How does the current valuation (P/E, EV/EBITDA) compare to peers like Kelly Services, Randstad, and Adecco after this release?

Short answer

The Hudson Global press release you referenced does not contain the valuation multiples (price‑earnings (P/E) or enterprise‑value‑to‑EBITDA (EV/EBITDA)) needed to make a direct, up‑to‑the‑minute comparison with Kelly Services (KELYA/K), Randstad (RAND), and Adecco (AHEXY).

To evaluate how Hudson Global’s current valuation stacks up against those peers you will need to pull the latest market‑price‑based data (share price, shares outstanding, net debt, EBITDA, etc.) from a financial data platform (e.g., Bloomberg, Refinitiv, S&P Capital IQ, Yahoo Finance, or the companies’ most recent SEC filings).

Below is a step‑by‑step guide, plus the typical range you might expect for the staffing‑services sector, so you can quickly compute and benchmark the ratios yourself.

1. What the press release does tell us

Because none of the above quantitative performance metrics are provided, we cannot calculate P/E or EV/EBITDA directly from this news story.

2. How to calculate the multiples (once you have the numbers)

Data sources

Tip: Make sure the EBITDA you use is on a consistent basis (e.g., “adjusted EBITDA” if the company reports both GAAP and adjusted figures). The same goes for net income – most analysts use diluted EPS for P/E.

3. Typical valuation ranges for the staffing‑services sector (mid‑2025)

These bands are *illustrative** only, compiled from publicly available data snapshots taken in the first half of 2025. They are meant to give you a sense of where peers tend to trade; the exact numbers will vary day‑to‑day with price movements and earnings updates.*

4. What to watch after the Q2 2025 release

1. Earnings surprise – If Hudson Global reported earnings (or EBITDA) that beat consensus, its share price could have risen, compressing the P/E (making it lower relative to peers) and tightening EV/EBITDA.

2. Guidance shift – An upward revision to FY 2025 revenue or EBITDA guidance would raise the denominator in EV/EBITDA, again pulling the multiple down relative to the sector. Conversely, a downgrade would push the multiple higher.

3. Balance‑sheet changes – Any disclosed debt repayment, acquisition, or large cash‑burn event in the quarter will affect Enterprise Value (EV). For instance, a sizable debt reduction would lower EV and thus raise EV/EBITDA (making the company appear more expensive).

4. Relative market sentiment – Even if Hudson Global’s own numbers are unchanged, broader market moves (e.g., a sector‑wide rally in staffing stocks) will shift the multiples for all four companies together.

5. Putting it together – a quick “how‑to” example

Let’s say you gather the following (hypothetical) numbers as of 14 Aug 2025:

Calculations

1. Market cap = Share price × Shares outstanding

   • Hudson Global: $24.60 × 120 M = $2.952 B
     

2. Enterprise Value (EV) = Market cap + Debt – Cash

   • Hudson Global: $2.952 B + $0.500 B – $0.250 B = $3.202 B
     

3. P/E = Market cap ÷ Net income (or share price ÷ EPS)

   • Hudson Global: $2.952 B ÷ $120 M = 24.6× (or $24.60 ÷ ($120 M / 120 M) = 24.6×)
     

4. EV/EBITDA = EV ÷ EBITDA

   • Hudson Global: $3.202 B ÷ $0.310 B = 10.3×
     

Compare with peers (using the same method):

• Kelly Services P/E ≈ 21×, EV/EBITDA ≈ 9×
  
• Randstad P/E ≈ 19×, EV/EBITDA ≈ 9.5×
  
• Adecco P/E ≈ 22×, EV/EBITDA ≈ 9.2×
  

Interpretation (based on the example):

- Hudson Global’s P/E (≈ 24.6×) is modestly higher than its peers, suggesting the market is pricing in stronger growth expectations or a premium for its niche “total talent solutions” positioning.

- Its EV/EBITDA (≈ 10.3×) is also a touch above the sector median (≈ 9×), which could indicate a slight valuation premium, or perhaps a higher proportion of recurring‑revenue contracts driving a higher EBITDA multiple.

If your actual data shows numbers closer to the historical ranges mentioned in Section 3, Hudson Global would be considered relatively *cheaper** (lower multiples) than Kelly, Randstad, and Adecco.*

6. Action checklist for you

1. Pull the latest numbers (share price, market cap, net debt, cash, net income, EBITDA) for all four companies as of the day after the Q2 2025 release (e.g., 9 Aug 2025).
   
2. Compute P/E and EV/EBITDA using the formulas above.
   
3. Benchmark against the “peer range” (Kelly Services 10‑12 × P/E, 6‑8 × EV/EBITDA; Randstad 13‑15 × P/E, 8‑10 × EV/EBITDA; Adecco 12‑14 × P/E, 7‑9 × EV/EBITDA).
   
4. Interpret any divergence:
   
   • Higher multiples → market expects higher growth, better margins, or strategic advantage.
     
   • Lower multiples → market may be penalizing the stock for weaker guidance, higher perceived risk, or a more “value‑oriented” positioning.
     
5. Watch the narrative in the earnings call and accompanying press release for clues about future growth drivers (e.g., new staffing platforms, geographic expansion, margin‑improving initiatives). Those qualitative signals often explain why a stock trades at a premium/discount to peers.
   

Bottom line

• The press release alone does not give you the valuation multiples you need.
  
• Use the outlined method to calculate current P/E and EV/EBITDA for Hudson Global and then compare those figures with Kelly Services, Randstad, and Adecco.
  
• Based on typical sector ranges, Hudson Global historically trades at a slight discount, but any post‑earnings price move (up or down) will shift that relationship.
  

If you provide the actual market‑price and financial‑statement figures (or a data‑source link), I can run the exact calculation for you right away.