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Hirequest Inc(HQI)
Advisory History & Simulated Performance *
*as per simulation (see disclosures)- ALL
- 1Y
- 1M
- 1W
- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- PASS (Skip)
Stock price based on last close Advisory Performance History (Simulated)
Upturn Advisory & Investor View for HQI
09/15/2026: HQI (2-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.
Hirequest Inc is a national franchisor in the temporary staffing industry that utilizes a capital-light model to generate royalty and support fee income. Its main strengths include low operating overhead and a scalable architecture that allows for growth via strategic acquisitions and franchise expansion. The company's primary investment story centers on its ability to roll up smaller staffing brands into its efficient, centralized system. However, investors should be mindful of risks related to economic cyclicality, heavy reliance on franchisee performance, and competition from large national firms. The stock may suit value-oriented investors who appreciate steady, fee-based cash flows and are comfortable with the volatility inherent in smaller-cap staffing companies.
How to Read the Upturn Advisory
The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.
Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.
Investor Fit
| Investor style | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth investor | Mixed fit | The company offers moderate growth potential through franchise expansion but lacks the rapid scaling of high-tech firms. |
| Momentum investor | Mixed fit | Momentum depends on the prevailing trend in the staffing sector and overall market conditions. |
| Value investor | Strong fit | The company's asset-light model and consistent cash flow may appeal to value investors looking for fundamental stability. |
| Dividend investor | Mixed fit | The dividend is steady but the yield is not the primary driver of total returns compared to larger, more established companies. |
| Low-risk investor | Weak fit | Small-cap staffing companies can experience significant price volatility during economic cycles. |
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Price volatility | Medium / high | Small-cap stocks in the staffing sector are sensitive to macroeconomic shifts. |
| Valuation risk | Medium | The stock's valuation is tied to its ability to continue acquiring and growing franchises effectively. |
| Competition risk (Direct staffing peers) | Medium / high | Large competitors have deeper pockets for marketing and technology investment. |
| Business quality | Medium | Franchise-based models are dependent on the quality of individual franchisees. |
| Dividend income | Low | Dividends are not the company's primary focus for shareholder returns. |
| Execution risk | Medium | Integrating new acquisitions into the franchise model is critical to long-term success. |
Price Behavior
Strong Uptrend
The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.
Choppy
The stock has experienced frequent reversals and pronounced short-term price swings.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit -16.34% | Avg. Invested days 24 | Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating |
Upturn Advisory Rating  | Upturn Advisory Performance  2.0 | Stock Returns Performance  1.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 09/15/2026 |
Upturn Scorecard
Upturn Star Rating 
Company Fundamentals
Financial Health Rating
Growth Momentum Score
Ownership
Top 5 Institutional Investors
Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)
Economic Dimensions
Quantitative Style Profile
Style Classification
Quality Focused
Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 224.33M USD | Price to earnings Ratio 26.92 | 1Y Target Price 19 |
Price to earnings Ratio 26.92 | 1Y Target Price 19 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 27.5K shares | Beta 1.15 | 52 Weeks Range 7.28 - 18.94 | Updated Date 09/15/2026 |
52 Weeks Range 7.28 - 18.94 | Updated Date 09/15/2026 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) 1.50% | Basic EPS (TTM) 0.6 |
How Company Makes Money
| Business area | What it includes | Retail investor read |
|---|---|---|
| Franchise Royalties | Ongoing percentage-based fees collected from franchisees for the use of the brand and support services. | The company earns money consistently as its franchisees generate revenue. |
| Support Service Fees | Centralized payroll and insurance processing fees paid by franchisees. | Provides stable, recurring income based on the volume of temporary employees working. |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Valuation
Trailing PE 26.92 | Forward PE 17.83 | Enterprise Value 224.04M | Price to Sales(TTM) 7.44 |
Enterprise Value 224.04M | Price to Sales(TTM) 7.44 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 7.43 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 17.99 | Shares Outstanding 13.89M | Shares Floating 5.18M |
Shares Outstanding 13.89M | Shares Floating 5.18M | ||
Percent Insiders 61.39 | Percent Institutions 11.59 |
Upturn AI Summary
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
Financial Metrics
🧭 Investment Snapshot
Total Revenue (Scale)
Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.
Net Income (Profit)
Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.
Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)
Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.
📈 Growth & Strength
Operating Income (Core Profit)
Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.
EBITDA (Cash Earnings)
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.
Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)
Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.
🛡️ Financial Safety
Cash (Liquidity Buffer)
Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.
Total Debt (Leverage Risk)
Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.
Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)
Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.
🧱 Balance Sheet Strength
Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)
Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.
Total Assets (Asset Base)
The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.
Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)
Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.
⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors
Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)
Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.
Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)
Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.
Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)
Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.
About Hirequest Inc
Exchange NASDAQ | Headquarters Goose Creek, SC, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 2002-06-06 | Chairman, President & CEO Mr. Richard F. Hermanns | ||
Sector Industrials | Industry Staffing & Employment Services | Full time employees 88 | Website https://hirequest.com |
Full time employees 88 | Website https://hirequest.com | ||
HireQuest, Inc. provides staffing solutions in the United States. The company offers direct-dispatch, executive search, commercial staffing, unskilled and semi-skilled industrial, construction personnel, skilled and semi-skilled industrial personnel, clerical and administrative personnel, permanent placement, commercial and non-CDL drivers, skilled personnel, and executive placement and consultant services. It offers its services under the HireQuest Direct, HireQuest, Snelling, DriverQuest, HireQuest Health, Northbound Executive Search, and MRI trade names. The company serves construction, recycling, warehousing, logistics, auctioneering, manufacturing, hospitality, landscaping, and retail industries, as well as dental practices. HireQuest, Inc. was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Goose Creek, South Carolina.
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