HHS vs MMS vs TTEC vs EXLS

For growth investors, ExlService Holdings, Inc.

(EXLS) is the stronger pick with 13. 6% 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.

On trailing P/E, Maximus, Inc.

(MMS) is the cheapest at 12. 1x versus ExlService Holdings, Inc. at 20. 4x. On forward P/E, TTEC Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 2. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: ExlService Holdings, Inc. wins at 0. 58x versus Maximus, Inc. 's 0. 77x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, ExlService Holdings, Inc.

(EXLS) delivered a total return of +60. 0%, compared to -94. 4% for TTEC Holdings, Inc. (TTEC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EXLS returned +221. 4% 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), ExlService Holdings, Inc.

(EXLS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 67β versus TTEC Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 84β — meaning TTEC is approximately 177% more volatile than EXLS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ExlService Holdings, Inc. (EXLS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 44% versus 9% for TTEC Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), ExlService Holdings, Inc.

(EXLS) is pulling ahead at 13. 6% 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, EXLS leads at 13. 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.

ExlService Holdings, Inc.

(EXLS) is the more profitable company, earning 12. 0% net margin versus -9. 0% for TTEC Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EXLS leads at 15. 0% versus 1. 4% for HHS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EXLS leads at 38. 4%, 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, ExlService Holdings, Inc. (EXLS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 58x versus Maximus, Inc. 's 0. 77x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, TTEC Holdings, Inc. (TTEC) trades at 2. 5x forward P/E versus 14. 1x for ExlService Holdings, Inc. — 11. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TTEC: 1016. 7% to $34. 17.

In this comparison, MMS (1.

8% yield) pays a dividend. HHS, TTEC, EXLS do 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). TTEC Holdings, Inc. (TTEC) carries a higher beta of 1. 84 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MMS: +39. 7%, TTEC: -61. 8%), 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) and TTEC (Technology) and EXLS (Technology)), 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; TTEC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; EXLS is a small-cap quality compounder stock. MMS pays a dividend while HHS, TTEC, EXLS do 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.