HHS vs STGW vs KFRC vs MMS vs ICLR

For growth investors, Stagwell Inc.

(STGW) 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 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, Maximus, Inc.

(MMS) is the cheapest at 12. 1x 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. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Maximus, Inc. wins at 0. 77x versus ICON Public Limited Company's 1. 50x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing 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: KFRC returned +195. 5% 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), Kforce Inc.

(KFRC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 53β versus ICON Public Limited Company's 1. 60β — meaning ICLR is approximately 203% more volatile than KFRC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ICON Public Limited Company (ICLR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 38% versus 2% for Stagwell Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(STGW) is pulling ahead at 2. 4% 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 -25. 2% for Kforce Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ICLR leads at 14. 8% 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.

ICON Public Limited Company (ICLR) is the more profitable company, earning 9.

6% net margin versus -0. 5% for Harte Hanks, Inc. — meaning it keeps 9. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ICLR leads at 13. 3% 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.

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, Maximus, Inc. (MMS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 77x versus ICON Public Limited Company's 1. 50x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Stagwell Inc. (STGW) trades at 6. 2x forward P/E versus 18. 0x for Kforce Inc. — 11. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MMS: 65. 0% to $110. 00.

In this comparison, KFRC (3.

6% yield), MMS (1. 8% yield) pay a dividend. HHS, STGW, ICLR do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Kforce Inc.

(KFRC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 53), 3. 6% yield, +195. 5% 10Y return). ICON Public Limited Company (ICLR) carries a higher beta of 1. 60 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (KFRC: +195. 5%, ICLR: +91. 0%), 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 STGW (Communication Services) and KFRC (Industrials) and MMS (Industrials) and ICLR (Healthcare)), 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; STGW is a small-cap quality compounder stock; KFRC is a small-cap income-oriented stock; MMS is a small-cap deep-value stock; ICLR is a small-cap deep-value stock. KFRC, MMS pay a dividend while HHS, STGW, ICLR 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.