CTM vs CACI

For growth investors, Castellum, Inc.

(CTM) is the stronger pick with 18. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 12. 6% for CACI International Inc (CACI). CACI International Inc (CACI) offers the better valuation at 22. 0x trailing P/E (17. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CACI International Inc (CACI) a "Buy" — based on 29 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, CACI International Inc (CACI) is the cheapest at 22.

0x versus Castellum, Inc. at 24. 9x.

Over the past 5 years, CACI International Inc (CACI) delivered a total return of +85.

4%, compared to -45. 3% for Castellum, Inc. (CTM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CACI returned +416. 4% versus CTM's -45. 3%. 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), CACI International Inc (CACI) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

30β versus Castellum, Inc. 's 2. 22β — meaning CTM is approximately 649% more volatile than CACI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Castellum, Inc. (CTM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 86% for CACI International Inc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(CTM) is pulling ahead at 18. 1% versus 12. 6% for CACI International Inc (CACI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Castellum, Inc. grew EPS 114. 7% year-over-year, compared to 20. 0% for CACI International Inc. Over a 3-year CAGR, CACI leads at 11. 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.

CACI International Inc (CACI) is the more profitable company, earning 5.

8% net margin versus 4. 7% for Castellum, Inc. — meaning it keeps 5. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CACI leads at 8. 9% versus -5. 3% for CTM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CTM leads at 36. 6%, 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.

In this comparison, CTM (0.

2% yield) pays a dividend. CACI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, CACI International Inc (CACI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

30), +416. 4% 10Y return). Castellum, Inc. (CTM) carries a higher beta of 2. 22 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CACI: +416. 4%, CTM: -45. 3%), 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: CTM is a small-cap high-growth stock; CACI is a mid-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.