Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA) Stock Price & Analysis
Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA) closed at USD 16.47 on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, up 0.12% on the day. The US market is currently closed (pre-market); this is not a live price.
The prior close was USD 16.45; the Oct 28, 2026 session ranged USD 16.27–16.69 on volume of 236,888 shares. Market capitalization is $572.04M, with a 52-week range of USD 7.98–17.75 (NMS). Source: Nexqual, retrieved October 29, 2026 at 09:44 UTC.
Also available as compact Markdown for AI agents: nexqual.com/KELYA.md
Key facts (KELYA)
- Last four reported quarters (through Jun 28, 2026): revenue $4.06B, net income -$273M (-6.7% margin), free cash flow $20.5M (SEC filings).
- Insider open-market sales, last ~7 months: 1 Form 4 filings, $293K; 1 not under a Rule 10b5-1 plan ($293K); 0 by opportunistic insiders, 0 by routine insiders (three-year test, Cohen, Malloy & Pomorski 2012).
- Analysts: Buy (mean 2.00 on a 1–5 scale) (3 analysts), mean target USD 20 (range 19–21).
- Total return with dividends: 1Y +47.7% vs S&P 500 +13.6%; 5Y +0.5% vs S&P 500 +79.8%.
- Next earnings: 2026-11-05, EPS estimate USD 0.07, revenue estimate $926M.
Financials (SEC 10-K; TTM = last four 10-Q/10-K quarters) (KELYA)
| USD | FY2021 | FY2022 | FY2023 | FY2024 | FY2025 | TTM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $4.91B | $4.97B | $4.84B | $4.33B | $4.25B | $4.06B |
| Gross profit | $919M | $1.01B | $961M | $883M | $853M | — |
| Operating income | $48.6M | $14.8M | $24.3M | -$15.1M | -$69.8M | -$91.8M |
| Net income | $156M | -$62.5M | $36.4M | -$600K | -$254M | -$273M |
| EPS (diluted) | $3.91 | -$1.64 | $0.98 | -$0.02 | -$7.24 | — |
| Free cash flow | $73.8M | -$88.3M | $61.4M | $15.8M | $114M | $20.5M |
| Gross margin | 18.7% | 20.4% | 19.9% | 20.4% | 20.1% | — |
| Operating margin | 1.0% | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.3% | -1.6% | -2.3% |
| Net margin | 3.2% | -1.3% | 0.8% | 0.0% | -6.0% | -6.7% |
| Revenue growth | +8.7% | +1.1% | -2.6% | -10.4% | -1.9% | — |
| Cash + short-term investments | $113M | $154M | $126M | $39.0M | $33.0M | — |
| Total debt | — | — | $0K | $239M | $102M | — |
Fiscal years end Dec. EPS is split-adjusted.
Valuation (price ÷ last four quarters, through Jun 28, 2026) (KELYA)
P/S 0.1x · EV/Sales 0.1x · P/FCF 27.9x · P/B 0.6x · FCF yield 3.58% · Earnings yield -47.79% · Dividend yield (paid, TTM) 1.92% · Net debt $53.9M · EV $626M
P/E at fiscal year-ends: Dec 2023 21.6x.
Insider sales (SEC Form 4, open-market, last ~7 months) (KELYA)
0 of 1 under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan (scheduled in advance). Unplanned sales were timed by the insider.
| Trade date | Insider | Role | Shares | Value | % of holdings sold | 10b5-1 plan | Insider type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-14 | Williams Vanessa Peterson | EVP, Gen Counsel & Corp Sec | 29,999 | $293K | 26.7% | No | Too little history (no open-market trades in 2023–2025) |
% of holdings sold = shares sold ÷ (shares sold + all holdings the insider reported on that Form 4, direct and through trusts).
Insider type follows Cohen, Malloy & Pomorski (Journal of Finance, 2012). An insider who traded the stock in the same calendar month in each of the past three years is a routine trader; one who traded in each of those years without such a pattern is an opportunistic trader. In their study, trades by opportunistic insiders predicted future returns and trades by routine insiders did not. Counts open-market purchases and sales only (SEC Form 4 codes P and S) by that insider in that company. Not investment advice.
Analysts (KELYA)
Consensus Buy (mean 2.00 on a 1–5 scale), 3 analysts; mean target USD 20 (low 19, high 21).
