INTA vs APPF vs PCTY vs CSGP vs PAYC

For growth investors, AppFolio, Inc.

(APPF) is the stronger pick with 19. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 9% for Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC). Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC) offers the better valuation at 17. 1x trailing P/E (13. 2x 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, Paycom Software, Inc.

(PAYC) is the cheapest at 17. 1x versus CoStar Group, Inc. at 2107. 2x. On forward P/E, Paycom Software, Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 2x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Paycom Software, Inc. wins at 0. 49x 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, 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 8. 9% for Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC). 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.

Paycom Software, Inc.

(PAYC) is the more profitable company, earning 22. 1% net margin versus -3. 6% for Intapp, 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 -5. 4% for INTA. 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, Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 49x 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, Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC) trades at 13. 2x forward P/E versus 25. 8x for CoStar Group, Inc. — 12. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CSGP: 77. 0% to $61. 91.

In this comparison, PAYC (1.

1% yield) pays a dividend. INTA, APPF, PCTY, CSGP do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for 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) and PAYC (Technology)), 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; PAYC is a small-cap deep-value stock. PAYC pays a dividend while INTA, APPF, PCTY, CSGP 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.