Is HQI a good stock to buy right now?

Based on our 6-factor quantitative model, HireQuest, Inc. (HQI) receives a "Reduce" rating with a composite score of 40.9/100. It is ranked #2,767 out of 4,446 stocks. Key factor scores: Quality 50/100, Value 47/100, Momentum 39/100. The timing signal is "Neutral". This is quantitative analysis only — not investment advice.

What is the stock rating for HQI?

HireQuest, Inc. (HQI) has a "Reduce" rating and 2-star score. The composite score of 40.9 ranks it #2,767 among 4,446 U.S. stocks. Ratings are updated weekly using academically-proven factor models.

What sector is HQI in?

HireQuest, Inc. operates in the Industrials sector (Business Services industry) with a market cap of $144 million. It is classified as a micro-cap stock.

Does HQI pay a dividend?

Yes, HQI pays a dividend with a current yield of 2.49%. For every $1,000 invested, you would receive approximately $24.90 in annual dividend income.

What is HQI's P/E ratio?

HQI has a trailing P/E ratio of 57.35x. The Industrials sector average is 28.3x. This above-average P/E reflects growth expectations or premium valuation.

How profitable is HQI?

HQI's quality factor score is 50/100. Gross margin: 100.0%. ROE: 3.7% vs sector average 8.9%. High margins suggest pricing power and competitive moats.

How is HQI valued compared to peers?

HQI's value factor score is 47/100 (higher = cheaper). Key multiples: P/E 57.4x, EV/EBITDA 27.8x. Valuation is roughly in line with peers.

What is HQI's debt level?

HQI's debt-to-equity ratio is 40%. Sector average: 70%. Low leverage suggests conservative financial management.

HQI has a beta of 0.39, meaning it is less volatile than the market. Stability score: 55/100.

Does HQI have high short interest?

HQI's short interest factor score is 1/100 (higher = less short selling). Elevated short interest may indicate bearish sentiment or short squeeze potential.

HQI Stock Analysis: Top Micro-Cap Reduce (Score 40.9/100) | Blank Capital Research

Data Series	1D	5D	1M	YTD	1Y	3Y	5Y	10Y
HQI	-3.88%	+0.49%	-2.10%	-2.19%	-1.81%	-	-	-
Industry Proxy XLI	-0.39%	+4.73%	+0.88%	+10.57%	+38.89%	-	-	-
U.S. Market SPY	-0.07%	+3.60%	+0.34%	-0.36%	+29.52%	-	-	-
Alpha vs Market	-3.81%	-3.11%	-2.43%	-1.83%	-31.34%	-	-	-
Alpha vs Sector	-3.49%	-4.24%	-2.98%	-12.76%	-40.71%	-	-	-

Metric	HQI	Benchmark
P/E Ratio	57.4x	+102%
EV/EBITDA	27.8x	+389%
Price / Book	2.1x

Stock Entity	Score▼	Quality	Value	Momentum	P/E Ratio	ROE	Gross Margin	Net Margin	Rev Growth	D/E Ratio	Market Cap	Compare
STNG Scorpio Tankers Inc.	64	43	96	73	-	93.3%	63.1%	53.8%	-	30.0x	$3.8B	VS
TNK TEEKAY TANKERS LTD.	62	50	97	71	6.4x	91.9%	67.0%	32.8%	-	0.0x	$2.5B	VS
TEN TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION LTD	61	50	86	75	7.6x	42.1%	97.8%	22.6%	-	103.0x	$1.2B	VS
HAFN Hafnia Ltd	60	42	79	77	-	439.1%	48.5%	27.0%	-	0.0x	$3.8B	VS
TPH Tri Pointe Homes, Inc.	57	50	67	66	13.6x	8.8%	47.5%	7.9%	-26.0%	50.0x	$4.0B	VS
GLDD Great Lakes Dredge & Dock CORP	57	50	69	70	16.3x	13.5%	22.2%	8.1%	14.8%	73.0x	$1.1B	VS
SOBO South Bow Corp	57	39	79	66	22.0x	48.4%	82.3%	14.9%	-	219.0x	$6.8B	VS
IMPP Imperial Petroleum Inc./Marshall Islands	54	44	98	58	2.8x	47.7%	100.0%	34.0%	-19.7%	0.0x	$156M	VS
CCO Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.	52	48	58	69	59.3x	-	53.4%	-0.3%	7.7%	-	$1.2B	VS
IMXI International Money Express, Inc.	52	50	73	52	11.6x	25.5%	0.0%	6.4%	-9.7%	221.0x	$476M	VS
HQI HireQuest, Inc.	41	50	47	39	57.4x	3.7%	100.0%	9.0%	-2.1%	40.0x	$144M

