HCKT vs HURN

For growth investors, Huron Consulting Group Inc.

(HURN) is the stronger pick with 14. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 6% for The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT). Huron Consulting Group Inc. (HURN) offers the better valuation at 20. 6x trailing P/E (13. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT) 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, Huron Consulting Group Inc.

(HURN) is the cheapest at 20. 6x versus The Hackett Group, Inc. at 21. 7x. On forward P/E, The Hackett Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Huron Consulting Group Inc.

(HURN) delivered a total return of +113. 2%, compared to -24. 0% for The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HURN returned +108. 4% versus HCKT's -5. 2%. 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), Huron Consulting Group Inc.

(HURN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 82β versus The Hackett Group, Inc. 's 1. 10β — meaning HCKT is approximately 33% more volatile than HURN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Huron Consulting Group Inc. (HURN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 104% versus 117% for The Hackett Group, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Huron Consulting Group Inc.

(HURN) is pulling ahead at 14. 3% versus -2. 6% for The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Huron Consulting Group Inc. grew EPS -6. 9% year-over-year, compared to -55. 2% for The Hackett Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HURN leads at 14. 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.

Huron Consulting Group Inc.

(HURN) is the more profitable company, earning 6. 2% net margin versus 4. 2% for The Hackett Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 6. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HURN leads at 11. 7% versus 8. 7% for HCKT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HCKT leads at 38. 3%, 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, The Hackett Group, Inc.

(HCKT) trades at 6. 2x forward P/E versus 13. 7x for Huron Consulting Group Inc. — 7. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HCKT: 100. 8% to $20. 50.

In this comparison, HCKT (4.

6% yield) pays a dividend. HURN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, The Hackett Group, Inc.

(HCKT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 10), 4. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HCKT: -5. 2%, HURN: +108. 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 (HCKT (Technology) and HURN (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: HCKT is a small-cap income-oriented stock; HURN is a small-cap quality compounder stock. HCKT pays a dividend while HURN 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.