HHS vs TTEC vs TASK vs MMS

For growth investors, TaskUs, Inc.

(TASK) is the stronger pick with 19. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -13. 9% for Harte Hanks, Inc. (HHS). TaskUs, Inc. (TASK) offers the better valuation at 5. 8x trailing P/E (4. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate TaskUs, Inc. (TASK) a "Buy" — based on 11 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, TaskUs, Inc.

(TASK) is the cheapest at 5. 8x versus Maximus, Inc. at 12. 1x. 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: TaskUs, Inc. wins at 0. 18x versus Maximus, Inc. 's 0. 77x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Maximus, Inc.

(MMS) delivered a total return of -20. 4%, compared to -94. 4% for TTEC Holdings, Inc. (TTEC). 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 TTEC Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 84β — meaning TTEC is approximately 159% more volatile than HHS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, TaskUs, Inc. (TASK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 50% versus 9% for TTEC Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(TASK) is pulling ahead at 19. 0% versus -13. 9% for Harte Hanks, Inc. (HHS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: TaskUs, Inc. grew EPS 120. 0% year-over-year, compared to 10. 4% for Maximus, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, TASK leads at 7. 2% 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.

TaskUs, Inc.

(TASK) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 6% net margin versus -9. 0% for TTEC Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TASK leads at 11. 9% versus 1. 4% for HHS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TASK leads at 32. 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.

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, TaskUs, Inc. (TASK) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 18x 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 7. 8x for Maximus, Inc. — 5. 3x 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, TASK 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 TTEC (Technology) and TASK (Technology) 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; TTEC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; TASK is a small-cap high-growth stock; MMS is a small-cap deep-value stock. MMS pays a dividend while HHS, TTEC, TASK 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.