Should You Buy It: Manpower Has Muscle

Manpower(MAN Quote)) surprised investors with better-than-expected third-quarter results Oct. 14, which sent the stock nearly 7% higher to $73.97.

The temporary staffing firm earned $1.57 a share, which was 20 cents ahead of the consensus analyst estimate. Revenue rose 15% year over year to $5.3 billion and also came in $80 million ahead of expectations.

Sales in France and Italy, where the company generated 42% of revenue during the quarter, grew 14% from the previous year. On the other hand, Manpower earned just 9.5% of its sales in the U.S., where business declined 7.4% year over year. ...