TCX
Tucows Inc.
Software - Infrastructure
Market Cap$168M
5Y Perf.-74.9%
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Stock Comparison
TCX vs NTCT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
NTCT
NetScout Systems, Inc.
Software - Infrastructure
Market Cap$2.57B
5Y Perf.+29.3%
TCX vs NTCT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | TCX | NTCT |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Software - Infrastructure | Software - Infrastructure |
| Market Cap | $168M | $2.57B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $390M | $861M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-76M | $96M |
| Gross Margin | 23.1% | 79.2% |
| Operating Margin | -3.9% | 12.8% |
| Forward P/E | — | 14.7x |
| Total Debt | $682M | $76M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $47M | $457M |
TCX vs NTCT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
TCX
NTCT
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucows Inc. (TCX) | 100 | 25.1 | -74.9% |
| NetScout Systems, I… (NTCT) | 100 | 129.3 | +29.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: TCX vs NTCT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NTCT leads in 4 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. Tucows Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
TCX
Tucows Inc.
The Growth Play
TCX is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 7.7%, EPS growth 31.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 6.7%
- 7.7% revenue growth vs NTCT's -0.8%
Best for: growth exposure
NTCT
NetScout Systems, Inc.
The Income Pick
NTCT carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- beta 1.12
- 57.1% 10Y total return vs TCX's -33.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.12, Low D/E 4.9%, current ratio 1.75x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | TCX | 7.7% revenue growth vs NTCT's -0.8% |
| Quality / Margins | NTCT | 11.1% margin vs TCX's -19.4% |
| Stability / Safety | NTCT | Beta 1.12 vs TCX's 1.29 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | NTCT | +68.7% vs TCX's -7.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NTCT | 4.3% ROA vs TCX's -10.3%, ROIC -19.3% vs -2.7% |
TCX vs NTCT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
TCX vs NTCT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNTCTLAGGINGTCX
TCXTucows Inc.
0leads
NTCTNetScout Systems, Inc.
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs TCXMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
NTCT4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
NTCT5/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
NTCT6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
NTCT2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NTCT leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NTCT is the larger business by revenue, generating $861M annually — 2.2x TCX's $390M. NTCT is the more profitable business, keeping 11.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to TCX's -19.4%. On growth, TCX holds the edge at +6.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | TCXTucows Inc. | NTCTNetScout Systems,… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $390M | $861M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $31M | $171M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$76M | $96M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$23M | $275M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +23.1% | +79.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -3.9% | +12.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -19.4% | +11.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -5.9% | +32.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.0% | -0.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +48.8% | +11.9% |
NTCT leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — TCX and NTCT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | TCXTucows Inc. | NTCTNetScout Systems,… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $168M | $2.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $803M | $2.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -2.20x | -7.02x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 14.72x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 3.56x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.43x | 3.12x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 1.65x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 12.16x |
Evenly matched — TCX and NTCT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NTCT leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NTCT scores 6/9 vs TCX's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | TCXTucows Inc. | NTCTNetScout Systems,… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | — | +6.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -10.3% | +4.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -2.7% | -19.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -3.1% | -18.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.05x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $635M | -$381M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $47M | $457M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $682M | $76M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -0.20x | 55.89x |
NTCT leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
NTCT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NTCT five years ago would be worth $13,542 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $1,942 for TCX. Over the past 12 months, NTCT leads with a +68.7% total return vs TCX's -7.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NTCT at 6.5% vs TCX's -17.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | TCXTucows Inc. | NTCTNetScout Systems,… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -31.6% | +32.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -7.0% | +68.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -43.9% | +20.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -80.6% | +35.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -33.9% | +57.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -17.5% | +6.5% |
NTCT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NTCT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NTCT is the less volatile stock with a 1.12 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than TCX's 1.29 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. NTCT currently trades 98.9% from its 52-week high vs TCX's 59.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | TCXTucows Inc. | NTCTNetScout Systems,… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.29x | 1.12x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $25.17 | $35.93 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $14.97 | $19.98 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +59.8% | +98.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 39.8 | 71.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 32K | 541K |
NTCT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
| Metric | TCXTucows Inc. | NTCTNetScout Systems,… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $29.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 21 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
NTCT leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Profitability & Efficiency. 1 category is tied.
Best OverallNetScout Systems, Inc. (NTCT)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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TCX vs NTCT: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is TCX or NTCT a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Tucows Inc.
(TCX) is the stronger pick with 7. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 8% for NetScout Systems, Inc. (NTCT). Analysts rate NetScout Systems, Inc. (NTCT) a "Hold" — based on 21 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.
02Which is the better long-term investment — TCX or NTCT?
Over the past 5 years, NetScout Systems, Inc.
(NTCT) delivered a total return of +35. 4%, compared to -80. 6% for Tucows Inc. (TCX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NTCT returned +57. 1% versus TCX's -33. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — TCX or NTCT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), NetScout Systems, Inc.
(NTCT) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 12β versus Tucows Inc. 's 1. 29β — meaning TCX is approximately 15% more volatile than NTCT relative to the S&P 500.
04Which is growing faster — TCX or NTCT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Tucows Inc.
(TCX) is pulling ahead at 7. 7% versus -0. 8% for NetScout Systems, Inc. (NTCT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Tucows Inc. grew EPS 31. 6% year-over-year, compared to -144. 4% for NetScout Systems, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, TCX leads at 6. 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.
05Which has better profit margins — TCX or NTCT?
Tucows Inc.
(TCX) is the more profitable company, earning -19. 4% net margin versus -44. 6% for NetScout Systems, Inc. — meaning it keeps -19. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TCX leads at -3. 9% versus -44. 7% for NTCT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NTCT leads at 78. 3%, 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — TCX or NTCT?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
07Is TCX or NTCT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, NetScout Systems, Inc.
(NTCT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 12)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NTCT: +57. 1%, TCX: -33. 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.
08What are the main differences between TCX and NTCT?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
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.
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