BBSI
IndustrialsBarrett Business Services, Inc. · Staffing & Employment Services · $770M
What is Barrett Business Services, Inc.?
Barrett Business Services, Inc. (BBSI) helps small and mid-sized businesses manage the complexity of running a workforce. Operating from Vancouver, Washington, the company blends human resources outsourcing with management consulting to serve clients across a wide range of industries.
BBSI operates primarily through a co-employment model, known as professional employer services, where it takes on shared employer responsibilities — including payroll processing, payroll tax administration, workers' compensation coverage, and HR administration — for its clients' existing workforces. Alongside this, the company provides staffing and recruiting services ranging from short-term on-demand placements to long-term on-site workforce management. Its client base spans light manufacturing, agriculture, food processing, construction, transportation, and professional services.
Barrett Business Services was incorporated in 1965 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Washington.
- Professional employer services (PEO) and co-employment arrangements
- Payroll processing and payroll tax administration
- Workers' compensation coverage and risk management
- On-demand, contract, and direct-placement staffing
- Long-term on-site workforce management solutions
Is BBSI a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates BBSI as Good overall, reflecting a balanced profile with meaningful strengths and some areas of concern.
The Risk pillar stands out as BBSI's clearest positive — the company carries a conservative financial structure that tends to hold up across economic cycles. Valuation also registers as Good, suggesting the stock is not pricing in excessive optimism relative to its fundamentals.
The Moat and Growth pillars both register as Weak, indicating limited competitive differentiation and a business that is not expanding at a pace that stands out within the sector.
Pro members can view the exact pillar breakdown and the full financial metrics behind each score — sign up at UQS Score to see the complete analysis. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does BBSI pay dividends?
Yes — Barrett Business Services, Inc. pays a dividend.
BBSI pays a regular dividend, which is relatively uncommon among smaller-cap staffing and HR outsourcing companies. The dividend reflects the company's emphasis on returning capital to shareholders, supported by its conservative financial posture. Investors seeking income alongside exposure to the business services sector may find this cadence relevant to their screening criteria.
When does BBSI report earnings?
Barrett Business Services reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed equities.
BBSI's earnings profile reflects a business that prioritizes stability over rapid expansion. Revenue trends in the professional employer services segment tend to track closely with client workforce levels and broader labor market conditions, making results sensitive to macroeconomic shifts.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Barrett Business Services' investor relations page directly.
BBSI Price History
+71.9% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Barrett Business Services, Inc.?
Based on Barrett Business Services, Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
BBSI Long-term Outlook
BBSI's fundamental outlook is shaped by its Strong Risk profile and Good Valuation, offset by Weak Growth and Moat scores. The business is positioned defensively — it is not a high-growth story, but its co-employment model generates recurring revenue tied to client payrolls, which provides a degree of earnings stability. Expansion will likely depend on client acquisition and retention in a competitive HR outsourcing market rather than product-driven differentiation.
Growth drivers
- Ongoing demand from small and mid-sized businesses seeking to outsource HR complexity
- Potential client base expansion across underserved regional markets
- Cross-selling staffing services to existing PEO clients
Key risks
- Limited competitive moat in a fragmented HR outsourcing and staffing industry
- Revenue sensitivity to labor market downturns and client workforce reductions
- Valuation leaves little room for operational disappointments
BBSI vs Peers
BBSI operates in a competitive landscape alongside larger and more diversified workforce solutions providers.
Kforce focuses primarily on technology and finance staffing, targeting a narrower but higher-margin professional segment than BBSI's broader small-business PEO model.
Insperity is a direct PEO competitor with a larger client base and more extensive HR technology infrastructure, giving it greater scale in the co-employment market.
ManpowerGroup operates at a global scale across dozens of countries, offering workforce solutions that dwarf BBSI's regional US-focused staffing and PEO footprint.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Barrett Business Services do?
Barrett Business Services provides HR outsourcing and staffing solutions to small and mid-sized companies across the United States. Its core offering is a co-employment arrangement where BBSI assumes responsibility for payroll, payroll taxes, and workers' compensation on behalf of client businesses. It also places workers through short-term, contract, and direct-hire staffing services.
Does BBSI pay dividends?
Yes, BBSI pays a regular dividend. This is a distinguishing feature for a small-cap company in the staffing and HR outsourcing space. The dividend reflects the company's conservative financial approach and its commitment to returning value to shareholders over time.
When does BBSI report earnings?
