FTHM vs DOUG

For growth investors, Douglas Elliman Inc.

(DOUG) is the stronger pick with 3. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 9% for Fathom Holdings Inc. (FTHM). Douglas Elliman Inc. (DOUG) offers the better valuation at 12. 5x trailing P/E (21. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Douglas Elliman Inc. (DOUG) 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.

Over the past 5 years, Douglas Elliman Inc.

(DOUG) delivered a total return of -79. 5%, compared to -97. 4% for Fathom Holdings Inc. (FTHM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DOUG returned -79. 5% versus FTHM's -91. 6%. 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), Douglas Elliman Inc.

(DOUG) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 82β versus Fathom Holdings Inc. 's 2. 42β — meaning FTHM is approximately 33% more volatile than DOUG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Fathom Holdings Inc. (FTHM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 42% versus 56% for Douglas Elliman Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Douglas Elliman Inc.

(DOUG) is pulling ahead at 3. 8% versus -2. 9% for Fathom Holdings Inc. (FTHM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Douglas Elliman Inc. grew EPS 118. 7% year-over-year, compared to 27. 2% for Fathom Holdings Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, FTHM leads at 0. 5% 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.

Douglas Elliman Inc.

(DOUG) is the more profitable company, earning 1. 5% net margin versus -6. 4% for Fathom Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 1. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DOUG leads at -5. 9% versus -7. 0% for FTHM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DOUG leads at 16. 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.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Douglas Elliman Inc.

(DOUG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. Fathom Holdings Inc. (FTHM) carries a higher beta of 2. 42 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (DOUG: -79. 5%, FTHM: -91. 6%), 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 Real Estate sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: FTHM is a small-cap quality compounder stock; DOUG is a small-cap deep-value stock. 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.