HireQuest Inc. (HQI) — RQD Stock Rating Cockpit

$16.30 -3.26% NASDAQ • Live Quote vs Prior Daily Close (Synced Snapshot) EXT / AFTER-HRS: $16.17

HireQuest Inc. (HQI) carries a Roarable Rating of C (Hold) with 63/100 RQD Confidence. The composite score sits in the neutral Hold band (59–69), meaning current holders don’t need to panic-sell while prospective buyers can wait for a move into the 70+ Buy zone.

ROARABLE C • HOLD / WATCH Cap $226.6M
📤 Share Live RQD Speedometer Card: 𝕏 Post Reddit StockTwits ⬇ Live SVG Card
⚡ INSTANT AI QUANT PREVIEW • $0 FREE TIER Click Any Pre-Computed AI Quant Specialist Briefing on HQI Below — or Connect Your Own ChatGPT / Claude
🤖 Mara Quenwick • AI Quant Lead (Click for Instant Brief) Is HQI stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?
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As of 2026-11-01, HireQuest Inc. (NASDAQ: HQI) is rated C (Hold / HOLD) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 63/100 at a spot price of $16.30 (-3.26% 1D, market cap $226.6M). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 13/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 7/20, Executive Insider Alignment 14/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 16/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 13/20. Across 1011 tracked Consumer Discretionary issuers, HQI ranks #334 in composite RQD confidence.

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief
🤖 Ellis Vennor • AI Peer & Flow Quant (Click for Instant Brief) How does HQI compare to TSSI and RCMT in the Consumer Discretionary sector?
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Within the Consumer Discretionary sector (Professional Services), HQI carries a Roarable C (63/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 35.8x, gross margin of —, and ROIC of 7.3%. By comparison, TSSI (TSS Inc.) holds a C+ grade (68/100 RQD, P/E 14.2x, ROIC 46.4%, cap $215.3M) and RCMT (RCM Technologies Inc.) posts a B+ grade (76/100 RQD, P/E 15.6x, ROIC 46.0%, cap $255.3M). Among the 5-stock peer group, TSSI leads on earnings multiple (14.2x) while TSSI leads on capital efficiency (46.4% ROIC).

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief
🤖 Gideon Ashmere • AI SEC 10-K Forensics (Click for Instant Brief) What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for HQI?
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Per HQI's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0001140102), HireQuest Inc. generated $30.6M in revenue (-11.4% YoY), $6.3M in net income, and $12.0M in free cash flow against $88.2M in total assets and $0 in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Established market leader in Consumer Discretionary with deep daily trading liquidity.. Primary risk factors monitored: Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief
🤖 AI Quant Disclosure: Roarable Analysts are proprietary AI Quant Specialists — not human financial advisors. Pre-computed one-to-many briefings above are free; interactive 1-on-1 Q&A, custom AI sifting/indicator alerts, and personal ChatGPT/Claude MCP connections require a $9.95/mo Pro account (currently waitlist-only).
INTERACTIVE SCENARIO DECK:
🛡️ Portfolio Crash X-Ray
EXT / AFTER-HRS: $16.17 (-0.78%)🧬 Cannibal Buyback (-1.52% YoY Shares)⚙️ Cash Engine: 13/20 (C) • 39.3% FCF Margin
Verify 90D Bucket Audit →
📊 Historical Track Record: Scores of 63/100 (C) historically posted market-perform odds over rolling 90-day windows (+0.9% avg 90D alpha vs SPY • 54.8% hit rate — wait for RQD ≥ 70 breakout).
Audit Bucket Track Record →
RQD QUANT TACHOMETERHOLD / WATCH • C
025507510063
JEV AI Jury Split (Battleground)
Cash
SEC
Whale

Impersonal quantitative research (0–100 RQD rubric) — not individualized investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Full Disclaimer

5-PILLAR SNOWFLAKE RADARRw D+ · Rk B
Cash (13)Whales (7)SEC (14)Macro (16)CEO (13)
Each axis scored 0–20
12M PRICE TARGET CONE+2.3% Base Target
$22 Bull$17 Base$13 Bear
📬 FREE HQI RATING-CHANGE & BRIEFING ALERTSManage / Unsubscribe
WHALE OPTIONS SNAPSHOT: — (No Active Options Snapshot on file for HQI)Realized 20D OHLCV Swing Band: ±12.5%
Deterministic 5-Pillar Attribution (63/100 Composite)
🔍 WHY HQI SCORES 63/100 (C) — TOP 3 DRIVERS2 Bullish Pillars + #1 Risk Drag
▲ #1 Bullish Driver: Macro Regime Fit+16/20 pts (25% of score)

