ADV vs HYFM

For growth investors, Advantage Solutions Inc.

(ADV) is the stronger pick with -0. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -16. 0% for Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. (HYFM). Analysts rate Advantage Solutions Inc. (ADV) a "Hold" — based on 3 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.

Over the past 5 years, Advantage Solutions Inc.

(ADV) delivered a total return of -86. 8%, compared to -99. 8% for Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. (HYFM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ADV returned -84. 7% versus HYFM's -99. 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), Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc.

(HYFM) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 73β versus Advantage Solutions Inc. 's 0. 99β — meaning ADV is approximately 35% more volatile than HYFM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Advantage Solutions Inc. (ADV) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 76% for Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Advantage Solutions Inc.

(ADV) is pulling ahead at -0. 7% versus -16. 0% for Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. (HYFM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Advantage Solutions Inc. grew EPS 31. 4% year-over-year, compared to -1. 9% for Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ADV leads at -1. 0% 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.

Advantage Solutions Inc.

(ADV) is the more profitable company, earning -6. 4% net margin versus -35. 1% for Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps -6. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ADV leads at -3. 6% versus -27. 4% for HYFM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HYFM leads at 16. 9%, 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.

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, Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc.

(HYFM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 73)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HYFM: -99. 8%, ADV: -84. 7%), 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 (ADV (Communication Services) and HYFM (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.