For Immediate ReleaseChicago, IL – September 29, 2025 – Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses Barrett Business Services, Inc. (BBSI) , The Brink's Company, Inc. (BCO) and Capgemini SE (CGEMY) .Industry: OutsourcingLink: https://www.zacks.com/commentary/2757574/here-are-3-outsourcing-stocks-investors-should-considerThe rising demand for business process outsourcing (BPO), driven by its flexibility and low costs, supports the Zacks Outsourcing industry. The upsurge in data encryption and cybersecurity risks ...

The rising demand for business process outsourcing (BPO), driven by its flexibility and low costs, supports the Zacks Outsourcing industry. The upsurge in data encryption and cybersecurity risks necessitates the need to pivot toward outsourcing. Trends like the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are transforming the sector.Investors can consider Barrett Business Services, Inc. (BBSI) , The Brink's Company, Inc. (BCO) and Capgemini SE (CGEMY) fro ...

An updated edition of the Aug 7, 2025 article.Staffing goes beyond filling vacancies; it’s about matching the right talent with the right opportunity at the right moment. In today’s fast-changing business environment, companies must remain competitive, agile and innovative. Meeting these demands makes effective staffing essential. From short-term hires to handle seasonal peaks to cultivating a future-ready leadership pipeline, staffing solutions are key to building workforce resilience.The staffing ecosyste ...

Core Viewpoint - Barrett Business Services (BBSI) has received an upgrade to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive trend in earnings estimates which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][4]. Earnings Estimates and Ratings - The Zacks rating system is primarily based on a company's changing earnings picture, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate tracking EPS estimates from sell-side analysts [2]. - The Zacks rating upgrade for Barrett reflects an improved earnings outlook, which is likely to positively impact its stock price [4][6]. Impact of Earnings Estimates on Stock Prices - Changes in a company's future earnings potential, as indicated by earnings estimate revisions, are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [5]. - Institutional investors often rely on earnings estimates to determine the fair value of a company's shares, leading to significant price movements based on their buying or selling actions [5]. Recent Performance of Barrett - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, Barrett is expected to earn $2.19 per share, which remains unchanged from the previous year [9]. - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Barrett has increased by 4%, indicating a positive trend in earnings estimates [9]. Zacks Rank System Overview - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with a proven track record of Zacks Rank 1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [8]. - The upgrade of Barrett to a Zacks Rank 2 places it in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting a strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [11].

Company Overview - Barrett Business Services (BBSI) currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [3][4] - The company operates in the human resources management sector and is being evaluated for its momentum potential [4] Price Performance - BBSI shares have increased by 0.06% over the past week, while the Zacks Outsourcing industry remained flat during the same period [6] - Over the past month, BBSI's price change is 10.81%, compared to the industry's 11.91% [6] - In the last quarter, BBSI shares rose by 15.39%, and over the past year, they gained 33.66%, outperforming the S&P 500, which moved 9.68% and 16.9% respectively [7] Trading Volume - The average 20-day trading volume for BBSI is 169,413 shares, indicating a baseline for price-to-volume analysis [8] Earnings Estimates - In the past two months, two earnings estimates for BBSI have been revised upwards, increasing the consensus estimate from $2.11 to $2.19 [10] - For the next fiscal year, one estimate has moved upwards with no downward revisions [10] Conclusion - Considering the positive price performance, trading volume, and favorable earnings outlook, BBSI is positioned as a promising momentum stock with a Momentum Score of B [12]

Core Viewpoint - Barrett (BBSI.US) has had its MSCI ESG rating downgraded from BB to B as of August 11, 2025 [1] Group 1 - The downgrade reflects a significant change in Barrett's ESG performance metrics [1]

Core Viewpoint - Growth investors seek stocks with above-average financial growth, but identifying such stocks can be challenging due to associated risks and volatility [1] Group 1: Company Overview - Barrett Business Services (BBSI) is currently recommended as a cutting-edge growth stock by the Zacks Growth Style Score system, which evaluates a company's real growth prospects beyond traditional metrics [2] - Barrett has a favorable Growth Score and a top Zacks Rank, indicating strong potential for growth investors [10] Group 2: Earnings Growth - The historical EPS growth rate for Barrett is 13.1%, with projected EPS growth of 8.1% this year, significantly outperforming the industry average of 5.5% [5] Group 3: Asset Utilization - Barrett's asset utilization ratio (sales-to-total-assets ratio) is 1.6, indicating that the company generates $1.6 in sales for every dollar in assets, surpassing the industry average of 1.32 [6] Group 4: Sales Growth - The company's sales are expected to grow by 9.5% this year, compared to the industry average of 1.3%, highlighting Barrett's strong sales growth potential [7] Group 5: Earnings Estimate Revisions - The current-year earnings estimates for Barrett have been revised upward, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by 1.7% over the past month, indicating positive momentum [8]

