LIVE vs HCI

For growth investors, HCI Group, Inc.

(HCI) is the stronger pick with 20. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 9% for Live Ventures Incorporated (LIVE). Live Ventures Incorporated (LIVE) offers the better valuation at 2. 6x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate HCI Group, Inc. (HCI) a "Buy" — based on 14 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, Live Ventures Incorporated (LIVE) is the cheapest at 2.

6x versus HCI Group, Inc. at 6. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, HCI Group, Inc.

(HCI) delivered a total return of +110. 5%, compared to -65. 8% for Live Ventures Incorporated (LIVE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HCI returned +451. 6% versus LIVE's +28. 8%. 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), HCI Group, Inc.

(HCI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 39β versus Live Ventures Incorporated's 1. 23β — meaning LIVE is approximately 215% more volatile than HCI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, HCI Group, Inc. (HCI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 6% versus 2% for Live Ventures Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), HCI Group, Inc.

(HCI) is pulling ahead at 20. 2% versus -5. 9% for Live Ventures Incorporated (LIVE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: HCI Group, Inc. grew EPS 179. 8% year-over-year, compared to 158. 1% for Live Ventures Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, HCI leads at 22. 3% 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.

HCI Group, Inc.

(HCI) is the more profitable company, earning 33. 2% net margin versus 5. 1% for Live Ventures Incorporated — meaning it keeps 33. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HCI leads at 47. 7% versus 3. 3% for LIVE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HCI leads at 73. 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.

In this comparison, HCI (1.

0% yield) pays a dividend. LIVE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, HCI Group, Inc.

(HCI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 39), 1. 0% yield, +451. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HCI: +451. 6%, LIVE: +28. 8%), 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 (LIVE (Consumer Cyclical) and HCI (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: LIVE is a small-cap deep-value stock; HCI is a small-cap high-growth stock. HCI pays a dividend while LIVE does 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.