HCKT vs ORCL

For growth investors, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is the stronger pick with 8.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 6% for The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT). The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT) offers the better valuation at 24. 3x trailing P/E (6. 9x 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, The Hackett Group, Inc.

(HCKT) is the cheapest at 24. 3x versus Oracle Corporation at 44. 8x. On forward P/E, The Hackett Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: The Hackett Group, Inc. wins at 0. 31x versus Oracle Corporation's 3. 66x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) delivered a total return of +151.

8%, compared to -18. 8% for The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ORCL returned +425. 1% versus HCKT's +0. 9%. 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), The Hackett Group, Inc.

(HCKT) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 10β versus Oracle Corporation's 1. 59β — meaning ORCL is approximately 45% more volatile than HCKT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 117% versus 5% for Oracle Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is pulling ahead at 8.

4% versus -2. 6% for The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Oracle Corporation grew EPS 17. 0% year-over-year, compared to -55. 2% for The Hackett Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ORCL leads at 10. 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.

Oracle Corporation (ORCL) is the more profitable company, earning 21.

7% net margin versus 4. 2% for The Hackett Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 21. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ORCL leads at 30. 8% versus 8. 7% for HCKT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ORCL leads at 70. 5%, 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, The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 31x versus Oracle Corporation's 3. 66x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT) trades at 6. 9x forward P/E versus 26. 0x for Oracle Corporation — 19. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HCKT: 79. 7% to $20. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT) offers the highest yield at 4. 1%, versus 0. 9% for Oracle Corporation (ORCL).

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. 1% yield). Oracle Corporation (ORCL) carries a higher beta of 1. 59 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HCKT: +0. 9%, ORCL: +425. 1%), 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: HCKT is a small-cap income-oriented stock; ORCL is a large-cap quality compounder 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.