QSM Asset Management Bets on Beaten-Down Manpower Group With New $5.9 Million Stake in ManpowerGroup

Key Points

QSM Asset Management Ltd bought 197,104 shares of ManpowerGroup during the first quarter; the estimated transaction value was $5.9 million based on quarterly average pricing.

The transaction represented a 2.9% change in fund 13F reportable assets under management (AUM).

The new ManPower Group stake does not rank among the fund’s top five holdings (as of the most recent 13F filing).

• 10 stocks we like better than ManpowerGroup ›

What happened

According to an SEC filing dated April 15, 2026, QSM Asset Management Ltd established a new position in ManpowerGroup by acquiring 197,104 shares during the first quarter. The estimated transaction value, calculated using quarterly average pricing, was $5.9 million.

What else to know

• This was a new position for the fund and represented 2.9% of QSM Asset Management Ltd's 13F reportable assets under management as of March 31, 2026.
• Top holdings after the filing:
• NYSE:OXY: $14.0 million (6.9% of AUM)
• NYSE:PFE: $13.7 million (6.7% of AUM)
• NYSE:ZBH: $13.7 million (6.7% of AUM)
• NASDAQ:VTRS: $13.3 million (6.5% of AUM)

• NYSE:RIO: $12.4 million (6.1% of AUM)

• As of April 15, 2026, ManpowerGroup shares were trading at $30.53, down roughly 37% over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500 by about 66 percentage points.

Company snapshot

| Metric | Value | |---|---| | Market cap | $1.4 billion | | Revenue (TTM) | $18.0 billion | | Net income (TTM) | ($13.3 million) | | Dividend yield | 4.9% |

Company overview

ManpowerGroup is a leading global provider of workforce solutions, serving clients through an extensive international footprint and a diversified service portfolio.

• The company provides recruitment, workforce solutions, assessment, training, outsourcing, and consulting services, with revenue primarily generated from staffing and talent management offerings under the Manpower and Experis brands.
• It operates a global network of approximately 2,200 offices in 75 countries, earning fees from permanent, temporary, and contract placements, as well as value-added HR outsourcing and advisory solutions.
• Main customers include corporations and organizations seeking large-scale workforce solutions, professional resourcing, and HR process outsourcing across a range of industries and geographies.

What this transaction means for investors

ManpowerGroup has had a rough stretch. Shares have fallen roughly 37% over the past year -- a steep decline that reflects real headwinds in the global staffing industry. Slower hiring demand, ongoing automation anxiety, and an uncertain macroeconomic backdrop have weighed on workforce solutions companies. ManpowerGroup -- once a steady, mid-cap workhorse -- has underperformed the broader market by about 67 percentage points over the last 12 months.

Against that backdrop, QSM Asset Management's decision to open a new position here is worth a second look. This isn't a top-conviction bet -- ManpowerGroup doesn't crack the fund's top five holdings -- but the $5.9 million purchase, representing nearly 3% of QSM's total reported assets, signals that QSM sees potential value in this beaten-down name.

Staffing companies can be useful barometers for broader economic confidence: When GDP growth is strong, and job openings climb, companies often turn to staffing firms like ManpowerGroup to scale headcount quickly without the long-term commitment of full-time hires.

ManpowerGroup’s most recent earnings report offered some reasons for cautious optimism: Q4 2025 revenues came in at $4.7 billion -- up 7% year over year. Management pointed to improving stabilization in market trends and sequential progress in both revenue and profitability throughout the year. That said, the business turnaround is still -- to put it charitably -- a work in progress. Adjusted earnings per share for the full year fell 38% (in constant currency), reflecting the toll of restructuring charges and a difficult operating environment in Europe.

For long-term investors, the question is whether the stock’s current weakness reflects a temporary cyclical trough or a more structural shift in how companies source talent. QSM's move suggests at least one institutional player thinks the risk/reward is starting to look attractive at these levels -- even if it's too early to call a clear turning point for the stock.

Investors looking for broader exposure to the human capital and workforce management space might also consider ETFs like the iShares U.S. Industrials ETF (NYSEMKT:IYJ), which includes staffing and employment services among its holdings.

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Andy Gould has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Pfizer. The Motley Fool recommends Occidental Petroleum. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.