FRED Regime × Technicals: 66% of 52W Range • RSI-14 at 41.6 (NEUTRAL RANGE)

▲ #2 Bullish Driver: SEC 10-K Forensic Risk+14/20 pts (22% of score)

Altman Z-Score 8.36 (FORTRESS SAFE (>3.0)) • Piotroski F-Score 6/9

▼ #1 Drag / Risk Factor: Whale & Options Positioning7/20 pts (-13 pt drag)

Put hedging (50% put share) caps near-term gamma upside (-13 pts vs max)

📈 PAST 4 QUARTERS RQD vs SUBSEQUENT RETURNQ1 → Q2 → Q3 → Current
Q1 (-3Q)
71
Grade B$17.20+4% Next Q
Q2 (-2Q)
68
Grade B-$17.89-9.6% Next Q
Q3 (-1Q)
66
Grade B-$16.18+0.7% Next Q
Current
63
Grade C$16.30+0.9% Hist 90D α
Trajectory: B (71) → C (63)Full Audit →
⚔️ ADVERSARIAL OPPOSING CASE & FORENSIC KILL-SWITCH (WHY THE BULL/BEAR THESIS COULD FAIL)GIDEON ASHMERE // FORENSIC SHORT & KILL-SWITCH DOSSIER

⚔️ Adversarial Opposing Case: Why the HQI Bull Thesis Could Fail

Gideon Ashmere Forensic Desk →

Even with a 63/100 (C) score, HQI faces multiple-compression risk if 35.8x trailing P/E re-rate toward historical sector medians or if hyperscaler/enterprise customer concentration slows in upcoming 10-Q filings.

⚠️ Forensic Kill-Switch #1

Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run.

⚠️ Forensic Kill-Switch #2

Dilution & Margin Drag: Cannibal Buyback (-1.52% YoY Shares) — any gross margin slip below 49.5% triggers an automatic RQD downgrade.

⚠️ Forensic Kill-Switch #3

Technical & Forensic Kill-Switch: A daily close below the 50D SMA ($17.31) or 200D SMA ($13.35) invalidates the momentum regime and cuts Target Base ($16.67) toward Bear Floor ($13.00).

🎲 LIVE PREDICTION MARKET ODDS TIED TO $HQI• $2.4M Crowd Pool • Kalshi / Polymarket Composite
Contract: “HQI Beats Next Quarter EPS Consensus (Dec 30, 2026) & Holds Above 200D SMA”
RSI-14 MOMENTUMNEUTRAL RANGE
41.630 Oversold · 70 Hot
ALTMAN-Z SHIELDFORTRESS SAFE (>3.0)
8.36>3.0 Fortress Safe
PIOTROSKI F-SCORESOLID CORE (5–6)
6 / 99-Pt Accounting
52-WEEK LASER RANGE66% OF RANGE
L: $7$16.30H: $21
1. Money & Cash Health● MIXED
Are profits real cash in the bank?

Decent core business (steady margins), though cash flow growth is moderate rather than explosive right now.

Factor Grade: CRQD 13 / 20
2. Big Money & Insiders● TRIMMING
Are whales & executives buying or selling?

Insiders and big institutional desks have been trimming shares rather than stepping up to buy.

Factor Grade: DRQD 20 / 40
3. Hidden Risks & Market Weather● ALL CLEAR
SEC fine-print scan & interest-rate fit

Clean SEC fine-print check with low hidden accounting risk and favorable interest-rate weather.

Factor Grade: BRQD 30 / 40
MULTI-MODEL JEV QUANT JURY DELIBERATION

JEV AI Jury Split (Battleground) on HQI

Cash & Moat Bull AI
ROIC & Free Cash Flow Model
NEUTRAL (65)

7.3% ROIC with 42.0% gross margin and 5.32% FCF yield.

SEC Forensic Auditor AI
10-K Accruals & Altman-Z Guard
BULLISH (70)

Altman-Z 8.36 and Piotroski 6/9 pass balance-sheet audit.

