CTLP vs PAX vs IIIV vs PRTH vs NXST

For growth investors, Cantaloupe, Inc.

(CTLP) is the stronger pick with 12. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 5% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST). Priority Technology Holdings, Inc. (PRTH) offers the better valuation at 8. 1x trailing P/E (5. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Cantaloupe, Inc. (CTLP) 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.

On trailing P/E, Priority Technology Holdings, Inc.

(PRTH) is the cheapest at 8. 1x versus Nexstar Media Group, Inc. at 64. 8x. On forward P/E, Priority Technology Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 5. 8x.

Over the past 5 years, Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

(NXST) delivered a total return of +50. 1%, compared to -27. 6% for i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NXST returned +331. 4% versus PRTH's -43. 8%. 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), Cantaloupe, Inc.

(CTLP) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 38β versus Priority Technology Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 12β — meaning PRTH is approximately 460% more volatile than CTLP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 3% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(CTLP) is pulling ahead at 12. 6% versus -8. 5% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NXST). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cantaloupe, Inc. grew EPS 473. 3% year-over-year, compared to -87. 9% for i3 Verticals, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CTLP leads at 13. 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.

Patria Investments Limited (PAX) is the more profitable company, earning 22.

3% net margin versus 2. 2% for Nexstar Media Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 22. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PAX leads at 34. 2% versus 1. 9% for IIIV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PAX leads at 96. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Priority Technology Holdings, Inc.

(PRTH) trades at 5. 8x forward P/E versus 27. 3x for Cantaloupe, Inc. — 21. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PRTH: 99. 6% to $11. 00.

In this comparison, PAX (5.

0% yield), NXST (2. 8% yield) pay a dividend. CTLP, IIIV, PRTH do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

(NXST) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 73), 2. 8% yield, +331. 4% 10Y return). Priority Technology Holdings, Inc. (PRTH) carries a higher beta of 2. 12 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (NXST: +331. 4%, PRTH: -43. 8%), 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 (CTLP (Technology) and PAX (Financial Services) and IIIV (Technology) and PRTH (Technology) and NXST (Communication Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CTLP is a small-cap deep-value stock; PAX is a small-cap income-oriented stock; IIIV is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PRTH is a small-cap deep-value stock; NXST is a small-cap quality compounder stock. PAX, NXST pay a dividend while CTLP, IIIV, PRTH 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.