CTLP vs PAX 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, 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 -29. 1% for i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV). 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, i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% 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 -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.

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

3% net margin versus 8. 4% for i3 Verticals, 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 1. 9% for IIIV. 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) and IIIV (Technology)), 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; 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.