Barrett Business Services follows a standard quarterly earnings cadence for US-listed companies. For the exact timing of upcoming results and access to earnings call transcripts, check the investor relations section of the company's official website.
Is BBSI a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates BBSI as Good overall. The company shows a Strong Risk profile and Good Valuation, which appeals to investors focused on financial stability. However, Weak Growth and Moat scores indicate limited near-term expansion potential and competitive differentiation. The full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members.
Is BBSI overvalued?
BBSI's Valuation pillar registers as Good under the UQS framework, suggesting the stock is not trading at a significant premium relative to its fundamentals. That said, the Weak Growth profile means investors should weigh whether the current price adequately reflects the company's limited expansion trajectory.
How does BBSI compare to its competitors?
Compared to peers like Insperity and ManpowerGroup, BBSI operates at a smaller scale with a regional US focus. Insperity is a closer direct competitor in the PEO space with greater scale, while ManpowerGroup competes globally. Kforce targets higher-margin professional staffing niches. BBSI differentiates through its management consulting-integrated approach for smaller clients.
What is BBSI's market cap bracket?
BBSI is classified as a small-cap company. This places it in a segment of the market that can offer growth potential but also carries higher volatility and liquidity risk compared to large-cap or mega-cap peers in the broader industrials and business services sector.
Who founded Barrett Business Services?
Barrett Business Services was incorporated in 1965, making it one of the longer-standing companies in the US staffing and HR outsourcing industry. Detailed founding history and leadership background are publicly available through the company's official corporate profile and investor relations materials.
Is BBSI a long-term quality investment?
From a long-term quality standpoint, BBSI's Strong Risk pillar suggests financial resilience that can support durability through economic cycles. However, the Weak Moat score indicates the business lacks strong structural advantages that would protect it from competitive pressure over time. Long-term quality investors should weigh both dimensions carefully using the full UQS analysis.
What is the main competitive advantage of Barrett Business Services?
BBSI's differentiation lies in combining HR outsourcing with a management consulting approach, helping small businesses operate more efficiently beyond just payroll administration. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates this advantage as Weak, reflecting the competitive and fragmented nature of the PEO and staffing industry overall.
What sector does BBSI belong to?
BBSI is classified under the Industrials sector, within the professional employer services and staffing subsegment. Companies in this space provide workforce management infrastructure that supports businesses across manufacturing, construction, agriculture, transportation, and professional services industries.
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Pro Analysis
BBSI — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2026 | 50.3 | 52.9 | 25.0 | 39.6 | 82.7 | 69.9 | -0.1 |
| May 21, 2026 | 50.4 | 52.9 | 25.0 | 39.6 | 82.7 | 70.7 | 0.0 |
| May 20, 2026 | 50.4 | 52.9 | 25.0 | 39.6 | 82.7 | 70.9 | +0.1 |
| May 19, 2026 | 50.3 | 52.9 | 25.0 | 39.6 | 82.7 | 70.2 | -0.3 |
| May 17, 2026 | 50.6 | 52.9 | 25.0 | 39.6 | 82.7 | 72.3 | 0.0 |
| May 16, 2026 | 50.6 | 52.9 | 25.0 | 39.6 | 82.7 | 72.4 | -0.2 |
| May 15, 2026 | 50.8 | 52.9 | 25.0 | 39.6 | 82.7 | 73.7 | -0.2 |
| May 14, 2026 | 51.0 | 52.9 | 25.0 | 39.6 | 82.7 | 74.5 | +0.2 |
| May 13, 2026 | 50.8 | 52.7 | 25.0 | 39.6 | 82.7 | 73.4 | +0.1 |
| May 12, 2026 | 50.7 | 52.7 | 25.0 | 39.6 | 82.7 | 73.1 | +0.1 |
BBSI — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 52.9/100 (25%)Barrett Business Services, Inc. has average quality metrics, with room for improvement in margins or capital efficiency.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 39.6/100 (20%)Barrett Business Services, Inc. shows steady but unspectacular growth, typical for mature companies.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 82.7/100 (15%)Barrett Business Services, Inc. carries minimal financial risk with conservative leverage and strong solvency.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 70.1/100 (15%)Barrett Business Services, Inc. trades at a reasonable valuation with decent earnings yield and FCF multiples.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 25/100 (25%)Barrett Business Services, Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for BBSI.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the BBSI UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Barrett Business Services, Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Barrett Business Services, Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Barrett Business Services, Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.