Barrett Business Services, Inc. (BBSI) AI Stock Analysis

NASDAQ: BBSIAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

BBSI AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Barrett Business Services, Inc. (BBSI) provides professional employer services, management consulting tools, and staffing solutions for small and mid-sized enterprises. Over the trailing twelve months, the company generated $1.27B in revenue with a net profit margin of 2.8%. In FY2025, annual revenue reached $1.24B while diluted earnings per share reached $2.09.

Market cap
$788.9M
Revenue (TTM)
$1.27B
P/E
24.3x
fwd 16.6x
1Y return
-22.0%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$40.75
25.2% vs last close

Bull case

  • BBSI maintained a solid balance sheet as of June 30, 2026, with net cash of $43.4M and a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12.
  • The company trades at a forward P/E of 16.6x and an EV/EBITDA of 10.8x, both below the medians of 17.2x and 13.9x for US-listed Industrials peers.
  • Share repurchases of $48.0M in FY2025 contributed to an 18.3% net reduction in share count over 5 years.

Bear case

  • For the quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly earnings fell 25.7% year-over-year.
  • BBSI shares fell 22.0% over the past year, trailing the 16.8% return of the S&P 500 (SPY).
  • Consensus estimates anticipate an EPS decline of 17.8% for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026.

What Barrett Business Services does

Barrett Business Services, Inc. delivers business management solutions for small and mid-sized enterprises across the United States. Its core offering provides professional employer services through co-employment relationships, assuming client administrative responsibilities including payroll management, payroll taxes, and workers' compensation coverage. The company also offers staffing and recruiting solutions, covering on-demand assignments, contract placements, direct hiring, and long-term on-site management services. BBSI serves clients across diverse industries such as electronics manufacturing, agriculture, transportation, food processing, telecommunications, utilities, construction-related fields, and professional services firms.

Growth and profitability

Between FY2021 and FY2025, revenue expanded at a 5-year CAGR of 7.1%, rising from $955.2M in FY2021 to $1.24B in FY2025. Annual revenue growth was 8.4% in FY2021, 10.4% in FY2022, 1.4% in FY2023, 7.0% in FY2024, and 8.4% in FY2025. Net income increased from $38.1M in FY2021 to $54.4M in FY2025, while gross margin shifted from 21.4% to 21.0% and operating margin moved from 4.6% to 5.0%. Diluted EPS was $2.09 in FY2025, compared to $1.97 in FY2024 and $3.50 in FY2023. For the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, revenue increased 3.8% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings declined 25.7%.

BBSI income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, BBSI held $67.9M in cash and short-term investments against $24.5M in total debt, yielding net cash of $43.4M. Its debt-to-equity ratio stood at 0.12, with a current ratio of 1.14 and shareholders' equity of $203.8M across $711.3M in total assets. In FY2025, operating cash flow reached $66.0M, supporting capital expenditures of $18.8M and free cash flow of $47.2M. Capital returns in FY2025 included $48.0M for share buybacks and $8.2M in dividends paid, contributing to an 18.3% reduction in share count over 5 years.

BBSI balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

At a last close of $32.55 on October 16, 2026, BBSI has a market cap of $788.9M and an enterprise value of $748.1M. The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 24.3x and a forward P/E of 16.6x, compared to medians of 24.8x and 17.2x for its US-listed Industrials peers. Its price-to-sales of 0.6x and EV/EBITDA of 10.8x also compare with peer medians of 1.5x and 13.9x. Over the past year, BBSI shares fell 22.0%, while the S&P 500 (SPY) returned 16.8%.

BBSI key metrics →

BBSI dividend

BBSI pays a quarterly dividend with an annualized forward payout of $0.32 per share, representing a dividend yield of 0.98%. The company has paid consecutive dividends for 21 years and maintains a payout ratio of 17.6%. Its 5-year annualized dividend growth rate is 1.3%, with its most recent ex-dividend date on August 21, 2026.

BBSI dividend history →

What analysts expect

Three analysts track BBSI, consisting of 2 Buy ratings and 1 Hold rating. The mean price target is $40.75, representing a 25.2% premium over the last close of $32.55. For the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project revenue of $1.29B and EPS of $1.71, reflecting an EPS decrease of 17.8%. BBSI has beaten EPS estimates in 1 of the last 4 quarters. The next earnings date is November 4, 2026.

BBSI forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • The trailing twelve months operating margin of 4.8% sits below the 11.7% median of US-listed Industrials peers.
  • The company has beaten consensus EPS forecasts in only 1 of the last 4 quarters.
  • Quarterly revenue growth of 3.8% in the latest quarter lagged the US-listed Industrials peer median of 9.1%.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this BBSI AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Barrett Business Services, Inc. (BBSI). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: BBSI income statement, BBSI balance sheet, BBSI key metrics, BBSI analyst forecast, BBSI chart. See the BBSI stock overview for the latest quote and news.

BBSI AI stock analysis FAQ

What is BBSI's dividend yield and payment schedule?

BBSI pays an annualized forward dividend of $0.32 per share, which equates to a 0.98% dividend yield as of October 16, 2026. Payments are distributed quarterly, backed by a 17.6% payout ratio and a 21-year payment history.

When is BBSI's next earnings report?

BBSI is scheduled to report earnings on November 4, 2026. Consensus analyst estimates expect full-year FY2026 revenue of $1.29B and EPS of $1.71.

How much debt does BBSI carry?

As of June 30, 2026, BBSI reported total debt of $24.5M against cash and short-term investments of $67.9M, leaving the company with net cash of $43.4M and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12.

What is the consensus analyst target for BBSI?

Analysts report a mean price target of $40.75 for BBSI, which is 25.2% above its last closing price of $32.55. The rating consensus consists of 2 Buy ratings and 1 Hold rating.

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