CTLP vs IIIV

For growth investors, Cantaloupe, Inc.

(CTLP) is the stronger pick with 12. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 3% for i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV). Cantaloupe, Inc. (CTLP) offers the better valuation at 13. 0x trailing P/E (27. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cantaloupe, Inc. (CTLP) a "Buy" — based on 5 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, Cantaloupe, Inc.

(CTLP) is the cheapest at 13. 0x versus i3 Verticals, Inc. at 39. 3x. On forward P/E, i3 Verticals, Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Cantaloupe, Inc.

(CTLP) delivered a total return of +12. 9%, compared to -29. 1% for i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CTLP returned +147. 8% versus IIIV's +19. 9%. 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), Cantaloupe, Inc.

(CTLP) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 38β versus i3 Verticals, Inc. 's 0. 92β — meaning IIIV is approximately 143% more volatile than CTLP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 19% for Cantaloupe, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(CTLP) is pulling ahead at 12. 6% versus -7. 3% for i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cantaloupe, Inc. grew EPS 473. 3% year-over-year, compared to -87. 9% for i3 Verticals, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CTLP leads at 13. 8% 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.

Cantaloupe, Inc.

(CTLP) is the more profitable company, earning 21. 3% net margin versus 8. 4% for i3 Verticals, Inc. — meaning it keeps 21. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CTLP leads at 7. 4% versus 1. 9% for IIIV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IIIV leads at 55. 7%, 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, i3 Verticals, Inc.

(IIIV) trades at 19. 5x forward P/E versus 27. 3x for Cantaloupe, Inc. — 7. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IIIV: 31. 8% to $29. 00.

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, Cantaloupe, Inc.

(CTLP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 38), +147. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CTLP: +147. 8%, IIIV: +19. 9%), 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: CTLP is a small-cap deep-value stock; IIIV is a small-cap quality compounder stock. 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.