HQI
BEARISH
$10.28
Live
HireQuest, Inc. · NASDAQ
Target $14.0
(+36.2%)
$7.38
52W Range
$12.48
At a glance
Key valuation, profitability, growth, and risk metrics.
Updated Apr 11, 2026
Market cap
$144.49M
P/E
21.87
ROE
9.9%
Profit margin
20.7%
Debt/Equity
N/A
Dividend yield
2.23%
AI Analysis
AI-powered fundamental assessment
Confidence
85%
HQI exhibits a stable but mediocre financial health profile with a Piotroski F-Score of 4/9. The stock is significantly overvalued, trading at $10.28, which is well above both its Graham Number ($7.02) and its growth-based Intrinsic Value ($3.15). This valuation premium is difficult to justify given the negative revenue growth (-13.00%) and sharp decline in earnings growth (-28.70%). While liquidity is strong and analyst sentiment remains bullish, the fundamental data and long-term price performance suggest a bearish outlook.
Key Strengths
Strong liquidity with a Current Ratio of 3.15
Healthy profit margins (20.66%) and operating margins (24.97%)
Sustainable dividend payout ratio of 51.06%
Positive analyst consensus with a target price of $14.00
Stable Piotroski F-Score (4/9) indicating no immediate health crisis
Key Risks
Significant negative revenue growth (-13.00% YoY)
Sharp decline in earnings growth (-28.70% YoY)
Trading at a substantial premium to intrinsic and Graham value
Bearish technical trend (0/100 score)
Poor long-term price performance (5Y change of -42.2%)
AI Fair Value Estimate
Based on comprehensive analysis
$7.02
-31.7% below current price
Performance Snowflake
Multi-dimensional analysis across 5 key categories
Overall
38
Weak
30
20
25
55
60
AI Verdict
Overvalued with Declining Fundamentals
Key drivers: Negative Revenue/Earnings Growth, Price significantly above Graham/Intrinsic value, Bearish technical trend
Confidence
80%
Value
30/100
P/E 21.87, Graham Number $7.02, Intrinsic Value $3.15
Positives
- P/E ratio is lower than the sector average
Watchpoints
- Current price exceeds Graham Number by ~46%
- Current price is >3x the Intrinsic Value estimate
Future
20/100
Negative YoY and Q/Q growth metrics
Positives
- Strong analyst target price of $14.00
Watchpoints
- Revenue growth is negative (-13%)
- Earnings growth is sharply negative (-28.7%)
Past
25/100
5Y Change -42.2%, 3Y Change -49.5%
Positives
- Recent 6-month price recovery (+25.1%)
Watchpoints
- Severe 3-year and 5-year price depreciation
- Inconsistent earnings surprise history
Health
55/100
Strong liquidity offsets mediocre Piotroski score
Positives
- Excellent Current Ratio (3.15)
- Strong Quick Ratio (2.81)
Watchpoints
- Piotroski F-Score of 4/9 is only 'Stable', not 'Strong'
Dividend
60/100
Dividend Rate $0.24
Positives
- Moderate payout ratio (51.06%) suggests sustainability
Watchpoints
- Low absolute dividend yield (2.23%)
Stock Price & Analyst Targets
Real-time price movements and analyst price targets
Current Price
$10.28
Analyst Target
$14.0
Upside/Downside
+36.2%
Multi-Horizon Performance vs Peers
Price momentum across 5Y → 1W horizons for HQI and closest competitors.
Updated 2026-04-10
| Company | 5Y | 3Y | 1Y | 6M | 1M | 1W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
HQI
HireQuest, Inc.
Primary
|
-42.2% | -49.5% | +0.6% | +25.1% | -1.5% | +0.5% |
|
AP
Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation
Peer
|
-10.9% | +174.0% | +190.8% | +155.0% | -14.9% | -33.6% |
|
EML
The Eastern Company
Peer
|
-9.5% | +14.7% | -4.8% | -3.5% | +11.2% | +3.9% |
|
BEEP
Mobile Infrastructure Corporation
Peer
|
-71.5% | -71.5% | -24.4% | -23.4% | +8.1% | +12.2% |
|
FLX
BingEx Ltd
Peer
|
-86.8% | -86.8% | +6.7% | -33.3% | -0.4% | -5.2% |
HQI
HireQuest, Inc.