Key Ratio	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Gross Margin %	-	-	-	-	1.0%	1.0%	1.0%	1.0%	1.0%	0.3%	0.3%
Operating Margin %	0.1%	0.3%	0.1%	0.3%	0.5%	0.3%	0.4%	0.2%	0.6%	0.0%	0.0%
EBITDA Margin %	0.2%	0.4%	0.2%	0.4%	0.6%	0.4%	0.4%	0.2%	0.1%	0.0%	0.0%
Net Margin %	0.1%	0.3%	0.1%	0.2%	0.4%	0.5%	0.4%	-0.0%	0.6%	0.0%	0.0%
FCF Margin %	-	-	-	-	-	-	68.5%	28.0%	2.5%	4.7%	-0.6%
ROE %	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%	0.2%	0.3%	0.1%	-0.0%	0.1%	0.1%	0.0%
ROA %	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%	0.2%	0.1%	-0.0%	0.0%	0.1%	0.0%
ROIC %	2.7%	2.8%	5.3%	13.4%	21.7%	13.0%	17.3%	7.0%	8.5%	24.7%	5.5%

Key Ratio

TTM

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

Gross Margin %

1.0%

0.3%

Operating Margin %

0.1%

0.3%

0.1%

0.3%

0.5%

0.3%

0.4%

0.2%

0.6%

0.0%

EBITDA Margin %

0.2%

0.4%

0.2%

0.4%

0.6%

0.4%

0.2%

0.1%

0.0%

Net Margin %

0.1%

0.3%

0.1%

0.2%

0.4%

0.5%

0.4%

-0.0%

0.6%

0.0%

FCF Margin %

68.5%

28.0%

2.5%

4.7%

-0.6%

ROE %

0.0%

0.1%

0.2%

0.3%

0.1%

-0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

ROA %

0.0%

0.1%

0.2%

0.1%

-0.0%

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

ROIC %

2.7%

2.8%

5.3%

13.4%

21.7%

13.0%

17.3%

7.0%

8.5%

24.7%

5.5%

Line Item	TTM	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
	$33M	$35M	$38M	$31M	$23M	$14M	$16M	$97M	$98M	$93M	$88M
	—	—	—	$3M	$171K	—	—	—	—	—	—
	—	—	—	$32M	$23M	$14M	$16M	$25M	$25M	$24M	$24M
Gross Margin	---	---	---	103.4%	99.3%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	25.9%	25.4%	26.7%
	—	$21M	$24M	$13M	$13M	—	—	—	—	—	—
Depreciation	—	$3M	$3M	$2M	$2M	$129K	$400K	$324K	$386K	$298K	$172K
Total Operating Expenses	—	$30M	$27M	$15M	$15M	—	—	—	—	—	—
	$2M	$4M	$11M	$16M	$8M	$5M	$3M	$1M	$4M	$1M	$3M
EBIT	$2M	$4M	$11M	$16M	$8M	$5M	$3M	$1M	$4M	$1M	$3M
EBITDA	$5M	$7M	$13M	$18M	$9M	$6M	$4M	$7M	$4M	$1M	$3M
Operating Margin	8.4%	12.6%	28.1%	51.8%	33.7%	36.1%	17.5%	56.1%	3.8%	1.2%	3.0%
EBITDA Margin	15.7%	20.7%	35.5%	58.4%	40.5%	40.3%	24.8%	7.4%	4.2%	1.5%	3.2%
	—	$923K	$1M	$368K	$157K	$50K	$560K	$2K	$12K	$25K	$82K
	—	$4M	$8M	$14M	$12M	—	—	—	—	—	—
Income Tax Expense	—	$221K	$1M	$2M	$638K	$741K	$3M	$205K	$2M	$523K	$999K
	$3M	$4M	$6M	$12M	$12M	$5M	-$290K	$974K	$2M	$557K	$2M
Net Margin	8.9%	10.6%	16.2%	40.3%	52.1%	38.8%	-1.8%	57.7%	1.7%	0.6%	1.8%
	$0.17	$0.27	$0.45	$0.91	$0.88	$0.40	$-0.03	$0.20	$0.33	$0.11	$0.02
Diluted EPS	$0.17	$0.26	$0.45	$0.91	$0.87	$0.40	$-0.03	$0.20	$0.33	$0.11	$0.02
Weighted Avg Basic	—	14M	14M	14M	13M	—	—	—	—	—	—
Weighted Avg Diluted	—	14M	14M	14M	14M	—	—	—	—	—	—

