For investors seeking exposure to the professional services industry, TriNet Group (TNET -1.71%) stock is an obvious consideration. The company is a leader in human resources solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. Founded in 1988, TriNet Group became available to main-street investors in 2014 when the company held its initial public offering (IPO).
NYSE: TNET
Key Data Points
Before investors proceed with clicking the buy button on TriNet stock, it's important for them to do their due diligence to confirm that an investment in the stock aligns with their investing goals. In addition to assessing the company's profitability, for example, income investors should check if the stock pays dividends. On the other hand, some may be interested in options that provide TriNet exposure beyond buying the company's stock.
How to buy TriNet stock
Investors have to complete a few simple steps before they count TriNet stock among their holdings.
- Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
- Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
- Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
- Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
- Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
- Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected, and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.
Is TriNet profitable?
Despite a 54% dip in net income from 2023 to 2024, which management attributed to higher insurance costs as well as costs stemming from the implementation of a corporate realignment strategy, TriNet has consistently demonstrated profitability for years. From 2014 to 2024, TriNet has increased its diluted earnings per share (EPS) at an impressive 31.6% compound annual growth rate (CAGR).
Management is confident that it will continue generating a profit in 2025 as well. On the company's second-quarter 2025 conference call, Kelly Tuminelli, TriNet's chief financial officer, projected that the company will generate diluted EPS in the range of $1.90 to $3.40 for 2025.
Does TriNet pay a dividend?
Although it paid special dividends in 2013 before it held its IPO, TriNet had refrained from paying dividends for years once it went public. That changed in April 2024 when management began making dividend payments of $0.25 per share of common stock on a quarterly basis.
In 2025, TriNet raised its payout and made dividend payments of $0.275 per share in April and July. As of October 2025, TriNet stock had a forward dividend yield of about 1.8%.
For those who fear that the company is jeopardizing its financial health to reward shareholders with the dividend, it's worth noting that TriNet had a 35.8% payout ratio in 2024. Plus, management's target of allocating 75% of free cash flow in 2025 towards the dividend further illustrates the company's prudent approach.
ETFs with exposure to TriNet
While some may prefer a position in an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that includes TriNet, the unfortunate reality for these investors is that TriNet doesn't represent a sizable weighting in most ETFs.
Nonetheless, there are some options. TriNet, for example, has a 1% weighting in the First Trust SMID Capital Strength ETF (FSCS -0.41%), which attempts to match the SMID Capital Strength Index -- an index comprised of small- and mid-cap companies that have at least $100 million in cash or short-term investments, a long-term debt-to-market cap ratio less than 30%, and positive shareholder equity, among other criteria. The ETF has a 0.60% expense ratio and a 30-day SEC yield of 0.72%.
Another strong consideration is the Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF (CALF -0.34%). Admittedly, TriNet only has a 0.50% weighting in the fund, but the ETF includes more than 200 equities, so there are many stocks in the same boat as TriNet with respect to weighting. Prioritizing companies that generate strong free cash flow, the fund has the stated goal of providing "capital appreciation over time by screening the S&P US SmallCap for the top 200 small-cap companies based on free cash flow yield." The ETF has a 0.59% expense ratio.
Will TriNet stock split?
Although there were several stocks split in 2024 that drew attention, 2025 hasn't provided the same sort of stock split activity. There don't appear to be many on the horizon, including TriNet.
Since its initial public offering (IPO) in 2014 through October 2025, TriNet had never split its stock. Businesses often will opt for splitting their stocks to lower the price tags and make them more appealing to investors. In light of the fact that shares of TriNet were trading around $60 in mid-October 2025 and with many brokerages offering investors the option to buy fractional shares of stocks, it's highly improbable that management will consider splitting its stock in the foreseeable future.
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The bottom line on TriNet stock
With its strong free cash flow, conservative approach to leverage, and interest in rewarding shareholders through dividend payments, there's a lot for investors to like about TriNet stock.
While companies operating in the human resources industry may not report news that inspires attention-grabbing headlines, TriNet provides valuable human resources solutions to small and medium-sized businesses that make it an alluring option for investors looking to fortify their portfolios with a solid stock.
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