Core Insights - The staffing industry is evolving rapidly due to digital innovation, demographic changes, and the demand for flexible work arrangements, making effective staffing solutions critical for companies [3][4] - Staffing firms are increasingly viewed as growth enablers, helping organizations navigate economic uncertainties and scale for growth [4][5] Industry Overview - The staffing ecosystem has transformed, with organizations seeking strategic partners who understand talent needs and market trends [3] - Technology, including AI-enabled recruitment tools and talent analytics, is becoming standard in staffing strategies, allowing for faster and smarter hiring decisions [3] Investment Opportunities - The staffing sector presents compelling opportunities for investors, with firms like ADP, Korn Ferry, and Barrett Business Services positioned as key players in workforce transformation [5][6] - As hiring accelerates, staffing companies are at the forefront of providing scalable solutions that contribute to economic growth and long-term value creation [5] Company Highlights - **ADP**: A leader in human capital management solutions, ADP reported revenues of $5.1 billion for Q3 fiscal 2025, a 5.7% year-over-year increase, and is focused on expanding its cloud-based HCM and HR outsourcing solutions [8][9] - **Korn Ferry**: Specializes in executive search and workforce transformation, leveraging data-driven insights and AI tools to enhance hiring processes and leadership development [10][11][12] - **Barrett Business Services (BBSI)**: Provides HR outsourcing and management consulting, focusing on personalized client interactions and local market expertise, which supports its sustained growth [13]

Core Insights - Barrett Business Services (BBSI) reported revenue of $2.23 billion for the quarter ended June 2025, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 10.1% and surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.28% [1] - The earnings per share (EPS) for the same period was $0.70, compared to $0.62 a year ago, resulting in an EPS surprise of 7.69% over the consensus estimate of $0.65 [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Gross billings reached $2.23 billion, exceeding the average estimate of $2.18 billion from two analysts [4] - Revenue from professional employer services was $290.17 million, surpassing the average estimate of $280.04 million, with a year-over-year change of 11.7% [4] - Revenue from staffing services was $17.49 million, which fell short of the estimated $18.56 million, representing a year-over-year decline of 11.5% [4] Stock Performance - Barrett's shares have returned +4.1% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.5% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating potential performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Gross billings increased by 10.1% year-over-year to $2.23 billion in Q2 2025, compared to $2.03 billion in Q2 2024 [15] - PEO gross billings rose by 10.3% to $2.22 billion, while staffing revenues declined by 12% to $17 million [15] - Net income per diluted share increased to $0.70 from $0.62 in the prior year quarter, reflecting strong revenue growth and operating leverage [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The staffing business experienced an 11.5% decline year-over-year, attributed to macroeconomic uncertainty and client reluctance to fill staffing orders [6][15] - PEO worksite employees (WSEs) grew by 8%, driven by a record number of new client additions [15] - Average billing per WSE increased by 1.7%, influenced by rising wages but offset by lower average hours worked [20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Southern California, the largest region, saw a 12% growth, while the Pacific Northwest declined by 4% [16] - Asset light markets experienced a significant growth of 100% [16] - Client hiring remained modest and below historical levels, impacting overall workforce growth [6][15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on expanding its product offerings, particularly in health insurance, to capture a broader market, including white-collar businesses [10][40] - Investments in technology and product enhancements are aimed at improving client service and expanding the total addressable market [10][41] - The company plans to open one or two additional branches by the end of the year, following successful entries into Chicago and Dallas [8][62] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted macroeconomic uncertainty has caused clients to pause hiring, but they remain optimistic about future growth driven by new client acquisitions [6][13] - The company has increased its growth outlook for the remainder of the year, expecting gross billings to rise between 9% and 10% [22] - Management emphasized the importance of controllable growth and client retention as key drivers of future performance [45] Other Important Information - The company has a strong balance sheet with $90 million in unrestricted cash and no debt [20] - A new $100 million stock repurchase program was approved, reflecting the company's commitment to returning value to shareholders [22] - The workers' compensation program continues to perform well, with favorable adjustments recognized in the quarter [17][18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Status of workers' compensation rate increase - The California regulatory board recommended an over 11% rate increase, but the approved rate was around 9%, expected to push pricing up [27][28] Question: Impact of workers' compensation adjustments - The $8.8 million adjustment was consistent with prior year adjustments, indicating normal performance [32] Question: Profit potential from workers' compensation renewal - The renewal is expected to improve profit potential, especially if claims continue to perform better than expected [36][38] Question: Technology enhancements and market positioning - The company aims to aggressively target the white-collar market with new technology offerings, expanding its total addressable market [40][41] Question: Performance of healthcare policies - The healthcare market is expected to see higher renewal rates, with the company viewing this as an opportunity for growth [42][44] Question: Considerations for raising guidance - Strong year-to-date performance and consistent controllable growth led to the decision to raise guidance for the remainder of the year [45][46]