Whale & Macro Hawk AI
Options Skew, 13F & Fed NetLiq
NEUTRAL (60)

20/40 institutional & smart-money positioning score with 16/20 macro alignment.

Bull Case: Why Buyers Like HQI
  • ✓Established market leader in Consumer Discretionary with deep daily trading liquidity.
Bear Case: What Could Go Wrong
  • !Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run.
ON-DEMAND RQD QUANT WORKSHOP • SPONSORED / PARTNER SPOTLIGHTHosted by Perry Belcher & Roarable Quantitative Research Desk

Scheduled RQD Strong Buys & Whale Accumulation Briefing (HQI Tape Review)

  • ✓Breakdown of the highest-scoring RQD Green-Light breakouts across our 5,200+ rated universe
  • ✓Forensic Red-Light accounting & dilution traps to review on your watchlist
  • ✓Includes downloadable .ics calendar invite & nightly RQD rating-change email alerts
RQD INSIDER CLUB WAITLIST$49/YR PLANNED
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HQI // CANDLESTICK & AUTO-TRENDLINE WORKSTATION6M: +40.88%🛡️ HOLDING TREND SUPPORT
2026-10-30O $16.57H $17.15L $16.19C $16.30VOL 14.7K
RES: $22.26SUP: $15.85SMA50: $17.31SMA200: $13.35
$21.61$18.44$15.27$12.10$8.93RES $22.26SUP $15.85$16.302026-04-302026-06-152026-07-312026-09-162026-10-30
PRIMARY-SOURCE FORENSICS, SECOND-ORDER LINKS & AI ANALYST DESK

HQI Dilution Monitor, Expectations Hurdle, Butterfly Connections & Policy Exposure

Share Count & Dilution Monitor (#25)

Multi-year comparable XBRL diluted share count not disclosed (ETF or recent listing).

Reverse-DCF Expectations Hurdle (#30)
27.6%/yr Implied 5Y Growth

vs. -11.4% actual YoY revenue growth (assuming 9.25% cost of equity & 16.5x terminal multiple).

Ellis Vennor Setup Ledger (#33)

No active Ellis Vennor swing setup published on HQI today. View full Setup Ledger →

🦋 Documented & Second-Order Butterfly Connections Open Graph →

No direct multi-tier Butterfly edges indexed yet for HQI. Explore sector supply chains on /butterfly.

AI Analyst Theses, Washington Policy & Company Video
🎬 No recent verified company-specific video clip queued for HQI today (we never pad ticker pages with unrelated generic clips). Browse Macro Video Desk →
DETERMINISTIC MULTI-FACTOR EQUITY AUDIT • SEC EDGAR XBRL × RQD PEER BENCHMARK

📊 Quantitative Sector Peer Comparison, SEC Filing Delta & Investment FAQ (HQI)

Consumer Discretionary Rank #334 of 1011 ⚔️ TSSI vs HQI Full Matrix →

1. Head-to-Head Consumer Discretionary Peer Comparison (HQI vs. TSSI, RCMT, III, AUC)

Industry: Professional Services (48 Tracked Issuers)

Across 1011 tracked Consumer Discretionary securities in the Roarable RQD universe, HireQuest Inc. (HQI) ranks #334 by composite RQD confidence (63/100, grade C) and #678 by equity capitalization ($226.6M). Within this direct 5-issuer industry benchmark cohort, TSSI leads on earnings valuation at 14.2x trailing P/E, while TSSI leads on capital efficiency and profitability with 46.4% ROIC and 13.2% gross margin. RCMT currently holds the highest overall quantitative score in the immediate peer group at 76/100 (B+) compared with HQI at 63/100 (C).

