HQI (HireQuest) Moat Score: 5/10 (As of Aug. 21, 2026)

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HQI HireQuest Inc HQI
82 GF Score
Price $16.95
GF Value $10.82
Valuation Significantly Overvalued
! 7 Warning Signs
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What is HireQuest Moat Score?

HireQuest HQI +1.66% 82 Moat Score is 5 as of Aug. 21, 2026. GuruFocus rates HQI with a GF Score™ of 82/100 and a GF Value™ of $10.82 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 7 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,088 Business Services companies, HireQuest ranks better than 95.96% on this metric.

HireQuest has the Moat Score of 5, which implies that the company might have Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat.

HireQuest has Narrow Moat: HireQuest Inc has a solid narrow moat due to its strong distribution network and economies of scale in the staffing industry. However, the industry is fragmented, and customer switching costs are moderate, limiting its moat strength.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes HireQuest might have Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat.

HireQuest  (NAS:HQI) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

HireQuest Moat Score Related Terms

HQI vs TBI, MHH, CIRC: Moat Score Comparison

For the Staffing & Employment Services subindustry, HireQuest's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.

HireQuest Moat Score vs Business Services Industry

For the Business Services industry and Industrials sector, HireQuest's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where HireQuest's Moat Score falls into.


HQI
82GF Score
HireQuest Inc HQI
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 5 mean?
HireQuest (HQI) has a Moat Score of 5 as of Aug. 21, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, HireQuest ranks #44 out of 1088 companies in the Business Services industry, placing it in the top 4%.
Is HireQuest's Moat Score too high?
HireQuest's current Moat Score is 5. Based on the distribution chart, HireQuest ranks #44 out of 1088 companies in the Business Services industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, HireQuest has a GF Score™ of 82/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does HireQuest's Moat Score compare to TBI and MHH?
According to the Business Services industry distribution chart, HireQuest ranks #44 out of 1088 companies for Moat Score. This places HireQuest in the top 4% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for a Business Services company?
A good Moat Score depends on the Business Services industry context. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. HireQuest's current Moat Score is 5. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is HireQuest stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, HireQuest (HQI) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $10.82, compared to a current price of $16.95 — trading 56.7% above its estimated fair value. The current Moat Score is 5. HireQuest's overall GF Score™ is 82/100 with 7 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For HireQuest (HQI), the current Moat Score is 5 as of Aug. 21, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is HireQuest (HQI) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, HireQuest stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of $16.95 is trading 56.7% above its estimated GF Value™ of $10.82. GuruFocus considers HireQuest to be Significantly Overvalued.

Key valuation signals for HQI:

  • Moat Score: 5
  • GF Value™: $10.82 vs. price of $16.95 (56.7% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 82/100 with 7 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the HQI stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.

HireQuest Business Description

Address 111 Springhall Drive, Goose Creek, SC, USA, 29445
HireQuest Inc is a nationwide franchisor of offices providing direct-dispatch, executive search, and commercial staffing solutions in the light industrial and blue-collar segments of the staffing industry and traditional commercial staffing. The company's franchisees provide various types of temporary personnel through two business models operating under the trade names HireQuest Direct, HireQuest, Snelling, DriverQuest, HireQuest Health, Northbound Executive Search, and MRI. The company's primary source of revenue is royalty fees based on the operation of its franchised offices.
82GF Score

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Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

$16.95
Price
$10.82
GF Value