ASUR vs PAYS vs HCKT

For growth investors, PaySign, Inc.

(PAYS) is the stronger pick with 23. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 6% for The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT). The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT) offers the better valuation at 21. 7x trailing P/E (6. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Asure Software, Inc. (ASUR) a "Buy" — based on 18 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.

On trailing P/E, The Hackett Group, Inc.

(HCKT) is the cheapest at 21. 7x versus PaySign, Inc. at 95. 2x. On forward P/E, The Hackett Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, PaySign, Inc.

(PAYS) delivered a total return of +82. 9%, compared to -24. 0% for The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PAYS returned +25. 1% versus HCKT's -5. 2%. 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), The Hackett Group, Inc.

(HCKT) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 10β versus PaySign, Inc. 's 1. 52β — meaning PAYS is approximately 39% more volatile than HCKT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, PaySign, Inc. (PAYS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 10% versus 117% for The Hackett Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(PAYS) is pulling ahead at 23. 5% versus -2. 6% for The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Asure Software, Inc. grew EPS -6. 7% year-over-year, compared to -55. 2% for The Hackett Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PAYS leads at 25. 6% 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.

PaySign, Inc.

(PAYS) is the more profitable company, earning 6. 5% net margin versus -9. 3% for Asure Software, Inc. — meaning it keeps 6. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HCKT leads at 8. 7% versus -6. 0% for ASUR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ASUR leads at 67. 5%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, The Hackett Group, Inc.

(HCKT) trades at 6. 2x forward P/E versus 27. 5x for PaySign, Inc. — 21. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HCKT: 100. 8% to $20. 50.

In this comparison, HCKT (4.

6% yield) pays a dividend. ASUR, PAYS do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, The Hackett Group, Inc.

(HCKT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 10), 4. 6% yield). PaySign, Inc. (PAYS) carries a higher beta of 1. 52 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HCKT: -5. 2%, PAYS: +25. 1%), 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.

In terms of investment character: ASUR is a small-cap high-growth stock; PAYS is a small-cap high-growth stock; HCKT is a small-cap income-oriented stock. HCKT pays a dividend while ASUR, PAYS do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.