MAX vs QNST vs RAMP vs ACMR vs TPVG

For growth investors, QuinStreet, Inc.

(QNST) is the stronger pick with 78. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 13. 0% for LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (RAMP). TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp. (TPVG) offers the better valuation at 4. 5x trailing P/E (6. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate MediaAlpha, Inc. (MAX) a "Buy" — based on 9 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, TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp.

(TPVG) is the cheapest at 4. 5x versus QuinStreet, Inc. at 171. 4x. On forward P/E, TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp. is actually cheaper at 6. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: ACM Research, Inc. wins at 0. 78x versus TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp. 's 5. 96x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, ACM Research, Inc.

(ACMR) delivered a total return of +112. 0%, compared to -77. 4% for MediaAlpha, Inc. (MAX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ACMR returned +28. 6% versus MAX's -71. 8%. 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), TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp.

(TPVG) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 83β versus ACM Research, Inc. 's 3. 24β — meaning ACMR is approximately 289% more volatile than TPVG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (RAMP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 133% for TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(QNST) is pulling ahead at 78. 3% versus 13. 0% for LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. (RAMP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: QuinStreet, Inc. grew EPS 114. 2% year-over-year, compared to -107. 1% for LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MAX leads at 34. 4% 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.

TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp.

(TPVG) is the more profitable company, earning 50. 6% net margin versus -0. 1% for LiveRamp Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 50. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TPVG leads at 77. 9% versus 0. 6% for QNST. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TPVG leads at 83. 5%, 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, ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 78x versus TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp. 's 5. 96x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp. (TPVG) trades at 6. 0x forward P/E versus 27. 8x for ACM Research, Inc. — 21. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TPVG: 63. 3% to $8. 95.

In this comparison, ACMR (0.

2% yield) pays a dividend. MAX, QNST, RAMP, TPVG do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp.

(TPVG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 83)). ACM Research, Inc. (ACMR) carries a higher beta of 3. 24 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (TPVG: +87. 8%, ACMR: +28. 6%), 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 (MAX (Communication Services) and QNST (Communication Services) and RAMP (Technology) and ACMR (Technology) and TPVG (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: MAX is a small-cap high-growth stock; QNST is a small-cap high-growth stock; RAMP is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ACMR is a small-cap high-growth stock; TPVG 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.