CREX vs DLHC vs OESX vs SGBX

For growth investors, Creative Realities, Inc.

(CREX) is the stronger pick with 12. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -69. 9% for Safe & Green Holdings Corp. (SGBX). DLH Holdings Corp. (DLHC) offers the better valuation at 61. 7x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. 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, Creative Realities, Inc.

(CREX) delivered a total return of +5. 0%, compared to -99. 9% for Safe & Green Holdings Corp. (SGBX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DLHC returned +25. 8% versus SGBX's -100. 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), Safe & Green Holdings Corp.

(SGBX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 15β versus Creative Realities, Inc. 's 1. 06β — meaning CREX is approximately 632% more volatile than SGBX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Creative Realities, Inc. (CREX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 55% versus 128% for DLH Holdings Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Creative Realities, Inc.

(CREX) is pulling ahead at 12. 6% versus -69. 9% for Safe & Green Holdings Corp. (SGBX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Safe & Green Holdings Corp. grew EPS 69. 1% year-over-year, compared to -81. 5% for DLH Holdings Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CREX leads at 40. 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.

DLH Holdings Corp.

(DLHC) is the more profitable company, earning 0. 4% net margin versus -341. 2% for Safe & Green Holdings Corp. — meaning it keeps 0. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DLHC leads at 4. 9% versus -195. 0% for SGBX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CREX leads at 47. 2%, 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.

In this comparison, SGBX (100.

0% yield) pays a dividend. CREX, DLHC, OESX do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Safe & Green Holdings Corp.

(SGBX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 15), 100. 0% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SGBX: -100. 0%, CREX: -79. 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 (CREX (Technology) and DLHC (Industrials) and OESX (Industrials) and SGBX (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CREX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; DLHC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; OESX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SGBX is a small-cap income-oriented stock. SGBX pays a dividend while CREX, DLHC, OESX 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.