APCX vs USIO vs IIIV

For growth investors, Usio, Inc.

(USIO) is the stronger pick with 3. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -45. 2% for AppTech Payments Corp. (APCX). i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV) offers the better valuation at 39. 3x trailing P/E (20. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV) a "Buy" — based on 14 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

Over the past 5 years, i3 Verticals, Inc.

(IIIV) delivered a total return of -29. 1%, compared to -77. 7% for Usio, Inc. (USIO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: APCX returned +393. 7% versus USIO's -32. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Usio, Inc.

(USIO) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 60β versus AppTech Payments Corp. 's 1. 31β — meaning APCX is approximately 119% more volatile than USIO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 14% for Usio, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Usio, Inc.

(USIO) is pulling ahead at 3. 0% versus -45. 2% for AppTech Payments Corp. (APCX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: AppTech Payments Corp. grew EPS 65. 3% year-over-year, compared to -177. 8% for Usio, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, USIO leads at 7. 1% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

i3 Verticals, Inc.

(IIIV) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 4% net margin versus -32. 4% for AppTech Payments Corp. — meaning it keeps 8. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IIIV leads at 1. 9% versus -34. 6% for APCX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — APCX leads at 81. 2%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Usio, Inc.

(USIO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 60)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (USIO: -32. 8%, APCX: +393. 7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.