HHS vs STGW vs IPG vs OMC

For growth investors, Omnicom Group Inc.

(OMC) is the stronger pick with 10. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -13. 9% for Harte Hanks, Inc. (HHS). The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (IPG) offers the better valuation at 13. 4x trailing P/E (7. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Stagwell Inc. (STGW) a "Buy" — based on 8 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 Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.

(IPG) is the cheapest at 13. 4x versus Stagwell Inc. at 58. 7x. On forward P/E, Stagwell Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Stagwell Inc.

(STGW) delivered a total return of +31. 8%, compared to -46. 1% for Harte Hanks, Inc. (HHS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IPG returned +45. 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), Omnicom Group Inc.

(OMC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 60β versus Stagwell Inc. 's 1. 17β — meaning STGW is approximately 95% more volatile than OMC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Omnicom Group Inc. (OMC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 98% versus 2% for Stagwell Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(OMC) is pulling ahead at 10. 1% versus -13. 9% for Harte Hanks, Inc. (HHS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Stagwell Inc. grew EPS 464. 1% year-over-year, compared to -103. 6% for Omnicom Group Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, OMC leads at 6. 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.

The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.

(IPG) is the more profitable company, earning 6. 4% net margin versus -0. 5% for Harte Hanks, Inc. — meaning it keeps 6. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: OMC leads at 15. 0% versus 1. 4% for HHS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — STGW leads at 36. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Stagwell Inc.

(STGW) trades at 6. 2x forward P/E versus 7. 8x for The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. — 1. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IPG: 48. 8% to $36. 57.

In this comparison, IPG (5.

4% yield), OMC (3. 5% yield) pay a dividend. HHS, STGW do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Omnicom Group Inc.

(OMC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 60), 3. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (OMC: +23. 5%, STGW: -60. 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.

Both stocks operate in the Communication Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: HHS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; STGW is a small-cap quality compounder stock; IPG is a small-cap deep-value stock; OMC is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. IPG, OMC pay a dividend while HHS, STGW 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.