Star Equity Holdings, Inc. provides talent solutions for mid-to-large-cap multinational companies and government agencies under the Hudson RPO brand in the Americas, the Asia Pacific, and Europe. It offers recruitment process outsourcing RPO services, such as recruitment and contracting solutions, project-based outsourcing, contingent workforce solutions, and recruitment consulting for clients' permanent staff hires; and RPO contracting services, including outsourced professional …
Full STRR analysis →
Competitive advantage assessment
Key strengths
Strong Operating Margin vs PeersOperating margin level is strong vs peers (score 0.66). SG&A discipline is converting gross margin into operating profit efficiently.
Conservative LeverageLeverage position is conservative vs peers (score 0.66). Balance sheet flexibility is a strategic asset for serial acquirers.
Key risks
Declining FCF MarginFCF trend score is negative (score 0.22). Declining FCF margin warrants scrutiny of capital allocation discipline.
Operating Margin CompressionOperating margin trend is negative (score 0.25). Sustained compression would reduce the commercial moat.
The dashed ring is the peer median. Defense scores are percentile ranks
against peers, so 50 is roughly the typical company in this group.
Upgrade to unlock the signals and evidence behind each defense.
Premium access
Unlock full defense analysis
Get key signals, strengths, and risks for every moat dimension.
Star Equity Holdings, Inc. ranks #38 of 62
scored companies in Diagnostics & Research by moat score — the top 61%.
The widest moat in the group is IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (IDXX)
at 78/100.
Moat scores for companies ranked near STRR in Diagnostics & Research
How STRR scores on the Medical Devices & Diagnostics defenses
Pricing Power & Consumable Moat
Score 48
· 25% of the moat score
In MedTech, pricing power is rarely about the machine — it is about what the machine consumes.
R&D Pipeline & Capital Returns
Score 55
· 20% of the moat score
Research spending is how a device company keeps its installed base current, but spending alone proves nothing.
FCF Quality & Cash Conversion
Score 35
· 20% of the moat score
MedTech companies grow by acquisition, and the resulting intangible amortisation depresses reported earnings without consuming any cash.
Commercial Execution
Score 50
· 15% of the moat score
Devices are sold into hospitals and labs through committees, tenders and long qualification cycles, which makes the sales organisation expensive and hard to replicate.
Capital Structure & Resilience
Score 53
· 12% of the moat score
Serial acquirers carry debt, and the question is whether the cash flows underneath it are dependable enough to service it through a downturn.
Growth Durability
Score 36
· 8% of the moat score
Growth durability separates an expanding installed base from a good product cycle.
Star Equity Holdings, Inc. (STRR) scores 47 out of 100 on the StatsAlpha Moat Map, which rates its competitive advantage as developing. It ranks #38 of 62 scored companies in Diagnostics & Research, the top 61%. The score is a weighted composite of 6 competitive defenses, each measured against industry peers of 61 companies in Diagnostics & Research. Its strongest defense is R&D Pipeline & Capital Returns (55/100) and its weakest is FCF Quality & Cash Conversion (35/100).
How does Star Equity Holdings, Inc. compare with other Diagnostics & Research companies?
Star Equity Holdings, Inc. ranks #38 of 62 scored companies in Diagnostics & Research by moat score. The widest moat in Diagnostics & Research is IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (IDXX) at 78/100. The companies ranked closest are Star Equity Holdings, Inc. - Se (STRRP) at 47 just above it and Neuronetics, Inc. (STIM) at 45 just below it.
How is the moat score calculated?
Each company is scored with an industry-specific template — Medical Devices & Diagnostics in this case, chosen because the defenses that matter to a bank are not the ones that matter to a software company. Every defense combines several financial signals, and each signal is measured as a percentile against a peer group of 61 companies in Diagnostics & Research. The defenses are then weighted to produce the overall score out of 100.
Why is Star Equity Holdings, Inc. scored with the Medical Devices & Diagnostics template?
Medical device and diagnostics companies place an instrument once and then sell the consumables, reagents and service that instrument needs for the next decade. The economics are a razor-and-blade model wrapped in regulatory approval and clinician habit, so the MedTech template scores the durability of that installed base rather than the size of any single product launch.
Which competitive defenses are measured for Star Equity Holdings, Inc.?
The Medical Devices & Diagnostics template measures 6 defenses, and STRR scores: Pricing Power & Consumable Moat (48), R&D Pipeline & Capital Returns (55), FCF Quality & Cash Conversion (35), Commercial Execution (50), Capital Structure & Resilience (53), Growth Durability (36). Each is scored independently as a percentile against peers, so a company can be strong on one and weak on another — the overall score reflects how those defenses are weighted for this industry.
We value your privacy
We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, analyze site traffic, and personalize content. By clicking 'Accept All', you consent to our use of cookies.
Read our cookie policy
Cookie Preferences
Manage your cookie preferences. Essential cookies are always enabled.