Line Item

TTM

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

$33M

$35M

$38M

$31M

$23M

$14M

$16M

$97M

$98M

$93M

$88M

—

$3M

$171K

—

$32M

$23M

$14M

$16M

$25M

$24M

Gross Margin

---

103.4%

99.3%

100.0%

25.9%

25.4%

26.7%

—

$21M

$24M

$13M

—

Depreciation

—

$3M

$2M

$129K

$400K

$324K

$386K

$298K

$172K

Total Operating Expenses

—

$30M

$27M

$15M

—

$2M

$4M

$11M

$16M

$8M

$5M

$3M

$1M

$4M

$1M

$3M

EBIT

$2M

$4M

$11M

$16M

$8M

$5M

$3M

$1M

$4M

$1M

$3M

EBITDA

$5M

$7M

$13M

$18M

$9M

$6M

$4M

$7M

$4M

$1M

$3M

Operating Margin

8.4%

12.6%

28.1%

51.8%

33.7%

36.1%

17.5%

56.1%

3.8%

1.2%

3.0%

EBITDA Margin

15.7%

20.7%

35.5%

58.4%

40.5%

40.3%

24.8%

7.4%

4.2%

1.5%

3.2%

—

$923K

$1M

$368K

$157K

$50K

$560K

$2K

$12K

$25K

$82K

—

$4M

$8M

$14M

$12M

—

Income Tax Expense

—

$221K

$1M

$2M

$638K

$741K

$3M

$205K

$2M

$523K

$999K

$3M

$4M

$6M

$12M

$5M

-$290K

$974K

$2M

$557K

$2M

Net Margin

8.9%

10.6%

16.2%

40.3%

52.1%

38.8%

-1.8%

57.7%

1.7%

0.6%

1.8%

$0.17

$0.27

$0.45

$0.91

$0.88

$0.40

$-0.03

$0.20

$0.33

$0.11

$0.02

Diluted EPS

$0.17

$0.26

$0.45

$0.91

$0.87

$0.40

$-0.03

$0.20

$0.33

$0.11

$0.02

Weighted Avg Basic

—

14M

13M

—

Weighted Avg Diluted

—

14M

—

HireQuest, Inc. (HQI) Stock Analysis — April 2026 Rating, Price, and Forecast

Last updated: April 2026

Company Overview — What Does HireQuest, Inc. Do?

HireQuest, Inc. provides temporary staffing solutions in the United States. The company provides temporary staffing services, including skilled and semi-skilled labor and industrial personnel, clerical and administrative personnel, and construction personnel. As of December 31, 2021, the company had a network of approximately 216 franchisee-owned offices in 36 states and the District of Columbia. In addition, the company specializes in commercial drivers. It serves customers primarily in the construction, industrial/manufacturing, warehousing, hospitality, recycling/waste management, disaster recovery, logistics, auctioneering, construction, landscaping, and retail industries. The company was formerly known as Command Center, Inc. and changed its name to HireQuest, Inc. in September 2019.HireQuest, Inc. was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Goose Creek, South Carolina. HireQuest, Inc. (HQI) is classified as a micro-cap stock in the Industrials sector, specifically within the Business Services industry. The company is led by CEO Richard F. Hermanns and employs approximately 73,100 people. With a market capitalization of $144M, HQI is one of the notable companies in the Industrials sector.

