NNI vs INTU vs PAYC vs ADBE

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). Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC) offers the better valuation at 14. 8x trailing P/E (12. 0x 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 trailing P/E, Paycom Software, Inc.

(PAYC) is the cheapest at 14. 8x versus Intuit Inc. at 29. 1x. On forward P/E, Adobe Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Paycom Software, Inc. wins at 0. 51x versus Adobe Inc. 's 1. 20x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Nelnet, Inc.

(NNI) delivered a total return of +95. 7%, compared to -60. 0% for Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: INTU returned +323. 4% versus ADBE's +173. 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), Paycom Software, Inc.

(PAYC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 59β versus Adobe Inc. 's 0. 74β — meaning ADBE is approximately 26% more volatile than PAYC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Paycom Software, Inc. (PAYC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 57% for Adobe Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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: Paycom Software, Inc. grew EPS 51. 7% year-over-year, compared to -100. 0% for Nelnet, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PAYC leads at 21. 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.

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: ADBE leads at 36. 6% versus 0. 0% for NNI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ADBE leads at 88. 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. 51x versus Adobe Inc. 's 1. 20x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Adobe Inc. (ADBE) trades at 10. 9x forward P/E versus 17. 2x for Intuit Inc. — 6. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for INTU: 67. 4% to $666. 75.

In this comparison, NNI (2.

9% yield), PAYC (1. 1% yield), INTU (1. 1% yield) pay a dividend. ADBE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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%, ADBE: +173. 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 (NNI (Financial Services) and INTU (Technology) and PAYC (Technology) and ADBE (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; PAYC is a small-cap deep-value stock; ADBE is a mid-cap deep-value stock. NNI, INTU, PAYC pay a dividend while ADBE does 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.