HGBL vs CPSS vs RILY vs ASST vs COHU

For growth investors, Strive, Inc.

(ASST) is the stronger pick with 476. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -11. 5% for BRC Group Holdings, Inc. (RILY). BRC Group Holdings, Inc. (RILY) offers the better valuation at 1. 1x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (CPSS) a "Buy" — based on 4 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, BRC Group Holdings, Inc.

(RILY) is the cheapest at 1. 1x versus Heritage Global Inc. at 13. 3x. On forward P/E, Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 4. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc.

(CPSS) delivered a total return of +138. 8%, compared to -95. 6% for Strive, Inc. (ASST). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HGBL returned +639. 3% versus ASST's -95. 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), Heritage Global Inc.

(HGBL) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 66β versus Strive, Inc. 's 2. 47β — meaning ASST is approximately 274% more volatile than HGBL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Strive, Inc. (ASST) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 11% for Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(ASST) is pulling ahead at 476. 2% versus -11. 5% for BRC Group Holdings, Inc. (RILY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: BRC Group Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 129. 9% year-over-year, compared to -28. 6% for Heritage Global Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ASST leads at 119. 9% 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.

BRC Group Holdings, Inc.

(RILY) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 8% net margin versus -591. 2% for Strive, Inc. — meaning it keeps 29. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CPSS leads at 60. 8% versus -620. 7% for ASST. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CPSS leads at 99. 6%, 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, Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc.

(CPSS) trades at 4. 2x forward P/E versus 89. 2x for Cohu, Inc. — 85. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for COHU: 4. 8% to $49. 75.

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, Heritage Global Inc.

(HGBL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 66), +639. 3% 10Y return). Strive, Inc. (ASST) carries a higher beta of 2. 47 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HGBL: +639. 3%, ASST: -95. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (HGBL (Financial Services) and CPSS (Financial Services) and RILY (Financial Services) and ASST (Communication Services) and COHU (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: HGBL is a small-cap deep-value stock; CPSS is a small-cap deep-value stock; RILY is a small-cap deep-value stock; ASST is a small-cap high-growth stock; COHU is a small-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.