PAY vs IIIV vs EVTC vs FIS

For growth investors, Paymentus Holdings, Inc.

(PAY) is the stronger pick with 37. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 3% for i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV). EVERTEC, Inc. (EVTC) offers the better valuation at 10. 6x trailing P/E (6. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV) a "Buy" — based on 14 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, EVERTEC, Inc.

(EVTC) is the cheapest at 10. 6x versus Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. at 63. 0x. On forward P/E, EVERTEC, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. wins at 0. 31x versus Paymentus Holdings, Inc. 's 0. 75x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Paymentus Holdings, Inc.

(PAY) delivered a total return of -2. 7%, compared to -63. 2% for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EVTC returned +89. 5% versus FIS's -13. 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), Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.

(FIS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 76β versus Paymentus Holdings, Inc. 's 0. 95β — meaning PAY is approximately 25% more volatile than FIS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 158% for EVERTEC, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Paymentus Holdings, Inc.

(PAY) is pulling ahead at 37. 3% versus -7. 3% for i3 Verticals, Inc. (IIIV). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Paymentus Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 48. 6% year-over-year, compared to -87. 9% for i3 Verticals, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PAY leads at 34. 0% 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.

EVERTEC, Inc.

(EVTC) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 2% net margin versus 3. 6% for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EVTC leads at 20. 0% versus 1. 9% for IIIV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IIIV leads at 55. 7%, 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, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 31x versus Paymentus Holdings, Inc. 's 0. 75x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, EVERTEC, Inc. (EVTC) trades at 6. 0x forward P/E versus 35. 8x for Paymentus Holdings, Inc. — 29. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EVTC: 58. 4% to $37. 00.

In this comparison, FIS (3.

5% yield), EVTC (0. 8% yield) pay a dividend. PAY, IIIV do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, EVERTEC, Inc.

(EVTC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 76), 0. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EVTC: +89. 5%, PAY: -2. 7%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: PAY is a small-cap high-growth stock; IIIV is a small-cap quality compounder stock; EVTC is a small-cap deep-value stock; FIS is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. EVTC, FIS pay a dividend while PAY, 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.