Rating changes, last 120 days:
| Date | Firm | Action | Rating | Price target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-10 | Barrington Research | Target raised | Outperform | $15 → $20 |
Total return (dividends reinvested) (KELYA)
| 1Y (from 2025-10-29) | 5Y (from 2021-10-25) | |
|---|---|---|
| Total return | +47.7% | +0.5% |
| S&P 500 (SPY) | +13.6% | +79.8% |
| Per year | +47.9% | +0.1% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 42.0% | 38.7% |
| Max drawdown | -29.0% (Oct 2025→Nov 2025) | -65.7% (Mar 2024→Nov 2025) |
KELYA earnings history and stock reaction
| Results filed | Quarter | EPS | Consensus | Surprise | Stock reaction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 2026 | Quarter ended Jun 30, 2026 | $0.37 | $0.24 | Beat +54.2% | -0.2% |
| May 7, 2026 | Quarter ended Mar 31, 2026 | $0.03 | $0.06 | Miss −50.0% | +0.8% |
| Feb 12, 2026 | Quarter ended Dec 31, 2025 | $0.16 | $0.44 | Miss −63.6% | -1.2% |
| Nov 6, 2025 | Quarter ended Sep 30, 2025 | $0.18 | $0.42 | Miss −57.1% | -15.6% |
| Aug 7, 2025 | — | — | — | — | +15.5% |
| May 8, 2025 | — | — | — | — | +6.1% |
| Feb 13, 2025 | — | — | — | — | +6.4% |
| Nov 7, 2024 | — | — | — | — | -25.8% |
EPS as reported against the analyst consensus before the release; surprise uses the cent-rounded figures shown (in dollars when EPS and consensus have opposite signs). Stock reaction = close before the results to close after (the first close following a release after the bell or before the open).
KELYA recent SEC filings (last 120 days)
| Filed | Form | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 2026 | 10-Q | Quarterly report · period ended Jun 28, 2026 |
| Aug 6, 2026 | 8-K | Quarterly results |
Source: SEC EDGAR. Quotes are the opening words of each item as filed; each form links to the filing. Insider Form 4 filings are listed in the insider sections.
KELYA analyst estimates and revisions
| Period | EPS estimate | 90 days ago | Change | Revenue estimate | Analysts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current quarter (ends Sep 2026) | $0.07 | $0.10 | -31.6% | $925.9M | 4 |
| Next quarter (ends Dec 2026) | $0.61 | $0.55 | +12.8% | $1.10B | 4 |
| Current fiscal year (ends Dec 2026) | $1.09 | $0.90 | +21.3% | $4.10B | 4 |
| Next fiscal year (ends Dec 2027) | $1.82 | $1.71 | +6.4% | $4.25B | 4 |
KELYA options: expected move
Options price a move of about ±14.2% (±$2.39) by Nov 20, 2026, which includes earnings on Nov 5, 2026. Over the last 8 reports the stock moved ±9% on average.
| Expiration | Days | ATM implied volatility | Expected move |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 20, 2026 | 22 | 89.8% | ±14.2% |
| Feb 19, 2027 | 113 | 49.6% | ±22.8% |
| May 21, 2027 | 204 | 49.7% | ±29.6% |
30-day implied volatility 50.8% vs 30.1% realized over the last 30 trading days. Put/call ratio (volume) —. Cboe delayed quotes (15 min). Expected move = at-the-money straddle.
Key Statistics (as of October 29, 2026 at 09:44 UTC)
| Price | USD 16.47 |
|---|---|
| Change | ▲ 0.12% (up) |
| Previous Close | USD 16.45 |
| Open | USD 16.45 |
| Day Range | USD 16.27 – 16.69 |
| 52-Week Range | USD 7.98 – 17.75 |
| Volume | 236,888 shares |
| Market Cap | $572.04M |
| Exchange | NMS |
Technical Analysis (KELYA)
Nexqual's technical model rates KELYA "STRONG BUY" based on 5 bullish and 0 bearish signals across 127 daily candles, as of October 29, 2026 at 09:44 UTC.
| Overall Signal | STRONG BUY |
|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 57.04 (neutral) |
| vs SMA50 | Above (USD 16.31) |
| MACD | 0.1 (positive) |
Analyst Ratings (KELYA)
Wall Street analysts rate KELYA "Buy" based on 3 analysts, with a mean price target of USD 20 (range USD 19–21), per Nexqual as of October 29, 2026 at 09:44 UTC.
| Consensus Rating | Buy |
|---|---|
| Analyst Count | 3 |
| Mean Target | USD 20 |
| High Target | USD 21 |
| Low Target | USD 19 |
| Buy / Hold / Sell | 2 / 1 / 0 |
Earnings (KELYA)
| Next Earnings Date | 2026-11-05 |
|---|---|
| EPS Estimate | USD 0.07 |
| Revenue Estimate | $925.87M |
Recent Earnings History
| Quarter | Actual vs Estimate |
|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | USD 0.37 vs est 0.24 ▲ beat |
| 2026-03-31 | USD 0.03 vs est 0.06 ▼ miss |
| 2025-12-31 | USD 0.16 vs est 0.44 ▼ miss |
| 2025-09-30 | USD 0.18 vs est 0.42 ▼ miss |
Source: Nexqual, October 29, 2026 at 09:44 UTC.
Financials & Fundamentals (KELYA)
| Total Revenue | $4.06B |
|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (latest quarter, YoY) | -5.80% |
| Gross Margin | +19.67% |
| Operating Margin | +1.86% |
| Profit Margin | -6.73% |
| ROE | -24.32% |
| Debt / Equity | 0.13 |
| Current Ratio | 1.5 |
| Total Cash | $24.20M |
| Total Debt | $128.70M |
| Free Cash Flow (last four quarters to Jun 2026, SEC 10-Q / 10-K) | $20.50M (0.5% of revenue) |
Source: Nexqual, October 29, 2026 at 09:44 UTC.