Primary
5Y
-42.2%
3Y
-49.5%
1Y
+0.6%
6M
+25.1%
1M
-1.5%
1W
+0.5%
AP
Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation
Peer
5Y
-10.9%
3Y
+174.0%
1Y
+190.8%
6M
+155.0%
1M
-14.9%
1W
-33.6%
EML
The Eastern Company
Peer
5Y
-9.5%
3Y
+14.7%
1Y
-4.8%
6M
-3.5%
1M
+11.2%
1W
+3.9%
BEE
Mobile Infrastructure Corporation
Peer
5Y
-71.5%
3Y
-71.5%
1Y
-24.4%
6M
-23.4%
1M
+8.1%
1W
+12.2%
FLX
BingEx Ltd
Peer
5Y
-86.8%
3Y
-86.8%
1Y
+6.7%
6M
-33.3%
1M
-0.4%
1W
-5.2%
Positive values indicate cumulative gains over the specified period. Comparables pulled from the same sector to highlight whether momentum is stock-specific or industry-wide.
Historical Performance Trends
Long-term financial metrics and growth patterns
Revenue & Net Income
Profit & Operating Margins
Return on Equity (ROE)
Quarterly Revenue Growth
Historical data shows last 12 quarters (3 years)
Valuation Metrics
Key valuation ratios and pricing indicators
P/E Ratio
21.87
Forward P/E
16.58
PEG Ratio
N/A
P/B Ratio
2.11
P/S Ratio
4.72
EV/Revenue
4.57
EV/EBITDA
14.05
Market Cap
$144.49M
Profitability
Profit margins and return metrics
Profit Margin
20.66%
Operating Margin
24.97%
Gross Margin
100.0%
ROE
9.93%
ROA
4.77%
Growth
Revenue and earnings growth rates
Revenue Growth
-13.0%
Earnings Growth
-28.7%
Q/Q Revenue Growth
-13.0%
Q/Q Earnings Growth
-27.8%
Financial Health
Balance sheet strength and liquidity metrics
Debt/Equity
N/A
Current Ratio
3.15
Strong
Quick Ratio
2.81
Excellent
Cash/Share
$0.28
Financial Statement Flow
Interactive flow visualization showing how money moves through the company Q4 2025
Revenue
$0.0B
Op. Margin
25.0%
Net Margin
22.8%
Total Assets
$0.1B
Liabilities
$0.0B
Equity
$0.1B
Debt/Equity
0.29x
Operating CF
$0.0B
CapEx
$-0.0B
Free Cash Flow
$0.0B
FCF Yield
100%
Quarterly Earnings History
EPS performance vs analyst estimates
2026-05-07
$N/A
2026-03-30
$0.19
+46.1% surprise
2025-11-06
$0.24
+54.8% surprise
2025-08-07
$0.08
-38.5% surprise
Industrials Sector Comparison
Comparing HQI against 199 companies in the Industrials sector
(16 bullish, 81 neutral, 102 bearish)
P/E Ratio
21.87
This Stock
vs
84.92
Sector Avg
-74.2%
(Discount)
Return on Equity (ROE)
9.93%
This Stock
vs
-4.57%
Sector Avg
-317.5%
(Below Avg)
Profit Margin
20.66%
This Stock
vs
26.28%
Sector Avg
-21.4%
(Weaker)
Revenue Growth
-13.0%
This Stock
vs
30.91%
Sector Avg
-142.1%
(Slower)
Current Ratio
3.15
This Stock
vs
3.11
Sector Avg
+1.3%
(Better)
Similar Companies
Peer comparison within the same industry
| Company | AI Rating | Market Cap | P/E | ROE | Profit Margin | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
HQI
HireQuest, Inc.
|
BEARISH | $144.49M | 21.87 | 9.9% | 20.7% | $10.28 | |
|
AP
Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation
|
BEARISH | $134.76M | - | -4.1% | -1.2% | $6.63 | Compare |
|
EML
The Eastern Company
|
BEARISH | $128.59M | 21.19 | 4.9% | 2.9% | $21.19 | Compare |
|
BEEP
Mobile Infrastructure Corporation
|
BEARISH | $124.78M | - | -9.0% | -42.1% | $2.95 | Compare |
|
FLX
BingEx Ltd
|
NEUTRAL | $169.29M | 11.33 | 13.8% | 2.7% | $2.38 | Compare |
HQI
HireQuest, Inc.
