AEYE vs SPSC

For growth investors, SPS Commerce, Inc.

(SPSC) is the stronger pick with 17. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 14. 5% for AudioEye, Inc. (AEYE). SPS Commerce, Inc. (SPSC) offers the better valuation at 23. 7x trailing P/E (13. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate SPS Commerce, Inc. (SPSC) a "Hold" — based on 23 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, SPS Commerce, Inc.

(SPSC) delivered a total return of -40. 2%, compared to -67. 2% for AudioEye, Inc. (AEYE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SPSC returned +128. 3% versus AEYE's +67. 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), SPS Commerce, Inc.

(SPSC) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 03β versus AudioEye, Inc. 's 2. 29β — meaning AEYE is approximately 122% more volatile than SPSC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, SPS Commerce, Inc. (SPSC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 15% for AudioEye, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), SPS Commerce, Inc.

(SPSC) is pulling ahead at 17. 8% versus 14. 5% for AudioEye, Inc. (AEYE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: AudioEye, Inc. grew EPS 30. 6% year-over-year, compared to 20. 6% for SPS Commerce, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SPSC leads at 18. 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.

SPS Commerce, Inc.

(SPSC) is the more profitable company, earning 12. 4% net margin versus -7. 6% for AudioEye, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SPSC leads at 15. 7% versus -7. 9% for AEYE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AEYE leads at 78. 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.

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, SPS Commerce, Inc.

(SPSC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 03), +128. 3% 10Y return). AudioEye, Inc. (AEYE) carries a higher beta of 2. 29 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (SPSC: +128. 3%, AEYE: +67. 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.

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: AEYE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SPSC is a small-cap high-growth 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.