INTR vs STNE

For growth investors, Inter & Co, Inc.

(INTR) is the stronger pick with 27. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -74. 0% for StoneCo Ltd. (STNE). StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) offers the better valuation at 6. 7x trailing P/E (1. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Inter & Co, Inc. (INTR) a "Buy" — based on 6 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, StoneCo Ltd.

(STNE) is the cheapest at 6. 7x versus Inter & Co, Inc. at 18. 7x. On forward P/E, StoneCo Ltd. is actually cheaper at 1. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Inter & Co, Inc. wins at 0. 02x versus StoneCo Ltd. 's 0. 05x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Inter & Co, Inc.

(INTR) delivered a total return of +131. 7%, compared to -77. 3% for StoneCo Ltd. (STNE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: INTR returned +131. 7% versus STNE's -55. 7%. 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), Inter & Co, Inc.

(INTR) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 39β versus StoneCo Ltd. 's 1. 67β — meaning STNE is approximately 20% more volatile than INTR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Inter & Co, Inc. (INTR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 131% versus 159% for StoneCo Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Inter & Co, Inc.

(INTR) is pulling ahead at 27. 1% versus -74. 0% for StoneCo Ltd. (STNE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: StoneCo Ltd. grew EPS 265. 9% year-over-year, compared to 176. 0% for Inter & Co, Inc.. 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.

StoneCo Ltd.

(STNE) is the more profitable company, earning 68. 6% net margin versus 9. 3% for Inter & Co, Inc. — meaning it keeps 68. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: INTR leads at 12. 4% versus -90. 2% for STNE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — INTR leads at 47. 4%, 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, Inter & Co, Inc. (INTR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 02x versus StoneCo Ltd. 's 0. 05x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) trades at 1. 1x forward P/E versus 1. 9x for Inter & Co, Inc. — 0. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for STNE: 67. 1% to $19. 00.

In this comparison, INTR (0.

4% yield) pays a dividend. STNE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Inter & Co, Inc.

(INTR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+131. 7% 10Y return). StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) carries a higher beta of 1. 67 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (INTR: +131. 7%, STNE: -55. 7%), 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 (INTR (Financial Services) and STNE (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: INTR is a small-cap high-growth stock; STNE is a small-cap deep-value 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.