ASUR vs PAYS vs HCKT vs PCTY vs PAYX

For growth investors, PaySign, Inc.

(PAYS) is the stronger pick with 23. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 6% for The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT). Paychex, Inc. (PAYX) offers the better valuation at 20. 6x trailing P/E (17. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Asure Software, Inc. (ASUR) a "Buy" — based on 18 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, Paychex, Inc.

(PAYX) is the cheapest at 20. 6x versus PaySign, Inc. at 97. 8x. On forward P/E, The Hackett Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 9x — 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: The Hackett Group, Inc. wins at 0. 31x versus Paychex, Inc. 's 2. 01x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, PaySign, Inc.

(PAYS) delivered a total return of +88. 0%, compared to -35. 2% for Paylocity Holding Corporation (PCTY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PAYS returned +26. 4% versus HCKT's +0. 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), Paychex, Inc.

(PAYX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 39β versus PaySign, Inc. 's 1. 52β — meaning PAYS is approximately 293% more volatile than PAYX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, PaySign, Inc. (PAYS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 10% versus 122% for Paychex, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), PaySign, Inc.

(PAYS) is pulling ahead at 23. 5% versus -2. 6% for The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Paylocity Holding Corporation grew EPS 10. 7% year-over-year, compared to -55. 2% for The Hackett Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PAYS leads at 25. 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.

Paychex, Inc.

(PAYX) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 7% net margin versus -9. 3% for Asure Software, Inc. — meaning it keeps 29. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PAYX leads at 39. 6% versus -6. 0% for ASUR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PAYX leads at 72. 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.

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, The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 31x versus Paychex, Inc. 's 2. 01x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT) trades at 6. 9x forward P/E versus 28. 3x for PaySign, Inc. — 21. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HCKT: 79. 7% to $20. 50.

In this comparison, PAYX (4.

2% yield), HCKT (4. 1% yield) pay a dividend. ASUR, PAYS, PCTY do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Paychex, Inc.

(PAYX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 39), 4. 2% yield, +135. 4% 10Y return). PaySign, Inc. (PAYS) carries a higher beta of 1. 52 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (PAYX: +135. 4%, PAYS: +26. 4%), 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 (ASUR (Technology) and PAYS (Technology) and HCKT (Technology) and PCTY (Technology) and PAYX (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: ASUR is a small-cap high-growth stock; PAYS is a small-cap high-growth stock; HCKT is a small-cap income-oriented stock; PCTY is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PAYX is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. HCKT, PAYX pay a dividend while ASUR, PAYS, PCTY 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.