ACTG vs VHC vs IDCC vs MARA vs QCOM

For growth investors, VirnetX Holding Corp (VHC) is the stronger pick with 31.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 0% for InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC). Acacia Research Corporation (ACTG) offers the better valuation at 21. 4x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Acacia Research Corporation (ACTG) a "Buy" — based on 7 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, Acacia Research Corporation (ACTG) is the cheapest at 21.

4x versus QUALCOMM Incorporated at 40. 4x. On forward P/E, QUALCOMM Incorporated is actually cheaper at 18. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: InterDigital, Inc. wins at 0. 74x versus QUALCOMM Incorporated's 9. 06x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, InterDigital, Inc.

(IDCC) delivered a total return of +303. 1%, compared to -59. 5% for Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. (MARA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IDCC returned +436. 7% versus MARA's -51. 6%. 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), Acacia Research Corporation (ACTG) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

76β versus Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. 's 3. 11β — meaning MARA is approximately 310% more volatile than ACTG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Acacia Research Corporation (ACTG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 105% for Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), VirnetX Holding Corp (VHC) is pulling ahead at 31.

4% versus -4. 0% for InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Acacia Research Corporation grew EPS 161. 1% year-over-year, compared to -314. 5% for Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ACTG leads at 68. 9% 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.

InterDigital, Inc.

(IDCC) is the more profitable company, earning 48. 8% net margin versus -168. 5% for VirnetX Holding Corp — meaning it keeps 48. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IDCC leads at 55. 3% versus -120. 0% for VHC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ACTG leads at 82. 5%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 74x versus QUALCOMM Incorporated's 9. 06x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) trades at 18. 8x forward P/E versus 38. 8x for InterDigital, Inc. — 20. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IDCC: 52. 5% to $425. 00.

In this comparison, QCOM (1.

7% yield), IDCC (0. 6% yield) pay a dividend. ACTG, VHC, MARA do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, InterDigital, Inc.

(IDCC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 12), 0. 6% yield, +436. 7% 10Y return). Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. (MARA) carries a higher beta of 3. 11 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (IDCC: +436. 7%, MARA: -51. 6%), 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 (ACTG (Industrials) and VHC (Technology) and IDCC (Technology) and MARA (Financial Services) and QCOM (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: ACTG is a small-cap high-growth stock; VHC is a small-cap high-growth stock; IDCC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MARA is a small-cap high-growth stock; QCOM is a large-cap quality compounder stock. IDCC, QCOM pay a dividend while ACTG, VHC, MARA do 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.