HHS vs MMS

For growth investors, Maximus, Inc.

(MMS) is the stronger pick with 2. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -13. 9% for Harte Hanks, Inc. (HHS). Maximus, Inc. (MMS) offers the better valuation at 12. 1x trailing P/E (7. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Maximus, Inc. (MMS) a "Buy" — based on 16 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, Maximus, Inc.

(MMS) delivered a total return of -20. 4%, compared to -46. 1% for Harte Hanks, Inc. (HHS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MMS returned +39. 7% versus HHS's -82. 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), Harte Hanks, Inc.

(HHS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 71β versus Maximus, Inc. 's 0. 72β — meaning MMS is approximately 2% more volatile than HHS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Maximus, Inc. (MMS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 86% versus 109% for Harte Hanks, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(MMS) is pulling ahead at 2. 4% versus -13. 9% for Harte Hanks, Inc. (HHS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Harte Hanks, Inc. grew EPS 97. 3% year-over-year, compared to 10. 4% for Maximus, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MMS leads at 5. 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.

Maximus, Inc.

(MMS) is the more profitable company, earning 5. 9% net margin versus -0. 5% for Harte Hanks, Inc. — meaning it keeps 5. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MMS leads at 10. 6% versus 1. 4% for HHS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MMS leads at 23. 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, MMS (1.

8% yield) pays a dividend. HHS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Maximus, Inc.

(MMS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 72), 1. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MMS: +39. 7%, HHS: -82. 7%), 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 (HHS (Communication Services) and MMS (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: HHS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MMS is a small-cap deep-value stock. MMS pays a dividend while HHS 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.