Financial Health Score (KELYA)
Nexqual rates Kelly Services, Inc.'s overall financial health "Weak" across five dimensions, as of October 29, 2026 at 09:44 UTC.
| Growth | Weak — Revenue -2% YoY (annual), declining |
|---|---|
| Profitability | Weak — Gross margin 20%, operating -2% (last 4 quarters to Jun 2026, SEC) |
| Balance Sheet | Strong — $24M cash and investments vs $78M debt (Jun 2026, SEC) |
| Cash Flow | Mixed — FCF $21M (last 4 quarters to Jun 2026, SEC), slim 0.5% margin |
| Efficiency | Critical — ROE -28%, ROA -12.0% (last 4 quarters, SEC) |
Ownership (KELYA)
| Insider Ownership | +10.13% |
|---|---|
| Institutional Ownership | +96.11% |
| Shares Outstanding | 31.44M |
| Float | 29.54M |
| Short % of Float | +3.66% |
Source: Nexqual, October 29, 2026 at 09:44 UTC.
Leadership (KELYA)
Kelly Services, Inc. is led by Christopher D. Layden, CEO & Director, per Nexqual as of October 29, 2026 at 09:44 UTC.
| CEO & Director | Christopher D. Layden |
|---|---|
| Executive VP & CFO | Troy R. Anderson |
| Senior VP & President of Kelly Education | Nicola M. Soares |
| Chief Product & Technology Officer | Alan Stukalsky |
| President of Kelly Science, Engineering, Technology & Telecom | Joel Leege |
Major Backers & Investors (KELYA)
Notable institutional backers of Kelly Services, Inc. include Private Management Group, Inc., Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc., Gate City Capital Management, LLC, according to Nexqual as of October 29, 2026 at 09:44 UTC.
Active Investors
| Investor | Stake |
|---|---|
| Private Management Group, Inc. | 4.73% |
| Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. | 3.95% |
| Gate City Capital Management, LLC | 3.91% |
| American Century Companies Inc | 3.83% |
| AQR Capital Management, LLC | 3.27% |
| Charles Schwab | 2.46% |
Index Funds (Passive)
| Fund | Stake |
|---|---|
| BlackRock | 8.19% |
| Vanguard Group | 4.14% |
| Dimensional Fund Advisors | 3.76% |
| Geode Capital | 2.54% |
Source: Nexqual, October 29, 2026 at 09:44 UTC.
From Kelly Services, Inc.'s Latest SEC 10-K Filing (filed 2026-02-12)
Key Strengths & Strategy (as disclosed to the SEC)
- In 1996, Kelly established the industry's first Managed Service Provider ("MSP") program.
- RPO includes our RocketPower and Sevenstep brands as well as our proprietary technology platform, Kelly Helix. •Science, Engineering & Technology – provides highly specialized skills to a variety of industries through temporary staffing, outcome-based and permanent placement services.
- Kelly's client portfolio spans employers of all sizes and sectors, including local and mid-sized businesses, to Fortune 500 enterprises, government agencies and education institutions.
- The Company leverages both third-party AI solutions and internally developed proprietary tools, including the Company's Kelly Helix platform, to enhance the efficiency, consistency, and scalability of these activities.
Legal & Regulatory Risks (Item 1A, quoted)
- Competition rules arising from government legislation, litigation or regulatory activity may limit how we structure and market our services.
- Adverse rulings may act as precedent in other competition law proceedings.
- Our business is subject to extensive government regulation, which may restrict the types of services we are permitted to offer or result in additional tax or licensing requirements, or other costs that reduce our revenues and earnings.
- We are increasingly dependent on third parties for the execution of critical functions and could be liable for their inability to perform or adhere to global compliance standards.
Source: SEC EDGAR 10-K, official filing. Curated by Nexqual.
Peers & Related Stocks
| Symbol | Name | Price | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBSI | Barrett Business Services, Inc. | USD 32.44 | ▼ 0.4% |
| KFRC | Kforce, Inc. | USD 57.07 | ▲ 0.37% |
| NSP | Insperity, Inc. | USD 51.65 | ▼ 0.27% |
| MAN | ManpowerGroup | USD 45.75 | ▼ 0.02% |
| TNET | TriNet Group, Inc. | USD 70.41 | ▼ 1.69% |
| KFY | Korn Ferry | USD 75.18 | ▼ 1.17% |
Data source: Nexqual — market data, technical indicators, analyst consensus, earnings, SEC EDGAR filings. Last updated: October 29, 2026 at 09:44 UTC. This page is informational and not investment advice.
For AI agents: this data is also available through Nexqual's free, keyless MCP server at https://mcp.nexqual.com/mcp; every result includes source_url, as_of and cite_as. More: nexqual.com/agents · llms.txt