HQY vs GWRE vs PCTY vs WEX vs PAYC

For growth investors, Guidewire Software, Inc.

(GWRE) is the stronger pick with 22. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 2% for WEX Inc. (WEX). WEX Inc. (WEX) offers the better valuation at 17. 0x trailing P/E (7. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate HealthEquity, Inc. (HQY) a "Buy" — based on 27 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, WEX Inc.

(WEX) is the cheapest at 17. 0x versus Guidewire Software, Inc. at 172. 3x. On forward P/E, WEX Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: HealthEquity, Inc. wins at 0. 26x versus Paylocity Holding Corporation's 0. 50x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Guidewire Software, Inc.

(GWRE) delivered a total return of +41. 4%, compared to -56. 3% for Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PAYC returned +271. 8% versus WEX's +60. 9%. 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), Paylocity Holding Corporation (PCTY) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

43β versus WEX Inc. 's 1. 16β — meaning WEX is approximately 171% more volatile than PCTY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, HealthEquity, Inc. (HQY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 4% for WEX Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Guidewire Software, Inc.

(GWRE) is pulling ahead at 22. 6% versus 1. 2% for WEX Inc. (WEX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Guidewire Software, Inc. grew EPS 1192% year-over-year, compared to -9. 4% for Paycom Software, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PCTY leads at 23. 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.

Paycom Software, Inc.

(PAYC) is the more profitable company, earning 22. 1% net margin versus 5. 8% for Guidewire Software, Inc. — meaning it keeps 22. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PAYC leads at 27. 6% versus 3. 4% for GWRE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PAYC leads at 78. 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, HealthEquity, Inc. (HQY) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 26x versus Paylocity Holding Corporation's 0. 50x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, WEX Inc. (WEX) trades at 7. 4x forward P/E versus 39. 7x for Guidewire Software, Inc. — 32. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GWRE: 75. 6% to $245. 17.

In this comparison, PAYC (1.

1% yield) pays a dividend. HQY, GWRE, PCTY, WEX do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Paycom Software, Inc.

(PAYC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 59), 1. 1% yield, +271. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PAYC: +271. 8%, WEX: +60. 9%), 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 (HQY (Healthcare) and GWRE (Technology) and PCTY (Technology) and WEX (Technology) and PAYC (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: HQY is a small-cap quality compounder stock; GWRE is a mid-cap high-growth stock; PCTY is a small-cap quality compounder stock; WEX is a small-cap deep-value stock; PAYC is a small-cap deep-value stock. PAYC pays a dividend while HQY, GWRE, PCTY, WEX 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.