TBI

We rate TrueBlue, Inc. (TBI) as Avoid with a composite score of 38.4/100 at a current price of $3.44. The stock falls in the bottom quintile of our universe across key quantitative factors, and the multi-factor weakness suggests a high probability of continued underperformance.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in quality (48th percentile) and stability (45th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in investment (30th percentile) and momentum (34th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a No Moat rating (29/100), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation.

Key items to watch: momentum to confirm whether the current price trend has legs; balance sheet deleveraging progress; the path to profitability. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

TrueBlue, Inc. holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Services sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 38.4/100 places it at rank #3746 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $187M in market capitalization, TrueBlue, Inc. is a small-cap player in the Services space, which limits certain scale advantages but may allow for more agile strategic execution.

Revenue is growing at 9%, though momentum at the 34th percentile suggests the market has not yet fully recognized this trajectory. This potential disconnect between fundamental improvement and market recognition could represent an opportunity for patient investors if the growth trend persists.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 24% (-35.6pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of -2% (-5.1pp vs sector) and net margins of -1.6%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of -7%. The significant margin erosion from gross to net suggests elevated operating expenses, high interest costs, or other structural drags that warrant monitoring.

At a current price of $3.44, TrueBlue, Inc. is trading at a premium to fundamental value. Our value factor score of 39/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. The premium valuation implies the market is pricing in significant future growth or quality improvements that are not yet fully reflected in current fundamentals.

The stock currently trades at EV/EBITDA of 20.5x (at a premium), P/B of 0.4x, P/S of 0.1x. We evaluate these multiples in the context of both absolute levels and sector-relative positioning to form our valuation view.

We assign a High uncertainty rating to TrueBlue, Inc.. Key risk factors include significant leverage (133% debt-to-equity), current negative profitability (net margin -1.6%), the combination of leverage (133% D/E) and thin margins (-1.6% net) amplifies downside risk. The wide range of potential outcomes widens our fair value estimate and increases the possibility of permanent capital impairment. Investors considering this name should size positions accordingly and demand a meaningful margin of safety before initiating.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: significant leverage (133% debt-to-equity); current negative profitability (net margin -1.6%); the combination of leverage (133% D/E) and thin margins (-1.6% net) amplifies downside risk. Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 45th percentile and quality factor at the 48th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

We identify limited risk mitigants at this time, which contributes to our high uncertainty assessment. Investors should monitor for improvement in balance sheet metrics, margin stability, and business predictability that could warrant a downgrade in our risk assessment over time.

We rate TrueBlue, Inc.'s capital allocation as Poor. Key concerns include low returns on equity (-8.8%), negative profitability, weak asset returns (ROA -3.8%). Exemplary capital allocators generate ROE above 20% and maintain conservative leverage — TrueBlue, Inc. significantly underperforms these benchmarks, raising questions about management's ability to create shareholder value.

Investors should scrutinize management's reinvestment decisions and balance sheet trajectory before committing capital. Poor capital allocation often compounds over time: overlevered balance sheets limit strategic flexibility, while low returns on capital destroy shareholder value. We would need to see sustained improvement in profitability metrics and balance sheet discipline before considering an upgrade.

In summary, TrueBlue, Inc. receives a Avoid rating with a composite score of 38.4/100 (rank #3746 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a No Moat (29/100, trend: stable), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 39/100.

Our analysis does not support a constructive view on TrueBlue, Inc. at this time. The combination of limited competitive advantages, high uncertainty, and poor capital allocation suggests unfavorable risk-reward at current levels. We recommend investors avoid new positions and existing holders consider reducing exposure.