IIIV vs EVTC

For growth investors, EVERTEC, Inc.

(EVTC) is the stronger pick with 10. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 3% for i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV). EVERTEC, Inc. (EVTC) offers the better valuation at 10. 6x trailing P/E (6. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV) a "Buy" — based on 14 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, EVERTEC, Inc.

(EVTC) is the cheapest at 10. 6x versus i3 Verticals, Inc. at 40. 9x. On forward P/E, EVERTEC, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 0x.

Over the past 5 years, i3 Verticals, Inc.

(IIIV) delivered a total return of -27. 6%, compared to -43. 3% for EVERTEC, Inc. (EVTC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EVTC returned +89. 5% versus IIIV's +24. 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), EVERTEC, Inc.

(EVTC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 76β versus i3 Verticals, Inc. 's 0. 92β — meaning IIIV is approximately 20% more volatile than EVTC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 158% for EVERTEC, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(EVTC) is pulling ahead at 10. 2% versus -7. 3% for i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: EVERTEC, Inc. grew EPS 27. 2% year-over-year, compared to -87. 9% for i3 Verticals, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, EVTC leads at 14. 6% 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.

EVERTEC, Inc.

(EVTC) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 2% net margin versus 8. 4% for i3 Verticals, Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EVTC leads at 20. 0% versus 1. 9% for IIIV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IIIV leads at 55. 7%, 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, EVERTEC, Inc.

(EVTC) trades at 6. 0x forward P/E versus 20. 3x for i3 Verticals, Inc. — 14. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EVTC: 58. 4% to $37. 00.

In this comparison, EVTC (0.

8% yield) pays a dividend. IIIV does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, EVERTEC, Inc.

(EVTC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 76), 0. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EVTC: +89. 5%, IIIV: +24. 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: IIIV is a small-cap quality compounder stock; EVTC is a small-cap deep-value stock. EVTC pays a dividend while IIIV does 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.