Shares of ManpowerGroup MAN have had an excellent run over the past three months. The stock has risen 66.8% compared with the industry's 25.2% growth. The Zacks S&P 500 Composite rose 3% during that period.
MAN has a Growth Score of B. This style score condenses key financial metrics to reflect a fair sense of the quality and sustainability of its growth.
The company’s third-quarter 2026 earnings are expected to increase 21.7% year over year. Its 2026 and 2027 earnings are projected to rise 21.9% and 41.2%, respectively. Revenues are anticipated to grow 7.3% in 2026 and 4.4% in 2027.
Factors That Bode Well for MAN’s Success
Broad-Based Demand Supports Growth: ManpowerGroup is benefiting from healthy demand across key verticals, including manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, logistics and retail, supported by strengthening sales activity in the United States. Manpower revenues increased 8% year over year in constant currency in the second quarter of 2026, marking its fifth consecutive quarter of growth. Sustained client demand across these end markets provides a firmer foundation for continued revenue growth and improved earnings over time.
ManpowerGroup Inc. Revenue (Quarterly YoY Growth)
ManpowerGroup Inc. revenue-quarterly-yoy-growth | ManpowerGroup Inc. Quote
Cost Discipline & Technology Investments Boost Efficiency: The company remains focused on pricing discipline, cost control and technology-led efficiency. MAN is expanding artificial intelligence (AI) across sales and recruitment, while its transformation program targets $200 million in permanent annual savings by 2028. In the second quarter of 2026, sales, general and administrative expenses excluding impairment charges declined 4.6% year over year or 6% in constant currency, while adjusted EBITA rose 15% in constant currency to $103 million. Despite restructuring costs and the Jefferson Wells divestiture, ongoing efficiency measures should support profitability.
Consistent Dividend & Share Buybacks: ManpowerGroup maintains a consistent record of returning capital through share repurchases and dividends. Share repurchases totaled $179.8 million in 2023, $140 million in 2024 and $38 million in 2025, while dividend payments were $144.3 million, $145.8 million and $66.7 million, respectively. In the first half of 2026, the company paid an additional $33.5 million in dividends. These sustained capital returns reflect management’s commitment to enhancing shareholder value.
Watch Out for These Risks to MAN Stock
Competition & AI Threats Intensify: ManpowerGroup operates in a fragmented staffing market with low barriers to entry and intense competition from global providers, specialized firms and in-house recruiters. AI could further pressure demand by automating sourcing, screening and candidate matching, reducing reliance on external staffing services.
Liquidity Cushion Narrows: ManpowerGroup’s cash balance fell to $180.6 million in the second quarter of 2026 from $871 million at 2025-end, largely due to $585.8 million of debt repayments. Though long-term borrowings declined to $567.3 million, operating activities used $129 million in the first half. Stronger cash generation will be needed to rebuild liquidity and support the improved leverage profile.
ManpowerGroup has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Stocks to Consider
A couple of better-ranked stocks in the broader Business Services sector are Thomson Reuters Corporation TRI and Veralto Corporation VLTO.
Thomson Reuters carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 11.7%.
TRI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 2.7%, on average.
Veralto also holds a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 8%.
VLTO beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 6.6%.
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ManpowerGroup Inc. (MAN): Free Stock Analysis Report
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).