CTLP vs PAX

For growth investors, Cantaloupe, Inc.

(CTLP) is the stronger pick with 12. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 6% for Patria Investments Limited (PAX). 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 Patria Investments Limited at 23. 9x. On forward P/E, Patria Investments Limited is actually cheaper at 9. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Patria Investments Limited (PAX) delivered a total return of +14.

0%, compared to +12. 9% for Cantaloupe, Inc. (CTLP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CTLP returned +147. 8% versus PAX's -14. 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 Patria Investments Limited's 1. 09β — meaning PAX is approximately 189% more volatile than CTLP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cantaloupe, Inc. (CTLP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 19% versus 27% for Patria Investments Limited — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(CTLP) is pulling ahead at 12. 6% versus 2. 6% for Patria Investments Limited (PAX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cantaloupe, Inc. grew EPS 473. 3% year-over-year, compared to 14. 9% for Patria Investments Limited. 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.

Patria Investments Limited (PAX) is the more profitable company, earning 22.

3% net margin versus 21. 3% for Cantaloupe, Inc. — meaning it keeps 22. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PAX leads at 34. 2% versus 7. 4% for CTLP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PAX leads at 96. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Patria Investments Limited (PAX) trades at 9.

0x forward P/E versus 27. 3x for Cantaloupe, Inc. — 18. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PAX: 39. 3% to $18. 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%, PAX: -14. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (CTLP (Technology) and PAX (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CTLP is a small-cap deep-value stock; PAX 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.