HireQuest, Inc. (HQI) Stock Rating — Reduce (April 2026)

As of April 2026, HireQuest, Inc. receives a Reduce rating with a composite score of 40.9/100 and 2 out of 5 stars from the Blank Capital Research quantitative model.HQI ranks #2,767 out of 4,446 stocks in our coverage universe. Within the Industrials sector, HireQuest, Inc. ranks #458 of 752 stocks, placing it in the lower half of its Industrials peers. The rating is generated by a multi-factor model that weighs quality (30%), momentum (25%), value (15%), investment (10%), stability (10%), and short interest (10%).

HQI Stock Price and 52-Week Range

HireQuest, Inc. (HQI) currently trades at $10.46. The stock lost $0.24 (2.2%) in the most recent trading session. The 52-week high for HQI is $13.76, which means the stock is currently trading -24.0% from its annual peak. The 52-week low is $7.38, putting the stock 41.7% above its annual trough. Recent trading volume was 3K shares, suggesting relatively thin trading activity.

Is HQI Overvalued or Undervalued? — Valuation Analysis

HireQuest, Inc. (HQI) carries a value factor score of 47/100 in the Blank Capital model, indicating fair valuation relative to historical norms. The trailing price-to-earnings ratio is 57.35x, compared to the Industrials sector average of 28.33x — a premium of 102%. The price-to-book ratio stands at 2.13x, versus the sector average of 2.23x. The price-to-sales ratio is 4.38x, compared to 0.50x for the average Industrials stock. On an enterprise value basis, HQI trades at 27.83x EV/EBITDA, versus 5.70x for the sector.

Overall, HQI's valuation appears roughly in line with sector benchmarks, suggesting the market is pricing the stock fairly given its current fundamentals and growth trajectory. Neither deep value nor significantly overpriced, the stock occupies a middle ground on valuation.

HireQuest, Inc. Profitability — ROE, Margins, and Quality Score

HireQuest, Inc. (HQI) earns a quality factor score of 50/100, indicating solid business quality with consistent operational execution. The return on equity (ROE) is 3.7%, compared to the Industrials sector average of 8.9%, which is below typical expectations for high-quality companies. Return on assets (ROA) comes in at 2.6% versus the sector average of 3.3%.

On a margin basis, HireQuest, Inc. reports gross margins of 100.0%, compared to 35.8% for the sector. The operating margin is 8.4% (sector: 6.2%). Net profit margin stands at 8.9%, versus 3.9% for the average Industrials stock. Revenue growth is running at -2.1% on a trailing basis, compared to 6.4% for the sector. The overall profitability profile is adequate, though there may be room for margin expansion.

HQI Debt, Balance Sheet, and Financial Health

HireQuest, Inc. has a debt-to-equity ratio of 40.0%, compared to the Industrials sector average of 70.0%. The low leverage indicates a conservative balance sheet with significant financial flexibility. The current ratio is 2.40x, indicating strong short-term liquidity. Cash and equivalents stand at $1M.

HQI has a beta of 0.39, meaning it is less volatile than the S&P 500, making it a relatively defensive holding. The stability factor score for HireQuest, Inc. is 55/100, reflecting average volatility within the normal range for its sector.

HireQuest, Inc. Revenue and Earnings History — Quarterly Trend

In TTM 2026, HireQuest, Inc. reported revenue of $33M and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.17. Net income for the quarter was $3M. Operating income came in at $2M.

In Q3 2025, HireQuest, Inc. reported revenue of $8M and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.17. Net income for the quarter was $2M. Revenue grew -9.8% year-over-year compared to Q3 2024. Operating income came in at $2M.

In Q2 2025, HireQuest, Inc. reported revenue of $8M and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.08. Net income for the quarter was $1M. Revenue grew -12.0% year-over-year compared to Q2 2024. Operating income came in at $1M.