Ticker / Company Roarable Grade RQD Score Trailing P/E Gross Margin ROIC 1D Change Market Cap Head-to-Head
HQI ACTIVE
HireQuest Inc.
C 63/100 35.8x — 7.3% -3.26% $226.6M Benchmark Subject
TSSI
TSS Inc.
C+ 68/100 14.2x 13.2% 46.4% -0.78% $215.3M /tssi-vs-hqi →
RCMT
RCM Technologies Inc.
B+ 76/100 15.6x 27.5% 46.0% -0.69% $255.3M /rcmt-vs-hqi →
III
Information Services Group Inc.
B- 70/100 31.5x 43.1% 11.2% +0.33% $294.4M /iii-vs-hqi →
AUC
ATIF Holdings Limited
D 46/100 — — -17.9% +10.28% $173.3M /auc-vs-hqi →

2. Multi-Year SEC XBRL Revenue, Cash Flow & Balance-Sheet Trajectory (FY2023–FY2025)

SEC EDGAR 10-K • FILED 2025-12-31 • CIK 0001140102

In its most recent audited fiscal period (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31), HireQuest Inc. (HQI) reported GAAP revenue of $30.6M (-11.4% vs. FY2024 revenue of $34.6M , and -19.1% cumulative change since FY2023) , GAAP net income of $6.3M, operating cash flow of $12.0M, and free cash flow of $12.0M (+0.1% YoY). On the balance sheet, HQI closed FY2025 with $88.2M in total assets against $0 in total debt (Altman Z-Score: 8.36, Piotroski F-Score: 6/9).

Fiscal Period Filing Date Revenue Net Income Operating Cash Flow Free Cash Flow Total Assets Total Debt
FY2025 (FY) 2025-12-31 $30.6M $6.3M $12.0M $12.0M $88.2M —
FY2024 (FY) 2024-12-31 $34.6M $3.7M $12.0M $12.0M $94.0M —
FY2023 (FY) 2023-12-31 $37.9M $6.1M $10.6M $10.6M — —

3. HQI Data-Verified Investor FAQ (RQD Rating, Sector Peers, SEC Forensics & Technicals)

✓ SCHEMA.ORG FAQPAGE JSON-LD ENABLED

Is HQI stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?

As of 2026-11-01, HireQuest Inc. (NASDAQ: HQI) is rated C (Hold / HOLD) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 63/100 at a spot price of $16.30 (-3.26% 1D, market cap $226.6M). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 13/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 7/20, Executive Insider Alignment 14/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 16/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 13/20. Across 1011 tracked Consumer Discretionary issuers, HQI ranks #334 in composite RQD confidence.

How does HQI compare to TSSI and RCMT in the Consumer Discretionary sector?

Within the Consumer Discretionary sector (Professional Services), HQI carries a Roarable C (63/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 35.8x, gross margin of —, and ROIC of 7.3%. By comparison, TSSI (TSS Inc.) holds a C+ grade (68/100 RQD, P/E 14.2x, ROIC 46.4%, cap $215.3M) and RCMT (RCM Technologies Inc.) posts a B+ grade (76/100 RQD, P/E 15.6x, ROIC 46.0%, cap $255.3M). Among the 5-stock peer group, TSSI leads on earnings multiple (14.2x) while TSSI leads on capital efficiency (46.4% ROIC).

What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for HQI?

Per HQI's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0001140102), HireQuest Inc. generated $30.6M in revenue (-11.4% YoY), $6.3M in net income, and $12.0M in free cash flow against $88.2M in total assets and $0 in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Established market leader in Consumer Discretionary with deep daily trading liquidity.. Primary risk factors monitored: Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.

Where is HQI trading relative to its 50-day, 200-day, and 52-week technical levels?

HQI last traded at $16.30 (-3.26% on volume of 12,453 shares), positioning the stock -5.83% below its 50-day simple moving average ($17.31) and +22.10% above its 200-day simple moving average ($13.35). Across its 52-week range of $7.38 to $20.84, HQI sits at the 66.3% percentile with a 14-day RSI of 41.6 (NEUTRAL RANGE) and an implied next-earnings move of ±12.5% ($14.26 to $18.34).

HQI Investor FAQ & Complete 8-Part Research Index

100% OPEN ACCESS • SEC EDGAR × CBOE × FRED

Should I buy, hold, or sell HQI stock right now?

HireQuest Inc. (HQI) currently earns a Roarable Rating of C (Hold — HOLD) with 63/100 RQD Confidence. Solid steady margins (7% return on capital), mixed timing at 36x P/E—hold if owned, no rush to chase.

What is HQI's 12-month price target and RQD AI Jury consensus?

HQI's 12-month base price target is $16.67 (range $13 to $21.88), backed by transparent SEC XBRL cash-flow, Form 4 insider, and CBOE options flow analysis.

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