Technology Distributors
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CNXN vs NSIT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Technology Distributors
CNXN vs NSIT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Technology Distributors | Technology Distributors |
| Market Cap | $1.63B | $2.14B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.89B | $8.25B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $87M | $157M |
| Gross Margin | 18.8% | 21.4% |
| Operating Margin | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| Forward P/E | 16.6x | 6.6x |
| Total Debt | $996K | $1.59B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $193M | $358M |
CNXN vs NSIT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC Connection, Inc. (CNXN) | 100 | 151.0 | +51.0% |
| Insight Enterprises… (NSIT) | 100 | 137.3 | +37.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CNXN vs NSIT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
CNXN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 0.83, yield 0.9%
- Rev growth 2.5%, EPS growth -0.6%, 3Y rev CAGR -2.8%
- 193.9% 10Y total return vs NSIT's 186.0%
NSIT is the clearest fit if your priority is value.
- Lower P/E (6.6x vs 16.6x)
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 2.5% revenue growth vs NSIT's -5.2% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (6.6x vs 16.6x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 3.0% margin vs NSIT's 1.9% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.83 vs NSIT's 1.32, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 0.9% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | -4.0% vs NSIT's -47.6% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 6.5% ROA vs NSIT's 1.7%, ROIC 10.6% vs 10.3% |
CNXN vs NSIT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
CNXN vs NSIT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — CNXN and NSIT each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NSIT is the larger business by revenue, generating $8.2B annually — 2.9x CNXN's $2.9B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 3.0% (CNXN) to 1.9% (NSIT). On growth, CNXN holds the edge at +3.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.9B | $8.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $127M | $491M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $87M | $157M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $124M | $279M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +18.8% | +21.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.9% | +4.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.0% | +1.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.3% | +3.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +3.0% | -1.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +33.3% | +68.7% |
Valuation Metrics
NSIT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 14.2x trailing earnings, NSIT trades at a 28% valuation discount to CNXN's 19.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NSIT's 7.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CNXN's 12.3x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.6B | $2.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.4B | $3.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 19.81x | 14.20x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 16.65x | 6.60x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 2.19x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.32x | 6.99x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.57x | 0.26x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.80x | 1.35x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 28.14x | 7.66x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CNXN leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CNXN delivers a 9.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $10 in annual profit, vs $10 for NSIT. CNXN carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NSIT's 0.96x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NSIT scores 6/9 vs CNXN's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.7% | +9.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.5% | +1.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.6% | +10.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +11.0% | +10.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.00x | 0.96x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$192M | $1.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $193M | $358M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $996,000 | $1.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 3.66x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CNXN leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CNXN five years ago would be worth $13,880 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,219 for NSIT. Over the past 12 months, CNXN leads with a -4.0% total return vs NSIT's -47.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CNXN at 19.4% vs NSIT's -17.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +14.3% | -17.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -4.0% | -47.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +70.3% | -44.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +38.8% | -27.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +193.9% | +186.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +19.4% | -17.8% |
Risk & Volatility
CNXN leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CNXN is the less volatile stock with a 0.83 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NSIT's 1.32 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CNXN currently trades 91.0% from its 52-week high vs NSIT's 46.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.83x | 1.32x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $71.17 | $148.58 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $54.97 | $63.62 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +91.0% | +46.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 65.2 | 43.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 67K | 424K |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CNXN as "Buy" and NSIT as "Buy". CNXN is the only dividend payer here at 0.93% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $90.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 1 | 7 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.9% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.60 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.7% | +7.1% |
CNXN leads in 3 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). NSIT leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
CNXN vs NSIT: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CNXN or NSIT a better buy right now?
For growth investors, PC Connection, Inc.
(CNXN) is the stronger pick with 2. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 2% for Insight Enterprises, Inc. (NSIT). Insight Enterprises, Inc. (NSIT) offers the better valuation at 14. 2x trailing P/E (6. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate PC Connection, Inc. (CNXN) a "Buy" — based on 1 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.
02Which has the better valuation — CNXN or NSIT?
On trailing P/E, Insight Enterprises, Inc.
(NSIT) is the cheapest at 14. 2x versus PC Connection, Inc. at 19. 8x. On forward P/E, Insight Enterprises, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CNXN or NSIT?
Over the past 5 years, PC Connection, Inc.
(CNXN) delivered a total return of +38. 8%, compared to -27. 8% for Insight Enterprises, Inc. (NSIT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CNXN returned +199. 0% versus NSIT's +194. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — CNXN or NSIT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), PC Connection, Inc.
(CNXN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 83β versus Insight Enterprises, Inc. 's 1. 32β — meaning NSIT is approximately 60% more volatile than CNXN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, PC Connection, Inc. (CNXN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 96% for Insight Enterprises, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CNXN or NSIT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), PC Connection, Inc.
(CNXN) is pulling ahead at 2. 5% versus -5. 2% for Insight Enterprises, Inc. (NSIT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: PC Connection, Inc. grew EPS -0. 6% year-over-year, compared to -25. 8% for Insight Enterprises, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CNXN leads at -2. 8% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — CNXN or NSIT?
PC Connection, Inc.
(CNXN) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 9% net margin versus 1. 9% for Insight Enterprises, Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NSIT leads at 4. 6% versus 3. 6% for CNXN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NSIT leads at 21. 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.
07Is CNXN or NSIT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Insight Enterprises, Inc.
(NSIT) trades at 6. 6x forward P/E versus 16. 6x for PC Connection, Inc. — 10. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — CNXN or NSIT?
In this comparison, CNXN (0.
9% yield) pays a dividend. NSIT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is CNXN or NSIT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, PC Connection, Inc.
(CNXN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 83), 0. 9% yield, +199. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CNXN: +199. 0%, NSIT: +194. 2%), 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.
10What are the main differences between CNXN and NSIT?
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: CNXN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NSIT is a small-cap deep-value stock. CNXN pays a dividend while NSIT 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.
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