NRC vs FORR

For growth investors, National Research Corporation (NRC) is the stronger pick with -4.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 2% for Forrester Research, Inc. (FORR). National Research Corporation (NRC) offers the better valuation at 37. 6x trailing P/E (22. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Forrester Research, Inc. (FORR) a "Hold" — based on 4 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 forward P/E, Forrester Research, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 9. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, National Research Corporation (NRC) delivered a total return of -52.

0%, compared to -83. 7% for Forrester Research, Inc. (FORR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NRC returned +91. 8% versus FORR's -75. 1%. 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), Forrester Research, Inc.

(FORR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 57β versus National Research Corporation's 0. 80β — meaning NRC is approximately 39% more volatile than FORR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Forrester Research, Inc. (FORR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 57% versus 6% for National Research Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), National Research Corporation (NRC) is pulling ahead at -4.

0% versus -8. 2% for Forrester Research, Inc. (FORR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: National Research Corporation grew EPS -50. 0% year-over-year, compared to -1993. 3% for Forrester Research, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NRC leads at -3. 2% 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.

National Research Corporation (NRC) is the more profitable company, earning 8.

4% net margin versus -30. 1% for Forrester Research, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NRC leads at 16. 4% versus 0. 5% for FORR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NRC leads at 56. 3%, 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, Forrester Research, Inc.

(FORR) trades at 9. 2x forward P/E versus 22. 2x for National Research Corporation — 13. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

In this comparison, NRC (2.

5% yield) pays a dividend. FORR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

80), 2. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NRC: +91. 8%, FORR: -75. 1%), 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 (NRC (Healthcare) and FORR (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

NRC pays a dividend while FORR 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.