FSI vs HNNA vs PESI vs GROW vs DHIL

For growth investors, Hennessy Advisors, Inc.

(HNNA) is the stronger pick with 19. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -23. 1% for U. S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW). Hennessy Advisors, Inc. (HNNA) offers the better valuation at 8. 1x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (PESI) a "Hold" — 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.

On trailing P/E, Hennessy Advisors, Inc.

(HNNA) is the cheapest at 8. 1x versus Flexible Solutions International, Inc. at 25. 5x.

Over the past 5 years, Flexible Solutions International, Inc.

(FSI) delivered a total return of +106. 1%, compared to -55. 1% for U. S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FSI returned +390. 3% versus HNNA's -34. 7%. 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), Hennessy Advisors, Inc.

(HNNA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 27β versus Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. 's 1. 74β — meaning PESI is approximately 545% more volatile than HNNA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, U. S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 36% for Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hennessy Advisors, Inc.

(HNNA) is pulling ahead at 19. 9% versus -23. 1% for U. S. Global Investors, Inc. (GROW). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. grew EPS 43. 6% year-over-year, compared to -126. 6% for U. S. Global Investors, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, FSI leads at 3. 6% 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.

Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.

(DHIL) is the more profitable company, earning 30. 9% net margin versus -22. 3% for Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. — meaning it keeps 30. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DHIL leads at 38. 4% versus -35. 3% for GROW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DHIL leads at 96. 0%, 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, DHIL (5.

7% yield), HNNA (5. 2% yield), GROW (3. 5% yield), FSI (1. 6% yield) pay a dividend. PESI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Hennessy Advisors, Inc.

(HNNA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 27), 5. 2% yield). Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (PESI) carries a higher beta of 1. 74 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HNNA: -34. 7%, PESI: +174. 4%), 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 (FSI (Basic Materials) and HNNA (Financial Services) and PESI (Industrials) and GROW (Financial Services) and DHIL (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: FSI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HNNA is a small-cap high-growth stock; PESI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; GROW is a small-cap income-oriented stock; DHIL is a small-cap deep-value stock. FSI, HNNA, GROW, DHIL pay a dividend while PESI 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.