COMPARE · Reviewed July 3, 2026
KFY vs MSA
Verdict: Side-by-side breakdown using the Bull Rankings model. KFY scored 74.3, MSA scored 74.3 — tied.
KFY
Korn Ferry
74.3
$69.68
Score gap
0
Tied
MSA
MSA Safety Incorporated
74.3
$171.48
The companies
KFYKorn Ferry
Why now
Staffing & Employment Services · market cap $3.5b. 11% off the 52-week high of $78.50. 4 sell-side analysts rate this a Strong Buy with a mean 1-yr target of $81.00 (implying +16% upside).
Moat
ROE 14% meets the long-run market sustainable threshold — solid but not differentiated; the durability comes from elsewhere. FCF converts 117% of net income — earnings translate cleanly into cash, a sign that working capital and capex are well-disciplined.
Risk
Value re-rating depends on a catalyst. Without one — analyst day, divestiture, margin recovery, capital return — the stock can stay cheap on these multiples for years.
MSAMSA Safety Incorporated
Why now
Security & Protection Services · market cap $6.6b. 18% off the 52-week high of $208.92. PEG 0.99 — paying under fair value for the growth rate. 7 sell-side analysts publish a mean 1-yr target of $205.71 (implying +20% upside).
Moat
Net margin 15% beats the market median by a meaningful margin — the company is keeping more of every revenue dollar than the average S&P constituent. ROE 21% sits above Buffett's preferred 15% threshold — the equity base is compounding at a rate the market struggles to discount accurately. FCF converts 107% of net income — earnings translate cleanly into cash, a sign that working capital and capex are well-disciplined.
Risk
Value re-rating depends on a catalyst. Without one — analyst day, divestiture, margin recovery, capital return — the stock can stay cheap on these multiples for years.
Base grades (each contributes ~14.3% of base composite)
| KFY | Component | MSA |
|---|---|---|
| C65 | FCF | C65 |
| C+70 | Rev | C+70 |
| A-90 | D/E | B+85 |
| A95 | P/E or P/S | B+85 |
| B+85 | PEG | B+85 |
| Supplemental signals · feed the score, not on the row card | ||
| A-90 | FCF Yield | B80 |
| B80 | ROE | A-90 |
| 83 | Base composite | 80.4 |
Adjustments (signed deltas applied on top of base)
KFY
analyst consensus bullish (80% buy/strong-buy)+2
covered yield (3.2% at 38% payout)+1
Total+3
MSA
GARP sweet spot (PEG <1, positive FCF)+1
insider net buying (net +4.5%)+1
Total+2
DCF cross-check (per-share value vs. live price)
| KFY upside | Horizon | MSA upside |
|---|---|---|
| +22% | 1Y | -24% |
| +32% | 5Y | -17% |
| +48% | 10Y | -7% |
Verdict — model-derived comparison
Generating verdict… typically 5–10 seconds
Not investment advice. The Bull Rankings publishes a quantitative ranking model and accompanying analysis for general informational purposes only. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security; nothing is personalized to your circumstances, risk tolerance, or tax situation. Investing carries the risk of loss — invest at your own risk and consider consulting a licensed financial professional before acting on anything you read here. See terms and methodology for full disclosures.