BLIN vs HQY vs WEX vs DGII vs PCTY

For growth investors, Paylocity Holding Corporation (PCTY) is the stronger pick with 13.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 0. 2% for Bridgeline Digital, Inc. (BLIN). WEX Inc. (WEX) offers the better valuation at 17. 0x trailing P/E (7. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate HealthEquity, Inc. (HQY) a "Buy" — based on 27 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, WEX Inc.

(WEX) is the cheapest at 17. 0x versus Digi International Inc. at 57. 4x. On forward P/E, WEX Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: HealthEquity, Inc. wins at 0. 26x versus Digi International Inc. 's 0. 87x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Digi International Inc.

(DGII) delivered a total return of +247. 1%, compared to -57. 7% for Bridgeline Digital, Inc. (BLIN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DGII returned +497. 5% versus BLIN's -99. 5%. 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), Paylocity Holding Corporation (PCTY) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

39β versus Digi International Inc. 's 1. 35β — meaning DGII is approximately 246% more volatile than PCTY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, HealthEquity, Inc. (HQY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 4% for WEX Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Paylocity Holding Corporation (PCTY) is pulling ahead at 13.

7% versus 0. 2% for Bridgeline Digital, Inc. (BLIN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: HealthEquity, Inc. grew EPS 125. 7% year-over-year, compared to -31. 6% for Bridgeline Digital, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PCTY leads at 23. 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.

HealthEquity, Inc.

(HQY) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 4% net margin versus -16. 4% for Bridgeline Digital, Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WEX leads at 25. 4% versus -14. 2% for BLIN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HQY leads at 69. 5%, 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, HealthEquity, Inc. (HQY) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 26x versus Digi International Inc. 's 0. 87x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, WEX Inc. (WEX) trades at 7. 3x forward P/E versus 26. 9x for Digi International Inc. — 19. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PCTY: 35. 4% to $147. 73.

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, Paylocity Holding Corporation (PCTY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

39), +223. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PCTY: +223. 7%, WEX: +58. 0%), 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 (BLIN (Technology) and HQY (Healthcare) and WEX (Technology) and DGII (Technology) and PCTY (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: BLIN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HQY is a small-cap quality compounder stock; WEX is a small-cap deep-value stock; DGII is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PCTY is a small-cap quality compounder 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.