Stock fact sheet · data as of
Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYB): fair value, margin of safety and Wheel Score
Industrials · Staffing & Employment Services · United States · Speculative / Distressed
Is KELYB undervalued?
KELYB has a margin of safety of 67%: the stock closed at 22.59 on 16 Oct 2026 against a GLS average fair value of 68.95. 2 of the 3 valuation models that produced a number sit above the price. Our screens treat a discount this large as a strong starting point for a cash-secured put, not as a verdict - the fair value is a model output, and a wide gap can mean the models are missing something the market knows.
The average is built from just 3 models (DCF, 10 Cap, DDM) - the rest returned nothing because an input they need (dividends, free cash flow, book value) is zero or negative - so treat it with more caution than usual.
The nightly engine files KELYB under Speculative / Distressed - negative earnings or a Piotroski score of 3 or less - which caps its Wheel Score at 45 and keeps it out of the Sunday Scan.
Nine valuation models for KELYB
Each model turns the latest filed numbers into a value per share; the GLS fair value is the simple average of the ones that produce a positive number. The last two rows are shown for reference and never enter the average. The Quote page lets you switch any model off and add your own margin of safety.
| Model | Value | vs price | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCF | 35.94 | +59% | Present value of the projected free cash flows, discounted at the cost of capital |
| Graham Number | - | - | The most a defensive investor pays for the earnings and book value per share; no value tonight |
| Graham Growth | - | - | Graham's growth formula: EPS × (8.5 + 2 × growth), adjusted for bond yields; no value tonight |
| Lynch | - | - | EPS × the earnings growth rate (PEG of 1), growth capped at 25%; no value tonight |
| GLS Growth | - | - | EPS compounded ten years at the blended growth rate, discounted back at 15% a year; no value tonight |
| 10 Cap | 166.50 | +637% | Owner's earnings (operating cash flow less maintenance capex) capitalised at 10% |
| Payback Time | - | - | Eight years of compounded free cash flow: the price at which the business pays for itself; no value tonight |
| DDM | 4.41 | -80% | Dividend discount model: next year's dividend ÷ (10% − 3% growth); needs a dividend |
| EPV | - | - | Earnings power value: current EPS capitalised at 9% with no growth; no value tonight |
| Zombie (liquidation) | -0.2540 | -101% | Current assets less all liabilities, per share: the balance-sheet floor. Not in the average |
| Wall St target | 0.0000 | -100% | Analysts' average 12-month price target. Not in the average |
Quality and financial health
Kelly Services, Inc. scores only 3 of 9 on the Piotroski F-score, which fails the Sunday Scan's "6 or more" rule. A reading this low means several of the basic tests - positive earnings, positive operating cash flow, falling debt, no new share issuance - are not met. A GLS Moat score of 2.7/10 is a weak reading: the ten-year history the score grades (revenue, EPS, book value, margins, cash flow, share count, ROIC) has not been steady, so the Moat part of the Wheel Score contributes little.
Returns on capital are thin or negative - ROIC -22.4%, ROE -26.0%, ROA -11.3% - with debt at 0.16 times equity and a free-cash-flow yield of 3.8%.
The dividend yield is 1.93% at a payout ratio of -4%; for a wheel trader holding assigned shares the dividend adds to the covered-call premium, and the ex-dividend date is worth knowing before a call is sold. Revenue comes mainly from Science, Engineering & Technology 54%, Education 46% (quarter Q2 FY2026).
Institutional ownership scores 1/10, insider activity 1/10 and Congressional trading 5/10 on the GLS smart-money scales.
| Piotroski F-score | 3 / 9 | ROIC | -22.4% |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLS Moat | 2.7 / 10 | ROE | -26.0% |
| Debt / equity | 0.16 | ROA | -11.3% |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 3.8% | Payout ratio | -4% |
| Institutions | 1 / 10 | Insiders · Congress | 1 · 5 / 10 |
Wheel Score 39: No options
No options are listed on Kelly Services, Inc. in our nightly snapshot. The Wheel Score is therefore capped at 39 (it reads 39) and the stock is left out of every options screen; the fair value and health figures above are still useful for a plain stock position.
