EXFY vs PCTY vs PAYC vs INTU

For growth investors, Intuit Inc.

(INTU) is the stronger pick with 15. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 1% for Expensify, Inc. (EXFY). Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC) offers the better valuation at 16. 9x trailing P/E (12. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Expensify, Inc. (EXFY) a "Buy" — based on 9 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, Paycom Software, Inc.

(PAYC) is the cheapest at 16. 9x versus Intuit Inc. at 29. 0x. On forward P/E, Paycom Software, Inc. is actually cheaper at 12. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Paycom Software, Inc. wins at 0. 47x versus Intuit Inc. 's 1. 17x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Intuit Inc.

(INTU) delivered a total return of +5. 5%, compared to -97. 5% for Expensify, Inc. (EXFY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: INTU returned +316. 1% versus EXFY's -97. 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 Expensify, Inc. 's 0. 93β — meaning EXFY is approximately 137% more volatile than PCTY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Expensify, Inc. (EXFY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 34% for Intuit Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(INTU) is pulling ahead at 15. 6% versus 2. 1% for Expensify, Inc. (EXFY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Intuit Inc. grew EPS 31. 1% year-over-year, compared to -91. 7% for Expensify, 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.

Paycom Software, Inc.

(PAYC) is the more profitable company, earning 22. 1% net margin versus -15. 1% for Expensify, Inc. — meaning it keeps 22. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PAYC leads at 27. 6% versus -12. 7% for EXFY. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — INTU leads at 80. 8%, 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, Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 47x versus Intuit Inc. 's 1. 17x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC) trades at 12. 6x forward P/E versus 17. 1x for Expensify, Inc. — 4. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EXFY: 1241. 5% to $13. 75.

In this comparison, PAYC (1.

1% yield), INTU (1. 1% yield) pay a dividend. EXFY, PCTY do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Intuit Inc.

(INTU) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 52), 1. 1% yield, +316. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (INTU: +316. 1%, EXFY: -97. 5%), 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.

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: EXFY is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PCTY is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PAYC is a small-cap deep-value stock; INTU is a mid-cap high-growth stock. PAYC, INTU pay a dividend while EXFY, 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.