IAC vs ZETA

For growth investors, Zeta Global Holdings Corp.

(ZETA) is the stronger pick with 29. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -37. 1% for IAC InterActive Corp. (IAC). 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.

Over the past 5 years, Zeta Global Holdings Corp.

(ZETA) delivered a total return of +93. 9%, compared to -66. 4% for IAC InterActive Corp. (IAC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IAC returned +339. 6% versus ZETA's +93. 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), IAC InterActive Corp.

(IAC) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 10β versus Zeta Global Holdings Corp. 's 2. 79β — meaning ZETA is approximately 155% more volatile than IAC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (ZETA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 24% versus 30% for IAC InterActive Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Zeta Global Holdings Corp.

(ZETA) is pulling ahead at 29. 7% versus -37. 1% for IAC InterActive Corp. (IAC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: IAC InterActive Corp. grew EPS 79. 5% year-over-year, compared to 63. 2% for Zeta Global Holdings Corp.. 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.

Zeta Global Holdings Corp.

(ZETA) is the more profitable company, earning -2. 4% net margin versus -4. 3% for IAC InterActive Corp. — meaning it keeps -2. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ZETA leads at 0. 4% versus -4. 1% for IAC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IAC leads at 66. 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, Zeta Global Holdings Corp.

(ZETA) trades at 18. 7x forward P/E versus 107. 5x for IAC InterActive Corp. — 88. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ZETA: 52. 7% to $26. 33.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, IAC InterActive Corp.

(IAC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 10), +339. 6% 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 (IAC: +339. 6%, ZETA: +93. 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.

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

In terms of investment character: IAC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ZETA is a small-cap high-growth stock. 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.