ALTG vs BLKB

For growth investors, Alta Equipment Group Inc.

(ALTG) is the stronger pick with -2. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 3% for Blackbaud, Inc. (BLKB). Blackbaud, Inc. (BLKB) offers the better valuation at 16. 0x trailing P/E (7. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Alta Equipment Group Inc. (ALTG) a "Buy" — based on 5 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, Alta Equipment Group Inc.

(ALTG) delivered a total return of -33. 1%, compared to -43. 6% for Blackbaud, Inc. (BLKB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ALTG returned -8. 9% versus BLKB's -35. 0%. 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), Blackbaud, Inc.

(BLKB) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 86β versus Alta Equipment Group Inc. 's 2. 30β — meaning ALTG is approximately 168% more volatile than BLKB relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Alta Equipment Group Inc.

(ALTG) is pulling ahead at -2. 2% versus -2. 3% for Blackbaud, Inc. (BLKB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Blackbaud, Inc. grew EPS 142. 3% year-over-year, compared to -30. 1% for Alta Equipment Group Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ALTG leads at 5. 3% 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.

Blackbaud, Inc.

(BLKB) is the more profitable company, earning 10. 2% net margin versus -4. 4% for Alta Equipment Group Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BLKB leads at 16. 9% versus 1. 3% for ALTG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BLKB leads at 58. 8%, 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BLKB: 38.

9% to $52. 50.

In this comparison, ALTG (1.

1% yield) pays a dividend. BLKB does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Blackbaud, Inc.

(BLKB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 86)). Alta Equipment Group Inc. (ALTG) carries a higher beta of 2. 30 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (BLKB: -35. 0%, ALTG: -8. 9%), 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 (ALTG (Industrials) and BLKB (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: ALTG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; BLKB is a small-cap deep-value stock. ALTG pays a dividend while BLKB 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.