BEARISH
Mkt Cap
$144M
P/E
21.9
ROE
9.9%
Price
$10.28
Recent Insider Trading
Insider buy and sell transactions from the last 6 months
| Date | Insider | Position | Transaction | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-02 | HERMANNS RICHARD | Chief Executive Officer | Stock Award | 25,000 | - |
| 2026-03-02 | MCANNAR JOHN | Officer | Stock Award | 10,000 | - |
| 2026-03-02 | OLMSTEAD JACK A. | Director | Stock Award | 1,134 | - |
| 2026-03-02 | HARTLEY CHARLES DAVID RYAN | Chief Financial Officer | Stock Award | 10,000 | - |
| 2026-03-02 | MALHOTRA R RIMMY | Director | Stock Award | 1,448 | - |
| 2026-03-02 | HAGENBUCH LAWRENCE F | Director | Stock Award | 1,121 | - |
| 2026-03-02 | JACKSON EDWARD | Director and Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security | Stock Award | 907 | - |
| 2026-03-02 | SHANAHAN KATHLEEN M | Director | Stock Award | 1,272 | - |
| 2025-12-30 | HERMANNS RICHARD | Chief Executive Officer | Purchase | 9,704 | $99,757 |
| 2025-12-24 | HERMANNS RICHARD | Chief Executive Officer | Purchase | 19,276 | $176,376 |
| 2025-11-07 | OLMSTEAD JACK A. | Director | Stock Award | 2,792 | - |
| 2025-11-07 | MALHOTRA R RIMMY | Director | Stock Award | 3,568 | - |
| 2025-11-07 | HAGENBUCH LAWRENCE F | Director | Stock Award | 2,762 | - |
| 2025-11-07 | JACKSON EDWARD | Director and Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security | Stock Award | 2,234 | - |
| 2025-11-07 | SHANAHAN KATHLEEN M | Director | Stock Award | 1,567 | - |
HERMANNS RICHARD
Chief Executive Officer
2026-03-02
25,000 shares
MCANNAR JOHN
Officer
2026-03-02
10,000 shares
OLMSTEAD JACK A.
Director
2026-03-02
1,134 shares
HARTLEY CHARLES DAVID RYAN
Chief Financial Officer
2026-03-02
10,000 shares
MALHOTRA R RIMMY
Director
2026-03-02
1,448 shares
HAGENBUCH LAWRENCE F
Director
2026-03-02
1,121 shares
JACKSON EDWARD
Director and Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
2026-03-02
907 shares
SHANAHAN KATHLEEN M
Director
2026-03-02
1,272 shares
HERMANNS RICHARD
Chief Executive Officer
2025-12-30
9,704 shares
·
$99,757
HERMANNS RICHARD
Chief Executive Officer
2025-12-24
19,276 shares
·
$176,376
OLMSTEAD JACK A.
Director
2025-11-07
2,792 shares
MALHOTRA R RIMMY
Director
2025-11-07
3,568 shares
HAGENBUCH LAWRENCE F
Director
2025-11-07
2,762 shares
JACKSON EDWARD
Director and Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
2025-11-07
2,234 shares
SHANAHAN KATHLEEN M
Director
2025-11-07
1,567 shares
Insider transactions can signal confidence or concerns about company prospects
Wall Street Analysts
Professional analyst ratings and price targets
Consensus
STRONG_BUY
2 analysts
Barrington Research
2026-01-29
Outperform
Outperform
Barrington Research
2025-11-12
Outperform
Outperform
Past News Coverage
Recent headlines mentioning HQI from our newsroom.
Newest → oldest
No matching news yet.