NNI vs INTU

For growth investors, Intuit Inc.

(INTU) is the stronger pick with 15. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -55. 5% for Nelnet, Inc. (NNI). Intuit Inc. (INTU) offers the better valuation at 29. 1x trailing P/E (17. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Intuit Inc. (INTU) a "Buy" — based on 43 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 forward P/E, Nelnet, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 15. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Nelnet, Inc.

(NNI) delivered a total return of +95. 7%, compared to +6. 1% for Intuit Inc. (INTU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: INTU returned +323. 4% versus NNI's +269. 2%. 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), Nelnet, Inc.

(NNI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 59β versus Intuit Inc. 's 0. 61β — meaning INTU is approximately 3% more volatile than NNI relative to the S&P 500.

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

(INTU) is pulling ahead at 15. 6% versus -55. 5% for Nelnet, Inc. (NNI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Intuit Inc. grew EPS 31. 1% year-over-year, compared to -100. 0% for Nelnet, 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.

Nelnet, Inc.

(NNI) is the more profitable company, earning 32. 4% net margin versus 20. 5% for Intuit Inc. — meaning it keeps 32. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: INTU leads at 26. 1% versus 0. 0% for NNI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — INTU leads at 80. 8%, 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, Nelnet, Inc.

(NNI) trades at 15. 3x forward P/E versus 17. 2x for Intuit Inc. — 1. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Nelnet, Inc. (NNI) offers the highest yield at 2. 9%, versus 1. 1% for Intuit Inc. (INTU).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Intuit Inc.

(INTU) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 61), 1. 1% yield, +323. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (INTU: +323. 4%, NNI: +269. 2%), 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 (NNI (Financial Services) and INTU (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: NNI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; INTU 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.