NYAX vs CTLP vs PAX vs IIIV

For growth investors, Nayax Ltd.

(NYAX) is the stronger pick with 38. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 3% for i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV). Cantaloupe, Inc. (CTLP) offers the better valuation at 13. 0x trailing P/E (27. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Nayax Ltd. (NYAX) 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, Cantaloupe, Inc.

(CTLP) is the cheapest at 13. 0x versus Nayax Ltd. at 70. 9x. On forward P/E, Patria Investments Limited is actually cheaper at 8. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Nayax Ltd.

(NYAX) delivered a total return of +158. 9%, compared to -27. 6% for i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NYAX returned +157. 7% versus PAX's -19. 3%. 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), Cantaloupe, Inc.

(CTLP) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 36β versus Patria Investments Limited's 1. 09β — meaning PAX is approximately 201% more volatile than CTLP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 146% for Nayax Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Nayax Ltd.

(NYAX) is pulling ahead at 38. 0% versus -7. 3% for i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nayax Ltd. grew EPS 737. 5% year-over-year, compared to -87. 9% for i3 Verticals, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NYAX leads at 35. 7% 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.

Patria Investments Limited (PAX) is the more profitable company, earning 22.

3% net margin versus 8. 4% for i3 Verticals, Inc. — meaning it keeps 22. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PAX leads at 34. 2% versus 1. 9% for IIIV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PAX leads at 96. 2%, 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, Patria Investments Limited (PAX) trades at 8.

4x forward P/E versus 81. 5x for Nayax Ltd. — 73. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PAX: 49. 5% to $18. 00.

In this comparison, PAX (5.

0% yield) pays a dividend. NYAX, CTLP, IIIV do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Cantaloupe, Inc.

(CTLP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 36), +141. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CTLP: +141. 9%, IIIV: +24. 9%), 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 (NYAX (Technology) and CTLP (Technology) and PAX (Financial Services) and IIIV (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: NYAX is a small-cap high-growth stock; CTLP is a small-cap deep-value stock; PAX is a small-cap income-oriented stock; IIIV is a small-cap quality compounder stock. PAX pays a dividend while NYAX, CTLP, IIIV 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.