NYAX vs CTLP vs PAX vs IIIV vs V

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. 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: Visa Inc. wins at 1. 53x versus Patria Investments Limited's 3. 15x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

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: V returned +325. 9% versus PAX's -17. 6%. 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. 14β — meaning PAX is approximately 215% 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.

Visa Inc.

(V) is the more profitable company, earning 50. 1% net margin versus 8. 4% for i3 Verticals, Inc. — meaning it keeps 50. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: V leads at 60. 0% 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.

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, Visa Inc. (V) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 53x versus Patria Investments Limited's 3. 15x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Patria Investments Limited (PAX) trades at 8. 9x forward P/E versus 81. 1x for Nayax Ltd. — 72. 2x 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), V (0. 7% yield) pay a dividend. NYAX, CTLP, IIIV do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Visa Inc.

(V) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 65), 0. 7% yield, +325. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (V: +325. 9%, IIIV: +15. 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 (NYAX (Technology) and CTLP (Technology) and PAX (Financial Services) and IIIV (Technology) and V (Financial Services)), 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; V is a large-cap quality compounder stock. PAX, V pay 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.