INTA vs APPF vs PCTY vs CSGP

For growth investors, AppFolio, Inc.

(APPF) is the stronger pick with 19. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 13. 7% for Paylocity Holding Corporation (PCTY). Paylocity Holding Corporation (PCTY) offers the better valuation at 27. 1x trailing P/E (14. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Intapp, Inc. (INTA) a "Buy" — based on 12 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, Paylocity Holding Corporation (PCTY) is the cheapest at 27.

1x versus CoStar Group, Inc. at 2107. 2x. On forward P/E, Paylocity Holding Corporation is actually cheaper at 14. 0x.

Over the past 5 years, AppFolio, Inc.

(APPF) delivered a total return of +30. 6%, compared to -58. 9% for CoStar Group, Inc. (CSGP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: APPF returned +1277% versus INTA's -14. 4%. 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 Intapp, Inc. 's 0. 95β — meaning INTA is approximately 121% more volatile than PCTY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Intapp, Inc. (INTA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 18% for Paylocity Holding Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(APPF) is pulling ahead at 19. 7% versus 13. 7% for Paylocity Holding Corporation (PCTY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Intapp, Inc. grew EPS 48. 9% year-over-year, compared to -95. 1% for CoStar Group, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, APPF leads at 26. 3% 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.

AppFolio, Inc.

(APPF) is the more profitable company, earning 14. 8% net margin versus -3. 6% for Intapp, Inc. — meaning it keeps 14. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PCTY leads at 19. 1% versus -5. 4% for INTA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CSGP leads at 75. 2%, 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, Paylocity Holding Corporation (PCTY) trades at 14.

0x forward P/E versus 25. 8x for CoStar Group, Inc. — 11. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CSGP: 77. 0% to $61. 91.

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, AppFolio, Inc.

(APPF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 71), +1277% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (APPF: +1277%, INTA: -14. 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 (INTA (Technology) and APPF (Technology) and PCTY (Technology) and CSGP (Real Estate)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: INTA is a small-cap high-growth stock; APPF is a small-cap high-growth stock; PCTY is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CSGP is a mid-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.