In Q1 2025, HireQuest, Inc. reported revenue of $7M and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.10. Net income for the quarter was $1M. Revenue grew -11.2% year-over-year compared to Q1 2024. Operating income came in at $1M.

Over the past 8 quarters, HireQuest, Inc. has demonstrated a growth trajectory, with revenue expanding from $8M to $33M. Investors analyzing HQI stock should weigh these quarterly trends alongside the valuation and quality metrics discussed above.

HQI Dividend Yield and Income Analysis

HireQuest, Inc. (HQI) currently pays a dividend yield of 2.5%. At this yield, a $10,000 investment in HQI stock would generate approximately $$249.00 in annual dividend income. The net margin of 8.9% provides reasonable coverage for the dividend, though investors should monitor payout sustainability.

HQI Momentum and Technical Analysis Profile

HireQuest, Inc. (HQI) has a momentum factor score of 39/100, signaling weak relative price performance. Stocks with low momentum scores have historically tended to continue underperforming in the near term. The investment factor score is 34/100, which measures capital allocation efficiency and asset growth patterns. The short interest score of 1/100 signals elevated short interest, which can indicate bearish sentiment among institutional investors.

HQI vs Competitors — Industrials Sector Ranking and Peer Comparison

Within the Industrials sector, HireQuest, Inc. (HQI) ranks #458 out of 752 stocks based on the Blank Capital composite score. This places HQI in the lower half of all Industrials stocks in our coverage universe. Key competitors and sector peers include South Bow Corp (SOBO) with a score of 56.5/100, TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION LTD (TEN) with a score of 61.4/100, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock CORP (GLDD) with a score of 56.7/100, Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. (TPH) with a score of 57.3/100, and Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (CCO) with a score of 52.2/100.

Comparing HQI against the S&P 500 benchmark is also instructive for understanding relative performance. Investors can view the full HQI vs S&P 500 (SPY) comparison to assess how HireQuest, Inc. stacks up against the broader market across all factor dimensions.

HQI Next Earnings Date

No upcoming earnings date has been announced for HireQuest, Inc. (HQI) at this time. Check the earnings calendar for the latest scheduling updates across all stocks in our coverage universe.

Should You Buy HQI? — Investment Thesis Summary

The quantitative profile for HireQuest, Inc. suggests caution. Momentum is weak at 39/100, a headwind for near-term performance.

In summary, HireQuest, Inc. (HQI) earns a Reduce rating with a composite score of 40.9/100 as of April 2026. The rating is derived from the Blank Capital Research methodology, which combines six factor dimensions into a single quantitative ranking. Investors should consider these quantitative signals alongside their own fundamental research, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon before making buy or sell decisions on HQI stock.

Related Resources for HQI Investors

Explore more research and tools: HQI vs S&P 500 comparison, top Industrials stocks, stock screener, our methodology, quality factor explained, value factor explained, momentum factor explained. Compare HQI head-to-head with peers: HQI vs SOBO, HQI vs TEN, HQI vs GLDD.

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HireQuest, Inc. (HQI) Stock Analysis — April 2026 Rating, Price, and Forecast

Company Overview — What Does HireQuest, Inc. Do?

HireQuest, Inc. (HQI) Stock Rating — Reduce (April 2026)

HQI Stock Price and 52-Week Range

Is HQI Overvalued or Undervalued? — Valuation Analysis

HireQuest, Inc. Profitability — ROE, Margins, and Quality Score

HQI Debt, Balance Sheet, and Financial Health

HireQuest, Inc. Revenue and Earnings History — Quarterly Trend

HQI Dividend Yield and Income Analysis

HQI Momentum and Technical Analysis Profile

HQI vs Competitors — Industrials Sector Ranking and Peer Comparison

HQI Next Earnings Date

Should You Buy HQI? — Investment Thesis Summary

Related Resources for HQI Investors

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HireQuest, Inc. (NASDAQ:HQI) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

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Inc. Names SENA Health to Its 2026 List of the Fastest-Growing Private Companies in the Northeast

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