RDVT vs TRU

For growth investors, Red Violet, Inc.

(RDVT) is the stronger pick with 20. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 9. 4% for TransUnion (TRU). TransUnion (TRU) offers the better valuation at 31. 4x trailing P/E (15. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Red Violet, Inc. (RDVT) a "Buy" — based on 1 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, TransUnion (TRU) is the cheapest at 31.

4x versus Red Violet, Inc. at 53. 9x. On forward P/E, TransUnion is actually cheaper at 15. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, Red Violet, Inc.

(RDVT) delivered a total return of +155. 9%, compared to -29. 3% for TransUnion (TRU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TRU returned +139. 0% versus RDVT's +7. 8%. 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), Red Violet, Inc.

(RDVT) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 15β versus TransUnion's 1. 36β — meaning TRU is approximately 19% more volatile than RDVT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Red Violet, Inc. (RDVT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 113% for TransUnion — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Red Violet, Inc.

(RDVT) is pulling ahead at 20. 0% versus 9. 4% for TransUnion (TRU). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Red Violet, Inc. grew EPS 82. 0% year-over-year, compared to 60. 0% for TransUnion. Over a 3-year CAGR, RDVT leads at 19. 2% 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.

Red Violet, Inc.

(RDVT) is the more profitable company, earning 14. 6% net margin versus 10. 0% for TransUnion — meaning it keeps 14. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TRU leads at 18. 7% versus 14. 6% for RDVT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RDVT leads at 83. 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.

On forward earnings alone, TransUnion (TRU) trades at 15.

1x forward P/E versus 33. 5x for Red Violet, Inc. — 18. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TRU: 30. 1% to $94. 88.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

TransUnion (TRU) offers the highest yield at 0. 6%, versus 0. 6% for Red Violet, Inc. (RDVT).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Red Violet, Inc.

(RDVT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 15), 0. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (RDVT: +7. 8%, TRU: +139. 0%), 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 (RDVT (Technology) and TRU (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: RDVT is a small-cap high-growth stock; TRU is a mid-cap quality compounder 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.