AGYS vs REZI vs JCI vs PAR

For growth investors, PAR Technology Corporation (PAR) is the stronger pick with 30.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 8% for Johnson Controls International plc (JCI). Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) offers the better valuation at 52. 9x trailing P/E (29. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Agilysys, Inc. (AGYS) a "Buy" — based on 8 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, Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) is the cheapest at 52.

9x versus Agilysys, Inc. at 88. 9x. On forward P/E, Resideo Technologies, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) delivered a total return of +122.

9%, compared to -80. 9% for PAR Technology Corporation (PAR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AGYS returned +571. 5% versus REZI's +38. 9%. 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), Agilysys, Inc.

(AGYS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 87β versus Resideo Technologies, Inc. 's 2. 27β — meaning REZI is approximately 162% more volatile than AGYS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Agilysys, Inc. (AGYS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 18% versus 109% for Resideo Technologies, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), PAR Technology Corporation (PAR) is pulling ahead at 30.

2% versus 2. 8% for Johnson Controls International plc (JCI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Johnson Controls International plc grew EPS 4. 4% year-over-year, compared to -1392. 9% for PAR Technology Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, PAR leads at 20. 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.

Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) is the more profitable company, earning 13.

9% net margin versus -18. 5% for PAR Technology Corporation — meaning it keeps 13. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: JCI leads at 12. 0% versus -14. 0% for PAR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AGYS leads at 62. 4%, 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, Resideo Technologies, Inc.

(REZI) trades at 13. 1x forward P/E versus 44. 3x for Agilysys, Inc. — 31. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PAR: 67. 0% to $25. 00.

In this comparison, JCI (1.

1% yield), REZI (0. 6% yield) pay a dividend. AGYS, PAR do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Johnson Controls International plc (JCI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

97), 1. 1% yield, +343. 3% 10Y return). PAR Technology Corporation (PAR) carries a higher beta of 1. 54 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (JCI: +343. 3%, PAR: +167. 3%), 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 (AGYS (Technology) and REZI (Industrials) and JCI (Industrials) and PAR (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: AGYS is a small-cap high-growth stock; REZI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; JCI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; PAR is a small-cap high-growth stock. REZI, JCI pay a dividend while AGYS, PAR 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.