40.10.00.20.10.10.1
Net D/E0.30.1-0.1-0.70.00.10.0

Returns

KELYAPAYXBBSIJOBADPDAYMedian
NameKelly Se.Paychex Barrett .GEE Automati.Dayforce  
1M Rtn-21.6%-0.5%-12.4%-0.8%1.2%0.6%-0.7%
3M Rtn-34.5%-15.6%-26.7%-1.2%-12.5%-0.6%-14.0%
6M Rtn-24.0%-27.6%-14.8%-2.4%-19.4%15.4%-17.1%
12M Rtn-37.7%-19.1%-17.4%-25.7%-12.5%-14.2%-18.2%
3Y Rtn-45.8%-1.4%47.0%-75.9%2.8%-0.9%-1.2%
1M Excs Rtn-21.6%-0.5%-12.4%-0.7%1.2%0.6%-0.6%
3M Excs Rtn-42.1%-22.0%-33.0%-5.7%-18.5%-6.0%-20.2%
6M Excs Rtn-38.7%-42.3%-29.6%-17.1%-34.1%0.6%-31.8%
12M Excs Rtn-52.3%-33.6%-30.2%-38.1%-27.0%-27.2%-31.9%
3Y Excs Rtn-117.5%-69.7%-22.4%-147.7%-65.4%-66.3%-68.0%

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment

$ Mil20242023202220212020
Professional & Industrial (P&I)1,5401,6661,8371,8582,213
Science, Engineering & Technology (SET)1,1911,2651,1571,0191,132
Education842636416287451
International8129321,0689891,182
Outsourcing & Consulting (OCG)455468432364378
Inter-Segment-3-3-1-0-0
Total4,8364,9654,9104,5165,356


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11142025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity846,192
Short Interest: % Change Since 1031202543.0%
Average Daily Volume617,293
Days-to-Cover Short Interest1.37
Basic Shares Quantity35,300,000
Short % of Basic Shares2.4%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251106202510-Q 9/28/2025
6302025807202510-Q 6/29/2025
3312025508202510-Q 3/30/2025
12312024213202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241107202410-Q 9/29/2024
6302024808202410-Q 6/30/2024
3312024509202410-Q 3/31/2024
12312023220202410-K 12/31/2023
93020231109202310-Q 10/1/2023
6302023810202310-Q 7/2/2023
3312023511202310-Q 4/2/2023
12312022216202310-K 1/1/2023
93020221110202210-Q 10/2/2022
6302022811202210-Q 7/3/2022
3312022512202210-Q 4/3/2022
12312021217202210-K 12/31/2021