IAC vs MTCH vs ANGI vs ZETA vs QNST

For growth investors, QuinStreet, Inc.

(QNST) is the stronger pick with 78. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -37. 1% for IAC InterActive Corp. (IAC). Angi Inc. (ANGI) offers the better valuation at 5. 6x trailing P/E (6. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate IAC InterActive Corp. (IAC) a "Buy" — based on 33 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, Angi Inc.

(ANGI) is the cheapest at 5. 6x versus QuinStreet, Inc. at 165. 6x. On forward P/E, Angi Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, Zeta Global Holdings Corp.

(ZETA) delivered a total return of +94. 4%, compared to -96. 1% for Angi Inc. (ANGI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IAC returned +347. 8% versus ANGI's -94. 1%. 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), Match Group, Inc.

(MTCH) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 04β versus Zeta Global Holdings Corp. 's 2. 79β — meaning ZETA is approximately 168% more volatile than MTCH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, QuinStreet, Inc. (QNST) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 54% for Angi Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(QNST) is pulling ahead at 78. 3% versus -37. 1% for IAC InterActive Corp. (IAC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: QuinStreet, Inc. grew EPS 114. 2% year-over-year, compared to 17. 8% for Match Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ZETA leads at 30. 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.

Match Group, Inc.

(MTCH) is the more profitable company, earning 17. 6% net margin versus -4. 3% for IAC InterActive Corp. — meaning it keeps 17. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MTCH leads at 25. 0% versus -4. 1% for IAC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ANGI leads at 90. 8%, 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, Angi Inc.

(ANGI) trades at 6. 1x forward P/E versus 109. 7x for IAC InterActive Corp. — 103. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ANGI: 143. 3% to $12. 75.

In this comparison, MTCH (2.

0% yield) pays a dividend. IAC, ANGI, ZETA, QNST do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Match Group, Inc.

(MTCH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 04), 2. 0% yield, +195. 5% 10Y return). Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (ZETA) carries a higher beta of 2. 79 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MTCH: +195. 5%, ZETA: +94. 4%), 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 (IAC (Technology) and MTCH (Communication Services) and ANGI (Communication Services) and ZETA (Technology) and QNST (Communication Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: IAC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MTCH is a small-cap deep-value stock; ANGI is a small-cap deep-value stock; ZETA is a small-cap high-growth stock; QNST is a small-cap high-growth stock. MTCH pays a dividend while IAC, ANGI, ZETA, QNST 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.