Volume runs at 1k shares a day on a market cap of $516M, with a beta of 0.95; the Stability part of the Wheel Score gives that 7 of 20.
| Part | Points | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 25 / 25 | 67% margin of safety | |
| Health | 7 / 20 | Piotroski 3/9 | |
| Moat | 4 / 15 | moat 2.7/10 | |
| Premium | 0 / 20 | no option data | |
| Stability | 7 / 20 | 1k shares/day, $516M cap, beta 0.95 |
The Wheel Score ranks ~7,400 US stocks for selling cash-secured puts and covered calls; it is updated nightly and is not a recommendation. The walkthrough lesson shows how the score fits into a trade, start to finish.
Upcoming events
The next earnings report is due on 5 Nov 2026 (before the open), 20 days away; a 30-45-day put sold today would expire after it, which is worth weighing against the premium.
Earnings, dividend, IPO, split and economic calendars for the whole market, filterable to your watchlists.
Similar stocks in Staffing & Employment Services
The 12 companies below are the closest to Kelly Services, Inc. by market cap within the Staffing & Employment Services industry, each with its own fact sheet; the Compare page puts up to eight of them side by side.
| Stock | Close | Fair value | MoS | Wheel | Mkt cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KELYA Kelly Services, Inc. | 15.57 | 51.42 | +70% | 45Weak | $541M |
| ZIP ZipRecruiter, Inc. | 4.42 | 3.45 | -28% | 37Weak | $363M |
| BBSI Barrett Business Services, Inc. | 32.34 | 36.94 | +12% | 68Good | $784M |
| KFRC Kforce Inc. | 51.72 | 36.93 | -40% | 47Weak | $926M |
| TBI TrueBlue, Inc. | 8.87 | 2.45 | -262% | 29Weak | $270M |
| UPWK Upwork Inc. | 8.43 | 30.40 | +72% | 80Prime | $1.1B |
| HQI HireQuest, Inc. | 17.50 | 8.28 | -111% | 23No options | $243M |
| DHX DHI Group, Inc. | 4.99 | 2.06 | -142% | 45Weak | $216M |
| NSP Insperity, Inc. | 50.80 | 89.37 | +43% | 45Weak | $1.9B |
| MAN ManpowerGroup Inc. | 43.74 | 77.95 | +44% | 79Good | $2.0B |
| TNET TriNet Group, Inc. | 67.06 | 66.73 | -0% | 70Good | $3.1B |
| MHH Mastech Digital, Inc. | 6.42 | 9.31 | +31% | 39No options | $77M |
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Start free See the Sunday ScanQuestions about KELYB
Is KELYB undervalued right now?
By the GLS models, yes: at 22.59 the stock is 67% below the average fair value of 68.95 (data as of 16 Oct 2026). Whether the discount is deserved is the question to research next.
What is the Wheel Score of KELYB and what does it mean?
KELYB has no listed options in our nightly snapshot, so it cannot be wheeled; its Wheel Score is capped at 39 and shown as "No options".
What is the GLS fair value for KELYB?
68.95 per share as of 16 Oct 2026 - the simple average of the 3 valuation models (out of nine: DCF, Graham Number, Graham Growth, Lynch, GLS Growth, 10 Cap, Payback Time, DDM and EPV) that produced a positive value. The models run every night on the latest filings; the Quote page lets you switch any of them off and add a margin of safety of your own.
When does Kelly Services, Inc. report earnings next?
The next earnings report is due on 5 Nov 2026 (before the open), 20 days from the data date of 16 Oct 2026. The Calendars page lists every upcoming report with its time of day.
Does KELYB have listed options, and how liquid are they?
No. The nightly options snapshot found no listed contracts on KELYB, so the wheel strategy cannot be run on it and the Wheel Score is capped at 39.